Heavy Thoughts

I'm quite sure what to say, except that I'm pulling for a miracle, and know one is possible.

One of my near and dear friends was due with a baby girl, just in time for my birthday. There were jokes as to scheduling the delivery so me and the little one could share a birthday, possibilities of having a Seuss-themed nursery, and my excitement over being able to (possibly) quilt her a baby quilt (ya know, if I can ever get the one I'm currently working on done and a new one started).

Woody Allen has a famous line: "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans". While I'm certain God isn't laughing at this, little C was born this past week (16 weeks early), throwing everyone's plans out the window and hoping for a miracle--either divine or scientific. Two states away, I feel pretty hopeless, so I'm doing the only thing I can think of: spreading the word and hope the thoughts and prayers of my extended Internet friends can help little C continue to be a fighter and pull this out.

So, friends of the world, please think strong and positive thoughts for a little one fighting for her life--make it so in the many years to come I can make jokes about how we should have shared our birthday, had she not been impatient to get here before September...

Happy Birthday, Pops!

Circa 1980s

Wordless Wednesday

I really do love this kid...

...and our Facetime dates.

Little bit of a daze...

It's been a whirlwind of five days, that simultaneously passed incredibly slow. I've been without my laptop for a few of them, but mostly I'm just a little off a regular sleeping pattern and therefore am a little dazed.

That cute, adorable, fluffy cat of mine has decided that play time is not 8am-9pm when I'm at home and not doing anything important, but rather 3am-5am. I wouldn't mind if she played then, I just wish she didn't want me as her playmate...

I sat her down and we had a discussion about it on Monday, and it worked as she let me sleep all of Monday night. However, she must have a short term memory problem, as last night was one of the worst in terms of persistent wake up calls.


In related news, if I could just find a job that required me to be awake at 3am, Miss Muffet would be set and I wouldn't even need an alarm clock!

Gamma Phi, Sweetie Pie

Missing these girls (and those that followed) today, and wishing them the best on their first recruitment in the beautiful new house.

Wordless Wednesday

View from my "workspace". It's hard to have a Wordless Wednesday if you don't leave the house for anything on Wednesdays...

27 Daisies

I read an article in the Huffington Post this past spring that I fell in love with--22 Candles of Love and Kindness (here) and put it on my bucket list to do this summer or fall. As it's rapidly becoming the beginnings of fall (at least in Indianapolis--tonight's low is 58!), I figured I should get on it...


I don't want to give it all away just yet, but I'm hoping to spend this weekend working on it and such. However, I've found one of the best motivations for me getting things done (in my personal life) is to tell others about them. Even if they don't remember I've told them, I know, and I hate to disappoint people, so I get it done.

Consider this my birthday planning post to the wide world, and my third motivation to work on it in the coming weeks. It will happen...and once I'm ready to share details, I'll post them here to include everyone.

The Girls with the Bikes

Circa 2004

Wordless Wednesday

BFF Park Time

New Adventures for a New Week

After a great (but exhausting) weekend back home, this week has started with a new adventure! While looking for a full-time career, I have picked up a part-time job as a server at a local restaurant. I worked my way through undergrad at one of the best restaurants in Springfield, so it felt a little like going home--except I forgot how much energy is required to be running on your feet all shift!

I'm excited to get back into the swing of working a little out of the home, while hoping it really is just a part-time filler until a job prospect works out. Until then, I'm going to enjoy meeting new people, making a little money, and (most importantly) getting out of the apartment!

Road Trippin'

This weekend is our first short trip home after moving me here, so I'm feeling quite the amount of mixed feelings. I'm excited to go see the little love of my life and the rest of my family, nervous about leaving my Miss Muffet, frustrated that I won't have a car, and not energetic enough today to try to make plans with people.

I'd like to blame it on the weather--it's been quite cloudy and little bit rainy here (what seems like) all week. Combine that with all of life's normal frustrations and it's been a little hard to be motivated and positive this week, except about things that don't help push me forward--or maybe that's just the problem with the past two rain days combined with plans falling through...

I know, I'm me.

Today's throwback is a picture from just a few years ago with my first two advisees and two amazing ladies who are out there and making an impact on the world as only they can.

As things stand now, this may be the first recruitment I will miss with my chapter...ever. It's also the first recruitment where I won't be able to send gifts and thoughtful things to the girls as I will likely still be looking for a job. It's a little hard to grow up...

However, even as a grown up, the Sorority still holds a dear place in my heart and will for many years to come.

The Missouri-est of Days

It was either Sunday or Monday that I was hit with the biggest homesickness I'd felt in a long time. The move hadn't hit very hard until I sent A off to play golf with one of his new "friends" and I had no one to call and come watch bad tv with me while they were gone. 

As missing Missouri appeared to be a possible theme of this week, today was much needed. I had lunch with a former professor, where we just chatted about life, our recent moves, Indy politics and education, and what I wanted to do with my life. I got to FaceTime with my adorable niece (kisses and waves and all) and make plans with my brother. And to top it off, I'm currently listening to the breathing sounds of my friends little one I'm babysitting--which means I got to see (briefly) two of my friends from undergrad that I haven't seen in almost a year. 

With all this Missouri in my life today, it might make me have withdrawals tomorrow--but I'll let the weekend fix that!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Homemade dinner from last week--mango pico de gallo, guacamole, bacon chicken quesadillas and fresh salsa...

Motivational Progress

So, I haven't run yet this week. Or sewn.

But I have worked! And applied to a couple more jobs. So I suppose that's progress. However today's pretty much been the longest day I've had in Indiana. A is working late, and I haven't left the apartment, so my only contact with something living is Miss Muffet. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but she sleeps 15 hours a day, so my human contact has been minimal...


All the complaining aside, it was nice to get a few hours of work in and neglect the housework for the day...and tomorrow shall be jam packed with a lunch date and babysitting--almost like I'm back home with friends!

Slowly, but surely, I'll wear this place down and it'll be so excited I'm around I'll have to hide from all the enthusiasm...

Motivation

I love sewing. I really do. 

I love working. I really, really do. 

I even enjoy running. Well, let's be real, I love the feeling after running when I'm a little sore and am done. 

However, I'm not always good at motivating myself to get to doing those three things. Or at least, I haven't been very motivated the past two weeks since moving to Indiana. 

Motivation is therefore at the top of my goal list for the week. 

As is getting back on my running schedule. 

And working. And finding a job. And sewing (most of all sewing--little squirt will be here this week and my baby quilt isn't done!). 

But first of all: motivation. 

Little Lion Man Dance Parties

Yesterday was D's birthday, so our attempt at weekly video calls was postponed to today, and I can't wait to see that little face I adore so much.

Maybe we'll even have a dance party that spans three states...