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....