Monday, January 30, 2012

not appropriate to read at work haha

Ok so I was reading the bloggess and snooping around her site and found out she writes a satirical sex column... go ahead and be shocked haha but it has to be one of the funniest things I have ever read...
If you are a woman.. I dare you to try not to laugh during this post

http://www.edenfantasys.com/sexis/adult-humor/for-the-love-of-god-let-my-vagina-sleep-1208111/

Copy and paste it into your browser and see what comes up... Im still laughing.....

Sorta mature audiences only... but only sorta hahaha

PUPPIES!!!

So I had a good weekend.. How bout you?

Saturday I worked and studied all day but Sunday Jenna and I went to Jungle Jims... Which if any of you are from this area and haven't been I suggest you fix this immediately!!!
It is the coolest grocery store in the world.. I bought my first mango... I am super excited about it and can't wait to try it... I love going there... I also got dried tomato and oregano stuffed tortellini which is amazing!!  Anyway it was awesome and I loved  having a girls day out...  Then Phil came over last night and while we should have been studying we decided to look at future potential puppies... We made a list of like ten but it was soo cute.. We looked at all the stats and took quizzes to see what was right for us... Did you know that there are multiple breeds of dogs that are bad with children because they "tend to herd children" some "by nipping" hahah It absolutely cracked me up to read that but obviously that made it a "no" on our list hahah so I think the current winner is a Bernese Mountain Dog... Look how cute

Isn't he adorable..... I think that face is just begging for me to go get him... Look at him he is saying "Amber come get me... come take me home and cuddle with me... I will be your best friend" (As said in a little kid voice as if talking to a baby) hahaha You gotta admit this puppy is adorable though.......

Anyway so this week is starting out good too... I had lunch with Amber today which was awesome.. Of course... and now that I know she reads this here is a shout out to her and her awesomeness...




Aren't we cute hahah
So hey Amber!! And here is your inspiration for the day based on our conversation today...



Also I wanted to throw a little love toward my friend Anne today.... I think she had a really bad day and needs some love and support so if you are reading this please send Anne a little love and some prayers today....
This one is for you Anne




I hope things begin to turn around for you... keep your head up girlie... Love you

Also I wanted to let everyone know that my cousin Natalie had another surgery today and she came through wonderfully from what I hear and I am so proud of that little girl... she is so little and has been through so much but she is always smiling... She is such a strong and beautiful little girl

Isn't she adorable!!! She is the strongest little girl I have ever met!!!
Ok I really need to get to studying so thats it for today!!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful night! Don't forget to be thankful for everything you have been given!!!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Bloggess and More

First off I want to give a shout out to Anne, who totally made my night. I love you girl and thank you for your message.

Second, I want to make you aware of a blog that recently came across my computer
http://thebloggess.com/
It is a very cool site and I encourage you to read about the red dress... Its very "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" but on a much deeper and cooler level! I hope you get a second to read it and consider it!

BE STRONGER THAN YOUR EXCUSES


Another good workout.... also you should check out shed-the-pounds tumblr its a great website!!!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

workout update and thank yous

First off I have some good workout news... Got on the Wii fit this morning and it told me I have lost 5.1 lbs since my last weigh in, so I decided to check my overall and I have lost 20 lbs since I started my new lifestyle... let me tell you.. it feels great... I wish I was courageous enough to take a "before" picture of myself in my underwear but not quite that confident yet so you guys will just have to take my word for it haha
So in case you are wondering what I'm doing I'll tell you. I get up at 6am five days awake and go for a run at the fitness center in my apartment complex. I have a bowl of Special K for breakfast then go to work/school/lab. Then for lunch I have fruit and a Light and Fit yogurt. If I get hungry I have more fruit or granola. Then in the evenings I do my Wii Fit Yoga/Aerobics/Strength training and I have what I want for dinner as long as it isn't too crazy. I haven't had fast food since before Thanksgiving and I have avoided sodas and excess sugar (with the exception of a few things here and there just so I don't feel starved and to avoid a "pig out" session later on) Also I found a new workout thanks to pinterest that I throw in either in the morning or in the evening, you would be surprised how crazy hard it is and how quickly it wears you out.


Also I wanted to thank you all for all the hits on this blog. I have had a ton of hits on this site and it calculates for me how many people have come on to it so I would like to thank you all for the great amount of support and love you have shown me. I hope I can return the favor to you all too when you need me.....
xoxoxo

Thursday, January 26, 2012

yes two posts in a row

So I had to post again... After posting my last one I decided to adventure out and hit the "Next Blog" button on the top of this screen. It brought me to a site where a woman was posting about her little family. They had adopted a child from China and were chronicling the journey it took to get her and it was amazing how natural and beautiful she looked in their family..
So I hit the "next blog" button again... It brought me to website of a woman whose top post said "We're pregnant" so I began to read and this site what the chronicling of a boy meets girl story where boy meets girl they fall in love get married she has endometriosis they are going through in vitro and after 4 failed attempts (Well 3 failed and one miscarriage) she was strong and pregnant. this lovely young couple was finally having their dreams come true... they looked beautiful and so much in love.... it was wonderful to read...
I decided not to hit the next blog button again for three reasons...
1) My troubles seem so miniscule compared to theirs that I didn't feel right complaining about anything ever again.. My biggest worries include grades and when I will work out tomorrow.. but these couples have real issues and God has come through with them and showed them a life they want to have which leads me to a great quote
"Dont tell God how big the storm is.. Tell the Storm how big your God is"
2) I think it was a sign from God to remind me to put myself in place in the grand scheme of things.. I think he was trying to remind me how lucky I am and to be thankful for the great things he has given me. I didn't want to push my luck by finding one more site where people were having troubles but working through them. (That sounds odd I know but I was thankful for the sites I read and was humbly put into my place)
3) Im really hoping this was just a random coincidence and not some omen for the future because I want to be a mom so bad one day. I want to settle down one day and raise a family and I pray that it comes easily and without worry or strife. I have a friend who has no trouble having babies but she wants to adopt kids with Down Syndrome. She decided it was her calling because these children often are not adopted and in some countries they are put into hospitals and are never held or taken care of. She said she wanted to give them homes and show them what it feels like to be loved. She is an amazing woman and recently married and if her and her husband continue with this idea, those will be the most blessed children in the world. I also have a wonderful and inspirational friend who couldn't have children so she recently adopted an entire family (4 kids) which even included teenagers. She didn't want to break up the family so they adopted them all.. These are amazing women that I would love to be even a 1/100 of the women they are and if God so chooses I will handle it but Im praying that's not the case. I didnt want to chance seeing a third site along the same message... call me superstitious I guess.....

A quote for these strong amazing women
"Am I showing? The answer is on my face not in my belly"

day out with the boss

So today was a totally random day but awesome... So to begin with I slept in... which is crazy for me because normally I get up around 6am and go for a run on the treadmill or the elliptical for an hour then get ready for work which I have to be there by 9am. But last night Oxford Commons had a free food/party night so Phil came to stay and he had to get up this morning to make it to work by 7:30 so I didnt go for a run. After he left I went back to bed until 8:15am. Got up showered brushed my teeth and headed to school.
Last semester I was helping an undergrad named Amber (haha i know right?) study for a final exam so she brought donuts this morning as a sign of thanks! I was super excited since I didnt have time to eat breakfast anyway since I slept in. Then after work was over the Boss and another professor took last semesters 201 TA's out for a beer which turned into two drinks. There was free food at the place too so now I dont have to cook dinner or worry about it which is super exciting. It was so odd sitting there for two years drinking with professors especially with one being a boss but it was great. We joked and laughed and had a great time... Unfortunately now I must get to work.. Or play on pinterest... whichever comes first hahaha....
Its a great day...

Monday, January 23, 2012

to all the pessimists

It amazes me how some people can be so pessimistic and rude and bitchy ALL the time... you would think it would get tiring... There are people here who complain about everything... they complain about classes, they complain about work, they complain about people complaining on facebook, etc... I feel like that would just get sooo tiring.. After last year I decided that life is too short to be anything but happy. Why would anyone want to be so down all the time and why do they want to be so selfish as to push it on to other people?  Don't get me wrong everyone has bad days and I think that is especially when friends come into play. Friends are there to help you when you had a bad day and let you vent and complain and worry and stress. Thats not what I am talking about at all. I am fine with a friend calling me up in the middle of the day or night wanting to talk about the crappy stuff that is happening lately.. That is fine with me, I will gladly listen and be a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, or a sounding board for advice but how can people be like that all the time to everyone they know... It amazes me the stuff that comes out of people's mouths and i notice it more and more recently
A) I am not going to dumb myself down so you feel better
B) I don't care that you don't like me or my friends, they are MY friends
C) If you hate your life so much change it don't run from it
D) If you don't like your situation fix it, don't blame everyone else
E) If you want to complain about everybody's posts on facebook get rid of facebook
F) Life is never going to be exactly what you want and people are never going to completely agree with you
G) Put on your big kid pants and grow up and deal with it
H) Life's too short to be anything but happy
I) Its amazing how laughter can change a day
J) Karma- what goes around comes around so try being nice to someone (or try being reasonable)

Ok I am done ranting now hahah
and yes I did just complain about people complaining haha but I am completely ok with it hahah

love you all, God Bless

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Time to be Random

So in light of the fact that I am ridiculously random at very random times I have decided to randomly post a random blog update... Well ok only slightly random since Phil just reminded me that I haven't updated since Tuesday... He talks to me every day if not seeing me most days and I love that he still checks this site! Makes me happy... So random thought time because I don't feel like being organized right now.
1) It iced here.. we had a bunch of ice and it happened while I was at Phil's Friday night. It was hysterical on saturday morning because his driveway is at a slant and was pure ice... I couldn't walk on it without sliding down so it took a group effort to get to the door which was hysterical. His car was parked behind mine so at one point I clung to the car making it to the back of his car then he got between me and the car and planted his foot so I could climb up to my car and cling for dear life there hahaha It was oddly funny.
2) this didnt stop us from shopping though hahah I went jean shopping and Hooray I am officially a size smaller... I tried on three pairs of jeans and they all fit around the waist and the booty and I couldn't be more exciting. I'm down to my lowest that I ever was in highschool and hopefully it keeps going.
3) which brings me to random point number 3. I've never gone clothes shopping with a boy before and I probably thought it would have been weird before but I'm kinda over now and it kinda makes me laugh how many people thought it was crazy. I had a friend from Oxford, a sister, and my mother say to me "you're taking a boy jean shopping?" he didn't seem to mind and didn't mind my modeling them for him haha. I guess I really don't care if he knows my sizes, maybe he will be more impressed as I keep losing. But I think the real reason i didn't care is because I know he doesn't. its not like he is blind so he knows what i look like and he has had his arms around my waist so whats a number mean to him? he thinks i am beautiful and has even made the comment that i don't have to do this for him... don't get me wrong i want to look good for him but i started this workout regimen and diet before I met him and I'm not going to stop just because I found someone... its mostly for me. its funny though he gives me a whole new strength of confidence which is a good change of pace
4) starting teaching this week.. they didnt have class next week because I teach mondays and tuesdays so i didnt worry about it last week with not having school on monday but we will be full on this week. it takes time out of research but I really don't mind teaching and I know I wont be next semester since the Antarctic trip will be in the middle of the semester
5) Thinking about the future a lot this weekend... best part is is that it looks bright... its been awhile since I have thought that way... I never really pictured myself the way Im picturing it now and i never really got into the girlie thoughts that most girls begin having as little girls but I am getting there... Maybe I just didnt have a reason to dream about it before.... I like being able to talk to someone about a year, 3 years, 5 years from now... I still keep thinking im gonna wake up one of these days and realize its a dream but for now Im happily living it... just in case its not a dream ;)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Firsts and Lasts

So I've noticed that as we get older there are fewer and fewer "firsts" for us. Whether it be a first kiss, first day of school, first car etc... Which makes me wonder: as we get older to the "lasts" become just as important as the firsts?
I'm 25 years old and I know there are some firsts for me yet to come: My first (and hopefully only) wedding, my first child, my first real grown up job after my PhD, my first grandchild etc.... but recently I've noticed that I am looking forward to the "lasts" in life: The last day of classes, the last time I will have to take a test, and the more meaningful ones like: my last first date, the last man I will ever kiss or hug or sleep next to etc... And to take that a step farther I realize that even though I may not have been my man's first kiss or slow dance I will be the last person he says goodnight to each night and I will be the last person he ever kisses or sleeps with, and I will be the last person he falls in love with. I feel like those things mean even more to me than those silly junior high/high school "firsts"
And its funny to think about but maybe two people can find all kinds of new "firsts" just to feel young again. like maybe the first time you shout from a mountain top or the first time you kiss underwater or the first time you go to a new country etc... There are so many "firsts" that if you really want to have them you never have to give them up or settle for anything less than perfect!
Maybe I'm just growing up or maybe I'm just finding justification in my feelings but either way I'm ok with it.
So here is to all of you who have found your "last" man or woman and who knows how many "firsts" the two of you will come up with!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Bucket List

Phil and I were talking about a bucket list awhile back so I thought I'd put mine up and add a few things to it. If its public knowledge maybe I will be held more accountable for it! (this doesn't include those I have already checked off my list)

-Hot Air Balloon ride
-Sky Diving
-Go to Italy (tourist locations and travel the coast where tourists don't go)
-See the following famous monuments and locations
   -Great Wall of China
   -Disney World
   -Golden Gate Bridge
   -Grand Canyon
   -Rain Forest
   -The Egyptian Pyramids and Sphynx
   -Aztec Ruins
   -New Orleans
   -The northern lights
   -Yosemite national park
   -Yellowstone national park
   -The Parthenon
   -The Acropolis
   -Easter Island
   -Sydney Opera House
   -The Vatican
   -The Colisseum
   -Machu Picchu
   -Christ Redeemer, Brazil
   -The Terracotta Warriors
   -The Leaning Tower of Pisa
   -The Blarney Stone
   -Imperial Palace, Tokyo
   -Hollywood
   -Stand on the Four Corners
   -Vegas
   -Mount Rushmore
   -Forbidden City
   -Carnival in Rio

-Solve a Rubik's cube
-Visit all 50 states with Phil
-Hike the Appalachian Trail
-Go kayaking
-Conquer my fear of deep water
-Learn Sign Language
-Learn Italian
-Read the entire Bible
-Write a book
-Write a song
-Learn to salsa dance
-Learn ballroom dancing
-Learn to snorkel or scuba dive
-Pet a dolphin
-Ride a cable car
-Get Married
-Have a family
-Renew wedding vows after 30 years
-Start a family tradition
-Make a difference in at least one person's life
-Go the Kentucky Derby
-See a Steelers game live
-Eat at the Undersea restaurant Ithaa
-Go the the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade
-Be in Times Square on NewYears
-Ice skate in Rockefeller center
-Get hypnotized

Alright that is all I have for the moment- Subject to change at anytime :)


“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller”

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW - What a Ride!"

“Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.”

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The love of a friend

http://misadventuresofstacey.wordpress.com/

I just wanted to thank Stacey for her wonderful shout out on her blog about me. She is an incredible woman and I am lucky to have her in my life. We recently went through the same set of problems and I encourage you all to check her out. She's been at this for a longer time than I have and she does a great job in her writings.

Thank you girl for showing me I'm not the only one and I hope you dont mind if I copy and paste part of your entry to here.

As written by Stacey:
Lastly, I urge all of you to check out my friend/sorority sister, Amber’s blog Life After Dreams Change. Not only is she one of the sweetest and smartest girls I know, she’s a terrific blogger. She and I went through similar experiences recently (her with Med School and me with Law School) and she’s done a great job of chronically those tough choices and uneasy decisions. She’s a great reminder to me that you CAN chance your dreams (and your life!) and be excited (and happy!) about it. She’s now getting her PhD in Microbiology and I’m off to our Nation’s capital to become a journalist. Seven years ago if you would have told the two of us that, we would have laughed at you—we were so convinced that med school/law school was THE answer for us.
It’s funny how things change. And, right now, definitely for the better.

LIOB

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

why I wear my cross

first off I'd like to thank everyone who has been checking in on me and thank you for the wonderful feedback and comments. I've received a lot of positive feedback and comments either via facebook messaging or email so I want to thank you all for your support

I'd also like to welcome Anne and Amanda to the Blogging world. I hope you get as much out of it as I do. Anne, you are strong beautiful woman and I know you will be fine with the upcoming move and everything :)
Amanda, congrats on your progression I am very happy for you!

This is gonna get religious so if you aren't interested quit reading here. So today I was posed with a question at work: "Why do you wear a cross everyday? how are you so sure God exists" It was a great question and I feel like God was talking to me and asking me to evaluate my beliefs and my love for him. I am very open to other people's beliefs because I believe everyone should believe in something but my beliefs are very close to my heart. For those who didn't know I wear a cross around my neck 99% of the time. If you ignore my awful hair in this picture you can see the cross here:

I was given this cross by my mother when I really needed it the most and at a time in my life when I was furthest from God. I have always liked the poem "Footprints" so my mom found me a beautiful cross with the quote "It was then that I carried you" written on the back and small footprints walking up the front. In case you are curious of the poem:

Well anyway back to the matter at hand:
This poem always gave me a sense of calm "It was then that I carried you" there is just something about that phrase that reminds me that I'm not alone in this world. no matter how dark things seem sometimes there is someone there guiding me and holding my hands. Don't get me wrong I have a wonderful support system from both my friends and my family but you can't avoid what goes through your head and what gets stuck in your mind. There were nights last year when I felt like a failure in life because I wasn't going to finish the medical school path and there were nights that I felt like the world was caving in on me but I could pull myself out of it because I knew somehow I would get through it and wasn't alone. And even when I really was alone I still didn't feel quite as lost and lonely. After so many family deaths in the last couple years coupled with the change in location and career and the fact that I hurt my very best friend (you know who you are and I hope you know I am still sorry and love you very much) over something that never should have happened, led to a deep despair in my life and sometimes I think my faith is the only reason I survived sometimes. Sometimes when I go to church I feel the priest is talking directly to me and I know that is divine ideas into my life sent from somewhere up above.

Then the question was posed "What about Catholicism" Well that one is a little bit more tricky: I've had a lot of midnight conversations with my dad discussing our beliefs and although there are things I don't agree with I can't deny that it is a part of my life and the Church and my church family have been there for me through the years. I can't even imagine going anywhere else. There were over a hundred people at my baptism and confirmation and almost the entire congregation came to graduation party to support me. They have and will always be family.

Then the final question was posed "With things like war, terrorism, tornadoes, and hate in this world how can you believe in something like God". Well that's an easy one- How will you ever appreciate a rainbow if it never rains? You have to have the bad to appreciate the good and how can you ignore all the good in this world. These are some of the things that remind me of God's presence

- My nieces and nephews and their absolute innocence when they smile up at me

- Sunsets and sunrises: the beginning and the ends of each God given day on earth

-The human brain: it takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands. The human brain processes more than a million messages a second. It is an amazing piece of art and science will never truly understand it all.

- The earth: its millions of things that live on this planet and the million other things that allow their survival

- My parents: Unconditional love- need I say more?

- My siblings (and siblings-in-law): we fight we argue we love each other and would die for one another

- Goosebumps: have you ever heard a story about a couple in love, or a person seeing an angel, or people discussing a miracle and you get goosebumps and a small shiver down your back. I think that's God's way of saying "hey ya, I did that... cool huh" Its one of the million ways a day he talks to me

- Music: When the radio seems to be playing the exact song you needed to hear that day or the song that seems to explain your life perfectly

-School: I seem to fit here for some reason, I really love teaching and my research is going very well. I feel happy for the first time in years and if I hadn't lost so many things in my life I would never be here right now. I could be graduating in June with a degree I have no desire to use or be miserable but instead I am here in this podunk little town living the life I enjoy. Had to get through the bad to get to the good.

- Phil: Yea I know this is where I get corny but he was my lifesaver and I know it was divine intervention that brought us together. When I watch him with his amazing family and see the love they have for each other I know God is there. When I see him studying and focusing so hard and when I see how incredibly smart he is by the things he has built or the ideas he has I know God's real. He is the most incredible man I've met and I know I'm lucky to be in his presence. And especially when he holds me in his arms and I find that perfect little spot on his shoulder where I seem to fit like a jigsaw puzzle piece I know something is different and its something I haven't felt before and its like I already know this was God's plan for me all along. I was taken through times of trial and suffering to bring me here to this place for this purpose. I went through the pain of mean boyfriends, disloyal boyfriends, some good boyfriends who are still friends, and even the loss of medschool and moving out of Erie to get me here to Oxford. There were too many things put in just the right place and the right time to bring he and I together and how could I not believe after that?

-The little things: the little things in life that make me smile. That's why I know God exists

You can tell me I'm crazy and you can say It's a desire to know the unknown but I'm content with my thoughts and beliefs and I'm happy being me.
God is great and so is his works and I am proud to be his child


Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 1

First day of second semester went smooth as silk:
good news left and right
Found out my microbial ecology wont have lab until after spring break and after spring break we wont have lecture only lab! This means that I have no labs until spring break and after spring break I don't have classes on Wednesday or Friday and this also means no final exams :) how exciting is that?

I also found out that I am gonna be teaching the same course as last semester but because there were excess people teaching it, I'm not going to have to do any prep for that which is going to save me tons of time and allow more time in the lab

I'm getting real results finally in the lab which is exciting and hopefully Ill be putting out a paper here soon. I am super excited that I finally have a direction to be going with it

Then I get home and my awesome apartment complex is gonna be having another free food night. They've had free pizza nights, hotdog nights, deli nights, etc but tomorrow is going to be taco Tuesday

Also in the good news category: Phil is feeling much better today. He had to have a surgery this past Friday, I wont say what for but he is doing much better today. I am super glad for it too... I hate to see him hurting and it breaks my heart when I know I can't help make it better so I am glad the surgery seems to have worked.

Random good news: I have been having trouble keeping my jeans up lately so I decided to randomly try on a new pair today, I got brave and went a size smaller than what I am wearing and guess what- they fit!! I might just have to go jean shopping this weekend haha or maybe ill wait to see if I can get one more size down down and be a bit smaller than I was in high school

Update on the family:
Mom is doing well and her leg/ankle seems to have healed quite nicely and she has been doing well. I think the holidays wore her out but she seemed to have enjoyed it. we made a ton of goodies for the family and neighbors this year
Isn't she cute!

Dad is doing well also and he seems to be having a decent time with things. He is soo funny, he has to have his pacemaker batteries changed here soon and  he told me it was time for his "tune up" hahah only my dad would say something like that hahah



ok that is gonna do it for today I have to cook some dinner and do my yoga and do some reading so good night and God Bless

Sunday, January 8, 2012

The blog title

I chose this name because its true. I've recently started over in my life and I although this was originally a plan B for my life and career I have recently realized that things change for a reason and I have come to this point because I was meant to be here. Its funny how you are so convinced that you know what you want from life and you know where you are going and what you are going to do but then one day God knocks you on your butt and says "nope, try again, this isn't where you are meant to be" and you know what? He was right and I think he brought me here for a reason. So to catch everyone up:
October 2010 I made the decision to not go back to medical school, it was a hard decision but a necessary one. After spending a few weeks in bed I picked myself up and started over. I took the GRE and applied to graduate schools. I was accepted to Miami University in Oxford Ohio as a Microbiology PhD candidate along with three other schools who also accepted me for programs in anatomy. I made my pro/con lists and decided oxford was the place for me so in July I packed up my stuff and my big brother Ray helped move me to a cute little one bedroom apartment

It wasn't long before I knew I had made the right choice. I actually began to feel like I felt in here and like I had finally found my niche if you will. It felt good to feel intelligent again too: Lecom always made me feel inferior but here I was doing well on exams and I actually like the staff and faculty.
Im even teaching: can you believe it? Last semester I taught an Intro to microbiology lab and it actually turned out pretty well I think. I thought I'd like teaching but now I know I kinda sorta love it. I may just keep with it.
I ended up joining the Rachael Morgan-Kiss Lab and I am currently studying antarctic alga specifically UWO also known as Chlamydamonas which grows and prospers in Antarctic lakes. I am actually going to be going there next October to do research for six weeks which I am super excited about.
I also began my work out regime again which feels good. I run 3-5 days a week and I recently fell in love with my Wii Fit Yoga on top of that workout. The endorphins are beginning to feel good again and I have already dropped a jean size since I left Erie. I keep feeling like so many things about Erie was bad for me.
Semester 1 ended on a pretty good note: not only was I doing well in school and getting into shape again but I met a boy. I left a lot of love issues and pains and confusions back home when I came here and to be honest I wasn't really looking for anything. I wasn't dating and I was enjoying my single life and living on my own and whatnot but again God intervened and dropped this wonderful man into my lap. His name is Phil and I am head over heels crazy for him. He was getting over some stuff too and wasn't really looking for a girlfriend either but somehow or another our paths crossed and we were brought together. There has to be some fate in all of this.

Aren't we all cute and stuff
He came home and met the folks for the first time over Christmas and of course they love him. I loved meeting his family too and get this: he has a sister named Amber - insert massive confusion here haha but so far so good and they just call me Amber Grace to distinguish and I kinda sorta love it. Anyways, he makes me happy again and I can see so many wonderful things happening here.
Second semester starts tomorrow: I am taking a Microbial Ecology class which my boss teaches and I am pretty excited about. Also I am teaching the same course as last semester so that will make it a lot easier. Research is looking great and I may have a paper out soon. Phil is close by and things are looking good. I don't think I've been this happy for years. Things are good and Im going to do my best to keep it that way.
I know everyone says blogging went out 5-10 yrs ago but it when have I ever cared what people think? Read if you want, don't if you don't! Its my new stress reliever and it makes me happy so hopefully we'll see if we can get an update in every week.

"If God brought you to it, he will bring you through it"

coming back

So I've decided to start blogging again. I remember really enjoying it a few years back and it made a great stress reliever so I've decided to start again. It was also a great way to keep my family and friends informed of what is going on in my life since we are so far apart.