I submitted my dissertation to the committee yesterday (YAY!) and ever since I have been feeling really artistic. It's amazing how freeing up your brain from all that worry and stress really gets the creative juices flowing. I discovered Alma de la Melena Cox' collage work on a qulting show on PBS, and I am dying to go out and get some wood and ( Read more... )

The past week has been a whirlwind. The trip to California was amazing for all kinds of reasons. I have listed some of the highlights ( in chronological order )

I got up early (yes, on a Saturday) to present at the university's SKILL 2009 conference for graduate students in teaching roles. I participated last year, and found it to be an overwhelmingly positive experience. So often presenting at large national conferences in your field can be intimidating. It seems like everyone is an expert in everything ( Read more... )

Perhaps this hasn't been my most productive weekend workwise, but I think I'm beginning to realize that there are other types of productivity. Friday I worked during the day, and then went over to Jeanna's for dinner. Her mom was in town and, in typical, wonderful, Italian mom fashion, she felt it her duty to feed us a delcious meal. I was really ( Read more... )

Today is a good day. :) Here's why:

• Despite cautionary tales of more woeful weather on its way, the skies are sunny and not a flake has fallen
• I spoke with Audrey this morning and she gave me the go ahead to submit my NARST paper-- I'm so glad to have it off!
• I hadn't stepped on a scale in over a week, and when I just weighed myself I was .2 lbs ( Read more... )

Today was a great day in general, save the fact that it was my 28th birthday. I let myself sleep in a bit, and then got up, fed the kitty, hopped in the shower, and painted my toes ballerina pink. Everyone can use a little glam ( Read more... )

I had no idea I would be filled with this much hope and excitement upon hearing the results of the presidential election. Maybe I was cynical, but I really didn't put all of my faith into believing that anything would be different this time around. I can't wait for the next four (eight!) years in our country.

Cory got us Michael Franti tickets for the show at The Palace in November. OMG I am sooo excited!! He puts on a show like no other-- the whole audience is on their feet, and the energy is incredible. We've been to two shows together so far-- one in Baltimore, and one in Ithaca. It will be really nice to be there in our hometown. I can't wait!

Yesterday was the perfect fall day. Cory and I went apple picking at Bowman Orchards in Rexford. We headed straight to the Honeycrisp rows, only to find them completely picked over. We harvested exactly one, lonely, little apple before realizing that we needed a Plan B. ::tear ( Read more... )

The weekend in Toronto was amazing! On Friday we arrived at Cory's mom's place in Shannonville just in time for a delcious dinner. We spent a pleasant evening catching up with his mom and stepdad. We were beat, and after some Canadian 11:00 news we went to bed ( Read more... )