Adopting in Ashburn

And so the countdown begins. 6. This is the number of days until my move, my new blog, my new life, my first apartment, my first subscription to an actual newspaper, etc. I can't wait to get started on it all, but as usual, am taking my leisurely time packing. I must say that I am leaps and bounds ahead of myself based on previous years - but nowhere near the goal. I got alot accomplished this week though. I took the car in for inspection, went shopping for everything I need that isn't measurement or color reliant, ran errands, called family members, got all of the crates that are coming with me out of the attic, threw out two trash cans worth of old soaps and stuff from the bathroom, and filled that garbage bag in the garage to the top with clothes. For fun, I celebrated my parents' birthdays (Happy Birthday today for Dad), saw Miami Vice (quite good), watched a bunch of Firefly episodes, went to church, and took the dog for a walk. I even worked on Thursday night to ear...

I spent a good part of this morning in the attic sorting through junk and throwing out old papers. Then I threw all the contents of the sweater boxes down the attic ladder so I could sort them in the AC. I went through one layer of my bookshelf and a crate of files from USC. All of this getting rid of stuff is going to make it easier to move - less stuff to haul around, cleaning up old baggage ... you know the drill. But sometimes, getting rid of things you've had forever can be difficult. I have been approximately the same clothes size since the 8th grade. I have been the same shoe size since the 7th. So, when it comes to getting rid of clothes it is not usually a case of not fitting. Also, since I lack a certain element of apparel known as fashion, I don't usually chuck stuff because it is out of style. I'm not walking around in leg warmers or anything (though they sadly seem to be coming back) I just usually buy generic clothes that are a more classic look. Anyway, tod...

Today was my mother's birthday. So, amongst the other things I did, I made her a birthday cake. Recently, I have been improving with my baking skills (my siblings will not agree to this, but I can make killer fruit, nut, and cake breads from scratch!). So, today I decided I would take on a new cake challenge. I made an ice cream cake. In theory, making an ice cream cake is pretty easy. You make a cake and in place of the filling in between the two layers, you put ice cream. You should let the ice cream harden between the two layers before decorating, etc so that the cake has time to "bond" with the ice cream and become one solid dessert. This is one theory. In practice, it is very simple (especially if you let Betty Crocker make the cake part). You bake. You slice ice cream and freeze it in the same shape as the cake. You place the ice cream between the two layers and apply a little frosting to stick it together around the outside. Place the cake in the freezer...

Alternate Title: Money Pretty Much Sucks I know it seems like I am ranting about money lately. That is because I am. This is going to be the last paragraph of it though (probably). I cannot find a graduate student loan interest rate much less than 8%. I feel like I am being ripped off already and I haven't even taken out the money yet. Everything is based on the LIBOR rate, which has gone up 2% in the past year. It may go down again, making a variable interest rate loan look good. But if it goes up instead of down and there is no cap, then I skyrocket into dept until I'm 35 (or worse). So I'll probably stick with the Graduate PLUS loan, which has a rate just under 8% if I go with my bank. I figure it is one loan, for one year, and with any luck it will be paid back in the first five years. But then, as it turns out, I can get penalized for paying it back early if I am successful enough to do that. As someone once said (though I don't know from experience), i...

On the fourth of July it was about 100 degrees with the heat index. I played grass volleyball for somewhere near three hours and came home - not exhausted, just sweaty. Today I went shopping for three hours. I was so tired that when I stopped to pick up bread and peas for my mother on the way home I also grabbed a bottle of wine. I collapsed with a glass of Barefoot Chardonnay soon thereafter (not in the car, on the couch). Under ordinary circumstances I detest shopping. The idea of spending my hard earned money freaks me out. When I am under the duress of necessity (this is relative, obviously food is mandatory while a quilt that isn't two sizes too small for the bed in my new apartment is just a practical idea) I calm down a little - but not much. I am using my parents' old sheets, a duvet cover I am making myself, lamps and furniture from my current bedroom, and almost everything from my dorm room - so spending my budget of $300 to purchase supplies, an armoire (since ...

Here is a fabulous picture of my sister. I need it to create her marvelous new blog which has movie and television reviews. Check it out ! As it turns out though, I can't use this picture because the file is too big. I'll fix it tomorrow. Recently I have helped both my siblings start their own blogs. I kind of like this because now I have some more interesting (hopefully) things to read. Plus it is fun to be a trend setter in the family for once. All this working has also encouraged me that even those inconsequential classes I took as an undergrad will come in handy some day. CSCE 102 has already filled its quota of usefulness. Only 140 more hours to validate! I'm off now to stop procrastinating and get some things done. I am progressing on the packing (or at least the organization of the packing). I have many lists now - and I will really enjoy crossing them off. I wish I had a friend to go shopping for these things with me though. I feel like it would be easier ...

Quatorze jours. Fourteen days. Je vais demenager a DC, c'est vraiment proche maintenant. Si vous voulez mon nouveaux adress je peut vous envoyer (laissez moi un message par email ou une commentaire). J'ai pleine d'energie de fait mes cartons; rends les visites au medecin, dentist, mechanique (pour la voiture); et aussi pour les dernieres moments a Fayetteville avec ma famille (pour maintenant). Chaque jour j'efface quelquechose de le tableau dans ma chambre. Il y a plus et plus des cartons dans le garage (mon pauvre pere besoin garer dehors a cause des cartons). Je suis contente. On a deja louer un van (parce que ma voiture est trop petite) et j'ai telephoner practicaliment tout le monde pour les rendez-vous necessaire. Je ne crois pas que j'ai seulement quatorze jours qui reste ici. C'est le treizieme fois que j'ai demenager pendant 5 ans. C'est jamais plus simple que le derniere fois - pour moi, c'est toujours un nouveaux adventure. M...