Sick Day

So today my sore throat finally caught up with me. Since Thanksgiving, my throat and sinuses have been bothering me. Deo was really sick earlier this week, and mine finally got me! I woke up and throat hurt so bad I couldn't even swallow. And when I muster enough strenth to get actually swallow, the pain shoots to my ears. My sickness caused me stay in my sweats all day in front of the boob tube...which gave me the opportunity to catch up on my holiday movies! I've been waiting all year to bust out the dusty movies that sit on the bottom of the shelf. I love holiday movies because they make me feel like a little kid again. Because of this, I love watching cartooon and kid movies. No joke, that's all I've done all day. I only got up a couple times; to make soup and go to the bathroom. In order, here is what able to accomplish today:

1. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

3. Alvin and Chipmunks Christmas Special

4. The Santa Clause 2

5. The Santa Clause 3


I have to say, after 5 Christmas movies in a row, I'm a little Christmas movied out...but there is always this weekend!!!!

Lights, Camera, Action

Here is a picture of our Christmas Lights. I think they look better in person.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

So my favorite time of year is here. Sometimes I hate it that my favorite time of year is Christmas, because it is so cliche, but I can't help it. This weekend was the official start of it for me. For the first year since I've been in Arizona, we were able to put lights up on our house, which we did yesterday. I have to say...they sure look pretty! This year was also the first year EVER I ventured outat 6:00am the day after Thanksgiving for some holiday shopping. I only went to Michael's and Target and mostly got Christmas decorations...and actually it was kind of fun. The lines weren't too bad where I was and everyone seemed to be in a very cherry and spirited mood.

This is also the time of the year when I get very nostalgic and start miss my hometown of Lima, Ohio the most. It is so hard for me to get into the spirit of the holidays without cold weather and snow. I miss driving around in my wool peacoat, gloves, scarf, and hat to look at Christmas lights though the falling snow. I miss the life-sized Santa Clause that my mom used to put in our front window; and to look out that window and see our neighbors artfully hanging strands of colored lights on their two huge pine trees in their front yard. And speaking of two huge pine trees, I miss driving through the Kewpee drive-through and seeing their two huge pine trees lit up with twinkling white lights. I miss going to YMCA and walking outside to the crisp coldness after being all sweaty from my workout. I miss making snow angels in the front yard, and watching our dogs chase snowflakes around as they fall. I miss going over to my Nana and Grandpa's and sledding down the resevoir in their back yard; and then going through the basement snow door to strip off our frozen clothes into the dryer; and then making our way upstairs for hot chocolate and cookies. I miss decorating the dozens of sugar cookies our nieghbor, Mrs. Bowsher, would give to us in exchange for some Buckeys.

It's hard being away from all of my memories during this time of year, but Deo and I are making new memories of our own and I appreciate all of the wonderful things Tucson brings to the Holiday season!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Thanksgiving has been a holiday that I never really thought too much about. It was the precursor to the Christmas season and after it is over, you can finally feel alright putting your holiday decorations up. The food is alright, even though I absolutely love to eat and it's one of my favorite things to do...the turkey dinner was always just alright. Not a big fan of pumpkin pie, pecan pie and any other pies (except for cherry which is my favorite)!

But this year, I started to tear up a little bit during that pre-dinner prayer portion. I am very thankful for so many things and it just seems like an appropriate time to say "Thank You" out loud.

Have you ever look from the outside in on your life and think, "wow, I really love my life." Sometimes I can't really believe that I am where I am at today. As a child, I always thought about being a grown-up, having a job, a house, a husband. Sometimes I still can't believe this is my life and so happy I am in it. I wouldn't have ever imagined I'd be living in Arizona (coming from Ohio) and having my family out here as well. I NEVER would have thought I'd have a niece at this time in my life, and my brother would be living in the same neighborhood as me. I can't believe I am married to someone that I KNOW I want to go through the thick and thin with. I look back and just wonder sometimes what led me to be here right now.

I am thankful that I am 24 and own a house. It is a very large accomplishment for me and I am very proud of it.

I am thankful I have my degree that I feel very confident I can always fall back on.

I am thankful for my two dogs who are so excited when I come home (even if I've just stepped outside for a minute) and who snuggle with me when I'm sick.

I am thankful for my parents, even though they drive me nuts most of the time, I wouldn't be who I am without them.

I am thankful that my mom is out here (and my dad will soon be out here)...even though (again) I complain, I really love having her out here.

I am thankful that my brother and his family live so close to us and we get to see them a lot more than we ever have before.

I am thankful for my in-laws as I couldn't ask for a better family to be a part of.

And last but not least, I am thankful for my husband. He tries his absolute hardest to make me the happiest I could ever be. He loves me unconditionally and always tries to resolve conflicts and understand my feelings. And I am thankful that ne never lets me go to bed angry, even with how stubborn I can be.

I hope everyone else can find just as many things to be thankful for and really appreciate all of the wonderful things life brings your table.

Those who can't do...teach

So I'm not sure what qualifies me to give anyone career advice. I feel like a fraud sometimes; talking to students about how to search for an internship, or get a job in LA. Heck, I've been to LA once for 12 hours and stayed in the hotel the whole time. I tell students to take chances, step out of their comfort zone, and network, network, network. But me? I hate networking, shmoozing, and any other form of it. I work in a job where I earned my degree, and worked during college. Talk about comfort zone. I'm thinking about transfering into another graduate degree program becuase the one I am in currently is WAY out of my comfort zone....no matter what excuse I give for wanting to transfer out of it. I'm only a few years older (sometimes younger) than the students that I advise and I really should be asking me the same questions I ask them. What do you like to do? What classes do you enjoy? What non-academic activities are you in? What research have you done? Maybe it's the fact that I can critique everyone else on how they have no direction, no ambition, and no self-awareness that makes me feel better. Like I'm not the only one. Or maybe it goes back to the old adage, "Those who can't do...teach." Maybe that's why on my Strong Interest Inventory over 50% of my top 10 occupations came back as some type of teacher.