Friday, June 30, 2006

My Condolences

To the Walker family. Former head football coach at Miami University, current head football coach at Northwestern University, and member of the Cradle of Coaches. Please keep this family in your prayers.

I know she doesn't read this, but Abbey (and Brian), I'm thinking about you!

Thursday, June 29, 2006

help!

Does anyone know how to clean a bathroom in a town where the water is VERY hard? I'm not having much luck.

Monday, June 26, 2006

It's official.

I don't live in Cincinnati anymore. It was sad listening to the radio this morning, thinking that I don't have to even bother with the traffic updates. Everything is moved, but there is a lot of organizing to do.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Band for a Lifetime

My turn after Mdog and Rachel. Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY in titles of their songs. I chose who else, but Lifehouse. You should check out the lyrics to some of these songs, they are great!

1. Are you male or female? Only One

2. Describe yourself: Somewhere In Between

3. How do some people feel about you? Cling And Clatter

4. How do you feel about yourself? Better Luck Next Time

5. Describe your ex: Somebody Else's Song

6. Describe your current significant other: Unknown

7. Describe where you want to be: Into The Sun

8. Describe how you live: Days Go By

9. Describe how you love: Am I Ever Gonna Find Out

10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish? Take Me Away

11. Share a few words of wisdom: Hanging By A Moment

12. Now say goodbye: The End Has Only Begun

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Goodbye

There are only two days remaining in my sometimes 45, usually 50 minute commute. This sound weird, but I think I might actually miss it. I rather enjoy the time to relax in the morning, I'm going against the traffic, so it's a smooth trip. What I don't like, is having to leave my house at 7:05 (usually 7:15) in the AM and getting home later in the PM. Now, I will have more time, hopefully put towards more quality sleep, exercise, and attention for Tally. No commute means little time for music and audio books, less gas money spent, and fewer miles on the car. Can you believe I've put 18,000 miles on my car in 7 months?

Does anyone else have a commute? If so, do you mind it? I have to enjoy my next two mornings!

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Reunion Weekend 2006

I had my first true Reunion Weekend experience this year. Last year, I only helped/ran the Reunion Road Run. But this year, I was involved with more activities. I worked the Reunion Road Run in the morning (here at 6:15am!) and after clean up, some of us workers and volunteers went to breakfast. I returned to my future home in time to change for the Student-Athlete Reunion in the fairly new Gross Student-Athlete Center. It was neat to see a bunch of football, baseball, swimming, track, and other assorted athletes get together from the various classes, but the class most represented was the Class of 1956, for their 50th Reunion. I couldn't help but think about if I will come back to Miami for Reunion Weekend in 45 years. At the Student-Athlete Reunion, I worked registration until the program started and then left for Alumni Band rehearsal. I wasn't going to play, but one of my higher ups talked me into it, I think b/c of the low turnout. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Now, I think that any chance I get to play I have fun. My worry was that I wouldn't know anyone, but there were a couple familiar faces. We rehearsed for about an hour before heading up to the Hub for the Parade of Classes. There wasn't much organization with the parade, but everyone gathered as Dr. Shriver spoke of Miami history before we made the walk to the Alumnifest area (south quad). There, we gathered to here Dr. Garland's last public address before his retirement and we dismissed for dinner, music, and fellowship. An hour later, Alumni Band played for each tent (a tent for each decade of classes) and then were free to enjoy the festivities. It was good conversation with some fellow bandos and colleagues.

I recommend any Miami Alumni to register for next year. It would be great to get more young people there to show the older classes that we have pride in Miami as much as they do. Go 'Skins!

Friday, June 16, 2006

Miss Crow

Why did I ever think that I didn't like Sheryl Crow and her music? I am currently loving every minute of her greatest hits, even the songs I used to hate. She's awesome. I want to be like Sheryl! That means I want to have a great singing voice, learn the guitar, be muscular and fit after age 40, and date Lance - I'm so sad they broke up though).

Tally

Photobucket - Video and Image HostingSo, it's time to do a post on Tally, my roommate of 4 years, my only roommate currently. I don't know what I would do without her! She is so cute (the picture doesn't do her justice, she's just not very photogenic) and it's great to have her around. Tally can be a bit needy at times, she likes to lick pretty much everything, especially your skin, walls, pictures, the straps on a back pack, etc (yes, I realize this is weird). I don't mind her licking my arms or hands, but when that little sandpaper-like tongue wants to go for my face, I draw the line. She requires a lot of attention and can be very vocal sometimes. I always wonder what she is saying and thinking, because animals definitely have individual personalities and I just want to know what she is talking about. Cats are so forgiving, I can push Tally away from me and ignore her at times, but then she will immediately come back asking me to pet her and that is comforting.

When we move, I think she will enjoy life a little bit more (what's not to like when all you do is sleep, eat, and look cute?). Tally will have another person from which to receive attention, I will not be gone for such long stretches of time, and she will have more space to roam around (different places to sleep). It will be an adjustment for her, so I always worry how she will handle a new environment. Wouldn't it be nice to be a cat sometimes?

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Painting Fun

I just got home from painting my new bedroom (in Oxford). It's a pretty sky-ish blue with just the tiniest hint of green. More specifically called "Dreaming Blue." Whatever that means. I'm pretty excited about it. I hope the calm, cheery atmosphere will help with my depression. It will be nice to kind of start over in a new cozy home with a new roommate, even if it is in a small college town. I love being independent and living by myself in the city, but my place lacks natural light and is not maintained to it's fullest potential (what exactly do landlords do with rent money?). Plus the key factor is that this is a good move financially. Yay for a blue bedroom!

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Chicago

OK, I should have posted on this earlier. I went to Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend. Well, Portage, IN, then Chicago, then back to Portage, to be exact. It was an interesting trip. Hotter than hell, for sure. In Portage, I hung out with my high school friend, Rachel, her husband, Eric, and their son, Malachi. Malachi was born in November and this was the first time I met him. He's a very cute baby. I will admit that I was a bit weirded out by the whole baby thing. It just seems like we are still kids ourselves.

Saturday, I went to visit my grad school friend, Miriam in Chicago. She lives on the South Side of Chicago, RIGHT BY THE LAKE. It was so pretty, we took a walk along the trail and park near Lake Shore Drive. It was so neat to have the nature area of the park surrounded by the city. We ate dinner downtown at Brazzoz, a Brazilian Steakhouse. Very good. It's like a meat buffet. You go up to get your salad and then the waiters bring around 16 different cuts of meat and you can take it or decline. They keep coming until you tell them to stop by turning a card over by your place setting.

Anyway, Sunday, we worked out at the YMCA and participated in a step aerobics class. I thought I was going to die, but I managed to barely make it through the class. After our workout, we headed downtown for a little Michigan Avenue shopping. Since it was so hot, we were moving slow. It was fun to go to H&M, Ghirardelli, Gap, Banana Republic, Marshall Fields, Niketown, etc. etc. Stores are so much bigger there! After a long day of shopping we headed out for some Chicago style pizza at Giordano's. Very yummy. I was back to Portage Sunday night.

Monday was spent just hanging out, doing Malachi's morning routine. Eric went to work at 2pm, then Rachel left at 5:30pm for work. That left me alone with Malachi for 6 hours on my own. I did volunteer for this. He cried for the first hour (normally a happy baby) and didn't take the bottle. Luckily after that first hour he only cried when I left the room to go to the bathroom or something(I wasn't neglecting him, it was just an extension of the living room). He ate his dinner, and went to bed just a little past the scheduled time. Whew. I can't imagine having kids. Good luck to those of you who do. My thoughts could change further down the road, but definitely not the thing for me. Tuesday morning I headed back to the Nati. I know this is long, but I just wanted to post the story.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Signs

I figured out one way to confirm whether or not your landlord has received your intent to vacate letter. Wait for the "For Rent" sign to pop up in the yard. It's official.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Interesting Article

terrorist or marriage material?

the hatch

so i finally know what is in the hatch. i'm hoping they will play the rest of the season of LOST in order this summer so i can catch up and be on track for the start of the third season. now, i'm just waiting to find out what happened to those people on the raft.