Inhale, Exhale, Repeat

For two weeks as the semester was winding down, this was my mantra. Inhale, exhale, repeat (try not to hyperventilate). Between projects, exams, dealing with group dynamics, programming assignments (ICK!!) - I was certain that by the time I was done with my last exam, my last email, my last document that I would be flat on the ground.

The only way I found myself standing triumphantly on the finish line for the semester was through the generous help of my friends and family. Many thanks to Dave - my 'little' brother - who helped me with the programming stuff. Without him, I'm fairly certain that my head would have popped off my shoulders in about week 4 of the semester. Same goes for my roommate Beth, who selflessly did all the cooking and cleaning (including getting the house ready for the ornament party) and reminded me that I didn't have to do it all alone.

So - now the semester is officially over. The holidays are upon us and I'm looking VERY forward to some evenings at home, some time with families - the one I was born into AND Beth's family who treat me as if I'm one of theirs, and maybe even some sleeping in.

I love this time of year, the sights, the sounds, the smells - all of it. So I'm NOT changing my mantra now that school is over. I still want to inhale, exhale, and repeat - and do it slowly to savor every moment of freedom.

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family - may the holidays find you all happy and healthy.

It's that time of year again!

Every year on the first Saturday in December I have a party for 30 or so of my closest friends. My roommate and I spend days cooking goodies, decorating for the holidays, and cleaning the apartment from head to toe! Well, I invite 30 or so and am usually lucky enough to have 20 or so actually come (which is a great turnout). It's an ornament exchange party, and for those of you who have been to a cookie exchange they are nothing alike! It works like this:

Everyone brings a wrapped ornament, set of ornaments, or other christmas style decoration that costs at least $5 and no more than $15. Everyone at the party draws a number out of a basket. The person with number 1 opens one of the wrapped packages and shows it to everyone (who then proceed to oooh & aaah on cue). The person who is number 2 then has the option of stealing the first package or opening a new one. If they steal the first package, then person number 1 gets to open another package. The only rule about stealing is that you can't steal back a package from the person who stole it from you. The more stealing that goes on, the more fun we have!

This year we had 22 people in the apartment and one person who mailed an ornament because she moved away and still wanted to be able to participate - so 23 ornaments and decorations to be opened and stolen many times! The party doesn't run very late, people usually hang out for a total of 2 1/2 to 3 hours having cocktails and snacking on the goodies. The exchange itself usually takes 30-45 minutes, depending on how much people steal ornaments from others. It gets loud and roudy and I LOVE IT!

And now it's done for another year and I can turn my attention to the remainder of the holidays and then GRADUATION!

To skip or not to skip

I had a horrible dilemma yesterday. I have class on Thursday nights. It's not a difficult class, there are no exams so really it's all about the group project. I also had a free (let me repeat, FREE) pass for two to the sneak peak screening of the new Bond flick, Casino Royale. So I was faced with this horrible dilemma of whether to skip my class or not.

Let me just say, the movie was AWESOME! All the hype about Daniel Craig not being right for the role is way off base. It was funny, action-packed, and well - he was quite nice to look at!

It's good to know my priorities are intact!

I'm Ready!!!!

I just had to share the exciting news... this morning I registered for my last two classes as an undergraduate! Yes, that's right - when the Spring 2007 semester begins, I can officially apply for graduation. I can't believe that it's finally HERE!

Stealing again!!

Thanks MB for a great followup to the Top 100 List. Number 39 on that list was "visited all 50 states". My goal is to see 50 states by the time I turn 50. I'm more than halfway there according to the map below (26 states) in which I have spent at least one night. When I include the states I've driven through or changed planes in, I can add WA, UT, OK, TN, GA, PA, and CT. I'll be visiting Hawaii for my 40th birthday (coming WAY too fast!) and will probably see UT and WA during next summer's road trip, then as soon as Disney offers an Alaskan Cruise then I can cross that off the list. Then it looks like I'll need to concentrate on going east for a while!

After 50 I can work on the countries I've visited!



create your own visited states map

I realize that seeing all 50 states isn't exactly a deep thoughtful or spiritual "life" goal. However, the experience of traveling, meeting new people, seeing incredible national parks and monuments and the biggest ball of twine, plus the bonus of spending quality time in the car (or plane or condo) with those closest to me is what really living feels like to me. What about you? If your goal isn't the 50 states, what is it that you would like to accomplish - or what does really "living" mean to you?

Not my list, but...

I saw this list on my friend's blog (thanks MB) and thought what an interesting commentary on our lives the list makes. It's not my list, and there are some things on it that I don't really have an interest in doing. Perhaps when school is out (190 days!), I'll take the time to make my own list of "100 Things I want to do". As I read this list I'm amazed both at the wonderful opportunities I've been given and at the long list of things I still want to do (some on which aren't on the list). The items in purple are those I've already done.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you’ and meant it!
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg (does a glacier count?)
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Visited all 50 states - I'm working on this one so it's only half purple!!
40. Taken care of someone who was drunk
41. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
42. Watched wild whales
43. Stolen a sign
44. Backpacked in Europe
45. Taken a road-trip
46. Gone rock climbing
48. Midnight walk on the beach
49. Gone sky diving
50. Taken a train through Europe
51. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
52. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table, and had a meal with them
53. Milked a cow
54. Alphabetized your CDs
55. Sung karaoke
56. Lounged around in bed all day
57. Gone scuba diving
58. Kissed in the rain
59. Gone to a drive-in theatre
60. Started a business
61. Taken a martial arts class
62. Been in a movie
63. Crashed a party
64. Gone without food for 5 days
65. Gotten a tattoo
66. Got flowers for no reason
67. Performed on stage
68. Been to Las Vegas
69. Recorded music
70. Eaten shark
71. Buried one/both of your parents
72. Been on a cruise ship
73. Spoken more than one language fluently
74. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
75. Been to the Statue of Liberty
76. Had plastic surgery
77. Lost over 20 pounds
78. Wrote articles for a large publication
79. Piloted an airplane
80. Petted a stingray
81. Broken someone’s heart
82. Broken a bone
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Parasailed
86. Skipped all your school reunions
87. Shaved your head
88. Caused a car accident
89. Pretended to be "sick"
90. Surfed in the ocean
91. Saved someone's life
92. Fainted
93. Been in the room while someone is giving birth
94. Hitchhiked
95. Adopted a child
96. Been caught daydreaming
97. Been to the Grand Canyon (just three months ago)!
98. Called off a wedding engagement
99. Donated your blood
100. Become a follower of Jesus Christ

By my count, that's more than 50% that I have done already - which is better than I estimated when I first looked at the list. How about you?

Family Time

I spent this last weekend in Branson, MO with three of my cousins from Kansas. When Amy mentioned something about it a month ago, I couldn't see my way past the homework to get away. Then I took a good look at the calendar, and it turns out that the weekend they wanted to go was just after a big project and just before fall break. Timing couldn't have been better and I thought the time away would do me good. Plus there were three bonuses in it for me!

Bonus #1: The opportunity to shop at the Hallmark Discount store at the Hallmark factory (two of the three cousins work part time for Hallmark). You never know what you'll find there - but there's always something fun or useful. And it's all 75% less than regular price. I got cards, wrapping paper/gift bags, stocking stuffers, picture frames, and a few Birthday and Christmas presents!

Bonus #2: The meal stop I knew we'd make on the way at Lamberts Cafe near Springfield, MO - unbelievable food, great prices, and a little entertainment as hot dinner rolls fly across the room. I ordered the pork chops, with sides of sliced peaches and cottage cheese. Plus every meal comes with "Pass-arounds", which are brought around by restaurant staff in huge bowls and pots. The standard pass-arounds are fried okra, fried potatoes w/onions, black-eyed peas, or macaroni w/tomatoes. My plate was actually an entire skillet holding two massive pork chops and my sides. The waitress reminded us as she set our food down that we could have seconds if we wanted. Yes, that's right - if by some miracle you are still hungry after all that, you can get more of your entree - for free! My meal was about $11. (FYI - be prepared to wait at least an hour for a table as busses often stop there)

Bonus #3: Right behind the restaurant is a branch of the Osceola Cheese Factory where you can sample more kinds of cheese than you ever imagined. Plus, there's not much better than fresh cheese. I sampled and shopped while we waited for our table at Lamberts and walked out with several pounds of different cheeses - like fresh smoked string cheese, white sharp cheddar, mild gouda, garlic jack, and more. Cheese is one of my favorite foods and when I can get the good stuff, I stock up!

Then there's the destination. If you've never been to Branson, it's a combination of Nashville and Las Vegas. The lights on the strip could rival that of most any casino, and there are theatres and shows from one end to the other. The reason I go, the reason we went this last weekend, and the real gem of Branson is the shopping.

Yes there are the usual tourist trap shops along the strip that advertise t-shirts 3/$10 and Homemade Fudge, but this isn't our focus. Our focus is on the three outlet malls - outlets for Old Navy, Tommy, Jockey, Disney, Oneida, Pfaltzgraff, and MANY, MANY more. I actually got most of my Christmas shopping done, found an ornament set for my ornament exchange party (I'll post on that closer to the party), got two fancy tops for the upcoming cruise (more on that later also), and some things for the house.

It was a very successful trip and a whole lot of fun with my cousins. I think it should be an annual event!

Did I forget to tell you?

The first time I went camping as an adult, with some friends from work (one of whom is now my roomate) - there was a litany of things they forgot to tell me before we went off on our adventure. Like the fact that I was supposed to bring pillows. Not one mention of this fact. They told me that they had a camper - but neglected to mention that I should bring slip on shoes so that I could easily put them on in the night to WALK TO THE BATHROOM (another detail they forgot). They forgot to tell me to bring some sort of laundry bag to put dirty clothes in, never once mentioned that the new person is supposed to bring treats, and it completely slipped their mind to tell me that I would have to shower in place where others might see me dress.

So when I hear the phrase "Did I forget to tell you...?" - it raises some serious concerns about what's coming my way. And when my boss said it to me this morning - I knew I was in trouble. Turns out that I'm supposed to give a presentation to the entire staff tomorrow morning and have one whole day to prepare. She's known about this for MONTHS - not hours (like me) or days or even weeks - MONTHS.

So when I quit this job (at some unknown point in the future), I think I'll just stop showing up - and when they call I'm going to say - Did I forget to tell you?

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

There are only 10 weeks of school left in the semester from he!! - yippee! Only 1 presentation, 4 pieces of a group project, 6 one-page Management papers, 6 JAVA programs, 3 calculus exams, 3 JAVA exams, and 2 Management exams to go. Ok - maybe I shouldn't be all that excited that there are only 10 weeks left. In the beginning, I thought for sure that I'd be dead by now so the fact that I'm still kickin' is something to celebrate!

Plus, I have a trip to Branson, MO to look forward to with my cousins. I shouldn't take the time and I shouldn't spend the money - but the trip itself is the therapy (stress relief) I'll need to make it through!

On a completely different note, the roommate's son is no longer living with us. Turns out he didn't tell us the truth about anything (or possibly very little). You'd think I'd be jumping for joy that we have our house back to ourselves... but the truth is I was really hoping that he would do something so she could be proud of him.

Say Ahhhhh!

I had company this past weekend, a cousin and her friend were taking a class in town and I offered them my bedroom to save the costs of hotel. Plus - I just enjoy being a hostess. When I first learned of their class and made my offer, our couch was used just for watching TV and playing with Beth's grandson; however as noted in an earlier posting, that is no longer the case since Beth's son Donny is habitating there. So some shuffling had to be done to accommodate the company.

My cousin Grace is a reflexologist, and her friend Sheila is a massage therapist, and as a thank you for our hospitality - we were both treated to free massages! What a treat! Made especially so because we didn't have to leave the house to get it. Imagine being done with a massage and not having to get in the car and drive home afterwards. I'd say my euphoria and relaxation lasted well into the next day! I've been getting my nails done at home for several years, but have now decided that I must find a regular massage therapist who will come to the house!

I can see now how someone could be a homebody. Technology means I can work at home, go to school from home, have groceries (and anything else you can think of) delivered, have a constant stream of news and current events. If doctors still routinely made house calls (I know there are some who do it on occasion because I work for them) - a person would never have to leave the house!

Luckily I enjoy seeing the world (and people) too much for it to happen to me. So I'll just sit back and say 'ahhhh' to my first (any maybe last) home massage!

Apples, apples everwhere!

For those of you who don't know, Nebraska was home to J. Sterling Morton - the founder of Arbor Day. Every year during September, just as the weather starts to change and the mornings are crisp and cool - Nebraska City hosts the annual Applejack Festival. It's a great place to learn (at Arbor Tree Farm), to stay (at Arbor Lodge), to shop (Craft Shows), to watch a great parade, to feel the beginnings of fall, or to eat amazing food.

I'm reminded of Forrest Gump when Bubba is naming everything you can do with shrimp, only with apples (which seem to be much more versatile than shrimp!).

There's ways to prepare apples:
apple pie
apple turnovers
applesauce
apple cider
apple donuts
caramel apples
fried apples
baked apples
dried apples
apple wine
apple beer
apple brats
apple sausage
apple chicken salad

and there's activities to do with apples:
dunking for apples
apple pie-eating contest
apple parades
apple crafts
apple picking

and there's so many kinds of apples to eat or bake with:
jonathan
red delicious
golden delicious
jonagold
fuji
gala
granny smith
braeburn
pink lady
macintosh
cameo
and probably hundred more!

So even though I have homework projects piled up to my eyeballs, and I'm fighting a sinus infection (probably from losing sleep over the homework); I took a few hours on Sunday to participate in the annual fall kickoff craft show frenzy. We shopped our way from one side of town to the other, we had apple pie, we got rosy cheeks from the crisp fall breeze, we bought crafts (apple related and not), and we bought apples in many forms!

So if you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a few hours with the great people of Nebraska City. And if by chance you're in the mood for apples - there's no place better than Union Orchard (just north of town) - where I got the most wonderful apple pie to take home (it was still warm from the oven)!

Mmmm, apple pie a-la-mode anyone?

Going... going... GONE!

And good riddance! That is what I said to the mountains of stuff I got rid of this past weekend at a yard sale.

There is something very cleansing and motivating in getting rid of the accumulations of "STUFF". Makes you want to get rid of more. So much so that Beth (my roomate) went and collected all of the decorative stuff from our bathroom to sell so that we have an excuse to redecorate it! When it comes to "holding on" and "letting go", Beth and I are at WAY opposite ends of the spectrum. I want to hold onto everything just in case I need it sometime (I blame my mom and grandma), and she - well - doesn't! So I've learned to be picky about the things I hold on to.

And now - with the sale over - the storage areas (basement/bedroom/living room/dining room/pantry) all have this nice clean bare look that I kind of like. I know it won't stay that way for long, but it's a good feeling for a little while!

PS - On a side note - 2.5 weeks of school done, 13.5 to go!

Just when...

Just when you think that things will settle into a routine (ha!) - somebody tips over the apple cart. This time - just as school starts and my free time disappears - the 25 year old son of my roommate needs a place to stay in a hurry. Well - I guess that means us because he's now sleeping on my couch, eating my cereal, and worst of all - hogging my dog! I suppose to be fair I should say that the dog was his first, before he moved out of his mom's house and she moved in with me. But I'm used to the dog, I love the dog, and now I'm cast off like a dirty t-shirt (many of which I'm seeing these days).

I think my biggest problem with the whole thing is that I listened to his mom complain about him for 2 years - before we ever lived in the same house. He wastes what little money he makes and then expects others to help him keep his cell phone on, pay his bills, etc. He won't get a second job because "I like my life fine". He never finished high school. And for 2 years he lived with his mom or dad and wouldn't get a job. Of course, his mom can't (and shouldn't) have to worry about him living on the street. But how hard can I push to get his rear end off my couch?

For now, call me Missing My Dog.

The student's new groove...

My roommate (Beth) and I just got back from our annual road trip. This time to Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The beautiful places we saw (The Grand Canyon-see picture), The great food we ate (Los Cuartes and The Frontier in Albuquerque), the fun things we did (Blazin' M Ranch, Arizona Mills, Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge, Casa Bonita), and the joy of coming home.

Now back into the groove of work & school (which started yesterday). Twelve credit hours may be my most ambitious undertaking yet - and when it's over an undertaker may be the only help for me!