Gettin' mah smart on.

Even though I'm in college, I still love to read, despite what the textbook publishers are trying to corrupt me with. (Knowledge. Psshaw!) But lately I've realized that I don't read anything new or fresh... I read the same two or three authors regularly, and as fantastic as they are, I need something else.

I'm compiling  list of books I want to read, whether by new authors or ones I've read before. I'm always looking for great books, so post any suggestions in the comments section of this blog!

1. "Macrowikinomics", by Dan Tapscott and Anthony Williams

I found this book in Barnes & Noble this past weekend, and though I didn't buy it, I did sit and flip through it for a while. As someone who is working towards a business degree with an international emphasis, this really caught my attention. Generally speaking, it's about approaching business with a new, innovative mindset. The following quote explains it a bit better:

"Tapscott and Anthony Williams' insights about the power of collaborative innovation and open systems, and their call to 'reboot' our institutions - usiness, education, media, government - hasn't come a minute too soon. Macrowikinomics inspires by chronicling these pathbreaking developments and pointing the way forward for all of us."

--Eric Schmidt, CEO Google 

2. "Six Pixels of Separation", by Mitch Joel

This book I actually did buy this weekend and so far, it's totally worth it. As someone who's grown up with digital technology as the primary force of communication, I knew all of the different methods were available (RSS, micro-blogging, blogging, social networking, etc.), but to strategically incorporate them into a marketing strategy is a concept that's less obvious. Again, with my major being what it is, this is fascinating to me. The book is focused on entrepreneurs and small-business owners and managers, and shows the necessity of tapping into the Digital Age to connect with your customers.

3. Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door To Me?, by Jen Lancaster

Ms. Jen is hilarious. I read her first book, Bitter is the New Black, several years ago, but for some reason, I haven't read her subsequent offerings. (I blame college, yet again.) I literally cried with laughter the first couple of pages in to Bitter, and have since followed her blog, which is initially where her books evolved from. It is high time I continue on, because she's now onto her fifth non-fiction wonder, and has just recently finished writing her first novel. (I am SO behind the times.)

4. Good Enough to Eat, by Stacey Ballis

Meet Jen's best friend, Stacey. They are frequently mentioned on each other's blogs (Stacey's can be found here) and are an unending source of entertainment, debate, and fairness for their readers. (Stacey and Jen are the authors of the blogs I sent you to over the absurd Marie Claire article.) I haven't read anything of Stacey's before, but knowing that she's so highly recommended by Jen is enough to pique my interest and I'll end up buying at least one (if not all) of her books. 

5. Conversations with Myself, by Nelson Mandela

I've been wanting to read more biographies/memoirs lately. I feel like if I read about great people, maybe I'll be one? Though I'm pretty sure by reading about Nelson Mandela and the amazing efforts he's made during his lifetime won't turn me into a black man in his 90's, I do hope to learn more about the peaceful man who's lived through a century of turmoil. I haven't endured a quarter of what he's been through, but I do believe I can learn more about loving others through his experiences. 

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These are just a few examples of what I'm trying to find time to read. Do you ever have that feeling of going into Barnes and Noble or Borders that you could just immerse yourself in there for years, live off coffee, and re-emerge the coolest, most well-rounded human on the planet? No? Just me then.

Oh? And coming soon- "The College Girl's Guide To Christmas: When Having More Gifts to Buy Than Money to Buy Them With, or How to Shop on Etsy."

Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.

Much love,

Lo

You can go home again, you just can't come back...

After looking back over the last few weeks and trying to remember all that I've done, I'm extremely tired. Maybe too tired to write this post...

**gulp gulp**

Caffeine imbibed. Can now carry on.

So. Mid-terms were two weeks ago, and while I didn't have horrible tests or anything, I did have my entire hall awake at all hours of the night, therefore ensuring that I did not fall asleep until after 1am. I would like to reiterate what I've said to friends before: I'm too old for this crap. Especially since I'm not getting paid. Money is a not-so-surprising motivator. (I did make some extra money by working over mid-term break, though, instead of going home as originally planned.)

I finally made it home, too! I had a great time hanging out with everyone I love. I flew into Charlotte late Thursday night, and was picked up by my sweet man. The traffic-control nazis that keep cars moving in the Arrivals area wouldn't let us linger for a second. I mean, really. I haven't seen this man in how long? Give it a rest, Rent-a-Cop. 

It was so amazingly luxurious to stay in a place where there is only one toilet and shower in the entire bathroom. (Who knew that this was what I would miss most? Bathrooms with no stalls?) My bed was amazing, as I expected, and I totally slept spread-eagle WITHOUT FALLING OUT (this time). Ahhh, good to be home.

Also? Can we talk about how much edible food I ate? I mean, I eat plenty of inedible food at school, but this stuff was actually palatable! I'm talking BISCUITS AND GRAVY, Y'ALL. Grits. Chicken. Grilled asparagus. Baked potatoes. It was nirvana. Dane and I went out to eat at Wild Wing Cafe and I about cried. But that would have been difficult to explain, so I held it together...

Maybe a little more Obi-Wan than Friar, but you get the point.

Saturday night, Dane and I went to a Halloween party at a friend's house. He dressed up as a monk, and did quite a good job of it. I was planning on wearing regular clothes, since I was working with nothing but a carry-on, and then planned to find some cat ears and maybe draw on a nose and whiskers. Not too complicated, right? Apparently, it was. Neither Target nor Walmart had anything of the sort, though they had plenty of everything else. I was bitter... But after much seething, I found a feathered halo and some silver wings that I thought suited me perfectly. (No snickering, if you please.) We had a great time catching up with friends and I'm now planning a girls' weekend here in D.C. I CAN'T WAIT. Some of my favorite people in my favorite city spending too much money?? Yes, please.

My flight back was on Monday morning at 11:40 am. I was dropped off at the door of the airport by ten 'til eleven, easily. It was until I walked to my concourse security checkpoint that I started to weep, internally. The line for security was about 40-50 people long... It was moving, but slowly. I finally made it to the ONE SINGULAR PERSON checking tickets by 11:25-ish, threw my stuff on the belt for the scanner, and headed for the metal detector, only to be stopped by a TSA agent and told to walk through the body scan thing. Great. This takes another 3-4 minutes of them taking the scan, moving me forward, me waiting right in front of an agent (who proceeds to talk about my eyes and breaking hearts or something lame)(although it did help me relax a bit), the agent getting clearance for the "female" (don't want to think about the guys working THAT station), and then finally catching up to my stuff as it comes through the scanning-belt thing. Only before my suitcase has come through, I hear "Bottle." Crap. The lovely agent was referring to the large container of Nutella that I was trying to bring back with me. 

For the record, would you have suspected Nutella as a bomb? No? ME EITHER. It's not a liquid, it's not perishable (not like bread or fruit or anything), and it's sealed. Should be fine, but NOOOOOOO. This is a hazard and we can't let you take this past this point without checking it or mailing it to yourself for $21.95. (The jar cost about $6 initially.) I said no, I just need to get to my boarding flight, thanks. ( I was afraid to say 'forget it' and start running, primarily because being tackled by airport security was NOT factored into my travel plans for the day.) (Keep in mind that it's about 11:32 at this point and I am most definitely beginning to hyperventilate.)

So the Nutella can't go through. Fine. Give me my stuff back and we're cool. 

No? What's that other jar, you say? Oh, those are gummy multi-vitamins. 

You have to test those to be sure? You don't know from the millions of other people who come through here annually? Fine. Can I just forget them and go? 

No? You'll suspect me of leaving a bomb within one of the dime-sized vitamins if I run to catch my BOARDING FLIGHT? Fine. 

What's that? No radiation emitting off of the Target-brand gummy vitamins? 

Who knew.

For some reason, TSA, we're not on good terms. Let's revisit these protocols, k?

So I finally get through that mess and start running down the concourse to my gate, which is, of course, at the opposite end from where I'm at. I all but run into the closed door to the walkway as I see my plane backing up to head toward the runway.

Crap.

I almost start crying as I tell the ticket agent that I've never missed a flight before and What am I going to do?? He very calmly tickles his keyboard and moves me to the next flight at 1:15, then tells me it's going to be okay. I almost kissed him.

So I wait. And I wait. And I wait some more. Finally the gate agent says over the intercom that the 1:15 plane is running behind and they will load us when they can. Great. 

Finally we get boarded, but we didn't manage to get off the ground until after 2pm. I sat next to someone with no personal boundaries, and just about had my shoulder taken off by the drink cart TWICE because I was leaning so far out into the aisle to get away from his bony elbows that were practically resting on my lap. Ugh...


We landed in Baltimore uneventfully and the shuttle for my parking lot was all but waiting for me as soon as I walked outside. (A great service, by the way. Use Park 'N Fly if you can. Totally worth the money and cheap if you book in advance online.)

I eventually made it back to WAU around 4:30 feeling very irritable, Nutella-less, and starving, but I did make it back. Of course I left my phone charger and iPod in Dane's car, so everybody was worried when they didn't receive texts or answers to their phone calls. Of all the items I could have left (Nutella?),  I had to leave those...

Moral of the story? Don't approach TSA with logic. They ain't having it.

(This Public Service Announcement brought to you with love from A Civil Urbanity.)

-Lo

Too fat to love, apparently.

I'm alive! 

Barely.

I've been at home this past weekend, then had mid-terms before that, so I've been understandably M.I.A. for a while. I'm going to write about the past few weeks soon, hopefully by Wednesday, but I wanted to post links to these pages regarding a heinous Marie Claire magazine article that was written recently. The links are rebuttals and, quite frankly, should be posted by CNN or something. Both blog posts are perfectly succinct and get to the core of the issue without being hateful or negative. They also happen to be prime examples of why I read and and keep up with the two authors. Check it out!

The Awesome Jen Lancaster

Her Equally-Awesome Best Friend, Stacy Ballis

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Some serenity for your evening.

This is my home, FYI.

Bits and Bobs

The past couple of weeks have been crazy! 

I'm so glad you're all so forgiving, too, seeing as how I'm so behind in posting... Group hug!


Two weekends ago, Dane finally arrived. We had such a great couple of days together, including Sunday brunch at a top-rated, French DC restaurant. We toured the streets like a couple of lovin' fools and were frequently referred to as "Mr. and Mrs. Taylor". We didn't correct them. (Hi Mom!)

The week following Dane's visit was hectic with work and school and me pretending I didn't have laundry to do. (When I make it big, that's the first thing I'm paying someone else to do for me. Take THAT, Martha Stewart.) Mom and Dad arrived on Thursday, and for the subsequent three days, it was NON-STOP TOURIST. Which is cool, because they hadn't seen the DC sights since I was a young'n and we took a family trip to visit my uncle and aunt. (I've seen pictures of this trip, and the 80's were good to NO ONE.)


The weather was gorgeous, and if you've never experienced beautiful 70 degree weather on the National Mall, you are missing 0ut. There's something special about the history  and the area, and if the weather cooperates, it creates an experience like no other. I imagine this is what New Yorkers feel towards Central Park. I totally get it.

I'm really starting to attach myself to this place. I'm settling in and enjoying my time here, despite the six classes I'm taking. After being in the city with Dane, it was easy to see us living here for a good portion of our lives. It just fits us so well, with him being into the history and me loving the refined city feel DC provides. Of course, staying true to my mushy romantic side would require me to state that anywhere with him feels like home. BLECH! My blood sugar just skyrocketed...

It was great having my parents around, but especially for the fringe benefits. My fridge is full again! I was pretty low on food, and despite having an all-the-cafeteria-food-one-could-possibly-eat pass, I just can't do it 24/7. I now have homemade granola, bagels from our favorite place back home, peanut butter, bread, coffee, creamer, juice... I feel like a new woman. I also found this great kit at Trader Joe's to make guacamole with. (If you've never shopped at Trader Joe's, find the nearest store and GET THERE. I love their food! And it's just such a happy place to shop...) It contained two avocados, two Roma tomatoes, a head of garlic, a lime, and two jalapenos. I made the guac on Sunday and it was so good!! Granted, it was challenging cooking in a dorm room with no counters, but I made it work. Also? Way too much garlic. I didn't even know people put garlic in their guac, but there was no way all that was going in there... But still, it was a great treat, and it definitely didn't last long!

So. The weather's finally cooling off here and I couldn't be happier. People around here have already brought out winter coats and hats, but I'm still walking around in t-shirts and flip-flops. I will ALWAYS be a North Carolina mountain girl!

I'm going to be working during the upcoming mid-term break, which is good. I'm looking forward to some extra money. But after that? I'm GOING HOME. The last weekend of this month is North Carolina time!!! Can't wait! GET READY, ASHEVILLE.

 The parentals enjoying the sunshine on the Mall.

Much love!

Lo

A Photo Retrospective, Part One

This morning, I thought we'd take a little trip together. We're going to have a look-see at the photos I've been meaning to upload, or just simply couldn't figure out how to upload them until now. A nice little retrospective of the year, so to speak...

Baby Cate was finally born! 

She's not too excited about being out in the cold, though.

I took a trip to DC with a high school group (as a sponsor, thanks) and scouted out the school I wanted to attend. We saw the monuments at night, which I'd never done and it turned out better than I thought!

Also, the First Lady's Inaugural gown and it was much more beautiful in life than in this photo!

It was after that trip that I decided to go for it. Follicly.

Aaaaaahhhhh. It felt so good to be free of the hair!

 

And then the magic happened. Divine intervention....well, intervened, and I met my Sweet Man. Again. (We first met in high school.)

This is our first snapshot together. Awww!

 

Then my Sweet Man and I went to Philly and DC together for his good friend's college graduation. I loved this building!

I have to get ready for classes now, but there is plenty more to come!

(I'll try and keep the photos of Dane and I to a minimum, though I do love seeing them, 'cause it reminds me that he's all mine. So BACK OFF, GIRLS.)

Love ya!

Lo

Too Young for a Heart Attack

I've been avoiding writing.

I'm sorry.


The past 2 weeks (3?) have been hectic, naturally, and I've been completely beat. When I have had time to post, I haven't had the energy, and vice versa. I'd like to think I'm still adjusting to full-time college/almost full-time work/ HARD CORE MISSING MY MAN, and that things will smooth out to an even, albeit nutso, routine. It better, or this college campus is going to have one hateful woman running around, screaming at the other girls in the dorm. STOP SLAMMING YOUR DOOR, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST CLOSE IT LIKE THE REST OF US. (Thank you, Dooce, using all caps does make everything better.)

So last night, I was forcing myself to stay up later and work on some homework that I'd already put off doing all weekend and finally decided that 12 hours before it was due that I should start doing it. Smart, right? Say it with me people: magna cum laude.

I realized that I hadn't heard from Dane, as we always talk when he gets through with work. Being so far apart, we know each others' schedules thoroughly and take every possible opportunity to take Verizon up on its free Mobile2Mobile feature. I texted him and didn't receive a reply.


Let me make it clear that I am NOT that type of girlfriend. He does his thing and I do mine, but we also have a routine, and breaking from that routine is odd and something to be noticed. I never want to be a leech, but YOU BETTER CALL ME BACK.

An hour later and I still hadn't heard from him. This is where all the images from every Law and Order, E.R., NYPD Blue, and Magnum P.I. (What?? Have you seen his legs?) start running through my mind and How would the police contact me if something happened? If his phone was crushed, what would they do? His mother's out of the country with his sister, his other sister lives out of state, and I'm not legally connected to him (YET) so I'm not going to show up on any search they do on their little computer-thingies. HOW WILL I KNOW HE'S IN EMERGENCY BRAIN SURGERY TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING IF I DON'T TAPE MY CELL NUMBER TO THE BACK OF HIS DRIVERS LICENSE??? I'm clearly imagining the angle of his leg as it's broken, crushed from the frame of the car that's been hit from the crazy drunk driver that ran the red light. This train of thought is not helping my heart rate or my ability to sleep, because 1:30am rolled around and I'm laying in bed breaking into a cold sweat trying not to hyperventilate. I need this man in my life.


Fast forward a whole 30 minutes and I'm roused from my sleep from some jingly noise that I finally recognize as Dane's specific text message sound. The first thought that runs through my head? Why didn't the state trooper just call? I can't text this early in the morning. Of course, it was Dane letting me know that he's sorry, but he just left work after a 19 hour day. He was on call after his shift ended at the hospital and he needed to stay and work. And guess who figures she was told about said call shift but totally forgot and worked herself into a panic when her boyfriend didn't call her?? Hmm? Any takers?

Fortunately, Dane flies up here on Friday and I plan to slather him in hugs and kisses as if he were long-lost and then found with a bag of gold in his hand and birthday cake on his forehead. (I want the good icing too. None of that "Bettercream" crap.) 

I miss that boy.

I refuse to sacrifice some things, okay?

...like my coffee, dangit.

I lurve coffee. I drink some every morning, even while I'm living in the dorm. I have this wonderful little coffee maker that brews by the cup and doesn't have a warmer on the bottom, so it's not a fire hazard (apparently). I have my trusty coffee grinder and plenty of filters, along with the six different travel mugs haphazardly sitting around my room, all waiting to be knocked over to spill their contents on something expensive, like my MacBook. (It shaved ten years off my life, at least.)

I don't have a lot of money to spend, so I'm always looking to try something new that doesn't cost more than a few dollars per bag, but still tastes great. I found that in Eight O'clock Coffee. Hazelnut, to be specific. 

It's got a great, full-bodied flavor, yet it doesn't have a cheap hazelnut taste. You really don't even notice it, but the hazelnut seems to give it some oomph. I like oomph. Always have.

 

If you're not trying to spend a tank of gas on a bag of coffee, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Much love,

Lo 

P.S.- Umm, so yeah. Those zoo pics might not happen... I'll keep trying though!



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HEY! Follow me on Twitter: @MsLauraJane 

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*So Eight O'Clock coffee has no idea that I wrote about them, and hopefully, that's okay. I mean, I said I liked it, a lot, so that has to be good, right? :)

 

National Zoo

This past weekend, I swore that I'd get away from the campus and go do, well, anything. I couldn't spend another day holed up in the dorm organizing, doing homework, or watching Covert Affairs on Hulu. I decided to visit the National Zoo, primarily because it's free.

I went this past Sunday, knowing that it would be crowded, but grossly under-prepared for the onslaught of families with small children and stroller. THE STROLLERS. Oh my word. Let me tell you something, all you people without kids, these parents have learned to use the most cumbersome part of child rearing to their advantage. Oh yes. They know. There's the mother with four kids, all under the age of 6, who uses the stroller to part the crowds in the panda exhibit so her little "angels" can watch the fluffy black and white ball of fur chow down on some bamboo. Then you've got the father who's in charge of the twins for the duration while his wife takes a spa day and he's decided to use the behemoth of a double-stroller to part the holiday weekend crowds as he swims upstream to get back to the parking lot. They have NO MERCY. Ankles will get nicked, flip flops will be yanked, and hips will be bruised as parents try to get their kids so tired, that maybe mommy and daddy can have some "us-time". Please? Please go to sleep. Here, here's an extra rainbow snow cone if you'll  JUST GO TO BED BY 7:00. Please?!


Other than the war zone going on, I generally enjoyed my visit. The weather was nice, there was plenty of shade, and I managed to see some cool animals. I have to say though, it is hard going to a zoo where the main draw is animals you've already seen in their natural habitats. It did make it easier to get through the families... A quick glimpse, then off to the gelato stand!




Much love to you all,
Lo 



P.S- I had some pictures ready to share, but I keep having formatting issues, so I'll post them as soon as I get that worked out... I promise!

An example.

"Hey!"

**loud laughing and running in the background**

"What's that? I can't hear you."

**stomping from room above**

"I'M SHOUTING INTO THE PHONE BECAUSE...."

**thump thump (moving furniture?)**

"*sigh* I'll have to call you back."

Thus is an exaggerated example of dorm life.

I'm way too old for this. Not in simply years, but in mental maturity as well. I'm adjusting, though, and trying to remind myself that the harder I work the sooner I get out of here!

The first couple days of classes have come and gone, and my work load is definitely intense. I'm taking six classes, for a total of 16 credit hours. (If that credit hour-per-semester rate keeps up, I'll be graduating next summer...) I'm taking a general health class, Jesus and the Gospels, Intro to Marketing, Principles of Management, Probability and Statistics, and what WAU calls Career Planning. Fortunately, they all seem to be interesting so far. Unfortunately, the reading requirements alone require hours of coffee-imbibing... But. I fully realize that college is more about being disciplined and accomplishing goals and proving you made it than the related material that you learn. So, I'm sucking it up, wearing my big-girl panties, and getting it done.

The heat here is killing me. I can't handle much more of 90+ degree weather, regardless of how beautiful the weekend's going to be. (Say it with me people: MID 70's!!!) Despite that little pathetic gripe, I'm feeling very fortunate to be here. I feel like I'm finally in it to win it, with my class load and all that. I'm READY. I was born ready! This girl needs an adult job!

I miss Dane quite a bit, but like he and I talked about before, neither one of us would be focusing all that well if I was back in NC. We're amazing time wasters. Quite experienced in putting off to-do lists, as well. I love you babe!

I HAVE A JOB. More on that later.

Love to all!

-Lo

Wrapping things up.

In two and a half days, I'm off to D.C.!


I'm in the process of packing, which means a little bit of work gets done in between surfing the net and plucking my eyebrows... It's amazing how much crap one can amass, but not actually see it until you have to move it out of your way to get to that one pair of shoes you can't live without but haven't worn in 8 months. (They're amazing, just for the record.)


I'm getting pretty excited about leaving. I'm ready for something drastic to happen in my life, though my summer has been pretty fantastic in all reality. Let's recap, shall we?

• I was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life (again) and spend four months getting to know him before I left.
• I was given a new MacBook and iPod touch for my birthday, both of which I needed for school! (Need is a relative term.)
• MY MOM BOUGHT ME A CAR. 
• My amazing boyfriend bought me a Garmin instead of flowers. How perfect is he?
• MY MOM BOUGHT ME A CAR.

Isn't she cute? The car has definitely been the icing on the cake. One Saturday morning, she told me she was going to buy me a car and I could take payments over once I was done with school. Four days later, Dane and I found a 2008 black Mazda 3 5-speed that I HAD TO HAVE. Everything worked out and now I'm driving a car that I love!! It feels great and I'm reminded daily of how blessed I am.  


SO. Back to the packing. I'm overwhelmed, but then, I do have a lot of clothes. I think I'm just going to go ahead and pack everything and live out of my suitcases for two days... Otherwise, it'll be Saturday morning before I finish, and I just don't have that kind of time!


Dane and I have had some of our close friends move away this summer and we're feeling the losses, for sure. We love you all and miss you terribly. I can't wait for Thanksgiving, Callie Adams!




Much love,


Lo

P.S.- Follow me on Twitter @MsLauraJane!

end WHAT now?

Have you ever heard of the SDA's enditnow campaign?


No? 


I'm not suprised.


The enditnow initiative is an effort by the SDA Women's Ministries and by ADRA International to raise awareness about violence against women around the world. The effort aims to combat sex trafficking, domestic abuse, genital mutilation, and much more. It is by far the boldest move the Adventist church has made in the international community in years.  


The campaign was launched in October of 2009 with the hopes of raising 1 million signatures for a petition to be delivered to the leader of the United Nations exactly one year later, in October of 2010. Sounds great, right?


Unfortunately, there has not been an overwhelming PR component of this movement backed by the church. Were there mailings sent out? Were there Conference Community Service leaders traveling to larger churches to help get the word out?  Were there DVDs sent out to churches, urging their support during Mission Spotlight or an offering? Not from what I can tell. And as excited as I am about this initiative, I'm just as disappointed in how it was executed.


As of the writing of this post, there were only 47,451 signatures. THAT'S IT. We're less than 3 months away from the deadline, and we need 950,000 signatures.... What happened? I would love to talk with the head of this project and ask them what they planned on doing from the start to get the word out. Maybe they did have ideas planned and something unforeseen happened, keeping the GC from publicizing the initiative like it should have been, but I doubt it.

I'm moving to DC for school next month, and I have half a mind to head into Silver Springs to figure out what's going on. This is a movement that could not only save women from undue violence, but could attract young adults between the ages of 21-35 to the church. This is something that age group can get behind! It's relevant and an issue that is 'on trend', so to speak, it's based on DOING something instead of simply talking about it, and the marketing and packaging is more modern than anything the church has done recently. Why aren't we embracing this wholeheartedly???


If you want to do more than sign the petition (and PLEASE do so), shoot a quick email to your conference's Community Services Director and ask them what's going on. Why hasn't your church had more information about this? Why hasn't your leader been out to speak to your congregation about this? This campaign is too valuable to let it go away quietly. If we praise the GC, maybe they'll do more like it!


Thanks for listening to my soapbox,
Lo

My feet are crying tears of joy.

I love shoes. More than handbags, scarves, and sunglasses put together. Yea, I know. That's a LOT of love.


I also love the 90's. I grew up during that decade and still listen to the music frequently. (I have excellent music taste, for the record, so while I may love the 90's, I DO NOT love NKOTB.)


So when I saw these shoes, iconic emblems of a decade that I fondly remember, I knew it was meant to be:

Are these not awesome?? I was never a grunge dresser, though I loved Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Garbage, etc., and I never liked the harsh look of the plain black Docs. But these? These were meant for my feet. I'd make them work, some way. Somehow.


Buy them here.


Much love,
A very nostalgic Lo.

A bittersweet first half.

Aaaaaahhhhh.

(That's me sighing, not screaming.) (Though that would make sense too.)

This past semester was SO HARD for me. Between school and work demands, I couldn't handle it all. So my solution was to not handle much of it. I didn't do certain assignments, I let some projects slide at work, and I totally hid from my life. I went from being on the dean's list last fall to, well, let's just say NOT being on the list this spring. (I didn't completely fail out or anything, just for the record.) There were so many great ideas I wanted to implement this year at work that never metastasized or were even started. There was a lot of coffee consumed, a lot of tears shed, a million tension headaches, many hours of sleep lost, and finally, a lot of relief that the semester was finally over.

The spring also ended with my best friend having to move. To Colorado. From NC. BOO. This is the woman I watched give birth to her second child, who gave me advice for EVERYTHING, and who helped me transition from an old life to a new one. Her family became mine. She became one of those rare friends in life we're convinced we were always meant to find, no matter how many different turns our lives took. We'd become friends somehow, no matter how old we were when it happened. As Anne of Green Gables put it, we are "kindred spirits."

But, due to the noble desire to have a better life, my friend packed up their lives here and shipped out. Her husband is going back to school to become a physical therapist and eventually, she'll go back too. We all have to do what's best for us to get us to where we want to be, but that doesn't mean the repercussions won't sometimes flat out suck. We'll see each other soon enough, though. Thanksgiving, hopefully.

So. Despite all the mess that has gone on in the past six months, there were some pretty awesome things that happened too. (Didn't think you could handle any more downers, could you?)

First, I was accepted to Washington Adventist University in Maryland, and I couldn't be more excited! I feel like it's my opportunity to get out of this town and make some dreams a reality. And that has been a long time coming.

Secondly, and most importantly, I found a man worth being with. I have since latched on to said man, and refuse to let him go. 

We went to the same high school together and I actually had a crush on him then. We graduated (he was a year ahead of me) and went our separate ways, though I was always aware of him whenever he was in town. (He says the same thing about me.) We ran into each other one day at a bagel shop where he proceeded to get my number, but he never called. Ever. So maybe eight or ten months later, we run into each other at an alumni event at our school. He was snarky and completely not putting out happy-to-see-Laura vibes.

Fast forward to almost a year later, where we've lightly talked through Facebook. I tell him to come see me at church sometime. A couple weeks later, I lay out of church because I was sick. Of course, this is the weekend he shows up. I tell him he should have called me, but he says he no longer had my number. He gets it again, and a couple of weeks later, we meet up at church. And spend the day together with some mutual friends. That night, he asks me on a date, and the rest is, of course, history. :)

We've been dating for 2 months today (What is that? Like, paper?). It feels like we've been together a year already. The timing was never right for us before, as he had some family stuff going on (that's why he never called) and I wasn't ready for this until recently. Once the timing was right, however, God put us together and there's no doubt in our minds that someday (when the time is right!) we'll get married and spend our lives together. I believe the timing is perfect because as one mainstay person in my life is leaving, another came in. This has happened over and over in my life, and I love that God doesn't want me to be alone.

Anyhoo. It's been a crazy six months. I'm heading up to DC in August, despite everybody thinking I'll stay for him. I wouldn't compromise on my dreams and he would never ask me to. He'll be back in school too, but I'll elaborate more on him in a later post. ;)

I have to run get ready for a job interview. Wish me luck!

Much love,

Lo

A Woman is Born

In the song, "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked, Idina Menzel sings "Something has changed within me/Something is not the same." Girl, I feel ya.

Being an only child, I will never get the opportunity to be with a sister while she was having her baby. Therefore, I'd have to have a close friend who would fill the role. Fortunately, I do!

Callie and I weren't close during the majority of her first pregnancy and I definitely didn't spend much time with her while she was in the hospital with Abby. Since then, we've become very close; she's my bestest homie. So when she got pregnant again, I was lucky enough to be a part of every step of the way. And I mean every step.

I've learned so much about being pregnant that I'm more convinced than ever that I won't be having kids for a while... But being the curious kid that I am, I've loved being able to ask questions I NEVER considered before and learn about a process that women my age would have already been pros at a hundred years ago. I consider myself extremely fortunate.

Sometime during the second trimester, Callie asked if I would video the birth. She wanted to see all of her hard work and all the cool stuff she did (significantly later from when it actually happened, of course). This freaked me out. Majorly freaked me out. I couldn't quite wrap my head around being in a delivery room while a 8lb. bowling ball with extremities passed through a 10cm opening. Then there's all the fluids to consider. And consider them I did.

Finally I got to the point where I was okay with it, and was actually looking forward to it. It may not have been that big of a deal to her for me to be in there, but I felt honored to get to be part of something so momentous, so life-changing. It went from being something that made my uterus run towards my rib cage out of fear to being one of the most special opportunities of my single adult life. I rapidly embraced the idea of getting to skip school and other responsibilities for a day in order to watch a wrinkly, purple, gooey baby be brought into the world.

Fast forward to the third trimester: Callie's miserable. She'd already been through a rough first trimester, then in the third, she was fighting kidney stones, bronchitis, and general big-ness and discomfort from carrying around said bowling ball. She began having Braxton-Hicks contractions, thinking she was going into early labor, and her mom even flew out from Colorado early to be with her. Then NOTHING. For weeks we waited and wondered and lived with several false alarms. This is how Abby dealt with the insanity:

 This pretty much sums up how we all felt. We wanted that baby to get out of the womb already! The world really isn't all that bad! We promised!


Finally Callie gets an induction scheduled for March 1st. There was light at the end of the tunnel! Hallelujah, amen!


I had no idea what to expect, but I got to the hospital around 8am, prepared to be there all day but hoping things moved rather quickly. This is what I found when I arrived in her room:

Just hanging out. Playing Bewjewled on the iPod Touch. La-di-freakin'-da. They finally hooked her up to an IV of oxytocin, the hormone that gets all things labor-related rolling. And still, we waited. (And enjoyed this amazing view from her room):

Contractions started coming more frequently and more intensely but nothing to write home about. Then, Dr. Hardinburg came in. She checked Callie then decided to break her water. (Remember, this is the first time I've EVER been witness to anything of this nature. Am perma-freaked the entire day.) So what do you think they use to break the water? A hand? Nope. They bust out a plastic poker-thing and, well, poke the...whatever it is that gets broken. (I told Callie we should have thrown a crochet hook into an autoclave and saved the $40 her insurance spent on the plastic thingy, but I was too late. I'm sure the Dr. would have been for it, too. Right?)


So now, the water's broken, hormone has things going, delivery should be soon, right? Ha.


After a while longer, Callie's contractions get worse and worse and she finally decides to get the epidural going. (Nothing natural here, folks!) Callie's mom, Sue, and I left the room while the NA took care of business. When we got back, this is what I found:

A happy, calmer, sedated version of the Callie that was previously not-so-happy and much less sedated. (Contractions? I'm having contractions right on top of each other? What contractions?)


And now we wait some more.

...
...
....
......


Fast forward again to about five 0'clock, when active pushing begins. This is what you seen in the movies, and if you're really brave (bored? stupid?), on A Baby Story on TLC.


[Let me interject here and say that once I agreed to film and be in the room, I was convinced that I would pass out, or at the very least, be sick at some point during this day. But every time an opportunity came around for me to be grossed out or weirded out, I turned into this curious observer and I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH. I really thought I would have a much harder time with the body doing its thing, but I was completely amazed the entire time. Granted, once things got rough for Callie it was harder to deal with, but that was because she was my friend and I cared about her. If it was a stranger, I have a feeling I would be all science-y about it and actually enjoy it. (I enjoyed going through it with Callie, but it was kinda hard to see everything that was happening through my tears...)]

At first, the active pushing wasn't so bad. But, as the baby moved down the birth canal, you could actually see something roughly the size of a softball pushing against her body. Really cool, really freaky. Everything was getting really intense, the Dr. had been called back from her office, and we were getting ready to have a baby.


Callie had to keep pushing, as once the baby FINALLY decided to join us on the outside, she wasn't slowing down. The doctor checked in and concluded that it was going to be a little while yet before the baby actually started crowning. (We didn't agree with her, but she is a doctor...) The nurse kept encouraging Callie to push if she felt that that's what she needed to do, so Sue and Andy grabbed a leg each and helped her through the contractions.


(The whole time this is going on, I'm just trying to stay out of the way, yet be in a spot where I can see everything. I'm a little freaked, but really it was curiosity and excitement that took over.)


After a few more minutes of pushing, guess what? The baby crowned! Instantly everything became real and tangible, and not this elusive possibility for me. There was no more maybe, this baby was here!


The head started to come out, but the nurse told Callie to STOP! The nurse ran out to get the doctor, somebody yelled her name, and an instant later Dr. Hardinburg busts into the room. She looks to get some gloves on, realizes that THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT and gets ready to be the wide receiver for the Adams' family football team.


After that moment, everything happened so fast, I could hardly figure out what to do. The bed was surrounded with nurses, Sue, Andy, and the doctor, and I definitely didn't want to be in the way. So I stepped back (I couldn't film that part anyway-hospital policy) and just waited. I did get to see Cate get laid on Callie's chest and lost is from there. Cried like crazy for the next couple of hours. Cate really wasn't as ugly as some of the babies that we'd watched on A Baby Story earlier in the day, thankfully. (I know there is some serious irony with that, but I just can't dwell on it. I'm pretty sure that's not what I'm going to want to watch when I'm about to give birth. Give me some What Not To Wear people!)


Callie and Cate started their bonding thing while the doctor took care of the afterbirth. I totally watched this and took pictures of the placenta, though I'll do you all a favor and not post them there. :) (Just let me know if you want to see them, it's pretty cool!)


Everything started winding down, I went to grab Arby's for Callie, and Cate was cleaned, weighed, and measured. She weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 20 1/2in long. She really is cute and even has distinguishable features! I expected her to be much squishier, but so far, not too bad.
Andy holding Cate for the first time, right after her dramatic debut: 

Later, after I left the hospital for the night, Callie had some complications, which you can read about here. Long story short, she is fine now and trying to regain her strength. She did so amazing yesterday and was much calmer than I ever thought anybody would be. I am so proud!


This whole experience has taught me a lot about myself, as lame as that may sound. I feel like I've crossed some primal threshold into full-on womanhood or something. I now know that I can handle being in a delivery room while someone I love is pushing all that through there... And it makes me feel like I can too (someday far, far into the future). I'm so blessed to have that family in my life and even more privileged to have witnessed their child being born. It wasn't what I thought I would see, I didn't feel like I thought I would, but I have definitely grown up in the past 36 hours. Kinda cool.