Things that annoy me...

I think you all gathered by now that I am not usually a grouch, but I do occasionally get my crotchetiness on. The past few days I have been battling sinus issues & have been feeling grouchy. Yesterday I started a THINGS THAT ANNOY ME list... (some of what you can see I noticed on my walk with my dog...)

1. People that leave piles of newspapers in their yard/driveway. I know you are home, you lazy butt! I've see you pull into your driveway. Pick up your newspapers & recycle them!

2. People that let their lawns get out of control. Why do we pay so much each year in HOA fees if you aren't going to keep your lawn looking presentable?

3. People that take nice cars, such as the Lexus SUV I saw in my neighborhood today, and turn them into UGLY, GAWDY cars??? Bright sparkly LIME green is definitely not a factory color for a Lexus, nor are those ugly HUGE chrome three-spoked rims factory. Why did you ruin such a nice, expensive car??? What's wrong with you? (notice how the rims are named "killa"...I bet Lexus would LOVE that...whatevs...)

4. Construction workers blaring their tejano music and staring at me as I walk or jog by in my own subdivision. Have you never seen a female before? Get back to work!!!! Will these new home builds ever be finished?

5. The fact that I can't recycle glass & can't locate a recycling center that does. The excuse is because it is too dangerous. Are you kidding me?

6. People that speed down my street. Are you TRYING to run me over and kill me & all the little kids?

7. My local Quiznos (I love Quiznos) opened and we were all excited, and then within 6 months or so, it closed down. :( Now we are just stuck with the local corner sandwich shop that is trying to be trendy, but they hire annoying men that stick their dirty hands sans gloves in your food and tell you that the ice cream is so good, it's like crack. I've never tried crack (nor do I want to!!!) and I am not convinced that he HASN'T. Get your fingers out of my food foo!

8. People that talk with a British accent and aren't British and aren't joking around. How does one go from a deep Southern accent to a British accent....and without having ever lived in England?

9. When I decide I am going to spend the ENTIRE day outside with nature and taking pictures of nature, when the heavens decide to open up and unleash nastiness. (Hail & tornado warnings here today!!!) Sheesh!

What annoys you? And why do I find these lists so fun?

I know, I have too much time on my hands, but as you know by now....that will ALL CHANGE next week....you'll be lucky to get posts from me after next week.

WWC - A Day Late and a Dollar Short, again...

But I did it!

The words for this week were Pride and Circle.




The words for next week are:

Narrow and Broad

If you haven't joined the fun, go here for details.

It's official!

I got the call this morning & my official start date at work is Monday, Feb 4th!

The first day will be orientation with HR all day & then Tuesday I report to my department in surgical oncology.

I'm excited and nervous all at once.

:)


I really do feel lucky to have this opportunity to work there. I remember being a little girl hearing about the cancer hospital where my friend's parents worked & at such a young age, my interest was peaked . Then as life went on, I learned about family members, friends' families, and friends who struggled with and some who passed on due to cancer (I had my own little scare, too). This encouraged me to get involved in volunteer and fundraising activities for cancer research over the years. Then as I was exploring my career possibilities in medicine, I had the privilege of shadowing a PA at the cancer hospital. All of those experiences and my time spent in PA school classes & clinical rotations has lead to and prepared me for my upcoming new career. I feel blessed that my dream of working at such a special hospital that helps so many people from around the world is coming true.

You're on board or you're not on board...

I am sooooo not on board!

This is the craziest. LOL cat. ever!

HA!

and for those of you who haven't seen the original craziness....check IT! HUH? What did he say?

One Week

I have one more week off before the career life gets jump-started again! I guess I better make it a good one, eh? What should I do on my week off? Any suggestions?

The Texapennsylyorker & Texaconsin Divas Meet Again!

My lack of craptacular blognessity this past week was due to playing hostess to my dear Texaconsin friend. It's been several years since I have chilled with my homegirl & so we had loads to catch up on. So I apologize if you missed me so. :) Fo Shizzle!

Anywho, it was great to see Jen. There was conversation a plenty, delicious foods & drinks, a lot of laughter, some mild daytime Mardi Gras (beads and all...noooo...no boobs...we aren't like that you sickos!) & even some hilarious entertainment from a Scotsman and his bunny. ;) Unfortunately, we were so busy having fun & catching up, we forgot to get pics together! DOH! Sorry peeps.

I've learned in my wise old age of 30, that the greatest friends in life are very precious & few and far between. Jen is one of those friends & I am so glad that she is in my life.

Thanks for being my friend, Jen! xxxooo

Sa-Weet!

I got an email that my temporary PA license paperwork was completed today!!! Sooo, it looks like I might be able to start working in a week and a half (Feb 4th)!!!!

I know, I know. Who get this excited about working?

ME, that's who!

;o)

I'm with stupid ---->

Holy Shmoly!

So, the other day I noticed that one of my neighbor's garage door was all mangled and unfortunately the front of their fairly new, pretty, white Mercedes sedan was also smooshed. OUCH! I was thinking that they must have smashed into their garage door somehow. Were they drinking & driving? AND SHAME IF THEY WERE! Or were they just tired and not paying attention? Or maybe the car malfunctioned (which wouldn't surprise me, b/c I have heard a lot of peeps having problems with their Mercedes). Anywho, whatever happened, it looked pretty awful.

Well, I just got back from my run (thankfully the rain had stopped for a bit) & noticed that they were having the garage door replaced. As I jogged by, I got to see in the garage. So, apparently, not only did they hit the garage door, but also smashed into the back wall that leads to our kitchens in these townhomes. OH SNAP! That's gonna cost a pretty penny.

Speaking of stupid....

I have Ellen on as I usually do at lunch time & Kellie Pickler, whom apparently was a contestant on American Idol (I don't listen to her nor have I ever watched American Idol), is on. WOW!!! Can we say IDIOT! I think she has the intelligence of a flea. How is this kind of person an American Idol? What are we teaching our children? Check it....




No WWC for me today. I have no pix, have been busy, & am not motivated to take any today. Sorry peeps. Maybe next week.

GRRRR!!!! *$#@*&^$%@#!!!!!!!

So, first that treadmill that was graciously given to us months ago broke soon after we got it and now...

Our stationary bike is BROKEN!!!!! Hubby tried to fix it, but one of the main components is warped. GRRRRRRRR!!! Well, we bought it for like $100 before our wedding and we have more than received our money's worth, but still. GRRRR!!!! How am I supposed to work out now? I run/walk outside when the weather is good, but it is supposed to rain a lot this week! I don't even mind & actually like running when it is cold, but wet is a different story.

GRRR!!! My getting-back-into-shape and in a good routine has been sabotaged by our own equipment! UG! And I don't have a gym membership anymore. I gave that up when we moved here since I had a school gym (which I think I used like 3 times) and our own cardio equipment. UG! I guess I'll have to use the workout videos again when I can't run outside. :(

We might try to get another (and much better quality) stationary bike soon. I even thought maybe I should look into a 6-month gym membership if any place does that. If we move to that one community I have been telling you all about, it has it's own workout facility that all residents can use. Cool, eh?

I really want to lose 10 lbs. Seriously. Looking at the old pictures and old clothes made me sad & motivated.

GRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Not-Quite-Spring Cleaning

As I had mentioned previously, the good thing (depending on how you look at it) about having all of this time off, is I have time to do some much needed cleaning & organizing around the house. Sheer boredom & that fact that I am having a good friend visit that I haven't seen in over 3 years is a great motivation.

Well, I kind of started this several of months ago with purging of many clothes & THAT was just from our master closet. That did not include the spare bedroom closets or the dressers. Yes, I have too many clothes. The really rediculous part is some of the clothes I have had since high school. Talk about packrat! sheesh! So, I started working on cleaning up the guest bedroom and closet. There were piles of clean clothes everywhere in there, Christmas junk, & not to mention the closet looked like a bomb exploded in there. What happened to me? I used to be SO ORGANIZED. Now I'm a mess. I guess that's what grad school does to you. That, and I also aquired a husband and 3 pets over that past few years. ANYWHO, I digress... I have 2 more HUGE bags of clothes to donate, and think maybe this time I am going to itemize them & get a tax reduction. Dang! I should have done that with the other 5 bags I got rid of last time. I wonder how much I can get in return?

When one does this kind of cleaning, many treasures and memories are rediscovered. I came across all of the cards & some photos from our wedding. I saw old photos from dating days with Hubby. I even found a couple of old love letters from and old "boyfriend" (pre-hubby of course) that were stashed in the depths of my dresser drawers. (Those got shredded!) How funny is that?!?! (Man, those letters were soooo cheezy! "Boyfriend" is in quotation b/c we only dated for few months & I was not nearly as into him as he was with me....but that's an entirely different & weird story...of which I have several of...anywho...). I amaze myself with all the crap I have held onto over the years & it feels good to start getting rid of it. I have been the queen of shredding this past week & I think I have almost killed our shredder. I need a bloody industrial shredder with all of the documents I have been shredding. Craziness! The "office" (aka bane of my existence) is still a work in progress, too. I was getting tired of dealing with that mess & it looks more presentable now, so I decided to tackle the guest bedroom (aka the Mr. & Mrs. ETK room....and Mr. & Mrs. BFF room...and now will be Mrs. Diva room, too. ;) ).

So, this house is starting to get into a shape that I am more pleased with. If we were planning on staying here long term, I'd probably start painting (or hire someone to paint), too. But I think we determined at this time, it probably wouldn't be worth the time and money. We'll see. Plans may change once I start working & we get closer to the point when we can put it on the market.

Speaking of that, I think THIS community is still our number one for many reasons. Some of which are the beauty, safety, affordability (no too much nor too little), close to H-town/decent commute times, new shopping areas & restaurants being built, and there are even plans for a waterway with shops & restaurants similar to but bigger than the waterway in the Woodlands. We are continuing our research and are starting to get figures in place for the house we really like. We'll have a better idea of things once I start working & am able to bring home some more bacon. ;) (We have even thought about seeing a financial advisor to make sure we are being smart about everything.)

Anyway, I will conclude this blabbering with some photos of hubby & I from our dating days (which was only 3+ years ago). I can't believe it will be 3 years in just a few weeks! WOW! These photos are so cute! Man, look how skinny & blonde I used to be! And it was when I had my braces!!!! ;) I showed hubby the pics last night & he had almost forgotten how blonde I had become. What started out as hi-lights turned me into a blonde! He asked if I would ever do that again. I am not sure. I am tempted a lot because I get bored with my hair, but it is SUCH HIGH maintenance and costs a lot AND I still have damage in my hair as a result AND it has been about 3 years since the last time I had hi-lights! So, I don't know. We'll see. I wonder if he wants me to do the blonde look again. hmm..... Anyway, here we are/were:

Things I Love!

Haven't done one of these posts in a while.....

1. Hubby is making me an italian dinner tonight. I LOVE THAT!!!! mmmm

2. I love, LOVE Sully's voice & absolutely love THIS song.

I HEART Godsmack.

What are you hearting these days?

YEA! WHOOPEE! and all that jazz...

I am now an official PA-C!

WOOHOO!

I just got my results an hour ago & I passed the certification exam...that's what gives me the "C" after PA. Apparently the person I talked to on the phone yesterday was misinformed about when the scores are released. THANK THE LORD! I didn't want to wait another week.

As you can see from my post below, I want to start working as a PA ASAP. Heck, that's what I invested these past 2.5 years for. It was not to sit at home bored to tears....

Anywho...

Dinner & a movie tonight with Hubby!!!!! YEA!

YEA ME! :)

YAY! More Fuzzball Pix!

TGIF...kinda

Yes, thank God it's Friday. Which, being that I am not currently working...yet...is kinda meaningless for me. Everyday right now is a day off (accept the Hubby working during the week.) But let me tell you, I am not one of those people that likes having all of this time off. I definitely have days where I hate it. I am a much happier person when I feel like I have a purpose each day. Working actually helps keep me happy. I know, I am crazy. AND everyone is telling me to appreciate this time off between school & work. But going from 100 mph in school to nothing has been tough. I like staying busy with a greater purpose. I thought about getting a part time job, but what would I do? And then if I do find something, I might have to quit in a few weeks if I can start working at my PA job that soon. And yes, I should be volunteering, but that usually only eats up a few hours out of a week. Man, I hate that my only responsibilities right now are related to housework & zoo-keeping (meaning my pets). Thank God I didn't live in the 50s because the whole housewife who stays home and takes care of the house, kids, and husband is SO NOT ME!!!! Don't get me wrong, I do like doing nice things for Hubby & he did so much for me when I was soooo busy with school. BUT I HATE that this is pretty much all I am doing right now. (It's a good thing we aren't having kids, because I think that would send me to the looney bin.) Although, it is forcing me to tackle some much needed projects around here that I have been neglecting like organizing files, the "office," and the guest bedroom is next. (I have to get it ready for Mrs. Diva!!!) Also, this time off is helping me get back into a workout routine (if I could only stick to it!!!).

Again, please don't take this the wrong way. I am not dogging on "domestic engineers." I have MUCHO MUCHO respect for those people. I am just saying that I am not programed for such a life. I am that woman who wants to work full time and wants to love her job. I am that independent woman who just wants to come home to a quiet house (quiet when my pets aren't being crazy) with only my husband and occasionally have some friends and family over. Anything else is too much for me.

Man, I am complaining about taking care of 1600 sq. ft. townhome. What am I going to be like when we move into a bigger house? Will I have to hire a maid or what? Well, at least I'll be working then & maybe too distracted to think about it too much.

Anywho.....enough complaining

Hubby found this last night. I laughed the whole time. He did not....
Hopefully I don't fit this stereotype too much.... but it is pretty funny and somewhat accurate... check it! ;)




Gratuitous pet pics are to come later, per request.

Have a great Friday & weekend!

Ciao!

Diabeetus!

Let me balance my grumpy post with a funny one.

FG always makes me giggle...

SO ANNOYED!!!!

GRRRRRRR!!!

So, a lot of my classmates took the PA certification exam 2 weeks ago and got their scores last week at 11am. A one week turn around! So, I was all excited thinking I would get my score today....at 11am. But nooooo! No results for moi today. I even called & they said it takes on average TWO weeks. So, I guess my classmates that got theirs in a week were lucky.

One more week for me. (Hopefully only one more week).

Man, I so wanted to KNOW TODAY!!!!

Ug!

I just wanna know!

WWC & Technical Annoyances

A day late and a dollar short....but here it is...

The Weekly Words' Challenge is brought to us by the ever so beloved Tink over at Pickled Beef.

This weeks' words are SQUARE and SOFT.



The words for next week are:

Envy and Triangle

If you haven't joined the fun, go here for details.


Now on to the annoyances. So, I was noticing the other day that Google Reader does NOT correct any post-publish edits one has made to their blog. GRRR! So, if anyone only reads your blog from their Google Reader, they won't see the edits you have made to your blog. This means I need to be MUCH better at proof-reading before I click publish AND my pals that read my blog from their reader, you need to come to my blog! :)

The other thing that annoys me, is the spacing issues once you have uploaded pictures. It takes me forever to get it right and even sometimes then it doesn't come out right. GRRR again! AND sometimes my paragraph spacing gets all screwy once I have placed pictures in between my paragraphs. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to help prevent these spacing issues????

Peace out homebloys!

Monkey Pox!

Too funny!

Bill Gates Last Day @ Microsoft

Golden Sporky Goodness

Big thanks to Miss Tink over at Pickled Beef for my "Endearing" Spork Award.

Ain't she just the sweetest?

Another Wish List Item for 2008

I need to do a better job at proof reading & spell checking before clicking publish post (for my blog & my comments on others)! My spelling, grammar, & flow errors and the fact that my brain is so much faster than my typing that I forget entire words....is utterly atrocious!!!

I'll try to do better. Try being the key word there....


I am college educated. I promise!

I'm working on it!

As you might remember, I do not DO New Year's Resolutions, but I did make a wish list & am making some progress on a few of the items. One of them, which I feel is very important, is to take better care of & pamper my self more. I may do better at this once I start receiving a paycheck, but I can start NOW with little things. So, this weekend I decided to try some new makeup. I usually have a mish-mosh of different brands from MAC to Covergirl. I try to stick with the nicer brands for my foundation b/c my skin is fairly sensitive, but sometimes when I am feeling like a money pincher, I go cheap. I HAVE TO STOP THIS! My skin is worth the money. I am still loving my Burt's Bees Radiance Creme! And I have decided to continue with the all natural theme and am now trying Pür Minerals makeup that I picked up at Ulta. Also, a good friend (who needs to blog more, ahem!) of mine has amazing eyelashes and she introduced me to Lash Injection by Too Faced. I am LOVING all of the new makeup. The Pür Minerals makeup feels and looks more natural, and so far my skin is agreeing with it. The new clothes and better hair will be next!!! :) I guess I can also lump in working out more into "the things I can do now."

The other the thing on the list that I have time to do now, is spend more time with friends and family. I think Hubby is getting better quality time with me since I don't have school looming over my head. Also, I am reconnecting with old friends and spending time with new & old friends. Thursday a few of my PA buddies got together to celebrate getting boards over with and we celebrated those who have already received their passing scores (I should get my scores this week!!!!). I am going to do my best at staying in touch with and getting together when we can.



I also got to see an old friend from my previous job this weekend and had an amazing Northern Indian meal, as usual, at Khyber. Mrs. ETK is the one who introduced us to this restaurant and she, apparently, is the female version of NORM! at Khyber. LOL! When we told the waiter we were friends of ETK, he got all excited and asked how she was and where she had been. The most funny part was that he wanted to call her so he could get tips on how to quit smoking. He felt if she could do it, then he could, too. Too cute! AND the best part, we got some peshwari naan (naan bread filled with a sweet pistachio and raisin filling) on the house! Yes, knowing ETK has many perks. HA! ;) Anwyho, I had never tried it before and it was so YUMMY! We had a great time & it was really great to see Miss K! I really need to see her more often.

I truly hope to be a better friend now that school is over! Friends are so important. They help keep us happy and sane. ;)

New Friends and Old Friends

By Joseph Parry

Make new friends, but keep the old;

Those are silver, these are gold.

New-made friendships, like new wine,

Age will mellow and refine.

Friendships that have stood the test -

Time and change - are surely best;

Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,

Friendship never knows decay.

For 'mid old friends, tried and true,

Once more we our youth renew.

But old friends, alas! may die,

New friends must their place supply.

Cherish friendship in your breast-

New is good, but old is best;

Make new friends, but keep the old;

Those are silver, these are gold.

I'm not the only one!

SEE!!!! I am not the only one who feels this way.

It's Delurker Day.

See HERE and HERE!

If you lurk here. PLEASE be nice and leave a comment. Say Hi! Say something. DON'T BE SHY!!!!

The picture above is from Man Overboard who got it from Chris at Rude Cactus

Today's Randomness

The night before T-day, I didn't sleep very well. Strangely enough, I wasn't tossing & turning worrying about the exam, but kept waking up because I was having strange dreams. One of the dreams was very disturbing. I dreamt that a friend of mine (who is not a real person in real life), died. Not only was I very sad, but everyone around me was also because we were all friends with her. What was really strange was that this woman was a big, jolly Hawaiian woman. It was soooo odd. Last night when I was out dining with Hubby, I told him about this dream & he immediately started to interpret it. He thinks that this BIG lady was PA school and the death represents that part of my life ending. Her jolliness, the association with my love of Hawaii, & my friends also being sad represented all the good times I had during PA school that will be missed. I think hubby was probably right in his interpretation. Perhaps was dead on! HA! Ok, sorry for the pun. I was so amazed at how immediate his reaction was to the story of my dream. He truly amazes me sometimes.

PA school was such a HUGE part of my life. It completely consumed me over these past almost 3 years. From applying, to waiting to hear if I got in, to the RIGOROUS time spent in school. It was my life & now that the PANCE is over with, it is completely over. I don't have to study at such intensity any more. Yes, I will be reading to keep up with what's going on in the medical world, and I am required to do what is known as CMEs (continued medical education credits). But the major intensity of study is over, or atleast until I have to take the recertification exam again in 6 years. Hopefully, I will keep in touch with the friends I made, but I won't be seeing them nearly as often. We lived and breathed PA school together. So, there is some sadness in this part of my life being over....

But a new chapter begins very soon as I embark on my new career and I can't wait to share it with you.

*************

Another next major step in my and hubby's life is to sell our townhome and move into a bigger home that will be closer to H-town. We are currently living in a cute little 1600 sq ft townhome that we purchased right before I started PA school. This is our first home and previous to this, we did the apartment thing for several (for hubby it was MANY) years. We decided that we wanted to buy this townhome so that I would be closer to campus and so we didn't have to throw our money away anymore by renting. We knew this would be temporary, but it has been fun. It has also been relatively easy to care for which has been a God send since we have both been so busy. We have been accruing equity, we have had more space, a little yard, a 2 car garage, and all within a safe neighborhood. We are not staying here long term because we want a bigger, single family home & we want to live closer to H-town. Hubby sacrificed a lot to move to this almost BFE town. His commute is AWFUL. He averages almost 3 hours total commute time a day. AWFUL. The driving experience did improve when he purchased the convertible MINI Cooper S, but still. THREE HOURS a day is bad. And now that I, too, will be working in H-town "inside the loop", as we say around here. We will be improving our quality of life by moving closer.

We aren't exactly sure when we will place our home on the market, but it will probably be after I have started working and have taken care of some debt & saved some money. The dilemma now is where to move? We have talked and talked and researched and researched and will continue to do so. We have considered moving "inside the loop", just outside "the loop", or moving to a beautiful suburb that is closer (and more upscale) than the one we are in now. We saw some beautiful homes over the weekend, which I posted about & linked to a few days ago. They have communities in the Heights and other areas inside the loop & also have a community in Spring Branch on a little lake. They were soooo pretty, but NO LAND and then there is the decrease in safety by living in or near the city. Our commutes would be so short, we could have an urban lifestyle and be closer to more shopping, restaurants, the arts, museums, sports, city parks, etc. BUT if we move to the suburbs, we would have more land, safety to walk/run in the neighborhood alone, room for Hubby's "Italian sports car," it would be less expensive, a local pool (and potential to have our own), local workout facilities, town centers, etc. There are plus and minuses to both. We really like Southern Trails and Sienna Plantation and still really like this house.

So, as you see we have a lot to think about and consider before we take the next big leap in home ownership. Either way, we can't wait! We want the next home to be our long term, if not forever, home. A place where all of our family and friends feel welcomed and see it as home away from home. A place where we can have big family get-togethers, dinner parties, or just a comfortable night at home alone. We want it to be Home-Sweet-Home.

One of the many reasons I like her...

Bippity bobbity BACON!

It's over & WWC

It feels so good to have it over with. Now my brain is mush. Let's hope I passed so I don't have to wait 90 days to retake it. ;) ug. Then I won't have to take it for another 6 years. (PAs have to take the recertification exam EVERY 6 years!)

I'll find out my score in 1-3 weeks. Keep the prayers goin!

Thanks to everyone for all of your support, thoughts, & prayers!!!! It has been much appreciated! Special thanks to ETK & TT for their lovely posts!!! You are the best! Love you!

OK onto this weeks WWC (see, I am a loyal blogger!!!):

The Weekly Words' Challenge is brought to us by the ever so beloved Tink over at Pickled Beef.

This weeks' words are BLACK and STRANGE.

Funny how most of the PA chicas wore black to the graduation banquet.

Black cap & gowns, of course, at graduation.

PAs make strange faces sometimes....all the studying makes us crazy!

I look a little strange with this contraption on my face....

The words for next week are:

Soft and Square

If you haven't joined the fun, go here for details.


I HATE BLOGGER SPACING ISSUES!


Ok. Brain. complete. mush. must. go slee....zzzzzzzzzz

Thanks!

Thanks for the good lucks, etc.

I've been studying and studying and studying, although hubby & I sneaked in some restaurant eatin' & house research this weekend. Maybe I shouldn't have, but whatevs! I can't study 24-7 for months on end. We've essentially been "studying for boards" since our clinical rotations ended in June. SHEESH! (Remind me, I need to write my alma mater a letter about that silliness...it has been MONTHS since I have examined a patient...not good....but I digress....)

Anywho, more on the home search later. I must get back to reviewing heart murmurs!!!

Tuesday = 360 questions -> six 60 minute blocks = 6 testing hours, & 45 minutes total for break to use how we want after a block is finished. I can't wait to get it over!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going cross-eyed...

....from all the reading & studying!


Just 4 more days..... UG! I am finishing up Pulmonology today. Then the next 2 days are going to be a re-review of Cardiology (a HUGE part of the exam). On Monday, I'll probably do more practice questions, some last minute cram review, & then take the night off to relax and rest my mind before the SIX HOUR EXAM on Tuesday!!!!

On another note, I just signed up on Google Reader yesterday & subscribed to most of the blogs I read. Now I don't have to look like a stalker when I check your blogs all the time to see if you posted anything yet. :) It tells me when you've posted something new. Very cool!

WWC

Weekly Words' Challenge brought to us by the ever so beloved Tink over at Pickled Beef.

This weeks' words are BROWN and PATTERN.



The words for next week are:

Strange and Black

If you haven't joined the fun, go here for details.

Next Tuesday is T-DAY (my board exam), so I'll be LATE on my WWC....

Happy New Year!!!

Well, even though we were not able to make it to any par-tays, Hubby & I had a nice evening. We discovered a new favorite restaurant & had an amazing dinner! We have passed by this little Italian restaurant many times, but never tried it until last night. From the outside it just looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but as many hole-in-the-walls are, it was excellent! Not fancy-schmancy by any means, but the food was outstanding! We started with the insalada caprese, hot rolls, salads & the house cab. Hubby had the penne con pesto with chicken dish and I had the eggplant parmigiana. We finished it off with Lavazza cappucino & shared a Chocolate Mousse that had rich chocolate cake layered with whiten & dark chocolate mousse, topped with chocolate ganache. I haven't been to Italy (yet...that'll be the 2009 trip...), but I have had REAL NEW YORK ITALIAN food & this was right up there with it. DEE-LISH! The sauce was homemade & awesome, the "mozzarel" was fresh & moist, the breaded eggplant was amazing, the cappucino was the best I've had in a long time, & the homemade mousse pie was to-die-for. Well done, Angello! Well done. We'll be back fo' sho'! (Hopefully soon....we need to try the pies (pizza) next! Bene!

Then we came home, watched some Family Guy & Futurama in our utter dorkiness & I think I crashed by 10:30 or 11. Staying up until midnight wasn't going to happen after that meal! zzzz!

I had planned on watching the Rose Bowl parade this morning while studying, but alas, the stoopid cable was out. Apparently for 12 hours!!! Apparently someone at Comcast had a bit too much of the bubbly & made a royal screw up??? BUT, that gave us the opportunity to watch our Secret of NIMH DVD (thanks, ETK!). We hadn't watched that movie in YEARS! Both of us love that movie/story. (Ironic, since we both previously worked in research labs...) We LOVE Jonathan!! SPARKLEYS!!! He is too funny! Gotta love Dom Deluise. ;)

Then....back to studying....which is what I did ALL day yesterday and most of today (and will continue tonight....ho hum.) and on & on until TUESDAY - T DAY!

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Well, I hope you all have a great 2008! From what I have heard/read, sounds like several peeps have had a difficult year. I hope 2008 will be better for you all.

As for me, it is going to be yet another year of change. I will be starting my new career within a month or two, and will be facing a HUGE learning curve. But I love challenges & I welcome them. I am excited about it.

I am not one for resolutions, but I do have a list of wants for the year:

1. I want to pass the PANCE.

2. I want to enjoy my new career/job as a surgical PA-C.

3. I want to spend more time with family & friends.

4. I want to make more friends & hopefully find some more COUPLE friends that Hubby & I can hang out with.

5. I hope we can sell our townhome & be in a bigger, nicer, single family home by next year.

6. I want to get into better shape/health & lose weight & to be a runner again!

7. I want to gain my sense of style back & acquire more sophisticated clothes...and maybe pamper myself more than I have in the past 2.5 years.

8. I hope to do some more traveling. 2007 was a fairly busy travel year: San Francisco/Napa with BFF, Pensacola with ETK & Baby, Whitewater rafting/camping in Tennessee with ETK & Baby, Ohio for a funeral :(, & the graduation trip to Maui. We probably won't have a MAJOR trip this year (again, Italy is the goal for 2009), but we have some plans....Oregon in May, maybe a hiking/camping trip to the Grand Canyon, Utah, & maybe a night in Las Vegas???, perhaps another camping or B&B trip to Fredericksburg, TX...we'll see...

9. And finally, to have more fun!!! :o)

Happy New Year! Cheers!