Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Lazy Spring Days
My semester is almost over. I'm done with teaching, but I still have a truck-load of grading to do. Anthony and I did some yard work this past Saturday, and although I love gardening, I can't stand weeding. I cleaned out my flower beds in front, which wasn't very hard (although my hamstrings beg to differ).
After a long day of work, we relaxed on the deck, which we almost NEVER do. I recently realized that someone who works 70 hours a week should be able to relax when she comes home. And realizing how good it felt after all that work on Saturday, we made a decision. This is first time in my life that I will be hiring someone to work/clean my garden, and....clean my house! I thought I would never have someone else clean my house, but I think I can get used to it. We are hiring a couple that was recommended to me from one of my colleagues at work...this is the first week! I imagine I am going to be much less stressed out this summer...it should be a good one.
I want more lazy days...of spring, summer...heck, every season! I want to be more like my lazy cats.
After a long day of work, we relaxed on the deck, which we almost NEVER do. I recently realized that someone who works 70 hours a week should be able to relax when she comes home. And realizing how good it felt after all that work on Saturday, we made a decision. This is first time in my life that I will be hiring someone to work/clean my garden, and....clean my house! I thought I would never have someone else clean my house, but I think I can get used to it. We are hiring a couple that was recommended to me from one of my colleagues at work...this is the first week! I imagine I am going to be much less stressed out this summer...it should be a good one.
I want more lazy days...of spring, summer...heck, every season! I want to be more like my lazy cats.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Look at what I drove past in town yesterday!
It was just another ride home from work, until I saw 10 elephants in the incoming lane, followed by ponies! The Ringling Bros. circus is in town. I absolutely hate the circus and everything it stands for, but I don't have the time or energy to get into that discussion. I was trying to look at the elephants' feet for signs of shackling, but they were moving too fast.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Sad news, but a blessing in the midst of it!
Soooo, Anthony and I have talked about my desire to stay at home when we have kids. I have an AWESOME job, but I wouldn't be able to devote as much time as I'd like to raising my children with the schedule I have at work. Well, the Lord worked that all out for me yesterday. I was asked to resign. I was joking with one of my students in class one day, and pretended, yes, pretended to be smacking him in the back of the head. Well, looks like the student and his family is using this as an opportunity to make some cash by suing the university. Sadly, the university is siding with the student and his family.
Well, yesterday could have been one of the worst days of my life...I was humiliated and voiceless. But, OH MY GOSH! I came home and there was a voicemail about a prize I needed to claim and that I needed to call an 800 number to claim it. Well, I usually NEVER call back to those stupid services. As a matter of fact, I'm usually so angry that they got my phone number some how. So, I'm not sure why I called back yesterday, but I did. And yep, you guessed it! I won $800,000!!!! OH MY GOSH! When I called and gave them my name, they read off my address. I was getting a bit nervous, thinking, "This could be a mass murderer." But, I verified my address and they said I won. After taxes, we'll be getting around $26,000 a month for the next 2 years. So, I may have lost my income at work, but HELLO! I think we'll be ok.
Oh yeah, April Fools!
Well, yesterday could have been one of the worst days of my life...I was humiliated and voiceless. But, OH MY GOSH! I came home and there was a voicemail about a prize I needed to claim and that I needed to call an 800 number to claim it. Well, I usually NEVER call back to those stupid services. As a matter of fact, I'm usually so angry that they got my phone number some how. So, I'm not sure why I called back yesterday, but I did. And yep, you guessed it! I won $800,000!!!! OH MY GOSH! When I called and gave them my name, they read off my address. I was getting a bit nervous, thinking, "This could be a mass murderer." But, I verified my address and they said I won. After taxes, we'll be getting around $26,000 a month for the next 2 years. So, I may have lost my income at work, but HELLO! I think we'll be ok.
Oh yeah, April Fools!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Wishing it was still last week
Well, unlike my mother-in-law (see her blog), we DID wake up to a bunch of snow in State College this morning. You can see those "lovely" photos below...the only ones with snow! Ahhh, Florida seems so much sweeter today, especially because "Spring" has supposedly just arrived!!!
When I woke up today, I was wishing it was still last week, when I was in Baltimore. I had another conference to attend by the Inner Harbor, which was absolutely beautiful. It's less than a 3-hr drive from our house in State College, so it will definitely be a mini-getaway for us when the weather gets better. I have pictures of the amazing hotel I stayed in on the Pier. On my last day there (St. Patrick's Day), I went for a walk/jog along the pier and was a bit startled to see people who looked like they were running a marathon...in kilts! Even a black man was in a kilt...ha ha ha! I stopped by Starbucks to get a cup of tea and saw that there was a rest station for the runners across the street. On my way out, I talked to the people who were organizing the run to see what it was for. They said it was a St. Patrick's Day BAR run, and the runners had to visit 6 bars around the harbor...the first one back would win. That would explain a few things I noticed. Many of the runners looked a bit "green" in the face, and they were running very, very slow. They looked extremely tired, and I even thought to myself, "Wow, these runners look so out of shape." I didn't feel so bad huffing and puffing as I passed them jogging. Well, the fact that this was 8:30am tells me that they had to be dedicated boozers. Wow.
Anyway, there are just a number of pictures I took around the harbor...good times. The weather was beautiful on the day I was leaving, so I'm really wishing I was still there today!
When I woke up today, I was wishing it was still last week, when I was in Baltimore. I had another conference to attend by the Inner Harbor, which was absolutely beautiful. It's less than a 3-hr drive from our house in State College, so it will definitely be a mini-getaway for us when the weather gets better. I have pictures of the amazing hotel I stayed in on the Pier. On my last day there (St. Patrick's Day), I went for a walk/jog along the pier and was a bit startled to see people who looked like they were running a marathon...in kilts! Even a black man was in a kilt...ha ha ha! I stopped by Starbucks to get a cup of tea and saw that there was a rest station for the runners across the street. On my way out, I talked to the people who were organizing the run to see what it was for. They said it was a St. Patrick's Day BAR run, and the runners had to visit 6 bars around the harbor...the first one back would win. That would explain a few things I noticed. Many of the runners looked a bit "green" in the face, and they were running very, very slow. They looked extremely tired, and I even thought to myself, "Wow, these runners look so out of shape." I didn't feel so bad huffing and puffing as I passed them jogging. Well, the fact that this was 8:30am tells me that they had to be dedicated boozers. Wow.
Anyway, there are just a number of pictures I took around the harbor...good times. The weather was beautiful on the day I was leaving, so I'm really wishing I was still there today!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
More PA Views
Ok, so aside from the autumn leaves in the background of the first picture, there's nothing particularly "Pennsylvanian" about these pictures, but it sort of describes another reason why I wouldn't want to leave PA. Autumn and Spring are my favorite seasons! I think the focus of my blogging for a while will be on the reasons why I wouldn't want to leave PA. I'd rather focus on that instead of the reasons why I want to leave.
Ok, I came back and edited this post 10 minutes later...I couldn't resist. The last picture in the slide show is a major reason I would want to leave. While I LOVE the changing colors of leaves in the Fall, I hate WHEN THEY FALL! The tree is in our front yard...ugh.
Ok, I came back and edited this post 10 minutes later...I couldn't resist. The last picture in the slide show is a major reason I would want to leave. While I LOVE the changing colors of leaves in the Fall, I hate WHEN THEY FALL! The tree is in our front yard...ugh.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Moving to Florida?????
Well, it's been a long time since I've posted, but when I woke up to a sea of snow this morning, I was compelled to write. Anthony and I have been talking about where our next move would be, and when we'd move. I'd like to be in the DC/MD area, Anthony has though about Texas, and we've both thought about Florida. We'd probably be ready to make a move in about 5 years, but we really haven't given any serious thought to timing.
There are so many things I love about living in rural PA. It's safe, the landscape is beautiful (mountains all around), and people are very friendly. We love our little neighborhood and our neighbors are great. We love the family we have at our church, and we love our pastors. But there are days when I really HATE being in State College. For one thing, there's hardly anything to do on the weekends. Even our favorite hangout, Barnes and Noble, is only open until 11pm on weekends. Now, I could very well drive 3 hours in either direction to get to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia for fun, but that means I have to DRIVE FOR 3 HOURS, adding everything that goes along with traveling. I find that seeing gray skies for 6 months out of the year is beginning to take its toll on me. I would take a cold and sunny day over a warm and cloudy day. I need sunshine...it makes me happy and gives me energy. We know that this is a scientific fact too. So, while I love it here, I'm ready to go. I want to see my flowers blooming all year round, even if it's only green leaves. I want more than bare trees and brown, soggy grass.
The pictures in the post capture the 2 landscapes I love the most. I love sunsets in PA...the mountain views are a sight to see. I also love the sight of snow right after it falls...it's so quiet and beautiful. It's just having to go out in the stuff that I hate, along with when it turns brown and slushy from traffic...ugh.
There are so many things I love about living in rural PA. It's safe, the landscape is beautiful (mountains all around), and people are very friendly. We love our little neighborhood and our neighbors are great. We love the family we have at our church, and we love our pastors. But there are days when I really HATE being in State College. For one thing, there's hardly anything to do on the weekends. Even our favorite hangout, Barnes and Noble, is only open until 11pm on weekends. Now, I could very well drive 3 hours in either direction to get to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia for fun, but that means I have to DRIVE FOR 3 HOURS, adding everything that goes along with traveling. I find that seeing gray skies for 6 months out of the year is beginning to take its toll on me. I would take a cold and sunny day over a warm and cloudy day. I need sunshine...it makes me happy and gives me energy. We know that this is a scientific fact too. So, while I love it here, I'm ready to go. I want to see my flowers blooming all year round, even if it's only green leaves. I want more than bare trees and brown, soggy grass.
The pictures in the post capture the 2 landscapes I love the most. I love sunsets in PA...the mountain views are a sight to see. I also love the sight of snow right after it falls...it's so quiet and beautiful. It's just having to go out in the stuff that I hate, along with when it turns brown and slushy from traffic...ugh.
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