Yowza!

Okay, so has it REALLY been that long since I have taken a college course?  

Yeah - I guess it has.  And here is why:

Most of you know that I am starting back up to finish my degree that I started way back in 1994.  So, I am going to finish it online through Ashford University because they offer a great program called "Organizational Management" with a concentration in English.  No, it's not the English Lit degree I was striving for back in the day but it will definitely help me out in my current career path and then some!  AND it incorporates English!

So, my first class opened up early yesterday so I immediately got online and checked out what all we had to do.  Today is officially the first day and I already have 3 due dates for assignments for WEEK ONE.  Granted, these courses only run 5 weeks so I know they have to get a lot done during that time frame.  This is a good thing because I need my butt whipped into shape in more way than one!  It's just crazy because these chapters aren't short by any means and the print is SO small!  Okay, now I'm just whining......

So, there it is.  I probably won't have much of a social life now which is fine because that will save me lots of calories AND cash!  :o)  You know - so many people were telling me that online courses would be too easy and that I should opt to finish my degree by being in class in the seat but I have to say this is already much more of a challenge than I thought it would be which is great!!

Oh, for those who are interested this first course is PSY202 - Adult Development and Life Assessment which I guess is a standard intro course and I welcome that!

Here's to going back to school and finishing that almighty degree!  Wish me luck!!

A reprieve...

Well, the movers got me into Robert's place, I mean OUR new place, about an hour ago.  The hardest part is done.  All the packing, sifting through things - it seems to get easier and easier as the days count down but of course the weekend I decide to move is one of the hottest weeks ever!  I could hardly get anything done it was insane how hot this apartment got!  Now, I'm looking at all of the empty space and remembering how it was about two years ago that I came upon this duplex and all of the wild times since.

I still have quite a bit to do but luckily the family that owns this place is flexible and it's not like I HAVE to be out by midnight tonight.  I will have all of my belongings out though and poor little Ahab who is just looking around at all the empty space and probably wondering, "Mom, why did you let those two men take all of our things?"  :)  I am exhausted.  Mentally, physically, emotionally, everythingally.

Exhausted doesn't BEGIN to explain how I feel right now.  It will definitely be an interesting journey where this move takes me.  It already has been.  Getting rid of things left and right - paring down to what I really think I NEED and having complete strangers come into my home to check out my vintage danish-mod sofa or my cheap-o 26" TV from 4 years ago with the stand that I inherited from Katherine.  

Well, wish me luck everyone.  I can't say that I think I will NEED it - I'm very good at teamwork and making things work and the amount of patience that I have, well.....let's just say that some might (at times) call me a saint.  :)

Goodbye SE 14th and Oak St, 97214!  I will miss you dearly - all of the GOOD times and all of the NOT so good encounters, which there weren't many of luckily.

Hello SE 49th Ave!!!

P.S.  Oh, and I forgot to mention - this morning as I was preparing some of my last boxes the most INSANE THUNDER erupted from out of nowhere.  Heavy, heavy showers followed.  It sounded like it was right up the street and then of course, my power went out.  I came into this neighborhood dealing with power outages left and right (thanks to the transformer on the next street up) so I might as well leave Buckman with a good old power outage!  What a mess!

Wow - Food is Good...

So, of course, making a change from being a meat eater to being a non-meat eater is a pretty big change, especially after 30 years of eating meat.  I mean, who knows how it is going to affect your body, your way of thinking, your actions and reactions, your functions.  Who knows until you do it?

So, tonight I thought I was going to be in trouble food-wise.  A group of really great friends and I went to Toro Bravo for a close friend's birthday.  It's a tapas-style place.  I love tapas.  But I've only had tapas as a meat eater.  Never as a vegetarian.  As soon as I glanced at the menu I thought I was doomed - everything I've ever had tapas style has been bacon-wrapped this or meatball that.  Let me just say that not only was I pleasantly surprised but I am now home and I am SO stuffed I think I need to do TWO yoga sessions tomorrow morning to work all of this food off!

It was amazing.  It invoked thoughts of things from WAY back that I hadn't thought about in a (obviously) very long time.  The food was spectacular, the wine was intoxicating, the company was wonderful - I couldn't have asked for a better Friday night.  The end to a VERY long week!  Thank you T, R, B, R, S - you are all wonderful people and I had such a great time.

Thank you!!!

LOL Cats - gotta love 'em!

Just a couple of photos that made me laugh this morning that I thought I would share.  I love LOLCats!!!!!  And is this week over yet??  It's been a LONG, stressful one and I'm ready for the weekend!