A month from today, I will be headed from Brownwood to Kerrville on my Tour o' Texas before heading to Seattle. I actually feel slightly (only slightly) unfamiliar with the moving process, as it's been almost a year since I've moved and that's a record for me. I'm also not used to having so much time to get ready, seeing as how I have moved much more spur of the moment in the past.
I have my handy list of stuff to do before leaving...and have been able to check off the following:
Mover set up--check
Car shipper set up--check
One-way flight purchased--check
Tour o' Texas set up--check
Registered for Spring quarter at the UW (including the Qual Methods course I needed but didn't know if I'd get!)--check
Still to be done:
Change address
Have Stanley Steemer work their magic
Babe's Chicken Dinner House with the girls
Pack 2 suitcases to go with me on Tour and in Seattle until my stuff arrives
Shut off cable/internet and electricity
While it's nice in a way to not have to rush this process, I'm also the type A who likes to just "get 'er done" and all this waiting around is driving me a little bananas.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Newsie bits
Newsie bit #1:
I have found my favorite on American Idol, and we're not even out of Hollywood Week yet. His name is Andrew Garcia and he is FANTASTIC. Here's a clip of his remake of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" on acoustic guitar:
Another good one to check out is Crystal Bowersox singing "Natural Woman"...you can You Tube it easily.
Newsie bit #2:
On February 11-12, 2010, Dallas-Fort Worth broke the all-time record for most snow in a 24-hour period in the DFW area with 12.5 measured inches (previously 12.1 in 1964). I celebrated by sneaking out my co-worker's office window out onto the Business building balcony that doesn't have a door (why, is a mystery to me).
Newsie bit #3:
For the first time in a long time, I have found the motivation needed to lose the 10-15 pounds I've gained back that needs to go bye bye. I love me some Weight Watchers. Last Saturday, I saw a number on the scale that frightened me (NO, I will not be sharing it here), and decided something must be done. So I spent the past week eating my allotted WW points, not cheating at all, and working out at my apartment's little facility 6 out of 7 days. The result? 3.5 pounds down!
Newsie bit #4:
I have renamed myself The Human Boomerang! That's right, I am moving BACK to Seattle, from whence I came almost a year ago. I've been working with my faculty advisor for about 9 months now, and have gotten to a place with my dissertation topic that I feel excited about and ready to pursue through completion! I need four courses, and will then write the dissertation. I gave UNT seven weeks' notice, so my last day will be March 19th and I will get to Seattle in time for Spring quarter classes.
I feel VERY peaceful and confident about this decision, which is more than I can say for my last few decisions to move. I have thought this out carefully for many months, and have waited until my research was something I could be sure of. I passed the "prospective candidacy" milestone a few weeks ago, which was the go-ahead sign I needed to move forward.
(Note: Jesse is excited about this, not only for me but for us. He kept asking if I had a flight yet...and yes, I do.)
I have found my favorite on American Idol, and we're not even out of Hollywood Week yet. His name is Andrew Garcia and he is FANTASTIC. Here's a clip of his remake of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" on acoustic guitar:
Another good one to check out is Crystal Bowersox singing "Natural Woman"...you can You Tube it easily.
Newsie bit #2:
On February 11-12, 2010, Dallas-Fort Worth broke the all-time record for most snow in a 24-hour period in the DFW area with 12.5 measured inches (previously 12.1 in 1964). I celebrated by sneaking out my co-worker's office window out onto the Business building balcony that doesn't have a door (why, is a mystery to me).
Newsie bit #3:
For the first time in a long time, I have found the motivation needed to lose the 10-15 pounds I've gained back that needs to go bye bye. I love me some Weight Watchers. Last Saturday, I saw a number on the scale that frightened me (NO, I will not be sharing it here), and decided something must be done. So I spent the past week eating my allotted WW points, not cheating at all, and working out at my apartment's little facility 6 out of 7 days. The result? 3.5 pounds down!
Newsie bit #4:
I have renamed myself The Human Boomerang! That's right, I am moving BACK to Seattle, from whence I came almost a year ago. I've been working with my faculty advisor for about 9 months now, and have gotten to a place with my dissertation topic that I feel excited about and ready to pursue through completion! I need four courses, and will then write the dissertation. I gave UNT seven weeks' notice, so my last day will be March 19th and I will get to Seattle in time for Spring quarter classes.
I feel VERY peaceful and confident about this decision, which is more than I can say for my last few decisions to move. I have thought this out carefully for many months, and have waited until my research was something I could be sure of. I passed the "prospective candidacy" milestone a few weeks ago, which was the go-ahead sign I needed to move forward.
(Note: Jesse is excited about this, not only for me but for us. He kept asking if I had a flight yet...and yes, I do.)
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Those lazy hazy crazy days of summer...
Today on my morning break, I wandered over to the Union for a bagel, and discovered that it's about that time. The Union was packed out with every camp in the southern United States, all of whom had the same goal: recruit summer camp counselors. They had music blaring, powerpoint presentations showing all of the exciting adventures the camp had to offer, and enthusiastic staff urging students to come and find out if Camp X was the place for them this summer!
It made me reminisce about my own college summers. During my freshman/sophomore summer, I worked in the juniors department at Sears and took classes...exciting. This may have been the summer when I had to temporarily work in the lingerie department, where I found out that old women frequently want "assistance" choosing and trying on things. Eww.
During sophomore/junior summer, I prepared to move to Arkadelphia, AR. I took two psychology courses and spent loads of quality time with the dear friends I would be leaving soon.
During junior/first senior summer, I returned to the great state of Texas. Ah, my glory days of working at IHOP (I only spilled one thing the entire summer, a milkshake on my aunt Elsie who was very forgiving). This was also the summer that each Monday evening, Amy & I hit up Ruby Tuesday's and ordered their monstrous chocolate brownie/ice cream dessert to take our mind off of the mundane summer we were having. Ho-hum. Amy & I would jabber 90 mph until the dessert appeared (with 2 spoons) at the table, at which point no more words were spoken and it was a fight to the finish. The evening usually ended with two full tummies, a plate all but licked clean, and two spoons spinning.
During first senior/second senior summer, I went overseas for the first time. I spent 3 weeks in Namibia and South Africa with a team from OBU. We mainly worked with youth in the capital of Namibia. It was here that I fell in love with Africa, and knew I would go back. I went on my first African safari and stood on the southern tip of Africa where my left arm was over the Indian Ocean and my right arm was over the Atlantic. Glory.
During my final college summer, I went overseas again. This time, I ventured to Uganda, again with a team from OBU. We were in a rural area this time, and I finally saw "the bush" of the African village. Another African safari, and instead of dividing oceans, I divided hemispheres by standing on the Equator. I returned home, and spent the remainder of the summer preparing for a two year adventure in West Africa. I went to a matching conference where a very enthusiastic gentleman pulled me to his table and insisted that I hear about an exciting new project called the Texas Partnership where I could work as a volunteer coordinator in Cote d'Ivoire. And that's exactly where I ended up.
Ah, those lazy hazy crazy days of summer...I hope the UNT students who were wandering around today looking at all the summer camp opportunities make the right decision for them. I hope they are happy and can look back for years at the unique experiences that only a college summer can give.
It made me reminisce about my own college summers. During my freshman/sophomore summer, I worked in the juniors department at Sears and took classes...exciting. This may have been the summer when I had to temporarily work in the lingerie department, where I found out that old women frequently want "assistance" choosing and trying on things. Eww.
During sophomore/junior summer, I prepared to move to Arkadelphia, AR. I took two psychology courses and spent loads of quality time with the dear friends I would be leaving soon.
During junior/first senior summer, I returned to the great state of Texas. Ah, my glory days of working at IHOP (I only spilled one thing the entire summer, a milkshake on my aunt Elsie who was very forgiving). This was also the summer that each Monday evening, Amy & I hit up Ruby Tuesday's and ordered their monstrous chocolate brownie/ice cream dessert to take our mind off of the mundane summer we were having. Ho-hum. Amy & I would jabber 90 mph until the dessert appeared (with 2 spoons) at the table, at which point no more words were spoken and it was a fight to the finish. The evening usually ended with two full tummies, a plate all but licked clean, and two spoons spinning.
During first senior/second senior summer, I went overseas for the first time. I spent 3 weeks in Namibia and South Africa with a team from OBU. We mainly worked with youth in the capital of Namibia. It was here that I fell in love with Africa, and knew I would go back. I went on my first African safari and stood on the southern tip of Africa where my left arm was over the Indian Ocean and my right arm was over the Atlantic. Glory.
During my final college summer, I went overseas again. This time, I ventured to Uganda, again with a team from OBU. We were in a rural area this time, and I finally saw "the bush" of the African village. Another African safari, and instead of dividing oceans, I divided hemispheres by standing on the Equator. I returned home, and spent the remainder of the summer preparing for a two year adventure in West Africa. I went to a matching conference where a very enthusiastic gentleman pulled me to his table and insisted that I hear about an exciting new project called the Texas Partnership where I could work as a volunteer coordinator in Cote d'Ivoire. And that's exactly where I ended up.
Ah, those lazy hazy crazy days of summer...I hope the UNT students who were wandering around today looking at all the summer camp opportunities make the right decision for them. I hope they are happy and can look back for years at the unique experiences that only a college summer can give.
Monday, February 01, 2010
That old familiar pang...
So, hello. It's been awhile.
Since I last blogged, I've mostly been good. Happy. Going to work. Doing a little traveling on the weekends. Being Auntie Pegs to various babies & dogs. Watching American Idol with a good friend. Eating Girl Scout cookies like I don't wear them on my thighs immediately afterward. Dog-sitting Bella & Tony. Renting good movies (Whip It tops the list, thank you Ms. Barrymore).
So, sure. It's been good.
But that old familiar pang hits once in awhile...and by "once in awhile," I mean every 2-3 days. Sometimes when I look at their pictures on my nightstand first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Sometimes when I'm uncertain of my future. Sometimes when I see framed photos of four women and even though there was a picture taken with the four of them AND me, that's not the framed one in their homes because I'm still not one of them. Despite their love and acceptance since that awful day in September 2008.
And I HATE to complain about this. Again. I feel the need to apologize. Then again, it's my blog. And, that old pang hurts. It used to be the new pang; now it's the old familiar pang. In a picture of my immediate family, it's just me. Or, alternatively, old pictures of me and people who are all dead now. It's me, myself, and I in this world. I'm invited into others' homes (and am grateful for this, really I am), but none is my home. I always have to worry if I'm really welcome or if I'm overstepping my boundaries. I don't think I'll really have a home again until I get married (if I get married, oh Lord we won't even open that can of worms) and am really, truly considered "one of them."
I don't know who even reads this blog anymore, but if you're reading this and have a moment please do this. Warning: really depressing activity is coming. Please take your current life, and try to imagine it without all of these (emphasis on "all"; I know many of you don't have one or two):
No mother.
No father.
No siblings.
No grandparents.
No grandchildren.
No nieces/nephews.
No spouse.
No children.
How does your current life look now? Would you want to get out of bed in the morning? Would you have that old familiar pang?
Since I last blogged, I've mostly been good. Happy. Going to work. Doing a little traveling on the weekends. Being Auntie Pegs to various babies & dogs. Watching American Idol with a good friend. Eating Girl Scout cookies like I don't wear them on my thighs immediately afterward. Dog-sitting Bella & Tony. Renting good movies (Whip It tops the list, thank you Ms. Barrymore).
So, sure. It's been good.
But that old familiar pang hits once in awhile...and by "once in awhile," I mean every 2-3 days. Sometimes when I look at their pictures on my nightstand first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Sometimes when I'm uncertain of my future. Sometimes when I see framed photos of four women and even though there was a picture taken with the four of them AND me, that's not the framed one in their homes because I'm still not one of them. Despite their love and acceptance since that awful day in September 2008.
And I HATE to complain about this. Again. I feel the need to apologize. Then again, it's my blog. And, that old pang hurts. It used to be the new pang; now it's the old familiar pang. In a picture of my immediate family, it's just me. Or, alternatively, old pictures of me and people who are all dead now. It's me, myself, and I in this world. I'm invited into others' homes (and am grateful for this, really I am), but none is my home. I always have to worry if I'm really welcome or if I'm overstepping my boundaries. I don't think I'll really have a home again until I get married (if I get married, oh Lord we won't even open that can of worms) and am really, truly considered "one of them."
I don't know who even reads this blog anymore, but if you're reading this and have a moment please do this. Warning: really depressing activity is coming. Please take your current life, and try to imagine it without all of these (emphasis on "all"; I know many of you don't have one or two):
No mother.
No father.
No siblings.
No grandparents.
No grandchildren.
No nieces/nephews.
No spouse.
No children.
How does your current life look now? Would you want to get out of bed in the morning? Would you have that old familiar pang?
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