update

took a vacation for a few weeks.

lately, listening to The Be Good Tanyas, Joan Sutherland and The Low Anthem and playing an enormous amount of tennis although I cancelled today.

Discovered Pandora.com (I'm a little behind)

reorganized ALL of my books, wiped the dust away and put them into new groups completely unrelated to their genre. Memoirs and novels and short stories are all tucked together, alphabetically, and I haven’t heard a single peep. I thought my several prized collections of creative nonfiction would surely gripe about Alice Hoffman invading their personal space, but nothing.

contemplating what I am going to do after I graduate. MFA? Get a job? Take an extraordinary bike trip across Missouri? Freedom can be a little blinding.

And it does break my heart a little that you all have abandoned me for facebook.

bleepity bleep

I am working on the first of what will be a total of four papers blech. 4 papers, 1 portfolio and 2 traditional finals. . . WHERE'S THE POSITIVITY?!? Well the bright spot is that this is the end of a nightmarish semester, a semester that challenged my drive and anger, a semester that turned me into a crying maniac bitch, a semester of complete frustration. *sigh*

I could make all C's right now and I would just be happy knowing that I won't ever have to endure these past few months again.

So all this clenched fist anxiety inside can kiss my bleepity bleep bum, because it is the END.

Woohoo for that


and woohoo for bubble wrap

*note* last thursday was my birthday. this is me opening Scott's present. It was an orange themed spa package : ) I also recieved many emails, texts, and phone calls from all my favorite people AND Robert surprised me with a variety of teas I have been anxious to try. best birthday ever? yep.

beatbox harmonica

now where did I hear this?



hmm I wonder

working on my stank face

Even though Robert is sick and final papers and tests have begun there have been a few sparkling moments in my day.

* oddly enough tennis is always the moment when stress hits full force. Today was no different, but I fought it hard and I'm proud that I stuck with it and didn't give up today.

* while babysitting today I sneezed and the little girl, not quite two years old, said "God bless you," only it sounded more like "Ga bess you." Very cute.

* Rose, Ella and I had a lovely walk + we played a little ball.

a little bit of arkansas

we took off Friday for Arkansas. Robert's grandfather used to own a fish farm, and once a week the two of them would travel to Lonoke, Arkansas on fish runs. Robert and I decided to retrace the route and search for old landmarks and familiar places. It was a spectacular little journey filled with stories and music, interesting people and haunting places.

I will share with you my five most favorite photos ; )













You can view the rest of the pictures and the tidbits that come with them at my facebook.

one more thing

Ok maybe two. As Robert's cousin was getting ready for sleep I stumbled upon her diary. No, I take that back. I stumbled upon her diery. It said "Diery of a Rachel ." Isn't that hilarious? Oh and get this. Robert went back and she was watching NCIS. Robert said that she couldn't watch it and she replied that her parents said she could and that was where she got the inspiration to become a forensic scientist. Robert agreed to let her watch it after she explained what a forensic scientist does, but only if she watched it with him. Before he could sit down though she said he would have to wait a moment because she was writing a poem. She's 9! Totally gave me a laugh. What a kid!

happy

Thanksgiving #1



A wonderful visit with my dad and Aunt Lil. He even played a little music before we left.

Thanksgiving #2

Tonight we celebrated Thanksgiving with Robert's family. There was a lot of food and two little kiddos running around. One of the kiddos, Robert's 9 year old cousin, is staying the night so she can play wii : )

I am going to lock myself in the bathroom with House Beautiful, a cup of tea and my favorite bubble bath.

Oh but I am thankful. Very happy I saw my dad and Lil, happy that he played a little music and fixed his hair for the pictures : ), happy that the house was full of lovely food and only a smattering of awkward but hilarious people, happy to call it a night, a week, the end of tight smiles and sad goodbyes.


Tomorrow Robert and I might just take off. Yes, that would be nice.

awesome day

my first sewing class : )


I'm holding the fabric I practiced with. Very scary!

After the class I came home to a feast, crab legs and asparagus!

123

I'm not sure I'm allowed to do this, but I have 3 etsy favs to share.


1.

2.

3.

that's me

Today I saw a reflection of myself and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. Some days I feel like a phenomenal woman.