everything else

Least you think all I've done with my time is sit around and watch movies, allow me to make a list of everything else I've accomplished in the last few weeks.

• studied for the GRE (taking it Saturday! wish me luck)
• spoke to 3 grad schools, visited and took a tour of 1 (no not LSU)
• held an ice blocking activity
• planned a church dance 
• applied for unemployment (every week)
• took TWO civil service test
• nursed a sick boyfriend back to health only to then get the stomach bug myself, that's love. 
• started my gradschool application(s)
• spent a lot of time on facebook
• spent even more time blog stalking- design sponge is my favorite! 
• re-connected with old friends
• thought a whole lot about reorganizing my closet
• thought even harder about cleaning out the fridge
• re-read 2 books from high school days
• spent some time browsing at B&N
• spent quality time with Paul.  Poor guy is working two jobs and I don't even have one! 
• sent out my resume/applied for two jobs a day
• applied for 3 jobs with the state.  One of which I would LOVE, the other two would be kinda nice
• spent an hour at office depot debating on a new filing box.  Bought the box and some colorful hanging file folders. 
• organized my "vital" documents so now all I have to do is grab and run in case of emergency. 
• applied at a restaurant and was rejected b/c I refuse to work on Sundays.  Someone enlighten me, I thought that it was illegal to not hire someone for religious practices? EEO compliant? I think not! 
• filed my taxes
• prayed. a lot. answers are coming, just not as fast as I'd like. 
• watched this video a few time..... 

it makes me happy

a list of movies

Please allow me to make a list of the movies I've watched since Jan. 14.   In no specific order.

1. Harry Potter IV
2. Harry Potter V
3. Catfish
4. Lean on me
5. Letters to Juliet
6. The Book of Eli
7. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
8. Amazing Grace
9. Despicable Me
10. Did You Hear about the Morgans?
11. The Kings Speech
12. Black Sawn (why I watched this movie is a mystery even to me.)
13. The Dilemma (both Paul and I agreed this was dumb)
14. Princess and the Frog
15. The Social Network
16. Dinner with Schmucks 
17. How to Train Your Dragon
18. Sunshine Cleaning 
19. The Greatest 
20. UP
21. Freedom Writers 
22. The Spiderwick Chronicles 
23. Charlie St. Cloud

And one more but I can't remember the name..... oops.  POST EDITD: I remember now. See 23. 

The blockbuster express and the free coupon codes are my best friends! 

Its been a week...

It has been exactly one week since I was laid off.   In this week off, I've done a lot of cleaning up.  Not of my physical space but of computer files, pictures on my phone, thoughts in my mind and  random things I've had on the mental to-do list.  While doing that, I found these pictures taken in December of 2009 in the quad at LSU while waiting between final exams.   I often spent my time between classes lounging in the grass or on the benches under the massive oak trees that are dotted on LSU's campus.  The oak trees are perhaps my most favorite thing about LSU. 

For 13 months I went to the office from 8am-5pm, sometimes emerging for a one hour lunch break, leaving at 5pm to head to the gym or to this engagement or that meeting.   In my high school years I spent at least one hour outside, most days.  We'd "sun bath" in the courtyard or after school I'd ride my bike around the neighborhood or play basketball with the neighbor boys.  I'd forgotten how wonderful it was to simply sit outside and enjoy the sun! 

So, on Wednesday I did just that.  I went to the gym and then picked up lunch for Paul.  He asked if I'd stay and eat with him, so we sat on the back of his truck behind the Jiffy Lube (one of his two jobs) and ate fried chicken from Popeyes.  (Did I mention I'm from Louisiana!?)  That was by far the most fun and relaxing "lunch break" I've had in over a year. I rolled up my pants and the sleeves of my shirt, turned my face to the sun, and soaked it all in.  I can only imagine what the few customers who pulled in thought.  You know what, I don't even care who saw me.  It was absolutely lovely despite the fact that I may or may not have looked a little sketchy.  

Tomorrow morning, I've organized a "Winter Games" outdoors event at a local park.  We'll be as 

"winter" as we can be here in the Deep South.  We'll have ice blocking races, kick ball tournaments, and a few games of broom hockey going on.  I'll post pictures of the madness next week. 

I've missed my daily dose of warmth and feeling the grass between my toes.   

New Beginnings

I feel the need to write.  I've always felt the pull of words, of making my thoughts concrete through the mashing up of letters.  I'm not really sure what this blog will ultimately be about, but today its about the precarious and oddly liberating situation I've found myself in.   I've had a bit of a shock this week.  Actually, "a bit of a shock" is quite the understatement.   For the first time in my life I have no responsibilities beyond church.  I could do anything with my time.  I don't have a deadline to meet, a schedule to adhere to, an email to send, a test to take, not a class to attend nor a desk to sit behind.  For the first time in my 23 years of life, I am free to do whatever my heart desires.  Its odd; this not having a set schedule and not having people depending on me.  What do I want to do? Who do I want to become? Should I take a trip?  Go to grad school? Start my own nonprofit to benefit women and children? Maybe I'll become a pilot or a sailor.  Perhaps I'll try my hand at painting or photography.  What about sewing or graphic design? How about counseling, teaching, or even broadcast journalism? I've always been pretty good at making money, paying bills on time, living up to expectations and meeting deadlines.  I've never been good at following my heart and exploring all options.  I intend to do that now, to explore every outlet that seems appealing and even things that don't.  Perhaps I'll become a nurse or doctor?  Scratch that, other peoples bodily issues freak me out.   I think its time I stop and smell the roses for a bit.  I fully intend to enjoy this freedom God had blessed me with and find my passion in life.

I have at least 2 months to figure it out before the money runs dry and they cart me off to jail for not paying my bills.  When did I become an adult? Man that's so strange.  I'm already a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend, a sister, a niece and a mormon.  Soon enough I'll tack on wife and one day even mother to that list.  I wonder what other descriptive word(s) will ultimately define my soul.

Let the journey begin!

ps, I need some help with my header.  How do I make the picture long and get the words in the bottom left hand corner?