Good things

Music that defies the limits of language

Sunny days in Seattle

OMG, Starbucks makes Chai frappucinos--who knew? Oh so delicious...

Friends re-runs...the epitome of comfort

Discovering Romy, a new boutique with CUTE dresses for $28

Michael Buble

The Psalms

A good run with a good ipod playlist

Working from home

Grey's Anatomy marathon with Melissa

Amanda Bynes double-feature with Thai order-in and good girl friends

Shoe-shopping

Laughing so hard your mascara comes completely off and your belly aches

Dancing

Cinnamon rolls at Alki Bakery

Mexican food at 11pm

Getting 5 books at Barnes & Noble but only paying for one

(Nineteen Minutes, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Reading Lolita in Tehran, The Female Brain, and The Beauty Project)

Being surrounded by friends

Ashley's visit to Seattle

Ashley, Chrissy, me

Reviving Random

Remember when I posted "Random" and "Random the Sequel" back in the day? I think Random earned the most comments to date when it posted. People seems to dig my scary inner monologue. So here's Random, revived and alive...

I was disappointed the last couple of days. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Could, and did, pray. Could, and did, read Psalm 34. Felt much better. God is faithful; He is the ONLY One who is faithful.

I have 2 job interviews. Within 24 hours, I got both calls. I'm nervous and excited, and very aware that an interview is a long way from a hire. We'll see what happens.

My boss introduced me to Grammar Girl. GG's word of the day yesterday was "locavore," which stems from Old English meaning someone who eats local food only (think carnivore, herbivore and you'll get it). I totally dig Grammar Girl. The reason my boss brought it up is because I kept pointing out the tee-niny grammatical errors in some of our documents. Grammar Girl gives "Quick and Dirty Tips" that are extremely useful....I know I have several geeky readers (no offense, I include myself in that crowd) who will say "Enchantee" to Grammar Girl. Enjoy her.

Saw the movie Waitress last night. It was TERRIBLE. Amy, you were dead wrong. Not cute. Terrible.

Saw the movie 27 Dresses last week. It was cute. Except for the very last line. I won't ruin it here for those who have yet to see it, but seriously...2 perfectly good hours of chick flick were utterly destroyed by the last line of the movie. Ugh.

Saw the movie Juno about 3 weeks ago. I bring it up because it was THE BEST movie I have seen in a really long time. It's up for best picture, and I believe Ellen Page, who stars in it, is up for Best Actress. Truly a great movie. I will buy it the second it's out on DVD.

I went running 3 times last week. The last time I'd gone before that was Thanksgiving Day. Needless to say, it pained me greatly to sit on the toilet this week. I hope to get to the point where running doesn't cause such soreness soon.

You know that guy, Mike Huckabee, who's running for President? I met him. Yep. His daughter, Sarah, took my position on the OBU yearbook staff when I left. I even went to the Governor's Mansion. La di da.

And, I asked Sara when in the world it won't be cold anymore. The last time I wore short sleeves was late September. :( We usually get right to 40 degrees before it starts the downturn toward dark. She said it will probably start hitting 50 next month, and then 60 the month after that. That means I have to wait until May for a 70 degree day.

My dad retires March 31st. My grandma sold her house and is moving out by February 29th. Life is changing.

My grandma's house is the closest thing I have to a childhood home. I will not see it again, as I can't get to Corpus by the end of February. I will write a piece called "Grandma's House" as a catharsis.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I'm trying to figure out if/what to give up for Lent. I've never given anything up before. Suggestions? (Don't say Starbucks, it won't happen.)

a student no more

I am no longer a doctoral student. I left my program earlier this week.

I am completely happy with this decision. Feeling relieved and free.

Nothing has settled well with the program since I began in September. I spent last quarter trudging through my school work, wondering why I was doing it. I began this quarter, hoping something would click. It didn't.

For the past four years, I have advised college students...helping them talk through their dreams and goals, encouraging them when they wanted to give up, guiding them when they were drifting or following someone's dreams other than their own (likely their parents or corporate America's). I saw students all day, everyday and it was fantastic.

I left that to pursue a doctorate. In pursuing this degree, I lacked a goal which also meant that I lacked motivation. Wanting to be an advisor or counselor and not a professor or senior administrator means that I have no need of a doctorate.

So, I am finishing the quarter with an independent study and my assistantship. Many people are asking if I plan to move back to Texas and the answer is a definitive NO. The last thing I want to do is move again--I'm establishing a wonderful life here in Seattle.

I am looking for jobs, mostly academic counselor or admissions counselor positions at higher ed institutions in the Seattle area. I also have a job offer which would start in April that may well end up being the one I take.

For now, I am content to finish the quarter and see what else God has for me. I want to start my writing again. I want to explore cooking, dancing, French, and softball. And maybe some other things I don't even know about yet. And working at an orphanage or with the homeless where I can pour out Christ's love that He's graciously shown me to those who have only known abandonment.

God's love is BIG and I am excited about that, that much I know.