First Day of "School"

Tomorrow is the first day of a week long orientation for my grad school program and I definitely feel like I'm back in elementary school. I just picked out my outfit and have it all set out, including shoes (mainly because there is a slim chance I might go workout before hand, but my step class is canceled for the week and I don't think I'll be motivated enough to go just "run" on an elliptical at 6:30 in the morning). I also have my school bag packed. I panicked when I thought I didn't have an appropriate bag! I have a backpack- but we have to be in professional dress tomorrow - and a little blue and gray Jansen backpack just doesn't scream professional (neither does the corduroy messenger bag I found in the closet, but it's closer). Sigh... unlike the night before the first day of school back in elementary school, I will be able to sleep tonight!! (I was the kid who was so excited about school starting that I couldn't sleep in anticipation. I'm not quite that excited.)

Here's to the start of a crazy year....
(yippee??!!)

I made a big decision a little while ago.

I made a big decision a little while ago.
I don't remember what is was, which prob'ly goes to show
That many times a simple choice can prove to be essential
Even though it often might appear inconsequential.

I must have been distracted when I left my home because
Left of right I'm sure I went. (I wonder which it was!)
Anyways, I never veered: I walked in that direction
Utterly absorbed, it seems, in quiet introspection.

For no reason I can think of, I've wandered far astray.
And that is how I got to where I find myself today.

-- Bill Watterson, from The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes

My kind of president....

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

For whatever reason, this just made me laugh. A lot. And I'm hoping that you'll laugh too!

PS. I will most likely NOT be voting for Ms. Hilton for president.

Overheard

Overheard while walking behind a tour guide at OU:

"OU is part of the MAC conference. We even have a football game scheduled against OSU this fall. It's the second game of the season. It should be a really good game."

umm... I heart my Bobcats, but it will not be a really good game.... sigh.

Flash Dance

A couple of weeks ago, a local video store was having a going out of business sale - with DVDs for only $5. Andrew and I might have loaded up on "new" movies. One of them was "Flash Dance." I hadn't seen it before - but was pretty convinced I would like it. It seems like everyone likes it - and I typically enjoy movies that have dancing in it. (Actually, I think I like all the movies I have seen with dancing in it - except for one now.) I figured it was a good buy.

Um, that might have been a wrong assumption. We got around to watching it for the first time last night. AND just for the record, Andrew suggested it! He thought I would really like it and he's seen a documentary on it twice and was interested in watching it for the historical value.

Why is that movie so popular?!?! I don't get it. I can understand perhaps that it was the naked women dancing that boosted up ticket sales - but really?! (I'm sure many of you are shaking your heads right now - thinking to yourselves, "Really? How did you NOT know what you were getting yourself into?") Perhaps I should have taken the "R" rating a bit more seriously - I tend not to enjoy "R" movies -- usually b/c there is lots of gore and violence, or strippers!

sigh... back to "Enchanted" for me!! ("... for lips are the only things that touch...")

Oh Mr. Sun....

The longest day of the year has past and we are in a downward spiral to the shortest day of the year. Sigh. I've been reminded "lovingly" by my husband that summer is not over --- but the days are getting shorter! It's pretty dark by 9 AND it's not as bright early in the morning. (I know, I know! That's what "shorter days" mean -- but it's still just depressing!)

I love sunlight and long days. In an effort to appease me, Andrew suggested that we move somewhere between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The sounded pretty good to me! But then he reminded me that there aren't any stable economic systems or governments to be found there -- so back to southeast Ohio.

I saw cars this morning with their headlights on. It was 6:25 AM. I decided that I am protesting the shorter days by not using my headlights! It's not necessary (yet). When it becomes a matter of safety, I will use them.

Sigh -- well, I guess now all there is to look forward to is Dec. 22 -- the shortest day of the year -- because from that day on, the days will get longer!!! :)

Victory!

Tada! I after months of battling with the shower drain - I can finally shower without standing water!!!

What is my trick you ask?! How can you too shower without a clogged drain?! Well - you have come to the right person!

You have some options - with success in varying degrees:

• the plunger - works well to "get things moving" on down the pipes
• chemicals (i.e. "Liquid Max Plumber Gel)
• equal parts salt and baking soda with hot/boiling water poured over
• screwdriver

In this last battle, it was the screwdriver that was must helpful. It helped me pry out 4 razor covers that had gotten down the first half of the drain - but not all the way (whoops!) and quite a large handful of hair (it's a wonder that I'm not bald!)

Happy Showering!