All Nighter

For the record:

I am currently partaking in my FIRST all nighter in graduate school.
It shall be my first and last. 

Luckily I took a "disco" nap earlier so I could prepare for this. And luckily, I can take a nap tomorrow since I only have my class.

Ridiculousness! But it is hard to yell at yourself without feeling a bit crazy doing it.

Running in Circles

I found a little piece of bliss today and it isn't even 11am yet!

I attack each day with a particular plan. Today I needed to go to the library (major priority) to get homework done but I also needed to drop off my laundry because I am slowly getting to the point of wearing my least favorite clothes which doesn't make anyone very happy. Problem is that the laundry place doesn't open until 10am and I planned to be on campus at 8am. There are logistical issues with parking on campus, an event I need to be at tonight, and having time to pick up my laundry tonight after said event. It was just a lot of "Well, I could do this or I could drive there, do this, drive there, do that" and when I woke up at 8am (oops) I decided to get down to business at home and then run my laundry over.

I am one of those people that needs to do things in a logical order, most likely resembling a big circle. I hate back tracking or wasting time and gas. 

What is my point?

I am currently sipping coffee in my undies, curled up on the couch in a blanket with the window open as I do my group work. It is surprisingly nice! The fresh air is always amazing but I am just barely warm enough to keep it open. I have good reasons for not having pants on right now and I am digging it! The coffee has given me the buzz to power through at least one thing today.

Soon to come: laundry drop-off and library!

I know, an exciting day in the life of me :)

Coffee Coffee Coffee

I used to drink coffee as a fun, social thing. Go to Starbucks with the girls, pick up a Frappucino. Not "real" coffee but something yummy and trendy. Slowly over time, a love for all things coffee developed. Then, a slight dependency as, of course, coffee contains caffeine which is a necessity of life. Clearly.

I am lucky though as I only need coffee to function two or three days a week. I sprung for a french press since I can make coffee in small amounts and it is very chic (oh yes). My first attempt and I actually did it without breaking anything AND it tasted good! I tried a little sampler of Target brand's Archer Farms Cinnamon Vanilla Nut coffee and added the International Delight Skinny Vanilla Latte coffee creamer.

Why not go big, right?

Mmmm...the love is here.

Quotes of the Day

So I have seen every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer there is. Or so I thought! Yesterday was beginning the 4th season, I found an episode that had escaped my view. It absolutely put things together and finally...I understand much more about season 4 than before.

Important to life and living? No so much. Just enjoyment.

Wesley: Mr. Giles! I'd like your opinion. While the last thing I would want to do is model bad behavior in front of impressionable youth, I wonder if asking Miss Chase to dance--

Giles: For God's sake, man, she's eighteen. And you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone. Just--have at it, will you, and stop fluttering about?

Willow: [spots Oz] Ooh, boyfriend! It's my on campus boyfriend!

Buffy: Oh no, I forgot to pick mine up, the line's probably really long now too.

Anya: I like you. You're funny and you're nicely shaped. And, frankly, it's ludicrous to have these interlocking bodies and not... interlock. Please remove your clothing now.

Xander: I have to get to work

Spike: Yeah, delivering melted cheese on bread. Doing your part to keep America constipated.

Willow: Buffy has a really important date.

Buffy: Owen!

Giles: All right, I-I'll just jump in my time machine, go back to the twelfth century and ask the vampires to postpone their ancient prophecy for a few days while you take in dinner and a show.

Buffy: Okay, at this point you're abusing sarcasm.

Random Reflection

Lately I have been thinking about all the things I did during my last six months in Portland. Weird, random things though.

I am trying to get a house/dogsitting job during the Thanksgiving break so that I won't have to get a part-time job. This job would allow me to pay my bills (yay!) for December thus allowing me to enjoy my break fully. The job is also pretty big: four dogs, one with diabetes, two with noses for mischief and this would be for 10 days and in a town about 45 minutes away.

I began dogsitting in Portland for a friend of a co-worker. She had this cute dog, Pony, who had some medical issues but was as sweet as could be. The accommodations were amazing with a condo downtown and I got a lot of exercise.  It was my first time really caring for an animal and staying at someone else's home but after the first day, I got into a routine.

I also catsat (yep, using that term) for a co-worker for a weekend and it was also pretty amazing. Low-key cats (cats are so much easier than dogs!) and a beautiful house in SE Portland.

I then dogsat (yep, again) for my then-boss. She has two huge dogs, one with tons of energy and the other one who is more calm and a little unsure of new people. I was incredibly overwhelmed the first day and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to handle it. I even called a nearby friend of hers to see if he could maybe take a day or two towards the end. It took me two days to feel completely comfortable in the dogs' routine but I lasted the entire time I was hired for. PLUS the dog that was not so sure about me ended up cuddling with me each night after the third day.

So I have fully talked myself into this four dog situation and am going to meet them all someday soon. There are always pluses and minuses with dog/cat/housesitting but I have to realize that my pluses are 1) money that will pay my bills 2) Get to hang out with some (hopefully) sweet, playful, and adorable dogs. Win-win in my book.

 After contacting the first "client" about a recommendation, she told me that she had to put Pony down a few months ago. It must have been right around the time that she asked me to take care of him for a week. He had all sorts of random things going on and doctors were not sure why these things were happening or how to treat them. Pony was on pills for this and that and taking pills to help with side effects of that pill and well, you know the drill. I am happy that he isn't in pain anymore but it is sad because he was just the sweetest little one.

So, long reflection: it is interesting where life leads you.

I actually miss my last job because I was into a rhythm, knew what I was doing, and had the chance to meet amazing people. I also had great opportunities like the ones above. 

Yum Stuff

I have always been an advocate for Edy's Slow Churned ice cream. It is lower fat and always delicious. I stumbled upon a new limited edition flavor: Hot Chocolate!

It is probably because I love anything with marshmallows but this is just the best. They also have a seasonal pumpkin flavor out that I know I have tried but completely forget what it tastes like. That might be a sign, right? I DO know that their peppermint flavor (also seasonal) is totally yum and I cannot wait for it to come out. 

I read The Impulsive Buy blog and they test things that you see in the store and would never buy yourself BUT are dying to know what they taste like. Last week, they came across Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts. Now, we know that it is that time of year for major pumpkin madness so this fits nicely into the mix. It is pumpkin madness! I myself have already purchased three cans of pumpkin and made muffins. 

I figure that Pop Tarts are everyones' secret little treat. It is the guilty pleasure much like The Hills or Jersey Shore (yuck!!). Everyone likes to eat them but no one in their right mind would fess up. 

These pumpkin pie ones are pretty tempting. I have heard that the taste and smell is very pumpkin pie like and even the icing is tasty. There are two problems that I have: High Fructose Corn Syrup (the newest of food monsters) and that they only have them in 12 packs. 

This is me in the store:

Find the box in the breakfast foods aisle.

Excitement!

Check price. Check how many in box.

Think to myself "No, I don't need 12 of these"

Look on the back of the box for ingredients and nutritional info.

Realize that I am looking at "junk food" and that the prior action is ridiculous. 

Look at cart.

Look at box.

Look at back of box again.

Place back on shelf.

Stand in front of box on shelf for at least another two minutes contemplating.

Quickly leave the scene.

And there you have it. 

And...despite my blogging about two crazy foods, I do actually eat healthy foods too. I am newly addicted to prepackaged containers of watermelon and cantaloupe for $1 and have rekindled my love for Bagel Thins and reduced fat cream cheese.

Up next......maybe a step-by-step look at how I attempt to make coffee in a french press...for the first time?

10-10-10

10 Things I Did Today:

1. Showered and finally shaved my legs. It has been far too long.
2. Went to Borders to study. I am physically unable to study or do anything related to school while in my apartment.
3. Drank a lovely iced tea with two splendas.
4. Wrote two outlines to two papers. One far overdue but it is a rough draft.
5. Read "People" and "US Weekly" which are my guilty pleasures.
6. Went to the library to finish said papers.
7. Started feeling really sick around 6pm so the second paper had to wait.
8. Drove to the store for sickie stockpile: diet ginger ale, ice cream, grape popsicles and orange juice. The ice cream wasn't a necessity but I was craving a Wendy's frosty and this was the closest thing I allowed myself to buy.
9. Came home and made dinner. Tater tots and steamed broccoli. 1/2 plate broccoli, 1/2 plate tater tots.
10. While eating dinner, watched The Apprentice. These people are horrible.

10 Things About Me:
1. I think I am a pretty good writer but I procrastinate so much that it never comes out very well.
2. I made kick-ass pumpkin muffins AND banana muffins this week.
3. I bake when procrastinating.
4. Dan Savage is coming to speak at EMU this week but I can't go see him because I have class that I cannot miss AND a meeting. Seriously. Not happy.
5. I hate wearing glasses sometimes.
6. This lack of awareness about recycling here is annoying.
7. I bought a new couch (to me) a few weeks ago and it was my best purchase so far.
8. I have 171 in my queue on Netflix plus 24 in the "Saved" area and 17 in my "Instant Watch."
9. I have 96 things in my Amazon wish list because I like to "window shop" online.
10. I have developed a slight infatuation with canning jars.

Day 27: Your favorite place, in great detail

In high school, I was close friends with three other girls. We hung out together all the time and have numerous stories of stalking boys or eating pure junk food during sleep overs. Taco Bell was often involved.

One friend's family had two "vacation" houses. They were nothing fancy but I thought they were amazing. One was the beach house located in Seaside, OR. The decor was 70's - early 80's with two bathrooms, a small kitchen and a laundry room. It was just a short walk to the popular touristy area where we would get mini donuts and ride the cheesy carnival rides. We played video games and Skee-Ball at the local arcade and scoped out the cute high school boys.

The lake house is situated in American Lake near Fort Lewis in Washington. We took the pontoon boat to get over to the tiny island and usually stayed there for a few days since we already stocked up on groceries (Little Debbie cakes, rice crispy treats, substance). We kept ourselves busy with either little projects around the island (clearing trees, cleaning the house, repainting furniture) and watched many o' VHS movies. The lake house has a view of the lake as well as Fort Lewis. You can walk around the entire island and many of the people have lived or vacationed there for decades so everyone knows each other. There is even a fairy tale-like little castle over on one side that I have millions of pictures of. Again, it isn't fancy but it feels like you are in a comfy, cozy, tree house.

We used to go all the time in high school and even a few years after. I haven't been back there in at least three years and the last time I was there it was with my friend's brother's friends (got that?). It was a different experience but great nonetheless. I layed on the dock and watched the stars at night. I listened to music until 3 a.m. and went on little hikes throughout the "backyard" without getting lost.

Of the two places, I always felt like the lakehouse was an adventure and a home. I miss it and if I am lucky, maybe I will get my own one day.

Plan of Attack.

Sometimes, when life seems overwhelming, you just need a plan of attack.

What did people do before Excel spreadsheets? Probably paper and pen. Maybe I should go back to my kindergarten days and whip out some drawing paper and crayons? Maybe THEN I would be inspired to follow a schedule so that my head doesn't explode.

I take full responsibility for all the stress happening right now, too. I have developed this ADD personality in the last few years where it takes a lot of effort for me to focus on just one thing. For example, I have five web pages open right now. Two being completely unimportant in relation to the deadlines I have looming. One is keeping in the know with a partner for one of my deadlines. Another is actual research for a different and most pressing deadline.

Where am I? On the one of the two completely unimportant web pages. Really.
Where do I want to be? Snuggled on the couch in a mass of blankets watching television and sipping hot cider.
Where will I be until at least 7pm tonight? Here. Library. Where my head hurts. At least it is warm.

And I brought snacks. 

I have plans for winter break already. Big GRANDIOSE plans! Is that bad?

Day 26: Your fears, in great detail

Obviously I am skipping around on my days here but I fully plan to complete the 30 days of questions. Of course, it helps that I have homework and this is a wonderful distraction.

So, fears: bullet point style.

• ...never seeing the world. I have been lucky enough to travel to London and Paris and various parts of the United States but I feel like there is just so much more I need to see. I would hate to be on my death bed and not seen Sweden, England, Italy, India, and South America. 
• ...failing. Not just failing but failing at things that I know I could have done had I not been in my own way. Present circumstances included.
• ...not having children. I have come to the realization that adoption may be a reality as some health issues have come up but also the fact of age and singledom. Yes, more women are having children in their 30's but it does make me nervous. I blame part of this on the fact that I have been surrounded by people having most of their children in their early 20's and since I am almost owning the "30" title, I feel old. Is 30 old? Not even in the least! But my crazy mentality is what it is. 
• ...settling for less. This is linked to the second issue above but I know what I want but I tend to settle for less because my brain gets flooded with "What ifs?" and then the rest of me goes all loopy and I settle for what is right in front of me instead of what could be.