Exciting news!
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: School
Earlier in the week, I received a letter:

"Dear Lauren: Congratulations on your academic achievement! Because you have distinguished yourself through your academic performance at Anne Arundel Community College, you are eligible for membership in the Omicron Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the International Scholastic Honorary Society for two-year institutions of higher educations. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is a distinct honor, representing scholastic achievement and commitment to the ideas of leadership, service, and fellowship."

Induction ceremony is in May. I'm very happy - just wish that my dad could be there... he'd be so proud of me.

In other news, Brian got an interview with ExpressJet! They're the regional carrier for Continental... his interview is on 3/9, so keep your fingers crossed. If he gets hired, he'll probably start training (in Houston) 2-3 weeks after that, which will last approximately 2 months..... so that means he'll probably miss my birthday and induction ceremony (and his birthday too!). Their bases are in Cleveland, Houston and Newark. We'll just have to celebrate those things on different days, I imagine... we'll see how things are looking with his training and whatnot. It's something that I'm going to have to start getting used to... the rest of my life will probably be like that! He's worth it, though. :)

Anyway, I have many blogs that I need to copy and paste this to........ I've been awful about staying in touch with everyone lately, including my family and friends (well, I guess that really WOULD be everyone!). I haven't been online much in the last few weeks, so I haven't had a chance to respond to everyone's posts and emails, but I will soon hopefully. And once Brian is gone, you know that I'll be looking for things to do! Either that or I'll use my spare time to do things that I really should be doing like..........I don't know..... studying?!?!

Love you all!

I'm a traveling fool!
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: A CD that my baby made me
Topic: Weekend happenings
Tomorrow after work I'll be leaving for the weekend to Deep Creek Lake... aka "The Ski Trip", the shorter of two trips that "the gang" aka "the fam" aka "those crazy people that I started hanging out with about this time last year" go on every year... the ski trip is a misnomer, because hardly anyone actually goes skiing anymore. It's just an excuse to get everyone together and party, really. However, I WILL be going snowtubing on Saturday, which I'm quite excited about. Brian is already down there... (or would that be out or over there??) anyway, I couldn't go down today because my coworker took off to go on the same ski trip (which she complained to me all week that she didn't even want to go on... yes, I was slightly perturbed). I hope they hire someone soon so that we can remedy this problem of us taking off on the same days.

Well crap, it's late and I was planning on going to bed early. So much for that idea!

Bonsoir!

Taking some well-deserved time off..
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Weekend happenings
I definitely need it... been sick on and off for the last week or so, and have worked past 6pm both days that I made it in... getting ready for audit. We finally got all of the filing done though... I think that I heard the "hallelujah" chorus in the background! Amanda and I were both getting punchy and giddy, so it was a good thing when we were finally done tonight around 6:30. ;)

My honey and I are finally going on our little B&B getaway, from tomorrow (Thursday 12th) through Sunday (15th)... we'll be staying at the House Mountain Inn in Lexington, VA... I'm so excited!! We're going to do absolutely nothing all weekend and I can't wait. :) We have a jacuzzi and a fireplace... (and I'm bringing a few books and a game) what more do you need?

We're planning on checking out a winery and going to Natural Bridge while we're there, too... and of course we will be watching the Redskins game on Saturday night... and will be stopping on the way home to watch the Steelers game.

I'll have my cell on, but I don't know what kind of reception I'll get out there... so don't plan on getting a hold of me unless it's an emergency... hehe.

Hope everyone has a swell rest of the week. :)

I love my new printer!!
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Friends and Family
Stef got me the coolest printer for Christmas!! I love it!! It's the Canon Pixma iP 1600 and it is so freaking cool! The quality is UNBELIEVABLE!!

I've been telling my mom that I'll give her some new wallet size of me - she's been carrying around one of me and John Miller from ten years ago! Yep, time get something new, I'll say.

Speaking of family, my Great Aunt Ruth passed away this week, so keep my family in your prayers, please!

Well I was a sicky and stayed home from work today, so I'd better be getting to bed early...

bonsoir!

Happy New Year!
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Cowboys vs. Rams
Topic: Football
Just wanted to wish everyone a safe & happy new year! 2006 will be a much better year... it has to be!

Watched the Redskins pummel the Eagles today... and what a fine day it was!

Made chicken parmesan tonight for dinner for my baby... I feel really gross, I over-ate.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get some cleaning done and do some estate stuff that I've been putting off... I have a lot of mail to go through and some bills to pay.

Tomorrow evening, Brian and I are going to my Aunt Mary's for dinner... I'm pretty excited about it!

Well, I'm off to bed soon......... happy 2006!

A belated Merry Christmas!
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Mixed CD
Topic: Introspection
I know that it's been a while since I posted... sorry for being such a slacker!!

My final and paper writing consumed the majority of my time at the beginning of the month, and then various get-togethers, parties, happy hours and whatnot took the rest of my month. The good news is that I maintained my 4.0 gpa! I've decided to just stick with one class next semester, too... my favorite psych professor again of course - child psychology. I figure that if I'm earning A's in her classes, why switch, especially if it's going towards my degree. Ya know?

In other news, my baby put in his two week notice with the deathtrap air freight company that he's working for. Hopefully the weather will hold up and be nice for his last several weeks. He still hasn't heard from the regional airline in the caribbean, but chances are that he'll get the job if he goes to interview it... he has the hours, degree and skill required, so the next time you're hopping islands in the caribbean you might get the treat of flying with the best pilot in the world. ;)

Christmas was great - I spent it with Brian's family. I received some incredible gifts, the best of which cost next to nothing - a cd that he made for me and some beautifully written words that meant more to me than a diamond ring.

Another Christmas present that Santa brought me was a Redskins "W"!! Just one more win and we're in the playoffs, baby! Let's hope that the Eagles don't play spoiler... given the way that the Skins are playing lately, we should have a win, but it's in Philadelphia, so we'll see.

Finally, in the "hell has officially frozen over" category (pun intended), I bought a bible. It's a study type bible, in easy to understand language, and has really great explanations of each passage. I'm looking forward to reading it and learning more about that whole religion thing.

So I'm broadening my horizons. Go me!

DVD
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: TV, music, movies, etc.
Wow. I just finished watching part of the LC dvd. Wow. It is unbelievable... and not just because I'm in it, haha. Jeff did an amazing job with it... I wish that I had the time to watch the entire thing... but I really think that it captured what the band is all about. The only thing that would have made it more real is to have some footage of some nights in OC with everyone watching the sun rise and Dave playing his guitar... or maybe a recap of Big Joe's birthday a few years ago (jeez, I think it's been FIVE YEARS now!!)

BTW, I didn't mention this before, but Brian's mom had surgery on Monday to repair two aneurysms in her brain... the surgery was a success and she's doing very well. Today they took off the bandages so you can actually see the incision & where they shaved her head... I told her that maybe she can start a new style! But anyway... it's late and I should be getting to bed. Actually I should be working on my research paper. I really need to start on that, ugh.

Hope everyone is well..........

it's been a while
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Miscellaneous goings-on
I've been bad about updating my blog..... I feel so guilty!

I just seem to not have as much time for tripod anymore, I'm afraid. :( Myspace has taken over my life! It's just so easy to use and so many people are on it... I'm hooked!

So you should just get on... be my friend......... please??

The best recipe in the world
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Losing the blubber
Yeah, you're not going to lose any weight by eating this, hehe... this is one of my top 5 favorite recipes. Try it, you'll be hooked!

Pumpkin Pie Crunch

1 pkg Duncan Hines Moist Yellow Cake Mix
1 can (15 oz) Solid Pack Pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) Evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
1 c chopped pecans
1 c butter or margarine
Whipped topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 13 x 9 pan. Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pie spice and salt. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix and pecans over top. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.

Who woulda thunk it?
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Who am I, anyway?

Where do you fall on the liberal - conservative political spectrum? (United States)
brought to you by Quizilla

I guess that I have become somewhat of a conservative, but my views on some of the more important issues fall on the liberal side. Weird.