Late Night Ramblings (no, really...)

My long anticipated "summer break" has turned out to be just as busy the rest of the year. How does that work? No clue. Other than work is insanely busy. I hope I'm able to catch up when the rest of the admins go on vacation.. I have too much to do!

It was a good week, even with a bit of work stress. Monday was the last Theology Live of the summer. I wish they would space them out over the summer.. they are such neat events. Good time to hear some interesting discussions, drink some good beer, have some really good conversations with good friends.. yes, good times, those. Very good times.

In random girl news, I got a pedicure today with Lainey. We loves our pedicures. Even when we try random shady nail places in random neighborhoods. And tomorrow... shopping with mom!

In about 17 minutes, I will officially be older. I don't know why 23 sounds so much older than 22.. but it does. And that makes me happy. Not that I want to rush life.. but.. I'm just ready to see what happens next in this grand life journey of mine. It's been an interesting road so far. And an incredibly blessed road, for that matter.

I think my favorite part about birthdays in general is the excuse to spend time with my dear ones. The cards and texts and all of that are definitely wonderful and very appreciated.. but one of my favorite things in the world is to just spend time with my friends and family. I know I've harped (ha!) on this a lot in the past month of so, but I really do continue to be amazed at the incredible people that are in my life. I feel like I can never say it enough.

Well, I've run out of words for tonight. Or rather, I've run out of the ability to coherently assemble my words into sentences that remotely make sense. Which is why I should really already be in bed. But it's just too hard to get my brain to be quiet sometimes...

At any rate. Good night, friends. Hopefully I will see you sometime soon. And if we don't already have something lined up, give me a shout and we'll make sure to get something in the schedule before my thesis insanity begins in a little less than two months!

Have I Told You Lately....

....that I love my apartment.
No, seriously. It's wonderful. Its pretty and quiet and it suits me. I have a multitude of dining and shopping choices within walking distance. I finally have a Starbucks where they know me, and what I drink, and I can walk down and enjoy an evening latte (decaf, of course) and read and catch up on correspondence and just be be. I love it! I will definitely be hanging around this area for quite a while.

....that I have the best friends in the world.
No lie. I have spent the past few weeks (and will continue through the next month) in a non-stop blur of parties, showers, dinners, musicals, pub nights, and coffee dates.. and I never cease to be amazed at the incredible group of people that are my friends. The countless text messages, calls, e-mails, e-vites, and random conversations make me realize just how blessed I am to love and be loved by so many great people. Some challenge me to grow intellectually and spiritually, others are there when I need a break from it all, and some are just there to make me smile.

....that I pretty much haven't been this happy in a long time.
I mean, yea, I have my moments of wishing and dreaming for a different stage of life.. but overall, I am really happy. I am part of a wonderful church, I'm healthy, I have a good job, and an incredible network of friends and family.

....seriously. What more could a girl want?

Currently Listening to:
Album: Hopes and Fears
Artist: Keane

Livin' in an Uptown World

So.. I'm sappy right now. Forgive me. I think it's exhaustion combined with many long nights with good friends, and the feeling of freedom that comes with summer. But gosh darn it, if I don't have the best friends in the whole world. And family. My family is incredible too. Even if my life seems like a soap opera sometimes, I sure am blessed more than I deserve.

My place is shaping up nicely. Got rid of a lot more boxes this evening. Finally bought real, fresh food yesterday. Having a picture/shelf hanging day on Saturday, which is also when my dining room set is to be delivered. My couch comes on Tuesday, and then, I will pretty much be complete, sans some sort of desk-ish area for my files, mail, etc., and some bookshelves for my closet. Have I mentioned just how much I love it here? I shall mention it again. Everything is falling into place.. and it's becoming my haven, finally. I just want it all to be done, so I can get on with things! I have SO many plans of nothingness and fun for the summer.. work a little, read a little, have a few parties, see a LOT of movies, and just overall hang out with everyone I know and love. Oh, and there's the small matter of having all of my wisdom teeth taken out. Heh. We'll see what the dentist says on Monday.. but from the intensifying jaw pain and clicking noises, I'm guessing they're either impacted or something else is up. Fun! Hey, at least it will be a mandatory "vacation" of staying home, eating soft comfort food, and watching movies. Of course, I will fully expect all of you to come keep me company, ha.

Well, the hour grows late once more, and I still have a few things to accomplish before bed. I do hope you are all doing well. Please call me if you haven't heard from me in a while.. I'm back in full force, but it might take me a few days to fully catch up to everyone! Love you all. Hasta!

Currently Listening to:
Album: The Holiday (score)

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

Oy, I'm not great at this updating thing, am I?

So I moved. Technically, anyway. I'm not staying there yet, ha. But in a way, it's kind of nice. I go spend a few hours each afternoon unpacking and getting things like I want. Things are coming along! Still waiting on the big furniture (couch, bookshelf, and dining room set) to be delivered. The cable guy comes on Saturday (which is was the reason I am still staying at my parents.. NBA Playoffs, you know!), which will be nice. In other news, my kitchen is completely finished :) It looks so beautimous! Now I just need to buy real food to cook, haha. Lots of things coming in this week.. I should be completely moved in by Saturday. Then I just need to wait on my furniture, then it's party time! June will basically be one long month of dinners and parties ;) Get excited!!

Other than moving.. things are just kind of plugging along. Today was my last day of class at SMU for the semester. Now I just have a final presentation and project, and one final lesson to prepare.. then.. SUMMER baby! I can't wait. Especially for June, when the kids are out at Providence. Should be a nice summer. Taking a long weekend to go see my cousin get married in Baton Rouge.. and trying to figure out what other vacation I'm going to take this summer.. mostly, all I can think about now is sleeping and reading books all summer, lol. I'm perpetually tired...

Speaking of that.. I am exhausted. These late night playoff games are killing me.. especially when we lose! Seriously. Well, I'm out. Y'all have a good week! Good luck to everyone finishing finals, etc. in the next few weeks!

I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore, Toto...

So I was driving home from Target, after leaving work quite late for a Friday afternoon. I was sitting at a stoplight, watching the clouds. As I was watching.. the clouds were blowing in one direction.. then, they were going in the OTHER direction. Seriously. Freaky. All I could think of was Lewis Black... "Tornado Timmy's coming! Flee! Flee!" It made for an interesting drive home, haha. I made it home and started pulling into the garage approximately .002347 seconds before the first of the marble/quarter sized hail started falling from the sky. Then the tornado sirens went off. And then... nothing. The rain died/slowed.. and that was it. Luckily, my Mavs game was not preempted by OLD weather news, like most of the prime-time channels. Seriously. They kept showing the same Minyard's with roof damage.. even after most of the bad weather was WAY off to the east! Silly weatherpeople. Even tho the Mavs lost, it was still an interesting game, mainly because most of the big names were out tonight.. which gave some floor time to some decently impressive rookies.. they still need a little work, but they definitely show promise! I was only slightly freaked out that two of them are within a few days or months of my age. I dunno.. just weird!

In other news... I'm exhausted. I was out of commission all day Wednesday with a sinus infection (which I am still technically battling), which left me scrambling to catch up the rest of the week. Oy! So much to do before the end of the semester.. and so little time! This weekend, I'm organizing (and throwing away!) the boxes of solid PAPER that I brought home from the move. Seeing as how I'm moving again in a week or two, I figured I should get on that.

EEK. I can't wait to move. Like.. seriously. I'm so excited about the new place. And my colors! The walls will be lovely! A nice cafe brown color for the living room, and a color called soft jazz (blueish) for the bedroom. Yay :) I should get my mail key on Monday!

Well, tomorrow should be busy.. going to Joelle Keith's wedding at 1, playing in a different wedding around 5 at Perkins with Steve from church, and then more sorting/organizing/resting. Because this stupid sinus infection is really taking it out of me. And the stupid antibiotics give me headaches and make me queasy. But hey, it kills the infection, right? Ha.

Ok, I'm out. Have a great weekend, y'all!

Currently Listening to:
Album: It's Time
Artist: Michael Buble
Track: Save the Last Dance for Me

I'm Dreaming of a White.. Easter?

Seriously. Snow the day before Easter? Only in Texas.

This sleeping in thing is really wonderful.. I feel so rested! Today was rather relaxed. I bummed around the house until rehearsal up at church for tomorrow. We're playing a lot of the same music from last year. Should be a great service! (Or services, I should say! We're trying out the two service thing tomorrow!) After that, I went by Pottery Barn to drool over the duvet cover I want, and then to the mall to search out clothes to wear tomorrow. I never quite remember just how much I hate going to the mall on the weekend until I'm there. SO crowded. And slow moving people. Ugh. I finally ended up with a pair of pants (which I will probably take back) and a shirt. Oh well. I tried! Now I'm just making a pie for Easter dinner and getting ready to go to bed early (7am call tomorrow!)

Last night was the Good Friday service at Christ Church with the DBU Chamber Singers. Since I know the director up there, I was invited to sing with them. We did the Faure Requiem and a nice Bruckner piece that Dr. Holcomb conducted. It was beautiful music. And I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. Afterwards, went to dinner with the Tomkins and the Blackstocks. It was really nice to see them! I've been rather out of the loop with the move last weekend. My GOSH, I can't wait to have my own place again, ha.

Ok, my pie is calling.. time to add the meringue! Have a blessed Easter Sunday, everyone!

Life After the Move

So I've been home for all of four days, and I'm already going a tad stir-crazy. But I'm adjusting. At least it's temporary! It's pretty much been an awful week, with my car dying twice, work being exceedingly busy/stressful, and feeling rather like crap overall. Between the car situation and my mom's plane coming in a few HOURS late, I've had two very short nights of sleep in the past few days, which made for a very long day today as I fought to stay awake. Luckily, once I get through work tomorrow, I can rest a bit on Friday before taking off running once again. Should be a good Easter weekend. The contrast between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is always particularly moving for me.

Well, I should finish the work I brought home and then maybe watch a show or two before I crash early. Love you all. I should be back in the real world again sometime soon!