Emma's first steps!

Emma took her first single step on her birthday, March 17th, but she hadn't done it again until yesterday when I stood her up and she took TWO steps towards Amy...then she took two again, then three and finally I recorded it! I'm a proud Auntie Pegs!



Josh is out of town on business and when he got the news, he told us to knock her over if she tried it again until he got home!

Peace out, Denton!

On Thursday, I was supposed to have dinner with Fabulous Friend Sara. She picked me up and whisked me off to Chili's where we planned to pig out on The Best Appetizer Ever (AKA Skillet Queso). When I arrived, Uyen was there. I was so excited she happened to be there and I could see her once more before leaving...then realized she was there for ME! Sara had invited some of the girls to get together for one last hurrah. Only a few were able to make it due to Spring Break, but I was so excited!

Back (l-r): Uyen & Candise
Front (l-r): Me, Sara, Anna

They were so thoughtful. They gave me a cookie jar for my going away gift because I told them the story of how when I lived with Grandma, she would protect me from my own lack of self-control regarding cookies (Girl Scout cookies, in particular) by hiding the cookies and leaving me just ONE cookie in the jar each morning. So, they gave me a cookie jar and when I opened it, there was just ONE cookie inside. :)

Uyen let me keep the wieners one more time before I left.

Back (l-r): Uyen & Pegs
Front (l-r): Tony & Bella

The movers were supposed to show up between 10:30 - 11:00 am on Saturday. I did most everything I needed to on Friday, so I set my alarm for 9:00 am, thinking that was plenty of time to get ready for them.

Guess who showed up at 9:15 am?

Guess who answered the door barely decent with crazy hair like Medusa?

The good news is they were also finished an hour earlier, so I was on the road to Brownwood for my Texas Tour earlier.

And now? Now it's Sunday, and I am taking in the Brownwood Sleep 'n' Eat for all it's worth this last time. Eating homemade tacos. Eating Better than Sex cake (I did not name it). Sleeping 12 hours. Eating French toast. Taking a 90 minute nap. Eating more Better than Sex cake. Seriously, that's all I've done since I got here.

And that's fine by me.

Random...but mostly A Bike Tale

3 days left at work.
10 days left in Texas.

I arrive in Seattle at 10:45 am, and Jesse already has planned a lunch date for us in West Seattle. I like him.

Work is BORING. It's Spring Break, and ain't nobody here 'cept me, Abbie, and Rosy. Rosy has never seen Mary Poppins (Holy Lost Childhood, Batman!) so I'm bringing it for us to watch this week. Chim-chiminey.

I have been consuming so much Chick-Fil-A since they don't have them in Seattle that I fear I may turn into one of those cows on the billboards. "Eat Mor Chikin."

I just had Mr. Chopsticks for the last time (until I move back to Denton in approximately one year...oh wait, I don't plan to do that). Sesame Chicken, my favorite. It was the special today, so I also got a veggie spring roll for free. I like to think it was their parting gift to me.

The carpet has been cleaned. The guys said that the enzymes used to clean the pet stains will make the apartment quite rank as the enzymes set in and do their work. They were correct. My apartment is filled with the scent of dog urine.

I took a 10 mile bike ride at a nearby state park on Sunday. I went by myself, and latched on to a group of 3 who arrived at the same time. We were going along and I finally asked how long this trail was.
Friendly Guy: "12 miles."
Me: Ahem. You mean 12 miles round trip, right?
FG: "12 miles. One way."
Me: "Okay then, I will not be completing the trail."
FG: "You came out here by yourself?"
Me: "Yes, I did."
FG: "Really? You could fall and break your leg and no one would know."
Me: "Well, as long as you guys go further than I do, you will see me on your way back in."
FG: "I suppose that's true."
Me: "You see, I have no patience for not doing stuff alone. I lived in Africa and I wasn't supposed to do stuff alone. But I did. And I was fine."
FG: "Oh okay." (Hello? Where is the usual "OMG--you lived in AFRICA? That's so cool. What did you do there?)

Some time later...
Me: "So, my bike seat isn't very cushy. I'm starting to feel it."
A Little Too Friendly Guy: "Oh yeah, I had that problem. I got this really nice seat. See?" ALTFG stands on his pedals. Indeed, it looks like a very cushy bike seat. "Now I don't have prostate problems like I used to."
A ten second pause while I think to myself, "Holy Crap. Did this guy I do not know really just say that."
Me: "Ahem. Yeah, yeah. I'm sure that seat has helped. So, I think I'll turn around now."

For putting up with ALTFG and completing a 10 mile bike ride, I rewarded myself with a lime slush at Sonic, which they also do not have in Seattle.

Updated Moving List

So, two weeks from the day of the move. Where am I on my to-do list?

Done:
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
ADDED since previous list:
Have Stanley Steemer work their magic (set up)--check
Babe's Chicken Dinner House with the girls--check
Shut off cable/internet and electricity (set up)--check
More detailed plans for Tour o' Texas, including coffee with 2 good friends and dinner with friends from high school--check

Still to be done:
Change address
Pack 2 suitcases to go with me on Tour and in Seattle until my stuff arrives
ADDED:
Keep my sanity through the next 2 weeks of work
Go to like 1,000 lunch dates next week
Make/get Emma's birthday gift

So. I added four things to the DONE side...but I also added three things to the TO BE DONE side. Boo. Still, I'm getting there.

Pictures from the last visit to see Emma:

I mean, REALLY. How cute can you be?

Mels was dog-sitting a Great Dane & beagle during my visit. You know my love of dogs...I had to go play. So here I am with India, the Great Dane. This picture cracks me up. She was really gentle overall, but snapped her head back once and scared the crap out of me...as you can plainly see.

A fishy story

So yesterday, I'm sitting at my desk at work. Sam, the Betta fish I was given at our Christmas exchange at work, swims next to my desktop monitor. I was typing away, when my peripheral vision (which the eye doctor told me 2 weeks ago is working perfectly, and it's a good thing as you're about to see) saw something blue/green. I looked, and Sam was flopping around on my desk!! A suicide attempt, I presume.

I hollered at Stacy to come rescue him. Until that moment, I wouldn't have told you that I was afraid to pick up a tiny Betta fish. Apparently, I am. So Stacy came in, picked him up, and tossed him back in the bowl. He's not terribly active, but still alive this morning.

This takes me back to a very "fishy story" from my college days. I lived in a dorm where I had a roommate and two suite-mates that shared one bathroom. I became quite close to one of my suite-mates, until she stole my man. Then things became just plain awkward. We were hardly talking, but she asked me to watch her Betta fish while she went home for Easter weekend.

I have to explain the relationship between Suite-Mate and Bob the Betta. She'd had him for three years, and treated him like most people treat a dog or cat...as a beloved member of the family. She would stare into his bowl and coo at him..."Oh Bob, you're such a good boy, aren't you Bob?"

Seriously.

So, here I am...watching the beloved fish of my barely friend Suite-Mate. My friend, Amy, came to visit me that weekend. We returned from an afternoon of shopping...and found Bob floating upside down in the bowl.

OMG.

She's going to think I killed her fish because she stole my man.

OMG.

Even worse, when Suite-Mate was supposed to return from home that evening, I would be driving Amy to the Little Rock airport (a total 2.5 hour round trip), so I wouldn't even be HOME when she got back.

The Ultimate Dilemma: Do I leave a note with Bob still floating in the bowl? Do I leave a note with Bob already flushed down the toilet? Do I drop out of college and just never set foot on campus again?

Amy was rolling on the floor with laughter at my predicament. We decided that due to Suite-Mate's unusual (read: CRAZY) relationship with Bob, I should not flush him. You know, just in case she wanted to flush him herself. Or have a funeral and bury him behind the dorm.

So, I left a note with Bob floating in the bowl. Suite-Mate found him when she got home, and was PISSED. Everything I thought would happen did:
1. She cried.
B. She thought I did it on purpose.
D. She buried him behind the dorm.

Yes, a fishy story, indeed.

In perspective...

So y'all know how once in awhile, I have a blog pity-party? Well the following people and their brave stories have shut me up (at least, for today).

Brock Hart--barely one year old and fighting leukemia.

Layla Grace--two years old and dying of stage 4 Neuroblastoma.

Brad and Chloe Sullivan--wife and mother, Sara, died in September. She had breast cancer but was mysteriously killed by some other monster, a seizure/brain hemorrhage. Sara gave birth to Chloe three short weeks before she died, so Brad is left as a single father to his little one.

Rood & Valentina, Haitian orphans--according to the Feb. 26 entry by Kate, little children who watched their families die in the January earthquake.

The first three are Christians (I don't know about the last), and seem unshakable in their faith despite the tragedy. That fascinates me. I wonder about God a lot. Is He out there? Really? Why do Christians have such confidence that their human minds have wrapped around God's plan for life? Me, I think hmm. If he's God, and I'm me...how can I EVER know what is true?

Sometimes I really wish I could have the confidence the three families above seem to have in God.

(Note: I know that by posting the last 2 paragraphs, some might feel the strong need to comment LOUDLY in response. You don't have to. These are just my musings. I'm not expecting THE answer. I'd much rather you take the time to peruse the links above and share in the life stories of these people).

Getting ready...

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.

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.)

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.

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?

...

Think, Peggy, think.

There must be something to blog about.

A dog, a baby, and a fish

Sweet Bella

The Incomparable Emma Byrd

I brought Emma a Santa Frog for Christmas. She was thrilled!

Emma, Auntie Pegs, and Santa Frog

Emma can't take her eyes off Santa Frog. Santa Frog loves the camera.

Uncle Sam Itschner

For our gift exchange at work, Stacy gave me a Betta fish!
Because he is blue with red underfins, I gave him the patriotic name of Uncle Sam.
I call him Sam, and sometimes Sammy, for short.

It's much nicer to...

It's much nicer to only have 20 days between Jesse visits than 2.5 months. I go to Seattle a week from tomorrow.

It's much nicer to have 15 days together than 4. I'll be in Seattle December 19 - January 3.

It's much nicer to work for a university that closes for the break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. UNT does. UW and North Seattle Community College don't (where I was last year).

It's much nicer to watch TV shows when the writers know what they are doing. Special thanks goes out to the writers of the following shows: Community, The Office, Modern Family, and this season's Grey's Anatomy.

It's much nicer to quote Friends with someone who knows the show as well as you do. Otherwise, you just sound like an idiot.

Firsts...

Jesse & Peggy's First Prom Pose

(ever, and probably last)

Yes, we knew this was cheesy when we took it. That was the point.

Denton's First Winter Snow
(of the year)

I awoke to this winter wonderland this morning.

Bella's tee tee trail...see the paw prints?
She wasn't as excited about the snow as I was, but she still did her business.
I was a a proud Auntie Pegs.

And when I got to work this morning, I saw this lovely sculpture outside the Art building.

First Flu
(in ages)

My flu kit - fluids, thermometer, medicine
I tested positive this afternoon for flu and have been given orders to not return to work until Monday. So, I picked up meds and rented My Sister's Keeper, 17 Again, and Funny People.

An Itschner Thanksgiving

Royce & Cynthia hosted a whopping 18 people for Thanksgiving!
Jesse flew into Dallas on Wednesday and we headed to Kerrville for the festivities!

R&C were in the kitchen by 6 am working hard!

Cousin Kate

Jesse won the "who traveled furthest award"

Ladies photo-op
Cynthia, Lacey, Kate, Me, Gayle, Ann, Lauren, Annie

It just doesn't get any cuter than Lacey & Annie

Kate & Jason

Gayle & Lynn

Trying to get organized...

Family photo
Royce, Lauren, me, Annie, Kate, Ann, Beau, Cynthia, Lacey, Royce

Plus Gayle & Lynn!

Mmm...dessert.

Cousin Royce and wife Lauren

Royce & his girlies

Cousin Beau and girlfriend Ann

What do you think is going through her head?

Ann, Kate, Lauren, me

**Note: Many thanks to Ann for these photos I stole from her facebook. When I get the full album, I'll post more.

November 23, 1997

I don't remember much about the day. I know that at some point, the nurse encouraged us to go home and get some rest. She assured us that if anything happened, they would know in plenty of time to call us and for us to get back to the hospital.

At 2:50 pm, my grandma called and told me to go to the hospital. I met her and my father, but it was too late. We had all missed it.

Mama died at 3:00 pm.

I remember my father wailing (the only word to describe it) in the hospital hallway. Grandma was talking to the hospital staff. I don't remember what I did. I remember being shocked at my father's reaction, since it was exactly the first time I had ever seen him cry.

I remember spending the evening at my apartment with friends. I'm not sure why I wasn't with my dad and grandma.

Thanksgiving was two days later. The memorial service was two days after that.

One thing I do remember very clearly is that Grandma called me every year on November 23rd.

November 22, 1997

As I look around my apartment, I see the semblance of a Museum Ode to My Family. Among the memorabilia, I have my dad's cowboy hat, 1950s radio, and bowling pin trophy.

Daddy's treasures

I have boxes of family photo albums that were rescued from my dad's apartment the day we cleaned it out. I have my grandma's quilt, glasses, robe, and flower shoes.

Grandma's special things

A special treasure is my bronzed baby shoes that were on my parents' mantle.

A family heirloom

Oddly, I don't have anything of my mother's. I'm not sure why that is, but I do have pictures like this one I keep on my nightstand.

Helping Mama blow out her birthday candles

Twelve years ago today, my mother was receiving one of her dialysis treatments at the center she went to three times a week. Grandma took her since Daddy worked and I was in school.

At approximately 7:00 pm, my roommate at the time came running into the Baptist Student Ministries event I was attending. She told me that my dad had left a message on our answering machine (the days before cell phones) that my mother had been taken to the hospital and I should go down there.

I was not overly concerned because my mother's health had been poor for five years, and the hospital had become a second home. She went in, and then she always came home.

My friend, Zandra, and I drove to the hospital. My father and grandmother were at the ICU, and told me that my mother had a heart attack while at dialysis. She had gone about 8 minutes without oxygen to her brain, and they weren't sure how much damage had been done. The doctor was asking us whether or not we wanted to file a DNR.

That's when I knew this was a hospital visit like none of the others.

I went in to see my mother. It was very disturbing. She was in a coma. There were lots of tubes, and blood kept dripping from her nose. Mama wasn't there.

We decided to file a DNR.

We spent that night in uncomfortable chairs in the hospital.

Friends from Work

It seems like I've really bonded with the other gals in the office in the past couple of weeks...from a themed Halloween (remember the Three Blind Mice?), to Friday happy hour to a Dallas Stars game, I have really enjoyed hanging out with my work peeps! By the way, this post is called "Friends from Work" because Stacy and Abbie HATE when I call them my "co-workers"...they say it's very cold and would prefer that I just call them my friends. :)

Yay for Happy Hour!
Stacy with Indra & Kristi (2 undergrad business advisors) on the left
Me, Abbie, and Jennifer, our former Management advisor who has since left us for a new job :( on the right

Jennifer with Stacy's three adorable rescue pups--Wilson (the white grouch), Abby (the licker), and CJ (the one about to leap off the couch)

Abbie with her Stars ticket

Stacy & me wearing our Stars jerseys (I borrowed one from Stacy...she's a huge fan and has tons of Stars stuff)

The game...I know nothing about hockey!

The boys in action

Can you say "nosebleeds?" By the way, this wasn't as scary as it looks...we were in no danger of falling to our deaths.

Yay for a very fun night!

Baby shower!

This past weekend we had a baby shower for Ann, my cousin Beau's girlfriend. We had a great turnout with a TON of gifts-they cleaned up! I was the designated photographer, and while there was cropping involved to be sure, I was very excited to see they turned out pretty nicely!

The girlies
Ann, Lauren (other cousin's wife), and Kate (cousin)

Kate & Lauren being silly

Could we BE more confused?
Me, Aunt Cynthia, Lauren, Ann, Kate

Aunt Cynthia & Ann with the bassinet o' gifts!

Showers hostesses give a belly rub!

One of my artsy attempts. I call it "Lamp & Punch."

Ann and her delicious chocolate with raspberry filling cake!

Mommy & Daddy to be

I'm excited to grab Jesse at the airport and spend Thanksgiving with these fabulous people...
15 days, but who's counting? :)