Udaho’s blog

I have been in mourning since I found out about the death of Estelle Getty.  Ericka e-mailed me at work, and when I got home I had one from The Pope.  I have always loved Sophia, I thought she would be the coolest grandma and in a weird way, she reminded me of my own.  Maybe it was her sense of humor, maybe it was wishful thinking.  When my own grandma died I was consoled that I would always have Sophia on old reruns of The Golden Girls. 

Even with the loss of Estelle Getty, at least we still have old reruns....and Betty White.  I hope they play The Golden Girls theme song at her funeral.

This has been my first week back at a "normal" schedule.  I am working my 40 hours at my full time job and also working my part time job.  Yesterday was I went to work at the part time job, and had 508 e-mails to sort through.  It took me like 45 minutes, but I didn't mind, I was paid to do it.  I also worked tonight, but I have the rest of the week off. Tomorrow I am meeting a friend from school for lunch and getting my hair cut after work.  I have needed one for some time now, but I have not been able to fit it in to my schedule.  I might do something different with my hair, but usually I chicken out, so we'll see. 

Thursday is another Buck Night at the local horse track.  I love Canterbury!  Last week, I drank a little too much, but it was such a nice night and the Honey Weiss was going down like water.  I ran in to my Uncle John, and made a fool of myself, not the first time, probably not the last.

Friday I am working a half day.  I have my LASIK evaluation.  I have thought about having the surgery for several years, but never had the money or the courage to do it.  I am still not sure that I have the courage, but I figure a free eye exam can't hurt!

I am still waiting for my final summer class grade.  I spoke with the other ladies in class and they said that they have not received ant feedback or a grade yet.  Good to know I am not the only one!  I have not even paid for my summer classes yet, but I did get in the mail that I had been approved for my alternate student loan and the check was sent to my school.  I have been checking the school website every day for my grade and for my payment to be made.  I still need to finish registering for fall classes, I would finish, but there is a hold on my account until my tuition is paid.

I am still bored with being done with school.  I don't know what I will do when I actually graduate.  Good thing I plan on going to grad school, I just need to figure out where and what for.  I finished the Diablo Cody book.  I was not much of a fan, although I loved Juno.  There were a few funny parts to the book, but mostly I was wondering if any of it really happened.  The part I appreciated the most was the quick mention of my hometown.  What can I say, I love my hometown.

This weekend I have a grad party to go to and I am working for a couple hours on Sunday morning/afternoon to make up for my half day on Friday. 

Last week I finished my summer classes and the week before that I finished my spring term classes.  It has been such a relief.  Last week was hell week.  For my summer road trip literature class, I needed to road trip.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I hardly ever take the easy route, and I tend to make my life more difficult than it needs to be.  So, I didn't choose some where in Minnesota, or even a state that touches Minnesota, rather, I took a road trip 13 hours away to Memphis, TN.  I chose to take my friend Angel, we have been friends since the 4th grade. We have been friends for 20 years!  That makes me feel old.  Tennessee was a blast.  It was super hot and humid, but I could handle it.  We went to The National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, and partied on Beale Street,  We had one jam packed day and left for home in the morning.  We arrived Sunday Night/Monday morning.  I had 2 presentations that week, a travel journal and a short paper to write.  But I managed.  It was exhausting, but I did it.  It made me realize that if I can get through that many classes in June, I can take 4 over a 3 month time span.  And better yet, so far, my grades have been nice.  I received an A in golf and a B in theology.  And so far I have received an A in relaxation and an A in my road trip literature class, I am just waiting for my final grade in training and development, which I am assuming will be a B or higher.  The grades are not the best part, the best part is I am now officially a senior and in less than 1 year, I will be graduated!  I also had a great training and development class, we all really bonded and are looking forward to taking some classes together in the fall.  We are all seniors and will have senior seminar together in winter term. 

The worst part of all this is I am completely bored.  What do people do when there is no homework?  I tried reading, but was easily bored with Diablo Cody's Candy Girl (I underline that, right Jodi?)  But I will finish it, because that is what I do.  Next week I start back at my part time job.  That will keep me entertained until 7pm, plus I make extra cash.  Next week Friday I have a free evaluation for LASIK eye surgery  The surgery is more expensive than I thought, so I am not sure if I will end up doing it, but it is something that I have wanted for a long time.  So, we'll see. 

I have to stop writing.  I am getting nudged on Facebook to play Scramble with Ericka and I hate being nudged....

Yesterday was the summer solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. How did you celebrate the arrival of summer and the longest day of the year?

Well, sadly, I rang in the arrival of summer by doing homework.  I have been overwhelmed lately.  I have a paper due in every one of my classes next week.  I was stressed out, so I took Friday off of work.  I slept in and it felt so nice to sleep!  I had a very productive day, I spent the first part of the day working on journals for my relaxation class, I also read for my literature class and did a training proposal for my training and development class.  I took a lunch break and continued reading while I ate.  I headed to Caribou and purchased a coffee and cookie.  I again continued with the reading and was able to finish my book, along with my training proposal.  I had a lazy few hours, then decided that I needed to get more done.  I wrote my paper for my literature class and found some articles on relaxation, I continued typing my journals and as if that wasn't enough, I read the first 100 pages of another book for literature. 
    I wish I could have spent the first say of summer in the sun, enjoying some food off the grill and drinking a cold beer.  Although technically summer started yesterday, it won't start until July 3rd for me!

Now that the year is half over (can you believe it?) I thought I would revisit my New Years Resolutions and see how well I am doing, not doing

Here they are:
1) Be better at e-mailing and staying in touch. 
2) Volunteer my time whether it's to help a friend with something, or volunteering at the food shelf, I want to be more involved. 
3) Take more photos (Which should be easy since I love my new camera)
4) Stop wishing away my time.

Well, number one is difficult.  I have been slacking on e-mails to keep in touch.  But with certain people, I have been better at seeing them or for others, calling them.  I recently reunited with a friend that I had not seen or talked to in 2 years.  My friend Kacey and I had a falling out shortly before I moved to Idaho.  Over Memorial Day weekend, I went to Wisconsin to see my friend Angel and ended up surprising Kacey.  We both cried, it was sort of an Oprah or Kodak moment.  It was very sweet.  We have talked several times since.  I am also on my way to rekindling my friendship with Angel.  Her and Kacey are the two friends that I have had the longest.  Over the years Angel and I have drifted, both gone down different paths and what not.  But for one of my summer classes, I have to take a road trip.  I decided to take Angel, since she was recently laid off, and I really miss her.  I am looking forward to our trip and remembering why we became friends in the first place.  However, other friendships are starting to drift.  It's one of the things I hate most about life.  But I also know change is inevitable.  So, I need to be better about keeping in touch.  It's such an easy thing to say I am going to do, but harder to actually do.

On to the next.  So, volunteering.  Well, every Sunday, I "voluntarily" babysit for Tracy!  Oh, that doesn't count?  Well, I did volunteer to speak to Lisa's school on career day.  It was a challenge, because the insurance industry is not all that interesting, but I still enjoyed it.  What else....I volunteer my opinions and ideas in class, with the exception of theology.  I can honestly say theology is the ONLY class in my academic career that I have not spoke once.  I tried speaking this past Sunday, unfortunately it was a joke, it didn't go over so well with the professor, but the class seemed to enjoy it!  I am failing this resolution, I have just under 6 months left to volunteer more.

Number three was to take more photos.  Yes!  One I have not done poorly on.  Lucky for me, Monica got married and I was able to take photos!  AND, KT and I went to Portland, so there were a ton of photos from that.  I also took photos on my birthday, and will be taking photos on my road trip to Memphis.  Yippee!  I feel better about these resolutions.

Finally, my fourth one.  With a schedule as busy and hectic as it has been, it has been difficult for me not to wish the month of June away.  However, prior to June, I was doing exceptionally well.  I have tried to savor every day, and live and enjoy all the moments of life.  Sometimes it is more difficult.  Like when I am sitting in theology, it's hard for me not to wish it was over.  But for the most part, I am not wishing away my time.

There are a lot of things that I did not put on my resolution list, but definitely have made me grow as a person.  I recently applied for a new job.  It was a job in the field that I am going to school for.  I stressed over my decision to apply and stressed for 2 weeks leading up to my interview.  After the interview they asked why I decided to leave my current position...good question.  After a couple of days of deliberation and weighing out the pros and cons, I asked them to withdraw my application.  I decided that with the most challenging year ahead of me (school wise), it was best not to make a career change at this time.  Something else that has made me grow is my school schedule.  I am currently going to school 3 days and 4 nights a week, plus class on Sunday.  It has been stressful, and sometimes at night, while driving home from St. Kate's, I cry thinking I can not do this any more.  I am tired, I am stressed, I have homework, I can't work another hour, I can't write another paper, I can't read another page.  Yet, I get up and do it again and again and again and again.  I dream of my future and all the possibilities of it.  I know with every tear that falls, it is worth it, I have gained so much knowledge, not just academically, but about myself. 

So, this is my 6 month review.  I have met expectations in all categories, but there are still things I can work on.  I'd give myself a raise...I deserve it.

What's on your "To-Do" list today? What are you most looking forward to and what are you most dreading?

1) Celebrate my 28th birthday

2) Celebrate Jodi's (enter number here) birthday

3) Eat brownies

4) Wonder if my "Fab 5" will call.  (Update.... 2 sent text messages)

5) Work, but mostly shout randomly, "It's my birthday, today is my birthday"

6) Receive gifts, like the flowers my friend Jen sent me!

I dread nothing about this list except when the day is over, and there are 365 days left until my next birthday, and I am most excited about the fact that TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY and Jodi's too!

Look at the first post you ever wrote on Vox. What important developments or changes have occurred in your life since then?
Submitted by Alexandra.

Here is my first post...

So, I've moved.  Not only did I move to , I changed where I blog, glad you joined me.  For past blogs see, www.nonoudaho.blogspot.com

I have been crazy busy.  I will start where I left off.  Thursday the 10th.  I had yet another job interview, at a company that I think I would rather not work, but if they offer good money, I might take it. I worked the part time gig, man I am not a fan of working.  I came home and ate, also watched Big Brother.  I talked to Ericka for like hours on Google Talk.  Good Times.  On Friday, I slept most of the day, and again, went to work.  I came home and D was babysitting.  She was a little scared and shy.  But it was so nice having a little one around.  It made me miss the kids back home.  I went to bed early, because Saturday I had to get up early and work the longest day in the history of my time in .  9.5 hours, which felt like 24.

Anyway.  I luckily escaped and came home quickly and changed into jeans and a T-shirt.  Ahhhh, jeans.  I hate dressing up, and I have to do it daily, so I hate it even more.  So, then D and I left and went to the Shakespeare Festival.  So, it was so cool.  It's an outdoor stage and everyone sits on the ground (or low back chairs), and we watch a performance.  We saw Love's Labours Lost.  Interesting.  We understood parts of it.  Good thing it was a play, because if I was reading it, I would be clueless.  D packed us a picnic dinner.  We had sandwiches, cheese and crackers, Tag A Longs and of course a bottle of wine.  It was so nice out  and the actors her funny. However, my favorite part of the performance was not on stage.  The guy a few rows back, got up to use the restroom, and he stands up and goes, "Oh, my foot is asleep" and he starts stumbling, the people he is with shushes him, and I am trying not to laugh.  The people actually watching the show laughs, so I let loose.  Then he tries to walk and he starts falling forward, so he jumped back quickly, and everyone around us was snickering.  It was funny.  Anyway.  Afterwards, we were hungry from our weak meal and went to Jack in the Box.  I wanted my window down, but only the driver’s side window is D's Jeep works.  So, I sat there playing with the window and D says, "yeah, keep playing with it, that is going to make it work" and what do you know, it worked!  The look on her face was, well, priceless.

Today, Sunday, we slept the majority of the day.  We decided to go to the coffee shop in that has a cowboy/girl look to it, but it was closed.  So, we settled for Moo Latte's.  We went to the local grocery store, came home and did absolutely nothing.  Then D made dinner, yum, yum, and we watched Big Brother.  I got her hooked (check it out here).  Then we watched Taking Lives.  Goodness, what a movie.

Alright.  On deck for tomorrow.  Working at night.  Then Wednesday night we are going to the Caldwell Night Rodeo and Sunday is the fair.  Yeah, the fair.  We are going to El Charro, it's the Hispanic rodeo.  And are eating ice cream potatoes.  And anything else we can get ours hands on and in our stomachs.  Check out some photos from the past few days!  The first 2 are me at the Shakespeare Festival.  Then there is us before the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert and finally.  The pretty sunlight from near The Snake River.

____

Several things have changed.  I no longer live in Idaho.  Nope, moved back to MN a little over a year ago.  I can't believe it's been a year, sometimes it feels like a month or so.  I have not been to a rodeo, since the Caldwell Night Rodeo, and I no longer dread going to work.  Sometimes I dread the waking up part, but only because I am not much of a morning person.  I would love to work like 10-3, those are perfect hours.  I need to look into something like that.  But the number one thing that has changed.....D no longer makes me dinner.  But one thing that has stayed the same, my family still never comments.  Screw 'em..

How are you spending this Memorial Day? How will it differ from Memorial Days past?

This Memorial Day I got up, got ready, went to work for a few hours (I am leaving early on Wednesday and wanted to make up the hours), then I met Jen at Caribou for some coffee and laughs. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing homework.

Well, this one differed from the rest because I actually worked today, something I don't normally do.  Last year I hung out with family, that weekend was the weekend I moved home from Idaho.  The family grilled out at Tracy's.  The year before that I grilled out at Lisa's.  So, grilling has become the common trend for Memorial Day, however, this year, we did not grill out.  So, another way that this year was different from the rest. 

Show us a photograph from a wedding.
Submitted by Connie.

Monica and Mike

What are your top five break-up songs?
Submitted by gt.

1) I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
2) Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
3) Before he Cheats by Carrie Underwood 
 (apparently I am an Idol fan and didn't even know it)
4) Love Stinks, the one by Adam Sandler
5) Nobody Knows, by The Tony Rich Project