Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies. I adore this quirky show. I first started watching it because I thought it starred my favorite actress/musician Zooey Deschanel. It doesn't. However, it didn't stop me from loving Chuck and Ned the pie maker. I'm hooked.

a few Tennessee pictures

we visited the apple barn and cider mill. caramel apples were yummy :)

hello, old friend

It's been brought to my attention that I haven't been a very faithful blogger. I didn't mean to abandon my blog, it just sort of happened. So many changes since I posted last. Rather than explain everything, I'm just going to pick up where I am now. Currently, I'm enjoying my very first post-grad summer. It's fantastic. I just got back from a family vacation to Tennessee. We had a great time doing outdoorsy things like rafting, going on picnics and hiking. We prefer to get away from all the tourist attractions and just enjoy nature. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful (by far my favorite thing about TN). One of our exploring days took us to the Tennessee-North Carolina border. This is where I discovered the Appalachian Trail. I can't explain it, but as I stood there reading the sign that described the almost 2,200 mile trail leading from Georgia to Maine, I could feel it calling me. I don't know what my future will bring, but I'd love it to include an intense hike like this one.

Speaking of the future, I do have some really exciting plans. Next month I'll head to a town in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany to au pair for a family. I'll be responsible for two beautiful little girls, Julika and Tira. Being an au pair is something I've wanted to do for quite awhile now and I can't believe it's really happening.

I have to run now, but I'll post some Tennessee pictures soon.

It's good to be back.

White Christmas

Christmas came so fast this year! classes finished then boom...holiday time. I couldn't believe how it was 80 degrees the day before Christmas Eve then the next day a snow storm like I've never experienced! everything was covered in beautiful white snow :) it was so windy that the big flakes floated horizontally. such a happy surprise! this year I had an especially fun time with my family. we played catch phrase and clr after a delicious homemade lunch at Gramma's. I'm related to some really special people.

vent

warning: this post is whiny and graphic :(
this morning was unbelievable. jake needed to be at the airport by 5am so I woke up around 3:30 and picked him up. I don't drive to the airport from here very often (it's usually from my parents' house) so we got lost. I've been getting nauseous lately because of some medicine...it kicked in like crazy this morning and we had to stop once on the way. we finally got him to to his gate and I was headed back home to study for a final this morning. unfortunately, I felt really sick and pulled over on the side of the highway. I'm so thankful I went back inside this morning and put on a coat! while I was getting sick on the side of the road my car ran out of gas...I called home and my amazing Dad came to the rescue. after shivering for about an hour, Dad arrived in his warm car and we went to fill up a gas can only to return and discover that my battery was dead. oh my goodness. my little drive to the airport lasted nearly 3 hours longer than I had planned.

on a happy note...human rights final went well! only one more to go...

crazy day

today I forgot to go to class. I never forget to go to class. it's history and I love it (not to mention the fact that today she passed out our review sheets!). it was the strangest feeling...and I didn't realize it until about 9 tonight. it's very possible I'm going crazy. I just thought, "gee I'm tired. I think I'll take a quick nap then go study." quick naps are never quick.

then the strangest thing happened outside the coffee shop...there was a dog in the road (a good dog--the black furry sweet kind that doesn't jump on you and knows how to walk on a leash). jake and I brought it to the door and its owner came outside. he was seriously crazy...offered to give the dog away only to change his mind a second later. it ended up being a sort of awful situation. he said some really mean things to jake and really creeped us out.

after a change in location, it was a very enjoyable night. after some good study time, we put some pizza in the oven and watched the latest episode of glee. I love hulu :)

Christmas is soon! so much to do, so little time...can't wait for no more school!

giving thanks

since I haven't updated since August, I'm not expecting anyone to read this. here it goes just the same...much has happened since then. it has been a crazy semester. my boyfriend turned fiance has been living a mere 1 mile down the road. we've lived ups and downs and I'm certain that I can't live without him. thanks so much to my wonderful friends for helping me see the light when i thought it was gone. "croquet partet" engagement brunch :) this thanksgiving my grandparents invited us to join them in beautiful New Mexico. we stayed in a wonderfully cozy lodge at the bottom of the Angelfire ski lift. I sat in front of toasty fireplaces and ate some delicious homemade foods.

now it's that crazy time in the semester again--the time when every paper from every class is due on the same day and I'm not sure if I'll make it out alive. finals start in exactly two weeks and I absolutely cannot wait to be on the other side.

since my family was out of town for thanksgiving and my little sister's high school graduation approaches (yayy!), mom decorated early. our house is a Christmas wonderland. as I get older, I appreciate it more. I've come to enjoy our fake (mom is allergic) tree full of collected, homemade, special ornaments. they bring back so many memories and remind me that I have

so much to be thankful for.

last year's ping pong table :)

"twas the night before Christmas..."