I plan on writing a more substantial note about life in general. But I was in the car and I heard this Avril Lavigne song. I don't know how I feel about it on the whole - musical composition wise - but the lyrics hit home.
When You're gone
I always needed time on my own
I never thought I'd need you there when I cry
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie
is made up on your side
When you walk away
I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
All the words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it OK
I miss you
I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do
Reminds me of you
And the clothes you left
they lie on my floor
And they smell just like you
I love the things that you do
We were made for each other
Out here forever
I know we were
Yeah Yeah
All I ever wanted was for you to know
Everything I do I give my heart and soul
I can hardly breathe, I need to feel you here with me
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is out tonight - I plan on picking it up at 12:01 am. Then I will commence on reading it - so the next post will go up after that is all finished. I am excited, yet sad about it. Rowling says either people will love it or loathe it - I would hope after six books that I do not end up loathing the entire story. Then it seems like all the thoughts and contemplations would have gone to waste. And really would take you seriously if you say - you know what I only read up until the 6th book - I just don't like that 7th.
Oh well I need to manage some more math in for the day. :o(
Last Evening of fun
I feel like I need to say this somewhere and for it to matter. Right now I lack any and all motivation.
This is the end of the procrastination. Tomorrow starts a new day. Days where I stick my head in a math book and that is where it will be for a good number of hours. I will eat, drink, and sleep math. I have spoken to a couple of you about my qualifying exams - and thank you for all of your support. But I lack some, okay, a lot of confidence in myself that I will do well. But I suppose the only time I will know for sure is after I finish the exams.
So for now I am going to put some of my wedding planning on hold - excepting maybe my dress shopping and speaking with some dj's because I could spend all day (ie today) just doing research. Oh I can't forget - I will make time for Harry Potter- (10 days movie, 20 days book). EEEP! But I will accomplish some major mathematical feats in each of those time periods, or well, I intend to.
With that - a little video games to finish off my last night of fun.
This is the end of the procrastination. Tomorrow starts a new day. Days where I stick my head in a math book and that is where it will be for a good number of hours. I will eat, drink, and sleep math. I have spoken to a couple of you about my qualifying exams - and thank you for all of your support. But I lack some, okay, a lot of confidence in myself that I will do well. But I suppose the only time I will know for sure is after I finish the exams.
So for now I am going to put some of my wedding planning on hold - excepting maybe my dress shopping and speaking with some dj's because I could spend all day (ie today) just doing research. Oh I can't forget - I will make time for Harry Potter- (10 days movie, 20 days book). EEEP! But I will accomplish some major mathematical feats in each of those time periods, or well, I intend to.
With that - a little video games to finish off my last night of fun.
Residues and Residuals
So I have finally gotten myself into a respectable routine. I apologize to everyone who has contacted me recently via email, phone, im, telepathically - I will get in contact with you. I swear.
Yes, Andrew and I got engaged. Sam says I'm not enthused enough. I am very happy, overjoyed - but it got overshadowed by the fact that I knew Andrew was leaving again. But I have gotten myself together again - working on planning the wedding has really helped (not only giving me an excuse to try on expensive pretty dresses), I feel like by accomplishing all these big/little tasks it brings him closer to being home. I need that. But I am torn somewhat because I am not able to discuss all of my frustrations and triumphs with getting things ready in a 25 minute phone call, or emails (absolutely wonderful) but those don't cut it emotionally.
At least while we were both together, we got to decide on date, church, and reception site. Even got the ball rolling at my church - yes Roman Catholics do have a bunch of things to do : apply to the church, do FOCCUS, marriage prep sessions, and meetings with the pastor. I'm glad Andrew was around for that. I seem to have trouble doing the big decisions, I always get caught up in the little details of things. Now it is just a matter of everything else - gowns, bridesmaids, groomsmen, save the dates, invitations, thank yous, registries, caterers, photographers, favors, djs, bridal showers, bachelor/ette parties, flowers, linens, silverware, god knows there is probably more. No wonder people make a ton of money in the wedding industry. I think they just make up stuff as tradition so that people will buy into it.
But as you can imagine - working all of that out is a tad bit more enjoyable than all the information I should be studying for my qualifying exams in August. It is a it tougher since I am in South Carolina and nowhere near Jersey. I talked to a dj last night (no, actually he called me - i did not make first contact) and he wanted to know when I could come and see all the dj's. I tried to tell him I'm not at the dj stage and I'm nearly 700 miles away. But it didn't stop him at all. "When will you be back?" "Maybe....October." "oh" "I can't come back any earlier - I'm teaching in July through August, the next semester starts in August - my first free long weekend is in October". Really - they expect me to drop three to four hundred bucks on a plane flight every time I need to see a florist, photographer, or a dj, then they are freakin' nuts. Oh well, I suppose I will be very very busy when I go home in October.
Happier note - Mom agreed to come down middle of July to come dress shopping with me, Amanda, Amanda's mom, and Mrs. Sawyer in Charlotte. Keep your fingers crossed that I find "the dress". I don't want to get scolded by any more bridal boutique attendants that I should be buying my dress - right now for it to be ready in time for my wedding.
I suppose I should do something productive - like stare at the stack of math books I have - maybe something will sink it. Catch ya later.
Yes, Andrew and I got engaged. Sam says I'm not enthused enough. I am very happy, overjoyed - but it got overshadowed by the fact that I knew Andrew was leaving again. But I have gotten myself together again - working on planning the wedding has really helped (not only giving me an excuse to try on expensive pretty dresses), I feel like by accomplishing all these big/little tasks it brings him closer to being home. I need that. But I am torn somewhat because I am not able to discuss all of my frustrations and triumphs with getting things ready in a 25 minute phone call, or emails (absolutely wonderful) but those don't cut it emotionally.
At least while we were both together, we got to decide on date, church, and reception site. Even got the ball rolling at my church - yes Roman Catholics do have a bunch of things to do : apply to the church, do FOCCUS, marriage prep sessions, and meetings with the pastor. I'm glad Andrew was around for that. I seem to have trouble doing the big decisions, I always get caught up in the little details of things. Now it is just a matter of everything else - gowns, bridesmaids, groomsmen, save the dates, invitations, thank yous, registries, caterers, photographers, favors, djs, bridal showers, bachelor/ette parties, flowers, linens, silverware, god knows there is probably more. No wonder people make a ton of money in the wedding industry. I think they just make up stuff as tradition so that people will buy into it.
But as you can imagine - working all of that out is a tad bit more enjoyable than all the information I should be studying for my qualifying exams in August. It is a it tougher since I am in South Carolina and nowhere near Jersey. I talked to a dj last night (no, actually he called me - i did not make first contact) and he wanted to know when I could come and see all the dj's. I tried to tell him I'm not at the dj stage and I'm nearly 700 miles away. But it didn't stop him at all. "When will you be back?" "Maybe....October." "oh" "I can't come back any earlier - I'm teaching in July through August, the next semester starts in August - my first free long weekend is in October". Really - they expect me to drop three to four hundred bucks on a plane flight every time I need to see a florist, photographer, or a dj, then they are freakin' nuts. Oh well, I suppose I will be very very busy when I go home in October.
Happier note - Mom agreed to come down middle of July to come dress shopping with me, Amanda, Amanda's mom, and Mrs. Sawyer in Charlotte. Keep your fingers crossed that I find "the dress". I don't want to get scolded by any more bridal boutique attendants that I should be buying my dress - right now for it to be ready in time for my wedding.
I suppose I should do something productive - like stare at the stack of math books I have - maybe something will sink it. Catch ya later.
Engaged
Andrew arrived in Columbia early in the morning on June 4th. Shortly upon arriving back at my apartment, Andrew proposed out on the balcony.
For the past several days we have been running around from parents' house to parents' house to get a chance to see a good number of people. It has been somewhat exhausting but great to see everyone.
Now we are back in Columbia trying to relax. Just thought that a post was due here.
For the past several days we have been running around from parents' house to parents' house to get a chance to see a good number of people. It has been somewhat exhausting but great to see everyone.
Now we are back in Columbia trying to relax. Just thought that a post was due here.
I did it.
Oh what did I do? Honestly nothing spectacular - but I feel so proud having accomplished on my own. Yesterday in the midst of some driving my car tells me that the battery in my key is dying. Yes, my car is very smart. No, I am not making up the fact that my car talks to me. Okay so it doesn't exactly talk, it leaves coherent messages on my dashboard like - Take for Oil Service, Key Battery Low, Right Passenger door Ajar. Helpful things like that. *No they are not little stupid lights on the dashboard...it actually types out little words on a screen.* Impressive right?? So anyway, back to the battery in my key dying. Ack. I read the owner's manual to find out the battery type and any sort of work I might have to do to get to the battery. Now my initial thought is I can just take it to the dealer and have them fix it. No luck, dealer is closed on Sunday. I decided to take matters into my own hands. Road trip to CVS to obtain said battery. Back home - whip out manual and my toolkit. In under fifteen minutes I have the old battery out and a brand spankin' new one in. But I couldn't be sure of my handiwork. I run outside in the ooky rain and attempt to unlock my car doors. Presto - I hear the magical click of the locks unhinging. Oh joyous day. I did it all on my own - no manly help at all. :o)
On an even happier note - around this time tomorrow Andrew will be here. I almost don't know what to do with myself - outside of fixing my car keys.
Catch ya later.
On an even happier note - around this time tomorrow Andrew will be here. I almost don't know what to do with myself - outside of fixing my car keys.
Catch ya later.
Memorial Day
It's a holiday, the unofficial start of summer. I have nothing spectacular to do. For about two months or so, I have been wanting to try to make a new recipe. As you can imagine, I haven't been able to because of the rigors of school. I wanted to make a proscuitto/chicken dish. I've been pseudo-scouring around for some good recipes, nothing really catching my eye. To the rescue - the Italian and Pasta cookbook Suzer got me a while back. It had something really good, but I didn't like the entire recipe. So I cut out the part that really didn't rock my boat and tried my hand at it this evening. It turned out superbly. I really do enjoy cooking - I think maybe I missed my calling. I feel so good while I'm doing it...and then getting to eat it afterwards. Ah, heaven. Oh maybe you want the recipe:
Proscuitto Wrapped Chicken
1/2 cup frozen spinach, defrosted (next time I might try it fresh) and chopped up a bit (don't get the creamed or with butter sauce kind :oP is the response I think you will get if you do this)
1/2 cup Ricotta cheese (I didn't use whole milk)
4 boneless chicken breasts
4-8 thin slices of proscuitto
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
parmesan cheese
pecorino remano cheese
salt & pepper
Mix spinach and Ricotta cheese. Add a bit of the two other cheeses for some flavoring along with a bit of salt and pepper. In each chicken breast make a slit in the chicken to form a pocket. Then fill the pocket with the spinach mixture. Reshape the chicken and wrap the breast with a slice (or 2) of proscuitto. Secure the proscuitto to the chicken with a toothpick. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Brown each chicken breast for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a baking dish (I like to drizzle what is left of the butter and olive oil over the chicken to keep the flavor in). Now cook uncovered in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Can serve with side of green beans...or maybe carrots...or rice or whatever tickles your fancy.
On a happy note as well - I got my final class grade. I did well. So I am a happy camper.
Just one week to go to total relaxation time. :o)
Proscuitto Wrapped Chicken
1/2 cup frozen spinach, defrosted (next time I might try it fresh) and chopped up a bit (don't get the creamed or with butter sauce kind :oP is the response I think you will get if you do this)
1/2 cup Ricotta cheese (I didn't use whole milk)
4 boneless chicken breasts
4-8 thin slices of proscuitto
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
parmesan cheese
pecorino remano cheese
salt & pepper
Mix spinach and Ricotta cheese. Add a bit of the two other cheeses for some flavoring along with a bit of salt and pepper. In each chicken breast make a slit in the chicken to form a pocket. Then fill the pocket with the spinach mixture. Reshape the chicken and wrap the breast with a slice (or 2) of proscuitto. Secure the proscuitto to the chicken with a toothpick. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Brown each chicken breast for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a baking dish (I like to drizzle what is left of the butter and olive oil over the chicken to keep the flavor in). Now cook uncovered in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Can serve with side of green beans...or maybe carrots...or rice or whatever tickles your fancy.
On a happy note as well - I got my final class grade. I did well. So I am a happy camper.
Just one week to go to total relaxation time. :o)
Been a while...
Well, I haven't been posted in a while. I might as well now.
My trip home to Jersey was good. Got the new-fangled license...and can you believe it only took me 15 minutes at the DMV? I know it was a fantastic experience. I met up with the cousin for lunch. That was yummy and delicious. Also met up with Beckie for some Corner Confectionary ice cream. It doesn't get much better than corner confectionary ice cream, lemme tell ya.
I'm back in Columbia though. Just chilling out. I try to do a little bit of math work everyday. Actually I just finished up a study guide from one of my first semester classes. Yes, I'm making study guides so that I have all the important theorems in one spot and don't have to spend hours on end trying to hunt them down. I only have one more study guide to make. Go me. I did really well on my Numerical Linear Algebra final exam. I'm still waiting on a grade for my PDE class though. The professor still hasn't graded the exams yet. :o(
Other than that, I'm just biding my time - less than two weeks now until Andrew is home. You can not believe how excited I am about it. Can you imagine it...we've already made it over 6 months, actually almost 7 months. I think for the first time since I've been in SC I'll finally be able to relax a bit.
Umm.. I'm going to go play nintendo- I have no desire to watch who wins American Idol tonight - cause America was stupid when they kicked off Melinda last week. She was the best. There is my two cents.
My trip home to Jersey was good. Got the new-fangled license...and can you believe it only took me 15 minutes at the DMV? I know it was a fantastic experience. I met up with the cousin for lunch. That was yummy and delicious. Also met up with Beckie for some Corner Confectionary ice cream. It doesn't get much better than corner confectionary ice cream, lemme tell ya.
I'm back in Columbia though. Just chilling out. I try to do a little bit of math work everyday. Actually I just finished up a study guide from one of my first semester classes. Yes, I'm making study guides so that I have all the important theorems in one spot and don't have to spend hours on end trying to hunt them down. I only have one more study guide to make. Go me. I did really well on my Numerical Linear Algebra final exam. I'm still waiting on a grade for my PDE class though. The professor still hasn't graded the exams yet. :o(
Other than that, I'm just biding my time - less than two weeks now until Andrew is home. You can not believe how excited I am about it. Can you imagine it...we've already made it over 6 months, actually almost 7 months. I think for the first time since I've been in SC I'll finally be able to relax a bit.
Umm.. I'm going to go play nintendo- I have no desire to watch who wins American Idol tonight - cause America was stupid when they kicked off Melinda last week. She was the best. There is my two cents.
Finally!
I managed to finish it all up today. Yep, all of my exams. Last Thursday I completed my Algebra final exam. Not too terribly difficult. Today, I finally sat down and just wrote some piece of crap answer to this one question that has been bugging me on my take home final. So now I am officially done. I feel great. Even better I did really well overall in my Analysis class. I totally surprised myself. I just need to keep it up through the summer. Not let my brain become inactive.
In about a week, I get to take a trip home. I am happy about that. Sometimes I miss just being around the hustle and bustle of a full house. I don't know if I am excited or happy or what...but I need to get a new license while I am home. So for the first time in my life, I'll have a license....that actually looks like a license, and not like somebody laminated two pieces of paper back to back in the trunk of their car. A brand spankin' new license. I keep constantly being surprised why no one here has ever actually said you know I think this license is a fake. I guess that is a good thing.
Oh and I can't leave without saying.....4 weeks til Andrew comes home.
:::does happy dance:::
In about a week, I get to take a trip home. I am happy about that. Sometimes I miss just being around the hustle and bustle of a full house. I don't know if I am excited or happy or what...but I need to get a new license while I am home. So for the first time in my life, I'll have a license....that actually looks like a license, and not like somebody laminated two pieces of paper back to back in the trunk of their car. A brand spankin' new license. I keep constantly being surprised why no one here has ever actually said you know I think this license is a fake. I guess that is a good thing.
Oh and I can't leave without saying.....4 weeks til Andrew comes home.
:::does happy dance:::
As if you can't get enough of me today...
I just feel the need to share a couple of quick recipes, which are yummy and delicious.
Sour Cream/Cheesey Rolls- I swear they taste so close to the Cheese biscuits at Red Lobster, it's amazing.
2 cups Bisquick
1 Stick Butter, room temperature
1 cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
Preheat oven to 425. Grease muffin tins. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Fill muffin tins about 2/3's full. Bake between 12 - 15 minutes, or until the biscuits start to get golden.
Orzo Pilaf - I'm always sort of weary about the recipes printed on the back of a pasta box, or any sort of box really. But I tried this one this evening, and god is it great.
1 tablespoon of butter
some fresh pressed garlic
8 ounces of Orzo pasta (about half a package)
2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of steak seasoning
parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Add butter and garlic to saucepan on medium high heat. Melt the butter somewhat, and stir in the orzo. Cook orzo for about 3 minutes stirring frequently. Stir in water and steak seasoning. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes with a cover. Stir when it strikes your fancy. Remove pan from heat and stir in salt, pepper and parsley. Cover and let stand for 4 minutes before serving.
Happy cooking everyone.
Sour Cream/Cheesey Rolls- I swear they taste so close to the Cheese biscuits at Red Lobster, it's amazing.
2 cups Bisquick
1 Stick Butter, room temperature
1 cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
Preheat oven to 425. Grease muffin tins. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Fill muffin tins about 2/3's full. Bake between 12 - 15 minutes, or until the biscuits start to get golden.
Orzo Pilaf - I'm always sort of weary about the recipes printed on the back of a pasta box, or any sort of box really. But I tried this one this evening, and god is it great.
1 tablespoon of butter
some fresh pressed garlic
8 ounces of Orzo pasta (about half a package)
2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of steak seasoning
parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Add butter and garlic to saucepan on medium high heat. Melt the butter somewhat, and stir in the orzo. Cook orzo for about 3 minutes stirring frequently. Stir in water and steak seasoning. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes with a cover. Stir when it strikes your fancy. Remove pan from heat and stir in salt, pepper and parsley. Cover and let stand for 4 minutes before serving.
Happy cooking everyone.
Feeling...More Relaxed
I believe that I have made it through the major trying part of school. I have no more classes, hurray. I took my Analysis final exam and I finished most of take home final exam. So I decided to take today off from studying of any nature. Yes, I do have one more exam on Thursday but the class and previous exams were not so terribly bad in my opinion. So I am safe in taking a bit of time to relax.
So all the relaxing...well I start thinking that I haven't cleaned in about 4 weeks, nor have I really gone food shopping. You know it's bad when the freezer has food in it, but not the fridge. But I feel better now because although it took me 3 hours, I did get my apartment into a state that is acceptable, and I now have the essentials in my fridge : beer, soda, meat, eggs, and milk. Definitely needed milk.
I'm not quite sure I know what I am going to be doing the next month or so while I wait for Andy to come home - I don't have homework sets, or exams, or even calculus quizzes to grade. I am really really really excited about it everything though. It will be nice to have a visitor. I don't get to many of them actually. Maybe I'll take some walks around Columbia - although it is getting to be really warm - 80 -90 degrees warm...so I may not be walking to far.
I felt like I had more to say...but I guess I don't. Anyone know where I can watch the Sopranos online?
So all the relaxing...well I start thinking that I haven't cleaned in about 4 weeks, nor have I really gone food shopping. You know it's bad when the freezer has food in it, but not the fridge. But I feel better now because although it took me 3 hours, I did get my apartment into a state that is acceptable, and I now have the essentials in my fridge : beer, soda, meat, eggs, and milk. Definitely needed milk.
I'm not quite sure I know what I am going to be doing the next month or so while I wait for Andy to come home - I don't have homework sets, or exams, or even calculus quizzes to grade. I am really really really excited about it everything though. It will be nice to have a visitor. I don't get to many of them actually. Maybe I'll take some walks around Columbia - although it is getting to be really warm - 80 -90 degrees warm...so I may not be walking to far.
I felt like I had more to say...but I guess I don't. Anyone know where I can watch the Sopranos online?
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