Well, the break is over. I took half a Spring Break and it was wonderful. On Friday I had a doctor's appointment in Lubbock. So, I spent the evening with my parents. On Saturday I drove to Dallas to spend some time with my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. I just can't believe how big my niece is getting. She'll be two in a few days and that's nuts. Then on Monday I met up with my super duper friend Samantha for some shopping and fun. We went to outlet malls, Sam Moon, and IKEA. We spent the night in a hotel and even dyed my hair red! I had so much fun and felt like I was really on vacation. I got the greatest deals too!! I probably spent way too much money. We found one store that had comforters for for $9.99! Wow. My favorite store was by far IKEA. It was unbelievable. Has everyone been there? I was such an experience. I long for the day when I can go in there and actually buy stuff to fill my home.

I guess all good things must come to an end. So, I came back to Abilene yesterday to work of school stuff. Let me tell you, I am ready to be finished!!

It's that time of year again. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the trees are blooming, and the papers are due. I can't believe it's already March. As a student, March scares me, not as much as April, but way more than February. March means that I have to kick it into high gear. March means that all of the procrastination and naps and computer games have to end. It's March Madness baby, and by madness I mean I am out of control!

Having a blog is so much pressure. You've got to keep it updated and entertaining even though you rarely have anything to say. So, here's the major happenings in my life right now.
-hair loss and naps: My doctor called me last week to let me know that I am not absorbing enough vitamins. Malnutrition is very common for people who have had gastric bypass surgery. What this means for me is that I need to take more vitamins, I'm exhausted and need a nap every day, and my hair is falling out like crazy. The hair thing isn't too big of a deal because I have such big hair, but I just hate having hair everywhere.
-summer school: I found out this week that I am missing one class to graduate in May, which means I'll have to take a maymester course. I don't know if I'll be able to walk in May, the jury's still out on that one. I'm not really upset about the graduation thing as much as I am frustrated about taking another class. I ready to be finish with reading, and researching, and writing papers!
-Spring Break: in my tradition as a grad student, I'll be spending my spring break in the library. I know, I know, please don't be jealous of my coolness.
-sunshine: I'm loving this spring weather. I was really tired of the cold. Speaking of sunshine, has everyone seen Little Miss Sunshine? It's so great.

Okay, I'll say it. As much as I hate to admit it, last night's Grey's was a let down. I'm really glad Meredith didn't die, that would have been too much. And, her mom dying was not that big of a shock. I'm not a huge fan of watching dead people walk around. Was that supposed to be heaven or limbo or what? And what was with that girl bleeding all the time. I was a little freaked out by all of it. I definitely thought the funniest part was watching Christina show off all of that stuff she bought at the $1 store. I rarely identify with Christina, but $1 shopping is a major hobby of mine. You wouldn't believe what you can get for just a dollar! Anyways, Izzie was mean, Derek was so sad, maybe Addison and Mark will work out, and I always love Bailey and George.

Here is a neat survey if you care about the environment even the least bit. It measures how large your ecological footprint is. Unfortunately, if everyone lived like me, we would need 3.1 planets.

Okay, to all of my readers out there who watch Grey's Anatomy and live in Abilene: you are invited to my apartment on Thursday night to watch it. I'll even make cookies or something. If you don't live in Abilene, you are still invited to come by. You can even have an extra cookie for your travels. If you don't watch Grey's, what is wrong with you??

Well, I'm still on a high from Grey's the other night. I actually screamed out loud when they showed Denny. Could they really kill off their main character? The preview for this week said it will be a devastating end to this three-part series. I don't know if I can handle it.

Well, I changed my background, obviously. The only thing I don't like is the title. I can't figure out how to move it. Any thoughts out there??

Oh LCU...

Well, last weekend was Homecoming/Master Follies weekend at LCU, so I made the little trek to the big Lub for the festivities. It was lots of fun. LCU has gotten really nice. Everything is so new and pretty (well prettier). It's amazing what new carpet can accomplish. Alumni breakfast was huge. I've never seen that many people there. Honestly, alumni breakfast is scary. All those people, most of them I don't know. So, I like to sit at a table with my friends and stay there. I don't get up for a refill or to use the bathroom. If someone wants to talk to me, they'll make it to my table. I hope that doesn't sound rude, I'm just scared of all those people. Master Follies was really good this year. The hosts and hostesses were great and all of the club shows were really funny. Shows like Master Follies and Sing Song crack me up. It's the most competitive event of the whole year, and it involves boys wearing make up and dancing. You've got to love small Christian schools.

While I was in Lubbock I also got to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. That means that both of my parents are now in their sixties. If I would ever get out of school maybe they could retire someday. All weekend my mom kept saying: "Sixty is the new forty!" That's hilarious.

Well, Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I have always loved this holiday. Maybe it's because I've never had a Valentine, so there's no pressure to buy a gift or be romantic. I just love all of the red and hearts and flowers and presents and kisses. The one thing I don't like about Valentine's Day is hearing people whine about it. Maybe if you would stop whining, you wouldn't be single on Valentine's Day ;)

My latest and greatest food find are the 100 calorie packs. mmmm. They are so good. I've been missing snacks. I found something else at Walmart yesterday. Fresh onions and peppers cut up for fajitas. All you have to do is throw them on the grill/skillet/pan. I hate cutting up onions, so this is great. I think I'll cook them tonight! Hopefully no fires this time though.

Whoa, whoa. Wasn't yesterday just crazy. First, the unexpected death of Anna Nicole Smith- it's the kind of thing you aren't surprised about but it's really shocking. And then that crazy episode of Grey's. I'm watching the replay tonight because it was so good.

Well, happy Friday everyone :) Why did it get cold again!?!

Thank you to all of you who commented about your identity, however I already knew all of you read my blog. So, no mysteries solved. Oh well. Some of you asked about the site meter. I think there are several versions out there. The one I used was at sitemeter.com. You have to start an account and then they'll give you a code to copy and paste into your profile. It's definitely something that requires a little thought, at least it was for me- I'm not that computer savvy.

For those of you who are consistent readers, you may remember a post about my troubles in the kitchen. Since my surgery, I've been trying to cook more, which raises the likelihood of trouble in the kitchen. Well, here's my latest incident. I was making some soup, so I started by boiling some chicken. Some of the water overflowed and I didn't think much about it until I started boiling some vegetables on the same burner. All of a sudden I looked over and flames, real flames- as in fire, were coming out from under the pot. Since I live alone I must keep my cool in these situations and just handle it. If I'd had a roommate or husband around, I would have been screaming. Well, I removed the pot and turned off the burner and waited for the fire to die out. It didn't take too long, but my heart was beating pretty fast. I was determined not to lose the time I spent in the kitchen, so I salvaged the the fire vegetables and kept on cooking. It turned out to be the best soup I've ever made!! Who knew?

I recently made an incredible purchase. I was at The Dollar Tree- my favorite store of all time, and happened to walk by the books. Usually the books are terrible, I mean really terrible. But I happened to see two awesome books. The Trading Spaces Ultimate Episode Guide and the Extreme Home Makeover Official Companion Book were screaming for me to pick them up. These books are super duper. I'd put pictures of them on here, but the Add Image button won't work. Anyways, when I saw these books I thought to myself, there's no way these books are only one dollar. The prices printed on the back of the books were $20 and $30. I'm telling you, these are fancy books. As fancy as they are though, these books are in The Dollar Tree, so they must be $1. Turns out they were!! Yippie skippy! $2 bought me two great books. I'm pumped about these books, much more excited than I am about my text books.

Lastly, how much do I love syndication? Right now I'm watching Grey's Anatomy reruns on Lifetime Television for Women. That right, twice a week baby!!

Who are you?

Last summer I put a site meter on my blog to see where my blog was being read. It's been very interesting to see the location of my blog readers. Not just interesting, but also a little scary at times. Sometimes I'll have hits from Afghanistan and Russia. Who would be reading my blog there? Probably a mistake, at least that's what I tell myself. Then I see the locations of old friends and loved ones. I'm always so excited to see Oregon or Iowa or Kansas. It has also answered a few questions for me. Like the person who left an anonymous comment about me being hot. That was such a great complement, and I don't know your name, but I know you live in Abilene. I'm still trying to find you. :) There are a few recurring locations that are a total mystery though. Columbus, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Logan, Utah; Round Rock, Texas; Malibu, California; South River, New Jersey... Who are you? Here's the request: leave me a comment some time. I don't guess you have to, but it would be nice to know who you are. I'd even send you a shout out some time.

Great news for you: Nick at Nite, the place for TV hits, is going to start playing reruns of Growing Pains. That was always one of my favorites! If they'd only start playing The Wonder Years, I'd be set.

I spent my afternoon at home, my other home: the Brown Library. It was in the 50s today and I was so excited. I'm a little tired of the cold weather. I've been thinking a lot lately about the calling and leading of God. I think about this a lot when it's time for a job search or life change. Does God really call us to certain places at certain times? Did God call me to Kansas City last summer or here to Abilene for the last two years? I believe God is capable of doing this, but does God actually do this? Perhaps God simply calls us to total surrender, and the places we live and work don't matter as much because our lives are surrendered to God. Do we make location and occupation decisions based on what we want, or does God place an actual calling in our hearts when we are trying to decide? I wish I had answers to this. Any thoughts out there?

Cold Feet and Facial Hair

I'm cold. The bottom of my jeans are wet from walking in the snow. I just can't believe this weather. Since I can't even walk that well in normal conditions, this kind of weather makes getting around pretty tough. I look ridiculous when I'm walking.

Due to the ice, today was the first day of classes around here. This morning I went to my Church History II class. The class is going to be great, but it's going to give me a pretty good beating. The professor, Doug Foster, loves the subject so much it makes it easy to get excited about it. For those of you who know Rodney Plunkett, he and Doug were best friends growing up. They even look alike, huh.


I think it's the mustache. Do you think the mustache will make a big return in cultural style someday? I want this mustache to make a come back.


Seriously, what was that guy thinking? Or what about this guy. He competed in the Mustache World Championships with that thing.

Personally, I prefer to wax my mustache every couple of weeks. I think that's the only proper thing to do as a lady. And you know how much of a lady I am.

Well, there you have it: my thoughts for Wednesday. I'm sure you all wish you could be as deep and insightful as I am!

I'm sitting in class a little bored right now, that's why I'm answering these 40 questions.

1. Where were you 2 hours ago?
In class
2. Who will be your next kiss?
ummm, probably my dad
3. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?
yes, my new backpack
4. When is the last time you went to the mall?
Around New Years
5. Are you wearing socks right now?
yes
6. When was the last time you went out of the state?
November- to Kansas
7. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?
no
8. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Propel Fitness Water
9. What are you wearing right now?
jeans and a sweatshirt
10. What was your last purchase?
a can of mixed nuts and a People magazine
11. Last food you ate?
Grilled Chicken Salad
12. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My mom
13. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
no
14. Do you have a pet?
yes, Dolly. But she's lives at my parents house
15. What was the last sporting event you watched?
The Tech vs. UNLV basketball game at the Spirit Arena
16. What is/was your favorite class?
hard to say
17. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
In bed because it's raining
18. What is the last thing you purchased online?
Text books
20. What is your favorite soup?
chicken tortilla
21. Do you miss anyone?
yes
22. Last play you saw?
I don't remember, maybe Les Miserables a few years ago
23. What are your plans for tomorrow?
sleep, rest
24. Who is the last person you messaged on myspace?
maybe Lynsey
25. Ever gone camping?
yes, and I peed my pants
26. Were you an honor roll student in school?
Yes, in high school
27.What do you think will happen in the future?
I have no idea. It's scary.
28. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
Not today
31. Do you have a tan?
not any more
32. How old do you want to be when you have kids?
late 20s early 30s
33. Do you collect anything?
I have a lot of scrap booking stuff I never use.
34. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
My ears are pierced.
36.What kind of soda do you like?
No soda anymore.
37. Do you like hot sauce?
Yes, very much.
38. Last time you took a shower?
Last night.
39. What is your mood right now?
I'm a little tired and weary from class.
40. Are you someones best friend?
I don't know.

Grey's tonight! Whoo-hoo! I'm ready to see a new episode.

I'm sitting in class...tired.

Well, my recovery period is officially over (in theory). I'm going to begin my morning tomorrow with an exam to kick off my week-long short course. The course is about worship and I must say that I am probably more excited about this course than any other class I've taken (or will take for that matter). I've heard it's one of the best, and I just love worship, so there you go.

I went to the doctor on Friday for my one month check up. One month, whoa. It's been really fast and really slow at the same time. Really fast because I just can't believe how quickly I have recovered and started to lose weight. Slow because for three weeks I was on a puree diet, which in all honesty was totally gross. I did eat a lot of cool whip in that stage though, which wasn't at all unpleasant. We don't give cool whip enough credit in our society. It's light and fluffy, it's delicious! Anyways, anyways... the doctor said I was doing great. My incision is looking pretty good and my blood pressure has gone down a lot. I'm still a little sore, but I haven't had a pain pill in over a week! I can't lift anything for another month, so my parents bought me the cutest pink rolling backpack. I realize that rolling backpacks are a little out of style now, but who cares- it's pink!

Well, Mr. C called the other night. We haven't spoken on the phone for a really long time, even since before I sent the big I love you letter. I've been telling myself that I'm over him for a while now, but after our talk on the phone I just couldn't stop thinking about him. Our talk was so nice, it's always so nice to talk to him. Oh well, I don't have time to think about him anymore, it's time for school. My school work has a funny way of helping me to avoid thinking about things. It's nice in a way, it's also called avoidance though.

I'll leave you with a picture of my cutie pie niece Kaelan Brooke. I call her KB for some reason. I just think it sounds cute coming out of my mouth and she responds to it, so I keep doing it. She's starting to talk so she can finally say my name, well not MY name but the stupid nick name my brothers gave me (LuLu). I'm still bitter about that nick name, especially that it stuck. Anyways, Kaelan says it really funny: Laahh Luuhh, or something like that. I just love it, but hopefully she won't call me that forever :)

I've been missing Grey's so much lately. Haven't y'all?