Monday Musings During Hoarders 6.0

Yes, I realize that it is Tuesday. But I am watching it this morning before doing homework so it is time to blog.

The last blog was on December 15th. So lets do a really brief recap.

Chase and Erin made it to BG and slept all day during my last exam. I am glad they made it safely. Friday we left BG for DSM.  Chase wanted to avoid toll roads so we took (I think it was) Highway 6 all the way to Iowa. It was so lovely. Rural enough to be easy driving, but not so small that you thought you might die if the car broke down on the side of the road. It was really enjoyable.

Ten hours later... we got to DSM. Whew. My car is gross and covered with salt and muck, but we made it safely.

Saturday was coffee with the Stovers. Love love love them. They are loud and silly and really love each other. Lets not even mention how awesome their dog Princess T-Bone (she's a TINY dachshund). We ate doughnuts and just enjoyed time together. Couldn't be better.

(this isn't actually her- but it realllllly looks like her) 

Saturday night was Christmas with the Pastor at Mom and Dad McCool's church. As part of the festivities the pastor hid over 300 plastic "gold" coins all over the church. We are still finding them! Super fun!

Sunday was church, nap, church. :)

Monday and Tuesday I did a lot of homework. I read through my Judith Butler books and through Diana Taylor's The Archive and The Repertoire: Performing Cultural Memory in the America's. Both were really helpful for the prospectus. It was kind of funny because I have sooo many Butler books and did not have the one that I needed! Isn't that always how it works?

My parents arrived in DSM on Thursday. I drove all by myself and made it to the airport with out wrecking my car or hurting anyone ;). I was so glad to see them! They are really fun to have around. AND the parents all liked each other! Whew. I never really doubted that they would but it was really rewarding. This whole combining two families is quite stressful because I want everything to be really great. And I think its going well. Praise the Lord.

Christmas Eve was at the Stovers', we ate like little piggies, laughed a ton, played with the dog, and took about a billion photographs. Christmas eve service was very lovely, except for the guy who sat behind us burping :).  I GOT A TRADER JOES GIFT CARD from Grandma and Grandpa  Stover. Very very awesome. I cannot wait to stock up before going home.

Christmas Day we had a yummy breakfast and opened presents. I was/am a blessed girl! And Chase loved the Kindle I bought for him. He was so happy and so surprised! It was really really great. I loved surprising him and that was really fun. I am terrible at surprising people and this time I finally kept something a secret! THEN WE WENT SLEDDDDDDDING! Oh my goodness I really loved it. It was so much fun. I was scared at first but then I just started go again and again. If I didn't have to spend so much energy walking back up hills I probably could have kept going for a lot longer than we did!

Day after Christmas was Church and then hanging out with my parents and Chase. We had Panera for lunch- always so good- and then Chase and I went shopping for Christmas decor. It was so much fun for me. We got great deals and will have cute stuff for next Christmas. I am still looking for a 4 foot flocked tall skinny artificial Christmas tree. Thats what I am asking for from now until next Christmas. Can you imagine that? Getting a Christmas tree for my July birthday! Haha Love it. We had Bonefish Grill for dinner and let me tell you their fish tacos are awesome. Simple as that.

Yesterday we went wedding dress shopping. I found THE dress. Found it and am going to order is asap.
ThanktheLordinheavenabove we only had to look at one place!

Today is homework and getting ready for the Engagement party this evening. Its just a open house and I am super excited to meet new people. I'll update more later.
I need a mini nap. I am about to pass out.

More later.

S'More Blogging

wow I am just a genius when it comes to witty and dorky titles

I have finished all of the work that is due for the rest of this semester. No kidding. I have an exam to attend tomorrow at 9am but I have the assignment finished and I have officially decided to "go on break." Still doesn't feel like it because I have to wake up early but still. We'll just pretend that it does.

My celebratory evening has included going to Wal-Mart and buying a new toiletry bag for the trip to DSM,  watching reality cooking television, cleaning my apartment, and eating microwaved s'mores. I always add peanut butter to mine. Makes it all stick together even better. Holy Cow. So good. I actually prefer microwave s'mores to cookout s'mores. The chocolate melts all the way, the marshmallow is warm all the way through, there isn't ash on anything, and you don't leave smelling like icky smoke.

Now I am going to fold laundry, and watch Top Chef All Stars, and WAIT FOR CHASE AND ERIN TO GET HERE. It is going to snow really badly in WVa starting around 4am. Chase and Erin last year had to drive through the miserable weather and do not want to do that again. So they left at 9:30 and are driving here tonight before it starts to snow. Lots of prayers for them. That drive is scary to me.

Tomorrow they'll sleep and Ill go to class and then we'll get to hang out together! Which makes me super happy. Duh. Also falling in the super happy catagory, today I made an appointment to go try on wedding dresses. My mom, Chase's mom, and I will go to lunch and then to a fru fru store called Schaffers.  Mom McCool says that its super duper nice.  If they have white dresses that are not strapless, don't have glitter, aren't poofy, and won't make me look like the Michelin man I will be happy with that.

Speaking of puffy. I  slipped on the ice today. Not more than twenty steps from my front door and wham. I was saved by my big puffy parka. (Its dark dark purple- and fabulous) Snow is interesting. And kinda elusive. You don't ever know exactly where to step or exactly how many layers you will need. Its 5 degree's out right now. I am trying my hardest not to have a crazy gas bill. Enter the sweatshirt. I try to keep the house around 65 to 70 degrees. Is that cold? Or is that normal? Whichever, I like the temp in my apartment. I like being in snuggly clothes so it works well.

I finished christmas shopping last night! Well thats not true. Kinda need to get one more little thing for my parents, but I just haven't found it yet. They literally have EVERYTHING. Blahhh.

I met with my thesis advisor yesterday to start working on my prospectus... and um... its daunting.
Thats all.

Oh another amazing thing- I am going to get to see my Emily on the way home from Christmas break. I miss her like crazy. Our schedules are so different and its icky not seeing her every single solitary day.

Uh Oh. I started Yawning.

This is kinda a mushy part, I am so excited that chase has siblings! I have always been a happy only child- but I am also excited to have a little brother Logan, and two - hear that! two- little sisters. Eek. Very fun. I am looking forward to spending this long break with them and let them teach me about snow. Meaning teach me how to survive in the snow. And maybe they'll teach me how they learned to dominate on video games. Eye hand coordination hasn't ever really been my thing... whoops.

If you asked me right now what I want for Christmas I don't know if I could tell you. I have stuff I'd kinda like but my parents are getting me a ticket to fly home for spring break so I'm blessed enough to get what I want most! 

I had such a lovely chat with my Grandma today. She's visiting my aunts and uncles in NY and just sounded so very very happy. She deserves it. She's home alone so much and I am glad that she is with our family and having so much fun. Thats how being 87 should be.

I want a Sonic Bacon Cheeseburger with a Strawberry Sprite.

Thanks for reading my blog again and again. It feels so good to just get it out of my head and process through words and then seeing the site counter go up (its even better now that I fixed it so it doesn't count my posts) in number.

Oh and get ready. January First... the wedding count down begins! No complaining. After this wedding countdown I'll never do another one again. Promise. Here are some wedding decor teasers as a reward...

lanterns instead of flowers?

\

rustic chuppa?  

to go with

rustic (maybe raffia wrapped) candles?

Oh

and this is the Bride's Maids dress

hope they like it. 

it really works with that fall theme.

So excited.

;) wink

Monday Musings During Hoarders Finals Edition

It is practically Christmas! 

Hi. Remember me? I am Lauren. The girl who used to make entries on this lovely little blog.
Well kids, I'm back.

I am so close to being done with 1/3 of my masters! I only have one exam left this week and a couple of meetings and parties I will attend. Pretty nice. I have spent this evening watching TV and wrapping presents. Amazing. And of course, now that Hoarders is on, I am blogging.

I have been crazy busy. Shoot I'm pretty sure that anyone attending school is pretty busy. I had three large papers to write, a performance of a random Ibsen play to participate in, and a show to house manage for. I was no busier than anyone else, and actually thanks to professors making benchmarks along the way I wasn't too swamped with work. Thats one thing I really appreciated about my professors this semester, they were reasonable and realistic. What a novel idea!?

I wrote one paper on the French play Le Cid, a historiography of nineteenth-century melodrama, and an analysis of the villain-ization of Mormons in the nineteenth century. The last two will directly impact my thesis which looks at The American Myth, Mormons, and popular culture. Its still in the process. Keep posted.

I survived the snow. I drove in the snow. I now live in a place that when it frosts the world does not shut down. The guy who delivered my pizza was wearing shorts. I need to get used to it. Not exciting.

I am really getting excited to be in Des Moines this weekend. Erin and Chase will arrive on Thursday and spend some time recovering from driving through West Virginia. I will be fun to explore the city that I will be living in this time next year. And I am excited to have both of my families in one place. My Mommy and Daddy and my new Family the McCools! We are also having an engagement party while we're there which of course is going to be fun. I got a great bride-to-be suggestion that once Christmas is over to go buy some super-low priced Christmas decor that way the next year when we're newlyweds we don't have to spend lots of money on that stuff. I think its a great idea.

I am  going to end here... my brain is a little fried! Its been on overdrive lately. I'll try to blog before two weeks passes again. :)

Whew.

This is a prayer for all of you who are as frazzeled as I am.


I pray that...

your fingers don't hurt from typing so much

your eyes don't hurt from reading so much

your neck doesn't hurt from looking at your notes so much

your computer decides to stay working rather than lose its mind

your internet always has a fast and solid connection

coffee will still keep you awake

you won't be so tired that you need coffee

your professors are merciful when you need just one more day

you won't need one more day

the library will have that one book you need

your fridge will magically have the comfort food you are craving

paper is finished the day before its due

you won't have too many late night meetings/rehearsals/library runs

you feel like you've done your best

you don't lose your mind

you will remember that finals will be over and you will get to sleep again.... and watch tv again... and shop again... and take long baths again... and read non-school books again... and be with your family again... 

Lots of prayers for you. Lots of happy thoughts. 

I wouldn't mind if your prayers/happy thoughts/vibes back. Or donations of warm brownies. ;)

I have a sink full of dirty dishes, fleet foxes on the stereo, no clean coffee cups, and am eating honey & peanut butter toast.




Must be term paper time. 

< this is toast, not a term paper>

Monday Musings During Hoarders 5.5

Okay so I am watching Glee and that means I can not do homework and I can blog. If there was cheese and chocolate involved I think this might be a utopia moment. Haha. I'm not actually serious... almost.

So where did I leave off? (Is it too presumptuous to think someone cares?) (( Don't answer that))

After Thanksgiving dinner we drove back to Jville and had a lovely evening just sitting around in the kitchen chatting and being together.  I am really thankful my family is a bunch of talkers. I like to just be together. Our kitchen is particularly good for such times.

Friday was gloriously laid back. Napping, TV watching, left over eating, and grocery shopping with Mom. She made her world famous awesomely awesome spaghetti for Chase and the Erbs came over to eat with us. Whew! That Tina is hilarious... and Charlie adds in the best quirps every now and then! Once again a great time of sitting around talking about any and every thing.  From weddings, to people I went to high school with, to grandparents, to about a billion other things. Very wonderful. Oh and dessert wasn't bad either. Again the day ended with some great passing out and sleeping well.

Early Saturday morning Chase and I got up to have an engagement photo session with Mrs. Beth. She's such a great photographer and so lovely to work with and we had a great time even though it was super early!

(BTW: Rachel, on Glee, is singing Don't Cry For Me Argentina... and um its too slow, even when Kurt sings it its too slow... but then again I have been in the presence of one Ms. Patti Lupone's majestic performance of said song. No one out does Patti... not even Glee... especially when they do the hand raise and the balcony thing... super cheesy.)

Back to photos. I really love the photos. Some of them are so descriptive of the two of us... There are about 175 of them... but I won't make you suffer through them all... some a pretty mushy ; ) See below.

Like I said there are about 170 more if you're interested-- they are on FB. 

After we played super model we made our way to Wilmywood. And it was there- in a time for the record books- found bridesmaids dresses that I love love love love. I really mean it this time. I think I wont change them... again. Hahah. We then - of course went to Flaming Amy's. Listen People. If you have never been there you are missing out on the opportunity of a life time. Frankly I could put their ginger peach salsa on a pie made of dirt and be happy. So darn good and just walking in the building makes me happy. 

(Pardon this interruption for Glee: I LOVE LOVE LOVE Santana's fascinator! And I wasn't too impressed by the first song... or this one... or their dresses... or their leggings....)

and then.... dun dun dun.... we visited the museum where we are getting MARRIED. oh did I mention that I'm engaged? I'm afraid i might have not mentioned it. Hahah. Yeah right. It was so beautiful. I loved the exhibits that are being displayed right now. One is this mini museum instillation. An artist did baseball card sized reproductions of art all across history. Very impressive. And. Then. Get ready Theatre friends. They had an exhibit of Bread and Puppets straight from Vermont. Oh My Goodness. I hope the exhibits are that good when we get married! 

Then then then then then we went to meet Baby Zoe. She's perfect. So cute. So so so Cute. I think she is going to be so beautiful and so fun to have as a member of our family. Some where almost as cool as her mom. See below. 

The day finally ended. We drove home and my parents watched a strange movie... which means I slept through a movie snuggled up to chase. When my family watches a movie that really means that we sit around my Dad's laptop stopping it every half an hour or so because there is laundry to be switched over or coffee to be made (and ice cream to be eaten by the spoonful while waiting). 

(GLEE update: I like this last song. But a tie? Really? And the new girls name kinda sounds like mine...)

We got up early again on Sunday and had to drive to Raleigh.  And sadly we arrived and separated. Btw the new terminal at RDU is awesome. I did spend four hours there. Hahah. I actually got so much work done. I wrote some of my paper and read read read. Then Chicago... and then forty seven years later I made it back to Toledo. Went to the grocery store and passed out.

So thats the story. Lots of talking, and eating, and traveling, all ending with passing out happy. 

Now I'm back at school. And my life is ruled by papers. I am spending my evenings drinking some Hot Chocolate or tea. Making curry. And snuggling up with my new copy of Bruce McConachie's Melodramatic Formulations.  I know. You're jealous.

It is supposed to snow around 2am. So I'll wake up to a white Ohio... maybe. 

Glee is over and as much as I would rather blog and watch TV.

I kinda want to get good grades in graduate school. 

Here is a photo to sum up my wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Monday Musings During Hoarders 5.0

I am taking a break and watching Hoarders. I didn't watch Gossip Girl or House. Aren't you proud? I spent most of the day working - or trying to work- on my historiography paper. I changed the topic... about two hours ago... it is due next Monday. All 15 pages. Needless to say, I have some work to do. But I am taking time to complete my ritual of blogging. Wow. That sounds weird. Anyway.

Where should I start?
Thanksgiving Break

My flight left Toledo at 6:50p.m. so I left around 4 or so and treated myself to Boston Market. As I was growing up < like I am done growing or something > my parents always frowned upon the food at Boston Market. I never really knew why. They had a bad experience or something. Anyway. I absolutely love it. I get the side plate of mashed potatoes, green beans, and mac and cheese. Oh! and of course -- corn bread. Whew. Mix it all together... whew. Wonderful. So um yeah.

Then I went to the Airport. No Xray scans at the Toledo airport. Did have to take my shoes off, but no pat downs or rights violated. Haha. I had downloaded a book on tape called I Went To Vassar For This? eh. Wasn't that great. Time travel and other dumb stuff. And if the character went to Vassar then they need to review who they let graduate. Haha.

I made it to RDU around 10:30p and literally ran to Chase in the Terminal. Half way there I realized my book bag was totally unzipped and I'm lucky that things didn't just rain out of my bag while I rushed around the airport! At first I didn't see him - and my contacts were blurry- but then he popped out from behind the crowd and I about cried I was so happy to be home!  We drove to Michelle's house and stumbled into the house super exhausted. The house was quiet and dark and it took everything in us to not just pass out on the couch! But eventually we made our way to our respective rooms and practically fell into sleep comas. I guess grad/law school plus traveling will wear a kid out!

First thing Wednesday morning, I woke up on the couch to a Lila and a Baby Leo. Love the cousins. My parents were on their way so I wanted to make it to Trader Joe's in time to be back when they arrived. This was slightly difficult. I got us a little lost. To busy reading the wrong signs to see the right ones. But it was worth it. Love love love some TJ's. Bought the following: pumpernickel bread, naan, two types of curry sauce, hot chocolate, pumpkin waffle mix, pumpkin butter, some assorted Indian food I can't remember the name of, and sweet potato chips, and..... about a ton of other things. It was so fun!
OH and the worlds best pumpkin cheese cake! Holy cow.

It was so wonderful to be with my parents. To show off the ring and get lots of hugs. People don't hug enough in graduate school- but then again, with how sick everyone has been I am not sure I want anyone even near me!  They were just wonderful. We sat around talked about weddings stuff and just enjoyed being in the same stinking state! I don't want to go that long without seeing my parents. I am really blessed to have such wonderful family.  My dad gives the bestest hugs. I was so happy to be with everyone, the Gisondi's, my grandparents, and Chase! Whew. Blessed.

That night we ate really awesome sushi and then got to stay at Michelle's friends' house and it was lovely. I always love sleeping in a big bed in a dark dark dark quiet room. Not to mention that Anna (the owner of the house) had a Keurig with Caramel Vanilla Creme coffee pods. That is my favorite from my days back at Beans!

Then... dun dun dun... it was Thanksgiving. And the day went very well. Dad fried a turkey, Michelle and my Mom made amazing food, and Grandma was silly and very Betty like. :) We played Wii (second year in a row), took random snugly naps on the couch (okay that was me and chase!), and just spent the day happy and together. 

Chase and I along with my parents went home that night. The doggies were very happy to see us.

Hoarders is almost over now. So I am going to end here. Tomorrow I'll finish the report on the break. 

Oh and photos from the engagement photo session are on Facebook... Here is a sneak peak! 

Get ready... its the Thanksgiving Edition of Monday Musings during Hoarders...

Enjoy my new background from shabbyblogs.com!

Checking In

I had a pretty decent list of things to do this weekend. It is now 8:30p on Sunday night and it is time to see how productive I was over the last few days... ...

School Related

• Outline Methods paper about creating the "other" in American Melodrama
• Outline History paper detailing the historiography of Anti- Mormonism
  (uh nowhere near done with this one)
• Edit peer-review group's papers. (will do tomorrow)
• Read and analyze History articles for Monday's presentation.
• Write at least three pages of both History and Methods papers
  (yeah, right)

Non- School Related

• Find and borrow a suitcase
• Go to Salon! (My treat to myself!)
• Laundry (I did one load... does that count?)
• Go to Prometheus and then Odd Olive
• Make sure I don't accidentally kill or break Chase's Christmas presents.

Okay, Okay, not that great. Saturday I could not get motivated. I have had trouble sleeping- lots of dreams of people being just down and out mean to me- and I've been waking up about every two hours. Even listening to Adventures in Odyssey isn't helping.

I make some darn good hot chocolate. 

White chocolate oreos must be a sin- they are amazing.

My friend Andrew is coming to town tomorrow, I'm going to take him to Call of the Canyon. Its my favorite place to go and eat and sit and just be. I think its because there is a big sign I like to sit under that says "Cowboys Wanted." Oh and they have AMAZING pie. Notice a trend? I like junk food. 

For those of you checking-- Chase's birthday Christmas present is still alive.

I will see my parents in two days. TWOOOO days. Woot. (I'll also go to Trader Joe's in two days -- but parents are better.)

Don't you just love it when you find that perfect book and that perfect argument to help you make what you want to be the perfect paper? I found a really great one this weekend and it has really shaped my paper- in a good way. I would just like to find one that will tell me < or magically write for me > my historiography paper.  Not holding my breath. 

So tomorrow will be a good long day. I am leading a discussion in class and am really nervous. But I'll make it. The prof is pretty cool and I think I'll be okay. 

Oh by the way, wedding planning is so darn stressful. I'd really like to just have someone do all of the planning. Just like the JLo movie. I come up with ideas and they make them happen- except they also don't cost anything. Totally free. Wouldn't that be great? 

and

Much love to you readers. 

May you see God's Blessings this week.

Friday = Weekend = Work

Last time I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in a weekend I succeeded in doing do. It is officially crunch time at BG.  I don't want to lose my mind. 

To Do This Weekend:

School Related

• Outline Methods paper about creating the "other" in American Melodrama
• Outline History paper detailing the historiography of Anti- Mormonism
• Edit peer-review group's papers.
• Read and analyze History articles for Monday's presentation.
• Write at least three pages of both History and Methods papers

Non- School Related

• Find and borrow a suitcase
• Go to Salon! (My treat to myself!)
• Laundry 
• Go to Prometheus and then Odd Olive
• Make sure I don't accidentally kill or break Chase's Christmas presents.
  
  

I am pretty sure that there is more I need to cover by the time break rolls around...

I am also going to start making a list of things I simply MUST buy at Trader Joe's.

• Corn Salsa
• Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Caramels
• Naan
• Good Fru-fru Hot Chocolate
• Curry Sauces
• 
  
•   

I left blanks so I can fill in your suggestions- especially my beloved Emily who I miss going to Trader Joe's with -- not to mention the farmers market!


I am very excited to be home. Very excited to see my grandparents and cousins- especially baby Leo! He's not really a baby, but he's the youngest! And oh have I mentioned that I will be seeing BABY ZOE! She's the background of my computer rocking some huge sunglasses- we are kindred spirits already.

To those of you who follow my blog I really appreciate it! I don't know why but I like knowing that people read my posts. I've been blogging a lot lately and I really enjoy it. Cathartic in someway. Alright 8 minutes until I have to start working... blech. Have a great Friday! 

Ever felt like this? I do RIGHT now! 

Kickin' it with Karl

Yes. Karl. Karl Marx that is. 

I have been reading a ton of Marxist theory lately. And funniest of all things is how every time I am working on it I end up drinking Hot Chocolate- which I often have to go purchase!

I think its funny that I have been programmed to need coffee or hot chocolate while reading dense theory-- especially when that theory is Marx talking about consumerism and materialism.

I actually think a lot of what he says is correct, we are too trapped by the economy and are programmed to think we always new and better. But for the record, I don't exactly think I'll give up shopping anytime soon.

Tonight is Top Chef Desserts Finale. I am predicting that Morgan doesn't win.  Danielle maybe?
Ill post if I am correct or not!

Love that they edited this!

Now when it gets stuck in my head I don't have to feel bad! this may be my favorite Glee ever!

Rainy Tuesday

I walked home in the rain tonight. And someone drove by and splashed me, just like in the movies.

Well two papers are planned. Two prospectives turned in to professors. Closer and Closer everyday to Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

The official countdowns are...

My flight lands in Cary around 10pm on Tuesday. 

I love canned cranberry sauce. I don't like the real stuff. Nope not one bit. 

Then on the 18th of December Chase, Erin and I will arrive in Lovely DSM! 

This may be my first white Christmas, unless global warming has her way.

I really love traveling. I really really love it. I like being in airports I like being alone in airports. I don't really know why. I usually spend some money and buy myself something from Starbucks and a cheesey/trashy magazine and just read and people watch. I'll do that next week, but we're driving to DSM. Blecky. But I am so excited to get to spend some time in my NEW HOMETOWN. Yikes. We're going to go apartment hunting- yes we know its early but both of us wont be back in town until after Chase needs an apartment. So just looking around so I can say yay/nay. 

Um the McRib commercial about "its love" is gross.

Tomorrow I don't have class! Woot! I'll do breakfast with Christina and then work for a few hours and then home to do school work. Perhaps some paper writing. Blech. I have so much reading I COULD do... notice the could. 

Half of Chase's Christmas present arrived today! So very excited. 

And we planned what to wear for out engagement photos. 

It might snow on Thursday, but right now its just raining. Yuck. 

Can we talk about how EXCITED I am to go to Trader Joe's the day before Thanksgiving. 

Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Caramels!

And about a billion other things I will be buying and mailing to myself. 

What do you love from Trader Joe's?

Scholarly Struggling

Wow. I come up with some of the silliest blog titles. Anyway. 

It is 9:15am on Sunday. If I may say so myself, I was really productive Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I did research, I outlined and then wrote 8 pages of a paper, and read read read. And then Saturday hit. I. was. not. productive. I tried, let me tell you I tried, but whew by the end of the day I had accomplished very little that was not related to napping for two hours at a time.

You see, I have my thesis idea all set up and organized. I have a committee chair, I have a tentative final due date. Yet, I cannot break that huge project down to decide what I can write 15 pages worth for a different class.  For those of you who haven't heard me geek out about it, I am writing my thesis on how Non-Mormons have represented Mormons in popular culture during the time of the first two Prophets and then again in modern times. So um yes. I need to write a paper on the first section- early Mormon representations. Um and somehow relate it to one of the theories we talked about in class. Um. Yeah. Struggling. I have all of the books I need, I have all the articles I could reference, and no idea what to write about. Oh and the prospectus is due Tuesday. Yikers.

On the much better side, I have to turn in the rough draft of my paper about French theatre and I am totally feeling confident about getting that done. I wrote most of it trapped in the box office, and that was actually a great thing. I promise you, that place is a liminal space, you leave there different than when you arrived.

I started buying CHRISTMAS PRESENTS this week. Chase's presents are really great. I love them and I think that he'll love them. And I think my parents will like their's also.

This week is going to be great. Very very great. I have decided. Productive and great. Because the next week is THANKSGIVING BREAK. I'll be with my parents, my fiance, and Flaming Amy. ;) I am excited to get to just have some time with them. But I am going to have to do some History homework. That 15 page historiography paper is daunting. Another paper about the 19th century and religion and popular culture. I'm predictable. I've already started praying for no snow and no flight delays. I'd appreciate you joining me in this prayer.

Finally, last night Christina, Slade, and I went to a good little Indian restaurant called Masala Cuisine of India. I had a bunch of food that I cannot properly pronouce (or spell). But I loved every single bit. Whew it was so good. Curry is just good for one's hard-worked soul. I am hoping that  curry leftovers will do the trick for me today and help me be productive.

Oh and one more thing. Does anyone know why my chrysanthemum is turing white when its supposed to be purple? Is it that it doesn't get enough sunlight? Not enough water?

Milk and Eggs

Right now I feel like I just got home from the grocery store and have about 10 grocery bags each with either a gallon of milk or eggs. I have to get those bags into my house in one trip because its raining really hard. Then when I get up the three flights of stairs to my door I realize my keys are still zipped up in my backpack... so I have to maneuver to get the keys out with out setting the bags down.

Very extensive Metaphor, eh?

This is describing how I feel about the coming end of the semester. It is not going to kill me by any means. Its just tiresome and difficult. Makes your back hurt a little bit and frankly is just frustrating. Each of those gallons of milk or super breakable eggs is a project or paper or whatever that has to be completed in the next five weeks. Its not really overwhelming, but rather just heavy.

It was difficult to explain this to Chaser. I'm not exactly a master of the metaphor. :) Poor guy.

Today was a really great day. I just decided to make it turn out well. Know what I think did it? The awesome cup of Chocolate Chai and staying in my PJ's until I simply had to go to school. Then at school grades came back and were pleasing, and I started to get my thesis planned and committee situated. Its very excited by very stressful . I've found my self saying more prayers lately, not that I get good grades or anything like that- but that I simply make it through and process everything to the best of my ability. God has been so good to me. I am confident that he will keep on giving me exactly what I need.

It has been warm the last couple of days, so when I said it was getting cold, um that was not true.

I cannot stop wanting waffles with butter and syrup. And there is two problems with that 1- bad for me, 2- I don't have a waffle maker... so then 3- I'd have to spend money to get one. Sigh. Life is hard. Ha.

Oh and by the way. There is a book I would like to purchase so I can write in it during my research. It only comes in the Library Edition. Which is at least 100.00 dollars. Well darn. Someone want to buy it for me? But um. please don't get me this for Christmas. Don't want to mix business with pleasure. 

Macaroons are very en vogue in the blogsphere. I would like to try some pretty ones like these- mine are always way uglier. Meaning the two time I have tried to make them they were ugly. Got a recipe?

Victor Hugo would write naked and tell his valet to hide his clothes
so that he’d be unable to go outside when he was supposed to be writing.
 via

I wish I could have my internet up and running and not have access to facebook \ g chat / tumblr.
I don't think that someone taking my clothes will make that happen. 


Let hell (five) weeks begins. 

Monday Musings During Hoarders 4.0

Welcome to the end of Monday.

Today was a good Monday, I got a lot of work done, gave a presentation I was proud of, and got to talk about the Astor Place Riots.

I am feeling good tonight. I have A LOT of work to do over the next couple of days. Tomorrow and Wednesday I have classes, and then Thursday begins the massive weekend of work. I have goals, and I want to meet them!

Goals Presented to the Public for the Purposes of Accountability:

• Rough Draft of Theatre History Paper on French Theatre - specifically Le Cid
• Letter of Intent to the department-- saying I want to write a thesis (want?)
• Methods Reading and Reviews
• Prospectus, Outline, Bibliography 
• Plan out Brand performance
• Organize for Historiography paper
• Sleep and Eat

Whew thats a lot, but I am feeling like I can make it happen. Progress is good. I need to make some progress. But I'm feeling confident. For now -- see what I say about this come Saturday.

I don't have much more to say. Oh wow Ray Lamontage is in a commercial on TV... don't know how I feel about that.... Not good. And the commercial with the baby with chest hair is scary-- its for "The Hasselhoffs" not interested.  Yep. Distracted.

I discovered a miracle at Kroger. Get ready...

Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream.  Its like those amazing caramels from Trader Joe's mixed into ice cream.  I am really looking forward to going to Southpointe Mall and to Trader Joes over the break. I'm going to stock up my suitcase with food! :) Too bad I can't bring ginger peach salsa back from Flaming Amy's.

Once again asking for prayers and happy thoughts for this weekend. They worked great last weekend- I felt like I got a lot done.  Here's to another productive week. Aided by pumpkin spice coffee and yummy ice cream < see previous post about emotional eating!>

Thursday is my Daddy's birthday. Oh my goodness I love my Daddy. I will probably be 70 years old and still call him Daddy. Just talking to him makes me feel better. He's very talented, very smart, and just awesome in general. So here's to you Dad!  I hope you have a wonderful day visiting Bath, NC with Mom! She's pretty great too. 

Self Medicating

Okay. So for those of you who haven't figured it out yet, or have not been paying attention... graduate school is what one would call stressful! I'm blessed because I really like my professors and the classes I am taking and yet, between now and Christmas I have about 100 pages of original scholarship to craft, two hour long presentations/discussion leadings, and a fifteen minute performance of my own creation.  See this is the point when all of ya'll non-theatre people go, "uh don't you just act and stuff." No. We actually read books and write papers, and yes, those papers in fact do have to have proper formatting and citations! Who would have known? /rant over/

Anyway.



So how do we cope. Some people smoke. Some people drink. Some people never sleep. Some people simply don't cope and get kinda nuts. None of those are going to solve my stress levels. But the vice I have chosen (yikes! Admitting its a choice!) is junk food.

Oh my goodness. I self medicate with junk food. Cheese and chocolate in particular. This past 10 days or so I would have given pretty much anything to have someone hook me up to a Hot Chocolate IV.  Usually I want coffee or Dr. Pepper, but this week, oh my goodness people, all I want is Hot Chocolate made with milk. Notice the made with milk part? Well, um yeah. There lies the rub... all of the junk food I want is just that junk. The sugar free/fat free/low calorie/blahblah version just does not cut it. The same way a 100 calorie pack of cookies just makes things worse, ya know? And, I will admit, mid blog post I retrieved the Campus Pollyeyes take out menu from my downloads folder and order the worlds most amazing stuffed bread sticks. Literally. the. world's. most. amazing. Whoops...

I have tried really hard to not  I would like to say that I have tried to not turn to food and yummy drinks to make myself less stressed and feel better. But its just not true. I'm not really looking for advice... just mostly putting it here and making it obvious to myself.

In reality, I am not that stressed about the work to be done this semester. Its my thesis next semester that is daunting. I have a lighter course load and will get credit hours for workin on/writing my thesis... but still its just kinda daunting. Good thing one chapter will be written this semester for one of my classes. Start that later this week... Thursday = Veteran's Day = Try and stay ahead with term papers day. (And my Dad's birthday ;P )

I actually like being in school. I like going to class and I like doing research and crafting my world renowned brilliant scholarly papers.  I mean come on... i just wish um... I wish it was on my terms instead of theirs... hahah like that will ever happen.

So yes. Back to the grind. Listening to Jay-Z and wearing pj's more often then regular clothes.
And eating breadsticks...

Thanksgiving is soon = Mom & Dad + Chaser + Me - (how insanely short my visit is) = Very happy.


Oh and remember when I asked when it would get cold? The answer was this week. I feel the snow a'comin.

To Cat or Not to Cat?

It is really hard to come home to an empty house. I'd like to have a dog. I'd love to have a dog. It would be so lovely. But I don't have a yard and I can't imagine keeping a dog inside all day and never letting him or her run around all the time.  So maybe an indoor cat? One that needs to stay inside and be lazy and love on all the time.

So those of you who have cats... what cost would I be getting myself into? What is traveling with animals like? I'm going to be gone for all of the break, and can't take it with me... All of the signs are pointing to no cat. And no dog.

A fish isn't cuddy- so that suggestion is just silly.
Comments Welcome. Someone have a cat they want to loan for a few weeks?

Too Hot in the Grad Lab Tuesday

I am currently in BGSU Theatre's graduate computer lab. It is about nine thousand degrees in here. I am killing time before my Research Methods class by printing out articles, checking email, eating lunch, and of course blogging.

The semester is for sure half over, and its all starting to get a little daunting. Not wild crazy unconquerable, just daunting. It seems that one of the term papers I am writing has NEVER EVER EVER been written about by ANY scholar in ANY language except French. And then, because I don't speak/read French, that is an assumption. Even the French might not know why Infante is a nessisary character in Cornielle's Le Cid. I hope that doesn't mean that she isn't nessisary. Bcause otherwise this paper would be dumb for me to write, it would be like writing "Yes, Arthur Miller wrote plays about Americans" or "Yes, Tony Kushner doesn't like Reagan" or "Sarah Kane writes icky plays" (thank you theatre people for understanding my point). For you non theatre types it would be like writing a paper that says "Indoor plumbing is good" or "Facebook and twitter are popular with kids these days" or "Lauren's mom looks fabulous for fifty" [Which by the way, she does-- Happy Birthday Mom!] I hope by now you see my point. If not. Oh well. I tried.

I would really like to get my computer back. My harddrive crashed and it is a hassle. Luckily, my fellow MA Ashley has let me borrow her netbook, but I think I might go blind if I try to do much more research on it. But, it gets the job done and I don't have to live in the library. Which means I don't have to walk to/from the library in the cold. Yes. It is finally starting to get cold in BG. There was even a little frost on Sadie, my subaru's window. I ordered the most amazing coat, and boy, its going to be needed and loved dearly. I mean, come on, do you really think I wouldn't love a bright yellow coat with toggles? Yeah. There is no way I wouldn't.

I have started a new project, well I'm not really sure its a project, but its a thing. Its called Nobuyvember. Some people do no shave Novemeber but that just leads to Dateless December. I just want to keep better track of what I spend. I'm not a crazy spender, in fact, I always have money left over at the end of the month, but I realized: the things I spend the most money on are bad for me junk foods. Now for those of you who don't know-- I will be getting married this time next year... and frankly no one really looks good in white. Plus December is an expensive month, not just for present buying, but for traveling, and party throwing, and awesome movie seeing, and hot chocolate with peppermint drinking... you get the picture. No this is No-buy-vember. My goal is to NEVER buy food from the student union or any where that has drivethrough. I waste a lot of money on four dollar yogurt parfaits and buck fifty cookies. Neither of which I need. Also, I am going to go as long as possible with out buying "stuff." Now I must disclose, that I did buy stuff this weekend, but that was on October 30 and 31. I'm excused.

Ill keep you updated on that. See how it goes. I just want to spend less and eat healthier. Don't get me wrong, sometimes a girl needs a Milkyway Latte or the new issue of The Knot magazine. But I'll start small and see how it goes.

Is it next October 22 yet? I'd like to be married to this Chase guy. Thats all.

Oh and done with my thesis. Ahh thesis. How you haunt me. I am really hoping that the papers I do this semester will inform my work on my thesis. Who am I kidding. I am purposely writing papers [excluding the pain in the butt Cornielle one] about Mormonn Representational Practices. I love when theatre and religion intersect. Very interesting.

Literally counting down the days until I get to go to NC for Thanksgiving. Simple as that. Excited.

Any day now I should recieve my assignment for that calendar swap thing I posted about a few weeks ago. I am very excited to figure out and find the perfect calendar for my assigned fellow blogger. I hope they get me something that when I'm done with the year I can frame the pictures or artwork. Something bright and colorful and vintage and modern [wait....] and it doesn't have to be all that practical. I won't write actual appointments on it- thats what agendas are for- but I want something to write happy things like birthdays and you know... weddings that might be happening in 2011. ( really love this one below from Etsy.com)

So thats my make up "post with a cheesy title" since I was so out of it last night. I'd appreciate prayers for good sleep and productive work. Shoot, everyone in the department would probably appreciate those prayers.
And if youre not the praying type 1.) youre missing out :-) and 2.) Send happy vibes and prayers anway.

Once again. Happy Birthday to my Glorious Mom. Words can't really describe how awesome she is as a mother. I won't even try because I cannot do her justice. I wish I was there with you Mom. This whole living 20 hours apart and being super busy thing is stinky. Hope you have a great day.

By the way. I am beginning a list of the books I want to read after I finish graduate school. Feel free to suggest anything you think is interesting and fun. Except: Christian Romance novels [Redeeming Love is the ONLY good one ;) ], any other cheesy romance novels, books that include characters with furry feet and jewlery fetishes,  Harry Potter anything, Vampire anything, or ummm I think thats all for now.. I'll let you know if more horrible genres/theme/booktypes pop into my head. Oh, and no self help books. I've still not mastered the Bible, and I've been reading that for years- don't add to my load ;).

heheheh