Homework's done!

All of my work for the semester that has to be turned in ... is done! All I've got left to do is study for a final exam on Wednesday. I found some time to scrapbook tonight... here's Dusty. The scan's not great, because of all the texture, but I can't take a straight photo of a sqaure without it turning in to a trapezoid.


Other than that, not much to report. Went to the gym again. It was Taco Night here at our house. I watched 24, and am looking forward to heading to bed.

Tuesday night is my presentation for my EVIL class. Wish me luck!

Better than expected

Today wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it was going to be, which was a relief considering how stressed out I've been lately. I put the finishing touches on two projects for class this morning. I was much further along than I thought I was, probably because I did an awful lot of work during the week. I still have a couple of things to wrap up tomorrow, but at least I had some time to relax this weekend, too.

I mentioned sometime earlier that Dusty and Lefty love to get on top of the dresser that's right next to the window, and put their front paws on the top of the window and just look out. Normally, when you catch them, they take off running. I managed to get some pictures of them today, though. The one of Lefty hanging from the window indicates why we've been having to keep that window cracked only a little bit. It also draws attention to how long and skinny she is!


Not a whole lot going on. Just counting down the 72 hrs I've got until this stupid semester is over. I made it to the gym again this afternoon, and we just had a quick dinner. Caught the Amazing Race, did a little scrapbooking, caught up with my friend Rachael, talked to Jeff for a little while.

Homework Successfully Avoided

I did get some work done last night -- a bunch, actually. I've still got a lot to do, but I really needed a break from the stress today, so I chose procrastination.

In honor of procrastinating, we went to Costco and bought lots of stuff. We brought more coolers this time, and more ice. The one closer to the house is supposed to open this summer-- it can't come soon enough! We got everything from printer ink to green beans (they have the best french green beans!). We also treated ourselves to an itunes giftcard -- see if we can't give this digital music thing a shot and cut down on cds. ;)

Did I accidentally forget to mention that we stopped at the scrapbook store first? Greg's such a good sport, even if he did leave to go look at shoes. And then go sit in the car to work on his thesis. In fact, I *deserved* to stop at the scrapbook store, since he made me drive both ways, so he could "revise" his thesis, but every time I looked over, his eyes were closed. It sure is a good thing I love him.

We had Costco crabcakes for dinner, and then I made some blueberry muffins and banana oatmeal bread. I've been taking granola bars into work for breakfast, and I'm so sick of them! I've got a new recipe I want to try for some sweet corn muffins, and maybe next weekend I'll make more pumpkin-chocolate chip bread.


The cats were annoying Greg while he was trying to work tonight. They like to get up right in front of the monitor when you're working, and they mostly love to sit and watch the little arrow cursor and follow it around. They also enjoy walking across the keyboard, or just sitting on it. (I got lots of love notes from the kittens while I was in Europe that said jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjvvvvvdsaaaaaaa). Anyhow, to distract them, Greg filled the bathroom sink with water and put some ice cubes around the edges. They loved it! Ice is still one of their favorite toys -- they still come running from the far reaches of the house when they hear an ice cube tray. Sometimes all it takes is opening the freezer. Greg got some pictures of them. (I love the look on Dusty's face in the 2nd one.)


Some more flowers are coming out. The azaleas out front are finally in full bloom, and one of the rhododendron is flowering. It's the one that had to be replanted last fall, so at least is survived the curse of the last plant that was there. Apparently, though, we weren't lucky enough to get a rhododendron that will bloom at the same time as the other one, so we will permanently be reminded of our plant issues. At least until we move. :) On a positive note, the tomatoes are doing fine, and I saw today that one of the plants has a tiny green tomato on it! Nothing yet on the herbs.

Thursday... the start of my fabulous herb garden

Today was just another day. I did drag myself to the gym. By the time I got home, had dinner, did laundry, cleaned up, well... now it's pretty much 11:30.

One thing I did manage to do today was to start my herb garden. I got some seeds and little plastic "greenhouses" last weekend. Tonight I made a big dirty mess, and got them planted. We're hoping for parsley, oregano, cilantro, basil, and dill.

So far, I've managed to remember to water the tomatoes... mostly. Didn't feel like running in and out 5 times last night (I know, I know, get a bigger watering can) because we were already starting to find little bugs in the house (that Dusty and Lefty clearly weren't amused enough by to try to catch... darn, and that was why we got kittens...). That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Tonight it rained a little, but I did manage to water them anyway.

And I did get to watch The Office tonight, which is my favorite tv show.

That's really about it. I've been swamped with school work lately. I actually feel like I have made some progress this week, and have a plan to get it all done (or, done enough.) I saw an email earlier that teacher evaluations are available online now. I'll have to save the one for my AWFUL class for this weekend when I have plenty of time to take out my frustrations. Hm, maybe I'll even post it.

My list:
807 project and write up
808 project and write up
808 - 2 extra credits
Study for 808 exam

It'll all be over in less than a week, and I'll have two whole weeks to myself! I absolutely cannot wait.

The Wonder Spot

by Melissa Bank. I finished this up a week or so ago, but am trying to remember now what it was about. From what I can remember, it was a bunch of stories about growing up and trying to find your place. Who can't relate?
One of the things that really hit home for me was the way the main character was trying to find her "calling" in a job, and never really found anything that fit in a way to fulfill her. I don't really feel like my job is a "calling," just a job. Sometimes I wonder if I have the drive to have a "career" and not just a job.

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was pretty much nonstop. It's been gorgeous out, though -- sunny and 75 or so. We've had the windows open since last week. It's nice to not need the air conditioning ... yet.

Greg had a meeting with his thesis advisor on Friday night, and I ran to Target and went to the gym. I'm still trying to get 'going to the gym' back into the routine. I haven't been good about it at all lately. Had to work on homework on Friday night, too.

On Saturday, I was up early and back at the gym. I ran a bunch of errands that shouldn't have taken as long as they did. When I got home, I cleaned the brake dust out of the wheels of both of our cars, because the car wash just doesn't get it out. I also realized how much damage Sam's Club did to the wheels when they changed my tires. There are deep gashes in the rims -- all of them. I'm so aggravated. I'm putting them on notice (Stephen Colbert, anyone?). Actually, I am really mad about it, and I don't plan on shopping there again.

I also potted some tomato plants. We had an "Earth Day" 'thing' at work on Thursday, and they gave us 2 free tomato plants. The announcement said "free plants," and I wasn't planning on going, because I thought they were just going to be little things that wouldn't survive. But then I saw people coming back with these 2 ft tall tomato plants, so I decided to go. So there's in pots now, out on the deck. I hope they're going to get enough sun... and I hope I remember to water them. It also inspired me to finally start my own herb garden. I've been meaning to forever. So I got seeds and am all ready to go.

We went out for my birthday last night with Lisa and John and Holly and their 2 yr old son, Andrew. It was lots of fun - we went to the Brick Street Cafe for a nice long dinner. Lisa brought me a present (even though she shouldn't have!) -- it's a box in a box in a box! :) Target has started selling wine in a box, so it's a box of wine in a box-shaped wine 'cozy' in a super cool gift box. (The 'smile' is where the spout is.) During May, they show old movies downtown behind the Peace Center. I've never been, but the wine cozy is for future picnics at the movies. Hopefully my school schedule will allow.

I had more homework on Saturday night, and again today. What I hate most about all of this is that I feel like I have very little time that is MINE, where I'm doing what I want to do. I feel like I'm always doing what someone else wants me to do. It really gets to me. It was so gorgeous out this afternoon, especially since Greg cleaned off all the patio furniture yesterday. I would have liked nothing more than to sit outside and read for even just an hour or so. Sigh.

Some other random pictures...
Our azaleas out front are finall blooming. I was starting to worry about them, since most azaleas have flowered already, and most of them didn't survive the cold snaps. We had some that were flowering out back, and they died in the frost. But the ones in the front, and the ones right outside the back window of the kitchen, seem to have survived, and are getting around to flowering now.




The kitties! Lefty napping on the chair in our bedroom. Dusty napping on the floor nearby. They seem to love having the windows open, too. There's one next to a dresser that we have to keep only cracked, because they get up on the dresser and put their paws on the top of the window, and I'm afraid they're going to get up there and loose their balance, and those screens are not load bearing screens (the Simpsons? the load bearing poster?). But they love to look out at the birds and the dog next door. They also love to leave their little nose prints on the windows.

Sigh. You know you're married to an engineer when he breaks the corners off of his cheese before he puts it on his english muffin.

That's about it. I managed to get a chicken in the oven a little while ago, so we're going to have that for dinner. The Amazing Race is on tonight, so I'm hoping I'll get to watch that while cleaning up some of my scrapbooking stuff (and making room for the stuff I just ordered...).

We're so mean

This is a picture of Dusty (right) and Lefty (well, left) sitting at the front door, wanting desperately to come out and play. I think Greg and I were outside doing yard work. They are still too small to wear their collars, though.

Working (trust me) ...

Trust me? That was my feedback from Unix at work today. I was transferring a bunch of files from Europe. It's a good thing I trusted it, because it took *forever*. And if it hadn't said "trust me," I surely would have killed the operation.

Another digital layout!

So, we are supposed to be creating a scrapbook of "our digital lives," but I don't really have a whole lot of interest in that right now. So I decided to use pictures I've already got on my computer. The design is all straight from class, but I'm pretty proud of it.

What do you think she's thinking?

-WHAT is going on here?
-And which of these buttons will scan my butt?

Destruction

When I came home sick from work on Friday, I found out that Dusty and Lefty had been up to no good. Behind the couch are 3 windows which used to have double hung curtains. Now, I'll admit, they were never really structurally sound, and I think the curtain rods were sagging in the middle since I hung them up. But the sheer panels in the back were pulled down on Friday. The curtain rod had a real 90 degree bend in the middle, and I'm not sure how they managed to pull that off. It's an excuse to go look for a sturdier curtain rod tomorrow.

We got them a 2-level kitty "condo" that they used to love to climb on top of. Now, they also like to run and bounce off of it, and have the weight now to knock it over and roll it around on the ground. (Greg once saw Lefty get trapped in one of the holes as it rolled over her. Surely she would have gotten out eventually.) Anyhow, Greg went to Lowe's and got a 2' X 2' piece of wood to attach to the bottom so it's harder to tip over now. Not impossible, just harder.

Pink Tulips

These are some of my favorites! Only 2 came up in the entire yard. I *know* I planted more than 2. Like, at least 8 or 10. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Looks like the hyndragea are sprouting some new leaves, so they aren't a total loss after last weekend's freeze. But I don't know what shape the flowers will be in.

Sick Weekend

I'm so upset. We had plans to go to the beach this weekend to see Greg's parents. And sure enough, I got sick. It started Friday morning, and by lunch time I was pretty miserable. I had some things I had to get done, so I stuck it out until 3, and then Greg drove me home (as my car is still in the shop.) So we skipped the MBA dinner on Friday night, but I was still feeling bad on Saturday morning. I finally convinced Greg that he should go see his parents, so he drove out there on Saturday afternoon by himself.

I'm feeling better today, but just feeling kind of blah lately. Feeling buried under work and school and a house that is never in order. The chaos wears me down.

I did get to do some scrapbooking this weekend.

David Sedaris...

...was absolutely hysterical. We laughed so hard we were gasping for breath. He read one of the stories from the book I just read (Dress Your Family in Coduroy and Denim), but Greg hadn't read yet. If you've read that book, it was the story about the birth of his brother's first child. He also read another story he had written for the New Yorker called "All the Beauty You'll Ever Need," partially about living in Normandy and the water always getting cut off and what he'd use to make coffee. He read a bit of his jounal entries, including a bunch about the 3 months he spent in Japan at the beginning of the year. So funny.

We went downtown for dinner beforehand, and went to the Thai restaurant, partly to try to make up for the damage done to my tongue on Saturday. This one was much better.

We're going to the beach this weekend to see Greg's parents, but I'm kind of stressed about all the work I've got to take with me. Sigh.