Plans After Graduation: Leaving the Country

Next month, a little after Brian leaves (again), I will be flying to Vietnam! I'll be taking a 19 day long trip, that might last longer than 19 days, and seeing Vietnam again. This time with my aunt and grandma. At first, I thought it was going to be a miserable trip because I thought I was going to be dropping off my grandma, but come to find out with another phone call 24 hours later, she changed her mind!

Not only do I get to see my roots with more mature eyes and eat amazing food, I get to spend more time with my grandma...and hopefully find a job at the same time.

Oh, and P.S.- It's currently 90 degrees there. I can't wait!

[One of my favorite memories was walking through the market]

Snow

There are only a few reasons why I like snow. One of them is that it makes me stay in the house and remind me to relax. So I did. I got some things graded and watched some football with Brian.


It also reminds me that when I find my job, a teaching job, I will have days off because of it and no other professions will.

Finally

Tomorrow

I am picking up Brian tomorrow from the airport with his family and spending time with them in Pennsylvania until Sunday. Don't bother calling or texting unless you're my roommates. Kthanks :o)

Well, that worked out...

After all of the crying, screaming, and cussing, everything worked out better than I thought. Not only do I get to save a ton of money on gas and 6 hours of driving by myself to PA, I get to see Brian two days earlier. What else is great is my cooperating teacher and cohort leader are completely fine with this. It took me a while to realize that it was worth going through that craziness.

Peace out, cub scouts!

Future Baker & PTA Mom

[Ghostly pumpkin bread]

If teaching doesn't work out, I'll be a baker
because these were made from scratch.
...
According to Lil, I will be a PTA mom.
Honestly, I don't doubt her.

Cold Weather Blues

Although today was a beautiful day out and was able to expose my toes in flip flops, I know that soon and very soon they will have to be put away. Along with those, I've had to tuck two super cute summer dresses, that I got a great deal on today, in the back of the closet. I've already put away the summer skirts to make room for some sweaters.

If you give, you get (that's how the system works, right?). In this case, I get Brian. I think I'm fine with that ;o) Three Sunday's from tomorrow, basically now, we will be in the same country, state, city, building, and even room. I know it's quite a ways away, but my heart is racing at the thought of it!

[Please ignore the fact that the map says ATL...it's the idea of the picture!]

2 Teachers

2 teachers + 1 bag of oyster crackers = flying oyster crackers.

Oh, and two happy dogs are somewhere in there too!

2 teachers = Lils and Sue, which obvi equals ♥

The 11th

Today is the 11th! It's quite significant. Here's why:

1.) Brian comes home a month from today.

2.) My birthday is 2 months from today.

3.) It will be my last day of student teaching in 2 months.

4.) My birthday and last day as an undergraduate will be ruined by a court summons. I promise I didn't do anything.

Until those days come, I've got quite a to-do list to get through.

The VT vs. BC game yesterday was a nice break from it all.

For really, I'm on a boat

Well, technically I will be on a boat when the weather gets warmer because I won a kayak from Blue Ridge Mountains. Seriously, I won a boat! It's blue and it's mini :) I'll have pictures later. Right now, I have to figure out how to get it to the house!

Puppy Love

This picture so made my day: A giganormous puppy and Brian. There's my love in front of Jeff Koon's "Puppy" that sits right in front of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

Bridesmaid

Oh gosh! I completely forgot to mention that I'm a bride's maid! Obvi this happened during that crazy period of getting ready for school and Brian leaving. It's been in the back of my head, but failed to mention it. I am VERY excited, nonetheless!

Hello, Fall

I woke up to geese just honking their way down south. As I'm writing this, I hear another gaggle doing the same. If only people are able to do the same because I would have been gone by now. Fall officially starts on Tuesday so pull out your sweaters.

P.S.- I love the word gaggle.

2 Months

Brian has been gone a week today. Yesterday, it was the official 2 months until he's home. I really do hope that these next 2 months will go by faster than this past week.

Lessons Learned

I learned some valuable lessons the other day, which was my day off (oh the life of teaching!). I am still suffering the consequences mind you.

Don't stop running. Ever. I stopped running for the past two weeks for two reason. First, school had started. It was hard enough to restrain myself from curling up into bed and take a nap after school so running was the VERY last thing on my mind. Second, Brian was living with me and so we got lazy and would try to spend some down time all the while running around town and Roanoke looking for things he needed for his trip. I finally went on Labor Day. It's two days later and I am still sore. I will attempt to go running after school today because my goal for this semester is to run at least 3 times a week. Silly, silly me.

Don't let Shelby stop running. Ever. I finally took Shelby, my roommates Border Collie, running with me. She too hasn't ran in two weeks. The last time she ran was with Brian. She was tugging and pulling so hard that I learned another lesson...

Make sure to hook the leash to the right loop on the collar. Yup, she ripped a key ring off and her dog tags just exploded from her collar as she ran a few feet then bolted, and I mean just freaking ran so fast that I stood there and watched AND she ripped one of her pads on her paw because she had ran so hard. Because she did that, she came home within a half an hour, wet and with burs all over here. Lilian was not mad, but completely and utterly infuriated.

4385 Miles Away

Yesterday and the past 2 weeks, Brian was waking up next to me. He is currently 217 miles away. After tonight, he will be 4385 miles away.

These next two months are going to be hellacious.

Airedale It Is!

My roommate and I were looking at dogs online. Dangerous, I know. We came across a quiz to see what type is best for you. Legit or not, it said that I should have an Airedale Terrier. I will have one.

(Refer to picture in previous post)

Puppy Dogs

I've been living with my new roommates for quite some time now. They each have a dog: a Border Collie and Beagle/Chow mix. They are the sweetest dogs, which I have adopted. Shelby (the Border Collie) definitely likes me more than Aster (The Beagle/Chow mix) for one reason...I take her running. So because of that Shelby will sit in my room while I am doing whatever. It's one of the best feelings to have a dog around me. Unfortunately, it's not my dog. When Lilian goes downstairs, Shelby goes. When Lilian goes to her room, Shelby goes. When Lilian sits, Shelby sits right next to her. Shelby will just come to me when Lilian isn't petting her. I'm the sucker who pets her constantly.

I guess the question now is...when am I getting my own dog. The answer...when I graduate and find a job. Keep in mind that I would like a Husky, Great Dane, Airedale Terrier, or maybe even a Border Collie as a graduation present.

Last Week of Summer

I've got to make this next week count because it is my last week of summer...as a college student. I realize that I have summers off for the rest of my life since I will be a teacher. And yes, that realization is glorious! But as for this past summer, I only accomplished one goal, which was to be able to run 2 miles straight without stopping. The other goals not so much:

1.) Sew something
2.) Make something out of my Julia Child's cookbook
3.) See "Julie & Julia"
4.) Hike...anywhere!
5.) Bike to Lane Stadium
6.) Beach camp

It probably sounds ridiculous that I'm upset about not accomplishing those, but once the school year starts back up, the elementary school will have my life shackled down with a ball and chain. Okay, I should say that because I will absolutely love every minute of it, but I won't be able to do or think about anything else. I will have so many more summers to cross those items off my list, but for now, they will stay.

P.S.- I bought my first Lacoste polo today :)

P.P.S.- I guess I'm in love with Blacksburg now because I almost bought a gorgeous dress that the girl at the counter called the "Hokie Dress" because it was orange with a maroon floral print.

Cursive and Fractions

I just found out that I am placed in a 3rd grade classroom next semester. I'm super stoked and super nervous at the same time. It could be fun: teaching Ancient Rome and Greece; a little bit of life systems, motion, and energy. Or it could be horrific: fractions and multiplication. Better yet, it could be even worst: awful and mean students.

But for now, I'll keep looking on the bright side and be wishful that it's going to be a fun semester.

Summer Shenanigans

Last night outside of the Cellar, I waited on Brian to move his car , two guys had passed me. One guy had a one track mind and wanted to get to his destination, which I could assume was Sharkey's. The other had other things on his mind. I had noticed out of the corner of my eye that he was staring at me as he walked. So I turned, looked, and held a gazed for just a little bit only just to watch in run into a poll that was about waist high. I know it was probably rude, but I bursted into laughter as his one-track mind buddy yelled, "DUDE! What happened?" His response, "Dude, I was checking out this sexy ass chick and I ran my junks into the poll!" Since I was completely offended by the fact that he blamed his stupidity on me, I yell back, "How can you blame it on me!?" And of course, he yelled back as he stumbled away, "You SO owe me one!" right as Brian was walking towards me with a very confused looked.

What I owe him, I have no idea. And whatever I do owe him will never ever happen.

Just Bike It Out

I am a little bored of running and it doesn't help that the guys at work talk about biking. I give huge kudos to this one kid who rides his bike to work and does Huckleberry Trail, which is 9 miles one way. I didn't think that it would be that hard to bike anywhere. Obvi, I was wrong since my thighs are screaming at me in pain after only a few hours off of the bike. I hope I can at least walk tomorrow let alone get back on. The sad thing is that I didn't even make it Lane Stadium. I think it was good enough that I saw it from a distance and the path that led to it on my first day.

My goal.

When It Rains, It Monsoons

So I had a pretty shitty weekend, excuse my language, but it really was.

1.) I found out some horrendous medical news about myself...within 6 months of the last horrendous medical news...if you really want to know, just ask.
2.) My 19 year old car broke down right as I got into Roanoke at a traffic light and I think it's dead.
3.) All three of my cosigners for my student loan have been denied.

So it can only go up from here, right?

.............................................................................................................................................................................
This past Sunday, July 26th, Father Jim Curran made a great point. Everything happens in threes as seen in the above entry.

Thanks for the reminder and the heads up, Father, because things did start to look up after that.

Unruly

Lately, I've been getting these unruly headaches. I don't know if they're migraines or if they're just plain old headaches, but whatever they are, it's got to stop. I could say it's from the lack of caffeine, but this is ridiculous. Brian did suggest that it's from dehydration...we have been running quite a bit during the hottest time of the day. Anyway, if you have an rhyme or reason, let me know. In the mean time, I'm going to take down this Nalgene of water and some ibuprofen. Bottoms up!

Meet Greg

Thank goodness for my brother. I would be listening to the same music that I've been listening to for the past few months. I was resorting to the radio a few times in the car- very tragic. So, he not only gave me his laptop, but some new tunes. Meet Greg Laswell- my new obsession. He's got a fantastic voice (and a great smile) that would make you melt. He's got a Cali alternative sound going for him with a banjo thrown in the mix. Trust me, it works.

Lil Bro

There are so many people out there that aren't close to their siblings and there are some that are...like my lil bro and I. We spent Monday driving around the New River Valley with no agenda. Usually, that would drive me insane and there were a couple points during the day where I thought I was just wasting time, but those little episodes only last a few seconds. Thank goodness my brother has such a relaxed personality and incredible humor because I just simply said, "Whatevs and who cares, it's the summer. Just relax."

Bryan is my lil bro and my best friend. I honestly don't know what I would do without him.

Peace, Love, and Ice Cream

I got hired by Ben & Jerry's today. I think it would be fun working there. Just the smell of waffle cones is amazing. Problem is, I already have another job (and I have lost the motivation for a second job) and I have to be back at the elementary school on August 16. I get the funny feeling that they would not like me so much if I were to quit in about 5 weeks. I should probably decline so that I can actually enjoy their ice cream without having to be scared of glares or finding odd things in my ice cream.

And yes, that is a Ben & Jerry's flash drive.

Voices Inside of My Head

This is just a thought...

I have been reading a Dean Koontz book called "Odd Thomas" and the narrator is twenty year old male. Randomly, I noticed the voice in my head as I was reading. It was the voice of a twenty-ish year old male's voice. I couldn't tell you if it's a voice I have heard before, but it was neat to realize. After realizing it, the voice changed to James Earl Jones. Who doesn't love his voice? I've noticed that the voices do change from character to character, especially the main character's mother. She is depicted in her rose garden, behind her Victorian house, wearing a yellow sun dress with a match bonnet. Doesn't that sound Southern to you? It does to me and she was speaking in a Southern accent, which I tried to changed because the setting is in California.

I asked Brian and Lilian what voice do they hear when they are reading. Their response: I've never thought about that.


Fun fact:

............................................................................................................................................................................................

"I was a stutterer. I couldn't talk. So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school."

James Earl Jones

.........................................................................................................

Dave Matthews Band

...has done it again. When I say 'it', I mean be amazing.

Hopefully my muffins that I am going to attempt to make tomorrow will be too.

Fearless

I am a hopeless romantic no matter how much I rant about chick flicks and sappy love novel. I'd rather wear my heart on my sleeve than never day dreaming about what fairy tale things could happen.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

"No matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charming and happily ever after. That’s why I write these songs. Because I think love is fearless."

Taylor Swift

..............................................................................................................................................................................

Chick Flicks

Maybe the whole world should never watch chick flicks. This does include chicks. Period. I feel like it either gives chicks a sense of false hope, paranoia, or realization that things will never happen the way that things ought to. Yes, you do hear about the fairy tale endings, but it's only once in a full moon. No, I'm not a pessimist and a none believer of love, but maybe I don't want to find disappointment when a guy doesn't do the 'romantic' thing or expect 'the unexpected' that the movies show. Life is messy and Hollywood is trying to depict it in chick flicks with some people having happy endings and others having not so happy endings like He's Just Not That Into You. But that movie did give me some sense of false hope just because it was a movie. Maybe those Nicolas Sparks books are giving me the same feelings, which is why I haven't touched them in over a year. And maybe, I'm just being a pessimist for the time being. Who knows, but I'm still as girly as can by when it comes to relationships and the whole nine yards. Not going to lie, that movie was cute though...

The International

In a very attractive British accent, Clive Owen managed to make one thing make sense in The International:

..............................................................................................................................................................................

"Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn... I'm the one you burn."

..............................................................................................................................................................................

Blacksburgian Summers

Summer in Blacksburg is probably the most relaxing place next to a vacation spot. It is completely easy going with an actual population here other than college students. Sure, there are some college students here, but not the 25,000 that are reside here during the school year. You might think it's a lie, but people who have lived here for a number of summers have told me this. I can definitely say this because this is a vacation as opposed to a summer in Roanoke or like last summer, Boy Scout camp. I have yet to make it out to the marker here or in Roanoke, but I'm determined to go to both by the end of the summer. Seriously, it's so relaxing here that I've been running almost everyday. I wish summers could last forever.

................................................................................................................................................

My beloved lacrosse stick gave it it's last catch today. It completely snapped in half when Brian threw the ball fiercely at me. I underestimate his strength sometimes.


We will be going to Play It Again Sports tomorrow to find a replacement.

Tiramisu Saves Lifes

Grande triple soy iced latte. That is how my day started at 9:30 am after closing at 11 pm. Needless to say, I was very cranky. Lucky me, I was scheduled to work until 4 that day, but luckier me...Brian came by with a piece of broken tiramisu as he was getting off for lunch before bar tending that night. Even luckier me, my manager loves me to pieces and let me off 2 hours early so I could 'have lunch with my man.' Who knew that working at a salad place wouldn't be too terrible.

There's life outside of teaching?

Yes, yes there is. Let's see if I can keep up with this since I did so well with the teaching one.