the wittiest knit there is

The annual Knit Wit's Christmas Non-White Elephant gift auction is now over. Over $300 was raised for charity and all of the ladies went home happy. I came home with knitting books, a notions holder, homemade jam & bread and homemade chocolates in a cute tin. The other ladies also made out well. Swell, infact, for some of the ladies. And while the fierce bidding was going on, everyone was working on a project. I had a delightful time. I can hardly wait for next year!

i'm a nerd and here is an example why

I have finished the baby blanket, after 4 months of knitting! I also now have the pictorial proof of said accomplishment. I know that it doesn't look like a typical baby blanket, but Cousin Nichole is a typical mom.

I think that the blanky will be big enough for 4 kids, but it will enough for him to grow into. And warm for winter! Good grief! I was sweating by the end everytime I knitted on it.

Friend Alison came up for a visit and we had a good time. We went over to Kenton and met up with the folks and went to a movie and Chinese buffet in Bellefontaine. The Holiday with Kate Blanchett and Camran Diaz was a fun chick flick. Other than that, we hung out and we didn't quite make it to the Regal Beagle. That will have to wait for another day.

The holidays are upon us and I am almost done with Christmas purchases.... just one or two more things. I promise.

Check out Princess Megan's blog about fruitcakes (no, not the ones you married/dating). As for more comments about married/dating, read Crazy Aunt Purl's blog and maybe you too can put forth your own dating horror story. I did date a married man for 1/2 of a date, until he told me he was married, but that she was in Canada and all he wanted was 'friends'. I asked to see a picture and he whipped it out with no hesitation. I don't believe that I left so quickly in my life and I can't remember any more if I saw him afterwards. I told Friend Laura about it(she had encouraged the date) and we were both outraged and I believe relieved (better to find the cretin out before the second date). I think that I left the country the following Feb. But that is another story for another time.

oof! what a week!

and it is only Thursday!!!

Last night Mom, Dad and I went over and met Molly Elizabeth, Cousin Ranelle's newest addition to the family. She is sooo stickin' cute it should be illegal. I'll try to finangle a picture out of the folks so that everyone can experience the cuteness.

And the realllllly important news is that I have finished the baby blanket. That's right, 4 months of knitting on one project is over! I am going to Jane's (knitting guru) house this evening and she is going to help me sew up the loose ends. Literally. I will then be free to learn how to knit socks, which I have added to my 'Things to Learn Before I Turn 30' list. The others are currently only pie in the sky.... by I have 8 months and counting to get things done. grrr... I am she-woman, hear me roar...

Other than that, I'm still scarf knitting and making everyone's Christmas gift. This year (in case you haven't heard) is going to be a Merry-Homemade-Christmas.

Oh, one more thing.... tomorrow is Hope's 10th Birthday. That is right.... Cousin Jamie's oldest will turn 10. I cannot imagine having a 10-year-old, but since Jamie and I are the same age, it is possible. Oy vey.

i kid you not

For those who are in the know, my Cousin Jamie amuses me to no end. I hope I do the same for her, but probably not to the level that she amuses me. The other day, she started a web page for her animals (she is a true farm girl) and you all will love the name.... 'Frisky Friends Farms'. I'm putting a link up so you all can go and check it out on your own. Cousin Jamie is slowly, but surely, getting all her photos uploaded. She's making promises to put the fainting goat's pictures up. I want to see them faint. I have no clue what will make that happen, but I'm willing to do quite a few things to see this happen. I'll keep you updated.

the turkey is dead... long live the turkey

I'm all nerded up today... I received my sock yarn in the mail today. 3 skeins and a pattern and about did a jig in the post office! But it will have to be delayed gratificatioin for the socks. glitch. I still have to finish baby Bryden's blanky (3 months of knitting and counting) and knock out some red scarves. I finished off a deep mulberry red one and have started a bright red lovely scarf. I have my pattern perfected and it takes me less than a day (if I'm not too distracted). Come January, I will have to mail them off and then I can start my first pair of socks. I need to finangle a small instruction course on double-pointed needles, but I think that I can bribe or sweet talk a lesson.

Now I just have to come up with a nice white elephant gift that isn't a white elephant. hmmm.... I have started into making mixes and good stuff like that. I think that tomorrow I will start an assembly line to make mixes. That means I have buy dry measuring cups and measuring spoons. That is something that didn't make it to the move. I have no clue where they are. hmmm... How badly do I want to fight the crowds today? Maybe I can sweet talk Sweetie when we go to the movies this evening.

orphans

I'm going to add a new link to the right to support the orphans... and no I'm not being melodramatic (at least not today). I'm trying to get folks to make and send red scarves to the Orphan Foundation of America's Care Package project. These are college kids who have aged out of the foster care system and are going to college. Since they are orphans, they don't have anyone to send them care packages, thus you and I step up (along with some corporate sponsers). I've made a couple of scarves thus far, but the more the merrier. And I think that I have convinced the ladies at Knit Wits to also participate, so more good news.

So officially, I want YOU to be a joiner.... a sheep if you will. Pull out your yarn and knit or crochet. Or just make cocoa for your buddy who does.

banned books

I'm just about on my soapbox with banned or challenged books. I've added a new link to the American Library Association's website on books that are challenged. So, be a rebel and read a challenged book.... or you may already have, if you've read a Judy Blume book or the Harry Potter series. However, alot of the titles suggest to me that they explain the birds and the bees... like What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-up Guide for Parents and Daughters by Lynda Madaras (she also has the same title, except for boys, that is on the list also). My favorite author, Isabel Allende, is also on the list for her Pultizer winning (I think it's a Pultizer, but it could be some other prize) book The House of Spirits.

So, visit your library today and see which banned books you can read and demand all 100!

letting my inner nerd out to play

I am officially a nerd. And I'm ok with it! I joined the Knit Wits and am the youngest member by a few decades. I am still finishing up this baby blanket for Cousin Nichole (and no one else will EVER get a blanket out of me, unless you liquor me up and then all bets are off) and then I am going to learn to make socks. That's right... socks. I purchased some sock yarn on the web and I will learn to make socks, no matter what. I think that this is something that I can do and even take on the road with me. The scarves maybe dead to me... we'll see.

Speaking of liquor.... I need to just go out and buy some! I am living in a 'dry' house and the wrongness factor is high. I lived in a Muslim, dry country and had more liquor then than I do now. (God Bless Thailand and the King's duty-free shopping extravaganza at the Bangkok Airport.) Again, with the high wrongness factor. hmmmm... I think that I will have to go out and do something about this. My liver needs the occassional pickling. Sweetie can vouch for this.

God did not strike me down... yet

Why I am an uber-nerd at times.... I totally enjoyed Megan's blog so much that I accidently duplicated her template thing-a-ma-bobber. That's what I get for not paying too close to attention and being sleepy at the same time. So, I switched things around and we'll see for now.

Erin and Dan got hitched yesterday and it was absolutely lovely. Erin made a beautiful bride and the bridesmaids had lovely dresses. I looked cute and so did everyone, come to think of it. I hate going to weddings and seeing folks not even try to clean up. That is sooo annoying! I read the Bible verses without a major flub and so did the other 3 readers. At the rehearsal, the organist yelled at us to be quiet... not the first time I'd been in trouble in church, but the first time in a while. It would probably happen more often if I attended. hmmm...

I also got to meet with some of Erin's other friends and I really enjoyed Jo and Jerry. She is an Aussie working at the tire factory. She cracked me up and now I want to be her friend too! hmmm.... I'll work on Erin for an opportunity!

Sweetie should be back soon from his trip to CA with Berk and Stella. The pictures are really good, so check out his site!

change is a good thing

As you probably have noticed, I decided that funky pink is the way to go. Megan's blog inspired me to switch it around and I finally got around to it. Ta-da!

This evening I had a lovely time with Mom. We went to Bluffton College's Yoder Hall and watched a string sextet, composed of 2 mandolins (one of whom switched to violin on occassion), a mandocello, a mandola, a guitar and a bass. It was completely delightful! They played classical music, bluegrass, ho-down, new age and finished with the Beatles. I'm in love with them. They are the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and if you have a chance, go see them!!!

Also, I am excited that Heather H. is coming and staying the night. She will be the first guest at Casa Ferguson and I can hardly wait!

But before that can occur.... Erin from Marysville is getting hitched on Saturday and I have to go and read scriptures. I hope God doesn't strike my sinning butt down for just showin' up. Beware of thunder.

new digs

I moved out on my own yet again! I'm over in Ada (if you don't know where it is, please Google it) and I have set up shop over a business on the Main drag of the town. If I have neglected to send you an email with my new snail mail address, please just email me and I'll be happy to oblige.

Since last I've blogged, Jilli has grown big, I'm knitting a blanky for Cousin Nichole's baby (and this will never happen again), I've found a recipe for Pumpkin butter I can't wait to try and I figured out that this is my 27th or so move in the last 11 years. Yes, the number is somewhat correct. Scary isn't it? I think that I will stay here for at least a year, but you never know. I hope to start grad school on-line, as soon as the paperwork gets done. Ugh... paperwork. A necessary evil.

So, if you are in the neighborhood, drop by and I'll make some s'more on my gas log fire in my livingroom. A girl has to take advantage of what drops in her lap!

apple-rific

I discovered that I love autumn. I think that my previous dislike of this season was due to going back to school syndrome that 99% of kids have. Now that I am out, I really enjoy the season. The crunchy leaves under foot, the apple that are picked and made into delightfully apple-rific dishes and the apple cider to be mulled and drank. The only glitch is the cold. Oh well.

Exciting news for the folks that have me bookmarked and randomly check in to see if I've actually written anything..... I am moving. That's right, I'm leaving the nest yet again. I have signed papers, given money and I am moving to Ada, Ohio. That's right... Ada. Right downtown above the Century 21 building on Main St. Give me a buzz on my mobile or email me and I'll send you my new address. Yeah for me! Thanks to Mom and Dad for putting up with my sorry butt for almost 10 months while I sorta got my life back together.

As for the rest of my time, I have been apple picking with Heather H., knitting a blanky for Cousin Nichole's newest baby (Bryden) and keeping my nose out of trouble. No fun, but it also means no spending the night in the clink. Tomorrow, I meet up with Sweetie and Princess Megan in MI and we will do more apple picking. I'm making up for lost time! I'll call if I get lost.

Fair Week '06

Aloha all! I'm hoping that everyone had a great Labor Day and enjoyed the long weekend. Labor Day was great for me! I went down to Cinci and visited fellow B5 Naashom and also B6 Emily for the day. We checked out the Ohio River, made earrings (Naashom and her mom are crafty folks) and talked a ton. It was so nice to joke about stuff that only a PC/Bangladesh Volunteer would get. And to whip out the Bangla, shake it off and see if anyone still understands you. I have a bad feeling that my Bangla (as poor as it was) has a limited time span, so I'd better enjoy and use it while I can.

The Hardin County Fair is going on right now. Cousin Jamie Jo's kids are showing goats, rabbits and horses. Petite Shelby said that last year she showed two draft horses driving a showcart! She is just a tiny bird of a girl! I don't know how she does it, but it is amazing that those kids can do what they do.

As for other stuff in the news.... check out Princess Megan's story in the Chicago local news: You go, girl!
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectionfiltered=community&id=4534984

busier than a one-legged guy at a butt-kickin' contest! (Dolly Parton)

Friend Carrie came down from Wisconsin to visit! We had a delightful time visiting the office, playing with Baby Jilli Bean and Grandma F. We also hit up Columbus and visited the Best BookStore in the Whole World as We Know It, or commonly known as the Book Loft in German Village. We finished off Columbus at the CAPA movie series and watched a Marlene Dietrich silent movie with the Mighty Morgan Organ playing accompaniment. Without the organ, I don't think that silent movies would have been bearable. Sunday, we went to the Ohio State Fair and had a lovely time viewing the butter cow and all the strange folks that come out of the woodwork to go to a fair. Lord knows how I blend in with all of them! My proudest purchase from the Ohio State Fair was a mandolin. For those who are not in the know, a mandolin is a smaller than a guitar, more roundish in shape and has 6 strings. I am slowly making myself familiar with chords and good stuff like that. Then for a send off, Carrie and I trekked to Toledo to meet up with Friend Kristin and her brand-new hubby Chip for Indian cooking and gossip. Very early the next day (3:30 am to be specific), Carrie and I got up so that she could meet up with AmTrak. On our way to the station, Carrie called their 1-800 hotline and found out the train was going to be about an hour or so late, so we turned around and found the nearest Denny's and ate a spot of breakfast. We were so early that we beat the regulars!

Oh! Not speaking of blending in... Mom and I went 5 other ladies and one 18 month old 'little lady' to the Mall of America for a long weekend of Shopping. Mom's girlfriend, Cathy, turned 50 and her daughter set up this trip. I believe a good time was had by all and I know that I came home with a couple of bills, but super-cute clothes.

Ok, I've chatted long enough. I'm over the birthday blahs. I swear. I'm working towards a goal finally and I have some cute clothes in my wardrobe. I can deal with whatever comes flying my way! grrr...

on being older...

I am now officially in the last year of my 20s... my how the time has flown. I still have to work on my 4 goals that I set for myself and I have a year to finish them. Knowing me, I'll procrastinate like there is always a tomorrow.

As for the social... Amy H and I stirred 8 or 10 pots of noodles and I helped make some more chicken sandwich filling. It was a busy, hot day, but worth it.

I also went black raspberry picking with Alison and we each netted over 7 lbs of berries. This was enough for me to make two batches of jam and to freeze some lovely ones for later.

usin' your noodle

This past week I have been a disgustingly good person. My inner bitch has laid low, I was exceedingly helpful and I just need a vacation from it! (Or at least an opportunity to lay down until the feeling passes.) Earlier this week, I helped with the Annual Noodle Day, which entails the ladies of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Ladies to group together at McDonald Grange in McDonald Township in Hardin County, Ohio (read: out in the boonies) and make egg noodles for the upcoming Mt. Zion United Methodist Ice Cream Social. The ladies arrive and set with tables for noodle making extravagenza and a smaller one for snacks (with few exceptions, they are all grandmas, so we a had some very lovely snacks and gossip). We rolled the dough into circles, laid them out to dry and then cut them up into the actual noodle shape. This only took about 4 hours and by noon, there were a boo-qoo of noodles and a floury Laura. It was so humid that day, that the noodle did not dry completely before cutting, so we decided to let them dry and under the fans we had jerry-rigged and a couple of ladies came back later that day to bag them up and put them in the freezer with the Schwan ice cream. Come the 20th of this month, Amy H and I will be in the kitchen of the said McDonald Grange Hall to cook these noodles without the benefit of a/c or personal slave. Being 27 and 28 respectively, we are the youngest ladies there and befittingly we are the lowest on the totem pole. We are the step and fetch it. I think that is why our moms had us, so that they could raise the next generation of go-fer. Maybe this should be some sort of incentive to get knocked up. Child Labor. The only problem with that is they the kids will probably need feeding and caring and they aren't good for much the first several years... A lot of putout with not alot of potential incoming... I may need to rethink this whole kid thing. hmmm....

Well, the point is, come out to McDonald Grange Hall on July 20th and get some good homecooking. Don't worry about me and Amy making the noodles... we just stir the pots. (We typically make about 7 pots of chicken noodles.) Marge is the only one allowed to put in spices and is the General Taskmistress of Noodles. We are just the Stirrers. Until we reproduce our replacements. I think we might have this job for a few more decades.

i didn't forget you...

... I just had no life. However, I now able to report that I have gotten my Causualty and Property insurance license and will be working at the family insurace agency as of 1 July 2006. Woo-hoo for me. Now, I just have to figure out all the lingo and good crap like that for the respective insurance companies. FUN.

I am still on the search for the ideal grad school that will offer what I want and won't put me into debt until I'm dead (they'll take the life insurance, thank you very much!). Any and all suggestions about what I should do when I grow up, please just email me.

Sad news... Sweetie has moved to Chicago for a very good promotion. Good news on the promotion part, bad news for the leaving me in Ohio after I finally moved back into the state. Glitch.

OK, gotta go and look productive. Take care and give me a buzz when in town.

its been a while

It has been a while since I've last written... Sorry! I have had sort of a boring life, as of late and then BAM! stuff happens.

Last week, I was in Columbus for Insurance Class and now I am somewhat ed-u-ma-cated on the subject of insurance. I don't suggest anyone take these classes for fun, but I know feel somewhat knowledgable. Who knew? I'm sure if I lay down, the feeling will pass.

While I was in Columbus, I housesat for Sweetie and poochsat for Trevor, his dog. The outcome of Sweetie's trip to CA was a promotion and by June 1st, he'll be in Chicago. I'll have to travel abit further for a Sweetie fix. Glitch. However, I am so happy for him, that I won't begrudge him the additional 5 hours of travel. And then I get to see Megan and Matt at the same time. Will Chicago ever be the same again? I think not.

As for the rest... I'm still trying to get into Case Western and figuring out funding for these lofty grad school plans.

Maybe I need to start with a nap.

just a simple update

Nothing exciting lately, except for the pearls. I brought back a large number of pearl earring/necklace sets back from Bangladesh and I just got them appraised by Ernie the Jeweler and I found out I was sitting on a crapload of moola. So, if you are one of the folks that received a pearl set from me, while they aren't AAA quality, they are still worth quite a bit. I cracked up Ernie the Jeweler when I told him that I walked it onto the plane and didn't get taxed for it. He thought it quite rich.

Let me know what your spring plans are and maybe we can get together (yeah, yeah, yeah) and have a swingin' time! This goes for everyone!

i am so stinkin' happy....

.... that the GMAT is taken and over! I visited the testing center today and a few hours later, I left with a headache and a lighter heart. Yeah for me.

Next week, it's off to Cleveland to visit Case West and their program and finish up the apps. In the meantime, I'm going to work on my before 30 goals and enjoy Spring springing.

Keep a look out for Sweetie, especially if you are on the West coast. He's going to be there for the next 10 days or so.

Ok, I've gotta take an asprin and lay down until the math problems float out of my head.

PC/Bangladesh gone

Peace Corps/Bangladesh is being consolidated/evacuated as I write. For those not familiar with PC-speak, that means all the Volunteers in-country are being pulled into the capital city of Dhaka and being flown to DC and the program will be closed - probably for good. This makes me so upset! There are a ton of details that I won't go into on a public blog, but I truly believe that they are being pulled out prematurely. I was in-country with the other B5s, 4s and 3s at the begining of the Iraqi war, when they were burning effigies of President Bush and you got harrassed if you said you were American. This sucks majorly for the Volunteers who really wanted to stay to the end of their service. I hope that the kids who came this past August will sign up to go to different countries and get a full 2 year PC experience.

blackberry wine.... fruit of the vine...

As I sit on my comfy couch and drink a glass of Dad's most recent purchase of blackberry wine from the lovely neighboring state of West Virginia, I think back to this past extended weekend. Chicago was good... very good. I got excellent Megan time and I enjoyed Matt. I saw their wedding video, which will have to do, since I couldn't make it to the real thing. How lovely! Megan got me walking and enjoying the ability to do so! After living in the Midwest (where we drive everywhere) and Bangladesh (where you ride a rickshaw everywhere), I enjoyed just hoofing it and I have the blisters to prove it. The school was good and as of 1 August, I can get 40% off of the tution for being an RPCV! Isn't that crazy? And if I get a second degree, I can get it for 50% off! Who knew?

As for the actually roadtripping itself... Megan can attest that I had a long and extended self-guided tour of Chicago, starting on the South Side, going through China town and eventually (after several mobile calls to Megan) I made it to the very big lake and then went a touch North to Megan and Matt's place. Going home was not as adventurous, but I did not end up going the way that Megan's map told me to go. Nevertheless, I made it home in time for dinner. All's well that ends well.

yeah! almost march!~

Cousin Nolan is leaving in a couple of days for Marine Corps training down in the Carolinas. Semper Fi! After completing basic training, he's going into a Military Police training and then be deployed someplace on the planet. So, folks, keep him in your prayers.

As for Case Western... I really like it and will be applying soon. I'm going to Chicago to visit North Park U and to visit Friend Megan and her brand-new, shiney, just-out-of-the-package hubby. I am very excited! And before you know it, it'll be warm and all kinds of delightful here in Ohio. I am soooo looking forward to Spring.

Eat well today, for tomorrow is Lent and some crazy folk give up stuff. I'm doing a De Facto Lent... Mom isn't buying the things she's giving up, so that goes for me and Dad also.

OH! I got a new mobile yesterday. It's a Verizon, so if you don't have it yet, email me and I'll give it to you.
Take care.

while i've been away from my computer...

... doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about blogging. Cousin LeeAnn wrote concerned, so I am proclaiming to be alive and kicking. The last three weekends have been busier than a one-legged man at a butt-kickin' contest! I went to Columbus and stayed with the forever wonderful Sweetie and ate much and well. The next weekend I went to North Carolina with the 'rents to watch the SuperBowl (or actually the commercials) with family friends and the weekend after that found me in Maumee and the greater Toledo area for Kristin and Chip's wedding. The had a beautiful hitchin' and I ate the best wedding food ever! That Sunday also saw Cousin Jamie's little Jilli getting baptised (at which she did not cry, but actually smiled throught the whole process!), so I have been busy! This weekend, I can say the exact opposite and I enjoyed every minute of not going out into the cold. However, there is no rest for the weary or the wicked...

Tuesday and Wednesday nights are going to see me at Cousin Jamie's house for an extended sleepover. Yep... us 5 girls for 48 hours of fun, fun, fun! Jamie's friend Rachel might even join us one evening for dinner and possible fun crafting or baking or something like that. And next weekend Dad and I are going to Cleveland on Saturday to look at a grad school and then Sunday Cousin Nolan is having a going-away party. He's joining the Marines. Add him to your prayer lists, ok?

OK, kids, it's been fun, but I've got to get some shuteye. Take care and be safe in all you do.

hardly working or hard at work?

Working for Joe and Jamie is pretty easy. I type data of customers in, answer the phone, make lunch for Joe and Jamie on occassion and schlep Grandma whenever necessary. Nothing exciting, but I'm liking it.

On the personal front, I'm looking up the requirements of a motorcycle permit and I want to take a Honda Riders' Center course on how to ride a motorcycle. And I'm going to check out Ebay for guitars or go to the G-Note in downtown Kenton... I can hardly wait! And as soon as it warms up, Dad and Chad are going to take Cousin Jamie and myself out shooting rifles and pistols. Maybe this summer I'm going to start up riding lessons from Cousin Jamie. This keeps up, I'll have my To Do list finished before I'm 29, let alone 30! Yeah for me!

Friend Megan is doing good (check out her blog!) and I'm going to see Sweetie, Heather H and Alison this coming weekend. Bigger plans in the works.... I'm going to N Carolina for a long weekend to see the Keith family. It's been ages and I will meet Avery for the very first time! So, Superbowl, you will be watched or at least be in the background. And hopefully, a trip to Mexico will happen to visit Friend Isis and her family for the first time in a decade. It's going to be a ton of fun! And somewhere in the mix, I'm studying for the GMAT. oof!

Take and be safe in all you do. ~Laura

joe survived

Dad and I survived this week without Mom with quite a bit of success. Cousin Jamie got a free lunch everyday this week, Grandma F got schlepped and the house is looking decent... Not a thing that can really be complained about. Mom will be happy when she gets home.

I also have talked to alot of people this week, but not everyone! If you have not received an IM, email or a phone... I apologize. I've actually had to work at work. Considering that was a foreign concept at my last job, this is something that I had to really mentally prepare for. Thank goodness I can pretty much leave whenever I want (Dad is the boss and if I say "leaving for a mental break" I don't think that he'll mind) and I get some baby time with Cousin Jamie's baby Jilli. I love baby time. She is so happy and smiley! I still don't want one, but this is pleasant for 5 days a week.

OK, take care and have some fun!

bridezilla wannabe

I have survived the attack of the brides. I went to Columbus this weekend and worked at Friend Laura's travel business' booth for honeymoon planning and destination weddings. 13 hours later and many, many brides, grooms, mothers of the bride, bridesmaids, fathers of the brides and various siblings later, we had a mulititude of contacts and were dog-tired. I want to run away to the Chapel of Elvis and just do it simply.

While I was down in Columbus, I spent the night with Friend Heather andFriend Alison. Talk about a good time had by all! (OK, I'm just speaking for myself now). I can't wait to go back down and have more of a good time.

So, I have to go to bed now and get up early enough to pack lunches for Dad and me. Mom is in Florida with Aunt Carolyn. Somehow that makes me in charge of feeding Dad. Hang on a sec! I am not the one with the seniority on this ship! How does this work? I'm not sure if I'm getting the good end of the stick on this one. And now he wants me to go to King Kong with him, since Mom won't. My price to view this 3 hour boy-flick: popcorn and a drink. I like to think that I'm reasonable. :)

happy new year!

Happy New Year! I am writing this entry in flannel pajamas, very cute slippers and at my mom's kitchen table. It was nice to spend the holidays at home and to see what everyone was up to. I played with babies, talked to everyone and just waiting for the cultural shock to be over.

This past weekend helped me a little with the cultural shock some. I went down on Friday and met Sweetie and his folks, Berkley and Stella at the Tuttle Mall and had dinner with them. Sweetie and I parted ways with them and then went on a small tour of Upper Arlington to view the Christmas lights and a quick stop to Caribou to drink a Hot Apple Blast. My tummy was so happy! We went back to his place and crashed for the night. The next day we had a lovely breakfast out at Cracker Barrel for Sweetie's belated birthday treat - too much food! We then went and did a little shopping at Target and watched a movie - The Producers - it is too funny! Sweetie got ready for a New Years' wedding and I bowed out of going out with Alison for New Years. That's right, I stayed at home, ordered in pizza and watched Scooby Doo on TV, falling asleep by 11:00 that night. I loved every minute of it! I needed that little bit of 'Laura Time'. Sweetie woke me up at 2 a.m. while I was sleeping on the couch and I think that we talked a little bit. The next morning, we just lounged around and read the Sunday paper. I met up with Heather Hissom and had a wonderful Mexican lunch and shopped for South Asia spices. I met up with Alison in Worthington and we did a little more shopping and we ate at the Happy Greek. I now love Happy Greeks..... soooo tasty! I finally went home with all of my new spices and cute pink with coffee mug slippers and am now enjoying a quiet day home.

OK, while my life is boring, I'm soooo stinkin' happy to have a boring life for the moment!

However... with that being said, life should not be too boring, so I have decided that I have a personal goal of learning various things before I'm 30 (July 24, 2007). Here is my list. If you have any suggestions or anything like that, please let me know...

Things to Learn Before I'm 30

1. learn to shoot rifles and handguns

2. learn to drive a motorcycle

3. learn to properly ride a horse

4. learn how to play a string instrument (banjo or guitar)

I'm not sure of anything else... I know there must be something else I really want to learn, but I just can't think of it at the moment. hmmm....