Goodbye 2007

This morning I woke up feeling refreshed and happy. My sister is in town with her boyfriend and my husband was snuggling next to me. Although, going to work on New Years Eve really sucks I felt pretty happy. I jumped in the shower. I don’t know about you but the shower seems to be where I have all of my greatest thoughts, such as they are. So as the water poured out I remember that when I through away my favorite jeans: the ones with the hole in the crotch and the beginning of a hole on my butt. I had thrown away my Belk Gift Card. My $11 dollar gift card was in the dumpster!

You see, yesterday I had frantically been cleaning up my tiny apartment because my sister and her boyfriend were coming to spend New Years with us. In my haste I said I love these ten dollar Express jeans from Good Will, but they have Got To Go-- You know the holes and all. So I chunked them. One less thing to wash! YeePee and then I asked my husband to take out the garbage.

He did… and this is why I found myself at 7:55 am racing to the dumpster. I don’t know about you but I have to work One Whole Hour for Eleven dollars and I’ve had my eye on two Beau-t-ful brown towels at Belk that only cost $8.00. That $ll.00 would cover taxes too!

So I fished around in the dumpster. Jumping around and yelling “If there are any rats around please don’t let me see you!” Finally, I ran back to my apartment begged my husband to help. While promising to bonk me on the head if the card wasn’t in my jean pocket he fished out the ten dollar express jeans and I got my $11.00 Belk gift card! Brown towels here I come.

And that is how I started my last day of 2007.

First Post of August!

Graduate School starts for me on Monday. I have 1 day left of freedom and this is how I’m spending it:

1) Grocery shopping

2) Cleaning the bathroom and washing clothes

3) Having dinner with the future in-laws

4) Supper with our awesome friends

5) Familiarizing myself with Valdosta’s Website (luckily very similar to Georgia Southerns web-site)

6) House Hunting

7) Trying to finish Harry Potter

Yes! I said House Hunting! Here’s the story: Our wonderful cat, Smitty, made his great escape while family was in town last weekend for Scott and my shower. We were devastated. We looked for him everywhere, put up flyers and I constantly scanned Lanier drive for him. We even ran an ad in the Herald. After 2 days and 2 sleepless nights we found him and brought him home! A Happy Ending. (Picture is Smitty as a baby)

Now the spark: I love Georgia Southern University. I love the students and I hope they enjoy GSU as much as I did. But, I no longer want to live around them. I hate all of the traffic, both cars and foot traffic, around my apartment. I hate that my dog and 2 cats don’t have a yard of their own. And after almost losing Smitty, I decided I had had enough. The very next day I went to the bank and found out we could buy a house!

Owning your own home is the American Dream! I’m more excited about buying a house then I am about planning my wedding. I’ve been dragging friends all around Statesboro looking at houses and finding neighborhoods, and it’s been so much fun. Hopefully, Scott and I will find the perfect first house for the kids and us.

Running update: Not so good. In fact lousy! I can’t seem to get back into a routine after being sick and that really stinks. I’m planning on getting back into my running routine as school starts on Monday.

Note: 1. I know bad things can happen even living in a house in a nice neighborhood. 2. I’m really nervous about grad school.

Vanilla

Yesterday my co-workers said that I was Vanilla: as in style, personality my over presentation of myself. Within the first 3 seconds I immediately thought “No I’m not!” but then I looked down at my brown linen pants with my plain cranberry top and realized “Yes I am.” And then I realized that I was okay with being Vanilla. I rather like being Vanilla. In fact, I’ve never been more accepting and comfortable in my own skin before. I like myself and I have far fewer moments of the “Why the hell did I say that?” or the “Why do I have to be socially retarded?” So this morning when I put on my old trusty Kicks with yet another pair of tan linen pants with an equally boring pink shirt I thought bring on Vanilla and bring on ME.

Jogging update: Being sick put a crimp in my training schedule. I’ve been really disappointed about not being able to be active. I also found that I’m grumpier and I eat SO much more when I haven’t worked out. Such is life. (that’s a Grandmother saying :)) Hopefully, I’ll feel up to a short run tomorrow.

Oh Yeah, I don’t talk about work here but my Harry Potter program went really well! I had to share.

Training: Novice

Well, I’m starting my second week of training. If I follow my 12-week guide I should be ready to run my first Half Marathon by October the 6^th: the Saturday before the wedding. Too bad I have to work that Saturday. And yes I know that GSU has a home game, but it was work that Saturday or not get to go to my own wedding.

This week I’ll be adding strength training along with cross training. And on this new training schedule I’ll only have 1 day of rest every other day is filled with running, cross training or strength training. It’s a pretty interesting schedule and should keep me on my toes. I’m thinking about getting my bike up and running and using it as my cross. I’m really not much of a swimmer but that might be fun or at least a change.

For my running update: I did 4 miles on Saturday in 35:02. My goal was 5 miles, but just walking home was a chore after those first 4. I did try to jog a little on the way back.

I did go see Harry Potter this weekend! And my study is kinda clean. I’m sorry that my blog revolves around all this jogging stuff. At least I’m posting again!

Old Dirty Kicks

My college friend Mitzi and I were talking about the Nike Sport and because she lives 5 hours hours away she asked me to post a picture of my Tennis Shoes with the Runner's Pouch. So there you have it folks. At least you can't smell them.

Watermelon!

I am so jealous! Georgia Southern is serving Watermelon on Sweetheart Circle today and I’m going to miss it. All of you students or if you work on Campus: “Eat some for me!” ah I guess this is what happens when you collect a regular paycheck.


Not much else is happening in this little corner of the web. Jogging update: I'm number 317 out of 558 in my beginners challenge.

UGH!

Today's morning jog SUCKED! I'm starting over NOW! It's going to be good day!

I’m surprised of myself.

Kelley, I’m sure you have heard about all of this from your sister. This is my disclaimer on how boring you might find this post!

Ok, last Sunday I bought the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. The only problem is you have to buy the very expensive Nike shoes that the Kit works with. Luckily, this company Grantwood Technology created the handy Sport Pouch for only $6.99. The down side: you have to order it online and wait a week for it to arrive, especially during a holiday week.

But it came yesterday! And it ROCKED! Seriously, this is the coolest jogging tool EVER. I realized that the loop that I thought was 2 miles is really 3. 3 Miles! I’ve been trying for weeks to jog at least 2 miles and I’ve been doing it the entire time and didn’t know it. Now that is an increase in the self-esteem area.

My one mistake that I did make yesterday was I tool my dog Dez along. Boy was she freaking SLOW! She trailed along behind as far as her leash would let her. And yes I do understand the potty breaks, but still I wanted an accurate view of my time. On the plus side she kept me company and I’ll probably keep taking her with me. I think with the proper jogging leash she can be great. Hehehe It was starting to storm yesterday and we had a huge crack of thunder Man you have never seen that dog take off so fast. I was like “Now that’s what I’m taking about!” At least I know she has it in her.

The other cool feature about the Nike + iPod is that it not only keeps up with your times, distances, calories burned all on your iPod, but you can log on to http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/ and keep a record of all your runs, sign up for challenges with other people and set goals for yourself. I signed up for this Beginners challenge for the month of July. Already someone has invited me to take part in her challenge. It’s pretty freaking cool.

I think the handiest part of the Nike + iPod (I’m just going to call it Nike Sport from here on out) is that it counted down my miles. There is nothing more encouraging then hearing “300 meters left”, Well Hell Yeah I can do that. It does the same if you set it for time or whatever you want.

Anyway, I'm happy that a friend recommended it to me and I definitely recommend it to anyone who jogs or thinks they want to. It works for walkers t0.

The End

For the last episode of the Sopranos I decided to cook one of Carmela's dishes. It always seemed that she was carrying baked Ziti to her priest, so I found a good recipe and gave it a go. (I actually got this recipe from another blogger who had the same idea)

I have to say that this dish rocked and could easily be made calorie friendly with wheat noodles and low fat cheese. I did have trouble with my noodles being a little crunchy on top, but I think that can be fixed. Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs was YUM-O and was almost the perfect Italian ending (No one got whacked) .

BAKED ZITI WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

For meatballs
1 pound ground turkey
1 large garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, cooled, and chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves (preferably flat-leafed)
1 large egg, beaten lightly
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound ziti or penne
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese (about 3 ounces)
about 6 cups winter tomato saucea
15-ounce container ricotta cheese

Make meatballs:In a bowl stir together well turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper and form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain and brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.
Preheat oven to 375°F. and oil a 3- to 4-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.

In a kettle of salted boiling water cook pasta until just al dente, about 8 minutes, and drain well. In a small bowl toss together mozzarella and Romano.
Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half of meatballs into prepared dish and spoon half of pasta on top. Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs. Spread remaining pasta over ricotta and top with remaining sauce and remaining cheese mixture.
Bake ziti in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden, and let stand 10 minutes before serving.Serves 6 to 8.Gourmet February 1994

For Winter Sauce I used sauce out of a jar.

LEIGHA! LEIGHA! LEIGHA!

Imagine arriving to your High School Graduation on a church bus with 30 plus family members. Now add to the mortification: a sign with your name and having your father pull up to the front door so that you and your family members could unload. Welcome to the beginning of my cousin’s high school graduation. We also chanted Leigha! Leigha! Leigha!

I have to say that yes it probably was very embarrassing for Leigha, but she got to ride to her graduation with her entire family: Mom, Dad, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, a slew of cousins and one brave friend. A freaking BUS load! How special is that? VERY! It rocked. We all traveled from Georgia, Alabama and Indiana just to be there for her on her special day. Scott and I drove for 12 hours, got lost in Birmingham, and sat through 3 trains at 2 in the morning just to be there to watch her walk across the stage. I have to say that my family has its flaws, but damn we rocked this weekend.

The weekend overall was really good. It had its moments where Scott and I wanted to strangle my parents, but it did teach us some valuable lesson that will come in handy for the wedding. I never realized how hard it would be to NOT automatically DO what my parents wanted. Example: just letting them decided where and when we are going to eat.

Ugh, I never knew deciding on a place to eat would be so hard.

The lesson learned: Scott’s wants and needs come before my parents. (who knew I would have to be taught that?)

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day! Only 4 days left of this workweek and then next week I start my new position. I can’t wait.

I should have some book reviews on the way. I finished 2 books (one I just loved) and started on another that is just amazing.

Wow, It's been along time!

I've been thinking and thinking about updating my blog. This may be a super small post but it's a start.

Reason's for not posting:

1) Even after years of writing literature papers I'm still afraid of writing.
2) I've been bummed out about how my blog looks.
3) I really want to say what I feel on my blog and that takes guts.
4) I'm not so sure anyone actually reads this thing. People have taken me off their friends list. It's not looking very positive.
5) I've kept to myself alot this past year, but now I'm ready to share and be apart of the world.

A few updates:
I bought a gorgeous wedding dress! and yes Scott and I have set a date! We even have a location. We signed the paper work! it's final.

I actually have more to say but I have to get ready for work. By the way I received a promotion. (Warning: From now on I will be tooting my own horn. I recently learned that if you don't celebrate your own accomplishments no one else will. I'm damn well going to enjoy the good stuff in life!)

Have a great day, everyone! (I'm actually writing as if I have an audience! hehe