midnight carpentry

I have been wanting to do some hardcore crafts all summer and break out my Martha Stewart skillz but since summer school started and I don't really have any free time during the day until 9 or 10pm, I haven't really been able to hone my creative urges.

The great thing about summer school? It always ends. I have my final exam from 6-8pm on Tuesday and then it's sweet freedom. I also think that the lab is closing after Tuesday until school starts (which means that I'm not going to get a paycheck for two full weeks. I'm going to die) so I will have a LOT of free time. I foresee myself writing like 6 blogs a day. Okay, not really, but I do foresee a lot of boredom.

Anyway, back to craft projects. The other day Brian and I found this really great large piece of wood that he thought would be perfect for a table of sorts. So we waited until nightfall and we drove to the place we found it and hoisted it into the back of his truck. I more like watched him hoist it...I didn't really want splinters.

Then last night he was thinking about giving up on the project because of complications with the wood but I urged him to keep going. After it's sanded and stuff we can paint it and we came up with the great idea (thanks to Hannah and Jennifer's love of chalkboard paint) to paint the table in chalkboard paint! so we went to walmart at midnight last night and bought some paint and chalk and I think it's going to be pretty awesome. People can make a list of stuff on the table and draw things. here is the most important part of the blog: out of the scraps of wood that he had to take off, there was this really sweet piece of wood that I saw and started having creative visions about. It's about 1 foot wide and 4 feet long and I was thinking it would be great for either turning into a large chalkboard and putting somewhere (that's the problem...how practical is a 4 foot long chalkboard unless you're a teacher, ha) and I also thought it would be awesome to paint it and then write a quote on it ... or maybe just like one word on it.

Like I said, I'm not really sure what to do with it yet, but it was a great piece of wood that I couldn't let go! I'm still in the sanding stages of the wood right now and yes I took pictures last night of our "construction projects" beginning stages, but no, I am not able to upload yet. So that's kind of a bummer...but the good news is: I'm ordering my new computer battery like TOMORROW.

Have a blessed computer enabled day.

Cool Kids

Brian and I are going to have a Waco photoshoot this afternoon. Going to random buildings in Waco such as the ones that I pass everyday on the way to class ... buildings with graffiti and colorful buildings and old abandoned churches. We're pretty cool.

Find something creative to do today.

when words become superfluous

and if i truly am crazy, i think i like my life that way.

this is how i feel today

it's amazing what a good night of sleep can do for you.

New Mexico, Part I

I had an amazing time in New Mexico. I have to say that coming back to Waco weather has not been an easy transition; the nights would get as cool as 55 degrees in NM and the days were a cool and easy 85. Coming back to 107 degree with high humidity has been a little disheartening.

disclaimer: I would like to credit all of these wonderful photos to the mad photography skillz of Hannah Bockhoff Stewart, but would like to note that I will be uploading my own photos from the trip in due time.

We got to Ruidoso around noon on Thursday, New Mexico time (we had left at 5:30 that morning from Olney) and I had to put on a jacket when I got out of the car! We went on a picnic at Lincoln National Forest for lunch - the best chicken salad ever with chips and watermelon and crackers and cheese and cold weinies (I'm not sure how the weinies came into the mix...but Hannah was talking about her weinie craving the whole trip so it was kind of ironic that they showed up in the picnic basket...nice and cold). Ava sat under an umbrella ... but the umbrella toppled over and almost hit her several times! Isaac drank a lot of Red Bull and wouldn't stop being a comedian (we named him the comedian of the group). "Red Bull gives you wiiiiiiiiiiiings."

FRIDAY: Carlsbad Caverns ... where I have not been since 1996! When I went with my family in '96 we rode down the elevator because my grandparents went with us, but this time we climbed down. It was a great workout! I forget how far down it was, but some of us (ahem HANNAH) were sore from the climb the next day.

SATURDAY: As soon as we left the house for lunch, it started pouring. Today was supposed to be spent walking around town and shopping, so this was initially a little disappointing. We dropped Ava off at the restaurant so she wouldn't get wet when we went to find a parking space, but as soon as we did that, it started HAILING! We were worried about hail damage so we found someone's RANDOM GARAGE (this was the garage for their HOUSE) and we parked under it until the rain let up. (i have pictures of this fiasco which will come later, as I have not purchased a usb for my camera yet...but don't worry, it's going to happen soon. I know all of my loyal followers are awaiting the moment). For now, you will have to settle with a picture from the restuarant: Cafe Rio. You can't really tell in the picture, but our hair was wet and our clothes were wet and our legs and feet were muddy from walking through the rain and hail.

To Be Continued...

voyage awaits

there are a lot of reasons to smile today.

1. starbucks after work.

2. finished my accounting homework after 2 hours of working on it.

3. Brian has an interview at the lab today ... yes, the same lab as me. and yes...interviews are actually held for this extremely difficult job position.

4. today is the last day of class for me this week

5. I finally and officially moved out last night. there are no more traces of me living there and i turn in my keys today after work. glorious

6. I will be in Olney, Texas in 11 hours ... and leaving for NEW MEXICO in 16 hours.

I can't wait to be in another state! I am a little disappointed that I leave on the same day that Vanessa gets back from Chicago...but I will be back shortly to see her and have a roomie reunion!

Hannah informed me today that Nini was going to bring her computer to Ruidoso for "blogging purposes" so don't worry all you loyal followers... I will have access to a computadora and I will be updating my blog and letting you all in on my mini vacation. I'm also really excited because we are going to Carlsbad Caverns and I have not been there since 1996! My parents are a little jealous that I get to go there, but I will take a couple of pictures for them.

a witty saying proves nothing - Voltaire

I MADE A 99 on MY ACCOUNTING TEST from last Thursday. I am not quite sure how that happened; I swear that I did not bring a clone in the form of Brian Rolater the Accounting Major to take my test for me. Though I'm pretty sure that we would be able to pass for twins on a good day ... but alas, I did not resort to methods of dishonorable repute for my grade. So I'm a little confused about how I can hate Accounting so much and not understand it, yet still make a 99 on my test.

After class last night Brian and I went to his apartment's workout room and ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill. That was literally the first time I have been on a treadmill for more than 5 minutes - in my life. I have never really been a fan of a machines that make the ground move and have the ability to give you a concussion if you were to fall off of them. I have always loved the elliptical, but the only elliptical I have ever found that I truly enjoyed was at the Family Sports Center in Kerrville.

I usually run the bear trail (when I say usually, I mean that I ran it last Thursday, but other than that I haven't ran the bt since March). I like the Bear Trail because it is exactly 2.25 miles and there are always many people running/biking/walking it and it goes exactly around campus. It's a little weird that "around campus" equates to a wimpy 2.25 miles, but it's good for running purposes because I'm a little out of shape currently and don't think I could run more than 2.25 miles at a time. When the time comes (yes, it has happened before) and I am able to run the bt twice again (in one run), I will be a happy girl. But right now, I have to face the pathetic-ness that my sedentary life style has given me.

After class last night I had to clean my old apartment. One might say that it is bittersweet moving out of one apartment and into another, but in my case...IT IS THE BEST THING EVER. I hated that old apartment. The carpet was disgusting, the walls were an empty, sad white. It was incredibly hot - I think that was due to it being on the 3rd floor (new apartment is on the 2nd floor) and it was also a 4 person apartment so there was more space to TRY and cool off (I stress the word TRY, because the air conditioning in the old apartment was a lame excuse for any kind of AC unit. The boys at D&D would not approve).

Okay, back to cleaning. I had to clean the carpet, clean the walls, dust the walls, dust the blinds, clean the bathroom, clean the toilet, clean the shower, clean the mirrors, vacuum everything like 5 times... it was not a fun task to do alone. It's interesting that I had to clean my shared bathroom alone ... some people just high tail it out of places without a second glance or consideration for their own messes. Brian helped me though. In fact, he did much of the bathroom work himself (cleaning the mirrors, cleaning the sinks, vacuumed the living room). He's great. I'm lucky.

4 hours of miserable cleaning and sweat later, we were finally finished ... for the night. I'm going back over there today and doing another run-through. Then it will be the official goodbye to 11302 and officially a tenant of 6202. Exciting times will commence in 6202. And I don't care what Jennifer says about the "potential" she sees in Indie and I, I am not a cat person and she cannot change me.

I'm trying to kick my midnight eating habit. For some reason, I usually don't start eating dinner until 11 every night. I guess that is due to the fact that I don't get home until 9pm every night and I like eating with Brian ... and he doesn't get off work until 10:30 on most nights...so I have resorted to eating dinner at a very late and unhealthy time. They say that you shouldn't eat 5 hours before you go to bed and if that is true, then I guess I'm not too far gone because I don't usually go to bed until 3 or 4am every night. That's good justification for my bad habit, right?

weekend in the wack

It's Monday again and that means that it's back to the grindstone. Work and school are not my ideal summer past times, but I have to make money ... and I can't be a 5th year student. So back to the grindstone it is.

This weekend was one of the first in a few weeks that I have actually been in Waco without any real obligations. Friday after I got off work (I only have class M-Th), Jennifer and I went apartment-decor hunting. We stopped at Starbucks first. Then went to Salvation Army ... and found a ton of great stuff. I got some more metal swirl candle holders (now I just need candles) and a really great vintage looking urban outfitters-esque light yellow lamp. The lamp doesn't actually work -it has some messed up wiring or something, but it was only $2! I had an extra white lamp shade from Ikea that I paired with it and put it on top of my book shelf. It was just the thing I needed to add a little more color to my room! I also got 3 really cute olive green tea cups for me and Vanessa and Jennifer. I don't actually drink tea, but they are a pretty good addition to the kitchen decor...which is rather dull and uneventful at the moment. Starbucks again.

Saturday I spent all day moving furniture and cleaning and decorating. My room is perfect now.

Sunday

meant to go to church, but that didn't quite work out. Woke up around noon, went to Aspen Heights pool with Lauren and Lindsay and Hannah and Ashley. It was over cast so it wasn't too horrible being in the sun ... I usually start drooling sweat. It's sexy. We were at the pool for 3 hours which is good because I was getting a little pasty. Now I am a little red. Lindsay got a heat rash which caused her already burnt from South Padre skin to start bubbling. Some of the bubbles even filled with water ... that's why man created sun screen.

We had a potluck dinner at Ashley and Hannah's house. I brought cupcakes. It's always interesting to hang out with people from Olney (okay this gets confusing...Hannah Lunn goes to Baylor and is from Olney ... Hannah Stewart is also from Olney also. Reese which is Hannah Stewart's cousin by marriage is friends with Hannah Lunn so he was over at Hannah Lunn's house). It is so weird how everyone knows everybody ... I guess it is sort of that way in Kerrville, but it's cool to know that I have actually been to Olney because it's such a small place and basically only the people that live in Olney and who have friends in Olney actually know what Olney is. There were some interesting stories shared about Olney experiences such as Will Stewart's grandpa giving bologna to Hannah Lunn and cheese to Reese when they would go into Stewart's Grocery. Oh man, to have grown up in Olney, Texas.

We saw The Ugly Truth after our potluck dinner of tacos and chips and queso and such. It was a pretty good movie. I would definitely recommend it to girls and guys alike. It's a "manly chick flick". there is plenty of vulgar humor for the boys to enjoy, as well as the cute romantic side that girls seem to enjoy. I personally prefer the vulgar humor, but that's just me.

I'm so excited for my mini vacation this weekend. New Mexico is going to be so fun and I'm excited to just lounge around ... and go to CARLSBAD CAVERNS where I have not been since I was 12!

I still stand by my assumption that Will Stewart is a dead ringer for Robert Pattinson's brother/twin.

bon soir

dear blog,

it's a little late for a post tonight and i feel quite certain that i am the only person "blogging" at this hour, as it is a little past 1:30am, but i was just so excited about my new blog layout that i couldn't help myself. had to try it out.

I stole the bow from hannah (though i'm fairly certain that i found the bow for her blog in the beginning of all this blog mania) so for that i admit my non-creativity ... and instead of using html code all i had to do was copy and paste a pre-made layout. blogging made easy.

I'm currently watching DEXTER. Brian and I are obsessed with this show - a little twisted, yes, but extremely suspenseful. in a world of predictable tv shows, Dexter breaks the mold with it's ever-evolving plot lines, clever dialogue, and perfectly cast characters. We're actually on the last episode right now. (we have watched all 3 seasons in approximately 2 weeks. hm, and i wonder why I haven't finished unpacking completely) Bittersweet moment. Please watch this show. You will not be disappointed. It's going to be sad to say goodbye to Dexter and his morbid ways...but he will be back in September.

Other news includes my tattoo research. I am strongly contemplating (already decided) getting 3 small stars on my caboose. I have wanted a tattoo for a long time...I've almost got one on multiple occasions but never quite convinced myself completely to get it done...until now. I can tell you that in the next 4 months, I will have an inconspicuous ink mark on my right "cheek." I'm sorry, but there will not be pictures. i have always liked the idea of having a tattoo in a spot where no one would see it.

Brian is giving me an evil eye ... he's right, I need to soak in the last 45 minutes of our good pal, Dexter Morgan.

Farewell and goodnight to all.

Comatose

today so far:

-waking up later than normal

-getting to work earlier than usual ... go figure

-useless and non-monumental studying of Managerial Accounting

-visit at work by boyfriend

-daydreams of Starbucks

-request of Starbucks by friends (those requests have proved futile thus far. I am still caffeine-less)

-lab girl telling me that I had a cute purse

-10 pieces of notebook paper used for Accounting studies

-thoughts of Jennifer's metallic green jump drive

mind thoughts:

-The black cat at home. Indie.

-Wal-Mart trip to print off pictures from the metallic green jump drive

-Managerial Accounting. I have a test tonight.

-Iced Coffee with white mocha hopefully being delivered soon-ish.

-Exciting events in the near future that will get me out of Waco for a bit

-I should be studying right now.

-Vanessa gets back from Chicago the 29th. Roomie photoshoot shall commence

Time to get back to work/studying/people watching. Have a spectacular day. Don't put too much clutter on your bookshelves.

small celebrations

The past couple of days I have been extremely tired and lethargic. I'm not sure if it's the combination of working until 4pm everyday then going to class from 5 to 9pm every evening with litte time in between that is finally catching up with me, but my yawns have not been inconspicuous. I was studying the wonderful text of Accounting today, just about to discover the appropriate use for the ridiculously riveting Operating Leverage Formula when suddenly all I could see was a blurry blend of contribution margins and sales and high low methods. My head hit the book and I took a good 5 minute power nap. at work. The humming consistency of printers served as a sweet lullaby.

I woke up approximately 5 minutes later to an unwelcomed voice asking me to unjam the printer. I obliged, only to realize that I'm not very technologically inclined, but can easily hit a printer and press buttons until it starts working again (something that the average person could do without waking me up from my slumber). I was still feeling pretty apathetic when I remembered that Jennifer said she might be bringing me a coffee home from Starbucks for my "break" in between work and school. Thinking of the coffee sitting in the fridge at home...just waiting for me... ah, the suspense.

HAPPY.

Jennifer Sterrett, you are my hero.

I started watching Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets online (I'm watching all of the Harry Potter movies for the first time and they are actually quite good) because I could not bear to find out the ugly truth about Operating Leverage: unless you are an accounting major, there really is no need for this in every day life. In fact, even if you are an accounting major, you will graduate only to find that what you learned has become obsolete anyway. Wow, Daniel Radcliffe's voice is already changing in the second HP movie. Interesting.

44 minutes and 38 seconds through Chamber of Secrets a cheerful-regardless-of-having-to-wake-up-at-four-thirty-in-the-morning Jennifer comes into the lab holding in her hand none other than Starbucks. Coffee Generosity=Glorious day. Being room mates with a Starbucks employee definitely has its perks. Not to mention sometimes I get to wear The Infamous Barista Apron. After "borrowing" jump drives from the lost and found of the computer lab area, Jennifer was on her way home to our humble abode for a well deserved nap. And I am much more awake now thanks to my coffee fix.

The little things are truly worth celebrating.

Here's to Living

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Live. - Mark Twain

When I was 18 or so, I made a list entitled "20 Things to do Before I'm 20. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=2218745955. On the list are things such as 1) go out of the country and 9) lay on a blanket on a rooftop and watch the stars and 11) run a marathon and 17) ride a jetski and even 20) take a salsa dancing class. Looking at that list now, and almost 21 years old, I can regretfully say that the only things I have successfully accomplished on that list are numbers 19)paint my nails black, 15)wear green eyeliner. and 16)read a classic. I was inspired by A Walk to Remember to write the list of 20 things. Fortunately, I'm not dying of cancer...but unfortunately, I have not even succeeded at even number 14)dance in the rain without an umbrella.

I preface today's post with that because lately I have been feeling impulsive. With my 21st birthday coming up, as ridiculous as it sounds, I have been assessing my life ...and feeling...old. I have always lived life rather cautiously...following the rules. I've never been arrested, I have gotten only 2 traffic tickets, I've never experimented with drugs, or stolen. Not that those are necessarily things that I want to do... but nevertheless, sometimes I think that there is more to life than following the rules. "Rule are meant to be broken," and in a sense, I think they really were. As long as you are not harming another person, harming yourself, or otherwise doing something that could land you in prison for an extended period of time, I think that it's okay to break a rule every now and then; I think it's okay to let your impulses guide you every now and then. I have been trying to do that more often.

I used to be the kind of person who, in any given situation, would weigh the pros and cons of a particular action until finally coming to my decision...which would most likely be to decline aforementioned situation. Though having good judgement is key to good character, it is also key to live fully. love fully. listen to your heart. act on your desires. have fun. life is short. I'm only beginning to realize that life truly is short. There will never be another day like today ever in your life. The time I'm wasting sitting at this computer will never be able to be my time again. The time spent reading this silly post will never be yours again.

I love writing. I have always enjoyed it. Words alive on paper, entangling in each other to form a perfect prose...it's the only thing I have ever truly had a knack for. I have always wanted to publish something and according to my list of 20 things, I should have already done it.

Here's to living. Because impulses are okay sometimes.

strawberry cravings

I am writing in the blog today mostly because I do not want to study. I am a very disappointing blogger right now - I haven't posted any of the pictures of the new apartment nor have I posted pictures of my sweet Salvation Army finds ($20 couch, anyone?), but I assure you that those are coming. This weekend most likely. I know my loyal followers will love to see them. Ha.

Right now my apartment looks like this: sweet couch, cute throw pillows, mug collection, boxes boxes boxes, cool rocking chair, antique lamp, mosaic antique side table, boxes boxes boxes. That's just the apartment. It's a little frustrating to pack everything up from one apartment - which is in the same complex - carry everything down 3 flights of stairs, pack it in my car, drive about 100 feet to the other apartment, carry it up 1 flight up stairs, and unpack. It seems so pointless and futile. Nevertheless, I will be doing the same thing tonight when I get out of .... class.

I have a test today. Not really prepared for that. My ultimate goal is to just pass with a 70 in that class. I know, big dreams. The class itself isn't that hard, but there are just so many other things I would rather be doing than sitting at home and reading Managerial Accounting. No, thank you.

I was planning on painting the walls in my bedroom and an accent wall in the living room...but they were actually fresh painted when we moved in - a beige color...it's great! It warms the entire apartment up. The hard wood floors are only 6 months old! There's a paint spot on the carpet that the painters left so they're coming in to clean our carpet on Thursday or Friday. Better move the boxes somewhere else! ... or unpack them.

I'm craving strawberries ... I went to walmart the other night with Jennifer and we couldn't find any. It was a little depressing. Tonight after class I think I'm going to eat an entire package of them to assuage me.

Over and out.

surprises

Packing is extremely daunting. which explains why i have been sitting on the couch looking at the tv-less entertainment center and the half-packed boxes for about an hour now. I started packing last night, packed all the way until 7:30pm when I decided to take a short nap. It turned in to a 2 hour long sojourn and I woke up overcome by the need to indulge in Taco Tuesday. After all, that is what Tuesdays are for. Brian picked it up for us after he got off work and we watched HGTV for awhile until I decided that I really wanted ice cream.

He went to ghetto heb and picked up some delicious Dreyers Slow Churned Vanilla Yogurt (it will change your life) and he also had a couple of surprises with him: Gran Torino (GREAT MOVIE. Clint Eastwood still has the charm), Hazelnut Gelato (hello people, it tastes like Nutella!), and .... a dozen roses. Sometimes I know when he has flowers for me, but last night I was legitimately surprised.

The boxes await.

unnecessary blogging

Summer school starts for me tomorrow and that means that starting tomorrow, every Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 9pm will be spent at MCC taking Managerial Accounting. Can i please just ramble about my disgust......because I am thoroughly disgusted.

I'm going to Ktizzle this weekend to get my bed/dresser/desk and other furniture items that the parentals deem worthy of my taking. I'M MOVING IN THIS WEEKEND. I am so incredibly excited to move into a new apartment and decorate! My previous apartment was all right, but we didn't really go all out in the decorating department or anything like that -there weren't even curtains on the balcony window. It was also a furnished apartment so we couldn't really expand in that category, but this new apartment (3 bedroom instead of 4) has serious design potential. Ha, I laugh as I say that about a 3 bedroom college apartment with a tiny kitchen and relatively small living room. But even so, I think that Jennifer and Vanessa and I can turn it into something wonderful. Worth showing off to our friends at least. And NO PENGUIN COLLECTIONS.

Brian visited me at work today. brought me a smoked peppercorn turkey on 7 grain toasted wheat bread with mustard. It was my second sandwich for the day. I had one for breakfast when I got to work (at 9am) so I figure that as long as I do the whole breakfast, lunch, dinner thing, i'm golden. I usually snack all day.

The lab is closed tomorrow AND Thursday so I get 2 days off to pack...and go to summer school in the evening. Ugh, why do I have to think about class in the summer?! I need boxes. boxes boxes boxes. My car is also already packed full of stuff I have been buying for the past month - throw pillows, the infamous thrift store lamp, kitchen canisters, mugs for my mug collection (i think im going to take pictures of it at some point and post them), some books, and much much more.

Today was Michael Jackson's memorial service. I just thought I should mention that because the death of such a well known icon has sent shockwaves across the world. not just America, but the world, people. I don't mean to sound like the million and one other people who seem to have known Michael Jackson personally, but to his family and close friends, God Bless you and the world mourns your loss today. MJ will be missed.

I haven't been to the humane society in about a month and I don't think Sally is there anymore :( Sally is the rottweiler that I had been visiting at the humane society quite frequently. Her name card/description had said that she "appeared depressed." I wanted to cry (and sometimes did) each time I left the humane society and had to leave Sally. If you weren't aware, I am a huge dog-lover...and I legitimately feel like I made a connection with Sally. Now I think she is gone. They don't practice euthanasia at the Waco Humane Society so I can only pray that she found a good home. I love rottweilers and I hate the bad rep that they have received because of so many cruel and inhumane owners who use them for dogfighting. If you research rotts, you will find that they are some of the most loyal, friendly, and eager to please dogs. It's years of people using them in dogfighting that has caused them to have that "mean" instinct.
On a happier note, I am baking a cake tonight. and it's also Taco Tuesday. :)