Is Summer Over?

today when i woke up it was gross and rainy. normally this does not bother me but when it is cool enough for a hoodie i start to worry! to think a short 4 months ago it was still snowing and i was complaining for summer... I hate to think it is now over?!

fact: the summer olympics are almost over - is this another sign that summer is done with? ick i hope not...

im excited for the upcoming weekend i will be house sitting at the parents and weather depending i'll be hosting saucy saturday and sunday funday

im not a big fan of fall but there are a few things im looking forward to

a) celebrating my 1/2 birthday - 2 weeks prior to sister's birthday
b) possible trip to peoria for sister's birthday?
c) im thinking of visiting jess in tx again - i just need to save the money and buy the ticket
d) i also need to visit merri - aug was a busy enrolling month and i could not take any vaca

so could this possibly be the best fall ever? it is looking positive

cha cha changes

first off, i've been having possibly the best. summer. ever. (i'm following sister in her quest for the best summer)

1. i'm ond and my friends are getting married: the summer started off with Merri & Jason getting married / they have really been married for a year but finally had a shower and reception. Then, merri moved to FL (stupid navy). Now, Jess and Adam are finally getting married which means... I am the maid of honor and get to buy a sweet dress, plan on lots of drinking, give a speech that will make jess hate me for the rest of our friendship (she has pretty much banned me from making a speech but its my duty as MOH!

2. I got a puppy :) which I was not expecting since I moved into my apt knowing that I could not have pets. However, I approached my landlord and she said "I never want you to move so you do what you need to" SCHWING! I knew I could convince her that a puppy would be a good idea. His name is Max, and he is a Maltese.

3. I have been working on my tan for a few weeks now and it is finally getting dark. I expect to be at my full tanning potential by this weekend. I have been spending most weekends poolside with Shaun & Taylor and a drink in hand.

4. I have a possible side job as a bartender. Taylor, Shaun, Tarron and I frequent Doyles usually 2-3 days a week. We have become good friends with bartender Rhonda. I asked her if I could bring my dog to the bar last week and she said it was ok... after realizing that I could bring my dog, have free drinks, cable, touch tunes, food.... this could be the perfect part time job for me. She let me leave my number in case they ever needed extra help. I ever told her I would make the Ashford crowd come visit me!

I love sister!

Isn't my sister great? She made my blog pretty. I think it is great. She is a wonderful sister. I will buy her a present.

Thanks Sister!

xoxoxoxox

Sister

Summertime

First burn of the season... that pretty much says it all...

Reasons to love summer!!

I know its hard to believe that I am already writing blogs about summer but it is almost memorial day. Only I do believe that a short two months ago (when I was coming back from Texas) it was snowing. Anyway, it has been nice out lately and it has even motivated me to start working out again - 2 nights in a row now. I have noticed that there are 21 annoying stairs from my sidewalk to my living room that I can not avoid after working out. Then I call and text people to complain about how sore I am. It makes me feel better. Still working on those buns o steel - after 2 nights, I can tell a difference.

1. its light out, even at night. this can often cause problems if there is alcohol involved. I have found myself uttering such phrases "how am I drunk? it's still light out!" "9:00 already? that can't be, it's still light out"

2. the pool is open - which always makes me MORE popular and famous. it is continuous fun from saturday morning through sunday afternoon

3. working on my tan - for those of you who haven't seen me in the summer (most likely my blogging fans and newer bffs) I have an amazing tan in the summer. some might think that i am mexican - well, sister thinks that everyone is mexican

4. blended drinks - i don't know why we always have to wait until summer to enjoy these frozen beverages. I think they are delish any time of the year. mom is a huge fan of anything with fresh fruit, juicem and cheapt rum

5. street festivals - this is more for sister, i know how much she LOVES any type of street festival with live music. it's the only excuse you can use to walk around on a sunday night and get drunk. i can't wait until when I visit chicago and experience numerous street festivals.

7. free fun! - people are always so giving during the summer months. there is always something to do - and it's usually free. a few examples would be... going to the park, playing tennis, going to the zoo, spending the day on the river - ok so this might not be free if you are the one who pays for the gas. just make sure you are invited along, this way it is free!

8. AMERICA - Why is it that we always celebrate AMERICA during the summer? There's Memorial Day and 4th of July. Plus I LOVE fireworks! oooooooooooh aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh. You can't go wrong with a good ol fashioned cookout!

Look at all these reasons that I have come up with and it is only MAY. I'm sure there will be many updates to come.

What's your favorite part about summer?

Roomie is coming home!!!!!

I am vert excited that Jess is finally coming back to IL - about 5 months since she left for texas and 2 months since I have last seen her... back in December, Jess wrote a blog - more of a survival list of things we bought to survive the winter weather. I'm thinking of using this same list while she is home (did I mention that her parents don't have room for here so she'll be staying with me?) I knew a 2 bedroom apt was a great idea! so here is the list that Jess first created.

We decided to go to the grocery store to gather "survival gear". What did our gear consist of?
1. One bottle Smirnoff Citris Vodka
2. One bottle Bacardi Coconut Rum
3. One bottle of Strawberry mix
4. One bottle of Pina Colada Mix
5. A container of sour cream [with which to make French Onion Dip]
6. Oodles of goodies from the frozen food section, including 5 boxes of Hot Pockets :-)
7. Two bags of Chex Mix: original and cocoa styles.
8. One bottle of Ranch dressing. Because Ranch is amazing on anything.
Obviously, we assumed this would be enough, added with important tools already in our arsenal:
1. One partial bottle of UV Blue, complete with a gallon of Hawaiian Lemon Berry Punch
2. One partial box of Franzia boxed wine--White Zinfandel. Two classy wine glasses were purchased seperately.
3. One-third bag of Ruffles. To go with the dip. This was not nearly enough.
4. A vast DVD collection to occupy us through the storm
5. Blank CDs, with which to make more amazing mixes, to follow up the "J-Philly's Ghetto-fab, Pimp-tastic, X-mas Mix", and Ashley's "Lean Like a Chollo- Hot, Hott Sex Mix".

I can't even find one flaw with this list - well possibly that the first time around we did not buy Jose. Which we will do this time... or we will go drink at the tap. As far as I know, Jess will be getting in on the 19th or 20th. I am going to try and convince her to stay until June... maybe July. She can't leave me! I'm already planning my next trip to texas.

Ahhhhh so excited, 5 days and I will be reunited!!!! Jess, are we getting a tattoo this time? We forgot to do that on Spring Break!!

new furniture

so i'm still working on moving in to the new place... hopefully everything will be done by tomorrow night. i am so excited to finally be close to work but still not looking forward to the big move. i guess sister did warn me of what is to be expected.

after several (2) exhausting days of looking for furniture, i did manage to find some that i like and it actually matches the color of living room and dining room.

i've included pictures because i work best with visuals.

please notice how the couch just hugs you back.

it was a requirement (thanks sister)

oh and I also bought an oversized chair but I was too lazy to take a picture of it.

Moving

I must say, I hate moving. Every summer when I was done with school it was such a pain to pack everything up just to move it back in 3 months.

However, I am a little more excited about this move... still annoyed with the amount of packing I have to do. This week I'll be moving to clinton. I found an apartment near work and lyon's tap. This is probably the best move I have ever made.

still looking for some furniture, but either way I will survive!

I'm about 90% sure that I have strep - my throat is killing me and I do not have a voice.

I should probably go to the doctor but I hate going!

I'll have more updates once the big move takes place

Signs of Spring

1. today it was in the 70s and sunny
2. deer are out in full force ready to attack my car
3. i've been driving with my windows open at night
4. daily baseball games next to my apt... I thought about going today just to get some sun.

I've been waiting for spring for at least 6 months!

So some of you might know that I've been looking for a new apt or even house to rent. Buying scares me and I'm not sure how long I will be in the area.

I spent most of last week working and finding an apartment... after calling every realtor in clinton, and every apt complex in camanche I have given up my search. Or at least I might be taking a break from it.

I would be better off just searching for someone to support me or buy me a house... I'm really not picky.

Work has been going quite well this last week or two. Today I made a friendly wager with Chris... He thinks he can enroll more students than me. Idiot. Lunch on Friday with my name all over it!

I thought it was spring....

well I have been excited about my upcoming trip to Chicago to see sister and roommate. However, this morning when I came to work I heard the mention of snow. I thought I misheard... I mean really, snow? So I decided to check out my sources (weather.com) and sure enough they are predicting a rain/snow shower for the whole weekend. How am I ever supposed to make it to Chicago when it is raining and snowing? everyone should know how much I hate driving in snow. I am a little annoyed. I have been looking forward to this trip so I could redeem myself from the last trip to chicago (you know, the one where I was passed out by midnight and woke up puking) I even went to maurices over the weekend and bought a new shirt and necklace. ooooh I also bought new jewelery from Lia Sophia

Today my final grade was posted for my Organizational Change course. Now, I will say that I was very stressed last week about getting all of the assignments completed and turned in, in a timely matter. I was both happy and a little sad to find out that my final grade was an 89%. After all, it is passing and overall I probably did not put in the effort to receive a B+ but here is my problem... My instructor looooooves me and he couldn't find 5 more points somewhere in the course to make that B+ into an A-... I obviously need to step up my attendance (by not missing one week I could have earned an extra 20 points.

To those who are curious... 78 credits down, 42 to go. cumulative gpa of 3.12

I should be writing a final paper....

instead....
I am texting
IMing Em about her new job @ AU
watching Cheerleader U

I guess I really am a multi-tasker

The paper is about organizational change... I'm tempted to just write about how I need a change. Lets be real though, I could probably write this final paper by copying and pasting other papers together.

IOWA IS SOOOO BORING

Yee Haw!!!

it's been awhile since ive last blogged so i just thought i would update my faithful readers....
1. still getting ready for the trip to texas! which is just around the corner. I will be on spring break mar 17- mar21. on the to do list? tanning, birthday party, river walk, mechanical bull
2. I went to the dmv today to get a new license. I lost my other one at a bar in chicago. if only i could remember where i lost it or even what bar i was at. the last thing i remember is yelling at sister because i was drunk. then i woke up on sunday and spent the day puking. so since last saturday ive taken a break from drinking so i can be ready for texas
3. mom and dad are going on vacation so i will be dog / house sitting mar 22-mar 31. plenty of time for a few house parties. also, i will be celebrating stacy's 21st.
4. thinking of moving back to IL - I guess i'll decide once all of the snow melts

wow.. i guess I havent been doing much lately... life is boring

February

1. at the beginning of the month Jess was back in town with Adam and we met up with Taylor to celebrate Tay's birthday. La Feria, Lyon's Tap, The OP.. It was a quality night full of booze, friends, and the juke box. I love that thing when I'm drunk. Who knew that Clinton and Erie had do much to offer?

2. Stacy and I finalized our plans for Texas! (holla!) We will be flying in to San Antonio on Mar 17-Mar 21. This is the perfect time to celebrate Spring Break and my birthday!

3. Horrible weather really prevented me from doing anything during the month. I spent a lot of time in Park View... I hated it. So now I'm looking to move closer to Clinton. Or maybe even in Clinton if I can find something on the north end that isnt trash

4. Since I couldn't make it to Chi due to weather, sister came to visit me, tay, and lady di's. I would have to say this was a very successful trip home. She even found time to get her harrrrrr did.We celebrated Tay's Birthday - Part Dos. It's only right that she had two birthdays since she had never celebrated hers before. We spent the night at Lady Di's.... Thumbs up for touch tones, thumbs down for the number of townies that would not leave us alone.

5. We are a big deal!!! I would first like to congratulate sister on (as she said) being proactive and going after those dollars! She was recently promoted... Also, my review from January finally came back. Thank god.. Im pretty sure mediacom will be shutting off my cable and internet any day now. I think I may be able to start a savings account - weird.

Is it Spring yet??

Snow Ruins Everything!

the drifts that are on my deck



one plow had to help another




i went out later to dig my car out..... i couldn't do it. that is at least 6 inches on top of the car. I would guess about a foot of snow all around my car - the idiot plowing did not help

1. woo hoo AU was closed today
2. boo i havent left my apt since sunday
3. woo hoo - jeff said he would come over tomorrow and dig my car out
4. boo - im supposed to get my hair colored tomorrow and i dont think it will happen
5. also, mom said it is supposed to snow again on fri and sat which could ruin my plans for chicago :(

6 more weeks of winter

well its been a great week.....
1. ive basically been sick since sunday and havent left my apartment since saturday. i am going crazy here by myself.
2. the snow will not stop. an expected 6-10 inches for tonight / tomorrow. it has been snowing since 2pm. im hoping that i dont have work in the morning. i was hoping that the 6 weeks of winter was just a joke, apparently not...
3. on the up side, i am finally coloring my hair on thursday - this will get me ready for my trip to chicago with tay
4. as mentioned before, taylor and i will be going to chicago on Saturday (weather depending) to visit sister and melissa. im expecting great things from this trip
5. stacy and I are purchasing plane tickets this week for tx! how excited am i? i will create a countdown once i have more details...

soooo bored in Iowa

Annoyed

1. wtf is up with the all the snow and below freezing temps. January is almost over - doesn't that mean that spring is right around the corner?
2. US bank decided to post a withdrawl that I did not make - taking $30 out of my account which then put it in the negative. Trust me, they will get a piece of my mind in the morning
3. I still haven't finished my final paper for class - which is my own fault
4. My annoying drive from park view to civilization every day



Things that make me less annoyed
1) I can wear sweats to work tomorrow (College Student Friday = free food & booze)
2) Lyons Tap with co-workers
3) Tay's upcoming birthday - maybe a little barhop at the district? Or... sister, we could come visit you !
4) finally made an appt to get the haaaaarrrr did (as sister would say)
5) Jess will be back in town on Monday!

Texas! Holla!

Well things have been looking up lately. I still miss roomie a lot and I am pretty bored at the apt. However, I have been working a lot more - so I should be getting some OT. Also, I recently celebrated my 1 yr at Ashford and I will be getting my raise soon. Very excited about this. I will finally have a salary that I can survive on - oh and sister, if you thought you needed a new job before... you'll really need one now, cause I'll be making more money than you.

So as the title says - TEXAS! HOLLA! I am going to visit roomie in March. Which this is kind of a big deal from me. I am taking a vacation and its not family or work related. Stacy is supposed to come with for her 21st - we'll see if this actually happens. Mom said she would buy a plane ticket to texas if I got on my own cell phone plan. Sounds like a good deal to me... although the plane ticket might be cheaper.

Mentioning sister again - the rents and I are visiting her on Monday for lunch. Not sure how successful this trip will be. After all, the machine is the one who suggested it. Which makes me think he has another motive - lecturing sister and I about money. If this is the case, lunch will be overrated. I'll be sure to blog later to let you know how this turns out.

The weekend was a success so far. I went out on Friday night to Lyons Tap. Most of Ashford was there after work. I went and had a few drinks with brother Josh. A few drinks turned into 11pm, drunk and no dinner. I was tired so I came back to my apt. Early night but no hangover. On Saturday I went to work for a couple hours and met Mer for dinner at our place (el tapatio) everything was going good until Mer dropped my phone into the bowl on salsa. She had my phone because I was trying to show her the Machine's mid-life crisis of a new bike, gained weight and facial hair. Luckily my phone survived the spill but everyone in the restaurant noticed what happened and the waiters brought lots of napkins.

ug super lazy today - im going to shower and then to morrison for family bonding

Red Neck Wedding

I watched a new show last night on CMT - trust me I didn't plan on actually watching any programs that are on this station. But I heard the words "this week, on Red Neck Wedding" Plus it was Tom Arnold hosting the show. So you knew it was going to be trashy. I have often defined "Red Neck" as White Trash. This show proved to me that I was CORRECT. From watching this show, here are a few things that make a wedding RED NECK

1) A western theme
2) having the ceremony in a barn
3) The bride had been married 3 times before this
4) the groom killed his own chickens for the reception
5) they had an Auction at the reception - Just because there is a large group of people preset is not a valid excuse to have an auction
6) the bride wore a dress with tassles - and obviously and this point the dress should not have been white
7) the groom's friends decided to moon the camera. they all had a good laugh - I was ready to puke

Jess, this is also a plea to you - please do not have a red neck / white trash wedding. You know it has been one of my concerns. If there is any sort of tassle looking fabric on my dress I am not in the wedding!!

Speaking of Jess, I am trying to plan a trip to Texas in March. Since I am a broke ass we'll see how this works out... but it's in the planning stages. Sister, I think you should come with!

2008

- to start off three days into the year and it has already turned out better than last year
Jess and I spent NYE basically driving home from work. the weather was shit so it took a long time to make it back to the apt. Once we got back we were going to spend the night watching Clueless and making up a drinking game. Jeff texted me and asked if I wanted to go to the bar. I told him I would meet up with him in a little bit. He let me know that he was picking Jess and I up in 2 minutes and he was paying... When have I ever said no to free booze? So within a 4 hour time span and too many drinks and shots to count.. I celebrated the new year and don't remember much else - besides passing out early and waking up with a hangover.

Sister, I didnt even get a chance to ask what you did for NYE - how did your fiesta go? Also, sister Tay was in Chicago and she was even down by wrigley. I cant believe she didnt see you... that's worse than Pri!

Now on to the sad / exciting news: Jess is leaving me this weekend to go to Texas. This also means that Adam is FINALLY coming home so I really couldnt be happier for her. I mean really for just about as long as we've been living together... he's been over there. It has been damn near forever. Im going to miss the hell outta her and I will be a broke ass. But I am still planning a Spring Break / Birthday trip to Texas! So Jess, please if you could just wait til April to be prego - that would really work out well for me.

Next week I will celebrate 1 year at Ashford University. I can't believe it has already been a year? ! It seems so crazy... but good too. I've managed to pay off credit cards, move out, buy a new car. So really, I think 2007 has been successful.

I think that's about it for now. I should actually be enrolling students....