Yesterday was the best day ever.

You might not believe me, but it was. Crab legs were on sale and yummy for dinner (no cooking) as was the hollandaise sauce, my D in Organic Chem 2 was changed to a C and I don't know why, my sister's soccer team won while playing 3 men down, and last night:

(Please excuse the wierd thing my pinkie is doing in that picture.)
Squee!! And it was a total surprise too. David says I stopped breathing for about 10 seconds. Isn't it gorgeous? The sly dog has had it for two months and I had no clue. And for extra sappy sentiment, he got it from the same jewelers that his dad got his mom's engagement ring. Okay, well I'm gonna go stare at it some more. Merry Christmas!! Eat something sopped in gravy for me!

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Call me weird, but it's just not Christmas until Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" comes on the radio. I know it's not a classic, but I just love to belt that one out in the car. Definitely a cure for traffic-inspired anger. And guess what? I heard it just today. Woo!

So, with the advent of that song and the fin of finals (I'm gonna pass! D stands for Diploma!), Merry Christmas to all! I've already got almost all my shopping done (I Heart Amazon) and it's finally turned cold. The only thing that sucks is that there's not much to be done at work. This might not sound like a problem, but I am rapidly running out of search strings. I might start bringing DVD's to work. And nothing makes it harder to get out of bed than the fact that once you do get out of bed, you're going to be bored out of your gourd for 8 hours. But, Beerfest has been released and drinking games need to be planned.

And, speaking of alcohol, I have come to a very tough realization: I need to watch how much I drink. I lose my grip on reality, and it's not pretty. And my boyfriend should not have to deal with that. Moderation is the key here. I do not need to drink everybody else under the table. It's not needed, and it's not cool. I just need to say this out loud (or type, whatever, it's out there).

Okay, enough with the heavy. The Dress is ordered and will be here in a few months!! As are bridesmaids' dresses! So excited! Florists are being called! I will be excited about the mundane because otherwise this whole wedding planning thing is a crock of shit! And non-mundane: registry picking-out (maybe that's the term)! Presents! We're (I'm) thinking Belk's and Target. Does that sound right? Is registering at Target tacky? I knew one girl who registered at Walmart, but her bridesmaids wore camo kerchiefs as tops and denim skirts, so I don't know. Help! I don't know how to do this!

And just for good measure: !!!!!!

It depends on the type of life and the quality of the pancakes...*

For soccer fans, Eric Idle fans, and anyone who needs a bit of a giggle...


Oh, and I've got photos of the dress up. W00t!


*You should all go see Stranger Than Fiction. Right now. It's awesome. I'm serious.

Dun dun dunnn.....

Sorry to be all "I have imploded" *crickets...* but the usual 3rd quarter exam schedule snuck up on me. Well, not really, I knew it was coming but proceeded with the usual denial followed by a week of 20 hours at the library freaking my shit out.

Anyhoo, Mrs. Flinger was right. It did all work out. What had happened breaks down as follows: I got some bad advice from a professor and dropped a class that turned out to be required and only offered once a year. My advisor decided to be a douchebag and use the situation to get an undergraduate research project out of me (to use as a substitute for the class) for another opportunity to get published. I went to the department head and when I saw my advisor in class on Tuesday, problem solved.

The reason I reacted as badly as I did was because David and I have always said we wanted our degrees and at least one of us with a real job when we got married. So, my panic-fueled brain immediately jumped to the conclusion that this one class would convince David to demand that we wait another 7 months to get married. I was also supposed to drop off a hefty non-refundable deposit that evening for the reception hall, so there was that added pressure too. David was an excellent boyfriend and patted my hair, said "Honey, you go drop off the check; I can't wait to be married to you," and brought a bottle of rum and Streetcar Named Desire over to watch. *Sidenote: Getting tipsy and recreating the "Stelllaaa!" moment may cause your landlords to look at you a little shiftily.

So, only a little crying at work and at breakfast the next day, but having my boyfriend's extremely Southern Baptist dad say "Your advisor sounds like a jackass," and his mom nod agreement completely made my day.

And, yay, here's the dress. I actually look a ton better in it cause I actually have boobs and don't look like a coked-out socialite. This dress makes my waist look oh so tiny and the material is drool-worthy. I seriously told my aunt, "Wow, this dress even makes my hair look pretty." Plus, I'm getting it for 20% off cause it's last season's. I have photos from trying it on, but I still don't have the cord to connect my phone to my computer, so maybe I can get those up later.

Also, everybody go congratulate Cagey! Woo!

There's beauty in the breakdown....

I should be in full-on freak-out mode, but I think my brain has temporarily shut down. Short and sweet, I may not be graduating in the spring. If I don't graduate, the wedding may be put on hold. If my wedding is put on hold, I may curl up on your floor and cry. Not only did I find the dress this weekend, my aunt offered to let me use her absolutely gorgeous veil, the deposit for the chapel has been paid, and I'm dropping off the check for the reception site this evening. Everything finally comes together, only to have one absolutely important stitch fall of the hook. So how do I react to this, you ask? I went and got some Mickey D's and wrote a blog about it. Very productive.

The title is from Frou Frou's "Let Go."

Boredom! At the Office...

Fall Break has started and I, once again, am not going anywhere but work, so a long rambling post ensues...
______________________________________________
Even if no one's wondered, I feel the need to explain my url. It might be stupid, but there's a story behind it (of course). [Sidenote: My cubicle-sharer person just farted. Ew.] My concentration for my Bachelor's is Agricultural and Environmental Soil Sciences. Random, I know. Well, a basic class for this is Soils. Duh. So anyway, one of the professors for this class is a total hardass who really knows his shit. On the first day of class he always asks, "So, what is soil?" And, inevitably, some person who didn't get the memo to sit down, shut up, and pay attention in this class raises his/her hand and answers some form of "Well, it's broken down rock and plants and dirt and stuff." And, every semester, this professor proceeds to get on his soapbox and berate the entire class for thinking soil and dirt are the same thing. "Soil is not dirt, dirt is what you clean out from between your toes!"

Okay, you might not think that's so funny, but what I decided to do with this information is. At a party not so long ago, I had imbibed a little much (read: 1/4 of a fifth of Jack Daniel's) and it being a college party, someone asked me my major. I proceeded to tell him, and he responds with "So, you, like, study dirt?" "No, you idiot! Soil is not dirt!" I replied, quite vehemently. I then told him why and the importance of soil at great length and volume before someone wandered over and saved this poor guy by telling me there were shots in the next room. (There weren't.) So, people tease me about it all the time now. Hence the name, a little self-deprecating inside joke. There you go.
______________________________________________

I'm revisiting my high school to stay the night with my sister tomorrow. I went to a magnet boarding school. Pray for my sanity.
______________________________________________

I've started wedding dress shopping! I'm actually going to do some more tomorrow with my sister. So far, I've found one I love. And it's on sale! Woo!!
______________________________________________

I've got a flickr account now, but I don't have a camera or a cord for my camera phone yet, so stuff will get put up very slowly. But don't let that stop you from checking it out!

That's all I can think of for now, have a great weekend!!

But... you don't have to take my word for it...

I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and the ALA's Banned Books Week (brought to my attention by Miss Zoot) makes it seem a little more relevant.

Do you have any books that you read over and over again? I have a few that I swear I've read about ten times. My paperback copy of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged has lost the cover, a few of the first pages, and the binding, but I go back to it time and time again (it has a great storyline about social welfare and capitalism). I tore apart my Gone with the Wind about 7 years ago and I'm afraid to read the copy I have now (a gift from my Granddad to my Grandmom in 1946, when he got back from overseas). There's something about a good book and knowing what's going to happen, but then realizing you've forgotten this or that part and that small page or two totally changed your interpretation of the story. Or, like with The Chronicles of Narnia, coming back to a great story that you've gotten wrapped up in since you were a kid.

Besides the three mentioned, my repeat reads include:

• Harry Potter (of course, baaa)
• To Fly and Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace, by Bud Anderson
  
• The Wheel of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
• Flags of Our Fathers, by James Bradley
• The Memphis Belle: Home at Last, by Menno Duerkson

How about you? Is there a book that you always take on a plane or keep on your beside table?

I'm bored and haven't posted in a while, hence...

Stolen from SecondhandTryptophan

Checklist Meme

Just bold the things you have accomplished in your life.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River - or was it the Colorado River?
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

55 out of 150 = 37%, not so good, but I'm young yet.

Attention, everyone!

I have never loved a popular song more than this....

Every woman, girl, man, and boy needs to see this. I think I now have a girl crush on Pink.

Peace out and love your body!

Paragraphic updatedness..

So, yeah, I definitely do not have the hang of Organic Chemistry. But, yay!, only two more weeks, and I am so done with this. Well, at least until Organic 2 in the spring. Oh, my, I may just collapse into a twitchy seizure before this whole college thing is over with. (Which, woo!, only 8 1/2 more months!)

Yesterday was my four year anniversary of officially dating my boyfriend. It reminded me over and over again why I love him. We went to the water park and ran around like 10-year-olds and smooched behind tubes and noshed on nachos and people-watched and raced down the slides and held hands and were all-around the people I normally gag at. It was awesome. They always say it's the good times that get you through the bad times, and if yesterday is any indication of our good times, I have the ultimate faith that we can get through anything. Plus, he took me into a jewelry shop to get my ring finger sized! Say it with me: SQUEEE!! I know it'll be some time yet, but still, progress!

I've gotten some input on the wedding issues, mainly as a result of my last post, and now it seems much more manageable. I'm still having to tell myself to calm down or I'll annoy myself right out of an engagement. Hopefully, we can roll with whatever comes up with a short engagement. Actually, I know we will, it's just a matter of how much I'll freak out and piss people off. Wanna come watch?

So, that's about all that's up with me. I'm off to see if I can still kick soccer ball without falling down or majorly injuring myself.

Oh, crap! I forgot all the fun stories from this weekend and how I injured myself. Well, material for another day.

Type A, much?

Let me preface this with I know I need to chill the fuck out, but it's just one of those days.

My boyfriend and I are planning on getting married next summer after we both graduate. I don't have a ring yet, but as we've been dating for four years and he won't take me out to dinner because he's "saving up for the ring," I know it's coming sometime in the foreseeable future.

I am now starting to get a little worried about the whole wedding thing. Since we're not engaged yet, I don't feel comfortable researching venues or menus or flowers too deeply. But, I feel the need to start planning something. I'm not sure if my parents are going to be paying for this due to a slight (read: I've spoken to my father about five times since Christmas) falling out. Neither David nor I make a lot of money, and I don't want to ask his parents for help. I mean, I would be fine getting married on a beach or at the university chapel, but I don't know if that's what everyone else wants, and if they don't, I need to be figuring out my budget pretty soon, since I'm the one that's going to be paying for most of this.

And though I love my boyfriend very, very much, if he tells me again "Weddings aren't that hard to plan," I swear I might scream. If this turns out to be an actual church and reception wedding, I am overwhelmed at all the stuff I will have to take care of myself. If someone would just give me some idea of which way to head, this might not be so scary, but it's still pretty open-ended and I just hate this feeling of not knowing anything. I'm very flexible when plans change and can be very spontaneous, but I can't stand knowing there is this big thing looming and there are no plans. I mean, it's not like I'm going to get the big chance to explore churches and restaurants if we have it at his hometown three hours away since I'll still be taking fucking classes until a month before. I want it to be all nice and pretty and shit, but if I don't get some kind of concrete response before Christmas, I'm putting an advertisement in the paper, "We're getting married this day and this time here. Be there or be square. BYOB." And that's how everyone will find out about it, parents and all.

Stupid Southern weddings and traditions and trying not to piss everyone off and not having any money and people with no opinions.


This is all venting and this is why I put this thing up, to save on the therapy and not yell at the cat.

So it comes to this...

Everywhere else in America it's summer, but in my household it's World Cup season. My boyfriend is an avid, avid fan (one of the biggest selling points for his apartment is that it gets the Fox Soccer Channel... seriously) and I have been known to wave a few flags of my own, so our lunch breaks are now scheduled around the midday game. I went to his apartment at 9 am on Saturday to do laundry, only to find him awake and fully tuned in. This from a man who yells at me if I poke him before 10:30. It's amazing what this sport does to my boyfriend and the rest of the world. If you come by his house anytime a game is on, the only language you hear is a combination of grunts, groans, "oh"'s, and yells. Sort of like a weird orgy. It's pretty funny. And on that note, U-S-A! (Even though we're sucking this time around.)

And a short work-out update:
Since the last post, I have determined the gym is not for me. It just isn't. But I have found running in the early morning is. Something about my circadian rhythm or sleep schedule or something, but I'm less tired and get more energized if I wake up earlier and get slightly less sleep. And, it's something I'm able to stick with. Over the last week and a half, I've gone running six times. That might not sound like a lot, but for me, queen of get bored and go home, this is amazing. I'm actually looking forward to running tomorrow. It makes me feel better about myself. Now, I'm probably not going to see any weight loss because I tend to see exercise as a reason to eat more, but maybe I'll get my legs in shape, and if I can do that, it is all worth it. I miss my legs from high school, as I'm sure we all do. I danced and played soccer, so my legs were fabulous. *sigh* Maybe one day. (Yeah, right) Well, we can all hope and dream.

Since I've gotten my first Organic Chem test (ugh) out of the way and am starting to get the hang of things, maybe I can keep this thing up a little bit more. Here's hoping!

After writing this, I now crave Doritos...

As many members of the blogging world seem to be doing lately, I am once again tackling the gym. Due to stress, exams, and overall laziness, the funk class venture trickled down the drain of things-I-really-don't-care-about pretty quickly, even though it was a lot of fun. The gym might be starting that class up again this summer, but I'm scared there will only be five or six people in it. It's a lot easier to gyrate around like an idiot when you can hide in a mass of seventy girls. So funk might be off the list. But, the godforsaken treadmill is still around. I hopped on that one all full of vim and vigor yesterday. Twenty-five minutes and 1.75 miles later, I fell off the back end and hoped no one would step on me while I tried to figure out if my lungs were still attached. But, I will not let the scale at the doctor's office win! I will be back this afternoon! Maybe! If there aren't too many people there! Because people, you have not known insecurity until you have been to a college gym. Not only can the girl next to you run a six-minute mile, she has a 4.0. See? She's studying biochemistry while she's got that machine cranked up to 7 on 4.5 incline. Jesus, some people need to get a life and discover Doritos and cable. And then you get the guys. You know, those guys. The ones with a 100 pound dumbbell in each hand, looking in the mirror to make sure that you see that they have these dumbbells in their hands. And look! They can lift them! Over and over and over! (You can almost here them going, "Hup, ho! Hup, ho," a la Family Guy.) And then they lean on your bicep machine and let you know the wrongness of your form. Hello? Do you see the spaghetti noodles I like to call my biceps? I'm glad I can grip the handles, let alone have proper form. And no, I don't want to meet you later for a protein shake. I have The Amazing Race and Doritos waiting for me at home. It's called having plans. You can't break those. And the best is the crazy religion and philosophy professors in the power yoga class. Holy mother, how the hell do they stick their toe there? And then hold themselves on one arm for 10 minutes. It is beyond me, I tell you.

So, I am off to do battle again. Wish me luck. And send ice. And whiskey. And Doritos!

I'm not in right now, please leave a message at the beep...

So, yeah, it's finals season, so I'm a little preoccupied right now. Add that to reformatting my hard drive and forgetting that I don't have any of the driver cd's, and you get stress and a 3 week blank spot.
I promise I'll catch up as soon as I can, but I've got exams for the next 2 weeks so don't hold your breath. Send wine and smart thoughts my way, though!

Beeeeep.......

Updates in Bullet Form (because I am lazy)

• I did not get crabs on spring break, I ate them, and they were buttery delicious goodness.
• I aquired my monthly sugar intake through a straw in the form of pina coladas in about four days.
• The kitten is back and has twice since decided to vacate the premises via the window and come trotting back two days later.
  
• She has also taken up biting my toes while I'm asleep to let me know that she's hungry. Her life might end rather abruptly.
• The stress is less, but I have suddenly realized that there are four more weeks in the semester and then I'm a senior in college. What the hell am I supposed to do then? Graduate or some shit like that? Huh? Real world, what?
• My boyfriend turned to me last night and, in all seriousness, asked, "So, have you given any thought to where we're going to live when we're married next year?" (Yes, I like bold and italics. And yes, I might have squealed a little when he said that.)
• I'm in dire need of a puppy, but considering my status with the kitten, it's probably not the best idea right now.
• My hair has been very flat lately, and I'm in angst.
• I have rent, tuition, utilities, phone, credit card, and computer bills all due in the next 8 days. And my brakes are making a funny noise.
• Spring Party is this weekend! Bring on the tiki torches and assorted fruity drinks!

Is there anything else you want to know?

Summer is finally here!!

Yes, you read that right. The daily highs are 80 degrees and holding. We're finally done with the pathetic, gray, cold, damp mush that is known as winter in Mississippi. And, as we all know, Mississippi has about 4 days total of spring. The weather blows straight from freeze warnings (last week) to shorts weather (yesterday, which is good because I'm out of clean pants). Hopefully, there won't be any rogue freezes in May either. I love the South. Screw snow, bring on the humidity!

(Warning: Tangent Ahead!)

It's amazing to me that it is still actually snowing in some places and will continue for at least another month. How can people live with snow on the ground for more than half the year?!? I have seen real snow a total of three times in my entire life, not counting the little piddling two inches we get every three years (and we act like this), and you know what? It's cold. And wet. And you have to pretty much change clothes to get warm. Forget that. I am one of those weird things from the deep South that thrives in 90+ temps and 100% humidity. I can work and play soccer in it without batting an eyelash. Now, to set the record straight, you might not want to smell me afterwards, but it's still not that big a deal. But, please, Yankees should not try this down here. You will pass out. You will get heat stroke. I will have to take your wierd-accented ass to the hospital, and frankly, I'd rather just sit on the porch and drink iced tea with you.

All this said, I am the first person to complain the minute the temperature drops below sixty degrees. I put on three layers the second the thermometer hits 40. The entire state goes insane and closes down completely if there is any ice anywhere in the state. There is one snow plow in Jackson, and the garage doors got frozen shut the last time it was needed. Real smart planning there.

But, yay! It is volleyball and swimsuit season. It's warm enough to sleep with the windows open. Frozen cocktails are in order! Hooray for ass-sweat season!

So, yeah, about that...

You might notice the lack of updates this last week. I swear, there were drunk posts. Then I sobered up and read them and realized they made no sense at all and deleted them. Seriously, the most you could glean out of it was that the Escambia Bay area homeless are really hungry. (Sidenote: New game! Hungry, Hungry Homeless! I am so going to hell.) But it was a mucho relaxing week and I got a tan and crab, so all in all it was a success.

I am now all out of fresh ideas.

My life is so glamorous...

I am now learning the nitrogen recovery rates and pros of using poo as fertilizer. Doesn't that sound fascinating? Am I really sure I want to work in a field where poo is a major topic? Don't you think poo is fascinating?

Well, the kitten hasn't come back yet, but I still hear her jingle and meow every now and again, so I'm leaving out food and something is eating it. Maybe she'll decide I'm not that bad. I mean, how much does an animal hate you if it jumps out a second story window just to get away from you? I've considered getting a ferret as a replacement, but then I realized that would be like a $300 investment, and I'm just not ready to lay that much down for something that might decide it doesn't like me and escape down the sink drain. (Don't worry, I don't have a disposal.)

Oh my gosh, the stress! Three major exams and a major assignment due the day before spring break starts. This is definitely not a recipe for good skin and a relaxed Cheryl. I swear, don't these professors realize that I have to be in a swimsuit next week? Cortisol-related zits and weight gain will not sit well with me.

Speaking of spring break (stream of consciousness, anyone?), does anybody know of fun things to do in Pensacola, Florida besides the beach (and you don't have to be 21 to participate in)? I've never been down there in the free-time, vacation sense, so I'm not really sure what's available in case it rains.

And, hey, the hotel has free wireless, so drunk posts! And hungover posts! And sandy posts! Yay!

*This post was brought to you by boredom, hence the lack of an actual post.

This cat is of the Devil...

Well, I definitely named my kitten well (Maleficent).

So, yesterday it's feeling fanfrickingtastic outside so I open the window and lay down to take a little nap. I don't have a screen on this window, but I think nothing of it because it's on the second floor and my kitten sits on the sill everyday watching the squirrels. So, I wake up an hour later and plop down on the couch to watch some American Idol. Another hour later, I hear a faint jingle. I suddenly realize that I haven't seen Maleficent since I fell asleep. Knowing her past history, I begin searching in the most random place I can think of. Behind the couch? Nothing. Under the cabinet? Nope. Behind the water heater? No! So I slowly begin to freak out. Then a bulb comes on. The window! I then realize that jingling I heard was outside. Yes, my six-month-old kitten jumped out the second story window and is outside where she has never been before. (Doesn't bode too well for my future children, huh?) Outside I go, food dish in hand, to try to lure her back. I caught a glimpse of her, but as soon as I tried to move to her, off she went.

So, for the second time in 3 months my cat has run away. I'm still holding out hope that she'll come back or someone will find her because she's got a tag on her collar. My pets hate me. Apparantly my duty in life is to adopt animals, fix them, and set them back into the wild, sterilized and fat.

Time sure does fly when you're sleeping...

Wow, I suck at this whole updating thing. I blame two reasons. 1) I don’t have an internet connection at my house, and 2) I’ve had a lot of things going on. My being lazy has had nothing to do with my absence. No sir.

Well, I’ve realized something about myself recently. I have never been happy where I am right then at that point in my life. Don’t get me wrong, most of the time I’m not unhappy, but I always seem to be waiting for the next stage in my life. I can’t wait to be older, out of school, completely independent, etc. It’s been like this since I was little. Now, it’s “I can’t wait to get married, have a 9-to-5 job, get an apartment bigger than a refrigerator box, etc;” in short, be a real adult. I’m sure this is a common complaint among young adults, it just seems to hit me really hard. And then I wonder, will I ever be content where I am right then? But then I snuggle up with my kitten and some Jack Daniels and realize that even though this isn’t my dream, it’s pretty good for now.

But, on to more fun and interesting things. I hereby make it known that I am attempting to become a regular gym person. By regular, I mean 2 or 3 times a week. I shall start tonight by attending the “Funk” class. I shall whittle my middle and wiggle my jiggle all at the same time. Sounds fun, right? Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep up with the sorority girls, cause man, do they go nuts on that gazelle-thing machine. So this is me putting it out there, because maybe I’ll stick to it if other people know about it. I even bought fluorescent orange Nike pants, in the hopes that dropping some money on this venture will make me want to stick with it.

Exploding Kittens...

Wouldn't that be a kickass name for a band? I think so.

Now that my immune system has kicked the plague to the curb, I'm back. I didn't think all the hacking and loogies and brains running out my nose to be very good blog material. Plus, I was really, really whiny, and even though my boyfriend deals with it, I don't think the internet needs to hear it. But, on to cooler and less mucus-filled topics.

Ok, so I've got this new kitten. Her name is Maleficent (you know, the bad fairy from Disney's Sleeping Beauty). She's pretty and all black, and a bit of a sweetie. David bought her for me for Christmas to replace my cat that ran away. She is very cute and a little bit of a scaredy cat, and promptly got herself stuck in the wall the night I brought her home. No worries, we moved the water heater and dragged her out of there, but it was a bit of a harrowing experience, as for a day and a half I thought I had killed two cats in one week. But, as I said, it's all cool now, and she since has only gotten herself stuck in a recliner.

These days the problem is not her getting lost or stuck anywhere, it's her feeling the need to be everywhere in my apartment at once. David describes it as "exploding my house." And not only can she cover my aparment in 5 seconds flat, upstairs and down, she is very proud of this fact and proceeds to show me at 3 am just how often she can get from the couch to my pillow in 30 minutes. So this means at sometime between 3 and 6 am every morning I wake up to these noises:

• jingle, jingle, jingle (her bell on her collar)
• scratch, scratch
• thumpity, thumpity, thumpity (flying up the stairs)
• ploof, floopy, floopy floopy (landing and doing laps on my bed)
• rustle, rustle (playing with the hems of my hanging clothes)
• thump, thump, thump (careening back down the stairs)
• sching, king, ting ting (my blinds being slowly destroyed)
• scratch, scratch, rriiiip (i still can't tell if this is the scratching post or my couch)
• jingle, jingle, jingle

Repeat for the next 30 minutes.

It takes a toll on the sleeping, I can tell you. But, as soon as my alarm goes off, she curls in a sweet little ball behind my knee and falls promptly asleep. I think she has it in for my mental sanity.

Oh, and until yesterday she's been in heat, so in addition to the noises above there was much yowling and putting of the hind end on things. I mean, it's kind of hard to pet something that's waving it's butt at you.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

I love birthdays because they're the only days that are just about me. I've always used them as an excuse to have attention lavished on me. I will never let anyone forget my birthday. I'm that annoying friend who comes up to you in the middle of a party and be all "Guess what next Monday is! My birthday!" But I love them best because it's when you get to lavish attention on your loved ones. To spend a day making your favorite people know that you think they are the coolest, it's just so much fun. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love presents, but making other people happy with an awesome gift is just so much more fulfilling to me. I've been known to give David his birthday presents a week in advance because I just can't wait to see his reaction. Birthdays are even better than Christmas because it's all about you and nobody cares if you make a fool of yourself and get way too drunk or eat the entire cake by yourself. It's the perfect excuse for all most any kind of behavior: "Dude, why is that guy floating in the fountain wearing a crown?" "It's his birthday." "Oooh. Happy birthday, man!" "Why is that girl telling everyone there's an oil fund hidden in the house?" "Cause she's wasted because it's her birthday." "Oh, ok. Somebody make her a drink." (Not that I know anyone that these things happened to.) Cause birthdays are awesome and are all about you! Happy birthday to me and everyone else!


*Photo courtesy of Nick and all of his fantastic self!

Good weekend...

You know you had fun when you have a great time, do some visiting, do some drinking, turn in for the night.... and then find out you apparently got drunk in your sleep and made a fool of yourself and couldn't operate doors.

But yeah, besides that, it was a fantastic weekend. And it's not over yet! I love holiday weekends, they're splendiferous. And since my boyfriend's frat house opened up yesterday, there are people in town to do idiotic things with. I'm one of those weird girls that would much rather hang out with guys than girls. Like, I even go out with my boyfriend's fraternity brothers without him, cause they're fun and he's a homebody. But now, I'm hungry and still a little tipsy, so it's off to lunch. Any suggestions?

Hi ho, Hi ho, It's off to work I go...

So this morning I make the conscious decision to be late. But then, of course, I start worrying about how late I am and, oh my God, my boss is gonna be pissed and this was a stupid, stupid idea. I come racing into work a good thirty minutes late, sit down at my desk, and wait for my first task. I don't see my boss for TWO HOURS. I come to find out that the only thing there really is for me to do today is load and unload the dishwasher. ONCE.

I think my boss is trying to drop hints that maybe I could go home early today, but forget that! I'm gonna sit on my ass and suck every paid-to-sit-and-think-of-things-to-do-on-the-computer-hour I can out of this. Cause I'm sweet and considerate like that.

About me.. I'm a cake!

Thanks Zoot!

LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Cheryl
-- Birth date: January 23, 1986
-- Birthplace: Hazlehurst, MS
-- Current Location: Starkville, MS (work)
-- Eye Color: Hazel, extremely green when I’m tired
-- Hair Color: Brownie-Blond
-- Height: 5’9” when I don’t slouch
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: Irish, Norwegian, English, and a lot of German, then some more random European for good measure
-- The shoes you wore today: Blue $20 sneakers from Payless, b/c I work with acid and I'm extremely clumsy.
-- Your weakness: good leather, chocolate, and anything that tugs at the heartstrings. Seriously, Hallmark commercials make me cry. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Total sobfest
-- Your fears: Being a failure
-- Your perfect pizza: Pepperoni with Extra Cheese, lots of sweet sauce, with a crispy thin crust.
--Goal you'd like to achieve: Successful wife, mother, daughter and a kick-ass corporate consultant that makes major bank

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on AIM: So, what’s up with you?
-- Your first waking thoughts: I hate being up before the sun.
-- Your best physical feature: Either my eyes or my ass. I guess it depends on which way I’m facing.
-- Your most missed memory: All-day military airshows, sitting on a big blanket with my folks, eating lemon ices.

LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke, preferably made with Splenda
-- McDonald's or Burger King: Burger King, definitely
-- Single or group dates: group
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton, but has to be sweet
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
-- Cappuccino or coffee: neither, Mocha Frappe with no-sugar whip from Strangebrew! (Can I get a free one now?)

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: Mostly, no
-- Cuss: Cutting back
-- Sing: In the car at the top of my lungs, and lullabyes. See? The windows have to be up or you have to be half a sleep for my voice to be tolerable
-- Take a shower everyday: Yes, can’t stand not to
-- Do you think you've been in love: Yes.
-- Want to go to college: I am right now, and I can’t wait to get out
-- Liked high school: It had its ups and downs.
-- Want to get married: Can’t wait!!!
-- Believe in yourself: Most of the time, and if I don’t, I do a pretty good job of faking it.
-- Get motion sickness: Hardly ever, but a tilt-a-whirl right after steak-on-a-stick will definitely do it.
-- Think you're attractive: Most of the time
-- Think you're a health freak: Definitely not! Bring on the fatty red meat with carbs on the side! Except for like once a week, then I’m healthy.
-- Get along with your parent(s): Yep, love ‘em. (When they're not being totally irrational.)
-- Like thunderstorms: Yes
-- Play an instrument: I think I remember how to play the sax, and I can play the right hand part on a piano.

LAYER SIX:
In the past six months...
-- Drank alcohol: Oh, definitely yes
-- Smoked: Yes, but always with alcohol involved. No more stress smoking!
-- Done a drug: Only OTC
-- Made Out: Yep
-- Gone on a date: Yep
-- Gone to the mall? Yes; and out of 170 stores? Nothing! I hate malls!!
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos? No, I can only take a few at a time, and I was always the kid who got in trouble at VBS for only eating the filling
-- Eaten sushi: Yes, and it’s fanfrickintastic
-- Been on stage: Nope
-- Been dumped: No, thank god those days are over with
-- Gone skating: Nope, but maybe next month
-- Made homemade cookies: No, and I miss them!
-- Dyed your hair: It is dyed, but I didn’t do it.
-- Stolen Anything: A Lindor truffle from the gas station. I do believe I was intoxicated at the time.

LAYER SEVEN:
Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yep.
-- If so, was it mixed company: Yes, but I never lost
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Omg, the stories and pictures that will never disappear, no matter how hard I pray
-- Been caught "doing something": There were suspicions, but never visual proof
-- Been called a tease: Yes, and it extremely pissed me off.
-- Gotten beaten up: No
-- Shoplifted: Yes
-- Changed who you were to fit in: Yes. In high school, but I realized that was stupid, though I still think that if someone doesn’t like me, it’s my fault.

LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: 22
-- Numbers and Names of Children: 5 – I’ve got a list somewhere, but I can’t find it right now.
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: Getaway to New Orleans; as it was before the hurricane of course
-- How do you want to die: In my sleep, healthy.
-- Where you want to go to college: Currently toughing it out at the Old Main
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: Part-time corporate consultant that makes $1000 an hour. Keep your fingers crossed
-- What country would you most like to visit: España, but I need to work on my Spanish a bit before that.

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: There is no record, therefore none
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: 4, maybe 5
-- Number of CDs that I own: non-burned? Like, 7
-- Number of piercings: 2, in the ears
-- Number of tattoos: none, but I have a pencil lead stuck in my hand
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper? Besides honor roll stuff in school, probably 4 times
-- Number of scars on my body: More than I can count, and a lot of them are one on top of another.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: Trying to impress people, was and still is my biggest character flaw. Causes way too much stress: good in the workplace, bad in a bar.

5 Weird Things About Me...

Cause I was tagged by my sister...

1. I like to lick the seasoning off of Pringles before I eat them (one at a time, not the whole can, of course).
2. I find work much more enjoyable than college.
3. I enjoy hanging out with my parents just as much as with my friends.
4. I like opera. No, like, really like opera.
5. I get annoyed when people pronounce words from other languages wrong. It's not "Bi-locks-e" so why should it be "Mecksico"?

Well, there it is...

Okay, this is new. Well, let's just try it out, shall we?