Update

So I am pretty disappointed about this, but mainly because I waited in line for so long! But weather is weather...I read some comments about how angry people are, but I don't really see why. If you are a supporter, how does rain change the party's platform? Oh well- I am still excited just to participate in history no matter the outcome in November. Since I have the day off I am still going to Charlotte tomorrow I check out the festivities and maybe catch the taping of a certain political show there. Also there may be a rescheduled speech for credential holders so I will cross my fingers.

Today's Harvest

Lines...

Yesterday I went to a non- descript office to pick up some tickets. I knew there would be a line of some sort, but since I worked in the morning I couldn't get there until 11:45. When I walked up this is what I saw...

So I thought no problem, maybe two hours. But two hours later it still looked like this...

 So I called in a Tacobell delivery run from friends so I didn't starve. Then I called the people I was supposed to meet at 5:30 in Atlanta- not going to make that! So I kept waiting thinking maybe another hour. At this point I had pulled out the umbrella trying not I get a sunburn, read half of my not so interesting book, and chatted with the nice people around me. After 3 1/2 hours, I knew I couldn't give up at that point- so SIX hours later...

And I made it to the party a fashionable four hours late!

Ultimate and life

So the red team just won the summer league championship. I suppose I should be more excited, but I was ready for the season to be over. I only missed one game, but two of the other four girls missed a bunch. You would think that would count for something. Oh and I never missed one of the five catches that were thrown to me all season and hardly ever let the girl I was guarding get a point. But wait I am a girl. And over 20. So go me, I didn't really enjoy my team. I didn't learn a lot about strategy and the right plays and definitely not about teamwork. But I did like playing frisbee and it was good exercise. Maybe I will have a better team next year. I did learn it was at least worth trying something out of my comfort zone even if I didn't make new friends like I was hoping.

On another note, since I have been MIA from blog world... The banana peppers are about ready to eat, I gave away five tomatoes, there are four jalepenos about ready to pick, and a tiny zucchini starting to grow!

Also, I bought a new car! I got a Honda Civic to drive for the next 220,000 miles like the camry. It is nice to upgrade, but there was a little tearing up saying good-bye to the memories the camry carried with it! And next time I visit home, I will be very careful when pulling in the driveway (hint to Mom).

My renters' contract expires in less than two months and the market has not rebounding at all - if anything it has gotten worse. So they put in a offer contingent on my bank agreeing to a sort sale. But then they pulled it back. So I am still filing for a short sale and going to try to find a buyer at a lower price. Not feeling so optimistic on anything at this point. Just a rock to keep carrying for awhile. I was hoping something magical would work out, because I am seriously considering grad school for fall 2013. But I guess I will cross my fingers and keep my head up and keep going.

So in the meanwhile, my friend Sumer graduated this weekend - now all three of us here have psych degrees - and no jobs related to them at all... I went home and got to see my god kids and some friends and Dad while momsie was at grandma camp. Oh and I went to see Jenn and sight see in DC in June - pics on FB. Spent some time at the pool as usual and tried some new restaurants here. That's about the summer in a nutshell. I will try to post more! Hope everyone is doing well all around the country - and those traveling!

Adventures in...

babysitting? Nope. pet sitting? Nope. Plant sitting... I am not sure why anyone would trust me with plants seeing as my thumb is definitely not green, but for the past couple of weeks I have been taking care of some kale, Hungarian wax peppers, and a tomato plant. I though about not watering the tomato -because after all who really wants those- but overall I think I did pretty well. Now I even have my own peppers to grow...

May 19

Happy Birthday MOM!

**Note: Before laughing too hard at picture #2, remember that wearing things on our heads runs in the family and your birthday might be next...

Settling In

I feel like I have been moving for weeks... but finally things are coming together at my new apartment. My furniture (after the delivery truck ran out of gas and was delayed) was finally delivered last night around 10 pm. Unfortunately two pieces were damaged and so now I have to wait on another truck to replace them, but for now at least I have what is beginning to feel like a home. Here is a sneak peak...

An original artwork in the kitchen...finally a place to hang it!

The eggies also keep watch over the kitchen!Moxie tested the new couch to make sure it was comfy. I think it passed - she is sleeping there now!

The bedroom: I lost storage by moving to a smaller apartment, so the bedroom is pretty packed. I may move the crate eventually, but I haven't decided exactly where it will go. *Ignore the unmade bed and the missing comforter, Moxie isn't allowed to sleep on the good stuff!The entertainment center: Again a little cluttered for my taste, but without storage options I am just trying to find a place to put things for now. *Also note the expensive dog bed that Moxie is not sleeping in right now!

This is the painting for above the couch - it should arrive this week. The reviews on the trueness of the color were good, so cross my fingers it will lighten up the living room with the dark couches.Dining Room: Finally there is room for visitors to eat here now! So anyone who wants to come to dinner night once a month to try out random recipes... *And the new couch is a sofa sleeper, so even though I only have a one bedroom apartment, guests are welcome!
I have always wanted a hallway with random frames of family, but there isn't much of a hallway here for a huge gallery, but I made it work. **Note the empty frame, and the fact that some need to be updated. Hint for anyone who wants to email a recent picture of nephews you would like to see here...And of course, it wouldn't be home if Moxie didn't destroy the blinds in the first week!

Recycling

How I update my frames at work...

Across the bridge

Last hurrah before heading home...

Hello NYC!

Day one: Central Park, FAO Schwartz, Little Italy for dinner, and first amazing food truck for a late night snack!

Time to get serious.

Ok was this really my idea? Half marathon? 13.1 miles. Scary.

Oops!

So I was working in the file room today, bending over picking up a pile of folders, when I heard this zrpppp noise. Not a good sound! In my defense I wear these pants all the time, so they have been washed at least six times a month for the past year, and they were very thin material to start with... And I did turn down the birthday cake after lunch (albeit because I had just eaten at the mexican restaurant).

So, I got on the treadmill after my workout today. And signed up for a half marathon in April. So thanks to my wonderful sisters for posting about running, the gym, and losing weight... now I have been suckered in as well.

Tonight's Dinner

Chickpea Hot Pot

Hello Again

I think I am still in denial that the new year has already started. After a whirlwind fall full of visits, trips, holiday prep and celebration, shopping, and the requisite holiday cold/sickness, I am still recuperating on the couch. I am off of work today though so I guess it is time to stop hibernating and rejoin the rest of the world in making my new year’s resolutions. As evidenced in last year’s new years post, I am horrible in not only making resolutions, but in keeping them as well. But I suppose everyone has the same problem based on the fact that we all keep making the same ones every year. So I am hoping to make a list of reasonable goals for this year and put them in writing so my faithful five readers can keep me on track (hint, hint). 2012 is actually looking to be a fun year: ski day planned this month, trip to New York in February, long weekend in Atlanta in March (and hopefully Vegas as well), a new apartment in April, and some time this summer a California tour. So I think that is a good start to the year! So here is my list...

1. Blog more. I am going to write one full length blog a month. Plus a picture post once a week. Text/FB/email reminders are welcome.
2. Be active. I have been going to the gym off and on for the past year, but not with any regularity, so my goal this year is to no excuses, go two days a week every week. I hope to go more and often do, but then there will be sometimes be a two week period when I don’t go at all. So this way, I have two days planned every week so I can’t fall off the wagon.
3. Cook more. I really do like to cook, but I just get sick of leftovers so I often just eat out. I am hoping to start eating at home more often. My friends and I tried to start a once a week rotating dinner night, but with the holidays, we didn’t get into a routine. I think I am going to try to jump start that idea again. It is always more fun to cook for others!
4. Do something. Okay that is vague, but I am hoping to find at least regular activity that I have been missing lately. I miss singing, but as an adult there aren't a lot of opportunities other than church choirs for that. But there is an adult chorus in Columbia. Or maybe a charity that needs a volunteer on one Saturday a month, or possibly an ultimate frisbee team in the spring. My idea is to find something that I enjoy where I can meet other people. I have decided to stay here for at least another year, so I want to take advantage of the benefits of my job (flexibility, days off, set hours, minimal stress, etc.)
5. Try new things. Snowboarding will be first this year. I’ll let you know how that goes in my next post. Any ideas are welcome. Whether it is a new food, a new look, a book I wouldn’t normally read, or an activity. Time to explore my thirties...
6. Organize my past. I have slowly brought all of my pictures and journals and random memories here from mom’s house, but there is no sort of organization. Plus I have five years of digital photos on my computer that have never been printed. So I want to consolidate to a manageable amount of meaningful, documented, date ordered files/books. This may take longer than one year...
7. Learn. I keep tossing around this idea of going back to school, but then the pro/con list always leans heavier on the con list due to finances and responsibilities. I really do miss studying and learning new things and discussing with other people that are interested in the same ideas, but graduate school just seems a little out of reach. So I was thinking about on online course or continuing ed class at the school here. I’ll see what I find and keep you all posted.

I think that sums up the basic goals for this year. I think the basic theme is to stop letting time pass by and start living life. I know that is a pretty common and trite statement, but this is where I am at right now, so... here’s to 2012!

And because cute animal pictures make anyone smile...