I proudly now have an actual PO Box in my favorite city.
UVA application submitted!
Connecting with an old mentor - over Facebook, no less. That dang website continues to surprise me.
Small victory on the work front, earned on it's own merit, with only a little bit of pathetic sounding begging on my part - but for a good cause! This actually made me giddy, and few things seem to do that anymore!
More packing...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thankful for...
Waking up every morning since Tuesday wondering what my President is up to today!
Making progress on the to-do list.
Family.
Friends.
Making progress on the to-do list.
Family.
Friends.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
To do list - late Jan/early Feb
In no particular order...
1) Solidify new house details
2) Pack my life into little boxes that are well labeled and not too heavy
3) Complete grad school application - due Feb. 1
4) Test kitchen for one more batch of cupcakes
5) File tax returns
6) Hire movers(?)
7) Take car to dealership for warranty work (in the next 200 miles!)
8) Trip to Charleston
9) Remember what I'm forgetting
10) Move
11) Celebrate the inauguration of a new president!
12) Spring semester class begins Jan. 20
1) Solidify new house details
2) Pack my life into little boxes that are well labeled and not too heavy
3) Complete grad school application - due Feb. 1
4) Test kitchen for one more batch of cupcakes
5) File tax returns
6) Hire movers(?)
7) Take car to dealership for warranty work (in the next 200 miles!)
8) Trip to Charleston
9) Remember what I'm forgetting
10) Move
11) Celebrate the inauguration of a new president!
12) Spring semester class begins Jan. 20
Monday, January 12, 2009
Service Above Self*
One of the things that my parents have instilled in me - mostly by example - is the idea of "Service Above Self". For many years as a kid, I watched and participated with my parents as they engaged in their community by way of very active memberships in the Rotary Club of Camden County, Georgia. Today, they continue to engage by teaching and mentoring adults in college in the Atlanta area.
In my own life, my contributions to community have barely been a drop in the bucket compared to others', but my vision for my life certainly includes Service Above Self, and I recognise that we all have something unique and important to contribute. Every little bit can make a difference. I am very excited, therefore, to see that President-Elect Obama has created a service initiative called Renew America Together, and he has called on each of us to participate in a service activity this coming Monday, January 19th, on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. The web-site address is http://usaservice.org and here you can find volunteer opportunities or post information about an event that your organization is hosting. I was excited to see that there are at least a half-a-dozen events in the Charlottesville area already posted on the site.
I appreciate that Mr. Obama is asking each and every American to take ownership in their country and in their community and that he and his family are willing to lead by example. I look forward to engaging in my community more fully in the coming year, and to watching this initiative take root and bloom all across the country.
*Service Above Self is a motto of Rotary International.
In my own life, my contributions to community have barely been a drop in the bucket compared to others', but my vision for my life certainly includes Service Above Self, and I recognise that we all have something unique and important to contribute. Every little bit can make a difference. I am very excited, therefore, to see that President-Elect Obama has created a service initiative called Renew America Together, and he has called on each of us to participate in a service activity this coming Monday, January 19th, on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. The web-site address is http://usaservice.org and here you can find volunteer opportunities or post information about an event that your organization is hosting. I was excited to see that there are at least a half-a-dozen events in the Charlottesville area already posted on the site.
I appreciate that Mr. Obama is asking each and every American to take ownership in their country and in their community and that he and his family are willing to lead by example. I look forward to engaging in my community more fully in the coming year, and to watching this initiative take root and bloom all across the country.
*Service Above Self is a motto of Rotary International.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Resolutions
I've always thought that resolutions made at the New Year were sort of silly, meaningless even. If you're going to resolve to do more of this or less of that, why wait for some arbitrary time marker to make the shift? Do it now, I've always thought. Anyway, most New Year's Resolutions for most people are like pie-crust promises: easily made, easily broken.
I've decided to make a resolution this year. Maybe even more than one. As I write this, I'm not firmly decided on what that one or two special thing(s) will be yet. Lots of times, there are things that I'd rather be or do. I think about them all the time. I'd like to...
...be more fun.
...drink more often.
...laugh more often.
...start running again.
...complete that project at work.
...throw parties.
...compost.
...waste less water.
...waste less food.
...meditate.
...conquer this lingering anxiety, or at least learn to laugh at it more.
...find the time, or courage rather, to engage in my community the way I dream about.
...stick to my budget.
...pay off my debt.
...cook from scratch more.
...call my parents more often.
...read more.
...spend less time on the internet.
...play like I did when I was a kid: swing, ride, climb, explore.
...be more artistic.
...be less flaky.
...be more honest with myself and others.
...walk more, drive less.
...eat more junk food.
...spend more time with friends.
...arrive at work earlier.
...teach more.
......
But, I can't resolve to do all of this all at once. Not realistically. Not if I expect to be 'successful' at any of it. Perhaps instead of any of these things, I should just resolve to embrace who I am, where I am. Be accepting. Realise that I'll never be that girl who is....whatever it is that I sometimes wish I could be...
While I'm pondering, pontificating, I think I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. Study hard, work hard, and be kind to myself and to the people around me - even to that guy who gave me the finger in the parking lot of the shopping center today.
I've decided to make a resolution this year. Maybe even more than one. As I write this, I'm not firmly decided on what that one or two special thing(s) will be yet. Lots of times, there are things that I'd rather be or do. I think about them all the time. I'd like to...
...be more fun.
...drink more often.
...laugh more often.
...start running again.
...complete that project at work.
...throw parties.
...compost.
...waste less water.
...waste less food.
...meditate.
...conquer this lingering anxiety, or at least learn to laugh at it more.
...find the time, or courage rather, to engage in my community the way I dream about.
...stick to my budget.
...pay off my debt.
...cook from scratch more.
...call my parents more often.
...read more.
...spend less time on the internet.
...play like I did when I was a kid: swing, ride, climb, explore.
...be more artistic.
...be less flaky.
...be more honest with myself and others.
...walk more, drive less.
...eat more junk food.
...spend more time with friends.
...arrive at work earlier.
...teach more.
......
But, I can't resolve to do all of this all at once. Not realistically. Not if I expect to be 'successful' at any of it. Perhaps instead of any of these things, I should just resolve to embrace who I am, where I am. Be accepting. Realise that I'll never be that girl who is....whatever it is that I sometimes wish I could be...
While I'm pondering, pontificating, I think I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. Study hard, work hard, and be kind to myself and to the people around me - even to that guy who gave me the finger in the parking lot of the shopping center today.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A new year, already
Fighting off the cold and sore throat.
Finding a new home - fingerscrossed that all of the pieces fall in to place properly and on time.
But, I just keep thinking that what I really should be doing in this economy is scaling back - hunkering down and consolidating. Like, shouldn't we young, single, independent minded folks be combining resources and supporting each other? Not partitioning off? It's just so damn expensive, especially in this town... Ugh.
Move prep: Superduper under-the-appliances floor cleaning. And, what's the criteria for getting rid of old stuff? If I haven't touched it in over a year, can I donate or recycle it, even if I might possibly someday maybe use it again?
Nice company on the first day of the new year.
Finding a new home - fingerscrossed that all of the pieces fall in to place properly and on time.
But, I just keep thinking that what I really should be doing in this economy is scaling back - hunkering down and consolidating. Like, shouldn't we young, single, independent minded folks be combining resources and supporting each other? Not partitioning off? It's just so damn expensive, especially in this town... Ugh.
Move prep: Superduper under-the-appliances floor cleaning. And, what's the criteria for getting rid of old stuff? If I haven't touched it in over a year, can I donate or recycle it, even if I might possibly someday maybe use it again?
Nice company on the first day of the new year.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Scene VI (The Finale) - Greenleaf Park
Ah! This park was, most certainly, the best park for kids in the 2 - 5 year old range. The equipment was perfectly sized for little kids, which makes for a much less stressful experience for parents (and aunts) and a more enjoyable experience for the kids. What a difference size makes!
Kallie contemplated going down the slide this way.
And, was happy to show you her pretty red fingernails.
Kyle spotted something really exciting and was headed that way!
Of course! Stairs! So fun to climb!
Aunt Cat arranged for Mommy's car to get a little checkup before the trip back home.
A stop by Bodo's on the way back to Aunt Cat's house, and then, as usual, bath time, dinner, a video or two (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! or Mary Poppins, anyone?) and we called it a night, on the last night of the visit to Virginia.
Kallie contemplated going down the slide this way.
And, was happy to show you her pretty red fingernails.
Kyle spotted something really exciting and was headed that way!
Of course! Stairs! So fun to climb!
Aunt Cat arranged for Mommy's car to get a little checkup before the trip back home.
A stop by Bodo's on the way back to Aunt Cat's house, and then, as usual, bath time, dinner, a video or two (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! or Mary Poppins, anyone?) and we called it a night, on the last night of the visit to Virginia.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Intermission
Sunday the 28th was a good day. (It's all becoming a bit of a blur at this point, but here's how the day went, I think...)
Later in the afternoon, we went to the Children's Library (as Kallie calls it) downtown and read books. Then, we decided it was time to run around a little, so we walked over to Lee Park for running and stomping on flowers (oh, Mommy tried to stop them!) and looking at statues of men on horses.
Then a quick stop by Aunt Cat's office downtown, looking at the lights and ornaments on the huge city Christmas tree, running on the mall, and then pizza for dinner at Christian's.
Oh, and the M's. Don't forget the M's for dessert. (Kallie calls M&Ms, simply, M's.)
It was a warm day. A good day. And there's not a single picture to prove it!
Later in the afternoon, we went to the Children's Library (as Kallie calls it) downtown and read books. Then, we decided it was time to run around a little, so we walked over to Lee Park for running and stomping on flowers (oh, Mommy tried to stop them!) and looking at statues of men on horses.
Then a quick stop by Aunt Cat's office downtown, looking at the lights and ornaments on the huge city Christmas tree, running on the mall, and then pizza for dinner at Christian's.
Oh, and the M's. Don't forget the M's for dessert. (Kallie calls M&Ms, simply, M's.)
It was a warm day. A good day. And there's not a single picture to prove it!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Scene V - McGuffey Park
McGuffey Park is in North Downtown, one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Charlotteville. A recent renovation has been completed and the city website boasts that McGuffey Park is "one of the premier play facilities in the area". I'm sure all the neighborhood kids have noticed.
We brought some good weather to the park with us this afternoon. No gloves or hats needed, and Aunt Cat was even able to break out her sandals.
Kallie enjoyed building sand castles.
Kyle really liked the swing, as usual - note the happy tongue-out-side-of-mouth expression.
Kallie showed us how to walk and balance on the low fountain wall.
Mommy and kids posed for a group shot, with the church in the background. I took a whole series of these shots, but I just couldn't resist posting this one of Kyle's happy face.
After we left the park, we stopped by our local grocery to pick up fixings for a tofu and veggie stir fry. Kallie declared on our way there, "I like tofu." (Ah, my vegetarian friends would be so proud.) But, that's no surprise because Kallie is a very good eater, and even her brother is coming around by expanding his list of foods tried and liked (I think he's made a lot of progress in this area since I saw him only two months ago).
We brought some good weather to the park with us this afternoon. No gloves or hats needed, and Aunt Cat was even able to break out her sandals.
Kallie enjoyed building sand castles.
Kyle really liked the swing, as usual - note the happy tongue-out-side-of-mouth expression.
Kallie showed us how to walk and balance on the low fountain wall.
Mommy and kids posed for a group shot, with the church in the background. I took a whole series of these shots, but I just couldn't resist posting this one of Kyle's happy face.
After we left the park, we stopped by our local grocery to pick up fixings for a tofu and veggie stir fry. Kallie declared on our way there, "I like tofu." (Ah, my vegetarian friends would be so proud.) But, that's no surprise because Kallie is a very good eater, and even her brother is coming around by expanding his list of foods tried and liked (I think he's made a lot of progress in this area since I saw him only two months ago).
Friday, December 26, 2008
Scene IV - Virginia Discovery Museum
Kallie had been looking forward to visiting the Children's Museum in Charlottesville. We picked a potentially bad-weather day for the visit.
There was so much to do, we could have easily gone back another day.
Kallie looked at a very colorfully painted live sand crab....
...And found some great tap shoes in the costume corner.
Kyle banged on the large pipe instrument, which was right next to the 10 foot tall guitar.
Kyle loved watching the ball elevator dump the balls into the network of pipes and tunnels.
Kallie and Kyle let Mommy help them at the grocery counter checkout.
Mommy had her picture taken with the nifty internal organ model.
Kallie spent a lot of time checking out the bee hive, which had a tunnel piped to the window so that the bees could fly outside, but not come into the museum.
After we left the museum, Kallie and Kyle both took a ride on the man-powered carousel - something that I've looked forward to bringing her to for months. She really liked it.
There was so much to do, we could have easily gone back another day.
Kallie looked at a very colorfully painted live sand crab....
...And found some great tap shoes in the costume corner.
Kyle banged on the large pipe instrument, which was right next to the 10 foot tall guitar.
Kyle loved watching the ball elevator dump the balls into the network of pipes and tunnels.
Kallie and Kyle let Mommy help them at the grocery counter checkout.
Mommy had her picture taken with the nifty internal organ model.
Kallie spent a lot of time checking out the bee hive, which had a tunnel piped to the window so that the bees could fly outside, but not come into the museum.
After we left the museum, Kallie and Kyle both took a ride on the man-powered carousel - something that I've looked forward to bringing her to for months. She really liked it.
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