10 posts tagged “family”
I was watching The Wedding Singer tonight. I must have seen that movie forty times now but it's one of my favorites. I love it. Thanks to that movie, I can't hear the song "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" without breaking up in laughter. (I was also watching for inspiration for our 80's theme party two weeks from now.)
So, I've had to work from home the past two afternoons to get my A/C fixed. (I say "work" but it's incredibly hard to work from home without getting distracted...I'm going to take 3 hours or so of sick time just to set things straight. I'm pretty conscientious about charging my time). Now, friends, I am not mechanically inclined. I did not inherit that gift from my dad. If not for my dad, who was an engineer down in the engine room back in his Navy sailor days, I would be completely clueless. I had two different repairmen, the first who was clearly in a big hurry and said I was low on freon...except my unit kept on dripping. My dad said this meant something was wrong with the condenser or compressor, but the maintenance man didn't entertain my questions. "Don't you feel the difference already?" he asked, trying to shut me up. "No," I replied. But the person today took his time. So far the leak has stopped but we'll see. My dad is convinced my A/C unit will go out soon. Hopefully it will happen when Patrick is here next week (hehe), so he can be at home when the repair guy shows up (I dislike having people in my apartment when I'm not here, and try to avoid it as much as I can).
This weekend was really good. I went to a friend's birthday party on Saturday. The introvert in me is always a little unsure about attending parties where I know only one person...but this ended up being a lot of fun. There were cool people there. We are all swing dance nerds, so there was a lot of conversation about dancing...I even got a dance in, lol. I was exchanging numbers with someone at the end, and this really drunk girl spotted us across the room and said, "WOO! Go ::insert guy's name here::, she's hot!" Haha my face was red. Then on Sunday, I ran for 40 minutes in the heat (like around 3 o'clock...I know, I'm crazy) because I'm trying to get acclimated to it. Then I dashed home, cleaned up, and headed to my aunt's and uncle's, who live about 30 minutes away from me. I had a good time and was happy to see them and my adorable twin cousins (who are going to kindergarten this fall. OMG. I remember waiting in the hospital when they were born. When did time pass by so quickly?) Joshua reminds me a lot of my brother and me when we were little. We were pretty energetic kids...I think Joshua would make a good runner when he gets to be a little older. (Maybe that's why my dad took me running all the time...hmm). My new baby cousin, Eliana, is supposed to be born the day after my birthday. I'm pretty excited to meet her. She'll be my...35th cousin? I think? I lost count.
Yesterday was good. I talked to my project manager and received unsolicited feedback...very good! She said I'm doing a really good job, and that I have natural management skills (me? lol). I was really happy to hear that. Then I went for a good run. It was a partner relay...5 x 1.5 lap sprints. It was tough. My partner is a good runner so I didn't want to be lame and slow. The first two intervals I was doing pretty well, hitting 2.5 minutes. But I got kind of tired by the 3rd lap, so after that I slowed down to 2:45 minute intervals.
My mom told me that she found old family friends on Facebook. My mom was good friends with an Italian woman who had three daughters, Jessica, Laurie, and Jennifer. I have such good memories of hanging out at their house in Virginia when I was little, so I was really happy to find them on Facebook. The girls all speak Italian. Three of my Italian aunts, Zia Lucia, Zia Tonia, and Zia Daniela, are on Facebook. And some of my Italian cousins - Diego, Stefania, Sabrina, Antonio, Rossanna, Antonio, Amanda, Tony, and Noemi-are on Facebook (you know how everyone is named "Nick" in My Big Fat Greek Wedding? In my family, it's like that, except with the name Antonio). So that means I really have to crack down on my Italian, because it's embarrassing when my cousin wants to talk to me, and I can't understand what she's saying because she's using some slang version of "What are you doing?" or whatever. I'm the only one in that whole group who doesn't speak it fluently and I'm ashamed of it. It's not my mom's fault because she certainly tried...it's just my lazy self.
Wow, it's already 11. Time to get ready for sleep.
This week went by really fast! Patrick spent the week with me. It was a lot of fun having my brother around for a week. It reminded me how fun it was having a roommate (one you like, at least.) I was able to leave work a little early for two of the days to spend time at home. Real estate is getting nuts so this week I had to play catchup yesterday from the time I'd been taking off to spend time at home with Pat. I don't want to talk about work, so I won't.
On Tuesday was the concert! We got downtown around 3, because I wanted to make sure I had a good parking spot (the concert started at 7:30). Pat was all, "Why do we need to be downtown four hours before the concert starts?" but I figured it'd be better to be downtown before the traffic got congested. We ended up using our time wisely. Pat wanted to see his old campus, so we walked over there because we're badasses. (FYI, Patrick and I would rather walk and get a good workout instead of looking for parking/being stuck in traffic.) Then we walked downtown a little to find a place to eat, including the famous strip in our downtown area that everyone parties at. But we didn't want to eat in a club, so there weren't very many options there. Finally Patrick chose...Pita Pit. "Of all the places to eat downtown, you choose Pita Pit?!" I exclaimed. But Patrick, tired and hungry after walking around 3 hours, was not to be dissuaded out of an empty restuarant. Pita Pit would not have been my first choice. Nothing against Pita Pit - I loved it in college and had it so often that I pretty much burned myself out on it. But I was a good sister and complied with my brother's wishes.
Then we headed to the concert. The first band was Street Dogs. We only caught a bit of them, but I really liked what I heard (and I had no idea the lead singer was from Dropkick Murphys). Then Alkaline Trio performed. They were good but I wasn't a fan of their music, so I was ready for them to be done. Then The Offspring came out. They were actually really good in concert. They played pretty much all their hits, except "Smash" and "Gotta Get Away," which I was hoping they'd play. But they played "Pretty Fly for a White Guy," so I can't complain. We were pretty close to them too. The crowd was WILD. Pat said that the crowd for this concert was more wild than the Slipknot concert he went to. We got pushed around a little but not too much, since the moshers remained a couple of rows ahead of us. As long as I didn't lose Pat or was trampled, I was not worried, so I just kept jumping up and down. Instead of jumping, Pat chose to headbang (he's still sore today, LOL).
All in all, they put on a really energetic, fun show, and while the Foo Fighters show is my favorite concert, I think (for now), Offspring is second. This summer, Pat and I are seeing Whitesnake/Judas Priest, Green Day, and Metallica, so who knows how the placement will be then.
The rest of the week flew by. The management took down the baby bird nest because they are assholes. I got my first ever ticket yesterday (for parking, SHOCKER). I was downtown and decided I'd cheat the meter because I had a quick errand to run. Well, when I got back, there was a $15 ticket waiting for me. It was totally my fault for being so cheap, so I didn't get upset at the cop or anything.
I took the day off today and took Pat home. Now I'm just here while my entire family are taking naps. I would be taking a nap, too, but I forgot my contact solution and have to go purchase some.
Patrick's best friend Stephen is visiting after 2 years of being in Japan for the Marines, and my cousin is graduating tomorrow from West Point. I'm proud of them both.
Okay, have a good weekend!
I haven't updated in a couple of days. I've been pretty tired. I didn't even go running yesterday or dancing today. I just stayed curled up and relaxed. I'm reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. Definitely not one of his best ones. I guessed the bad guy about halfway through, and it's so ridiculous. I get tired reading about perfect, sexy heroines who happen to be brilliant. I'm all for strong, brainy women in literature, but why does a man's desire for her have to drive the whole plot? (If you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about). I like reading about kick-ass women who have flaws, not these perfect fembots.
My little cousin Darcie is thankfully doing much better. She made the BBC news over there. Thankfully, my cousin Amanda has been providing updates of her rapid improvement, because the news over there made it sound like Darcie was on her deathbed. She is awake now and is talking. We are all very, very grateful.
I haven't done an update in a couple of days. Let's see. My birthday was on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. My dad washed Pearl Jr. as a birthday gift. She is all shiny and brand-new looking (except for the unfortunate scratches on her left side). Terry came over for my birthday. He is my dad's best friend and I've known him since I was ten; he's pretty much like a grandfather to me. He calls me "Crash" now (for obvious reasons) and his card to me said, "To JCrashS." I spent the evening having delicious food and drinks with my family.
Work has been going well. I have to go out into the field tomorrow to take pictures. It is in a neighborhood so it shouldn't be too bad. Then next week, I'm going on my first sampling trip. We are heading to northwest Texas. I've never been up to this city before, so it should be interesting. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm going with another geologist. We are driving up there (yay...6+ hour car trip...can't wait). We have to drive a moving truck with the equipment. Oh, by "we" I mean "her." I asked her who was driving, and she said, "Oh, me or you." She gave me the choice so I quickly opted out. I don't have any experience driving those big trucks, but she does. Let's face it, with the driving issues I have/had, it's amazing that I'm even driving my normal-sized truck. Driving that big old truck might be pushing it. But if I absolutely have to, I'll do it.
I'm working on a craft project. I really want to learn how to sew. I made a dress for myself, but that was ages ago, in high school. I was reading one of my fashion magazines the other day, and thinking how no matter how much money I may one day make, I can never justify spending $300 for a t-shirt. So I want to learn how to make my own clothes, especially since a lot of labels have patterns you can buy. I will post pictures of my progress. Right now I'm making pajamas and I'm just cutting the patterns.
Well time for me to go relax.
I haven't blogged in a couple of days and I feel like it's been forever. I'm so used to writing in this thing.
This weekend was fun. I went home for Father's Day. I got home later on Friday than expected because apparently there were a bunch of events going on here that I was unaware of. I was stuck in the City traffic for an hour and a half, and it took me an hour and a half longer to get home. My dad got his Father's Day gift early. My mom and I got my dad some Reno 911! dvds, which he liked a lot.
My dad got me an early birthday gift and convinced me to open it early (okay, so there wasn't very much convincing on his part). It is a flatscreen, 19-inch LCD TV! AND it's 1080p! My parents still spoil me. The color is really great on it. Now I can play my XBox and not have to squint at what's going on. My parents were making fun of me because they left my gift on my desk, and I was so tired on Friday that I just kind of dropped my bag off in my room without looking around it. Then my dad came in and as a joke pointed to his small fridge that he stores there during the summer and said, "I got you a fridge!" I faked a look of joy and happiness (I thought it was a weird gift since I already have a fridge, but I wanted to be grateful), and my parents made fun of my apparently convincing acting skills. (But I really like my new TV. I wasn't faking that).
This weekend I saw the National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Semi-Pro. I liked both but I thought the first National Treasure was much better (and slightly more plausible, if that makes any sense at all), and Semi-Pro doesn't hit classic status like Talladega Nights. Other than that, I just relaxed and did errands, like getting synthetic oil put in my truck. It took forever, and Pat and I went through the whole Master of Puppets album before we were finished. The last time I had synthetic oil put into my car was with the first Pearl back in January, and then I got into the wreck three weeks later. So here's to hoping that this round lasts a LOT longer than the first.
This weekend my family and I were in the HEB parking lot, and this woman literally about ran us over when she was backing up. Her windows were open, and we were all pretty nice considering what had about happened. Instead of being contrite for almost, you know, mowing us down with her vehicle, as we were walking away, the woman sarcastically yelled out, "Thanks for your comments, have a nice day!" My dad was laughing and hollered, "We didn't even say anything!" (Patrick later said that he had called her stupid, but I don't remember hearing him say that). But she kept on talking trash and simultaneously backing up without looking. My dad turned around and yelled, "You better pay attention to what you're doing, you're about to hit someone." Sure enough, she was this close to backing into another vehicle. We all had a pretty good laugh about her.
Work has been keeping me busy. I like it.
The run today was good but still quite warm. We did Fartlek intervals, 15 x 200's with a 50-m recovery. I did the Fartleks at a comfortable pace, and I took water breaks in between. I could feel my head pounding a little, which means I didn't drink enough water during the day. It's better to stop and replenish your water and energy instead of trying to look badass and getting sick later.
Lindy dancing lesson tomorrow. Yay!
I'm having company this weekend :) At least I have a working fridge!
My friend Meg officially is on her way to Alaska. I'm going to miss her, she was a good pal to me.
Changes are in the works. Look out, world.
The past couple of days have been fun but really busy! Patrick's 20th birthday was on Monday. He got an acoustic guitar, and my mom actually didn't give a hint of the surprise! Shocking!
During the holiday season, I always make struffoli. These are Neopolitan treats that are absolutely delicious. Here's a link of the recipe I use. It can be a little time-intensive (my mom fries them, which is a big help!) Also, I add at least 3 tablespoons of vanilla and about 3/4 cup of sugar to the linked recipe, because I find that it is sweeter. Here is my end result:
I talked to my grandparents, which was nice, since I haven't talked to them in awhile. Then the family sat down for a feast-clams, lobster, steak, stuffed jalapenos. On Christmas morning, Santa was very generous. My parents got me a beautiful watch bracelet for a Christmas/graduation gift, and Patrick got me Rock Band! (Rock Band has such an awesome selection of original tracks too.) Then Terry came over for a little while. Afterward, we walked Little Dog.
Last night we watched It's a Wonderful Life. It was my second time seeing it, and I really enjoyed it. The first time I saw it, I was a sophomore in college and, after a difficult semester, I thought I had failed a class (I ended up making a B in it, btw). So I entered the theater on campus feeling depressed and low, and let me tell you-that movie made me realize how silly I was being! Seeing a movie like that really put my stupid problems into perspective. I just think it's funny how Mary's terrible fate if George hadn't been born was that of an old maid's. I could have thought of far worse to happen to Mary (i.e. being married to a mean and abusive husband, prostitution, meth addiction), but I guess the screenwriters were not that creative.
Anyhow, I had a really wonderful Christmas with my family and friends. I hope all of you are having a great holiday season as well!
I'm feeling a little sleepy because we had a really busy day today. We went into the city and I bought furniture for my apartment. I now have a bedroom set, living room set, a small table w/chairs, and a mattress. I got really good deals-I probably paid half of what it would have cost me at home!
I'm going to go relax because tomorrow is going to be errand day. Let's see if I can't sneak a visit to Target for dish shopping!
I'm trying to reorganize things in my room and unpack at the same time. While I have a bigger room than I used to, my closet space is much smaller. So it's a bit of a challenge, but this pack rat is actually throwing things away. So liberating.
The past couple of days were great because I was able to hang out with my pals. On Thursday I went to Pei Wei with Meg and Matt, and we headed to Dr. B's house (really gorgeous, historical home). We went to IHOP on Friday and then I was able to meet up with Andres and his girlfriend, Vanessa, for the Methanogenesis Reunion 2007. It was a lot of fun, since I hadn't seen him in a year. His girlfriend is very sweet, and they make an adorable couple.
The rest of the time I spent in a frenzied packing state. Now, as a grad student, I have this packing deal down pretty well. There are going to be times in your life when parents have to help you move; if they are like my parents, they always complain about how much stuff you have. Here are some tips I've learned over the years that can help you fool your parents into thinking that you didn't pack too much.
1. Do play reverse psychology. Don't tell your parents that you "don't have a lot of stuff," because you are only allowed to use this phrase if you literally have only one suitcase. Instead, make it sound like they need to bring a U-Haul to pick you up. That way when they do get there, they'll be relieved that you maybe only have three suitcases, three large containers, a television, and an Xbox.
2. Do use whatever space you have efficiently. I am the queen of packing an excessive amount of clothes and other random belongings in my suitcase. Sure, it's heavy, but it looks like I have less. That's the key. Be creative. For instance, after cleaning my trash can, I put three pairs of shoes in it.
3. Don't overuse the small plastic bags. You might be tempted to use all those old HEB bags for stuffing your hair dryer and pairs of shoes in. Be careful. Parents interpret any more than three bags as crap.
4. Do realize that first impressions count! Having belongings strewn all over the floor will give your mover a heart attack. Hide suitcases behind your larger containers. Place containers on top of each other. Try to take up as small of a volume as possible. There is a direct correlation between floor volume your belongings take up and complaints you hear from your helpers.
5. Don't make any promises you can't keep. If the steps above have done nothing to help you, you have several options. You can apologize for the excessive amounts of belongings, or you can try to cheer your parent up by promising not to pack as much next year. But be careful if you do take this step-parents can smell bullshit a mile away.
I used the above steps to my advantage since this time, my dad did not complain about how much stuff I had (I did try pulling number 5 on him, which didn't work). We went to pick up my brother in Austin and then came back home. I can't believe my dad put up with my brother and me on the way home. Starburst + Dr Pepper = extremely hyper Jenny, and my hyperness usually rubs off on my brother. I came home, and my mom and little puppita greeted us. It's great to be back.
Last week's episode of The Office was awesome mainly for this final clip (definitely a spoiler warning applies here). I don't think I've ever been that proud of a fictional character.
We-ell, I need to head back. Bye bye!
It's my favorite time of year, the one of self-reflection. The one where you realize, "Holy shit, there is only a week left of school."
It's starting to get hectic. My supplies are here. Today I spent time in the lab labeling my bottles. I have about 25 bottles to acid wash tomorrow. Do I sound excited? No. But I do want to get started. I feel like a bad graduate student, that it's taken me this long. I asked Ludwig about my progress, and he said that I'm actually a little ahead. I still feel behind though, because every week in Dr. A's office, when I'm telling her about my "progress," I feel like there is none. I'm going to make up for it by doing kick ass experiments and being the best researcher ever. Well, I'll try very hard, at least.
Classes are winding down (up?) as well. Apparently, everyone did so poorly on their Biological Processes test that Dr. C is giving us an extra credit option of up to 15 points on our FINAL GRADE. I'm worried about how bad my test is. I completely BS-ed the second problem on it.
Other than the stress, it's been a good week self-reflection wise. I realize what I need to work on to be a better adult, and really took time to think of my strengths and weaknesses. I identified a major weakness that I'm working on now.
In other news, I got to speak to three relatives I haven't talked to in forever. I spoke to them online, at least. I talked to my Zio and Zia on Monday. I haven't seen them since Zio Sasa's wedding in 1993. I had to call my mom when Zia was talking to me, because she uses the Italian online speak that I don't understand. Zio doesn't, so it was much easier to talk to him.
Then, that day, my cousin Nicole contacted me over Myspace. I was really happy to hear from her. When we were little, she was one of my favorite cousins. She and I would get in trouble thanks to our mischievous little brothers (like the time Pat and Michael told us about the fight my uncle was having with his girlfriend, and we all went and eavesdropped. My grandmother ignored Nicole's and my protest that our brothers had started it). Now she's married with a beautiful little baby girl, Ella. Wow! We're all grown up now; it's weird. I'm calling her on Friday. I'm excited, I haven't talked to her in awhile.
I know what my parents' Christmas gifts are. Yes!
I got into watching My Name Is Earl, and it's one of my favorites now. It's hilarious.
I'd better go back to work.
edit: Positive reinforcement is good. Here is what my advisor emailed to me: "Glad to hear the progress." Also, my thesis has two sentences. WHOOT.
Vacation ends too quickly! My vacation was much needed, though. I can't tell you how much being at home for just a couple of days renewed my work ethic and spirit. I'm ready to work hard again.
On Tuesday, after making up answers on my Biological Processes test, I rushed home so I could be ready when my dad and brother picked me up. I was really happy to see them. My dad said that my brother had been relatively quiet until I showed up-then he started being silly. That's how we roll. We all had a blast listening to the talk radio and laughing at the hypocrisy of the hosts. My mom had hot chicken prepared for me when I went home, which is a favorite of mine. I was really happy to see her. Puppita was even happy to see me, which was cute. We ate dinner and chilled afterward.
My mother brought out these old pictures that she had just developed, and they were pretty fun to look at. They were from 1998, right when I began high school. I was laughing because, oh god, I was rocking the awkward teenage years. Hello braces, crooked bangs, thick hair, and bad fashion sense. I make Ugly Betty look pretty. No joke! Haha. They were a blast to look at, though. The best part about the pictures was seeing Max. Max is my dachshund who was pretty much the best dog ever. I love Harry to death, but Max was just the whole package-loving, adorable, friendly with everyone, and a little spitfire. He died at age 5, when I was a junior in high school. Max was always more my dad's dog, but I'll always cherish the weekend my dad went off on an adventure race, a little less than a month before Max died. Max hung around me the most that weekend-he slept next to me, and and he snuggled with me as we read Harry Potter IV together. So anyway, I hadn't seen pictures of Max in forever-it was really good to see him.
I spent the week relaxing with my family, talking, watching movies, and not working on my paper. Thanksgiving was really nice, and my dad's turkey was delicious as always. Then of course, Texas A&M actually WON. I was pretty shocked by that. My brother jinxed UT by cheering for them this year. It was pretty funny-I was decked out in my A&M sweatshirt, and Pat had his UT sweatshirt and hat on. I didn't rub it in too badly, though, especially since their quarterback had gotten injured in the last 20 seconds. Also, I know that we will probably have another seven year losing streak after this win, so no need to get cocky. Um, gig 'em, Ags.
My dad dropped me and Pat off yesterday. So my dad wakes up at 6 in the morning, drops me off here, drops Pat off in Austin, and then drives home. All in one day. How awesome is he? Pretty cool dad. Then I just worked on my paper all day and watched some My Name Is Earl episodes on tv.peekvid.com. My mom couldn't stand the show even before she watched it, because of the ubiquitous previews. But it's actually really funny. I laugh at how white-trash everyone is, but then I read on Wikipedia that the show is actually based off of the creator's step-father. Anyway, my paper is supposed to be at least 10 pages long (double-spaced), and I have 7. I still have a lot of editing to do, because it really sucks, but I'm well on my way. It's due tomorrow, and I'm confident that I'll be finished by then. I'm glad that I didn't wait until today to start it. Yay for not procrastinating (too badly).
My dad is going to order this Rosetta Stone language program for Italian. It's supposed to teach you in 6 months. I'm excited about it. Afterwards, I want to learn Spanish and French. I mean, even though I am a dual citizen of here and Italy, I'm technically half-French (no, really). It will be great if I start now, because I want to take a European trip after I graduate with my master's. I'm going to save money, go to Italy (ideally with my family), and then travel to France. I want to do it before I start my job. I'm excited because it'll be about a year and a half from now, if everything goes well.
I'm excited about what the future holds. I'm determined to work my hardest and be an adult about it-I'm already in my twenties, after all (gah, that sounds old). I'm going to work harder at school than I ever have, and rock my research (if I ever get MY MATERIALS FOR IT). I'm going to get an internship this summer, hopefully at home. It'll be the last time I'll be home all those months, probably for good. I'm getting to the age where my time at home is starting to be limited more and more. I'm not even going home for Spring Break. It kind of sucks, but you have to grow up sometime, you know? As much as I love my parents, I can't live in their house until I'm forty. I'm sure they don't want that, either :) I'm hitting that time in my life where I'm going to be starting my REAL life here in about a year and a half. It's both scary and exciting, and I want to be ready for it.
Speaking of being an adult...I need to finish writing my paper. I don't want to be doing this shit at 12 tonight. Holy crap, this was a long post. Ciao ciao.
So I'm back here at my dorm, eating cheese sandwiches and watching The Manchurian Candidate. It's one of my top favorite movies, and I definitely recommend it. Besides the top-notch acting (Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and especially Angela Lansbury, because she definitely isn't Disney in this film), it's a smart and taut thriller. The weather is cloudy today and rather wintery, so it's the perfect atmosphere to be watching an old movie and unpacking.
My time at home ended too soon. On Friday I went to work with my mom. She is in charge of the science lab at an elementary school, so it's a fun place to be. I actually got a lot of work out of the way; a 3rd grader was sent to the lab for ISS (I don't really think he did anything to warrant going there, but hey, I'm not the teacher), and I sat at his table to work on my school work because I felt bad. Then the administration had ice cream for the teachers to celebrate the end of the 6 weeks, so yay, free ice cream for Jenny. I went home and had a good meal with my parents, while my dad told some old stories from his childhood and young adulthood (which are always very interesting).
Yesterday we went up to Austin to pick up my brother. Of course, he'd neglected to tell us that it was game day, which meant we had to be redirected. The campus is very pretty-more urbanized than mine, but still with lots of trees. We ate lunch and headed home to my grandparents; it was good to see them. Then my adorable twin cousins, Jaron and Joshua, showed up. I was excited; I hadn't seen the kids in almost a year. And they've grown so much! They are two now, so they walk and talk. Joshua is so outgoing-he dives into your arms for a hug whenever you hold your arms out. He calls me "Jennica," and every time he passed by my picture, he would point to it and yell, "JENNICA!!!"
Jaron is a little shyer, but he still played with Joshua and me, and gave me a couple of hugs. I like chasing them around the house, and they love it-they always dissolve into giggles. Patrick was trying to teach Joshua the "Hook 'em" sign, but was unsuccessful. I, however, got Joshua to say "Gig 'em" twice. Take that, Patrick.
Then my parents, brother, and I went to the new Outlet Mall. It's awesome. After doing some shopping, we headed to Saltgrass. It's one of my favorite restaurants, and Austin's didn't disappoint. I had grilled chicken and coconut shrimp. I even tried a Jalapeno popper (I've never eaten whole Jalapeno before), and it was good (and not really hot.) I was intent on trying this peach drink with Schnapps, gin, vodka, and rum. But then I was considering the fact that a. I rarely drink and b. my alcohol tolerance really extends to wines coolers (with, what, 3% alcohol by volume? I'm a lightweight). Then my dad said, "Mixed drink, huh?" and gave me this smile that clearly read, "Sucker." So I considered the fact that I wanted to spend time with my family that evening without being drunk and/or sick, so I had a virgin Strawberry Daquiri with my mother instead.
Now I'm back up here. The time at home with my parents was greatly needed, and reenergized me for the rest of this month and next (I hope). I guess I'd better get back to unpacking, so I can do homework later. Welcome back to college life, YAY.
I'm totally updating right now, but after this, no more updates until Sunday! You know the only reason I am updating is that I'm putting off my Biological Processes homework. I have no idea how to do the last problem, and I've been "taking a break" (without even starting, if that's possible), for the past hour or so. YES. But I am at home, so I have an excuse. I need to buckle down this weekend, though, and really review this material. For the first couple of weeks, I wasn't having trouble following it. But now it's starting to get a bit more difficult, and falling behind would not be good. It's fascinating stuff, just...hard.
So I'm home, and it's so good to be here. This morning I woke up at 7, and miraculously was able to finish my homework, clean my room, and make my hair straight before class at 9. My hydrogeology professor was kind enough to let me leave 10 minutes before class ended. I was going to leave 5 minutes earlier, but at 11, I felt my phone vibrate. I thought, "OH SHIT MY DAD IS HERE" (my dad likes to leave right away, and I didn't pick up Dr. A's homework yet, so I was freaking out about time management.) So I rushed out the class, and checked the message-no, it was only my brother Patrick, saying that he nearly slept through his test. Great. I walked over, picked up the homework from the kiddies, and was able to be back at my dorm in time for my dad to pick me up.
Both my dad and I have a little cold. I felt bad that he drove a 9-hour round trip to pick me up while he's getting sick! My dad doesn't complain though, and doesn't even like mentioning that he's getting sick. My dad is a sweetheart. I had a good time driving back, and talking to him about my possible future plans, some minor anxieties, etc. I talked a little more about my possible plans to get a PhD, and my dad is really supportive. I know that it would be a good decision. We'll see, it's not one I can make in two days. But my dad brought up a lot of good advantages that I hadn't thought of, and I'm still young-I'm barely getting started with my life. We'll see.
Then we picked up my mom from work, and came back home! Puppita was very happy to see me. My mom made a delicious dinner, (OMG I HIT A BREAKTHROUGH IN MY HOMEWORK! Back to your regularly scheduled reading) and we had lots of ice cream and just talked. I talked to my mom about all the, well, I guess mental hurdles, and my minor anxieties...it felt good to be able to talk to them. I love being home. My mom is so terrific, she gives me all these little goodies that she doesn't use. I have some new Avon lotions, and TWO PAIRS of gorgeous shoes. My mother gave me some of her shirts that she doesn't wear anymore. Having a stylish mother give you her castoffs = good news for Jenny.
It's weird being home without Patricko, but at least I get to sleep in his room, ha! (Since I don't have a blanket yet for the bed in my room).
Well, tomorrow = fantastic because I get my citizenship, AND it's The Office season premiere. Until Sunday, kiddos! (For real this time? Oh who knows, there will probably be a blog from me tomorrow).
