Photo of the Day

These pictures are from two weeks ago, when Flag finally got some snow. This bike rack sits right outside my window (well, right out side and down two floors), and I was judging how much snow we got that weekend by how much the bikes were covered with snow. I took these pictures on a Saturday, and by Sunday all you could see of the bikes were the seats and handle bars. While this was very cool to see happen to the bikes, it wasn't quite so cool when it happened to my car. My poor car was covered and surrounded by several feet and it took me quite a long time to clear it out. Especially since I was using a spatula to do it.

Some super-exciting Hanau, Germany news: My girl Amiee got placed there as well. She and I were hoping to be near each other so we could visit and be travel buddies. I am so happy that she and I will be staying on the same kaserne (base), teaching at the same school, and living in the same barracks. Woo hoo! I love this girl. She is so smart, sweet, and funny. We have the same temperment and a lot of the same beliefs and values. It's going to be great!

Hanau, Germany

Only 5 more months until I leave for Hanau, Germany. I received my official placement letter yesterday from the United States Department of Defense Education Activity saying that I am all set up to teach overseas. School starts August 28th and ends Decemeber 8. I will spend the first 8 weeks in a special education classroom and the second 8 weeks in a 4th grade classroom. I'll be living in old army barracks where the rent is free. So excited about that part. That means I can afford to do more traveling!

Hanau is in the center of Germany, about 30 minutes from Frankfurt. These are just some random pictures of Hanau and the surrounding countryside.

21 Days To A Better Me

I've been thinking a lot lately about something I heard on Oprah last week- that it takes 21 days to break or make a habit. Maybe that is why some of the things I try to do don't stick, because I don't work at them long enough. Then today, while cruising around on 2peas I noticed a lot of journals being started about this topic. The goal is to pick a habit you want to create or break and work at it for 21 days. Keeping some sort of journal helps chart progress and keeps up motivation. I've decided to give this a try. I already have the habit in mind- running every morning. I like to run, even though I am not so good at it yet, but I have trouble doing it consistently every day. My schedule is so crazy that I end up putting it off until it's 11 pm and too late to go run outside. I think that doing it early in the morning will be the best way to go for me. This way I can get it over with and I don't have to worry about not fitting it in to my schedule later on in the day. Plus, I can get healthy and lose weight (always a bonus)!

So, for 21 days I am going to get up at 6:30 every morning and go running. I haven't yet figured out how much I will run each day, maybe I will have to go with the flow on that part. Tomorrow, March 29th, will be day one. My last day will be April 18th. Hopefully by then I will have created a nice daily routine for myself.

Photo of the Day

This is a picture of the alley where the girls always have to take a potty break on the way home from the bars at 2am. The picture is taken from the lot where we normally park, looking across the street at their favorite restroom- in between the blue North American truck and the wooden crates. I personally have never peed here, I just stand guard so that no one comes along and goes back there. I guess when you are drunk you will pee anywhere.

My Spring Break Spot

This is where I have spent my spring break. On this lounge chair in my backyard. Trying to get a little sun on my blindingly-white skin. I only move from this chair to refreshen my drink or get a new book to read.

It's Friday already and that means my spring break is as good as over. So now I have to jam into this one day all of the things that I meant to do over the whole break. Like laundry, cleaning my room, visiting some scrapbook stores, developing pictures, writing a paper for school, etc. But have I done any of that today? Nope. It's almost noon and this is what I have accomplished: went running along the cotton fields that are about to be turned into a shopping center, ate breakfast out on the back patio, read, made some soap to take back up to Flag with me. Now I am contemplating going back out to my lounge chair and taking a little nap.

All About Meg:20-1

I didn't finish this list on Friday because I've been down in the Valley enjoying my Spring Break. Also, I ran out of things to list. Since several people have yelled at me about leaving the list unfinished, I'm going to frantically try and think of twenty more things.

20. I've worked as the "beer girl" at a golf course.
19. My brother and I worked at the same job for 5 years. He still works there, but I'm off and on because of school.
18. Diane Palmer books make me want to yack. Her heroines are such weenies.
17. I just made a pot of cheesy potato soup for dinner and it was fantastic.
16. I can sort of drive a stick shift car. I'm not good enough to be out in major traffic without hyperventilating, but I'm good enough to be able to tell guys I can drive one without it being a lie. Guys, for some reason, are always impressed by that.
15. I love red nail polish, but I don't wear it that often.
14. I love doing laundry. Sorting, folding, hanging, the whole shebang.
13. I really want to have a bull terrier named Meatball.
12. I recently learned that bull terriers are not the nicest of dogs. So now I'm looking for a new "dream dog"
11. My grandma is currently trying to get me together with one of her friend's sons. I'm flattered, but also a little weirded out.
10. My favorite place to shop for: purses- Dillard's; shoes- Macy's; clothes- Janeville ; makeup- Nordstrom; random crap for my home that I don't really need- Target.
9. I recently discovered that I own two pair of pants that are high-waters. Gasp! How did I let this happen?
8. Speaking of high-waters, I'm still a fan of Michael Jackson's music. Sure, he is super-creepy, but Billie Jean is a classic.
7. I wish I had an iPod, digital camera, and a laptop. I'm very lacking in gadgets.
6. I recently bought several scrapbook related things from Target, and I refused to allow myself to feel guilty about it.
5. I am the shortest person I know, but that's okay because it allows me to wear shoes with high heels.
4. Jobs I'd like to try: occupational therapist, nurse, bookstore owner, forest ranger, farmer, author, publicist, marine biologist, lazy bum who lets a rich, hunky man support me
3. I don't have personal space boundaries when others are talking to me, so I wonder if I invade the space of others when I am talking to them.
2. I wish I weren't so judgmental, although it has served me well on numerous occasions.
1. I like to make lists.

All About Meg: 40-21

40. I love Mexican food. The authentic stuff and the really Americanized stuff- like Taco Bell.
39. I love to salsa dance, but I'm not a big fan of tango.
38. Sometimes I will read a book over and over.
37. At one time I considered being a nun. (For about two days when I was 12.)
36. I blow dry my hair everyday.
35. I absolutely love picnics. I wish I went on more of them.
34. I can remember at least one dream I had when I wake up in the morning.
33. I am going to school to become a teacher, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like it, be good at it, stick with it, etc. It's not what I would be doing if I had my dream job.
32. My dream job would be one of two careers-the same careers that I wanted when I was in elementary school: marine biologist or author.
31. I don't think that I am pretty, but I'm surprisingly satisfied with myself.
30. My least favorite city is Los Angeles, California. So dirty!
29. My greatest fear in life is settling for a life that is comfortable, safe, and easy, instead of going after what I really want.
28. I don't know yet what I really want.
27. But I have some pretty good ideas.
26. Pizza and root beer floats are two of the coolest things ever invented.
25. I don't believe the saying 'Money can't buy happiness." I'd like to give it a shot. I think I could do pretty well.
24. I like Las Vegas. I think it is fun and I am always up for a quick weekend trip there. But it is a bit overrated.
23. My parents got married in a little chapel in Las Vegas. So I guess I owe Vegas quite a lot.
22. I have one sibling, Matt, who is 3 years older than me.
21. I don't think he and I have ever had a real fight before.

All About Meg: 60-41

60. I think that Madonna and Britney Spears are both ridiculously famous and rich for having almost no talent whatsoever.
59. I wish I was a runner. I want to be able to run five miles a day and feel exhilerated at the end. Right now I run 1/4 of a mile and I am huffing and puffing.
58. I have one tatoo, which I got in high school.
57. I want to get one more, but I'm worried that might be too trashy.
56. I can tell when I ovulate.
55. I won't drink Starbucks coffee and I only buy books from independent bookstores. I'm trying to "stick it to the man."
54. I hate my hands and feet.
53. I have a hard time comprehending the fact that some people don't read for pleasure.
52. And I have a hard time not thinking of those people as stupid.
51. My favorite book is Hamlet.
50. Runner-up is Whitney, My Love.
49. My favorite types of books to read are history and biographies.
48. I have been to six Eagles concerts.
47. My favorite part of the concert is when Glenn Frey dances during "All She Wants To Do is Dance."
46. My favorite Eagles song is "One of These Nights"
45. My favorite movie genres are Bollywood (or anything Indian) and westerns
44. I love making bread from scratch.
43. I'm still not very good at it yet
42. Someday I want to have a root cellar filled with vegetables and fruits that I canned/preserved/pickled myself.
41. I think Gerard Butler is one of the best looking men, ever!

All About Meg: 80-61

80. I am an avid Gilmore Girls fan. I sometimes talk about the characters like they are real.
79. Spankings didn't work so well on me as a child. I was still gonna do what I was gonna do.
78. I really want to be a stay-at-home mome, but I don't want to get married.
77. I really want to have 26 kids (one for each letter of the alphabet), but, again, I don't want to get married.
76. I think that Eminem is very talented, but I hate his songs.
75. I don't like my eyebrows.
74. I have very hard to find veins. My oral surgeon called them "deep veins."
73. I have a fairly high tolerance for shallowness and ignorance in the people I know.
72. I have never been to a movie by myself.
71. I like to dip my french fries in mayonnaise. I hear that is how the Europeans do it too. Tre chic!
70. I like the smell of cofee more than the taste, but I still love both.
69. I am registered a Republican, but I am really a Democrat who is just too lazy to reregister.
68. I love purses. Love 'em! If I won the lottery I would probably blow it all on designer purses.
67. I like chocolate, dogs, and naps; one equally as much as the others, but rarely in conjunction with each other.
66. I won't keep a TV in the bedroom when I finally live on my own.
65. I think people who say "and this is where the magic happens" when showing off their bedroom are unimaginative and lacking in class.
64. I hope to end up with a really good man. Stable, kind, honest, serious, mature, loving, and smart.
63. I hope to end up with a guy who has an unusual or unisex name. (e.g. Loren, Shannon, Jamie, Brick, Stavros, Sixtos; all names of guys I know)
62. I have never been so drunk that I couldn't remember things the next day.
61. I've also never had a hang over.

All About Meg: 100-81

I've decided, for lack of anything better to post about, to dedicate this week to one giant list. 100 Things About Meg. This list will include stuff some of you may already know, and it will include stuff that you probably never wanted to know. I'm going to list 20 things each day. This way it will last nicely throughout the week, plus I can only think of about 20 things right now. I'll basically be making this up each day as I go along.

100. I drink so much Mt. Dew it runs through my veins.
99. I am a Harry Potter fan. I like the movies, but I love the books. My favorite movie is HP and the Chamber of Secrets (#2) and my favorite book is HP and the Order of the Phoenix (#5).
98. My favorite city is San Francisco, California.
97. Runner-up is Prescott, Arizona.
96. My mom is my best friend.
95. My favorite word is "pumpkin." It's the second "p" that makes the word so cool.
94. I hate it when people crack their knuckles. It almost makes me nauseous.
93. I think carnations are underrated.
92. I am disgusted when people throw cigarette butts out their car windows.
91. I can always go for a homemade chocolate chip cookie.
90. I am a quitter in life (clubs, organizations, volunteering, etc.), except for a handful of things that really matter to me.
89. My favorite movie is "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner"
88. I seldom like it when people massage my shoulders.
87. I'd rather date a guy who is really funny but ugly as sin, than a guy who is gorgeous but dull.
86. Meg backwards is gem!
85. I really want to drive cross-country.
84. I eat at least 5 PB&Js a week.
83. I have to sleep with the sheet and quilt over me. I think it's a security thing.
82. I won a national science fair.
81. I have a relative who fought in the American Revolution.

Photo of the Day

Flag is finally getting some snow. I'm going to enjoy watching it from my room, because I have no where I need to be this whole weekend.

I'm hoping to get some scrapbooking done this weekend. I have so many ideas, but I haven't had time for any of them yet. I was able to go on 2peas yesterday and look around. That website is so inspiring. I'm thinking about doing a song/lyrics album. You know, create an entire album about songs or lyrics that really touch me, make me laugh, smile, think, cry. Maybe I'll even insert some songs that make me angry. So the song of the day is:

When I Get Where I'm Going- Brad Paisley

Photo of the Day: 2

Photo of the Day

This is my desk, where I practically live nowadays. I have several projects going. I'm reading and highlighting an article on equity in school funding and typing up a review for it. On the blue sticky notes I'm making a grocery list, because I'm beginning to tire of PB&Js. In the upper left hand corner I have work for my special ed. methods midterm. I'm reading that ginormous textbook and comparing it to the notes I took in class. In the lower left hand corner is my daytimer. I would go crazy if I didn't have this. It helps me keep organized. Peaking out from underneath my daytimer is my textbook for School and Society, which also has a midterm coming up.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day:

My friend Dan and I at his uncle's wedding. The ceremony/reception was held at Sassi; a beautiful restaurant/event center that had a rustic Italian villa sort of feeling. So pretty. Dan and I were excited that we matched without planning it. Man, that boy was really into the danicng at the reception. Sometimes, he would even go up and dance without me. Unfortunately, he is quite possibly the worst dancer ever. But he is so funny and he doesn't care what others think about him. Those are my favorite things about him.

I feel like I have been super productive in the last few days. I have gotten so many things from my to-do list done. For example: I filed for my passport and my fingerprint clearance card; studied for BME 430 midterm; scheduled dates for my two observations for my special ed. job; finished all my article reviews for EDF 301W; washed my dishes; did my laundry. I'm sort of in an energetic phase where I want to keep on working and get as much done as possible. I want to try and complete all the work I have before spring break and everythin I have due that first week after break. These spurts of energy don't last for long, so I'm going to take advantage of it.

Flag finally got some snow. Not much, but enough to cover the ground and require me to spend fifteen minutes this morning cleaning off my car and warming it up. We are supposed to get more snow all through this week. Ugh! I'm such a weeny!

Mardi Gras Pictures

Finally, my Mardi Gras pictures are in!

Schmidt bought these masks for her, Lynsey, and I to wear.

Schmidt and Lynsey.

Lyns

Me and Schmidt. Hmm...look at all those beads Schmidty has!

Don't look at this and think I'm a lush (Mom!). I had a beer and a margarita.

Home, Lent, & Mardi Gras

It's been one of those weeks where I've thought it was Friday every stinking day. But no, today is only Wednesday. Two more days of school and homework and studying and dorm life before I get to go down to the Valley and visit my family. I know, I was there last weekend...and the weekend before, but I can't help it. Last week I had to go down for Dan's uncle's wedding (beautiful and fun, by the way) and this weekend I am going to a D-Backs spring training game down in Tucson. So it's not like I miss my mommy and daddy and have to run home and see them every chance I get. Really, I'm a grown-up (sort of) and I like living on my own up here. But it is nice to sleep in my nice big bed instead of this twin-sized brick NAU mistakenly calls a mattress. And it is nice to only have to walk to the kitchen where I can find lots of free food, instead of hiking to the student union where my healthy, meat-free choices are very limited. And I love driving in the Valley. I've finally gotten used to Flag's funky small one-way roads with their 25 mph speed limits. But I love cruising down an open Mesa road going 45.

Today is the first day of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday! Lynsey and I went to Schmidt's Mardi Gras party last night. I took some pictures, so whenever I get my film developed I'll post them.


I have tons of stuff to do:
-prepare for the midterm in BME 430, ECI 321, and ESE 450
-read an article about equity and do a write-up on it for EDF 301W
-plan and present two lessons in the special ed. class I'm working in -passport: get my pictures taken and go file my paper work at the post office
-get my fingerprints done for the fingerprint clearance card I need to student teach -clean my dishes. I have officially used every dish I own and I am now stealing plastic silverware from the student union