Winter Wonderhell

I live in the south and have for all of my life. I never thought I'd say this.

I'm sick of the snow.

We have had, I'm not sure, three or four "storms" this year? In all honesty, today is the first time I've seen more than half an inch on the ground and have seen the state of Alabama still function fully! Schools are either in session or delayed, banks are opened, grocery stores weren't packed. Are the residents of Alabama finally getting the idea that roads can be driven on when snow is on the ground? Or is this just a fluke incident?

I was so excited for snow on Christmas. It was my first white Christmas in my life. I'd never seen one before then. I got to spend it with A and my families and all was right in the world.

Then the next "storm" came and I got stuck inside for three days... cabin fever.

Then the next "storm" came through, unexpectedly, after I'd been awake for approximately 72 hours, given a thirty minute and a three hour nap in between, studying for an anatomy exam hence the reason I've not been writing. Sad face. When the weather started to move onto campus, then campus officials thought it was prudent to close down for the day, at 3:30, when I'd just sat down to take the exam. Needless to say, my sleeplessness was in vain and the test was rescheduled on what was, fortunately, a much prettier, sunnier day.

Today is different. There are snowmen on rooftops, sled marks in the grass, people walking around outside without fifteen layers of clothing. I think people around here are actually getting it: snow isn't that bad.

And I mean that in the strangest sense. While I'm irritated with the educational delays this wintry weather has caused me and the oncoming stress that I will endure to catch up - driving back from work today, I do believe the snow on the naked trees and grass was maybe one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen in my life.

My New Thing

I've taking up knitting.

I'm an old woman who deserves to live with a lot of cats. I did get excited about A getting a new kitten, too... and I even thought of a name... My heart is changing.

Seriously! I'm loving this knitting! I just learned last week. So far I've made gloves, a scarf, I started a headband! I have a whole list of projects I'd love to complete! It's been a great filler for my Christmas break!

Well, that running. Which I've been very, very bad about. I have not been as motivated for this Mercedes as I was the last one. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it! I'm very behind on training.

So now, if I can get creative enough, I might just start an Etsy store...

babababababa

I have the worst case of ADD today. Bad, bad timing! Last week was dead week, this week is finals. I feel like I'm so close to the end of a marathon and don't have enough strength to make it to the end!

It's so cold outside today. My original plan was to move into the library yesterday, today, and tomorrow. However, I'm so cozy in my holy pajama pants and my hot tea, I think I'll stay home with my books. I'm only leaving the house for Sitar Sunday. :) Today, I'm full of statistics, maybe I'll look at some Anthropology, and probably some Microbiology. The latter is by far my favorite class this semester.

This semester was pretty stressful. I had what should have been an interesting and easy class turned into a nightmare. I think I'm always going to have the one class in a semester that is a bigger headache than it should be. That will always leave me with zero free time and extra stress.

Dear A,

Thank you for your patience this semester, especially the last few weeks when I've wanted to blow away the crazyanthrowoman.

I love you

Now back to going, going, going, going, going, Sitar, going, going, going, going...

PS. Los Torascos has been replaced as my favorite restaurant. Shocker!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I start eating... damn, I've done so good! LoL

Seriously, it's been so incredibly insane in my world lately that time with family and in my hometown is a welcome idea! I can't wait! I leave immediately after work to get my two youngest nephews to spoil with my affection and then I'm headed to spend some time with the grandparents. It's going to be a great Thanksgiving this year. Really wish I could spend more of it with A but we have so much family between the two of us! I think this is the first Thanksgiving that I'll see both sides of my family on the same day.... well since my parents divorced!

I've have a lot to be thankful for this year! I hope you have a great one as well!

This small break, while, only a short time, is so healthy for me! Everything has been go, go, go, go the last several weeks, and now with finals and dead week just next week, this is a great chance to catch my breath! I'm gradually getting a little bit more free time as I go so if you know of anyone looking for a photographer for Christmas cards or anything, send them my way!

Friday is my first EVER Alabama Auburn game... Dear God, please don't let me leave in tears! Roll Tide!

Not enough hours in the day

What the hell is Microsoft Access?? I have no clue!

I'm working on these modules for my CS class and laughing so hard I hurt at the lucky guesses I'm making. The power was out at my apartment complex for... oh all night, and so I'm waayyyy behind on getting things done! I have a research project to do, a CS test on Access (that I haven't got a clue what it's point is for...I mean, Excel's not complicated enough?? Or good enough for that matter??), a coffee date Yay! Coffee!!, and A's parents are coming to town. Not to mention I have to be in bed early so I can get up at 4 am OR find somewhere in this madness to get a nap.

Dear God, please let it stop raining when it's time for me to peddle my happy self home. That's a long ride in the rain...

In other news, I'm running, but I'm gimp. I will not let an injury stop me from running another Mercedes!

Where's my heart rate?

Fall Break.

W00t!

How it's spent? Last night, had a party to shoot. Started off pretty easy, then turned challenging when it moved indoors and it was dark and I couldn't see to manually focus the lens. The camera couldn't see to automatically focus, either. I had a lot of hit and misses. Now I know where I need to work on my skills. Today, I have another shoot, hence the Senior portrait rant earlier. Then it's back to work to record weekend programming and remotes. Then it's me, myself, and movies! Maybe a book. Or maybe I'll be responsible and see what schoolwork I can catch up on.

I'm kind of glad to have a little time to myself. It's been really hectic lately. The marathon of tests I had the last two weeks, work, shoots, birthday parties, games, school, and the list goes on and on and on... pant pant pant It's insane! Fortunately, all the hard work and effort is paying off. Aced my Stats test, 96 on Micro, 89 on CS, and 85 on Anthro. I survived!

And the Sitar was good!

Tomorrow, we're celebrating my nephew's 2nd birthday! He's such a big man! Scratch free time activities, I have to make A's and my Halloween costumes for party...

Blink Blink Blink

Holy Crap!

These are Senior Portraits.

I'm flabbergasted. When did parents OK such suggestive Senior portraits of their daughters?

I'm just doing a little bit of homework before my shoot this morning and I stumbled upon these. Fortunately for me, my subject is a guy and his mom is coming.

These are fantastic photos, my grievance is that these are Senior portraits! What happened to having your pom pom and a feauxground and a ladder?! If they were working on a modeling contract, I'd say something different; like I said, the photography itself it great. It's the premises that just blows my mind...

The Day the Energizer Bunny Died

I'm exhausted. I'm running on a collective 8 hours of sleep since 4 am Wednesday morning. These tests are starting to get to me a bit. I will not cry. I want Sitar, DrSxDP.

I feel like the little engine that's running out of steam and still could.

I know I'm losing it when I actually BUY an app from the app store. It's been so long since I've done that, iTunes doesn't even have the correct billing information for me!

So, Anthro test today. I'm going over the study guide, again, and looking up things that aren't in my notes, or in the text, or in the massive amount of articles she wants us to read, or any other supplemental information she threw at us. That's only majority of the study guide.

FML.

I finally fixed him Shepard's Pie

I can bitch about stress all I want to but I have to remember one thing: I'm very blessed. I have a lot of supportive people in my life, a lot of people who love me and want to see me do well.

More importantly, I'm happy.

I have the most amazing person with me who makes me smile. Every time I feel stressed, I can just be around him and forget about it. It is so nice to have someone who loves me just as me. Not for what I can do for him. He doesn't want me to do anything for him. He doesn't want me to be anybody else. He doesn't talk down to me, he is always so positive and loving, he's supportive, and believes in me. He is respectful and not demanding. He listens and communicates instead of shuts down during even the simplest of conversations.

I have found the perfect man! SCORE!!

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. I don't talk much about my previous marriage, and honestly, I don't want to. I was one of the more fortunate women. I just want any woman (or man) in any abusive relationship to know that you're better than that, and if you have kids, they're better than that! There's help! I know that it's not as simple as packing a bag to leave, but there is freedom from an abusive relationship!

Get Help: http://dvam.vawnet.org/

Show support: http://twibbon.com/cause/Speak-Out-Domestic-Violence/

I'm so thankful to God that I have A now. He's shown me that is still good in people, and I love his huge heart. I hope he knows just how much he's helped me heal.

Chew!!! Chew!!!

Somebody once told me to remember how to eat an elephant.

I'm so thankful that when I'm overwhelmed that I have that tip. This is one of those weeks. It's been hard to keep blinders on and do one thing at a time because so much is going on and it's gotten so easy to fall behind. When I look ahead, I see more things coming that will make me more overwhelmed than I already am. I just want a breather.

I'm determined to run another Mercedes. I'm working mornings and afternoons in radio. I have classes in between. Somewhere I have to study and sleep... and there is that eating thing, it's kind of important. This is one of the harder weeks I've had since my life went from a easy pace of 35 miles per hour to 135. I have back to back tests this week. Not just tests, major exams. Microbiology, CS (which is painfully easy, thank God!), and my nemesis, Anthropology.

Anthropology is the thorn in my side! It's ridiculous! Thanks to @thegeekwife who verified that it is overly complicated for an entry level course! Knowing that I'm not the only one wanted to scream at this crazy professor makes me feel more sane. This woman draws hearts on her question marks and dots her "i's" with hearts! HEARTS!!

Who does that??????? She's a college professor!! In this evil class that should be much more enjoyable and interesting, she loves to lecture and use every piece of technology in the room. She invents a lecture segment or project for each knew gadget she finds. She's never heard the term "keep it simple". Obviously. And she's prissy. I understand this is a week argument as to why she shouldn't be teaching Anthropology, but it's just annoying. It's like I'm taking a class from Elle Woods! Not to mention, this is her first year at UA. Before, she was at Indiana. For a year. As an assistant. Just an assistant. Before that? (Insert heart at bottom of question mark) She was a teacher for Kaplan, the online college... that offers easy degrees. Apparently, her only claim to fame is the time she spent in Malaysia studying nutrition.

I expect two things from her experience:

• To be able to keep an introduction to cultural Anthropology simple and to an introduction by staying away from the arguments and debates of all the theories involved in Anthropology. In an introduction, 100 level class, there is no need to be able to apply, debate, and infer a truth to any debate to Anthropology. However, if I was a graduate Anthropology student, yep, I'd see the need.
• To be able to answer questions posed in lectures and by students with out any ambiguity and to not put debatable questions on any exams.

Why do I have to spend so much time punishing myself with this course when, for me, it doesn't matter? This should be treated as a 100-level class. Ask me what theory means what, not which theory is more provable right after you tell me theories can only be disproved. Don't tell me the humans species are not dimorphic right after you tell me they are, then ask me an exam question wanting me to define humans as either dimorphic or not.

I digress. I just need to take my argument to the dean.

I was just going to write about how much is on my plate. Obviously, Anthropology is my elephant and the other items are just a la cart...

Last Birthday Gift Idea #9a & b

a.) I would like a nice digital camera. Just a simple point-and-shoot camera. I don't have one. All of my cameras are big DSLRs and aren't really handy to carry around to games, the quad, or outings with friends. I use my iPhone for a lot of picture taking now, however, it's not functional when I'm at a game, as my battery dies. I really think there is a machine that sucks the life out of my battery in the stadium. So, I'd really enjoy a little digital camera.

b.) I've always wanted one of these: A polaroid camera. I love them! If you know me at all, I love photography, period, and for my next fun photography project, I'd like to start a collection of polaroids. There is nothing more charming to me in photography than authentic, real photos. Polaroids capture that to me. I want one, so bad!

Who's Blonde?

So I decided to change my hair color! It was random. I've always wanted to see what I would look like as a brunette and got a wild hair up my ass and decided to try it.

So last week I bought a bottle of hair color. However, I should've consulted someone who's colored hair before consider I've never colored my own hair. What's helpful to know is that when one has a lot of hair (like I do) sometimes, one bottle of Garnier is not enough! Sometimes when you have thick, long locks (like I do), you require TWO bottles to get the job done.

And as brilliant as I am, I decided to get this wild hair at 10 o'clock at night.

So when my roommates come in to see what I'm doing, one mentions, "Is that enough hair color??"

"Uhhh...."

"Stephanie, you need more hair color..."

My hair was only half way saturated when the bottle emptied. So while one roommate and I were stretching the color as far as it would go, the other two roommates were trying to find a place in town that was still open and had my hair color...

There wasn't a place open that also had my hair color. Big fat zero in that part of the Venn Diagram. So while Auburn was making their undeserving comeback in overtime against Clemson (oh so close!), I was rinsing hair color out of my hair for the second time this week. And that is why I love my friend, T, because she helped me put $20 worth of hair color in my hair to make it much darker than before, and I think A is happy with it, too. Yay, for happy endings!

Last Birthday Gift Idea #8

I need new running shoes. I prefer these. I plan on running mercedes again and I haven't bought new running shoes since I ran that half-marathon. It's very difficult to balance school and training and staying motivated. I'm looking for a running partner to help keep me motivated and accountable if anyone's interested. As for the shoes, maybe just a gift card since I'm not sure what size to get.

How I got ready for the game

I think I've found a new hidden skill. I decided to get creative with my nails for the Bama/Penn St. game last week and here's how it turned out...

I think I'm going to start charging $15 a set! Ha! I think for me to have done them myself, they turned out pretty damn good!!

Steph's Last Birthday Gift #7

Skullcandy earbuds.

My headphones just crapped out. :(

I told you I'd been listening to a lot of podcasts!

**updated** a mic would be nice!! Wanna keep both hands on the bike you know! ;)

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Fridays my brain is fried

I've found a bit of free time to kind of catch up on the going ons...

Those would be...

Oh yeah... school's back in session so my days go a little something like this: Wake up, brush teeth, bike to school, go to class, bike home, go to work, go to study, and sleep somewhere in there. I did, however, for the first time this semester, turn on my TV last night and actually watch it! I Auburn beat Mississippi State, which, if you're a friend of mine, you already knew that so I didn't really keep you abreast of anything new.

Meanwhile, I baked brownies and shamelessly painted my nails houndstooth, which I'm quite proud of! See, not much going on in my life right now, it's quite boring.

I will say that I have become addicted to podcasts! Thanks, DrSxDP! I have found one in particular that I absolutely love; it's called Edinburgn Man and it's all Indie music, which I've become exceptionally fond of. It's not one of those hour long podcasts and he actually plays you the whole song (unlike other music podcasts I've found) and he's pretty interesting to listen to. Love the accent. It's a great download if you are looking for some fresh music. Meanwhile, the Engadget podcast... not so good. Don't get that one.

Looking forward to tomorrow! I will be at the game! I told my grandmother I will be holding up a sign for that reads, "I'm right here, Meme!" Roll Tide!

Correction

Jimmy Wales lecture at UA last night will be posted at libertyandpowerlectures.org within the next two weeks.


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Something I don't do often

I went to hear Jimmy Wales speak last night. It was awesome! If you don't know, Jimmy Wales is the founder of Wikipedia. He is also an undergrad alum of Auburn University and got his master's in business from Alabama. Roll Tide! He's originally from Huntsville, AL. It's really amazing to know that this one guy from Alabama has been so influential on the Internet!

I'm not sure it's up yet but it will be soon at freedomandpowerlecture.org (I think, if not, I'll correct it).

It was a great speech on Wikipedia and it's effects on not just the Internet but how other cultures receive the Internet! And he's funny! Good stuff!


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Steph's Last Birthday Gift Idea #6

I like practicality in gifts; stuff I'll use or need. In this case, light reflectors for my bike, or something to make me more visible at night should I be riding late for some reason. I hate admitting that I've almost been hit by three cars just this week. (pay attention drivers!)

A little bell to ring would be fun, too...


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Steph's Last Birthday Gift Idea #5

Uh These Shoes

I wear an 8.5. Those look so comfortable AND they're Houndstooth!

Wins all around!