I know it's been a while...
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: News
And I didn't make my usual night before my birthday post........ just didn't feel like it this year, I guess.

Anyway... Brian's new job is going well... he's in the sims now... one of his company's planes made a perfect landing today with a blown tire: http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=85554

You can hear the disappointment in the newsman's voice when there is no explosion. *roll eyes* People seem to think that all pilots train for is to fly on sunny days with perfectly working aircraft and no wind. In Brian's sim on Saturday, they had an engine failure during take-off. That's what they practice for. That is why we need to pay pilots a decent wage!! If people knew what kind of money these guys (and gals) make starting out in the industry, I'm sure they'd be appalled. You want to know what pilots make? Check out this link: http://www.aviationinterviews.com/compare_pay_rates.php

Now keep in mind, those per hour rates may seem high, but they don't work 8 hours a day like the rest of us. They work anywhere from around 75 hours to 100 hours a month. That's part-time for most people.

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now.

Sorry for the lack of posting!
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Miscellaneous goings-on
Hey there loyal readers!

Of course I imagine some of you haven't been all that loyal lately, since I haven't been posting. ;-)

A lot is going on right now... Brian started his job with ExpressJet a few weeks ago and is now in Houston for training. He should be done his training in late May/early June and will most likely be based in EWR (aka Newark, NJ) and will start flying on reserve.

Let's see... what else...

I'll be meeting up with my aunt Nancy in June in Paris and we'll be traveling in France from the first through the ninth... most likely, I'll be moving into an apartment shortly after I return from France... I'm planning on early July...

I also just started a new fitness routine... the place is called Xpose Fitness... check 'em out!

I'm still enrolled at AACC, maintaining my 4.0... and I just got a letter saying that I'm being recommended for the National Dean's List. :)

Dad's estate is moving along slowly but surely, I just sent off his tax return (oops)... a little late, but hopefully we can get it in without requesting an extension. Work on the house should be starting in a few weeks, too.

Guess that's it for now! Sorry about the lack of updates, I've just been reaaaaaaally busy... or stressed. Take your pick!

my neighbors are assholes
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Rants
Heather (my roommate) called me tonight while I was having dinner with Brian to tell me that someone put a letter in our door saying that my MR2 was going to be towed tonight! Fortunately I had spare keys, so she was able to move it for me when she got home.

Let me tell you, the parking situation here is not a good one... so I can completely understand that residents aren't supposed to use visitor spaces... I was in the wrong and that's fine... but what the hell?? Why can't you put a note on the car or in the door asking to move the car first - not just "silver car will be towed tonight." WTF?? So now MR2 is down the street a little ways, which is fine, I'm sure he'll be okay there... maybe. Except there are lovely high school children that love to screw around here and do all sorts of nasty things.

We're almost positive that it was our neighbor Mary who is president of the HOA..... she's a nosy busybody that has nothing better to do than report people for any stupid reason... she actually reported Heather for trash in her backyard???? God she pisses me off. Anyway, Brian got mugged here last year right after we started dating... our court is extremely dark and there's only one itty bitty streetlight at the top of the court. Mary said that she'd bring it up and try to have more streetlights installed in our court. It's a year later and NOTHING has been done. There is still graffiti all over the place and the neighborhood still looks the same.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Bastards!

The good news is that the car never was towed, but it still pisses me off.

The other good news is that my passport finally came in the mail today, so I can REALLY start planning my trip to France.

Grrr.

But I'm still pissed off.

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..........