I've obviously been watching a shit ton of Olympics. I think we should note that the new sport of Slopestyle is INSANE. Like, I cannot even with it. Both versions, snowboard and skiing, just totally blow my mind.

I get weirdly into biathlon every year and I'm super pumped to watch more.

Charlie and Meryl. NO WORDS for how amazing they are.

I post the following link for why I love the Olympics. Everyone is working together, because sports.

I'm watching cross country right now-women's sprint. No US woman has ever medaled. I'm pulling for us!

http://www.businessinsider.com/cross-country-skier-given-ski-2014-2

Feel good story man-YAY OLYMPICS

EDIT--
The same Russian skier fell down again today in the semifinals. I hope he's okay. Poor dude.

Your Turn, Emily

So.

Long time no...nothing.

Let us get straight to the point.

Olympic time all over again. It seems like it was yesterday when we were in Vancouver, complete with singing and dancing Mounties, Michael Buble and giant beavers.

In case you thought I was kidding. (from http://www.rcinet.ca/english/illustration/htmleditor/beaver.jpg)

I'm pumped for Sochi shenanigans and we ALL know there will be loads of them.

(I'm ignoring London as those were Summer Games and while Summer Games are great, I LOVE WINTER OKAY)

I am posting from my phone because I just got the app. awesonesauce.

An entry of more substance to follow. Later.

Maybe.

I'm Back!

I know that I was writing (somewhat) regularly, and then this nasty little thing called "Life" got in the way.

That being said, let's take a recap from Memorial Day on, shall we?

I had the rest of my thyroid out in June, and it was a lot harder on me than I thought it would be. Recovery from surgery took weeks instead of days, and my scar is still kind of tingly sore. It also messed with my head a lot more than I thought it would, but that's because I was super optimistic as to how I would feel. I feel a whole lot better now, but it's taken nearly two whole months for that to be true.
Annoying.

I went and visited my mother in Atlanta. That was great fun-we also went over to Charleston, SC. I have photos up on the other blog.

I also went with my friend Shara to see NKOTBSB...three times. That deserves its own entry, complete with fabulous photos. I even promise to do it in a timely fashion.

The most important thing that's happened this summer? I got a job! I have been hired as one of the Graduate Assistants here at school. I'm super pumped. Not only will they pay me, they'll pay for a few classes for school! EXCITING.

So as I have class in a few, I shall leave this here and head over. Emily will keep me honest on the NKOTBSB thing...

Only In Michigan

The last time we met, faithful reader, it was Memorial Day here in Michigan. It's June now, and it's sweltering. Of course we have gone back to it being blisteringly hot here, which I do prefer to it being cold and rainy.

A week ago today I had the rest of my thyroid out. As anyone will tell you, it sucks. Surgery blows. I'm feeling better now, and it's taken this long to get this far. Frankly it annoys me. I'm also the only one who seemed to think I'd feel better sooner.
Needless to say, I'm really rather impatient about this sort of thing.

In other news, with this sweltering weather I've whipped out the first sundress of the year. I'd post a photo, but that involves...effort. And when you have no air conditioning and it's about 80 at 10 pm, your goal is to sit in a dark room with a fan blowing on you and move as little as possible.

I hope the heavens open up and rain, so this humidity would leave.
And so I can wear pants.

Holiday Weekends

It's Memorial Day here in MI. In fact, it's supposedly May around here.
Needless to say, the weather hasn't really agreed. We've had a few really nice days mind you, but this is possibly the wettest May I remember.
Ever.
This weekend is slated to be rainy and hot, and it's just a bummer. It makes the idea of doing anything, like planting flowers, so unappealing.

I spent last week in Atlanta with my mom. At first I wasn't too thrilled to visit, but we ended up having a fabulous time. We took our car and drove to Charleston, SC and rocked that town. They had the most amazing food I've eaten of vacation as of late. It's rare that absolutely every place you eat on a vacation has stellar food, not just "kinda good".
Needless to say, I have to get back ASAP. If only to eat all of the food I didn't eat the first time, you know?

Now it's time for me to finish my glass of wine, listen to my parents bicker (lovingly) with their friends as it's card night, and take a nap. I was up too early this morning to buy flowers and stuff.

Hey look-Good Weather!

I fully admit that this is also posted word for word on my "other" blog. However, I think it's worth putting down here, as I haven't written in a while and it amuses me.

So, without further ado.

It's a truth universally acknowledged that a city, in want of some sunshine, should accept any and all nice weather that comes its way.

I know full well that I'm probably "tempting the wrath from high atop the thing" (for you West Wing fans), but I'm going to do it anyway. It's really really gorgeous out. It was cold (like, 40's) on Tuesday, which did make golf less than entertaining. However, it appears as though the heavens have finally bestowed upon Michigan something resembling Spring.

Spring tends to make us restless here in the Great White North. When it finally appears we all dash outside, preferably in questionable attire (think shorts, tanks and flip flops) even when it's only 60. Everyone stands around, or strolls, wearing their sunglasses and smiling as if to say "Hey look! Warmth! The Sun! I can get my daily vitamin D today without taking a pill!" It's something programmed into our DNA.

A plethora of people are driving with their windows down, their tops down (for those convertible owners) and music blaring as loud as possible. With luck, the bass will also be up and the earth will shake in time to Usher's "Yeah".

I suppose I'm writing this to document this gorgeous weather, as well as be grateful for the fact that I'm post B12 shots now. With this development it means I can actually enjoy this sort of thing. My energy levels are of a respectable level, I don't have weird tingly feelings in my arms, and I can pay attention long enough to recognize that fact.

So go outside all of you! Enjoy this weather. And listen to "Yeah" if you must.

April Showers

April showers supposedly bring May flowers.
Unless your April showers happen to be snow showers. I haven't even looked at our weather forecast lately, but the last time I did look? We had flurries soon.

We shall move on from that conversation, as it just raises my blood pressure.

I'm here to tell you to go see Jane Eyre. I first read it over Thanksgiving(ish). (I don't know the exact time, but I know I twittered about it, so you can scroll back and investigate)
I adored the book. I thought Jane was so strong and interesting and thoughtful. There is such a gothic feel to the whole thing, which is so beautiful. And this is saying something, because I've read other gothic-esque novels and I super didn't like them at all. Mr. Rochester was a cranky shit that you loved.
Needless to say, I loved it.

And then they made a movie about it. It is equally as beautiful. The scenery is huge in scope, as Jane wanders around the moors and whatnot. The look of Thornfield Hall is positively amazing. Jane is plain, yet pretty. Mr. Rochester is striking.
There is a scene between the two of them after a fire is set in Mr. Rochester's room.
It. Is. Hot.

So basically, this is me, telling you to go see it.

(sidenote-the rest of my life is normal, i go to school a lot and it will be a shitload of work for the last two weeks. please god save me now)

A Few Snowpocolypses Later...

And it's mid-March. In fact, it's bordering on the end of March. Winter has continued to bother us all up here in the Great White North. In fact, February was one of the snowiest months on record here in Michigan. How ridiculous is that?

Needless to say, we're all really really really done with winter. (that being said, i hear there's supposed to be snow on Tuesday. no, i don't want to talk about it)

In the meantime? I continue to go to school. It's still deliciously nerdy, but I've come to severely dislike one of my professors. It's to the point where I've altered my summer plans and now will not be taking a summer class because I don't want to spend 8 weeks in a room with her. Three days a week for hours on end. It's bad enough as it is, you know?

Otherwise? I don't do all that much. I started an online dating profile.
Oh. My. God. There are no words for how ridiculous and absurd and silly and all around odd that's been. I have yet to net myself any dates.
I also have yet to truly net myself anyone who can construct an entire sentence (or two) without some sort of tragic misstep of either A) "HEY SHAWTY, WHAT U DOIN?" or something like B) "reading, splling and typing n complete thots is hard. there4, i don't"

Both of these make my grind my teeth.

Touche Emily.
Your turn for an update.

SNOWPOCOLYPSE

Let us begin with saying, I'm done with this photo shit. Maybe I'll do one at the start of every month.
I also should apologize for calling out Emily on not photo-ing. Apparently we had a bit of a mis-communication and she is photo-ing on a different blog, and not photos of herself.
Who knew? (Not me. Not then, anyway)

Let's fast forward about a month, shall we?

Grad school is so deliciously nerdy. I spend my time thinking about different languages, vowel systems, language acquisitions, motivating connections between polysemous words, and it's so delicious. Sometimes it gives me a headache. But then I get excited that I liked something enough and thought about it enough to make my head hurt. (I know, right?)

In more pressing news, a SNOWPOCOLYPSE is slated to hit the MI area sometime tomorrow. I'm sort of hoping it'll really dump on us, and it'll do it in a timely fashion. Despite my love of school, everyone likes a snow day.
Frankly-between you and me-I don't think I have that kind of luck. But a girl can dream, right?

Michigan in the midst of a SNOWPOCOLYPSE is hilarious. It's always as if we've never seen snow before in our little Northern lives. I just hope that I don't actually have to venture out in it. The shenanigans that people pull give me a headache and raises my blood pressure.
I don't appreciate it.

I'll report in after the SNOWPOCOLYPSE hits. I've got a shovel. And a snowblower. And a full fridge. I'm not worried.

Day 3

I've now done three in a row, which is a pretty big accomplishment for me.

Today I'm a bit achy, and I'm wondering if it's because I've been sleeping so much. On the other hand, I still feel kind of shitty, so I've been sleeping a lot. It's a really not-so-fun Catch 22.

Speaking of Catch-22. I'm one step closer to actually getting "accepted" at OU. But let me tell you, it's not easy (apparently). I spent a lot of time today on the phone trying to get some answers. I still need some more, and that's what tomorrow will be. Stalking the proper people at OU so I can get an answer about my acceptance and then register for classes.

I cannot believe they would sort of not allow someone who is a super-nerd to go to class. I long to learn.

I know. Nerd. That's what this photo is. A slightly tired, vaguely diseased, tiny bit victorious nerd.

I hope tomorrow you'll see an epic one.

The Other Day

So the other day (re: New Years' Eve) Emily came up with the idea of a photo-a-day.
And then the next day she was all "DUDE. WE MUST."

This is me, calling out her.

TWO PHOTOS. IN A ROW.

For those who are curious, this is what a non-victory in regards to college looks like.

Happy New Year!

So. It's 2011 now. Living in the future, I experience three whole hours of 2011 before Emily did.

Emily has come up with an idea. The "Photo-A-Day" thing.

This is my shout out to Emily that we should do it here. Also-let's update the look of the blog. I'm not allowed (as she set it up). So, that being said.
Here it is, the first photo.

I'm teetering on the edge of being ill. It's not okay.

Christmastime Is Here

The other night I watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and was struck by the fact that Christmastime is, in fact, here.

Also, Michigan got dumped on in a little mini-blizzard and that too, brought home the whole "Christmas" thing. We didn't get it as bad as Minnesota, but still. It took my dad nearly an hour to go ONE mile.
Needless to say, I stayed home.

Now, for those keeping score at home, I have been posting photos of the holiday shenanigans going on here in the Great White North on my brand new Tumblr. I've been posting some of the more choice ones, and we've moved from the library to the kitchen in the geography of the house.

Later this week is our annual trip to Chicago to go visit the people who still live in the city. I'm really looking forward to it, it's always fun to see a real city all lit up and busy for the holidays.

Also, we eat tons of delicious food.

Hello There.

Long time, no see eh?

Let me start this entry with an entreat to my blogmate, Emily. We need a new design. Perhaps something for the holidays?

Anyway. We also apparently have just neglected this blog like you wouldn't believe.

To bring us all up to date, let's do a brief recap of the last 3 months or so. I am still unemployed. To be honest, I haven't looked for a job as hard as I probably should, but there it is. There are times when being unemployed is somewhat handy. Like when the furnace inspector comes to inspect and...do stuff to the furnace. It's nice having me home when my mom is traveling and my dad can't get away from work.

I am also taking a pre-requisite course in Linguistics. It is fascinating. Once this class is finished I'll be starting my Masters in January.
I know, right? Like, real, grown-up college? It's kind of insane.

My mom is home for the holidays, which is nice. She's been gone pretty much the whole year and it's cozy having her around. Of course there are moments when that isn't true. But isn't that how the whole "Mother/Daughter" thing works?

I'll try to be around more. Maybe even with a festive photo or two.

My Nose Won't Be Runny For Long

I'm currently that really irritating kind of sick. You get the runny nose, a bit of a headache, maybe some aches and pains and that's about it. You're obviously (at least to you) sick enough to not feel well and perhaps not do some of the stuff that you would do normally, but otherwise you'd best suck it up and do it. Whatever it may be.

I'm sitting in my kitchen, blogging, feeling all snuffly like. I have to go golfing in the morning, and I'd blow it off if I hadn't done that last week. And because I'm not desperately sick, no one will really go "Oh you poor thing" if you don't show up, but if you're dying ill, you get the look of "WTF Are you doing here?"

I took some NyQuil. It's cherry flavored. I'm fairly certain it's what evil tastes like. But now I'm nice and sleepy and I can't get in the bathroom because my mom is showering. Annoying.

So. Things.

Since the last time I was here, things have changed considerably.
I went to Washington DC with a friend for a job fair which should have convinced me to move.

It didn't.

I continued to work at the coffee shop, get rejected from various grad programs (all of which were super expensive AND super exclusive) and then. And then.

Well, two "and then's".

First off, I turned 24 years old. I'm SO ANCIENT LOLZ. But still. Another birthday.

AND THEN. (this gets capital letters)

I GOT FIRED. F I R E D FIRED.

Since then I've been looking for employment, running errands for my mom a la a personal assistant and...stuff? I don't even know.

But I'll blog here more. Promise. ;)

srsly?

So I just applied at Kohl's (a store that I'm actually very fond of) and their silly computer just flat out rejected me for "not fitting the criteria" that they're looking for.
How frustrating is that. Getting rejected before a human being even looks at your application. An excellent self-esteem killer.

In other news, I'm getting rejected from grad schools left and right. Yet another thing that makes me want to run into oncoming traffic.

I know things will look up. But right now this second, all my rage is in my jaw and it makes me grind my teeth.

Long Time, Big Moment

I've got a lot to write about, albeit some of it more interesting than other parts of it.

More importantly, I had a big moment the other day.

And without further ado-here it is.

If I don't get into a grad school which requires me to move out of state and therefore, out of my house in MI and quit my job at the coffee shop, I'm quitting. I know it's a long way away, but I will not work past December 31.
It's a small concession, a potentially lame revelation-but I think, especially as of late, it's possibly the best decision I've made in a while.

So there's that. I think it's pretty brilliant. Even if it scares me a little.

Because Emily Told Me To

Me: And now I have to go to bed. Because I have a confession. I have to work tomorrow.

Emily: WHAT

Me:at the coffee shop

Emily: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT

Me: ...yes.

Emily: ALEXA NO
YOUR SOUL
IT WAS CRUSHED ONCE BEFORE THERE

Me: BABY NEEDS A PAYCHECK

Emily: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHhh

Me: So Baby will go back there, until Patrick Swayze comes to say "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"
...wait. Fuck.

Emily: LOL

Me: Regardless, I needs dollarz.
So I'll report in tomorrow about it. I'll even blog.



And on that note....bed.