Ten Things (and one for luck)

Guess what?

Last weekend we went to Six Flags. I didn't have exams to study for, foreign vocabulary words to memorize, papers to write, presentations to create and then, er, present. I didn't have group projects to stress over and I didn't need to do any reading that I didn't want to do. I didn't need to make flash cards. I didn't have to memorize a sonnet and then perform it in front of a disinterested audience. I didn't have to cry over my computer keyboard wailing, "I've got nothing left to ggggiiiiive."  

I was able to read an entire book for pleasure. Thank you, John Irving! I owe you my sanity, such as it is. I lounged around in our hotel suite, took wicked hot baths, watched true crime shows on TV, and made memories with my family as we hurtled down the rollercoaster tracks screaming until we were hoarse. It was, frankly, awesome.

Welcome, Summer. Have I mentioned that I love you?

Is it too late to mention that I was in an earthquake?

Because I totally was! I know everyone in the Midwest has already blogged about this, and it occurred about a month ago, but it was still something I've never experienced before and therefore significant and memorable. All things considered, I'd be happy to never experience another earthquake; next time we might not have the luxury of lying in bed discussing what it is you're supposed to do. (Get under a table, I said, and I'm sticking with that.)

There goes my GPA

For now I'm going to celebrate getting all A's this semester, but when Purdue switches to +/- next semester I am, for want of a better word, screwed. Who can get over 95% in every class to earn an A+? Not me.

I'm not saying that friends that buy gifts are the best kind, but it certainly doesn't hurt

I have a great friend that called me the week before finals and told me to swing by her office on campus because she had a "finals surprise" for me. It was the best thing I could have asked for -- 24 boxes of Lemonheads!

Lemonheads are the best thing since sliced bread

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"That's 2 boxes a day for 12 days, or 3 boxes a day for 8 days," she told me. More like 24 boxes in one day, but who's counting?

Best. Bag. Ever.

I have engaged in more than a little retail therapy over the past few weeks and Todd has helped me considerably. He instigated the purchase of a fold-out sofa bed for the office, two desks, hutches, and matching filing cabinet (also for the office), an armchair, and various other pieces of furniture like two gorgeous trunks. One evening he even said, -- (I'm not making this up) -- "Come to Hobby Lobby to pick out nick-nacks with me."

For mega reals.

He said that.

Such was the wild dispersement of funds that when my debit card number got stolen, and I called the bank to find out why there was a hold on my card, I had to think about the question "Did you charge $1,300 of airline tickets?" Wait...did I?

Anyway, among my mad spending at The Buckle and Target I found this bag which, although I don't even carry a bag, had to be bought and loved.

Bacon and Egg Bag

Movie Recommendation?

Go and see Forgetting Sarah Marshall. You will laugh I guarantee it (or I will give you your money back.)

This is not our parents' generation

I was taking a nap when the phone rang. "Oh, sorry. Did I wake you?" asked Todd. I replied in the affirmative. "Well, go back to sleep," he said "but I just called to tell you that I made us both a Botox appointment for the 30th."

I knew when I got Botox Todd would want it too, I just didn't know he'd start scheduling my appointments for me.

I probably shouldn't even mention that I'm also getting a chemical peel and microdermabrasion.

Medical Confessions

I've talked about the vein surgery thing a couple of times so let me just clear it up for those that have expressed a desire to know. I had a varicose vein in my leg and I've had it since I was nineteen years old.  When Jesse was a baby I noticed what I thought was an insect bite on my calf, but when I examined it, I realized with horror that it was a little varicose vein and did I mention that I was NINETEEN YEARS OLD?! I lived with it for ten years but recently I started getting a lot of pain in my thigh. An ultrasound revealed that I had "diseased valves" which, thanks but no thanks, let's take care of that, shall we? The first surgery entailed closing a big vein in my thigh with a laser which requires just a tiny incision. Follow-up to that involves getting chemical injections (many of them) which kill the little feeder veins they don't put pressure on the big vein and re-open it. Lastly, I had the trauma of having sections of vein physically removed so that, while there was no pain whatsoever, I could feel my veins tug, tug, tugging out of my body and that, my friends, is what made me call to the nurse, "Get me a sick bucket!"

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Jesse and Todd took off for Peru this morning and, I have to say, I miss them bunches already. Libby and I already had three days alone last week when Jesse was at 5th grade camp and Todd was on business. I think we are going to get a little sick of each other. (But speaking of sick, we have plans that involve calling Libby in sick at school for two days. Shhhh!)

Bon Voyage, Jesse

Todd travels loads but we still speak to each other dozens of times a day. Not having any contact with my boys is unusual and lonely. When Libby sleeps at her friend's house tomorrow night I seriously don't know what I'll do with myself. I know that Todd will look after Jesse and I am thrilled that they are taking this trip together. (How's that for unintentional alliteration?) When I told Todd to look after my boy he said, "I'm going to have him sleep in the jungle covered in Yellow Fever-infected mosquitoes." Such a parasitologist thing to say.

Speaking of Yellow Fever...

Guess who's going to the Summer Olympics in Beijing???

ME, that's who!

Because my husband is awesome and makes things happen, that's why.

Finally, look who got fixed

You can't say no to me