Car got towed

Monday was an excellent day. Two o'clock on Monday brought a lot of relief. So excited about the future...in the high-heels previously discussed..

It was Tuesday night. The perfect night to go out for a good dinner and half-priced margarita at a cheap Mexican restaurant with good friends. On the way back, my car stalled out and quit running entirely. It wouldn't start back up. The computer system in it had failed. Not sure how this happened to a relatively new car. So, it's at the dealership getting "fixed." I have a rental car, thanks to my kind friend, Caroline, for driving me around today. We'll hope that it's all covered under warranty, as the car people think it is!

Otherwise, this is a good, but busy, week. Fall Symposium is Friday. That's pretty exciting!

Here's a picture of little Abby from the vacation we took last weekend.

RED high heels

Today I bought five new pairs of shoes.

Two pairs are boots.

Three pairs are high heels.

One of the three pairs is bright RED.

Oh, yes, they are.

Oh, yes, I am already anxious to wear them.

Surprise.

Just a tinge...

I'm just a tinge...

...happy to get this good news.
...excited about the future.
...totally in love with the Lord.
...thrilled to be doing this master's program.
...proud of my sweet, sweet puppy.
...uneasy about midterms.
...preoccupied with the fall weather and cooler temperatures.
...hopeful that The Tide can take it all the way this season.
...obsessive-compulsive about raking leaves.
...full of anticipation.
...searching for the right opportunity to wear my great new outfit.
...dedicated to my family and friends.
...thankful for my life circumstances.
...faithful that I'm on the right path and never got off of it.
...delighted be on vacation.
...antsy about my future.
...curious of what that first job will be.
...worried about how often I'm craving chocolate.
...crazy.

Yep, that sums up the week just right. Abby and I are on vacation until Sunday evening. It's nice. We don't get away enough. I'm sure the leaves have totally covered my whole back yard, patio, and walkway since we've been gone, but I'll get to that Sunday evening, I suppose. Surely it'll be alright as long as the neighbors water my flowers. It's time to put out mums, anyway.. Thank goodness it is mid-term. I am so excited about that fact, aside from still having to take one last midterm exam on Tuesday. The next couple of weeks--well, really until the end of the semester--are going to be crazy.

Letting go of the life I planned for me (and loving it!)

Roll Tide! The Tide beat Kentucky today. I watched the game at Amanda's. She's on her way to my place now for our weekly spend-the-night before church. Speaking of church, I am so excited about that! It is such a great feeling to go into that place each time and feel revived with the love of Christ.

General wrap-up of the week:
Things went well this week. I'm enjoying clinic and classes. I'm probably a tiny bit better at the classes part, but am getting more comfortable doing clinic and think it'll all level out soon. Thursday night was so fun. Anna and I took Julie out for dinner and drinks for her birthday! It was the perfect Thursday night. Today I enjoyed some fall weather while shopping, a great football game, and a good pizza with my favorite friend! I might have some homework to catch up on tomorrow...

If you haven't heard "I'm Letting Go" by Francesca Battistelli, you should!

My heart beats, standing on the edge
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There’s no turning back

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe

So I’m letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe

So I’m letting go
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
Feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me

*I totally advise following the advice in these lyrics!

All is well ?

Blair and I at the Coco Cohort Party

After the second week of clinic, I'm not sure how to answer the above stated question. Ha. It's been a reallllllly long and difficult week for us all, I presume. After having my first week of full clinic (which means two clients coming twice per week), I am worn out. Doing clinic isn't nearly as hard as planning for it--and we'll all attest to that!

Nevertheless, it's been a good week. I am still here, so that is one to list on the pros side. It was great to get out last night. Anna and I grabbed the most delicious Chinese food ever from the New China in Bluff Park (my old Hoover neighborhood). I've missed it too much since moving far, far from there midways through the summer. However, my new neighborhood has far too many perks for it to be a great concern, but I do have to make the trip to The China a few times a month! Dependency, you think? Today is going to be really exciting. Amanda and I are finally seeing the movie "The Women" and I deeply suspect that I will get some genuine enjoyment out of that one, if you know what I mean! Love it! Hopefully, we'll follow the movie with dinner..

On the subject of the debate last night: Go out there in November and "Barack the Vote!" Woot.

I got to thinking, it's almost time for a really spontaneous adventure. By planning to take a spontaneous adventure, one might suspect that takes the spontaneity out of it, but oh contrare...it can still be crazy. Fall break is coming up, after all...

Good things that happened this week:
1. Starbucks began serving their fall drinks (namely, the pumpkin spice latte)
2. The weather cooled off so much that I needed a light jacket to walk Abby at her routine 5:30 a.m. time slot
3. I got a sassy haircut, which would make any week go from okay to great
4. I think most of my cohort survived clinic
5. Ate at New China
6. Whatever happens today and tonight

"Whatever's out there waiting for me, I'm gonna face it will-ing-ly.."

Waiting for the weekend...I am so excited about the weekend. This first week of clinic has been entirely exhausting. For those of you who don't know what I mean by "the first week of clinic," I am referring to my first week of working as a graduate clinician in my graduate program at the university's speech and hearing center. Eeeek! It's crazy to think that I am actually working one-on-one with clients. It is such a pleasure (an exhausting and stressful pleasure, that is) to be working with children on their language skills. Good thing I am enjoying it so far...it is, indeed, what I plan to spend my life doing (if having children and being a mother doesn't work out so well, that is...which at this point, it appears that getting this master's is definitely in my favor..). Wonderful. I'm excited about the weekend, in part, because my family is coming down to visit. It's been long awaited for my dad to take a peep in my tool shed to see if the opossum is still residing there. I believe Abby and I saw it sneak out the back gate of the yard this afternoon, but I'm not sure that it was the opossum because we were standing in the kitchen looking out the glass doors. If it was the opossum, I fear for us all. Also, Friday will probably be a pretty sweet day. I don't have any clients to see, so I'll be doing homework at school all day and going to class. Late Friday afternoon, I am getting my haircut. That makes me pretty happy.

Abby turned one today. I surprised her with some presents--a couple of new toys, a blankie, a collar (as I'm transitioning her from a harness to a "big girl collar"), a new jacket, and some yummy little chewies. We're having a little party for her this weekend, as well. The dog is ruined. I know this.

Finally, I would just like to say how much I am looking forward to...well, everything! I am enjoying my master's program tremendously (that may change after next week's neurology test..), loving having so much time to spend with my friends, and really enjoying having this lovely house (minus mowing the grass every week and cleaning a bigger space). Things are working well for me. It's a good time...it's almost fall time...that's my favorite time.

If you don't know of Joss Stone's song "Right to be Wrong," you might ought to give it a listen:

"I've got a right to be wrong
My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
Got a mind of my own
I'm flesh and blood to the bone
I'm not made of stone

Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone
I've got a right to be wrong
I've been held down too long
I've got to break
I can finally breathe
Got THE right to be wrong
Got to sing my own song
I might be singing out of key
But it sure feels good to me
Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

You're entitled to your opinion
But it's really my decision
I can't turn back I'm on a mission
If you care don't you dare blur my vision
Let me be all that I can be
Don't smother me with negativity
Whatever's out there waiting for me
I'm going to face it willingly

I've got a right to be wrong
My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
I've got a mind of my own
Flesh and blood to the bone
See, I'm not made of stone
I've got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone"

Opossum..

I had a confrontation with a opossum. Things were going great with the whole having a house situation until yesterday when I went out to my tool shed to get out the mower, leaf blower, and broom to do my yard work. As I opened the door, something scrambled. I quickly closed the door, ran and jumped on my swing and screamed for my neighbor over the fence. After working up some courage, I re-opened the shed door and the critter was no where to be found. I guess it escaped when I wasn't watching. It was a giant opossum. I mean, about the size of Abby. My neighbors on either side have spotted it in their yards recently, as well. Is that not just concerning? Well, now I am afraid to let Abby out without me being out there, too. Eeeek! I have also recently had a chameleon run inside as I opened my glass door on the front of the house. I was going out to water the flower beds. The little lizard guy ran into the house and played a game of chase with Abby before heading straight up my full-length curtains. I had to pick the fella up with my hand and toss him outside. Ewww. I don't know what's going on around here. It's kind of becoming a jungle!

Aside from those happenings, graduate school is so busy! Clinic starts Monday. Everyone is overwhelmed with therapy planning. The weekend will be welcomed with a gathering of friends for movie night, a french themed Coco Channel party, and going to see The Women, which is premiering this weekend. We need the fun...let me tell ya..

Why things are really GrEaT right NOW:
1. Not to dwell on this, but...fall is coming. In fact, it's been in the high 60s when I walk Abby in the mornings.
2. Roll Tide! It's football season.
3. Spending more time with friends.
4. Graduate school is kind of fun...even the classes.
5. I love this neighborhood. And town.
6. I have been enjoying going to church with Amanda.
7. Abby is about to turn 1.