I'm alive!!

Quickest way to sum up my absence:  broken computer.

 

I haven't really needed to fix it because A) school is done and B) I have an iPhone.  But posting and reading others' posts is a pain in the tuckus from a phone. 

 

What's happened since I've been "missing":

 

* I graduated but still had internship hours to finish. 

* I finished those hours

* I finished up the nannying gig at the end of August

* I was unemployed for two weeks

* I was "under-employed" working part-time at Hallmark for two months

* I am now employed full-time!!!!!!!!!

 

 

I'll try to post more but I can't make any guarantees

Copy cat

I told BabyGirl to go put her boots away. 

 

Maybe I should start to put mine "away" a little better 

on a more personal note

Graduating:  It's something that I have looked forward to more the past two years. If you asked me two years ago, I would have told you that I had no desire to "walk" in the ceremony.  I was going to do my work, get great grades (because I was an adult now and there was no reason to *not* get great grades), and learn what I needed to become a counselor. 

However, in the past six months I can't believe I ever felt that way. I have been so excited about graduation and the opportunity to "walk" with my friends.

Friends from Grad school: that's another thing that has changed in the past two years.  I've written about this before, so I won't get into much detail.  But man, am I glad things didn't turn out that way.

Even the people that aren't my "friends" are very much still my friends.  Of course, it is inevitable; we have discussed such intimate details of our lives and feelings, how could we *not* end up caring about each other.

I think there's where the bittersweet part lies.  I know that I will stay in contact with my "friends" but what about all my other classmates.  I won't be seeing them twice a week anymore.  I won't even be seeing them one a week.  Will I see them ever?

I may end going through MHC withdraw.

  

Wait, what?

So today was the day; I graduated.  

glitter makes it official, right?

Most, but not all, of my cohort

It's a done deal now

Me & my parents

Sums up exactly how I feel!

Now, maybe I can be better at writing real posts and not half-assed ones from my phone. 

My job is done

So, lately I've been obsessively listening to the full version Les Mis in my car.

Today as we drove Master to school, I realized that both Master & BabyGirl were happily singing the chorus of "Do You Hear the People" along with the CD.

My heart melted.

First world problem

It's been summer-esque here in Upstate New York. And today starts my new schedule of three days at the clinic instead of four; so I get to stay at work all day with no where else to be.

I really wanna sit outside during nap today but my allergies are kicking my butt. AND I left my Kindle at home so I have nothing to read.

What a hard life I lead.

Eeek

I'm about to walk into my last
grad school exam. Wow

A teeny bit behind

Apparently it's almost the middle to April and I have yet to discuss March's or April's resolution.  Oops.  

March - no buying coffee out

I didn't do as well as I have the other months.  I think I bought coffee out at least three times.  But I didn't do it until about half way through the month.  And this month I am more conscience of my coffee buying habit.  So March was not a complete failure but I didn't buy coffee as much as I normally would have.  

April - drink more water

I am the most un-hydrated person ever.  I say un-hydrated as opposed to dehydrated because I don't think I'm dehydrated.  I'm just not hydrated properly. I found this month to be extremely hard.  The thing is, it's not that I just don't drink water, I don't really drink anything.  I can go all without really drinking any kind of fluid, besides my AM tea or coffee.  And I know that is not healthy.  So when I say I wanted to drink more water it wasn't just as easy as replacing my already existing beverage with water.  I didn't have an already existing beverage.   So even though I didn't really do this month as well as I wanted to, I was more aware of my beverage intake.  But ultimately April was an utter and complete failure.  

umm...someone probably should have been concerned

When I was about 13, I read a book that would forever change my life.  And make me a little weird, probably.  

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI. WHAT?!  Why wasn't my mother monitoring my reading??

It's written by the guy who created the term "serial killer" and it discusses his career in the FBI and some of the techniques they use to profile criminals.  It also had several stories of different killers.  

I read it, loved it, and decided that I wanted to be a criminal profiler for the FBI.  That is roughly when I became "obsessed" with serial killers.  I'm using the term "obsessed" in the broadest sense of the word.  I think somewhat-healthy curiosity, is a better term.  I mean, c'mon, I was a thirteen year old girl.  A thirteen year old from a rural town.  Who lived in the middle of nowhere.  Where lots of animals could have gone missing.  

Just realized that that sounded like I was off killing animals and no one was the wiser.  Not that case.  But I'm sayin' that I could have.  

So as an adult, a very mentally healthy adult, I wonder why my parents weren't more concerned. I asked my mom about it this weekend.  She said that I seemed to be more interested in the forensic aspect and the "why," so it didn't seem to be a problem.  And I guess she's right, that book is what made me want to get into psych.  And my dream job would still be in the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI. And I've always been drawn to the morbid side of things.  But weren't they just a little concerned that I was weird.   

Anyways, that's a long preface to the reason for this post.  There are so many shows on TV about serials right now.  And it's awesome!!  Hannibal, The Following, Bates Motel.  Anyone watching any of these?

the dilemmas of dress shopping

So I need a dress for graduation. I guess I don't *need* a new dress, but I really wanted to get a new one.  I didn't want to get a dress that I couldn't really wear again. I already have a couple of dresses  that really can only be worn to weddings, so I didn't want another one of those.  So I was on the search for a nice, but not too nice, dress.  I also wanted something that wasn't too trendy.  Like I said I wanted to be able to wear it again.  And, because I don't like to have the same things as other people, that was a concern.

Another issue is that even though I have a wedding the weekend after graduation, it's for a school friend.  So I'll be with the same people.  So I can't wear the same dress- duh!

I usually have pretty good luck at TJMaxx and Marshall's.  So that was where I wanted to look there.  The first one I looked in had nothing too exciting.  There was one, a yellow lace one, that I liked.  But it was a little body conscience and I knew it wouldn't be too comfortable to sit in all day, let alone eat a nice dinner.  However, I did keep thinking about it and how I would accessorize it.  So I figured I could go back and if the dress was still there I was meant to have it.

Then today I went to a different TJMaxx.  I found a super cute day clutch and hairspray that I really like was   a really great price.  So far the universe was being nice. So, I grabbed a bunch of dresses and headed to the fitting rooms.  One of the dresses-OMG!  It was perfect.  And I guess I should have figured that, because the neckline was one that is super flattering on me.  Ya know, like fake wrappy and ruched. 

And the best part was the color.  Remember when I said I wanted something that wasn't too trendy.  Well, this is emerald.  Emerald=Pantone's color of 2013!  And I look really good in green (beep, beep - tootin' my own horn). Although, I think the dress is more jewel emerald and less Pantone emerald.  I feel that Pantone emerald has some blue in it.  But whatever!

Pictures to come after graduation!

It's been a long day

Me: See, that's a brown chalk

Master: How do you know?

Me: Because I have eyes. And they work

so close yet so far

I just ordered my cap and gown!!!  And 'cause I'm wicked smart, I get a "hood."  Well, we all get those, I guess it's a Master's thing.  But I feel fancy!

The only thing is: I have a sh*t ton of work to do in the next two weeks.  And, yes, sh*t ton is a proper unit of measure.  I have something pretty major/big due for the next four classes!! So I see the finish line, but it is still so far away I can't think about it.  

Something cool and something "adult"

Two quick things that happened tonight that I promise I'll go into more detail about"

1.  I just "won" a trip to  FL.  I say "won" because it's one of those things where you have to listen to a 90 minute time share thing.  Uhhhhh...I'll take it!  I can't afford a time share, so there is no concern of me being tempted to actually buy one.  So I'll give you 90 minutes of my time so I can go the Harry Potter Theme Park or maybe Disney.  

2.  I just registered for a two day play therapy conference.  Professional development here I come.  

woo hoo??

Could I possibly be so lucky to have my vacation from work and spring break fall on the same week? If you define "lucky" as still having internship, then, yes I am that lucky.  

 

Now my site, which I hate a little less everyday, is awesome and would have let me not come in. However, taking a week off would just mean I would have to make up the hours.  Later this semester.  Probably in the summer.  That's not something I really want to do.  So I offered to dog sit for my bosses while they are gone.  Which is easy peesy and they usually pay me.  

They have a crazy amount of channels, but you know what I ended up watching last night?  Tangled.  Again.  

I know how to live large!

February Resolution

February - no alcohol

Ok, so February is over and I did a good job with that resolution.  I truly don't drink all that much anyways but I do enjoy some yummy flavored vodka or Bailey's in my hot cocoa on cold nights.  I also like to have dinner and drinks with friends.  The only day that I did drink was Winter Brewfest.  But that was a conscience decision since I made plans to go to that before I thought of doing the monthly resolutions. Partner was actually the one that asked how I was planning on going to the Brewfest if I wasn't drinking that month.  

March - no buying coffee out

I'm going to change my March resolution from "No fast food" to "No buying coffee out."  The grocery store closest to my house closed last week in order to move to the new and awesomely improved, bigger and better store that they've been building.  It won't re-open until May. And because I'm so busy, I sometimes don't have food in my house.  So I would like the option of running into the store to grab some food.   

So what I mean when I say "no buying coffee out" I mean that just because I drive by a Dunkin Donuts (my preferred coffee) doesn't mean I have to get a coffee.  What usually happens is that I go to work and make a cup of tea.  Then I bring Master to school and I pass a DD.  So after I drop him off, I'll go grab a coffee.  I don't need that cup of coffee, I've already had my caffeine for the morning.  

I'm not counting weekend mornings when I go to the cafe to do school work and I get breakfast/coffee. I'm also not counting if I meet anyone for coffee.  I am including all coffee places (Starbucks and Tim Horton's). Not that I usually get coffee from there, but I don't want to have any loop holes.  

I think this will be a though month, because I love DD coffee.  

Where's your scar?

So I am watching The Woman in Black. Now mind you, I'm only like 10 minutes in, but I can't get past "Harry Potter" playing non-Harry Potter.

January Resolution

OK, so I'm trying out a resolution a month instead of one for the year.  So far so good.

January - Eat breakfast everyday 

I love breakfast.  I truly believe it's the most important meal of the day.  So I normally try to eat it everyday.  Because I have a job where I can eat there, I do.  But what I found was happening is that I would get to work and immediately start working.  All of sudden it would be 10:30 and I would be starving.  Then I would realize that I never ate my breakfast.  So I started making sure I ate/made my food almost as soon as I got to work.  I also tried to make sure I took my vitamins with my breakfast, although that didn't happen every day.  I ate my breakfast first thing almost every morning.  Now it's starting to be a habit; which, in all honesty, that is what I hoped would happen.  Weekends not so much; I usually wake up later and putz around the house drinking coffee.  

Over all, January was a success

February - no alcohol

This month I would like to try to now drink alcohol.  And as I write this I realize I'm probably gong to sound like a have a problem.  Which, BTW, I don't.  Superbowl?  no beer.  Yay me!  Dinner tonight with the girls? I guarantee Suska acts shocked that I'm not going to drink and will convince me to have something.  I would almost bet you money on this.  My friend Brandy saw me at Superbowl and knows I'm not drinking this month, she won't say anything.  

Next weekend is a craft brew fest.  I'm willing to break my resolution because I've been looking forward to this.  But it's a conscience choice and I'm OK with it.  

Letter from the future?

For my one of my classes we have to pretend it's 2023 and write a letter to a friend that we have been out of touch with since 2013 and catch them up on our life.  

By no means a hard assignment but it kinda is. 

What do I want to have done in the next tens years? 

I dreamed a dream

Ok, before I go on and talk about how obsessed I've become, I need to say that I had never seen a production of Les Miserables before.  I'm seeing it in May on stage.  But I really wanted to see the movie too.  And since patience is not a virtue I have, I didn't want to wait until after I saw it on stage. I also didn't know if I should see it first on stage or in the movies.  First world problems, I tell ya!

One of my friends had seen both the play (several times) and the movie.  She said to see the movie.  So I did.  

Holy cow!  How have I never seen Les Miz before??!!

I instantly became obsessed!  

Here's my basic knowledge of Les Miz pre movie watching: 

 I  roughly "knew" the story of Les Miz, so there were no major surprises for me.  Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing.
I've loved the song "On My Own" since Joey Potter sang it at the beauty pageant.
I've heard most of the famous songs since I listen to a lot of Broadway music on Pandora (I refuse to call them show tunes).  

I really, really like the movie.

Remember, I've never seen the stage production.  

I know everyone is hating on Russell Crowe and his singing skills.  I do agree that his voice was not necessarily the strongest and he may not have been the best choice in that sense.  However, I do feel as though his persona was spot on.  I believed that he would spend his life hunting Jean Valjean.  

But remember I have nothing to compare it to.  

My biggest concern/issue was Amanda Seyfried.  I felt that she didn't really commit to the singing. Yeah, she can sing, but I just think there may have been a better choice. Maybe I just don't like the character of Cosette,  Maybe whenever I see Amanda all I can think about is Karen from Mean Girls.  

Remember, this is the only version I've seen.

So basically I'm now obsessed with Les Miz and have been listening to the music on my newly created Les Miz Pandora station.  

I love it when I use my noggin

So tomorrow is my meeting for my new super duper internship. This weekend I went shopping and got some super duper cute clothes; one of which is a dress. And I was all excited to wear it tomorrow. Until I thought about the fact that, because this is a chemical dependency clinic, I have to get a urine screen. Then I thought about how awkward it's going to be hold my dress up while holding a cup while trying to hover.

New plan: cute pants and shirt.

I love it when I actually think things through.

Here's my super cute dress. Another day dear friend, I promise you will be worn

Oops

This morning I had a really hard time putting on my watch. It just didn't want to clasp. Finally, I got it on. I checked the time to see how close it was to Whiny's bus time. My watch said 3:00!! What!?!??

Oops, my watch was on upside down.

Copycat

Happy New Year y'all!!

I am going to be such a copycat!   Ellesees normally does her New Year's resolutions a bit differently than most folks and I am going to copy the sh*t out of her.  She does a different resolution each month but this year she is changin' it up. Feel free to check it out to see what the heck I am talking about. 

Anyhoo...

This year I am going to try to a year long resolution as well as monthly ones.  My year-long one is going to be the $5 savings plan.  Every time I get a $5 bill, I'm going to put it away (probably in a mug somewhere in my apartment so don't come robbing me!). At the end of the year I'm going to do something fun with the money.  

These are my monthly ones that I have thought of so far.  They are by no means set in stone. 

January - eat breakfast every day

February - no alcohol

March - no fast food

April - no buying coffee out 

May - actually do my hair & makeup at home and not at work

June - keep my house guest-ready clean

July - no clothes shopping

August - 

September - 

October - 

November - 

December - 

Clearly, I couldn't think of 12 things.  So please feel free to suggest things for me.