Let's run off to Europe and become artists

Today, my work took me to the Home Economics building -- one of the few places on campus I’ve never been. I went there to interview a guy who is affiliated with the quilt center I mentioned in an earlier blog.

I’ve always heard that the textiles, clothing and design department is like a different universe. I figured that was because the TCD girls dress like Project Runway models while the rest of campus is grubbing out in sweatpants and Uggs.

But TCD turned out to be so much more. (This is not sarcasm, by the way.)

Once I contained my glee over seeing Vogue in the waiting room (what other place on campus has the good sense to offer this amenity?), I was able to focus. Kind of. I secretly wanted to sneak into the studios and touch all the gorgeous fabric.

Until college, I engaged in some form of creative expression every day, whether it was in music class, doing layout for the yearbook, or just spending time alone drawing or writing. I don’t do any of that anymore. The only bummer about turning your hobby into a career is that it’s, well, work. After spending half my day or more on writing projects, it’s the last thing I want to do when I come home. Also, journalism school was the best and worst thing that ever happened to my writing, but that’s a story for another time.

Being in the studios reminded me that it would be nice to have an artsy hobby again. I’ve channeled most of my artistic energy into home decorating, which is fun, but I can’t paint the living room every weekend. It’s just not practical; we have 10-foot ceilings. Not that I haven’t thought about it, heh heh.

So, ladies and gents, I have some ideas:

• Sing in a choir. That would probably require joining a church -- yet another story for another day.
• Sewing, although I’m not sure I have the patience for it
• More card decorating
• Photography
• Learning the right way to mat and frame photos
• What else?

Side note -- Didn’t we have fun back in the day, making posters for Grandpa’s room and splatter-painting when Mom and Cindy weren’t looking?

It's 44 degrees this morning! yay!

After last week's subzero temperatures, I was super happy that it was 50 yesterday. Andy and I walked about 1.5 miles, which isn't much, but was a huge accomplishment for me since my ass has been firmly planted on the couch for the last month. It was wonderful to walk outside wearing a fleece jacket instead of my heavy Columbia coat or a wool jacket. Today is the last day of this wonderful spring-like weather (and I hear snow is on the way again), but oh well. Any respite from winter is nice.

I get lots of nesting urges in the winter. Tonight, I'm going to start sketching plans for my spring gardening projects. I might even paint the basement soon, if I'm feeling up to it.

my final year of pharmacy school

Big news!!! My 6 clerkship blocks for next year have been posted. This is the order, with two in each semester (summer, fall, and spring):

1-2. La Crosse, WI
3. Aiea, HI (yes, that's in HAWAII!!!!!)
4. Bayfield, WI
5. Boscobel, WI
6. Tomah, WI

All but hawaii offer free housing, which is mostly how I'm affording to go so far away. I'm super pumped. I was probably the only one who got all their top choices (it helped that most of my choices weren't popular ones). I've even been making lists of fun activities to do in each of these locations. YAY!

When walking from place to place

this is a good tune to listen to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BugFniXE1rc

guaranteed to get you whistling

Happy new year!

So I'm about 19 days late, but the sentiment still stands. :) I figure since I haven't blogged for awhile, except for a few comments here and there, that I'd contribute.

My year has gone swimmingly so far. Yes, I still have mono and don't feel awesome yet. However, my mind is at peace now that I'm not working at a place that made me cry at least once a week and gave me a panic attack (not an exaggeration, unfortunately). I really like my new job. Everyone has been so welcoming, and I like what I'm doing. I'm a writer and editor for the university's research office, which means I'm one of the first people to hear about and publicize everyone's nifty inventions. I love working for a university-wide office because I don't have to focus on one subject -- I cover everything from the arts and humanities, to science and engineering, to agriculture, to quilt studies. My first major assignment was on continuous nanofibers. Do I really understand what that means? Just barely. But since I've made a career out of knowing a little bit about a lot of things, I can usually pull together a decent story when I have time to do my research.

Other random thoughts:
* I've been guzzling green tea, in hopes that it will boost my immune system. Plain green tea tastes like grass. Green tea with jasmine tastes like you're munching on an orchid (or what I imagine what that would taste like). ;) Green tea infused with lemon and honey is bearable.

* The end-of-season sales have been out of control. Or rather, my spending has been out of control, tee hee. But how am I supposed to pass up a pair of wool dress pants for $17.99 at Banana Republic? Or the $9 sweatpants at Express? Or J. Crew's online sales? Gah, somebody should block jcrew.com on my Safari browser because I'm pretty sure it'll be my downfall.

* I posted a picture of my new Easter dress. This is the first non-sale item that I've bought at BR, but it is so me. The picture doesn't do it justice; just ask Hayley how cute I looked. :)

* This weekend, I am working on a list of New Year's resolutions, which include grand visions of keeping my inbox de-cluttered and taking better care of myself. Once I start feeling better, I will start running again and using Julie's tips for toning the badonk.

* Mom, Hayley, Lindsey and I saw 27 Dresses this afternoon. 'Twas a very enjoyable chick flick, and hello eye candy ... James Marsden is a hottie. I've loved him ever since he was on Party of Five back in 1995. Oh, and he was Lon in the The Notebook.

* I think May would be a great time for a cousin reunion.

Update to My Life - Part 2

Hello all! I'm writing from my cute new apartment. I am giddy because I'm blaring my upbeat music that I like and I don't have to worry about if anyone else likes it. I love living by myself! Not to mention my friends are all in my building. It has changed me already. Today I giggled a lot...looks like I'm more back to my old self.

Yesterday was my first day of classes and it was very overwhelming. This semester I have Medical/Surgical with a twice a week clinical, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology. Basically, I will be devoting my precious time with my text books. Good thing I knew about the rigorous load of this semester already. Last night I already started studying and I have my first test tomorrow on IVs and IV calculations.

Today, was probably one of the best labs I've had yet. I learned about IVs, how to put them in, take them out, and change the meds. It was very exciting practicing on computer simulation programs and rubber arms! I met my clinical instructor for this semester today, and she seems very nice and makes a lot of jokes. She gave me a smiley face and a great on my paper today for my IV skills. Needless to say I was stoked...but mostly because she digs smiley face reward systems! Of course I had to add a little bit of Hayley to the day, so as we are rotating to practice setting up the IV pump I have to maneuver around another IV pole complete with four different IV lines. As I try to expertly step over the cords, I manage to use the dreaded Anderson Clumsy tricks and get my legs caught in all the cords. Luckily I'm really good at laughing at myself; and my classmates got a kick out of my grace as well.

I'm not sure how exciting this information is to everyone else, but it is refreshing to see that I can still smile and get a laugh out of my classmates. After being under the stress of Julianne, I lost my humor. Now I just smile when I watch her show up late and ditch out of class early. Looks like maybe I won after all. Suck on that!

finance advice

andy, i'm starting to become curious/concerned about my future finances... for when i graduate in a year and a half. i realize i will have plenty of money to work with, i just want to make sure i make the best decisions with it.

do you have any suggestions for books, magazines, webpages, etc. that i can start perusing? i want to save as much as possible, and invest safely. there's this plan that eventually i'll find a man and have kids, so someday i may want to have saved a bundle... make life easier.

An Update From Lincoln

Friday evening musings, while at home with a sick wife.

Well, we survived 2007. Barely.

I am graduated and Ashley has finally escaped the evil clutches of the Engineering college.
But such a long, bad, stressful year was certain to have a hang-over of sorts.

Ash got mono. Yup, mono. So, her long anticipated start at a new employer will have to be delayed slightly. She tried to go in on her first day and they sent her home at noon. Since then, her days have consisted for sleeping, reading and cuddling with the cat. Once this passes, 2008 is settng up to be swell.

Since my studies have completed, I've kept busy. Caring for an ill wife has taken some time, but allowed me to catch up on mundane chores such as budgeting and checkbook balancing or de-fragmenting our hard drives and putting away holiday decorations. I've spent a bit of time with the new guitar and have picked up some things. I have most major chords down and can pick out a few tunes. I have new respect for Dave Matthews, Colin Hay John Mayer, Ben Folds, Pearl Jam and Counting Crows. Even though I have heard those songs thousands of times, I am hearing these songs much differently and am falling in love with them all over again. Kindof a cool experience. As a stark contrast to a teenager learning saxophone, I am actually enjoying practicing. Though if I could play Pearl Jam on the sax, I might enjoy it more.

I'm starting my running routine soon. I turn 30 in 6 months and 3 days and one of my post-graduation goals is to get into the best shape of my life by the time I'm 30. Now, I've never been really in shape, and I've never been that far out of shape really this this may not take much of an accomplishment. But I do have some goals to work for. I want to try and run a mile non-stop without rest by the end of March and if I don't hate myself by then maybe get more ambitious and try a 5K. We'll see. There is a facebook application called runalicous that will track my progress. When the weather warms a bit, we get started -- or head to the rec center.

I'm actually feeling pretty good today. After flirting with the Wisconsin Alumni Associaiton, I got a call from Illinois today. My counterpart there retires in 3 years and he wanted to let me know he has to find a person to take over for him in the next two years that would spend a final year under him before taking over a vice presidency job. I'm not really looking, but it is nice to know that he thought of me and if things turn sour in this transition period at the NAA, I have options out there.

I also talked to my former boss today (the one who was forced to retire). Good to hear from him and know that he still thought well of me. He's a good mentor and I miss him quite a bit sometimes.

It is difficult to type with all your fingertips on the left hand numb from guitar practice.

Oh yeah....the Asian markets. Still holding up OK, and Pacific and European markets are solid with the credit crunch and rising fuel costs. Tat may slow down China a bit, but we'll see. I'd stick to consumer staples like P&G, look at Oil Refineres and rail transportation in this market.

We should get Cole bloging now that we knwo he has internet and much free tiem out in Kearney. Though I hear rumors or scattered dates.

So Ashley got Mono from our dearest Hayley. I figure it is karma for the flu sickness I passed to Hayley last Christmas that took 7 lbs off of me, and sidelined her for a couple days. It is no secret Hayley and one of my male friends have been in communication for awhile, and I'm staying out of it (though given complete blessing). Though if my pal comes down with Mono, I may have to give Hayley a hard time or perhaps question Ashley's fidelity. :)

Download now: The Wanderer by Marc Broussard and Six Feet Under the Stars by All Time Low. I may have already mentioned Six Feet Under the Stars as a lot of this fall is a blur. If so my apologies, but there is a line about State Street in there that reminds me of Madison.

I got to touch the Stanley Cup. Pictures to soon follow.

Mary, best of luck with the upcoming interviews and travels. When you have a finalist list assembled, I can give you all sorts of info that is not in the brochure on quite a few campuses.

That's all for now. Night all. And happy new year.