I suppose I'll start with an introduction on why I decided to do this.

I'm the kind of person that prefers to be in a relationship. I love the idea of falling in love, of having someone who loves me, of having someone to be with. I don't like to be alone. It's not a compulsive, earth-shattering need, but it's a strong personal preference. If I can have a boyfriend, I'd like to have one, please and thank you.

My archetype is a set thing: intelligent, with a dose of arrogance, medium build, lanky, attractive, self-knowledge of attractiveness.

All of these guys turn out to be either complete screw-ups, complete douchebags, or a combination of the two. Inevitably, each has broken my heart.

Until I met Jody. The sweetest, most genuine, most adorable person I've ever known. I never would have picked him out of a crowd, but I'd never give him back now. He makes me laugh like I've just discovered what funny is, makes me open my eyes to new things every day, he handles my crazy and my temper and never wants me to leave mad. He amazes me all the time.

So of course, he would have to graduate a year ahead of me, pack up his things and send them home, and then jump on an airplane to spend five weeks in Spain.

Which left me to cry in my bed for a while, watching time tick by. And that's stupid and pointless. So after a couple of days of moping and being bored out of my skull, I decided to make good use of my vast amount of "me time" and do something productive.

I've got a little over a month to do all the things I've ever wanted to do as a single lady, without the annoyance of trying to line up the next boyfriend. Hopefully, I'll learn a lot more about myself, gain some independence, and be a stronger me so that we can be a stronger couple.

I've really got a great thing going, and I'm so happy about it. It's worth a little work.

Super super quick because I have to leave for the airport in approximately 23 minutes and I'm not completely all packed up and ready, but I'm mostly set.

I just figured I should post something on my very last day, because I made it through, we made it through.

I've learned a lot in this five weeks. I've learned that some friendships are forgettable, others unbreakable. I've learned that new friendships are fantastic, but sometimes you should go with your first impression and stay away from guys that give off douchey vibes in the first place.

I've learned bars are fun, but go easy on the shots. Cosmopolitans are amazing.

I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought, and that I can break open my own knuckles with the power I have in my own body. I've learned that I will never look like a Victoria's Secret model, but I look like everyone else does in a bikini, and that's fine with me.

I've learned that original kettle chips are to die for, cracked pepper kettle chips give you hearburn for six hours.

I've learned that little boys are so much easier to deal with than little girls, and I could stand to have one of my own someday. I've learned that work can be fun and amazing, just as long as I have the right energy and attitude toward it.

I've learned that I'm capable of being an independent person, that I have an amazing person by my side, and we're going to make it through this summer- or this year, even- totally fine.

So many other things I can't even list... it's been a fantastic summer.

And I'm about to learn that I can navigate Dallas traffic alone. I'm terrfied! But I'll make it through, I've survived worse. And by God, I am making it to that airport. Anything in my way is in serious trouble.

I was a couple days behind... now I've slipped into weeks behind, and rather than abandon it altogether, I'll update on what's happened and change the course of this a little bit.

Firstly, since I started summer school, life has settled into a routine again, which is good, it's something I need. I have my mornings for me-time, then school for two hours, then work for two hours, then in the evenings I'm usually hanging out with friends or doing errands or whathaveyou.

With that routine, I've had less extraordinary, breaking-news adventures, and I really don't like taking the time to sit down and hammer out what I did. Sometimes interesting things happen, but sometimes it's the most ordinary things, and I'm perfectly happy. I thought I would need this, every day to get me through this five weeks, and I'm very glad to say I don't. I'm a perfectly independent, self-sufficient, social person. I miss him like you wouldn't believe, but I don't need him. So I guess the ultimate goal of this was reached pretty quickly.

I'm going to keep this up, not as a daily log, but for the milestones we reach as a couple through this summer. Even at the end of the five weeks it won't be easy, but it'll be easier.

And that five weeks ends in ten days... you wouldn't believe how excited I am!

So, on my life, a few interesting developments. Taekwondo is much more intense than I expected, and he keeps us the entire two hours. It's really fun- I've found I enjoy punching and kicking the shit out of things. Also, I've discovered that my thighs, and my ass that gives me constant grief by refusing to fit into small panties even though I'm a size 2/4, have a lot of muscle. It took an instructor and an entire class staring me down to pinpoint my strengths as an opponent, but when I got down into a sparring stance and everyone went, "legs, legs!" I finally reconciled with my body. Also, I can roundkick like nobody's business, thanks to my gluteous maximus.

And because I've felt so good in the afternoons after class, I've started to go to yoga and the wellness classes that I never had the courage to go to. I started out going with Amanda to piyo, which was really pretty easy. Then Monday I went to yoga with a different instructor (by myself!) and it kicked my ass up and down. But going to a class with other people who do not have the beautiful, swan-like bodies and grace of the instructor makes you feel better when you topple out of triangle. After I fell and was contemplating whether or not it was worth it to try again, the girl next to me went, "Hell no!" and it made my entire night.

Today I tried to do cardio, but I wimped out of it after about 25 minutes of my initial 60-minute goal. Cardio sucks. Also the crappy elliptical was the only machine open and it wouldn't let me input my weight, so the resistance and heartrate was off. Tomorrow I'm going to do yoga again, and I may go to one of the cardio classes Thursday instead of leaving myself to my own crappy discipline.

Work has also been really really great. Like, so amazing it doesn't feel like work. I have all boys now, and they are blessed, sweet little boys that listen and ask permission. They wait outside quietly for me to get there, they aren't catty and they don't backtalk- why have I hated on boys so long? They're great. I'm kind of massively confused as to what to do with them, but they seem to like glitter and hula hoops just fine, so we're compromising nicely. Also, the two hours, four days a week works SO much better than the three hours, three days schedule. And having a whole weekend with no obligations makes it so much easier to go to work on Monday and have a good attitude about it. Mostly, I'm thrilled to have my weekends back.

I also turned 21... which was a learning experience, and that's all we're going to say about it. I have moved beyond the "never drinking again" stage and into the, "I'd like to have a beer with friends every now and then" but I will never, EVER, drink as much as quickly as I did on Saturday. An oil millionaire was buying us all shots, and it was all very flattering, but- ugh, no, over it.

In Jody-related news, he said his first "I love you." I, of course, have said it several times, because sometimes my head has this disease where even when I know it's too early for him, I have to blurt it out anyway. And I pretty much fell in love with him the first day. But him saying it was a big big deal, and it took me by surprise. He'd sent me a text to call him ASAP, so I did, and really he only needed me to check on some flight information for him since he couldn't get internet. I promised to look everything up as soon as I could get to a computer, and then before we were about to hang up there was this strange awkward moment, and he said, "I love you."

My reaction was, "omg nuh uh really?" mixed with "GOD FINALLY" Which I vocalized with a slightly more intelligent, "...do you really?"

And then he said, "Yes," and I smiled so big my face hurt and I said, "Thank you, baby!" And then, I remembered, at some point, to say it back. It was the cutest moment and it was perfect and it's still awkward but that's okay with me. The fact that he said it made me cry uncontrollable happy tears. You know, the one where water just pours out of your face, but it doesn't make you look ugly and blotchy like sad-crying does.

We've made a lot of big steps. Thanks to his crazy ex-girlfriends, him opening up makes little milestones. First was taking the title of boyfriend. His brain had made the association that being boyfriend/girlfriend = crazy. But we tackled that. Then it was me leaving a couple of things at his place when I stayed over, instead of packing everything up every morning. Then it was doing little domestic things together, like dishes and cooking. Then it was him leaving the apartment key for me so I could sleep in when he went to 8 a.m. class. (That was a BIG deal, won over mostly by my horrific morning personality and him giving up on trying to get my ass up.) Then it was admitting emotional attachment, and now, he can say that he loves me. Baby steps! But we're moving forward, and I think I like it better this way. He's forcing me to take things slowly, and we're growing together instead of me trucking headlong into crazyville.

Which, by the way, Cosmo says is completely normal when you're in love. But anyway I'm glad he keeps me in check.

We've had a couple little fights, but every time I get a text with "are you still mad at me baby?" I can't be mad at him, especially this far away. Our fights are stupid anyway, but it's hard when you're across the ocean and you can't see someone. I miss his face and his smile more than anything, I think. Also, the discovery that I can text him for free has helped a lot. I can send him messages and know he's getting them instantly, which is much easier than sending an e-mail and knowing it might take days for him to read it. And usually in the afternoons I get one or two texts from him (at fifty cents a pop) and he doesn't seem so far away.

I bought a Josh Hamilton Rangers Jersey to surprise him with when I pick him up from the airport. It's a guy thing, I guess, to think it's hot when a girl wears sports memorabilia. Psh, whatever. But he really liked it when I playfully tried on the (little boys, sigh) jerseys at Academy. But they're so expensive, my gosh! I managed to get one online for $35 with shipping, really thick and nicely sewn and rich colors, with the number of his favorite player sewn in on the back. An $80 jersey, it's a steal. Unfortunately, the youth large completely swamps me. So I have to send it back for a small. I am the size of a small boy. My life is awesome.

I also got a dress for the "opera" since all the prom dresses that didn't sell at Macy's and Dillards and stuff have ended up at Ross. It's a pretty black one with a sequin bow and a really cute bustline that's a good standby black dress (you can never have too many) and it's believably dressy enough for an opera while not being too dressy for where we're really going. It doesn't hit quite right, but that's a problem I usually have. It's fine with the five-inch sex heels, but I'm still going to see if I can get it taken up. The lining of the dress should be no problem, it's just a straight hem. It's the mesh overlay that I'm worried about. I don't think you can hem that. I guess I'll just have to take it in and see.

I think that sums everything up until now. I'll try to update more often and not spam my flist with massive rambly posts.

Slept in late... considering how late I was out, 1:30 wasn't too bad. I was also still working off the blahs from last night. Took a bath, let my hair do its own thing, and then Mom called and asked if I wanted to drive up to Lawton with her. I didn't really want to go, but I figured she didn't want to drive the hour into Oklahoma alone, so I said sure. I didn't expect her to hand me the keys, but driving wasn't bad. Well, until we got to the United parking lot and I nearly got hit twice by people flying around or backing up without looking. And goodness,

Still, I'm having loads of bonding time with my mom, and I'm really glad for it. When I was in high school, we fought constantly, but now that I'm older we get along a lot better. The other day she said, "hey, come in here and help me." But really all she wanted to do was talk for a while. We've been doing it almost every night now, and it's a neat little routine. Even when school and stuff starts up again, I"ll keep the routine of coming home for a little while just to gab with her.

Anyway, went up to Lawton so she could pick up her refund check from the Harley Store there- she had so many problems with getting them to write the darn thing we had to drive up there personally rather than chance them mailing it. On the way back, we stopped at the McDonald's next to the big Indian Reserve/ Welcome Center, and it was pretty awful. Normally I'm a pretty forgiving fan of McDonald's, but my nuggets were gross and the fries were gross and for some reason, a teenage employee had brought her baby up to the store, and thus service was non-existant. My mom always complains about the food wherever we go, but this time I agreed with her.

Then we went to the bank (to take Sam's check, glar the girl is useless) and met Greg up at Home Depot to take the lawn mower and the ladder since he has a truck. We got the air-conditioner and paid for everything yesterday, and they held the rest of the stuff for us today.

Came home and just kind of hung out- finished Stranger Than Fiction, a movie I always wanted to watch, but Wade said it was lame and so I never rented it. I'm glad I watched it; as a writer it was neat to have a movie that talks about the writing process, and I also love everything Maggie Gyllenhall does. But I didn't quite get if it was supposed to be funny. I don't think I ever laughed out loud.

Still, I liked it, but it made me miss watching funny movies with Jody. They're so much more enjoyable with him because he closes his eyes and giggles and holds his belly and grabs me and laughs into my shoulder if something strikes him as hilarious. It's adorable, and even if a movie isn't really funny, his reactions make me laugh anyway. I'm getting back into my Netflix to make up for the couple of months I didn't use it at all but still paid for it. Up next is disc 1, season 1 of The Tudors.

Oh, and I'm planning a surprise! Jody really loves this U2 cover band called Mysterious Ways. (He loves real U2, but real Bono does not come into the crowd and sing on tables the way fake Bono does.) We saw them once when they played at a local bar here, but it was a big mess because the girl that was supposed to call and get me on the press list so I could cover the band didn't, I had to pay double cover and got lectured (almost threatened) about what would happen if I tried to drink, and so I was pretty upset all night and I know I kind of ruined his night.

SO. I looked online, and saw that the band is playing Saturday, July 18th in Grapevine, at a pretty famous restaurant. They're also coming back to town here in August, but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun. So I'm going to book a nice hotel room (with the Priceline guarantee!) in downtown Grapevine, then we'll spend the day shopping and doing whatever, then I"m going to surprise him by taking him to see fake U2. It'll hopefully make up for me being a bag of rocks last time, and since I'll be able to drink, too... well, I won't mind being at a fake U2 concert. I don't think he'll have a clue, I've just got to make up some reason why I want to go to Grapevine that day.

My Forever21 dress came in today, too. Ohmigosh it's short.

I don't ever pay attention to the lengths on dresses online- usually they're too long, but if I get the right shape, with heels it falls right. But when I pulled this one out of the bag, the sticker on the bag read "shirt length." I tried it on, and it hits right at my fingertips. It's super cute and the fit of it's perfect- I love how it bubbles out. But short. There's no way anyone taller than 5"3 could wear it and still be decent. I took pictures of me wearing it with my 5-inch sex heels, but I may wear my black bow flats and a little black cardigan to take the emphasis off of so much leg. Hopefully it's still appropriate for a wedding? I think it's adorable and I hate to have to try and find another one.

( The dress! )

Tomorrow I have to go up to work and get set up for the pool party Friday. Yay exciting! I'm also going to tackle my room, since it's my last day of no concrete obligations. Wish me luck.

So, yesterday was a trip.

Started off the day with an adventurous plan to mow the lawn- something I've never done before. After figuring out how to start it, a small adventure in itself, I did a pretty good part of the lawn. But then I kind of killed the mower. It was on its way out anyway, and Mom needed a self-propelled because pushing was too hard on her heart, but... yeah, failed.

Then went to The College Store to sell back Sam's books while Sam was upstairs asleep, which was highly annoying. I argued a little with Mom about how Sam needs to learn how to do things for herself, but she got flustered and went into another one of her "Please just do it" things, so I lost that battle, of course. Just like when I had to pull up Sam's grades and she couldn't even get out of bed to sit at the computer and let me show her how; she was just "too tired."

Alll she does is work and then sleep when she's home- I don't see why Mom lets her get away with not doing anything. I had to go with her to freshman orientation, I bought her books for last semester while she sat at home. It was a fight for her to even print out her schedule so I could know what books to get.

Gr, frustrating. It's her loss- she's not learning how to be an independent person, and after May, I won't be around to hold her hand, so she'll learn then. But still frustrating. And since she took forever to gather her books into a pile so I could take them back, they only gave us a debit charge card instead of cash.

Then after that went to the post office to mail the pictures the kids drew to Spain. It was funny- they drew planes flying over lakes and houses. I couldn't get them to imagine what Spain was like- but I guess when you've grown up in Texas, it's hard to imagine something across the ocean. Anyway, crammed everything into a photo/document envelope, and it was $1.95 for the envelope and then $4.80 for the postage. He charged me for the package rate, which it really was just a large envelope, but he helped me bypass all the stuff with customs, so I'll pay five bucks to mail it. It's the only time I'll get to mail something to Spain.

Then spent all afternoon with Mom. We went to Home Depot to pick out a ladder, lawnmower, and an air-conditioner, since she had a 12-months no interest thing. They wanted $65 to deliver it "sometime this week" and so, instead, we paid Greg $25 to pick it up for us. Then we went to Applebee's. It was nice. I don't think I've ever gone out just with my mom before.

Got home four hours after our initial venture to Home Depot, and I was ready to call it a night, but ended up getting a text to go out. Hung out at Hastings, Wild Wings, and then The Spot- a late-night snack place where I'd never been, and where I had my first fried pickle with ranch. Surprisingly tasty, though I couldn't finish all of it. Then we went storm-chasing and had some late-night discussion, which was nice... but, without getting into it, I don't think I'm allowed to have guy friends, because they never want to stay just guy friends. Anyway.

Came home kind of upset, so I e-mailed Jody. I haven't heard from him since I called him Monday, so I don't know what the doctor said or, really, anything else. I just wish I had some sort of steady contact with him. It would bring some ups to the downs of all this.

Anyway, pictures. A couple of the grass, before and after I broke the mower.

( Also, my cat. )

Really didin't do much today. Finished up my job serving cake, made 75 bucks whoo. The radio station came out to do a remote promo, and so they had pizza and I scored some free game rental coupons from Blockbuster. Kory also came out and we talked for a while, which was nice. I got to spend an hour chatting, rather than sitting there, being really sick of the smell of cake.

Haven't heard from Jody, but I did get his flight information and his trip schedule online, so now I have a little tracker thing for the flight set up on my phone, which is pretty nice. It'll tell me when he leaves and let me know of any delays. I know it's early to think about, but Sam is planning on going that same weekend to Philadelphia. Since I'm already going to be driving to Dallas (which mildly terrifies me) Sam is going to fly out on the 20th so I can drop her off and pick up Jody the same day.

And that way I don't have to drive up by myself. Driving with Sam, who clutched the door handle on my car every time I turned when we went to Quizno's earlier... driving with her in Dallas traffic may be more of a headache than going alone. Also, I"ll get to be in the airport all day and do nothing but wait. But airport waiting isn't so bad when you don't have that gross feeling of, ugggh I'm about to get on a plane. Also, all the cool shops and stuff are outside the security check anyway.

On another note, I've had two offers for dates this weekend, both of which I politely turned down. It's strange- even when I'm perfectly happy and in a committed relationship, I always have little crushes on other guys, and even if not to the extent of a crush, I'm at least attracted to other guys. But this time, I don't think about other guys in terms of, oh, he's gorgeous or I'd like to date him. I think, oh, he's a nice guy. And that's it. Absolutely nothing else. If I notice a guy is physically attractive, the moment is fleeting and then I'm thinking about my guy. When I'm with him, I don't notice anyone else in the world. I've never felt that way before about anyone.

I don't miss him because I'm lonely and I miss having someone- I miss him because I miss him. This is going to be hard, but I don't feel like it's the end of the world or that we'll fail because of distance. I think we'll be just fine.

Anyway, after being done with the cake, came home and helped mom move some stuff around in the garage, then was so tired I fell asleep in the recliner until Sam came in and decided to play Halo at max volume. I'd forgotten to eat anything all day; I just wasn't hungry with all the heat, but I had zero energy. So I scarfed a pesto turkey torpedo sandwich and felt better.

Then after that went to Blockbuster and rented a game, then took the Xbox over to Michael's for a bit since he's leaving for Austin tomorrow. I realized we have very little in common, I hate how cynical he's become (or that I just noticed) and I disagree with how negative he is about his future. He's making terrible choices and acts as if there are no consequences to anything. I just looked at him and realized I don't love him anymore, I'd never go back, and I'm in such a better place now. Sucks for him, but, that's life.

No pictures of what I did today, but while I was washing cherries earlier, it struck me as pretty with the water and the deep red, so I grabbed my camera.

( Cherries! )

Tomorrow I have to go up to school and check on ad stuff, then sell back Sam's books (don't get me started on why she can't do it), and then I'm going to wrap up some pictures the kids and I drew for Jody and send them to Spain.

So I've missed two entries and will have to go back and do them- but I guess that's a good thing. It's probably better to be busy and out doing things than to be sitting for hours in front of my laptop.

This morning I finally got to talk to Jody, and it was both happy and sad. I got a text message from him last night around eight (which made it three in the morning his-time) saying to please call him tomorrow. I was shocked to get a text from across the ocean, and didn't know if I was supposed to respond, but I sent him one back a little later asking if it was urgent and he needed me to call then, but I didn't get a reply.

I was going to wait until it was tomorrow my-time, but around 2:00 when I was going to go to bed, I dialed his number just to see what would happen. The ring was really far-away and funny, and I almost hung up, but after five rings he answered "Hey baby." It was the nicest thing to hear. I managed to keep it together for about a minute and a half and then I was an emotional blob of goo. I don't know what it is, it's the same way it was when I was calling home from France. It was great to be hearing them and to be closer, but the physical act of it really drove home how far away I was.

He said he'd texted me because he really missed me and was going crazy. That was very sweet- but I hated just hearing him. I want to see him and kiss him and be with him. It was more than I'd had but still not enough. I honestly was doing okay until I called him- and then it was like everything was fresh again, like it wa the day he left all over.

Anyway, he said his house-mom is really strict, and between classes, the 45-minute busride it takes to get to or from school, and his curfew, he hasn't had a lot of time to explore and find a call center, which is understandable. Then on the weekends they've had planned excursions and 8 a.m. tours, so he's been tied up there too. This weekend he has a free weekend, so hopefully he'll have a chance to call me and we can have a conversation that's not "I'm sorry baby but I don't know how much this is gonna cost so we gotta keep it short." What can you say in five minutes?

And, for reference, our five minute call cost $1.29 a minute. I looked it up.

I had TERRIBLE dreams after that, not nice ones, which was disappointing. Then went off to Smith's Garden Town again for cake-serving. Two and a half hours of it was so much better than four and a half. Tomorrow is my last day, hurrah!

After that, went to Monster Club. I don't know why, but I was in a mood today. Not a terrible one, just a "I don't want to put up with any kind of shit today" mood, and so the kids instantly keyed in on that and absolutely refused to listen, mind, and were just generally sassy. N'zavya kicked Tunisia in the face, Haylee ripped the flower off of her shoe, and Tunisia sat in time-out for ten minutes because she would not sit quietly during the two minutes she was supposed to serve.

The cumulus clouds really built up while we were playing- I took pictures because they were getting kind of scary-looking.

( Clouds! )

Then I went to Wal-Mart, with my adventure of the day. This is the first time my boss has ever handed me the check card to go to Wal-Mart and get my own supplies. A dangerous thing, that, but it's nice to finally have a boss that trusts me and actually lets me get my own shit done. I spent $75 on snacks, a couple of big rubbermaid tubs, and assorted random things I need for projects. I think I did pretty well. I also got some stuff for me, mostly toiletries, and spent $35 (separately!). I needed new sunscreen, but all the daily face sunscreens that every magazine says you HAVE to use started at $13. Then on top of that, regular sunscreen has gone up since last summer. I also got some sleek and shine shampoo, since the humidity here has been terrible and I'm sick of ponytails already.

Oh, today I also used the big popcorn popper successfully for the first time ever! I did forget to salt it first so it wasn't really even, but I remembered after and only a couple of kernels were burnt.

Other than that, I made a bunch of flyers for work, watched Another Cinderella Story with my mom (which was stupid and predictable, but we patiently sat through every commercial break) and then hung out with Anna and Evelyn for a little bit. Just did laundry, so now it's bedtime.

Tomorrow, after the cake-servinig, I will find a real, BIG adventure.

PLACEHOLDER. again.

Today I slept in for a bit, made an egg sandwich- my first venture into being a world-famous cook- then went into work early to set the room to rights. I didn't go early enough, because I wasn't finished by the time kids started excitedly rushing into the room, but I got it mostly put together while they were painting. I rearranged some stuff, made a little lounge area and moved the bookcase to where they might actually read the books. Again, did everything by myself. Made a lot of noise knocking stuff over (folding chairs are so loud!) but ultimately I'm really pleased about it.

( The mostly finished project. )

Eventually, I'd like to get a couple of purple tablecloths to help hide some of the storage stuff, and also a couch cover that the kids could help decorate. Also I'd like to paint clouds and redo the trim and the doors, but I'm so burned out on painting right now, it can wait until later in the summer. Anyway, Chelsea and my boss really liked it, so yay. I feel very accomplished.

Got a text after work from Michael asking if I'd eaten, and conveniently, I was starving, so I went over to his house and was very surprised to find him cooking me dinner. He made "Sheppard's Pie," which really consisted of ground beef cooked with onions and with instant potatoes on top. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. Then my allergies started going crazy. We watched part of The Coneheads but the Benadryl I took threatened to conk me, so I came home pretty early.

As for an update on Jody, got an e-mail at around 10 pm (5 am in Spain) saying that he was in Barcelona, babysitting his drunk roommates, and that he missed me and was sorry for not calling me, but that he would try soon. He said the pharmacist diagnosed him with tonsilitis and said he would have to have surgery, but that he was going to get a second opinion with an English-speaking doctor Monday. It was a short little note because he had tours at 8 the next morning (or, in three hours from when he e-mailed) but it was such a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting to hear from him, and it brightened my night.

Tomorrow, I'm going to be serving cake at Smith's Gardentown. It's their 60th anniversary and they need someone cute to cut cake all weekend, and Greg asked me very nicely, so I said sure. That should be interesting, and at least give me something to do and add to my "things I've never done" list. Then it's hanging out with my lovely friends, so I'm excited about that.

Didn't post last night- good gosh, I am so worn out. Every part of me aches. I had no idea painting was that physically demanding. But it's DONE! Going into work about an hour early today to reset the room, and if I don't get it finished I can keep working on it while the kids are doing craft or playing outside or something. Slept in this morning until noon- I have no idea if I slept right through my alarm or if I never set it, but I"m still tired. I also had a sex dream involving Dr. House. It was... interesting. Anyway.

So yesterday, finished the purple while straining to reach above the cabinets using a step-stool, then went to a meeting for another logo project for school. We did one last semester for a new program for the public ISD, and now the College of Education wants one too. We got paid $900 last time as a team, so it's pretty sweet. It's kind of frustrating that these people come to us with really vague concepts and want a LOT of stuff in one small design, but I guess that's why we're the creative types and they pay us for it. So I've got two weeks to come up with a mock-up design idea.

Also got my application for Big Brothers Big Sisters in. Can't imagine I'd be denied, I just wish they'd hurry up and call me for the interview. It's a long drawn-out deal to get assigned to a child.

Anyway after that, went and ate at Cheddar's with Peter. I really love how he's my gay friend that's not gay. I have the best conversations with him. My burger was the saltiest I've ever had in my life, but what can you do.

Then we went out to the other side of Lake Wichita and sat on the bench and watched the lake and the bikers- and more bunnies! I've never been to the park to just look at the lake... that was make-out point in high school. But it was nice to be there with a friend.

( Pictures. )

Now- off to work work work. I'm not used to being up there ALL week, but money is nice.