April Goals

*WARNING-this is going to seem intense...and it is! April-you're may just be the death of me....

*Fun
1) Start and Finish Breakfast at Tiffany's for the Boro Book Club
2) Finish Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
3) Travel to Oklahoma with Mom and Jen to visit grandparents
4) Go to RUSH Time Machine Tour in Nashville with Derrick

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5) Buy shorts for summer (here's to hoping to being a size smaller!)
6) Mindy's baby shower for baby Sealya
7) Pick back up on a photo-a-day project
8) Volunteer for Middle Tennessee's "The BIG Event"

*School
1) Start and complete transcription of interviews
2) Do well on all Stats homework(s) turned in  & ask for help when needed
3) Lecture on dramaturgy in Theory class (hopefully....)
4) Complete Methods research analysis project
5) Continue with Homework Sundays (with the Oklahoma Sunday as the only exception)
6) Register for Fall 2011 classes

*Health
1) WORK OUT (for real this month....)
2) Drink more water-I think since I cut this out from my last month goals I really didn't drink a lot when I needed to and I can totally tell a difference
3) Continue to take my vitamins-I used to be all gung-ho about them but I sort of just forgot, LOL. Now I'm planning on reorganizing them and starting them back every day!
4) Stretches in the AM and PM-I always feel so much more relaxed when I do this!

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5) Find an SPF lotion to start wearing to protect against those harmful sun rays!

*Budget
1) Bring lunch to work at least 2 times per week-this should DRASTICALLY cut down on fast food consumption and wasting money on crap food  I don't need.
2) Save for potential trip to Pensacola to see Destiny in late May (which may or may not happen but just in case)

*Home
1) Select pictures and frames to hang in entry way
2) Hang bathroom pics (This is like the 18405th time I've tried to make this a goal, LOL)
3) Re-paint the bedroom-more to match our new comforter set
4) Select fabric(s) to make bedroom curtains-I'm thinking maybe something like these?

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Lots to do this month but a lot to look forward to! I'm excited about April!

March Madness? Maybe....

I don't think I got quite as much done in March as I'd like to have thought BUT what I did was intense and awesome so...let's recap!

*Fun
1) Celebrate 3 years of togetherness with Der! (DONE! Check out the details of our relationship)
2) Go on Spring Break (DONE-YAY! Remember my Gatlinburg blog??)
3) Find a fun and meaningful gift for Shelley's 23rd birthday and then mail it (DONE! I got her the books Sybill and The Tales of Beetle the Bard-both of which she'll love! It's fun because not intentionally, Shelley and I have been getting one another books for holidays (Christmas, birthdays, graduations) since we were like 18-AND I LOVE IT!)
4) Blog about Spring Break (DONE-Duh-see above)
5) Catch up on photo-a-day project-via postings on Facebook and actually taking them (FAIL-I haven't caught up BUT I plan on doing so in April)
6) Blog more (DONE!)
7) Finish The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes via the Kindle (DONE-and very well worth it.  The Kindle was especially awesome for this read since some of it is in old English and I didn't know a bit of the vocabulary.  I'd suggest this read!)
8) Finish A Woman Doing Life: Notes from a Prison for Women by Erin George (DONE-Again, an awesome read (weird to say seeing as it's a type of narrative/biography) but very glad to have read it)
** ADDITION-start reading Eat. Pray. Love.
**ADDITION-have breakfast with Kelly and Tonya-SO SO SO good to catch up with them both!
**ADDITION-purchase Mindy's baby shower gift and hang out with Elisa (yay!)
*School
1) Complete Portfolio for Methods (DONE-and I made an A! YAY!)
2) Complete Stats Homework #3 AND Midterm and do well on them both! (DONE-I made an A on the homework and a low B on the Midterm (which is a BIG deal considering my breakdown about it)
3) Lead class discussion on Feminist Theory as GA (ubber excited) (DONE-but it wasn't really a discussion as much as it was the class in groups and us later discussing those topics.)
4) Start research project and interviews (DONE! Hopefully I'll have my last interview completed today and then it's on to transcription! I went to the library and got like 10 books for my research that I need ot pilfer through this weekend-which sounds lame but I'm excited about it!)
5) Keep up with Sundays as homework days (DONE)
6) Delve into GA research and literature review(s) (DONE-see above)

*Health
1) Get back on workout wagon-via Zumba with Kristy, running/swimming with John/Derrick-at least 3 times per week (FAIL-no real excuses minus my leg/knee problems...which isn't excuse enough)
2) Decrease coffee/caffine intake to 3 times a week STARTING March 6th
3) Decrease fast food consumption (February was bad for this!) (FAILISH? I decreased it a bit at the start but then it came back towards the end when school/work got me slammed...for April I plan on doing something about that!)
4) Do more stretches in PM (a good relaxer after a long day) (FAIL-again I just forgot! I really want to start doing this!)


Alright-so the grand tally is:


DONE=13                FAIL=5                  ADDITIONS=2


Not too shabby eh?  Got more done than I thought I did, that's for sure.  March was definitely a roller coaster of everything for me-emotions, work load, time management, etc. and I'm SO glad today is the last day, LOL!


Cheers to April and it's craziness!

Sick Daze

Boooooooooooo-I think I've got a stomach bug.  I had to take a sick day today...which stinks because most people take sick days to play hooky and go on the town but I'm actually sick.

Day thus far has been as follows:
1) Wake up and call out of work
2) Sleep
3) Wake back up
4) Attempt to eat...barely hung on.
5) Read
6) Nap
7) Sort laundry
8) Watch some Law and Order: SVU
9) Nap again
10) Lunch...this time holding fairly solid and got a Sprite thanks to my hubs.

I'm pretty sure the rest of today will contain more napping, lame foods, and lots more of Season 8 of SVU....

So I'm pretty much worthless and I feel like hell.  I'm cold and having stomach pains and just feel bleck.  Derrick has had it too, I think, so our house is pretty gross at the moment but cleaning and such are taking a backseat today in hopes of being able to do my GA hours, interview, and class tomorrow.

Here's to hoping.

Think chicken noodle soup and Sprite,
JER

Boro Book Club

As you can see on my blog main page, I am a member of the Goodreads online group but that's mostly for me to keep track of what I'm reading and/or want to read and to take note on things I've already "consumed", LOL.

I've always wanted to belong to a book club, whether formal or informal.  And when I went to Indiana to visit Shelley we were talking about that same type of thing and then it hit me...why can't I create the book club I so desperately want to be a part of?!  So-I have started an online book club!  It's via facebook so if we're friends on facebook find me and become a member (if you're not already) of the Boro Book Club.  It's just a group of people with the yearning to read some good stuff!

The premise goes as such:
About a week before the 1st of the month a book or reading will be selected.  This will give everyone a bit of time to get it (via online, e-readers, borrowing, or book store) and the official reading is to begin on the 1st of the month.  By the 25th of the month the book/reading should be finished and then on the online forum we all discuss the book/reading, what we liked/didn't like about it and its impact on the literary world.  I hope to bring about new stories to both the members and myself.  I plan on making the readings broad, ranging from romance to teen drama to classics.  I want all of us involved to get a firmer grasp on literature and the wonderful reads out there.

Sounds kind of fun, right?  Maybe it's just because I'm a HUGE book nerd (and totally proud of it) but I'm getting really excited about it!  I just hope people who are joined right now actually find interest in it and stay....

My personal goals for the club are to: 1) Keep it sustained (meaning keep people interested), 2) Read 1 book for the club and 1 book for my personal reading a month (2 books per month), and 3) Develop more love and liking for literature (easy!).

What do you think?  Are you interested in this?

The first book we're reading is Truman Capote's short novel Breakfast at Tiffany's.  A pretty short read, romantic, and one I've actually never read before. Mine came in the mail this morning (!!!) and I must resist the urge to tear it open and start on page one. I've got 5 more days before I can, LOL.

**Note-I find that I repeat the phrase: "Everyone has time to read a good book" more often than not.  A friend of mine says she falls asleep reading and doesn't like to do it.  My response was "Then you're not reading the right story."  I think everyone has the potential to be just as big a book worm as I am IF they're reading the right stuff.  I've read hundreds of books in my day and can safely say that there's a big handful of readings I'd never touch again.  Glad to have read it, but found it either boring or worthless.  Yes-life is SO very busy and for some who don't consider reading a relaxing hobby it seems daunting but it is a way to let the mind escape, the body rest, and the imagination to take flight if only for an hour a week.  I find reading necessary to my life and even with Grad. School, a family, friends, a full time job, and other involvements, I make sure I find the time to indulge in Cap'n Ahab's whims of catching Moby or Harry's struggle with fighting Voldemort's demons or Allie and Noah's struggle in sustaining their love.  It is necessary for me to realize and involve other realities within my own.

How do you feel about a good read?

Failure is not an option

Have you ever had a day where you just felt like a total failure and waste of space?  Well, I have and yesterday was one of those rare occasions.  Surprisingly I held myself together pretty well but at the end of the night I fell apart, weeping on my husband's shoulder and pouring my feelings of failure and frustration out.
It was unfortunate really.  No one wants to feel like a failure, let alone KNOW they are for a snapshot in time, ya know?  So I got my tears out, my frustrations and worries all to the tune of my husband saying words of encouragement and support in my ears in hopes of it helping alleviate my pain. This failure isn't crucial to my marriage or family but it's regarding school and if you know me, school is pretty much my thing-so detremental all the same.

Let's be real: mistakes happen and humans are just that-human. 

Yet I strive for perfection as much as possible in every aspect of my life, though I do acknowledge the fact that I am a large procrastinator and a HUGE pain in my own ass.  And it's really heart breaking to try and try and try at something that you know you've got awesome potential to be great in and fail.

OVER. AND OVER. AND OVER. 

There's only so much this girl can take before depression sinks in and every little thing I've ever failed at comes flooding back and I want to curl up and cry and wonder why I even persist with somethings.  (No, I'm not suicidal or looking for a pity party-just being honest and willing to admit that I feel like a failure sometimes!)

So I fall asleep to the very beginnings of SVU starting on the t.v. and husband gingerly wakes me up to snuggle me back in the bed while I sleep off this feeling.  This morning I wake up still feeling like a failure but decide this: failure is NOT an option for me.  It just isn't.  I put some good music on the iPod and plopped on the Bose before heading out for my walk to campus today.  Sun shining, birds chirping, light traffic...it was beautiful.  So I made sure to repeat the mantra of "Failure is not an option" and "What's the worst that could happen?" so I could get in better spirits before starting my day.  Well, I get to campus, do the usual (checking email, replying, sorting through my stuff to do for the day) and approach my Professor.  I ask if I can have some help around noon with my midterm I am so desperately trying not to fail and he suggests he look at my data before I come in for help...I go to the other office to check my files and...they worked-all of them!  I almost cry (seriously) and start smiling.  I check them again to make sure I'm not insane or hallucinating and yes-they're working!  I go tell him that (for now) they are working and ask if I have any other problems if I can come to him before our class (and it's due date) tonight at 6.  He says sure and good luck.

And just like that-spirits soar high and smiles rapidly appear in sequence on my face.  I am not a failure.  I guess I just needed a restart button or something because everything has (thus far) worked out just fine while I analyze my data and draw up my conclusions on the findings.

Why is that?  Did I just need a wake-up call to knock me on my ass?  To realize I am not perfect and that my will power is enough and that should be enough for me?  Well it worked for today.

I am SO grateful for that shining moment, coming right when I needed it. 

Now-the midterm has not been submitted yet so obviously I have no idea how I did, but I feel confident that even if I make a C that I did my very best at a moment of weakness and that THAT should be enough for me.

Realization and working data sets can do that to a girl, ya know....

Gatlinburg-Spring Break 2011

Well-we actually went somewhere for Spring Break! Just few 2 days but it was much needed and we really had a lot of fun just hanging out-in good ol' Gatlinburg, Tennessee!  Derrick has never been before so it was really fun to show him a cool part of Tennessee and I hadn't been in a LONG time so it was neat to see what's changed and what hadn't!

Check out the pictures and details below from our trip!

The name of our cabin! How cute is that?! 

Our home away from home <3 

View 

Our in-room jacuzzi-so nice after a long drive! 

Our awesome little kitchen. 

View again-just gorgeous! 

Paradise.  

Our living space. 

Our neat bear fireplace. 

Thursday night when we checked in they said it may snow that night...they were right! Luckily, it wasn't cold enough to freeze but it sure was beautiful!  

In downtown Gatlinburg-checking out the sites! 

The Ripley's Aquarium! Totally cool and had a lot of really neat exhibits! 

I LOVED the way these seahorses were holding tails-too cute! 

This sword fish shark was just laying on top of the tank, watching people walk under him and hanging out-it was so funny! 

This shark kept swimming right over our head-check out all of those ferocious teeth! 

Derrick being silly. 

Then me being silly.... 

Me loving my "penguin friend" after the cool penguin exhibit.  

This was where we had breakfast Friday morning-it was DELICIOUS! It has the premise of an IHOP but with pancakes-I got some strawberry crepes that were out of this world delicious! 

How adorable is the place?! 

It's like right out of a book.

Me and Derrick getting ready to eat at No Way Jose's! SUCH good Mexican. 

Love <3

And that was that! We got in Thursday evening and left Saturday morning.  Quick trip but enough to get a breather, get some AMAZING relaxation (and homemade candies!) under our belt before getting back to the grindstone of work and school.

A trip well worth in in funds, fun, and family.

Happy Place

Last night, I found out via Facebook that a young lady I know passed away unexpectedly.  Her name was Anna Barker.  We were never very close but a close friend of mine, Katie, was her cousin and BEST friend.  She left behind a 3 year old son named Ian and a husband whom she adored named Mitchell.  She was only in her early 20s.

I cried.  A lot.  No, we weren't very close but she's gone and her family is left in shambles.  I hate it for her, her family, and friends.  So I cried...and then I smiled.

In honor of her cheerful attitude towards life, I am posting a blog about things in my life and things I find awesome that make me happy and give it purpose.  Cheers to good friends, great family, and having 1 more day to celebrate life!

Make sure you get to living and remember the things that make you smile every day.  It's all worth it =]

<3 J