Happy Birthday Julie

Me, Julie, Chris, and Julie's housemate at Julie's birthday dinner in DC.

These are the guests at part of Julie's birthday celebration. We went from one restaurant to the next.

Julie had a full day celebration including a massage, shopping, drinks, dinner, and dessert with friends. I joined in on the dinner part and left before dessert came. (For those of you who know me really well, I did not get home until 11:30 so don't think I left early. :)) I hadn't seen Julie in awhile. I really haven't seen anyone in awhile so it was really good to see her.

There was a guy there that was extremely flirty with me. It was so fun to have the attention from a man. It's been quite awhile. The funny thing was that somehow (long story) I had to give him the sex talk. (He brought it up, not me.) I realized that I had never had to do that before as I have only dated LDS men. Once he found out he wasn't going to get lucky- any time - he backed off. I was really disappointed as he was very interesting and we were having a really good time. I do recognize that it's a good thing as him not knowing up front would have just delayed the problem and I may have become a little attached. Still, it's nice to have positive male attention. Usually it seems like I get attention from men I am not at all and never will be interested in. Or, at least over the last year, men that are commitment phobic or can't follow through.

I don't know if you can really tell in the pictures, but my hair is way short! I went to get it cut last Thursday and showed her a picture that was one length. There is a small language barrier, but you would think a picture would show what I wanted. She parted my hair down the middle (which I never do) and cut off like three inches--maybe more. Once she blow dryed it and showed it to me I was in a state of shock. I have really super short hair. I'm just taking it in stride and saying it's a nice new change. :) What else can I do. I have to wear clips because it is constantly in my eyes, but hey I won't have to have a haircut for months now. :)

I have finally started to bike to work again. This has been such a weird weather summer. Last year I was able to start much ealier, but this year we have had so much rain or the threat of rain and thunder storms I have not been able to ride. I like riding to work because I feel like I'm helping the environment and getting exercise all at the same time. :)

Since January I have gained 12 pounds. I started to equate organic with healthy which by the way is not true! It may not have chemicals in it, but it does not mean that you can eat all you want. Who knew?! I finally got my courage up and weighed myself last week. (This may also have been because I couldn't fit into a pair of pants that were loose on my last year.) I thought for sure the scale was wrong. Luckily it gave me a sense of purpose and helped me get back to writing down everything I eat and counting my calories. I have dropped four pounds and really hope to drop a lot more over the next few weeks. To celebrate my graduatation I am going to the beach with some friends and I want to feel good in my swimsuit. I also want to fit into those pants again before the summer is over.

I am still in school, but will finish July 21st. I cannot express the feeling of bubbling joy and liberation I feel whenever I think about that! I am so excited that the weekends will be all mine again. Wow! Plus every waking moment (and dreaming) will not be filled with school and what I need to be doing. My head will be so light I actually might start hovering above the ground. :) I do need to start my job search (ahhh!), but I am going to give myself a little break to enjoy my liberation.

Book Recommendation

I 'read' (I actually listened, but I always say read) a book called "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It was such a fabulous book I just wanted to recommend it here. I had a friend tell me about it and was not interested in her description. I forgot about it and a few months later she asked me about it again so I felt like I had to read it. I got the book on CD from the library and listened to it on the way to work. I just loved it!

I have been sick for the last two weeks so I haven't done my blog about Hawaii yet. I am feeling better, but of course am very behind in everything because I haven't done anything for so long. I miss my friends, being able to do what I want when I want, and even exercising! I so want to ride my bike. It's just been too long.

Free at last (well for a week)

This has been my group for the past two semesters for EDIT 730 and 752. From the left is Ed Lane, Susanne Hobbs, Terri Ann Guingab, Cassandra Cloud, and me.

I asked someone to take our groups picture, but he took it a step further and took several pictures while we were presenting. Terri Ann actually turned to the camera and smiled while he took the photo-it was right in the middle of talking so it was funny!

I had a companion on my mission who told me that when she got home and off the plane she was going to get down on the ground, kiss it, and yell "Thank God All Mighty I am free at last! Free at Last!" I always thought that was so funny and have thought about that statement many times. Yesterday as soon as my presentation was over (my last final for the semester) I felt like doing the same thing (ok not the kissing the ground part, but the yelling part for sure!) I told my classmates that I wanted to run outside and just scream. They encouraged me to do so. Of course I'm way to reserved for that, but I ran round part of the building and was raising my arms to the sky. Someone came around the building right then. I smiled big and I'm sure blushed big too. I kept thinking about that statement--free at last! I felt like celebrating. I called a friend, got voicemail and yelled into the phone that I was done. I need to check back to make sure she can still hear ok after that voicemail. :) The relief is so all encompassing. Let's just say it's been really really hard! The next set of courses will be hard, but not nearly as much (at least I hope.) I have three more classes to go and will be done in July. Then it will really be time to party!

Friends

I went over to a friends house last week for dinner. Sara Kowallis is pictured here with her four day old son Emmett. He was 12 pounds. WOW!!! Sara looks great!!! Thanks Keeli for having me over! It was fun to just hang out with friends.

Green Eggs and Ham

Julie and I went to brunch at Ulah Bistro to celebrate Easter. (Yes that is the correct spelling. :) ) I had "green eggs and ham." I didn't even know that existed in the real world, but they were yummy! I booked my flight to Hawaii so it's a sure thing. Yippee! It's going to be a crazy week with work and school. I'm getting closer and closer to the end of this semester so there are more and more things due or big projects that need a lot of work. I have a million things to do so I better go. Hopefully we will get warm weather before May. :)

Spring

Me, with Nicole (in pink), and Carrie in DC.

I LOVE SPRING!!! I went on a walk today and could not stop grinning. I felt myself come alive and felt the trees coming alive. As I walked I saw pretty spring flowers of all different colors. Oh how I love the different colors of spring. I love that you can see the trees and the potential they have of being beautiful. As I am driving I will round a corner and there will be beautiful blossoming trees. I wish they could stay that way. Then again, maybe I wouldn't appreciate them so much. I love the sun on my skin and the birds singing their delight. I love not having to bundle up to go outside. I love wearing flip flops. I love wearing cute skirts, opening my windows and feeling the breeze. I love feeling alive.

I did not think I would get a chance to go to the cherry blossoms on the mall this year. I just didn't know where I could fit it in. I have been trying to go on a walk with my friends Carrie and Nicole on Tuesdays. I have felt so out of touch with my friends as I am so involved in school. This is a wonderful time for me to be with them, feel their spirits, and catch up with them. They uplift me and are such great examples to me. I feel so blessed to have them as my friends! I asked if we could walk around the cherry blossoms. They both agreed so we got to walk around Haines Point where it is lined with cherry trees. It was so stunning! I wish I could just drink it in. The blossoms look good enough to eat. Above is a picture of us on our walk.

Several people are getting married in my office. The first of these is Jade. She is marrying a guy in the Careers Center. So both offices had a celebration dinner at a coworkers house. Pat, from the Careers office, had a friend of hers make this amazing cake (picture above). Jade and James are getting married in Florida and then going on their honeymoon in Mexico. Hence the beach theme. Isn't it amazing!!! I was not there when it was cut. I don't think I could have watched it. :)

I decided this week that I need to go to Hawaii to see if I want to live there. I don't know if I have mentioned this in my blog before. I want to live in a warm climate with beautiful water that I can see every day. I kind of feel good about Hawaii, but I wonder if it's just my idea of it. So, this week I decided I better go check it out. My mom and I will go sometime in May for a quick trip. I just asked my mom today so I have got to get planning. It's only a month away. :) Anyway I am so excited!!! I haven't been to Hawaii and have wanted to go. Plus I get to spend time with my mom. What could be better!