sunsets

GNO 2009!

Last night, I officially kicked off the new year/semester with my girls at our first Girl's Night Out of the year. We have all been together since Kindergarten (1995) and all graduated together in 2007. Although we keep in pretty close contact and I live with Michelle, we still hardly ever get to spend time together. We've had a few GNOs since we started college, but with our busy schedules, it is hard to get a good-sized group together. I got a text message from Ashton this past week that she sent out to all of us girls requesting a GNO. You see, I'm not exactly the most social person...especially since college has started. I can always come up with an excuse NOT to attend a social event (homework, tired, babysitting, etc.), but I decided to suck it up and go.



So, Saturday night, we met at Colton's around 7:00. For GNOs, we always dress up a bit, and even though I HATE dressing up, it's always worth it. For some silly reason, I ate a little something a few hours before and wasn't too hungry. While everyone else ordered shrimp and steak, I, always having to be the oddball, ordered a cup of potato soup. Even the waiter looked at me strangely. This would not be the last time he'd look at me like that...

We had some great conversations and laughs (mostly at each other's expenses), as always. As I mentioned, I wasn't incredibly hungry, but boy, was I thirsty! For some reason, whenever I go to restaurants, I can drink water like it is going out of style! So, our waiter (who was pretty cute, by the way!) had to make several trips to our table to refill my glass. At least four times. At one point, he suggested that he just leave me a pitcher. :-)

I really wanted a cute group picture of us, so I got my camera out and announced that I was going to have the waiter take our picture. Whoa, what a reaction! For some reason, they acted like I was a crazy person to ask him to do this for us. I still don't understand why. It's taking a simple picture. It's not like I was asking him to perform brain surgery or anything...

So, of course, I got my way and here is the GREAT group picture that the girls WILL appreciate one day! Plus, I don't think the waiter really minded... I mean, my soup only cost a couple of dollars, and I gave him a tip that cost more than my meal!

From left: Ashton, me, Michelle, Kelli, and Katie. BEAUTIFUL!

We then proceeded to Ashton's house to hang out for awhile. I don't know what it is about her house...but I get really excited and hyper when I enter that home. Over the years, I've been known to be drunk off of Mountain Dew (my rebelious days?), sleep on trampolines when it's 40 degrees outside, dress up in coveralls and sing karaoke (especially my famous rendition of Mandy Moore's songs from A Walk to Remember), and start poker chip wars that last for hours. I guess it's a combination of being with the people I'm most comfortable around and lots of sugar! After all, I always bring a cookie cake! (And eat most of it, too...)

This time, we all started by just sitting around in the living room and talking about school and boyfriends (or lack of for mine and Kelli's sake!). A little while later, I had a BRILLIANT idea! We were talking about P.E. back in elementary for some odd reason, and I decided to start a good ole leg-wrestling war!

For those who may not be familiar with leg-wrestling (you have to pronounce it "wrassling" to get the full effect), it's quite simple. Two people lay opposite each other, raise their legs up in unison as the audience counts "1....2...." and then on "3", you lock legs and try to flip the other person! It's amazing...quite the adrenaline rush! The audiences love it! I've always been quite a champion, thanks to my huge calves. (or COWS, as my cousin calls them)

CAUTION: Some of these images show a little "boo-tay"...I hope you can stomach it!

Kelli and I are in position!

That girl flipped me...but only ONCE! (Yes, that's MY toosh...)

Kel and I making a quick recovery...ROUND TWO, BRING IT ON!

Ashton tried her luck, but I flipped that sucker!!



Michelle sure had a blast watching!

A few girls had to leave early, but most of us stayed til about 1 just talking and laughing. I ate way too much cookie cake and had to take a Benadryl to fall asleep.

It was pretty much the best night of the year. I'm so glad I went. For one night, I was able to forget everything and just be myself.

A New Semester

Spring 2009... here I come!!!

Okay, I wish I were really that enthusiastic about it...maybe I'll get there eventually.

It's so cruel. They give us a whole month off during Christmas time, and then expect us to hop back into school-mode in the middle of January. It's an awful transition. I hope I get back into the swing of things soon before the workload really begins!

This semester, I'm taking Mathematics for Teachers II, Science for Teachers, Western World Literature I, Exceptional Child in the Regular Classroom, and Arkansas History. I'm pretty darn lucky, too. My math class is taught by the same woman I had Math I with, and I adore her and the way she teaches. I already know what to expect. I'm taking my Literature class with a lady I've also already had before, and she's a guaranteed A. My Arkansas History class is being taught by a man who was my junior high and high school history teacher, so I feel pretty at ease with him and the way he teaches and grades. So, three out of my five classes, I feel pretty comfortable with already.

As for Science, it seems like it will be a very interesting class. He's extremely nice and obsessed with astronomy. He says that there is no reason for anyone to get less than an A or a B in his class, so that's comforting! We're about to start doing Sun and Moon charts...I thought I was done with that in 8th grade! Haha, oh well!

My Exceptional Child class is an online class. (So is Arkansas History). The first day of school, the professor posted loads of information about the syllabus and what he expects of us. Pretty much, every week, he will post a quiz over our reading and either a discussion board assignment or an essay to write over a specific topic. He will post it on a Friday, and then it will be due 10 days from that date (on a Sunday) at 11:55 p.m. That's a huge window of time, and I think that is why I'm so nervous about it. I can be a procrastinator at times, but I can't afford to be now!

I guess I have the "beginning-of-the-semester jitters", but I suppose that is normal for me. Once it gets going, I think that I'll feel better. I know that if I made it through last semester, I can make it through this!

Survey Time!

SO...

I'm super bored right now. I am waiting on Jamie to finish the last Twilight book so I can read it. I am sick of crocheting at the moment. I have watched every episode of The Office a bajillion and one times...so I have nothing left to do! I used to do these goofy surveys when I had Myspace and stuff, so I thought I'd give it a go again! Maybe you'll find it amusing...or maybe not! Who cares? It'll waste time for me!

A. Attached or Single? Single, VERY single. But I still have time, right? ;-\

B. Best Friend? Geez, I haven't had a "best" friend in awhile... But I'll go with my Mom!

C. Cake or Pie? If I HAVE to choose...erm...CAKE! That was a hard decision!

D. Day? Sunday. I get my good naps on Sundays. :)

E. Essential Item? A rubber band around my wrist. Just a habit, it always comes in handy!

F. Favorite color? I love all of the colors...but right now, I'm thinking brown, actually.

G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms!

H. Hometown? Jonesboro...and I'm never getting out!

I. Indulgence? Chocolate.

J. January or July? July! It's summer, no school, and usually sunny! I think my mood is somewhat solar powered.

K. Kids? One day-YES! But right now, I'm content with my babysitting jobs.

L. Life is incomplete without? A blog to keep me occupied!

M. Marriage date? I don't really know what this question means...so I'll answer as I wish. I am not married, and haven't been on a date in ages. But when I am MARRIED, I'll still want to go on DATES with my husband! But right now, I just want a date!

N. Number of siblings? Two. Ryan-17, Anna-15

O. Oranges or Apples? Hm, probably apples. But I love both in Mom's fruit salad!

P. Phobia or Fears? Too many! Emetophobia (fear of vomiting), fear of MICE/RATS/RODENTS OF ANY KIND, failure.

Q. Quote? "Guess what? I have flaws. What are they? Oh I dunno, I sing in the shower? Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me-- no, don't sue me. That is opposite the point I'm trying to make." -Michael off of The Office :)

R. Reason to smile? The Office, of course!

S. Season? Spring. PRETTY!

T. Tag? I've never "tagged" anyone before...does that just mean that I tell someone else to do this? Uh, I guess I tag anyone who reads this-since I don't know who reads this!

U. Unknown fact about me? If I told you, it wouldn't be unknown anymore!

V. Vegetarian or Oppressor of animal? Jeez! Neither!

W. Worst Habit? Overdoing things. Or biting my nails. Or procrastination. I'll stop there...

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? I guess an X-ray...but I wouldn't prefer either if I could help it!

Y. Your favorite food? Does anyone actually have ONE favorite food? Just one? I'm just going to say, in general: potatoes, yogurt, and lasagna. But not all together...

Z. Zodiac? Leo, I think.

Hope you enjoy! ♥