the busiest time of the year...at least for me...

well, it's friday, though i'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad.

this week has been a tough one, but that was to be expected after having an entire week off. i've been so exhausted all week thanks to getting up early for work, dealing with holiday excited kiddos, and a ton of school work that needs to get done. then there's all the miscellaneous stuff that i need to get done for the holiday's and the everyday mumbo-jumbo of laundry, cleaning, and errands.

i'm beat.

i think, all in all, it's been a pretty productive week, and today especially. i've been working on my psychology essays, and have two complete, one brainstormed and outlined, leaving only two to really worry about. i did get my english paper rough draft done in time, and am now waiting to hear back from my professor on what i need to change or add. that leaves my art appreciation paper and presentation that is due next tuesday. luckily, it won't be hard at all as i chose a mark rothko painting to critique and present. i'm in the first group of presentors, and while that gives me an anxiety attack just thinking about it, it also means i only have to go to one more class and then i'm finished.

wow, that actually made me smile! :)

american gladiator update:
the other night i saw the first commercial for the new american gladiators show coming to nbc in january, and it made me absolutely giddy! you have to understand, i live for bad t.v.

other cool news:
i bought a new 35mm slr the other day. i didn't really need a new film camera, as rob bought me one two christmas' ago and i love it, but i had to buy it. it's a canon, which is awesome, but that's not the best part. the camera retails for over $200 new, but i only paid (drumroll please)....i only paid $50! and that's for both the body and lens! how could i pass that up? i have yet to shoot with it, though i know it works, but am hoping to get a chance to this weekend. maybe sunday since the weather is supposed to be so nice.

speaking of shooting, i need to start thinking about my picture for my christmas card this year. i finally got talked in to doing an annual christmas card, and since this will be the first i want it to rock. i want to keep it in my style of photography, which means it will probably end up being black and white, but i haven't gotten a real good idea on what i'm going to do just yet. i'll most likely shoot in color film, that way i have the option later on to keep it color or change it to b&w, and i know i'm probably going to go to the good ole g-ville to shoot it. we'll see, i've got a bit, so i'm not too stressed over it.

lastly, in sad news, the famed daredevil evel knievel died today at the age of 69. not that i was a huge fan or anything, but he definitely was an american icon, and though his death is sad loss, i am sure that he will continue to live on in american history and pop-culture.

hope everyone's week has been a good one, and try to enjoy your weekend's!

spread the love,
=e

my turkey week in review...

ah...thanksgiving week is coming to an end, and all too soon i might add.

the week has been filled with fair amounts of stress and relaxation (though i think stress was winning out earlier in the week). thanksgiving dinner was not nearly as scary to prepare and cook as everyone i spoke with seemed to make it. my turkey (marinated in an apple-honey marinade overnight, and regularly basted throughout the cooking) was quite the hit, and everything turned out to be quite delicious if i do say so myself (and i do!).

i think cleaning the house and preparing it for guests was probably the most stressful part of the week. i tend to try and over-do it when i'm expecting people in my home, and now that we've moved into this house, there's even more to clean and organize. by wednesday afternoon i had pretty much reconciled the fact that it was not all going to get done, and instead of worrying so much about it, went shopping!

having my mom and sister over was great, but it was not without drama. my family, confined in one area for any amount of prolonged time is an equation for drama. this year was my sister storming off and leaving, calling and hanging up, and then, for the finale, returning to consume dinner as if nothing had even happened. she does have a knack for it, though the story does include me as the protagonist. (who me?)

thursday night, after the dishes were done, and my mom was safely returned home, i was finally given the peace to open up my latest obsession -- rockband. the game is incredibly addictive, and consumed the rest of my thanksgiving night...well, and all of friday to be honest. with rob on guitar and me on drums, we're a fearsome duo rocking the world one difficulty level at a time. (coming soon straight from our living room to you!)

all in all is has been an awesome week. not having to work has been killer, and though i'm enjoying the 'no responsibility' part of it, it will be nice to get back to everything and finish up the semester. ah, but the week isn't over quite yet, is it? so what's in store for the weekend?

today will be filled, hopefully, with homework. since i have to write five essays for my psyc final and they're due in two weeks, i figure i should probably start on those. i also have a major essay due for my english class, with the rough draft being due next wednesday. so there's all of that. oh yeah, and i have an art appreciation test on tuesday, so i figure i may want to study a bit (though i haven't all semester and am passing with a solid 'a'). but no worries, today won't be all work and no play, as our friend sean is supposed to be coming over tonight for some drinking and jamming goodness. i promised to sing for him assuming the right amount of alcohol was consumed first.

as for tomorrow, i'm not sure what my plan is. i really want to get out and take pictures as i have been inspired by my creative bug lately, but without the time to dedicate to it. the weather is perfect for it, at least for me, and i won't get another good chance to for at least two or three weeks. we'll see. i may go out today as well, but now we're just talking crazy.

anyway...i hope everyone's turkey day was fantastically superb, and that you've all had a wonderful week as well. much love to the masses.

=e

is it sacreligious...

to use a pc mouse on my mac?

...i didn't think so, but thought i might ask.

anyway. moving on...

this week is just about over. i work tomorrow (easy) and then i'm off for an entire week! i *love* that. i do have to go to the lab monday and tuesday to sit around for a couple of hours, but i don't consider that work, and i can show up in my pj's without anyone caring (though, if you know me, you know that won't happen regardless). most of that time off will be spent cleaning and getting the house ready for thanksgiving so my mom actually has somewhere to sleep, and no one has to climb over boxes to get to the dining room table.

i've started formulating a photography project idea in my head. it's all i've been able to think about for a week or two now, and it's extremely inspiring. i haven't had the urge to pick up my camera in over six months, but i've been struck by motivation and inspiration and i'm loving every second of it. it sparkles with me. (sunshine!)

i got an email earlier today from my psych professor that nearly brought me to tears. she was replying to my post in our class discussion forum about loss. without going into the details of it, she was applauding my honesty and warmth on the topic and told me she was proud of me. i have never met this woman, as the course is online, but her email made me realize that the changes i have endured this year have all been worthwhile and not in vain. the anger i used as a shield is no longer needed, and who i really am is able to shine through now. i'm still scared, but i'm not allowing myself to use that fear as an excuse to turn everyone away and be the cold person i once was.

alrighty, anyway...enough of all the warm fuzzies about me. onto warm fuzzies about someone else. my friend had her surgery today, and from what i hear everything went swimmingly. my heart goes out to her and her family, as i know the next couple weeks are going to be tough, both physically and emotionally. she is an amazingly strong and wonderful person, but i can only imagine what it takes to be that brave every day. i love her dearly and will be keeping her in my thoughts, as i hope you all do.

well that's all i got for now. i've finished up my homework for the night and think i might go play some guitar hero iii to finish up the evening. either that or try and catch up on my episodes of ellen...i think i'm three behind now. hmm...we'll see. i've already beaten ghiii on easy, medium and with rob on co-op career mode, so i am a bit burnt out on it. however, rock band comes out this coming week!!! eeeeeeee :D so happy. also, the movie august rush comes out and i get to cook yumminess! man...this week is going to rock! :D alrighty...well, hope everyone has a terrific weekend and i'll update more soon.

much love with the x's and o's,
=e

you know what stress does...

...it makes you sick.

i didn't go to work this morning because i could barely talk, and i didn't want to chance getting my friend sick who's going into surgery tomorrow.
i did go to work this afternoon because i don't care if i get the children (sick since they are probably the ones that got me sick in the first place), and i knew it would be more stressful for them if i wasn't there. i'm so nice.

anyway. this shit had better pass by this weekend. i have too much to do and not enough time to do it already without having to worry about aches and fever. argle bargle.

i'm loving this colder weather, however! mmm...so fantastic. finally makes having a caramel apple cider from starbucks not sound insane.

okay, well i'm exhausted and achy so i'm heading to bed. hopefully the booger bear will come cuddle like she did last nite. so snuggly! :D
later!

=e

oh wow...

i'm a bit stressed...and when i say a bit, i mean a lot.

i just sat down and wrote out everything i have to do over the next month, and my head nearly exploded. a few things, like unpacking the house finally and shopping for and planning thanksgiving dinner have to be done in the next week. other things like christmas stuff (which involves a newsletter, cards and shopping), and school finals are a little further off, but still have to be tended to off and on now.

i found out the other day that my final for my online psychology class is going to consist of me having to write 5 essays, all of which have to be 300-500 words. i about had a heart-attack when i read that. not that it should be difficult by any means, but time consuming and stressful is an understatement.

i've been trying to get in touch with the transfer student advisor at the college i'm planning on transferring to in the fall, but to no avail. i still need to go sit down with one of the advisor's here and go over everything with them, but it seems as though i never have the time. i may not have 'a life' like other people seem to have, but the one i do have is busy and non-stop full throttle six-days a week, only slowing to a pace barely shy of hyper-active speed on sunday's.

the problem is, i'm a procrastinator. look at what i'm doing right now! i could be working on labs for my psyc class, or going over thanksgiving dinner recipes and menus, but no...i'm sitting here writing a blog about what i need to be doing instead of actually doing it. oy oy oy. well, i've always said i work better under pressure. let's hope that holds true for the next six weeks or so. :)

anyway. hope everyone is doing well. though i'm exhausted, i'm still doing fantastic, so i really can't complain :D have a great weekend!

xox,
=e

because it's funny...

i had an absolutely amazingly fantastic day! well...for the most part.

my day started off great. i was in a wonderful mood, the weather was nice, work at the lab was productive and things were just going great. i even made a starbucks run for all my co-workers at the school before heading to work, and the cute little 18 year old boy at the drive thru flirted with me. hehe...so funny.
anyway, so things were going fantastic, and i was driving to work with the radio on and the windows down. then it happened.

i got pulled over!

argh! i got two tickets...one for speeding, and one for not having a current insurance card in my car. the insurance card ticket will get dismissed if i bring in a current card within ten days. unfortunately i kind of have to grit my teeth on the other ticket since i just did defensive driving back in august for a different ticket.

oh well. it definitely didn't ruin my day, and the officer was extremely sweet and cool. the rest of my day was fantastic as well. work went well, but was exhausting, so i'm sitting here at home chilling. we have to go to the store later, but currently rob is conked out next to me with a mac-attack on his lap. it's really adorable.

hope everyone's week has been great, and have a great weekend! much love!

=e

what the bloody hell...

complaints: my back and hips are killing me, i need to finish my final draft of my argumentative essay, i have popcorn stuck in my teeth, and it's november 4th and 81 bloody degrees outside!

happy thoughts: i'm almost done with laundry, it's already november which means only one more month of the semester left, i got an extra hour of sleep thanks to the time change last night, i got paid by both jobs last week, i have a toothbrush and floss so i can take care of the popcorn in my teeth, and tonight we're going to go eat sushi with sean and his g/f and then we're all going to go see that darjeeling thingamabob movie.

other than that, there's not much else going on. if you were around me this past week you know that, mood wise, i was all over the place. it's all good, and i mean that. things in my life always happen for a reason, and they always have a way of working out for the better too.
what's great, though, is that even during the times when i was really depressed this past week, i was still able to function and get things done, as well as laugh and joke around with my friends and co-workers. dare i say that i'm coming closer to conquering my demons? a lot of it has to do with this year just being fucking crazy from the get-go, but i've changed a lot, and mainly for the better i believe. a lot of people around me have noticed and commented on it as well, which is always nice to hear. take ken, for example. he's an older student at the college, takes a lot of photo classes, and used to always be around. i met him last semester in the midst of the chaos that was my life at the time, and probably when i was at near peak of exploding. he and i got along okay, but there was always tension there. i hadn't seen him much this semester, but the few times i have we talked briefly and then he was on his way. well, he came in the other day and before he left he said, "ya know, i can't leave without saying that you seem a lot happier now, and i think that's great." it completely caught me off guard, and then he said, "yeah, because you just seem happier than you were then..." at which point he caught himself and said, "you know, whenever 'then' was..." to which we both just kind of laughed and then he left. it was probably the highlight of my week.

anyway. enough with all that greatness. i've gotta figure what i'm gonna wear and then maybe work on my essay a bit before we head out. i'm so excited about the upcoming raw fish consumption...mmmmm...so yummy!!!
hope everyone had a great weekend and remembered to set their clocks back an hour!

much love,
=e

there are two things i should never do...

...find someone attractive, and take darvocet.

neither leave me feeling very good in the morning.

=e