Thanks a lot Clare.

Well, Clare tagged me in one of her posts, so I guess the only responsible thing to do is play along.

3 Joys:
1. Singing
2. My family (including my two nephews)

3. My friends (who I am so blessed to have)

3 Fears:
1. Failure
2. Spiders

3. Sleeping bags

3 Goals:
1. Successfully teach high school

2. Pay off all my debt
3. Succeed

3 Obsessions:
1. Workspace organization- everything must be in its correct color-coded space, or I cannot function.
2. Germaphobia- gotta love the Clorox wipes!

3. Days of Our Lives

Random Surprising Facts:
1. The dimple on my cheek is not a dimple, but a scar from a cat when I was four.

2. All the clothes in my closet must hang the same way on the hanger.
3. I may be the picture of neatness and perfection at work, but at home, I'm a slob.

5 People I Tag:
Melanie

Nancy

Stephanie

Emily

Sam & Jason

Etched in Stone.

Look what I found on the sidewalk today...

To Hear This Menu Read As a Pirate, Press 1...

I feel like my world is spinning out of control. I've got to start packing up my house, find a new place to live, and complete a 70+ page annual report at work. All of my time and energy the last week has been focused on one of these projects. And the 70+ page ARgh (as I call it), has really taken over my life. I find myself working on it all day at work and even at night while at home. It's really amazing how obsessive I'm being over this. I really don't care about what's in it- it's the department's report of some of the most boring big words put together I've ever read- I just want it to look pretty! Who knows, maybe someone will see this giant publication and offer me a $70,000 graphic design job. Wouldn't that be fun! Hey, I can dream, right?

Summer's Here and the Time is Right for Dancin' in the Streets!

As a celebration of Rachel's 30 years on this earth, we all meet at the Cornett abode Saturday night for some merriment and jubilation. Jamie cooked some amazing meats, Rachel made some spectacular appetizers and desserts, Jim brought his famous potato salad, and Audrie made a dirty diaper (hey, she wanted to contribute something!). After eating way too much food and drinking a couple of glasses of Sangria, we all started playing Washers. If you've ever played horseshoes, you can play washers. It's very similar. Anyway, we all had a great time, and as you can see by the time of this post, it went well into the evening. Here are a few pictures from the evening (at least until my batteries died!).

New Job, New Hair, New Attitude...

So, after several consultations from the girls, I decided that I still had no clue what I wanted to do with my hair. I decided to not take any pictures into the salon with me and see what Diane thought. When she started playing with my hair to see what shape it was in, she told me she was really, really glad that I wanted to go shorter. Apparently, my hair, especially the bottom five or six inches, was really dry and damaged. Umm, no surprise here, especially since last August my hair turned purple (look here and here).

Anyway, we decided on a shape to aim for, and she started cutting.

And cutting.

And cutting.

As she was cutting away the dead, damaged, dry hair, my hair flipped out. Literally. It started curling up like it used to when I was a toddler. So, Diane, being the amazing stylist she is, decided to change our original plan. She didn't cut it as short as she wanted to, thank goodness, but she did add a whole lot of layers, and there was more hair on the floor than left on my head! I'm really excited about playing with this and seeing what it looks like in different styles. There are so many layers!

It's 5:00 Somewhere...

I really, really want to do this someday. It sure would be fun!

I Need Your Help!

Take a look at these pictures and let me know which hair style you think I should get. I have an appointment Thursday, and I can't wait to get a new look!

Here's my current look.... And here are a few options...

Let me know what you think!

Happy Father's Day!

I've started this post several times, but I think I am finally going to finish it. Sunday, as the celebration of Father's Day commenced, I was here, 200 miles away from my dad. I don't think my dad knows how much I love and appreciate him. Last week, when my car was trying to cause me to stroke out, he jumped in the car after a long day of work, and drove up here to help me. If I'm ever in any kind of bind, my dad will bend over backwards trying to figure out how to help me. He is a compasionate, loving, God-fearing man, who I look up to. I love my daddy so much. Happy Father's Day, Pop!

Just What I Needed to Hear.

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and thought, wow that's exactly what I needed to hear? That happened to me on several occaisions last week. Several times when I found myself doubting everything that was going on in my life, this song would somehow either come on the radio or I would begin humming it. I downloaded it from iTunes and have listened to it a lot over the last few days. I was hoping there was a really good video on Youtube, but all I found was this one. Just ignore the video and listen to the song.

Chris Sligh

"Empty Me"

When Will It Be Boring Again?

After another tow, this time to the dealership, my car is now fixed. Mom and Dad came up, with Landon and Braden, and saved me from the massive coronary I was about to have. Although, by Saturday afternoon, having three adults and two children crammed into my small one bedroom apartment, was about enough to give a healthy person a moment of cardiac arrest!

Dad rode with Mark the tow-guy (who now knows where I work and live, by the way) and sat at the Nissan dealership until my car was fixed. Luckily it was something easy to find with the computer diagnostic they can run on the car. Something about some sort of connector slipping out and causing the alternator not to charge. I don't know. I just know where to put the key in, how to check to make sure I have oil, where the gas goes, and how to add window washer fluid. That's the extent of my car knowledge. Oh, and I can also change a headlight bulb.

Sunday after church, I went with Shawn, Jaclyn, Jeremiah, and Danny to see Kung Fu Panda. Totally hilarious, by the way. Definitely kid friendly, so if you're looking for a movie to take the kiddos to, that would be the one. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, and not just a chuckle, but almost a full-out belly laugh.

Anyway, I got to bed early Sunday night and slept through the majority of the storms we had. Nothing serious, but there was so much rain! Well, that's all I have to share at the moment. I'm sure I'll come up with something else to tell you about later. Peace!

A Night View...

The other night, I decided to hop in the car, before it decided to be schizophrenic, and headed to campus to take some pictures of Old Main. I love this building. Constructed between 1873 and 1875, it's the oldest building on the University of Arkansas campus and one of the oldest buildings in Arkansas. Old Main was re-opened in the fall of 1991 after an extensive renovation. It is now one of the best know symbols of our campus and is even found in the University logo. More historical information on Old Main can be found here. Anyway, here are a few of my pictures.

Senior Walk is another tradition the University of Arkansas has. From the very first class, graduates have had their names etched into the sidewalks all over campus (mine is being etched as we speak!). This is a picture from the walk heading to the front doors of Old Main. The lights along the sidewalk have always made me think of C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."

I WANT MY MOMMY!

This week has been a very hard week for me. I've come to the realization that I will be moving to a new town, away from my friends and family that I have here. My apartment was flooded. My car broke down, and after $450 still isn't fixed. And now, there's some bad news from the home front. AND my favorite flip-flops broke this morning.

I really didn't know how I was going to get through the day. I talked with mom early in the morning, and we both had to hang up because there were more tears than talking. And, then it hit. When I called mom later in the day, I had one of those crying fits where you get so worked up, you can't breathe and all you can do is cry. Mom immediately called dad, and within 45 minutes they were on the road to get here. That's why I love my mommy and daddy.

...It's Another.

So, my new battery was almost drained by the time I got the office this morning. Yeah, that means my alternator is going out. At least my car didn't die in the middle of 6th Street at 5:15 PM this afternoon. Anyway, I was kind of sad watching my car be towed away on a big roll-back on its way to Bud's Auto Repair. The tow truck guy was really nice, and it seemed like I was supposed to call them- he was in the area AND headed to Bud's to pick one of the drivers up. Hopefully, Bud can get my car running again with no problem and have me in my car this afternoon. And, Lord, please no more. I don't think I can take another catastrophe this week.

If It's Not One Thing...

So Monday I decided to move away from Fayetteville. Tuesday my water heater flooded my apartment. And today, my car battery decided to go kaput. Seriously. This has not been my week!

On my seven minute drive from the office to my house, I noticed my air bag light was flashing at me. As I pulled in to my parking space at my apartment, my car decided to do some sort of gurgle, gurgle, puthunk, and proceeded to die. I tried to start it again, and all I got was a click click click. Not good. But the lights were working, if weakly, and the car did try to start, so after not panicking too much, I called Shawn and told him I wouldn't be at church tonight and then called my dad. I told him the symptoms, and he decided it was either the battery or the alternator. I figured since my interior lights were still weakly working, I didn't think it was the alternator. Dad then asked me how old my battery was. I told him at least four years. I think Evan helped me replace it when the last battery, the original six-year-old factory-installed battery, exploded. That was in September 2003. So, yep, it was the battery.

I started trying to deduce who would be at home and able to help. I called Jamie, and he came to my rescue... with Audrie in tow (I really think he wants to be a stay at home dad). He pulled out the jumper cables, charged the battery for a few minutes, and we were off to Wal-Mart. We decided to go to the mall Wal-Mart since the Wal-Martians have invaded Fayetteville and use the 6th Street Wal-Mart like it's their bedroom (more on them later). Well, my car had other plans. We got on the road, and I took the on-ramp for I540, when all of the sudden, my odometer, speedometer, clock and basically all the interior lights went out. The car was still running, so I took the next exit and got on the phone to Jamie, who was following me. He suggested Sam's since we were basically there. Good idea. We walked in, checked with the Tire & Battery Center, and were told "that'll be about 20 minutes." Are you kidding me? If we had gone to Wal-Mart, that battery replacement would have taken a good hour and a half. I really think I may have to break down and get a Sam's Club membership...

So, I have some of the best friends in the world, who, when I call in my hour of need, drive 17 miles and come help. Thanks Jamie and Audrie! Our harrowing drive to Sam's will always be remembered, especially when I start down I540 with no speedometer, odometer, air conditioning, or lights! But no hour of need goes without payment. At least my payment will be time spent babysitting Audrie...

Water Makes the World Go Round...

Have you ever wondered how much our lives revolve around water? Well, probably not, but I got to see first hand if I could deal without running water in my house. When I got home this afternoon, I noticed there was a note on my door and my kitchen mat was out on the porch. When I got up the stairs and read the note, I understood why my mat was on the porch. My downstairs neighbor (yes, the very vocal one) noticed there was water leaking from her light fixture in her kitchen this morning. She called our landlord, and upon inspection, noticed the water was coming from my apartment. My water heater was kaput. And water was pouring into the floor of my horribly unclean apartment (I've been a little preoccupied with jobs and moving, so I haven't been diligent in the cleaning department). Anyway, when I walked into my apartment this afternoon, my furniture was all moved, and there was a gaping hole exposing the water heater. Completely lovely.

I called my landlords (who are amazing and the best landlords I've ever had), and found out that our maintenance man is on vacation and they don't expect the water heater to be replaced until Thursday morning. Fantastic.

Now the good news. When the water heater was installed there was no shut off valve installed with it, so the water to my entire apartment is off. Yes, I can't even flush a toilet or brush my teeth. It's going to be fun the next few days. At least I have loving friends that will let me borrow their shower for a quick cleaning.

On a side note, I did hear from my landlord later tonight, and she told me that the maintenance man did have a change in plans and is going to fix it tomorrow. Yeah, at least I don't have to be semi-19th century very long.

And on another note, check out these pictures of my two boys from this weekend. Aren't they precious....

What's a Girl to Do on a Friday Night?

Go out with about 300 other girls and watch the ultimate chick flick! Rachel faced the crowded lines and got tickets for some of her co-workers and friends to see "Sex and the City." Thanks gals, it was just what I needed to get over the fact that I am moving away (insert tears here). And what's not fun about watching a parade of designer fashions, amazing shoes, and good old fashioned girl-power on a giant screen?

It's Official

I have a job! It's bitter sweet though. I've accepted a position at Izard County Consolidated (ICC for short). I will be teaching K-12. It's a great school system that has had a few problems over the last few years, so I'm going to have to go in there and clean things up a bit. But I'll be closer to my family, and I know my grandmother is having a fit over this. It's a little sad too, since I'll be leaving Fayetteville. I have so many people that I am now attached to, and I can't even type this out without tears filling my eyes. I just wanted to let you all know that I am not leaving forever. I do have a second family here in NWA, and I will always consider this home. Now, on to house hunting!