The Science Nerd Inside Does a Happy Dance

My friend Shelley buzzed through town on her whirlwind Friends n' Family tour o' Texas this week. And guess what she brought me for my birthday...


An AWESOME fully-contained, glowing ant farm! Don't ask me what inspired this. I couldn't tell you. All I know is I LOVE IT! :) My hubby and sister are totally jealous too.

The gel contains all the food and moisture the little suckers could ask for so there's little danger of my killing them by neglect. Bonus. I was planning on bringing this bad boy to my office and displaying it alongside my Mr. T chia head.


But under protests from Greg and Mel, I think this one will have to stay at home instead.

I'm mailing off my little ant order form so in just 3-6 weeks, my big block o' gel will transform into a thriving metropolis of industriousness. I will be sure to keep you updated on the progress...

We're On a Roll, Kids

Shortly following our first soccer win EVER (and then a bloody massacre the next week) comes our second, yes, second victory! WooHoo! We won 4-1 last night - congrats Glenn, Janice and Lance! My heroes... Of course, everyone played like rockstars, most notably Kim, whose 100-degree fever did not the slightest damage to her lightning speed and agility as per usual. Lance and Dilek's collision, giving Lance a sore jaw with Dilek splayed out on her backside, left an impression and is probably one of the many reasons Dilek is retiring her soccer cleats after this season. :( Other than that and Chris S bowing up and trying to throw down with one of the other team's players (not cool!), we played a good game. Friday marks the season finale and my sister's long-awaited soccer debut. This should be interesting. :)

After the game, Greg, my sis and I with my closely trailing undertones of sweat and garlic headed down to meet friends for a dinner party. Jim (who I've mentioned before), among other things, is a budding amateur chef. If you have none in your list of acquaintances, I highly recommend you proactively seek out and extend your social circle to include several such individuals. The perks are amazing... After stuffing myself with shrimp canapes, seared beef smoothered in gorgonzola, and some Turkish dish I can't pronounce, I am one happy camper. The plan is to make this dinner party thing a bi-monthly event, one in which I plan to thoroughly entrench myself.

A soccer win, good food and excellent company - it doesn't get much better than that, folks.

Off to eat my snagged leftovers...

p.s. Jim just started a most entertaining blog. Perhaps he will start including some recipes on his site - hint, hint...

Eat Your Heart Out, Hulk

In case you're interested, the American Gladiators are having try-outs here in Austin on Saturday!

Larisa yells Oooh-yeeeeah! (a la Macho Man Randy Savage).

Damn. Its probably too late to dust off my little 10-pound weights and start working on my pecs, right. Another golden opportunity missed...

Things I Am Thankful For...

1. I have married the most kind, generous, loving man I've ever known.
2. We have a beautiful house together.
3. Our kitties are sweethearts.
4. My sister is moving in with us. Yes, Mel, I listed this as a positive too. :)
5. My friends and family are all healthy.
6. This time next year, I will be out of grad school.
7. I've gotten to travel to some pretty amazing places.
8. I get the opportunity to try teaching and working closely with students.
9. Shoes - and not the practical kind
10. People who still believe in manners and friendliness
    
11. Independent movies
12. Public transportation
13. Claritin
14. Girly evenings with my book club(s)
15. Fiesty evenings with my soccer team
    
16. A new presidential administration
    
17. ...

I will think of more. But now its time to get back to work...

I feel better already. :) Everyone should make this list from time to time.

Thirty-One, O.M.G...

I'm turning thirty-one tomorrow. Holy crap!

Thirty-one. Three One. 3-1.

Deep breath. Its only a number. Its only a number. Its only a number...

This morning as the realization sank just a bit deeper, I started taking stock. Its only natural that since I'm here at work and feeling swamped that I immediately focused on the negative aspects. Here goes:

• I'm still in grad school, nervously & anxiously fretting about the outcome of this loooooong interlude in my life.
  
• I'm still running experiments that probably will not work.
  
• I need to be writing my dissertation at the same time.
• I may or may not have bitten off more than I can chew with this class that I'm taking over.
  
• Soon I'll be out - one way or another- and I'll have to find a "real" job.
  
• I'm surrounded by pregnant women.
• As of tomorrow, we will be sharing our house with my little sister for some months, which is not really a negative until I remember how bitterly we used to fight as kids. And this worries me.
• I'm a full-blown allergy sufferer now.
  

I am one overwhelmed, sometimes-frantic, often-crying stress-ball.

The most logical short-term remedy? Pampering. Definitely.

Yesterday I had my hair cut and highlighted. (Yes, Mom, I highlighted my hair! No lectures!) Tomorrow I'm getting a pedicure, a gift from my birthday last year. (Thanks, Claus & Morgan!) And my lovely husband has organized a little party for later that night. This week-end I'm hoping to relax and catch up with the family - my mom, brother and sister will all be here- and take a little reprieve from the worry.

And I'm also going to force myself to come up with a more positive list for taking stock. This is no way to start a new year in my life.



p.s. Ewa, I got your birthday card yesterday. Thank you! It had a big sparkly high-heeled shoe on it surrounded by little (shoe?) fairies. Plus, I have a $10 discount at DSW. I think that's a sign if I've ever seen one.

Oh, the Horror!

Oh my God.

I've just had a horrible realization! The students in my class were born...


...in 1988! **gasp!**

The eighties weren't even their formative years. Who are these creatures!?!?

I'm Surrounded!

Last year it was weddings. This year its baby showers.

Everyone seems to be pregnant right now. Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Kate Blanchett, J Lo, Nicole Kidman, etc, etc, ad naseum. Even people like freakin' Nicole Richie and Jamie Lynn Spears! In fact, I heard on the news the other day that we might be entering a new baby BOOM! The total number of U.S. births is the highest its been since 1961, the end of the last baby boom. And things are no different around these parts.

This week-end I went to my friend Alisha's baby shower, had dinner with a 7.5-month preggo friend, and learned that another friend is almost 3 months pregnant. I guess that's the natural progression of things. But don't hold your breath for us just yet. (I'm talking to you- Mel, Mom, Ewa!)

All these big bellies mean that Greg and I definitely have babies-on-the-brain, but I have to get out of grad school first. And, of course, it wouldn't hurt if I had a job lined up too. And there are a few more vacations we'd like to take. Oh, and get our finances bulked up. And get healthy. And... let's see. What other excuses can we use here? Well, you get the idea.


**Update** Just got an email from Greg. Two of his friends in England are also expecting their first child soon. I'm extremely happy and excited for these expectant mommies and daddies, but please, when will it stop?!

Well-Equipped Lushes

Greg and I looked all over Austin to find a liquor cabinet that we liked but with no luck. So we ordered this little baby off the net and it just arrived this week-end. Yay!


Just in time for my birthday party!


(Uh-hum, excuse the mess in the background. It was laundry day...)

Its a Miracle!

WE WON! WE WON!

FINALLY after playing and losing 15 soccer games, we've won! 3-1! And I was SOOOOOO close to scoring a goal. I had a beautiful opportunity, but the ball just had this weird spin and I couldn't get it in time. Boo! But Greg, superstar that he is, scored two goals!

I can't believe we've finally FINALLY won a game!

WooHoo!