Steelers, School & Dresses

What a past couple of days. Pretty boring EXCEPT the Steelers have advanced to the AFC Division playoffs!!! They beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 for the chance to play the New York Jets and get to the Superbowl - AGAIN! *Fingers Crossed*

The Jets beat the Patriots today though, meaning they are pretty good. haha. We'll see how next week goes, but of course: GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, just so I can remember this when I read back over this, the Falcons lost last night to the Packers. The Packers were 6th seed and the Falcons were 1st seed in the NFC. It was kind of bizarre. I'm pretty sure they were "supposed" to win? So now, with the Falcons (number one in NFC) and the Patriots (number on in AFC) out...it looks like the SuperBowl will be teams with less than perfect regular season records. I think the best one is the Steelers, but I'm not sure about the Bears.

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Today, we went grocery shopping, yay! And of course went to eat. We went to McDonalds (we being me, Seth & Hannah) And I literally spent $1.27 on a double cheeseburger, medium fry and medium drink. YES!!! YAY FOR COUPONS!!! hahaha.

After that, Seth and I came back and did some much needed cleaning in our bedroom and bathroom. Now it's pretty frickin' awesome except for some rugs that need to be washed in the bathroom and we want to wash the dog beds soon. After we bathe the dogs...also soon. haha.

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So we start back to school finally on Tuesday. Tomorrow we are out for MLK, Jr Day. I got my book in, too, so Dr. Dillon can stop giving me bad grades for not having my book. JERK. That really irritates me. I couldn't help the SNOW/ICE STORM that kept my books from arriving. Luckily it only affected one assignment, but I was worried it would affect this coming up week. Thank goodness I got it in the mail yesterday!! Btw, I think I'm going to dislike this class. It's really stupid and pointless. I get that we're supposed to use it to "prepare for after we graduate," but okay. On the syllabus, is to write a resume, research graduate programs, apply to graduate programs, write a cover letter and learn about the GRE. Of course, that's not ALL, but I've done those things!! I have already turned in all of my graduate school applications. I've already taken the GRE obviously since my apps are done. I have a resume. I know how to write a cover letter. Why in the heck?? lol. Also, the assignment we did the other day was to pick out of the possible career paths and pick what we want to do. Mine WASN'T ON THERE. It pissed me off. So I improvised. I did the assignment, but I did extra, by adding in what I needed for my actual career as well. ;) haha.

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Anyways, I'm not sure what else to put. OH! Friday we went dress shopping! Mom texted me on Thursday and let me know there was a sale on bridal gowns at David's Bridal this weekend. We figured, hey, let's at least go look at see what they have! So we went and it was wonderful. The saleslady was very attentive and knew what I was looking for. The second dress I tried on is quite possibly, "the one." We decided that if we can't beat it (which I kind of doubt!) We will go back and get it later. It's perfect. It's so "me."

So today. I'm not entirely sure where to start. The last update was about our snow/ice. Basically they closed the schools until NEXT Tuesday since we have MLK day off. This is NUTS! Unfortunately, my crappy professor decided to keep assigning things. It's pretty ridiculous since OUR BOOKS AREN'T DELIVERED YET. I've sort of come to terms with the fact that I will just have to have bad grades for the first few assignments thanks to this jerk. Oh well, it's a stupid class.

Yesterday, Hannah, Seth and I had a really funny day/night. :) Not gonna go into detail but I will say this: "I just want a cheeseburger and a __________!?" haha.

Today has been calm. The puppies were acting bad this morning. :/ I wish that would stop. Mainly I wish the cause behind that would stop being that cause. Um, yeah. So now I just got out of the shower. Going to wash my hair and whatnot in a few. Yeah, this is a pretty uninteresting update but I figure I'd go ahead and do it. Maybe this weekend will be more interesting!! :)

Snow Week 2011

So here we go, this one should be interesting! ;) Starting on Sunday night, January 9, 2011, snow and sleet were falling across Georgia. We were getting back from dinner when the ice balls starting falling. By the time we were back, settled and ready for the "Snowpocalypse" there was a thin sheet of snow on the ground.

By the time we woke up Monday morning, there was like 4 inches of snow and a layer of ice ALL OVER the place! The picture above doesn't even do justice to how crazy it was. The iced layer was so hard that Chevy didn't always break the surface when he was walking carefully. He's 30 pounds! Mom said that Ava didn't break it either. Lucy did. She's my big guh. ;)

The worst part though was the ice all over the roads. When we stepped on it, it was like walking over a lake of thin ice. You could see the water moving under the solid sheet of ice under your feet. It was quite strange. It melted for the most part today, but they are saying it's going to re-freeze tonight, so we'll be back to square one. Two, rather.

So apparently this is the worst snow/ice storm in Georgia since 1993. Schools all across Georgia were shut down. We have been out Monday, Tuesday and I've heard we are out again tomorrow, Wednesday. It's a little insane! But I'm certainly not complaining. I wasn't really into going back to school yet anyways. Two days was enough.

Now we'll see if we have class on Thursday. If not, this has become a Snow WEEK instead of just a Snow DAY! hahaha. Pretty awesome. It is a little weird being "trapped" in the apartment. Luckily we had gone grocery shopping. Warm soup really hits the spot after you go play in the snow/ice for an hour. What an interesting week in weather we are having. Enjoy the pictures above. :p

School Update

So I have now officially been to all of my final classes. :) Let's do the run-down. Social Psyc is going to be pretty good. Not the easiest, nor the hardest of my classes, and the teacher seems really funny and goofy. I think I'll probably like it. Psyc of Immigration will probably be alright. The teacher seems really passionate about the subject and the coursework doesn't seem to be too terribly difficult. Personality & Motivation (taught by my advisor! haha) I think will be pretty good. It will probably be one of, if not my MOST, difficult class. It's a 4 hour credit though, so that contributes as well. Lots of time will be spent on that one. Sports Psychology seems AWESOME! It isn't really what it sounds like it will be. Sports are involved, but it's mostly about personal motivation and drive, as well as success. Former Tampa Bay lineman DeMarcus Curry is coming to talk to our class though - because he is now a youth counselor! Tie-in. Those were my Wednesday classes btw. I have the first three on Mondays as well. My Tuesday/Thursdays that I went to today seem pretty good too. The Senior Seminar (for Psyc majors) seems like it's going to be really helpful and useful. I'm looking forward to it. :) And then I have US History. I saved it for my senior year so it would make my schedule easier to make - and it WORKED. haha. It's going to be so easy and perfect for the load I have. The teacher seems nice, and seems to like what he does.

Overall, my impression is that as long as I do what I'm supposed to do as per the syllabi, I will make A's or at least B's. :D I'd love to get all A's for my final semester. :D And in my hardest one, to boot! Since I'm taking 19 hours = SIX classes. But as of now, I'm not overwhelmed. I'm a bit nervous and apprehensive, but nothing I can't handle.

OH! Other good news! All is set for graduation. May 7 will be the official end to my Undergrad. 121 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to say that the people that snicker and complain about classes really irritate me. It's the first damn day. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE?! This girl was complaining about having to write two whole papers for history. I would like to point out that they are SHORT AS HELL. One is three pages and the other is 3-5. I was ELATED at their length! haha. I'm used to 10+. I don't get how this girl is supposed to make it through college if she bitches and moans about like 6-8 total pages for a class. She was a freshman, obviously. I was like wow. Don't get your degree then, because your major classes are going to kick your annoying butt. END RANT. :)

New Years 2011

Happy New Year!!
As the photo above obviously illustrates, we had a small New Years party at our apartment. :) Shane, Heather, Lauren, David, Hannah, Danny, Me & Seth. We had a lot of fun, for the most part. A few drinks here and there, guitar hero, poker (with funny money sacks!) and of course the ball dropping and whatnot. :) Good company, mostly.

The point though, of this post, happens to be that New Years is one of my favorite "holidays." I kind of want to explain why. New Years is my favorite because I'm in love with new beginnings, chapters and order. I love the "fresh-ness." And the anticipation. A New YEAR, A New Challenge, A New Goal, A New Optimism, A New Aproach, A New Mission, A New Resolution. I don't so much believe in "resolutions," but I do believe in optimism. I believe in learning from the past year and being able to qualify it as a learning experience and looking forward to the new year for the learning experiences and the happiness.

I wouldn't call myself an optimist as much as I'd call myself a realist. I look at both the past and future years as what they are and were to me, and I appreciate that. I'm not going to pretend 2011 is going to be all puppies and rainbows and flower petals, but I'm going to understand that it will be something worth experiencing. There will be many good things to happen this year, and I've got to admit, 2010 wasn't all that interesting. I have many things to look forward to, but I don't want to put them on a pedestal and be disappointed when graduation isn't all that exciting or when my 21st birthday isn't the greatest birthday ever or whatever it is that happens. But it will be an experience. A quantifiable experience that I need to have. I'm interested to see how it all will play out, see what surprises good or bad are in store for me this year. Things can change. And they will.

If I come back and am reading this in a year, I want to remember how much I was looking forward to the things that are coming. I want to remember that I was somewhat content, though not perfectly so. I had applied to graduate schools but had heard nothing back. I was counting down the days until graduation and my birthday. The puppies were healthy - Lucy weighs 49 lbs and Chevy weighs 29 lbs. The cost of their shots and exams shocked me - next year, be prepared for that! ;) We lived in our apartment we've been in for over a year, but we realllly want and need a yard. Rent or buy, we both want a house soon. Maybe by the end of this year. I'm not married or even engaged, but that may come later this year. :) My grandfather's 80th birthday is in 19 days and I feel like that is a hugely awesome milestone. I'm not thrilled with my appearance (weight) but I am loving growing my hair out! As much of a p.i.t.a. it can be to dry. My bfffff is Hannah Epps and my bffffboyfriend is Seth Massey. :p I feel old because my babies (brothers and sister) are going to reach some "old" sounding ages this year! 17, 7, 15. What in the heck!! That is how I want to remember this day, right now.


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We start back to school tomorrow. I'm excited, in a way, but mostly I wanted a few days to sleep in before going back. Oh well. That's life I suppose. I have four classes tomorrow - ugh!

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Here are some pictures from New Years 2011! Dinner at Osaka, the rest at the apartment.

Christmas Week & the future

So the blog I posted before this has the main pictures from Christmas day, so I will go ahead and explain my past few weeks. I see I haven't posted in a while, due to several factors. :)

I went home on the 23rd. But before that, after the doggies got their Santa pics made, we came back and gave them THEIR Christmas presents. (Two huge bones, two smaller ones, and some treats.) They also got a present from "Nana" (my mom) with squeaky toys. So cute. :p I finished up my grad school application stuff and mailed the part that had to be "snail mailed" when I got home on the 23rd. It was relieving, in a way.

I dropped them off at their boarding place. I hate doing it, but it makes it better that they are so excited to be there and the staff knows their names and tendencies. It's homey. One day when I'm not a poor college student, I'll tip them really well. :) We gave them a copy of the Santa picture and they put it up on their wall. I felt like a proud Mama. hahaha. I'm so lame! I love it.

So then I went home to my Mom's house. We didn't do much that night, but Will & I had "movie night." We watched 27 Dresses and talked for hours. We do that a lot, since we are both Chatty Kathy's. lol.

Then the next day was Christmas Eve AKA My Mom's birthday!! She turned 42. But I didn't say that. It was really "29." ;) We got her an awesome "Super Mom" Card. It was soooo cute. Then we all went to eat at LongHorn for her bday and then that night, Ava put out the cookies and reindeer food. Then me, Mom, Will & Zach went to the Christmas Eve service at the church. It was beautiful. Christmas music (esp Quaker style) is my favorite. Actually, church music in general is beautiful to me. It was a beautiful service and really made me appreciate it more. My favorite part? "Let the Christmas spirit affect you as it affected you as a child. Approach Christmas with the open heart that children do." We waited for Ava to be asleep after we got back, and then all 5 of us elves got Christmas Morning ready. :p It's interesting being old. lol. Will and I had a funny conversation about what Christmas will be like when she's older too. :)

Christmas morning - OH what a morning! She had us up by 7-ish and by 7:30 presents were being torn open. She got a ton of barbie stuff, I got a lot of much-needed clothes, Will got clothes and some helpful school stuff, Zach got clothes as well and some cool movies/games. :) We're so old. ;) Then we had our typical Christmas morning breakfast - Zach made his cinnamon biscuits and Mark made the sausage casserole. DELICIOUS, both of them.

Nanny & Papa got there around 12 or 1 and we did those presents. :) And Nanny tried to teach Will how to juggle. haha. Then we had Christmas "linner." lol. It was yummy, as usual. Seth finally came down a little after that and did his presents.

Then Seth & I left to go see his Mom. We went to her & Lee's house and Shane & Heather were there too. We had yummy food and did gifts there too. THEN, it started to snow and actually stick!! White Christmas, at least the most White Christmas we've seen in over 100 years. :p I had to drive home in it (not fun, kind of scary) because it was dark outside and it was like the snow flakes were attacking my windshield. :/ I was stressed. But made it home safely and played in it with Will & Zach. :p Ava wasn't able to. Bedtime and all that. But she got to the next AM when it was done snowing. :)

That day, we went to church. Another gorgeous service. I really love that church, honestly. After church, Ava went to play with her bff Rachel. lol. Mom got to sleep some more and Will, Zach & I went to Dad's for more Christmas. We did the presents with Dad & Maggie and then, of course, went to Summit for some wings and football. Some things never change. :p After that, we watched movies again that night.

I left yesterday (Monday the 27th) and came and got my babies from their boarders. They were soooo tired! :) Matter of fact they are asleep right now too! Now back to reality and bills and bullsh*t. BOO!

But I'm excited for my favorite holiday - New Years! I love the renewing sense that it brings. I hope that 2011 is 3948405493 times better than 2010. 2010 was okay, but it was not that exciting and certainly nothing of great importance really happened. I don't mean that this year hasn't had a lot of learning involved, but I feel kind of disappointed that I didn't really hit any major milestones. I'll have to get used to that, I'm sure. But I guess I did finally stop being a "teenager" when I turned 20 earlier this year, but it didn't really feel like a big deal. I didn't finish anything and I didn't really start anything either. Next year, I think I'll be both finishing and starting things, assuming I get into Grad School! *fingers crossed* I'm actually excited about grad school now. I think I am about 94% certain that I want to do this with my life, and I don't think anyone is 100% about anything like that.

I have a feeling 2011 is going to have a lot in store for me, not just including graduating college and turning 21. :) And possibly, hopefully, starting grad school. I think next year will have a lot of really neat things going on. I'm excited for our little New Years party! We only invited like 8 people, so it'll be small, but that's how I like it. :)

Christmas in Pictures

The pictures uploaded in backwards order - mainly because I forgot that they do that, and I didn't feel like switching them all around. :) SO, let's go backwards, shall we? The above picture is from where it was SNOWING on CHRISTMAS in GEORGIA. Yes, stand back in awe. It hasn't snowed on Christmas in the Atlanta area since 1882. Part of history is now on my blog. :)

And my brothers, who refuse clothing, outside in pants and gloves. No joke, they weren't cold. Except their hands. It's ridiculous. I think they are werewolves? Jacob & Sam? HAHA.

Seth & I in front of the tree on Christmas day. :)

Me & Will. I look GROSS, but it's okay. :)

Zachy & Ava, Christmas morning.

Will & Ava Christmas morning. :) Sweet.

Ava & I opening presents. This is what she got me. :) She was so cutely excited. I wore it later that day. :)

All of us, ages 6-20. LOL. What a crew.

Ava found her Santa presents! :)


Putting out the milk & cookies that the boys ate later that night. Such good elves. ;)