Good Morning! Good Morning! Good Morning, Coaches!

Last night UAH basketball played Christian Brothers Univ, and both the boys and girls won! Luckily we only saw the last 8 minuets of the girls game, so it wasn't too boring. The guys game was awesome as usual. They are now 7-0, and the girls are 2-3. A good chunk of the girls team is freshman because they were so bad last year that they had to cut half the team.
Today is going to be a day of studying and pie making. I also have to practice my part of the slide show we are presenting for statistics tomorrow. Luke and I will be home in 4 days. Hooray! I was thinking about going to Crackle Barrel to browse their books on CD to see if there was anything good for the drive home. Listening to Harry Potter made a huge difference last time. I would just check one out from the public library, but being unable to give them back for a month would complicate things a bit.
Can anyone tell me what movie the title of this post is from?

Chester Chooses Chestnuts, Cheddar Cheese with Chewy Chives

Last night Luke and I went to a basketball game. UAH vs Delta State. The girls lost, but the game was really close the entire time. The boys game however, was crazy! It was a lot of fun. We won 102 to 68, and it was lively the entire time. The first half we were only ahead 4-10 points the entire time. But the second half was a different story. They just started running away with it. Making awesome plays and dunking and embarrassing the Statesmen. I think they are ranked number 8 right now.
Another fun activity we did yesterday was go to Michaels and decorate ornaments. I bought a six pack of clear glass ball ornaments, and Luke and I headed to the classroom. They had Sharpie Paint Pens, glue dots, and glitter. The glue dots were kind of a nuisance because it was hard to peel them off and still maintain their circle shape. We put the dots on the ornament and put glitter on each one. Of course I took forever on mine because I like my projects to look just right. Luke gave me the idea of using the other ornaments to make Christmas presents for my friends. I made Julia's and almost finished Leah's yesterday. I'm going to use the last two for Latrice and Passen.
I'm excited because this morning Luke and I are going to make cinnamon rolls! They are the Cinnabon kind which I have never actually had, but they smell So Good when we pass by it in the mall and in airports. I have also decided to make chili Thursday for dinner. I get emails from Earth Fare, a healthy grocery store were everything is organic, and I received one for 1 lb of free ground chuck with a purchase of $5. So I got milk and Luke got a couple yogurts to try (he hated them), and rice cakes to much on. I'm looking forward to using my "new to me, but very old" slow cooker. It can cook during the day while I go to practice and study. Today will be all studying. Tomorrow will be study, practice, study, basketball game. Tuesday will be study, practice, study, make pumpkin pies, study. Wednesday will be Statics final, Statistics project presentation, study. Thursday the same as Tuesday but making chili instead of pie. Friday will be a Math final, Physics final, and pack to go home. I can't wait to go home.

Home In 7 Days

First off, I would like to announce that Monday is Square Dance Day. If you are a savvy square dancer, then you better show off your skills. If not, then learn! With the World Wide Web at your fingertips you can read about, watch, learn, and even display your own version of the folk dance.

Thanksgiving in Birmingham was a good. We had lunch at Ethan's and dinner at Passen's. I got to carve the turkey at Ethan's with an electric knife. It was amazingly easy the way it just slid right through the meat. It wouldn't have been so simple with a regular knife though. We also had green bean casserole (delicious!!!), stuffing (not a big fan), sweet potato casserole (I didn't get any), and apple pie (also delicious!!!). Ethan has two high school aged sisters, and they were constantly being embarrassed by their mom. I don't really understand why though. They kept saying, "Mom, you're embarrassing us." I felt bad for her, because I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable or unwanted with us being there. Luke and I just answered all the questions that were making her daughters laugh and put their head in their hands. I also made sure to tell her how good something was as I was eating it. I don't ever remember being embarrassed by my parents. I know quite a few people that are embarrassed by their parents, but I never really was. I don't know why... I guess I'm just different. At Passen's we ate more turkey, broccoli with cheese sauce, rice with gravy, and yams. Everything was good, but I didn't enjoy the yams. It was my first yam experience, so I only got one chunk of it just in case I didn't like it so I wouldn't have to force the whole thing down with a fake grin on my face. I took the first bite of it, and the first thing I didn't like was the texture. To get past that, I concentrated on the taste as hard as I could. It was sweet, but at the same time... awkward. It is definitely not my food of choice, but if someone ever puts it on my plate I will be able to take it on. Passen's mom and I cleaned up. I put everything in tupperware and cleaned the counters and stove. She did dishes. Afterward we watched the movie Grow Ups, which was pretty good, and had pie. Pumpkin for me of course. Overall the day was fun and very filling.

If the date on this post says I did it last night, it is lying. I started it last night, but Luke and I started watching this week's Glee so I was too distracted. Then we watched the movie Easy A, and by the time that was over I didn't feel like writing anymore.

Today Luke and I are going to Michaels to decorate ornaments. You have to buy your own clear ornaments, and them decorate them. Luckily I have a 50% off one item coupon. It is from 10-12. It is more than likely happening at the Michaels near you too!
Yesterday Luke and I went to the mall to walk around. I have been seeing girls wearing a particular pair of boots that have really captured my attention, and while we were in one of the department stores I saw them.

Of course I found the UGG version of the shoe and not one of the less expensive brands. I tried them on just for kicks, and I absolutely love them. They are the Highkoo II, but sadly with good quality and a popular name like UGG, the shoes are $200. I know... that is too expensive for shoes. The most expensive shoes I ever get are running shoes which are about $90. We saw the same style book at one of those big shoe stores for about $40. I would buy those, but I'm sure the quality isn't as good. Besides, I don't need them. I can't get them out of my head, but for the sake a my sanity and wallet, I must.

Selfish Shelfish (5x fast)

My first official day of the break. Do I sleep on? Of course not. I woke up at 8 like I do every day for class. I thought about going back to sleep, but I decided I liked the alert awakeness I was experiencing. If I go back to sleep, waking up will be difficult, and I'll be in one of those groggy, "I don't want to do anything" states. So, to start my morning ritual I got on my computer to check my email. I got the Black Friday ad for Michaels, and they have some good looking deals planned. All 7ft Christmas trees are 50% off on Friday. They have certain deals on certain days. On Saturday they have a Make-and-Take event where you get to decorate a clear ornament. You have to buy the ornament, but the paper has a 50% off one item coupon, so if I buy a box of them, and if I can get Luke to go with me, I will do it. I have not worked on a project or some sort of craft in a long time, and I'm starting to go crazy! I couldn't stop thinking about it last night. I am ready to be home so I can craft away.
I saw an ad for Walmart for Black Friday that has a Kodak C183 14-megapixel 3-inch LCD digital camera for $59. I would ask for it for Christmas, but I have already asked for a George Foreman grill. And I know my family isn't the type to go to Walmart early in the mad rush to buy something. I looked it up, and it has the particular settings I want, but I figured I ask my papi what he thinks before I go out early Friday morning to buy it. I really want a camera, but I want it to be a certain size. The camera I had was great, but too big for me. It took up too much room in my purse, and the thought of having to carry it around made me often not take it. I'm sure mom is putting it to better use than I did. Maybe I'll go to Walmart and check out this other camera to see the size before I decide anything.
Luke and I are supposed to go to IHOP this morning... depends on if he ever wakes up or not. Passen made pancakes last night, and they were good, but I prefer them cooked a little longer than he did. That is why I'm excited about free IHOP. I think I'm going to have to eat a snack though while waiting for Luke to get his beauty sleep.

Another Fine Tuesday

Today is the last day of classes. I only had one class yesterday, and I only have one more today.
Everyone should see the JibJab video I posted on Facebook. I love JIbJab... it's always so funny.
Today is also the last day of track practice with CT... until next week. She gave us workouts for this week, and next week (finals week) she will be holding practice, but it isn't mandatory. I will go on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I have 2 finals on Wednesday and 2 on Friday. Then, Luke and I are heading home!
Luke went to Walmart for a few groceries last night, and bought me pumpkin pie makings. I can't wait to make them. I Love Pumpkin Pie!!!!!!!!!!! It is definitely my favorite pie. Pink lemonade icebox pie is my second favorite. Apple is my third.
I cooked tilapia for the family last night... Luke, Ethan, and Passen. Will had already gone home for the break. I made Luke's with Tony's like usual, but Ethan and Passen had never had it before, so the requested one with it, and one with the citrus basil rub I use for my chicken. I'd never thought of using that on the tilapia before. It tasted pretty good, but Passen was going crazy over the one with Tony's. It was comical. He wouldn't stop talking about how awesome it was. Ethan really liked both too. He provided the veggies with 2 bags of steamables mixed together. One was plain broccoli, and the other was a mix of corn, asparagus, and carrots. Mixed together it was all pretty delicious.
Sunday evening we went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. I have to say I was impressed. Granted almost every seen was different than what happened in the book, but it still followed the gist of the story. It actually didn't bother me that everything was different in the movie because the movie was so well done. In my opinion, this is the best one yet. I was surprised that it included most of the book. I kept thinking, "When are they going to stop?" The next one is going to be good. They have a lot of time to work with less chapters, so hopefully they will include lots of detail.

Why dirty a bowl when the pot works just as well? 

I Open At The Close

A few nights ago Luke and I were listing to music via Pandora Radio. He was browsing around and found a station called Cuban Radio. We started listening, and I Love It. I have been listening all night.
Track was pretty tough today. 500, 250, 500... fast. That without times is pretty easy, but when she is yelling for you to go faster because you won't make your time and she will add on more... its rough.
I bought some Starbucks VIA Ready Brew packets the other day. It is like the little packets of lemonade that you add to a single bottle of water. These only make 8 oz each though. I got the mocha flavor, and can't wait for the opportunity to try one. I hope they are good.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out Friday (midnight Thursday night), but I think Luke and I are going to wait until Sunday afternoon to see it.
Saturday at Michael's you can go buy a stocking and decorate it for free. I thought about going, but we have to work the regional cross country meet all morning. UAH is hosting it, so we have to be their worker bees.
I have been craving pancakes for the past month. I Want Pancakes!!!!! I keep thinking about them, and they sound more and more delicious. I found a thing called pancake revolution that you can sign up for on the IHOP website. You get an email, and in it is a free pancake breakfast. You get one for signing up, one for your birthday, and one a year from the day you sign up. I signed Luke and I both up, so hopefully we will go this weekend. I Really Hope So. I have had them on the brain for a long time. Maybe I'll try making them when I'm home in a few weeks... maybe I won't kill them this time. I have a good streak with cooking lately. Hopefully it continues. I'm about to start getting braver and trying slightly more difficult recipes. I really want to be able to cook. Really, Really, Really.
I bought a box of Capri Sun on our recent shopping trip, and if you are wondering... Yes... they are just as amazing as I remember them being.
I forgot to tell you all that I decided to have a self intervention for my Coca Cola addiction. I rarely get it now, but when I do It Is So Wonderful. I just have to keep it under control.

Quick Update

I am ready for this week to be over. Today I took the first half of my statistics final. I don't want to talk about it, so don't ask. Tomorrow morning I have my physics lab final, and after that i have a statics test. On Wednesday I have the second half of my statistics final, and right after I'm meeting a girl in my group to do the slide show for our statistics project. Friday morning I have a math quiz. After that.... I want to sleep. On Friday Luke and I will have been together for 3 1/2 years, and it will also mark one month until we are married. So we decided to celebrate. He said Olive Garden. I thought Red Lobster sounded good because I love their chicken..... but that is why I didn't mention it... all I like there is the chicken. I bet they have tilapia or something else I like now that my taste buds are changing, but their chicken is So Good! There is also a jazz thing on Friday at 8 that the Dance Club is hosting. There will be a 20 something piece band of extremely talented jazz musicians playing with a big dance floor for everyone to enjoy. We went last year, and it was a lot of fun. They aren't the Dallas Wind Symphony, but they are really good. I would give my appendix just to go see the DWS. Especially the Valentines Day show. It is always Jazz/Big Band themed, and it is different every year. Couples get up in the isles and dance, and the music knows just how to get your blood flowin. Mr. B (RCHS's band director) actually plays in and arranges pieces for the DWS. (No wonder he can afford that car...) My sophomore year he wrote in a part for the trombone player to do a solo on a three inch plastic slide whistle! It was incredible! Genius! Hilarious!
I am now going to commence to my bed to sleep get some sleep for my tests tomorrow.

Unlike Waldo... I have been found

I know, I know... I'm a horrible, terrible, awful blogger. I usually think, "Gosh I haven't written a blog in a long time... I should write one... later." So here I am. Sharing all the juicy gossip of my boring life. I have read (well... listened to) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was great, and I am absolutely baffled by the genius that is J.K. Rowling. Seven extremely long books that all manage to intertwine so cleverly. I remember reading the sixth book and thinking, "That was referenced in the 1st or second book!" She must have had this story planned out with incredible detail. There is no way she could have just started on it with a beginning and end planned and made up the middle as she went. As she sat in the coffee shop writing her fame and fortune to-be on napkins and hoping she wouldn't get out because she couldn't afford a cup of coffee, her brain must have been working ninety to nothing. I am amazed. Not only is it a good story, but she is such an incredible writer. Her style and methods are A+.
Moving on... The weekend we went home, Luke's flag football team played their last pre-playoff games. They won one and lost the other. The very next weekend the playoffs began, and it was single elimination. The first game they played the Pikes. A fraternity full of dummies, fatties, and jerks. It looked like we were going to lose, but we made a come back!!! I was so proud of them. Of all the teams, Pi Kappa Alpha was the 1 team I wanted them to beat. Luke was the quarter back, and they had a good mix of track, used to be track, and maybe 2 non tracksters on the team. If they had ever practiced, I think they could have won the whole thing. They ended up getting 3rd. Luke got hurt in the 2nd to last game and he could barely walk that night. His ankle was swollen, so we RICE'd it all evening. Rest Ice Compression Elevation. Luke learned that in his class. He was out all week from track practice because it was a muscle in his leg that wraps down into his foot. Because the flag football team was a secret from CT, he told her it was from a skateboarding accident... to cover the other guys butts. He is back to working out again, but not full force yet, and still puts ice on it after practice. They got the PV pit out today, and started doing drills. They should start jumping in the next few weeks.
Monday's workout was a time trial. We did a 300 and 150. I was the second fastest time for the girls in both. Leah had the 300 time, and Latrice had the 150 time. We did a 500 time trial last week, and I was second behind Leah. Today was our first 300s workout. We did 5 and they all had to be in a certain time. It was tough, but I like 300s. We maxed in bench Monday, and we are maxing squat on Friday.
More than anything, I am ready to go home. I am ready to get away from here, and go to the best place in the world.
Luke and I are pretty much done with our registry. I have to edit our George Foreman Grill and maybe one other thing, but we are pretty much done.
I have a math test Friday, my Statistics final on Monday and Wednesday, a Statics test and my Physics lab final on Tuesday. I think I might go mad. After it is over, I would like to do something relaxing like camping. I love camping more than I love orange juice, cadburry eggs, and my tape book. It is a close tie with the color green, my last name, and being able to feel a marching band as they pass by during a parade. Speaking of my last name... the realization of putting my last name in a storage bin is creeping up even more on me, and it make me sad. I have a strong attachment to my last name. I'm not sure if I have already blogged about this or not, but I'll say it again if I have. I love my last name, and I really don't want to get rid of it. But I will do it for Luke. People have suggested doing something like Loro-Beck or Rogina-Beck, but I know Luke wants me to just take Beck... so I will. Even if it is extremely difficult, and I will mourn over it for a few months.
I guess it is time for me to go to sleep now. So long my darlings... I hope visions of sugarplums are danging in your head right now... as in right now as I'm tying this, not right now as you read it. If it were the moment you are reading this, then you would have been paying to the plums wearing tutus instead of the words you are skimming over on this page. So by the time you read this... Happy Thursday to all, and to all a good day.