The Years Teach Much Which The Days Never Knew

*From Bob Dylan's song "Sara"

Only a couple weeks left with summer session, and I already can't wait. This class is filled with boredom and bullshit. (I'm sorry, but it's true). The class mainly consists of me typing up letters, memos, and my current project-A 'proposal' to my 'supervisor' for anything I would like to see happen within the 'business'. I chose to base my proposal in a medical office (since this is my major) to convert a manual filing system to an electronic filing system with electronic medical records. Your bored already, right? This project will last until the end of the summer session, with a presentation/slide show to the class @ the end. I just can't wait (ugh).

I finished The Stand, finally. Contradicting everyone else's review of the book-stating it's their 'favorite', I don't think it's one of mine. Sorry, Stand fans. It was good, don't get me wrong. But reading it became a chore, and not very enjoyable towards the end. A good book to me is something I anticipate picking up again, and can't wait to see what happens next. I could have cared less what happened with the two groups of people within the story. I'm glad it's over.

Currently reading 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov.  I've been wanting to read it ever since I saw both versions of the film. The book is very disturbing. For those that do not know, It's about a middle-aged man, "Humbert Humbert", who is obsessed with a twelve-year-old nymphet, Dolores Haze a.k.a Lolita. Through unforeseen and tragic events, Lolita and Humbert venture off on a trip all across the United States, where seduction ensues. I'm enjoying it so far, even if it is painful to read at times. I should finish it either tomorrow or Sunday.

I finally found a dress today for my brother, goodguyseatpie , wedding next month. Now all I need are shoes to finish my ensemble, and voila, Sarah is ready for the big day. I'm looking forward to not only witnessing my brother's nuptials, but also the trek to Minnesota. We're renting a car for this trip, and it will take 2 days to get there, 2 days back. I look forward to seeing parts of the country I have yet to see. I am definitely anticipating going to the 'Mall of America'!
I also bought some 'new' books today. Adding books to my personal library is a guilty pleasure of mine. I bought 'Watership Down', 'Jane Eyre' (I had this book, but lost is somehow through the years), 'The World According to Garp', 'Farenheit 451', and 'The Sun Also Rises'. Oh beautiful books, I bask in all your glory.  Dear hubby simply rolled his eyes when I came home with my goodies. He knows me too well.
I'll have to find out from Paul and his fiance', Amber, what good used bookstores there are in Minnesota. I'm sure plenty for me to raid :)

Happy 4th to all this weekend.

"Okay guys, one more thing, this summer when you're being inundated with all this American bicentennial Fourth Of July brouhaha, don't forget what you're celebrating, and that's the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn't want to pay their taxes. "
-Dazed and Confused

"Newsies" meaning in sayrah language: new stuff.

So why am I just finding out about this? George Harrison newly released CD Let It Roll compiles all of his greatest hits, including: "I've got my mind set on you", "My Sweet Lord" & "Give me love (Give me peace on earth)" .
I can't believe it's taken me 4 days to find this out. This is so utterly shameful of me, being a faithful Harrison fan and all. Ah well, I'm sure he forgives me. RIP George. This is a must-have in my CD collection. I'll have to snag it, for sure.

Also among "new stuff" would be the new show Merlin that will be premiering tomorrow night @ 8pm on NBC. I'm excited about this show..it looks really neat, and hopefully one I can enjoy an hour before True Blood airs @ 9 on HBO. Speaking of True Blood, the season premiere was last Sunday. I waited too many long months for the premiere, and it proved worthy of my viewing pleasure :) Hopefully this will be a good summer/fall with Vampires & Midieval Times, haha. Anthony Stewart Head also plays in Merlin, who some of you may know as 'Giles' from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Interesting...

The Stand is coming along quite well. I hopefully will finish it by the end of June, but I'm aiming for the first week in July. I'm in no hurry, but it is too good to put down! I am debating over Great Expectations as my next read, though. I really want to read Lolita (which I bought last month on a trek to Edward McKay's with chum, Shannon). Looks like a coin-toss, to me.

Bought 4 new (well, new to me) DvD's today @ our own Second-Hand Cash store (aka-The Ebay Store). The newsies are-Breakfast @ Tiffany's (for a whopping $3!), Labrynth (hehe), The Never-Ending Story & Stephen King's Riding the Bullet. I thought that would be an interesting choice. I recently read the short story--well, last year--in 'Everything's Eventual'. Hopefully it does the short story justice. Only one way to find out, though.

I also received my brother's wedding invitation in the mail today. I couldn't really decide between the two vegetarian meals served (Yes, he & and his beautiful fiance' are herbivores). The choices were Mediterrean Vegetable Ragout & Vegetable Paella. I went with the latter, simply because the first has mushrooms in it, which I am not fond of (blech).

Alrighty, I need to wind it down here. Church in the a.m.

((Pictures will be uploaded tomorrow of my newly finished Laundry Room)) **pause for applause**

As promised, although a little delayed (my apologies!), here are the photos of my newly re-done Master Bedroom my DH & I share. I welcome you into a part of my humble abode.

The first, of course, are before pictures. Only a couple-you get the idea. The rest are the complete, painted & furnished after pictures. Enjoy :)











This is a close up of the pictures above my bed. Isn't it neat? Looks like you're looking through 'windows' @ black & white butterflies :) The rustic art above those says PRAY. I found it @ Hobby Lobby the other weekend with dear Mom. All there wall art were half off..I just had to snag it. I love it!!



Well, there you have it. It's nothing fancy, but it's mine. I don't know if you would call it 'shabby chic' or 'country chic'. But I like to think of it as 'Sayrah chic'. Has a nice ring to it.


I'll hopefully be working on painting the laundry room this weekend. The same color-'Fairy Lilly' aka pale yellow. I have tons left over, might as well use it where needed. The laundry room needs a DRASTIC makeover. Pictures will be up after the makeover. And I promise, you won't have to wait long this time!!

God Bless :)

The day started with a nice little orientation @ our local hospital--Morehead Memorial Hospital. I'm starting a volunteer/internship there on the weekends to help 'tweek' my resume. And yes, to also do good for my fellow 'man'. Orientation went well, although Bloodsucker Jan took two vials of blood from my arm, and pricked my other arm for annual testing--TB, Rubella, etc. The anticipation was horrible, but her sting wasn't that bad. Isn't that always the way it goes?

Driving home to change and running to the house in the pouring rain followed the orientation so that I could change for work. I then chased 2-year-olds around for the rest of the afternoon (a never-ending 5 hours!).
After work, I trudged along to class (in the rain!) @ RCC to work on my cover letter and resume for 2 and a half hours. I never knew making myself look good on paper was such hard work. I don't want to think of my positive aspects for the rest of the evening.

I repeat again---I don't know what I would do if I had children @ this time in my life right now! I am so tired right now, I don't think I could handle coming home to little ones of my own. God Bless you Mothers out there working and going to school. You amaze me.

Okay..so pictures of the Master Bedroom. I'm getting there, I promise. I went to take pictures last night, only to find out my batteries were dead. And then, in my hussle to get to Orientation this morning, I forgot to charge them today. So you see, Life does get in the way sometimes.

Look for a bright and cheery post tomorrow with awake Sayrah & beautiful pictures.

God Bless :)

So I figured I'd enter back into the blogging world after a little absence. I'm terrible  about it sometimes, but I've been a little busy here lately.
Class started last week, and it's going well (as well as a summer class can, I suppose). My teacher, Mrs. Shumate, has been absent due to her father's illness, then passing. I don't know her, but I've prayed for God to help her during her grieving. She's supposed to return on Thursday, but if it was me, I would just take the summer off! We've had another professor in the meantime, a Mr. Brandon. I REALLY like this guy. He talks you through everything, seems really laid back, and let's us all out 30 minutes early. Yep, my kinda guy.  My first assignment is due Friday evening via e-mail. I was supposed to interview somebody currently working in the field I would like to enter into upon graduation, then type it up in memo style to Mrs. Shumate. I chose my previous transcription teacher, Mrs. Frady, since we still talk via e-mail, and I do want to enter the transcription field if at all possible. Hopefully, I'll do good with this. I'm hoping Mrs. Shumate will postpone the due date to next week, seeing how she'll JUST be returning the day before it's due...A gal can hope, right?

The Stand is, well, coming along. I'm really enjoying it, I just know this is going to be an all summer effort. At least longer than June, anyway.  I've already picked out my next read though lol. I figured I'd read some books that I already HAVE, yet haven't READ yet. I'm trying to stay away from Edward McKay's as much as possible this summer. I always  leave with an armload of books, when I already have a ton I haven't read yet. So--my next read, after The Stand  will be Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I've already read the first 20 pages out of it, just to see how I'll like it (It's the beginning of books that are the kickers for me)...and I think I'll enjoy it. Here's to you, Mr. Dickens. You win.

We painted the Master Bedroom this weekend, after a lot of moving of furniture..I am STILL sore. But, it looks great I think. I PROMISE I will have pictures up soon. I could take them now, but dear hubby is laying across the bed, and he'll mess my pictures up (well, not really, but you know what I mean). Nobody wants to see him laying out. Except me, of course ;) They will be up this week, that is a definite. I still have a bit of 'decorating' to do, and will hopefully get to it this weekend, Lord willing.

Speaking of the Lord, I am aching for some more Jesus. Don't you just have days/weeks like that? Of course, you always WANT Him, but for me it feels more so lately. I am yearning for a closer relationship with him, and I can definitely use some more down time with Him. It's funny how we can make time for everything else somehow, but never for Him (that's at least in my life). I've made an effort to put aside devotional time with him daily, and I AM going to church on Sunday. There, I said it. I am the first one to admit that it's hard for me to 'get going' Sunday mornings. I truly was going to go this past Sunday--but I didn't finish painting to bedroom til' closer to 2 a.m., then I movie was on TCM (The Children's Hour with Audrey Hepburn & Shirley Maclaine) that I couldn't turn off. So, all the blame falls on me for staying up WAY too late that night, and sleeping in way too late Sunday morning. Well, I've gone off in a tangent again...in my devotional time, I've been reading a little in the Old testament, and a little in the New testament. Get the best of both books, ya' know? Dear Mom gave me that idea. She's a good one for ideas, I tell ya.

Alright, my bed awaits.

I've finally finished Lisey's Story by Stephen King earlier this afternoon. I really enjoyed it. It was slow for about the first 50 pages, but a lot of King's books are.  I love how King really lets the reader get to know his characters & the world around them. I always hate ending one of his books & leaving the characters. This is why I can't understand how fellow King readers can give away his books! I could never do that. There like family to me..a sick, distorted family, granted, but a comfort to me nonetheless.

My 3-week break from classes ends this week. Back to the grindstone starting Tuesday nite. My one class this summer--Professional Research & Reporting--will meet on Tuesday & Thursday nights from 6-8:50 (blech).  Ah, well, atleast it's only one class, and summer classes don't last long @ all. And, of course, after finishing my class @ the end of July, buddy boy

sljonz1984 and I are going to Durham, NC to see Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson & John Mellencamp. Now THERE'S a way to end your summer session ;)

Shannon & I are also planning a trek to Graceland in Memphis, TN next summer. I'll be graduating next May with my associates degree in Medical Office Administration, so it will be a nice treat to myself. I'm so excited! This will be our first road trip together, although we've gone to the beach a couple different times together, and she is more well traveled than I. That's okay, a trip with me will prove to be memorable!

Alright, getting late, and work awaits me in the morning.

Cheerio.

 

Everybody is somebody's someone, somebody's hero, daughter, mother, father, friend, and lover. Today is a day of remembering those who fought for all of us, even those who are everybody's nobody.


I, thankfully, do have somebody. A lot of somebody's, as a matter of fact. It's easy to forget the things we have, and even more harder to be thankful for all things. Everybody in my life is my hero, in one way or another...






Take my dear Daddy pictured above. He is not my daddy by 'blood', but in all other respects, he has become the Father that I so needed growing up, and even now. I prayed him into my life. God has a funny way of answering my prayers. But that's another story. He has showed me what love should be between a father & daughter. He walked me to my love @ my wedding 3 years ago. He has supported me through all my trials & tribulations (and as you know, there are many when you're a teenager!). He's helped me become who I am today. I thank God always for sending him to be my Daddy, and making a place in my heart for him past, present, and future. He is my hero.







My dear Grandparents. I am so thankful & blessed to still have both of them @ the age of twenty-five. Where would I be without them, after all? I love my dear Grammy. I see God's presence shine through her every day. Her patience, love, kindness, and every fruit of the spirit-she wears them all; and wears them well, I might add. She is the woman I can only pray that I'll become. My dear Poppa, what can I say about this man? He fought for my freedom oh so many years ago in WWII. His bravery, stories, love, and how can I forget those 'laughing eyes'? They will haunt me all the days of my life. THEY are my heroes.





My dearest Mom. Where do I begin? I find I am more like my mother with every new sun rising. It's a mixed blessing (lol). She is my closest friend, she knows probably almost everything about me. We have a special relationship-we always have. I was the teenage girl who could always open up with her Mom, tell her everything (even the not-so-good things), and she still loved me the same. She watched me grow from a handful girl, to a troublesome teenager, to a growing adult. There's not a day that goes by that I don't atleast call her. If I don't, I feel my day is just not complete. I live roughly 5 minutes from her (2 minutes if I'm speeding!), and I couldn't imagine it any other way. I couldn't have asked for a better mother, and I couldn't imagine a day without her. I still have so much to learn from her. She is my hero.







My best friend, Shannon, of 12 years now. I truly don't know where I would be without her. I prayed her into my life, too. We met in the 7th grade, where my previous year in the 6th grade was truly hell. I had long, long hair back then. Even longer than it is now. I would get picked on by all the girls-saying my hair stunk, I had lice, I was a lesbian (yeah, pre-adolescent girls can be cruel)-and didn't have very many friends. Then I prayed for a friend-a friend that would 'stick' with me, that had all the same interests as me. Then God sent me Shannon, and he delivered fully on his part. We have all the same weird, eccentric interests (and we don't care WHAT you think, lol), stories, 'old men' (yeah, I'm not going into that), and memories that I cherish so dear. She is the peanut butter to my jelly, and I couldn't ask for a better best friend. She is my hero.





My dear husband, Jason. LoL, yet another answer to prayer. I have a 'knack' for praying people into my life. Before I met my dear love, I went through a disaster of a relationship that lasted for 2 years too long. We've all gone through those, right? When I left 'him', I came back home to pick up the pieces of my shattered life. I then prayed that the next man that God sent into my life (whenever that may be) to be the COMPLETE opposite of every other guy I had been with. God sent me Jason 2 months after coming home. The rest is history. I truly wasn't ready for a relationship @ that time, and laugh even now thinking we were just friends, when he had already planned on much more. We truly are the complete opposite. I'm loud, wide-open, and the life of a party, a ray of sunshine. Jason is quiet, keeps to himself, has is own sense of humor, and a ray of sunshine-in my heart & life anyway. We've been together 4 years this month, we'll be married 3 years this September. Just hold me closer, dear love, and never let me go. You've made my dreams come true. Thank you for putting up with ALL of my shenanigans (and believe me, I can pull some). YOU are my hero.

Currently watching the ending of Vh1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. It made me so happy I feel like listening to nothing but heavy metal/rock for the next week, and I just might.
Still currently reading Stephen King's Lisey's Story, and I tell ya, I need to finish this book by June. I'll be reading 2 books starting in June-The Stand (Stephen King) & A Separate Peace (John Knowles). These reads are a part of two separate groups I'm active in on goodreads-a Stephen King group & a Classic Reads group. A Separate Peace shouldn't take me no time @ all. The Stand, on the other hand, should take me a good bit longer, lol. I'm planning on spending the whole summer on this read, not just June.
So thankful tomorrow is Friday. This week has been a stressful one as usual-had a couple of not-so-good days--but that's all to change tomorrow. Of course, Fridays are my paydays, which is always a plus. And then I'll have my weekend ahead of me, another plus. And also tomorrow night, I'll be going out with sljonz1984 to Greensboro, where we'll take in my favorite used bookstore, Edward McKay's, possibly grab a bite to eat, and FINALLY go see Star Trek. Really looking forward to having a great night with my best friend. It's much needed.
#1 on the Greatest Hard Rock Songs of all time was Guns n' Roses 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Funny, I was just jamming to that song the other day, and thinking how awesome it was. Looks like I was right.

I realized today just how much I despise work. Nothing extraordinary happened today, really. There are just too many 'chiefs', if you ask me. Everybody trying to be the boss, truly gets on my bloody nerves.

REVIEWS:
(I'm on a 5 star scale)
The Wrestler : This was actually better than what I thought it would be. I initially watched it to amuse my husband (you know, compromise). Basically about a professional wrestler (Mickey Rourke) who has gotten older & performs more local, low-key 'shows'. When he suffers a massive heart attack, and is unable to wrestle anymore, he tries to mend the broken bridge between his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), and also looks for love with his stripper friend (played by Marisa Tomei). I liked everything in and about the movie up until the ending. Overall, I give it 3 stars simply because some parts were slow, and the ending.

Changeling : I really enjoyed this movie. It definitely was not what I thought it was going to be. Directed by Clint Eastwood & starring Angelina Jolie, this film was based on a true story from 1928 about a woman who will do anything to get her son back. Very political, and highly painful in some parts (for me) to watch. I would watch this movie again, absolutely. I give it 4 stars.


Australia : So this is one of those epic movies set in WWII, around the time of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked Australia, as well. Starring Nicole Kidman & Hugh Jackman, and Directed by critically acclaimed Baz Luhrmann, this movie captured my heart. I really enjoyed the storyline about the 'stolen generation' children-those that were sent away, 'shunned', because they were half-caste/creamy (Mixed between Caucasion & Aborigine).  I don't really know anything about the Aborigine culture, but I'm curious to learn & read more about this group of people. Fascinating. Magical, adventurous, romantic, action-packed, comedic--this movie held it all for me. I give it 5 stars because I could see myself watching this movie again & again.

Okay, time to wind down for the night, and settle down in bed with my King. No worries, Jason's there too :)

It's been a fairly decent week, I can't complain too much. I've been getting off @ 4, which is uber nice. I actually have a couple extra hours of daylight added to my weekdays, which is always a positive.  Ever since my 'interaction' back in March with my boss (write up & 3-day suspension), I have, of course, been more paranoid & self-conscious @ work.  I'm unsure if my Boss is being her typical 'witchy' self, or is just being that way towards me this week.  I know I'm neurotic, but I also am not trying to lose my job. So I've been trying to get on her 'good' side. It's just hard, we ALL have days of frustration, tiredness, etc. So when I have days like that, I get MORE anxious and self-aware so that I don't do or say something I shouldn't. I hate this feeling of constantly walking on eggshells. I hope this year or so goes by so fast. I know I shouldn't pray for time to go by quickly, but I really want to graduate and find a good job, and just get the 'hell outta dodge'.
My best friend is in for 2 weeks from her home in Charleston. I'm so excited to get to see her tomorrow! I must confess, I always get nervous (for some reason) seeing her again after a couple months of absence. I mean, we talk on a regular basis either via phone or Internet, but I guess it's different when we're actually together.  I swear, I NEVER used to be this neurotic. What's happened to me?
I'm unsure of our plans this weekend. I was hoping to go to a Greensboro Grasshoppers game, but the weather is questionable right now.  We're supposed to have rain, but we've been like that ALL week, and not a drop. Watch it pour down tomorrow, and wreck my plans. Oh well, we'll still have Star Trek :) It doesn't really matter to me, as long as we get to spend time together. I <3 my buddy boy.
I finished up with the Sookie Stackhouse series last night. Book 10 will be out in October, so I'll have a few more months of wondering what the crap is going on with my vampire 'love' story. Egads, sometimes I hate anticipation. I am currently reading Lisey's Story by the one and only, and my absolute favorite author, Stephen King. I haven't gotten too far in it, and sometimes it's hard to get into a King novel. Looking forward to reading The Stand next month. I'll probably just jump in where I left off a couple months back, that way I'll have a couple hundred pages jump start! I have a feeling it will bypass my all time favorite King novel, The Shining. Who knows?
I rented some more movies from the video store this evening. Let's see, I picked up "The Wrestler", "Changeling", "The Dark Knight", "Nights in Rodanthe" & "Australia". I've been wanting to see all of them except The Wrestler, I'm simply amusing dear Jason with that one.

Worked the 7-4 shift today, and as a matter of fact I will the rest of the week. It feels weird leaving the daycare @ 4. I'm so used to working the 'closing' shift, that I didn't know what to do with myself! Not a lot of anything, I'll tell you.

REVIEWS

I watched 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' last night, with Brad Pitt & Kate Blanchett. I had been wanting to see this movie since it came out. But I never really go to the theater anymore unless it's something I REALLY wanna see. I enjoyed this movie so much. And as a matter of fact, this would be the only occasion that I prefered the movie over the 'short story', itself. F. Scott Fitzgerald actually wrote the short story. It's wonderful, btw, but the movie truly captured me. I did get a little teary-eyed close to the end, as well. I am human- and tears happen. For those of you who do not know, it's about a man who is born 'old' and goes through his life 'backwards'. It really makes you think about everyday life..the people you meet, places you go, and eveyrthing you learn from those experiences. I give the movie 2 big thumbs up.

Earlier this evening I watched 'Bedtime Stories' with Adam Sandler, Keri Russell & Russell Brand. It's a Disney movie, so a part of me was like 'eh', just because (in my opinion), Disney has been below-par the  past several years. But it stars, of course, Sandler & was produced by his company-Happy Madison Productions-so I thought it wouldn't be too bad-- (I'm a sucker for Sandler movies). I was right. The movie was really cute, funny, and worth the 2 hours.  I'll probably go buy it just because it IS a Sandler movie. It's basically about a man who has to watch his niece & nephew for a couple days while his sister is out of town. During this time, he tells them bedtime stories, which the children 'add' to. Because of this, the stories because 'real', in a sense.  It was really neat how everything came together. Two thumbs up :))

I'm taking Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, book 9) a bit more slowly simply because the 10th book won't be out until October. So I'm not really in a 'rush' to finish this one. Kinda savoring it, ya' know? I'm in a King book club on goodreads, and I think everyone is leaning towards The Stand being read in June. This is good because I've only read like the first 100 pages of it, but bad because...the books is freaking huge! I doubt I could down it in a month. But, with the way I read, one never knows!!

Laziness & lack of motivation still consumes me. Any advice??

So it was my first Saturday not having to worry about studying or homework. BIG relief.
Not much went on today (thankfully!). I did some 'spring' cleaning earlier. Yeah, it should have been done LONG ago..but we all know procrastination is my middle name. I'll finish the rest of my cleaning tomorrow, so that will be good..and I'll feel tons better after getting it all done.
Finished book 8 from the Sookie Stackhouse series. I bought the 9th book ( released last week on Cinco De Mayo) earlier @ Wal-Mart, so I'm good to go on starting that. I just love books :)
My brother bought me 2 of the 4 Star Trek glasses @ Burger King today, too. I'm so excited to see this movie next week when Shannon comes home from Charleston! I've read great things about it so far..so hopefully I won't be disappointed. Oh yeah, I have the Spock & Kirk glasses.

Also tomorrow, if the rain stays away, DH and I will be working out in the yard. He'll mow, while I weed and get some more 'beds' ready for new pretties to be planted. So much to do..I'm always way behind. I'm serious, there are not enough hours in the day!

Fridays always feel like the never-ending day. I've been working the 7-6 shift every Friday since the beginning of January, making my Fridays long and drawn out. I'm not sure what my Friday schedule will look like now through the end of summer/fall. One just never knows.

The first Red Sox game I missed was last night--I was just too tired to even keep my head up. So the one game I miss, what happens? They score 12 runs in ONE INNING! I repeat, one inning! That's amazing, and VERY rarely happens-I don't care who ya' are! They beat the Cleveland Indians big time last night, and went on to beat the Tampa Bay Ray's tonight with a similar streak of runs. Man, are my boys are fire so far or what? Here's hoping...

I've been very relaxed this evening. Spending time with DH, updating sites (way too addicted to Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Livejournal & Blogger, of course), & watching my ballgame. Getting ready to take a nice (hot) shower & snuggle up in my favorite chair to read.

Not much going on this weekend (thankfully!). I know I am truly going to do some deep cleaning tomorrow, as well as some yardwork. The weather will be nice, and my yard is beckoning my return. It's been very wet & soggy this week, and I haven't been able to do much of anything. So the weeds have returned, but my pretties have grown! I desperately need to trim back my Oregano..it is starting to overtake the rest of my herbs. So, I'll cut them back, rinse & bag up to store in the fridge. There's nothing better than fresh, cooking herbs!

Might give my dogs another bath this weekend. With weather warming up, and my dogs utilizing their marked territory outside..the flea/ticks are just loving their attention! DH and I are beginning to bathe them weekly now, especially my dear Elliot-he suffers the worst (for some reason) with ticks. Some dogs are more prone to them, I suppose. Poor baby.

I have to get back to my little 'project' asap! I've neglected my task the past month due to classes, and of course, reading. I'll never get it finished in time If I keep up this up. Tsk, tsk, tsk. So many priorities, so little time.

On an ending note, I'm following some interesting celebrities on Twitter. Yeah, I find their life just so much more interesting than regular people (of course!). Let's see, there is Wil Wheaton (known for his role(s) in Stand By Me & STNG), but I also read his blog. Corey Feldman...yeah, I randomly came across his 'Tweet', I thought "why not?". Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Smith & Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

By the way, I'm a dork.

I officially finished my Spring Semester today (yay!). I passed all of my exams, as well, which is awesome on my part ((big pat on the back)).
I'm looking forward to the next 3 weeks. No homework, no studying, no stressing (school-wise, anyway). I can catch up on my reading, much needed housework, yardwork, and catch up on a few movies I've been wanting to watch & just haven't found the time to yet.
Summer classes start up on June 1st. I'm only taking one night class, Eng 114-Professional Research & Reporting. Doesn't that just sound like fun? More writing! I don't know what my former professor, boB, was thinking when he said I should become a writer. I suppose he sees something in me that I plainly cannot. So the class will be on Tuesday & Thursday nights from 6-9 (I think! Please, Lord, don't let it be a 10-o'clocker!). Now my summer course will end June 27th..and the day after that, my BFF, Shannon, & I are going to see Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson & John Mellencamp in Durham, NC. Is that just completely awesome or what? This year just keeps getting better & better. I get to look forward to this upcoming show, and to my brother getting married in August! I <3 2009.

I'll be finishing the 8th edition of the Sookie Stackhouse novels hopefully this weekend (From Dead to Worst), then starting the 9th book-and most current- (Dead and Gone). THEN, after all that, I'll pick my King back up. Yes, that's right, gotta start back with my Mr. Stephen King again.

Time to read :)

LOSE WEIGHT & DRINK MORE H20!!

Yeah. Since the winter & the start of spring semester, I have gained some major poundage. It's a fact. I blame it all on stress..and more stress.
Food is such a comfort for me (I think for a lot of other people as well!), but I don't want to wake up one morning realizing I'm that 300 pound lady, and wondering how I got there! So yeah...major exercise is needed. I'm not the 'gym' type of person, I'm more like a 'walking the track' type of gal. Walking is good enough for me. Although  I would like to get one of those gym balls I've seen @ Wal-Mart (of course). Know what I'm talking about? They look interesting, but the way I feel right now, I'd probably deflate that ball in a second-flat.

As far as water goes, I'm in need of that as well. I did really well last year drinking strictly water. I saw a vast difference in my weight & complexion. But if I'm given a choice between soda or water, I usually always choose soda. So..I'm going to cut sodas down to drinking one a week, to kinda 'treat' myself in a way. I know I can do it, because I've done it before.

I'm just tired of feeling sluggish and worn-out all the time. And I know it's because I just don't take care of myself. I don't exercise, eat/drink right, or take my multi-vitamins (even though they are on my kitchen counter just waiting to be noticed!). I did buy some of that Dan-Active immunity stuff today while out running my errands. Two of my cousins highly recommended it to me (I guess because they finally noticed I'm a plague monkey and am sick like every 2 weeks!). Oh yeah, also going to start drinking 3 glasses of milk daily. Even if it doesn't help with the 'weight' factor, atleast I'll be getting plenty of Vitamin D.

Okay, not meaning to be on a 'health' streak right now, it's just what's going through my mind right now.
And I am continually Alice in Wonderland--"I give myself very good advice, but I very rarely follow it". LoL. I'm hoping not too follow that anymore.

Another busy weekend ahead. I had rehearsal & dinner for Terra's wedding tomorrow...what a circus. I'm happy for her though, and understand all the stress she's going through right this second-the night before the Big Day! ((sigh)) Memories...

I've made a big list of everything to be done this weekend--and it WILL get finished. I'm tired of never getting anything done, and even more tired Wishing I had gotten things done. No more... So I'm waking up earlier than my usual wake-up time tomorrow. Mainly because I have to be @ the church @ 3 tomorrow to get ready. I have no big job-I am the program attendant. Can't get any easier than that, and I'm glad--the less stress, the better as far as that goes. So I need to wake up earlier to get most everything done before leaving..plus get Jason's outfit together. Yeah..when 'get-togethers' or 'outings' are on our schedule, I pick out his outfit, press it..the whole nine yards. Gotta let my man look good, yo.
I'm on Spring break next week-yay! So I don't have to worry about homework, just studyin for a test I have to take the following Monday when I return...but I'll get to that later next week.
I got a package today from my cousing, Ruthie. Two books: One is a Bible, and the other is called "100 Days In The Secret Place" by Gene Edwards. It's basically a book compiled of writings from three Christian mystics from the seventeeth century. Seems interesting, will definitely pick it up and read some out of it..maybe tonight. And I love Bibles..I love 'collecting' them I guess, all different formats (NLT, American Standard, Spirit-Filled, etc). So..I have another one added to my collection.Huzzah.

Spring is officially here, and Thank the Lord! I am so ready get out in the yard, and watch everything bloom. Ready for sunny days, lemonade, grilling outside on the deck... Jason's mowing tomorrow, and I'm going to start getting my yard 'spring-ready'. Cleaning everything up, get all the dead branches out of the yard that has fallen since winter, and start landscaping my garden(s). So excited!

Started reading some more in 'Dead before Dark'-the first installation of the Sookie Stackhouse series..really digging it so far! I alread know what's basically going on since I've seen the first season of True Blood (based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels), but still varies in some parts of course.

Heard of Twitter? Well, I'm twittering now, have been for a couple days. It's basically just an 'up-date' site, so you can see what your friends are doing. Can be highly addictive..great..another addiction!

Alright..ready to hibernate.

I hate being sick just when the weather becomes promising.

It all started Sunday..I woke up later than usual, and felt okay. A few hours later, I was running high fevers and had a ton of aches & pains. I thought I had the flu. So I went back to sleep until 5, up to eat something, then back to sleep until the next morning. Sunday is a big, hazy blur.  Monday I awoke feeling a bit better & went on into work. Unfortunately, as the hours went on, I realized it was a big mistake going in. So did my boss, who sent me home. I just felt really sluggish..like I was walking in slow motion. Upon entering my house, literally, I ran to the bathroom, where I have stayed there since. Yeah..wicked stomach flu.
I barely got any of my assignments finished...everytime I would get started, I was up and running.

Oh well..I'm past the worst of it now..going back to RCC Thursday night to make up my missed work from class last night.

Okay, time to play make-up for the past couple of days. LOL, I feel like my life is just a series of make-ups.

So I'm not going to help @ the church today..mainly because I have mucho to get done around here (my bathroom is atrocious), I want to finish The Shack (I have like 20 pages left), you may read my review soon on my goodreads page. I've made a change to the next book to read on my list, however. I'm going to start reading the first out of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Terra & Samma have started it (Samma actually finished it and is now on the second), and apparently I've been commanded to read it along with them once they found out I own the first copy. The first copy was given to my by sljonz1984after her dog, Ollie, tortured the book by eating half of the front cover. It's okay, Ollie, your still my favorite nephew :) I'm looking forward to reading this book and the others that follow in the series, mainly because I am a fan of True Blood , which comes on HBO and is on it's upcoming second season which will air this coming summer (yay!). Of course, reviews will be added.

After finishing The Shack here in a few and finishing other things around here, I'll start getting ready for Terra's bachelorette party.  She's getting married next Saturday, the 4th of April. I'm so excited for her, because I know exactly what she is going through right now! lol. We'll be meeting @ her sister, Abby, house, then take a limo to Olive Garden in Gboro (Terra's fav. restaurant), then back to Eden for who knows what kinda shenanigans! Everything that will happen later today & tonight is a surprise to Terra..she knows of the party, but nothing that will happen. I promised Jason I will be good, of course. Pictures will be posted soon. Viewer's discretion will be advised.

Okay, much ado about everything right now.
<3

Yet again, another week from hell...

I'm just gonna be uber busy this week studying for a test that is to be taken Thursday, and working on my coding exam that is also due when? You got it, Thursday. It would be okay if I actually had my coding book..which I don't. So I have to use MY whole time 'off' tomorrow working on this blasted coding test with the MLC's book, find some time to study for Thursday, and more than likely finish up the coding test Thursday on my other 'off' day...before it's due! I hate all this bjunk..I loathe stress. Either that or I really love it since I wait til' the bloody last minute to do everything. I am my own worst enemy, truly.
I should finish The Shack sometime this week...if I can find a chance to pick it up!
Saturday will prove to be a busy day. I am helping out @ New Life with-get this-a clothes drive, stew sale, & Car wash lol. Fundraisers for the upcoming missions this summer & a bunch of others are going to FL for a conference during Spring Break. Wish I was going...oh well, I can use my time to help others on their journeys elsewhere...it's the least I can do.

Then, Saturday evening is my friend Terra's bachelorette party. She is getting married April 4th..so close! She knows of the bachelorette party, but nothing that is going to happen lol. A surprise! We're to take a limo to Olive Garden in Gboro (her favorite restaurant), then go back to her sister's place for some fun times...I'm so sure. Looking forward to it...hope we won't get into too much trouble! hehe.

Well, Big Love is over for this season. wah! I was looking forward to True Blood coming on next week, seeing as big love & true blood share the same time slot on HBO. But, low and behold...True Blood will come on this summer...more waiting! Agh...need to know what's going on with my Vamps!

Alright, that's enough for now.