To appease the masses, I bring to you . . . an update.

Yes, I have been a very sucky blogger the past few months. Grad school + job = NO FREE TIME. Pity me, please?

OK, so last I spoke was when Nana passed away. I was in Georgia for about a week helping with funeral arrangements and the like, then I came back to North Carolina.

My kittens did great while I was gone (AJ watched them for me), and they also gained names! I named the one with more white on his face Oscar (for Oscar Peterson) and the other one is Miles (for Miles Davis). There will be more pictures to come, though they haven’t grown AT ALL since I got them (which, I shouldn’t say that too loud - they are precious and adorable, I like their size now, LOL). They love to cuddle with me and they are SO GOOD together - I can’t imagine ever seperating them. I feel bad because I am gone so much of the day, so I don’t get to spend nearly as much time with them as I want to, but since they have each other, I know that they’re doing just fine. They just really like to cuddle when I come home!

The next week was utter chaos because it was holiday at Starbucks, so crazy busy, and I also had one week to get ready for Christmas. AJ and I had a lovely Christmas on the 21st, and on the 22nd I had Christmas with his family. On the 23rd I drove to GA, had Christmas with MY family, and then drove back on the 26th.

On the . . . 29th? . . . I woke up at about 3:30AM with really intense pain in my lower right abdomen. I could barely stand up, and it made me throw up it hurt so bad. I was able to get to the computer, saw that the right side is the appendix side, and decided I didn’t want to risk it. I called AJ and woke him up and he got me to the ER. It turns out that I had a ruptured ovarian cyst, so the next week I was off my feet a bit and then taking it pretty easy. I feel much better now, but man that hurt!!!

Classes started back on January 4th, and it has been NONSTOP since then. At the moment my rotation is in the development office, and it’s very time intensive. My schedule most days is something like this:

Rotation: 8AM-9:30AM
Class: 10AM-2PM
Rotation: 2PM-4:30PM
Work: 5:45PM-11:45PM

Note that I get about 8 hours off . . . and those are the sleeping hours . . . try fitting homework and sanity time in there. I’m exhausted. Luckily, there are only about 4 more weeks of this rotation and then I switch to something a little more laid back, so if I can just hang in there.

I’m getting really tired of school. As I go through all my classes, I realize that I’m not really learning a ton. I don’t say this to be cocky, I just got a really great undergrad education, and my instincts are usually pretty good. If it weren’t for the darned three letters that I need to get a job (MFA), I probably would be just fine to have skipped all this. I just have to keep reminding myself that I’ve only got about a year and a half before my internship, and while that’s technically still school, it’s really a job too, and it will be in an office somewhere (or something . . .)

I have missed being able to be online. I feel like I’m losing a little bit of myself because of all the craziness. Summer will be a welcome time. How is everyone else doing (is anyone even reading my blog anymore)?

Things have been very busy around here as I am frantically trying to finish my apartment before school starts up! I’ve got about 2 more weeks - orientation is most of the second week of September, then classes start on the 13th - eek! I’m so nervous . . . I’ve REALLY enjoyed not having to go to class this past year, LOL! But I’m also excited because I’ve missed getting to work in the theatre.

I’m also nervous because I’m going to keep working at Starbucks. Class is about 12 hours a week plus 20 hours a week of working on campus for academic credit . . . and then 30-35 hours a week at Starbucks. I hope that I don’t kill myself. Organization and motivation will have to be key.

I’m really liking my new apartment. For the first time I’m living somewhere that feels like it could be home. I haven’t felt that outside of my parents’ home before, I’ve always felt like I was just at the current stopping point. It’s a little strange living by myself though (I really really want kittens, but so far my parents say no . . .)

How are you doing? I feel like I haven’t heard from my (few) readers in forever . . . I don’t even know who still pays attention to my blog anymore, I’ve been so sporadic lately . . .

Thirteen Things I Have Gained from Blogging

1. In honor of the retirement of the Thursday Thirteen, I figured this was an appropriate theme. And number one on my list is the confidence I have gained from the Thursday Thirteen! My blog wasn’t read by many before the T13, and when the first set of management changes happened, Leanne trusted me enough to be one of the new co-hostesses of the T13! This brought me new readers, thus boosting my confidence. My posts are VERY different now than they were pre-13, and so most of the things I have gained from blogging came out of the T13!!

2. Friendships! I have met so many amazing people through blogging, and that is soooo the stereotypical answer, but it is very true.

3. A new outlet for writing! I used to write creatively alllllll the time, but once I got into college I was writing so much for my classes that I didn’t want to write anymore. Blogging brought me a way to write and enjoy it again, and it’s even renewed my desire to write creatively!

4. My 101 in 1001 has given me a visible platform to write down goals that I’ve been wanting to achieve, and an audience to keep me accountable.

5. The Works-for-Me Wednesday meme has given me so many fantastic tips that I have used in my everyday life!

6. Through blogging I found FlyLady, which is a life altering event! ‘Nuff said!

7. Also through blogging I found Bookcrossing.com, which has revolutionized my thoughts on books and has jumpstarted my pleasure reading, which also stagnated with all my college reading!

8. As I have discussed before, I was very environmentally-conscious when I was younger. Blogging brought that back!

9. As someone who is committed to breast health awareness, blogging has been a great platform for sharing what I know and connecting with women on something that may save their lives!

10. An outlet, of course! When I get excited or worked up about something, online is on of the first places that I go!

11. Blogging has also led me into the world of personal finance management. It’s made me aware as I am leaving college on the importance of saving, budgeting, and investing, something that I will be thankful for for the rest of my life!

12. Blogging on my personal blog has led me to create another blog, Reading Red Letters, my faith blog. This has been a great way to connect with other Christians online, and has led me to many great online blogs and resources that have aided me in my walk.

13. And, in case there was any doubt . . . BLOGGING IS FUN!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for a great couple of years with the T13!!! I have so much enjoyed getting to know people, and I hope to stay in touch with you as we continue blogging!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Leave me a comment and I’ll give you a shout out!

I’ve got a dirty little secret . . .

I am a pack rat. I am not as bad as many, but I am there, and if I don’t carefully keep things in check, the clutter will CONSUME me! As a result I have too much STUFF . . . and nowhere to put it. This drives me crazy, because I’m actually a very organized person. However, my perfectionism is pretty strong too, so since I can’t take everything out of my room and put it all back perfectly in, oh, I don’t know, 30 minutes, I just don’t even try. So the stuff just keeps accumulating, and I keep not doing anything about it.

Since I live in an apartment, the majority of my STUFF is in my room . . . namely my closet, which is actually really big. However, there is so much chaos in there that I don’t know what I have . . . lots of clothes (of which I wear maybe half), tons of books (mostly unread), and a mass accumulation of papers and books for classes that I’m not even taking anymore.

What do to??? I don’t need it, it just makes me unhappy, and it makes for a home that is not what it should be - comforting and inviting. I’ve gotten a lot better about getting rid of things as they come into the home since I started with FlyLady, but I have yet to conquer the demons of my dirty little secret . . . my closet.

The solution - actually get in there and take care of business!!!!! And why am I blogging about this? Because I was just motivated to clean out my closet by a challenge from another blogger. I have until December 6th to get it all cleaned out, sorted through, and put back together in an organized and functioning manner!

Do you have a dirty little secret? Come join us for the 30 Day Organizing Challenge! Accepting all packed closets, jumbled drawers, and under-the-bed hiding spaces!