Perfect weekend

This weekend was great! Abby and I had my family here to visit. That was such a treat. We had a great time. We certainly ate well as we always do, but this time we used my new grill. Amanda came for a cookout and it was excellent. The yard landscaping is nearly complete, complemented by my weekend purchase of a swing for the patio. Abby has taken it over--it was supposed to seat two... I'm so thankful for such a great weekend. I have cute pictures of Abby during the excitement to put up later.

Weekend Successes:
1. Front flower bed is completed
2. Swing is out back on the patio ready for visitors
3. Grill is put together and already completed a test round that yielded perfect shrimp, steak, and chicken kabobs
4. House is clean and awaiting the final furnishings

Listening to the rain

It's late (by my standards for a week night) and raining. Yes, I get that it is only in the 10 o'clock hour, but I am usually sleeping by now! I have two days off work and I always love time off work because I get to be on my own schedule. How fun. Tomorrow will be filled with groceries and errands. Oh, how I love a good, long Publix run and lingering in shops here and there--it ought to make for a nice day. My family is planning to make it down for the weekend, so I am counting on my dad helping finish my landscaping. Unfortunately, laying grass (and keeping it alive) is not my strength in this world, though all of my flowers are still making it fine since my planting the other week. Jon and Kate + 8 is on right now. I don't even know what comes on at this time of night. Wild.

Things I Want to do ONE [distant] Day:

1. Backpack across some place
2. Take another cruise...and another...
3. Work on [and potentially earn] my PhD.
4. And, [in conflict with the previous] work part-time or no-time [to fulfill the following].
5. Have a family of my own, including children--a houseful would suit.
6. Move to South Carolina (It's a lovely state. Been much?)
7. Get another puppy...Abby needs a sister. I'd like to have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel...

An ideal weekend

Sumo dinner with great friends!

Some of my flowers out front!

Abby and I after her "spa" day.

This was such a great weekend! One of my best good friends, Meghan, came to visit from Atlanta. It was great. We caught up over great food on Friday night and shopped Saturday! Abby had gone to the "spa" on Friday, and was cute through Saturday morning, before she played in the flower beds! Nevertheless, the dog is "cleaned," cut, and has a cute pink bow on each ear--what she should always look like! Right... After the fun of Saturday night at dinner, today Meghan, Amanda, and I had such a hard day...we layed at the pool tanning and relaxing. I did get home this evening and do yardwork, though, so I have done a little work this weekend. It was perfect.

Wishing the week away

I'm always wishing away the week by Wednesday. Can't wait until the weekend--this one in particular. My good friend from Atlanta is coming to visit, so that should make for a fun time to catch up. I'm looking forward to visiting on the patio [over a bottle of wine], chatting about life, and getting some shopping done. It will be fantastic. It's a shame to wish away such a fun week as this one could be, but by Wednesday I am just so ready to go without a schedule! Unfortunately, the dog does not feel the same...so I am always on her schedule. This summer I have wished away more time that ever, but I really have enjoyed working as a nanny this summer. It has been so much fun to go to the pool and do ten-year-old projects and live in the dramatic world of two ten-year-olds. Most frequently I find myself reminiscing my early summers, trying to pinpoint what I did each summer of my life, and imagining what I will do in the summers to come--knowing that there won't be another one like this--just wondering how things will continue to change and being amazed by the path this life has taken. More than likely, I'll be working in the coming summers, as the kids I nanny for often remind me that this is the "last summer of my childhood," as they know that I'll be taking classes next summer and finishing my master's coursework that following fall. Haha, I think, the last summer of my childhood, but in so many ways, it really is that final summer. So, it is what it is and, come what may, it will be what God wills it be. That was rather nostalgic and, indeed, it was vague. How unlike me...

Favorite foods (in honor of my Ruby Tuesday's dinner tonight with Katie):

1. THE chicken #1 add cheese with sweet tea
2. Cinnamon waffles
3. Salad with italian dressing
4. Strawberries
5. Sorbet (raspberry, namely)
6. Pasta (anything)
7. Steak and shrimp

Cinnamon waffles, please

Have you tried frozen cinnamon waffles? Well, you ought to. Noticing that I was out of them tonight, I immediately headed to Publix to get more. They are wonderful. Perfect to eat on the go with work these days, as I opt to skip the syrup and butter. I also picked up some delicious chocolate ice cream, though I don't eat chocolate ice cream. There is a time for everything. Today, it's chocolate ice cream. Today I got great news that my good friend is coming for a visit to my new house from Atlanta. There is bound to be shopping, good food, and great wine. How wonderful the weekend will be! It is expected that my final furnishings will also be delivered this weekend--namely, my sofas. Wonderous. Abby is feeling better after he terrible sickness after our trip to the lake. She got a little wild jumping off the dock...thank goodness for puppy lifejackets. Will have to get up a video of brat dog's swimming experience. Since I don't have anything to make a list of this time, I'll end after jabbering about not much of anything..

Fall is coming

I get that it's only nearing mid-July, but fall is coming. Autumn is my favorite time of year. Good things happen in the fall, the air is crisp, leaves are colorful and crunchy, chimneys start up, and the Tide takes the field. I also like the general principle of Autumn: trees shed their leaves to expect new ones in the spring...it's a preparation time for what will be..love it. There just isn't anything I like more than fall weather. Summertime is great, but if I'm not near water at every moment, I'm not satisfied. It's hot--sticky hot. Sticky, humid hot. Thankfully, I glisten in the sunlight, like all of you other women. Being on the lake in the boat reeling in a bass or lounging on the dock relaxes me. And the food! Oh, summer food on the grill...pineapple, peppers, and the like on kabobs. Still, I welcome that crisp, fresh air...
This year I will welcome it with the start of my regular two-year graduate program at Montevallo where I am earning my master's in speech-language pathology, not such a far cry from my bachelor's in English, eh? I am seizing control of my future and studying what will make, for me, a very satisfying career (in which I intend to work part-time..shh!). Last year I was a part of the graduate program for this year (if that makes sense) as a non-background student. Basically, I took about nine or ten courses that are most necessary for success in the master's program. That caught me up from having no academic background in SLP to feeling, well, moderately knowledgable about SLP. Grand--so it seems.

Well, I have concerns for the fall and here they are (knowing already how much I enjoy lists...and crossing items off of them in the future..):

1. Preparing for clinic
2. Succeeding in clinic
3. Being a good clinician
4. Studying enough
5. Having a solid background for the new material
6. Not being overwhelmed

First things first

We'll see where this goes...this is my attempt to be more dilligent at recording what is happening in my life (namely, graduate school) and where I see it going. Perhaps, this will be inspirational for me in some way. It might even help me prioritize, though my OCD-like tendencies help with that, as well. It might even help me rediscover how much I like writing and the literary world, seeing how I've tilted to the sciences for a career (meaning, speech-language pathology) from my love of literature classes in college. I'll try to update it somewhat routinely and Abby, my precious puppy, will make frequent appearances, too.

Here are some things I need or want to do:

1. Stay committed to my daily devotional Bible study
2. Succeed in my master's program
3. Read more
4. Finish decorating my new house
5. Learn how to landscape (and it look good)
6. TRAVEL
7. Save more money
8. Visit friends
9. Get a new camera
10. Update my iPod, meaning actually add songs to it and use it