What's in a word...

Anyone who knows me halfway well knows that I like everything in its place. Clutter and crap annoy me to no end.

So, I've been living in my apartment for two months. For the first 2 weeks, when I thought it was a temporary arrangement, I literally had all of my boxes stacked against a wall of the bedroom and only the essentials unpacked. ANNOYING.

When Leah offered to let me stay permanently, I jumped for joy. And then I unpacked everything in 2.3 seconds. The problem? I moved from a one bedroom all to myself, to a 2 bedroom that was already fully furnished. So...not enough space. After utilizing every nook & cranny to the best of my ability, and taking a couple of runs to Goodwill to get rid of a few things from my already sparse collection of possessions (try moving a billion times and see how much stuff you have left), I was left with just my school stuff and desk supplies stacked in a corner.

Two months later, I have had ENOUGH of the school crap in the corner.

I decided to get a desk. Then I decided I didn't have enough space for a desk. Then I decided a bookshelf would do, a tall one. I also had a Pier One gift card begging to be used.

Armed with my iPhone and Jesse, I set out to Pier One. I searched "Pier 1" and drove to the closest one ("Bell Street Pier 1"), which was supposedly right next to the Art Institute, where I worked for a brief stint. However, not so brief that I would have missed a Pier One right next door.

When we arrived at "Bell Street Pier 1," we found...nothing. An old building down by the water that was most definitely NOT Pier One. Jesse called the phone number listed, and a woman with a thick accent who apparently didn't speak much English answered. She'd never heard of Pier 1; however, we could park in the garage she works at for only a billion dollars per hour.

I drove about two more blocks when it hit me. The iPhone had literally taken me to Pier 1. As in a fishing pier. There are 66 piers along the Seattle downtown waterfront and that's exactly where we were, at Pier 1.

Note to self and others who live in a city with any type of water coast: It is critical to list the word "Imports" when searching for Pier 1 Imports.

M is for...

the month of May.

and Mama.

In May, I experience lots of reminders of Mama. My birthday is in May, and I am reminded how much Mama had to do with that. Not just because she was my Mama and all mothers are responsible for the birth of their children, but because my Mama was a kidney transplant survivor, and in the 70s that made me a bit of a miracle child.

Also in May is Mother's Day. Ah, Mother's Day. When everyone else can't hang out or do anything because they are all celebrating with their mothers. For 11 years, I was able to transfer Mother's Day into Grandma's Day because my grandma was very much a second mother to me. Now, I've had two Mother's Days without Grandma too. They kind of suck now. I've tried to celebrate Jesse's mom, but it's just not the same.

And another also in May...Mama's birthday. Today she would've been 59 years young. I still can't believe she's been dead for 12.5 years. Or that she died at the age of 46. Or that I was only 19. Or that very few of my friends have ever met her because she's been gone so long. Or that I can only vaguely remember much about her. I mean, I remember things but they seem like a million years ago, like they're part of another lifetime. She'll have been gone half my life in only 6 more years...well, that's wierd too.

So, here's to you Mama. You put the M in May. And no matter how many years you are gone, you are fondly loved, missed, and remembered everyday, not just these days in May.

32 and Fabulous!

With Cinco de Mayo comes Cinco de Pegs! I had a fun-filled birthday weekend, including:

Free tickets to the Seattle Sounders (pro soccer) game! I took my friend Kiara along!

Unfortunately, we lost 4-0 to the LA Galaxy...

Pizza & game night at my place, complete with Twister!

With roommate Leah at the UW softball game
Although I lived with Leah for 8 months last year, I feel like I really only started to get to know her since I moved back 6 weeks ago...and guess what? Leah is the awesome-est--and not just because she let me move back in! :)

Did I mention the UW softball gals are #1 in the country?! Yeah, they are. I watched them win the National Championship on TV last year. They are fantastic. They won today in extra inning play--it was super exciting, and especially nice on a most lovely Seattle day (65 and sunny, thank you very much).

No photos, but Jesse and I celebrated his wonderful mom, Maggie, today as well. Joe fired up the brand new grill and satisfied our taste buds with fantastic Indian grilled chicken. We will go to the Beat Walk where you can band hop to your heart's content next weekend for Maggie's Mother's Day gift.

On Friday afternoon, I turned in the form required to officially name my doctoral committee. WOOT! All four faculty members are absolutely outstanding and I feel very honored to work with them through the rest of my doctoral journey.

Did I also mention that at some point this weekend I officially became our summer kickball team's captain? We are signed up and ready to KICK YOUR GRASS! (That would be our team name.)

So yes, to answer your question: I'm 32...and FABULOUS!

Doing things...

The Cheesecake Factory on Giant Software Company's dime...white chocolate raspberry truffle, mmm. And then I went back the next night on my own dime for another slice.

My midterm for Qualitative Methods...a critique of a qualitative study. Rough draft complete. Due Wednesday.

Our first kickball win last Sunday (and hopefully our second in just a few hours). I pitched. Roommate Leah is our captain and wanted to name The Gentle Giant the offensive MVP and me the defensive MVP. The ref told her she could only name one, and I told her it had to be The Gentle Giant...the guy kicked THREE in the park home runs. Also, I can name myself MVP on my blog.

Hanging out with 8th grade BFF, Gina. Running in the rain in my ballet flats back to her apartment after lunch. Playing Nintendo, just like 8th grade. Wheezing because of her two (very fluffy) cats.

Attending Bat Boy: The Musical at the UW with Roommate Leah and Co. Started off good, ended very twisted.

American Idol in full swing. Hottie of All Hotties Casey James almost went home last week, and I almost peed my pants of anxiety. Thankfully, he's still there. Along with Almost Hottie of All Hotties Lee DeWyze. I tell you what, if I was single, Lee & me...well, there'd be something to blog about Lee & me.

Running down the 44 bus and watching it drive off as I pant behind it. Again. And again. Damn it.