New Year's Eve 2009

Happy New Year's Eve! 

I had a wonderful visit with my family over Christmas.  It was just the four of us, and it was the first time we'd all been in the parsonage at the same time. Though our tree had fewer presents than some previous years (thank you economy), the ones there were more than enough. Plus, the best part was getting to see my brother and my parents. 

When I made plans to come home for Christmas, I fussed about having to leave my NFL Network service in my Lawrence apartment.  The Titans were playing on Christmas Day and I would miss the game!  They would be playing on my birthday in my hometown and I wouldn't get to see them.  Little did I know that my brother had "already solved the problem" (as he put it).  He gave me 2 tickets to the game!  I couldn't believe it!  I was going to see the Titans play on Christmas Day! =)

My 23rd birthday celebration took place on the day after Christmas since my brother and I were at the game all evening on Christmas Day.  Mom cooked a delicious meal and cake.  This year, more than any other year before, I realized that my Christmas dinners are vastly different than most peoples'.  Every Christmas, our evening meal is my birthday dinner, which in my family means we eat whatever I choose.  Every Christmas I get to eat ice cream and birthday cake before the day is done.  Additionally, my present-opening is not finished in the early afternoon like most peoples'.  Instead I get to look forward to suppertime when I open my birthday gifts.  My family and friends don't combine my presents, and Christmas gifts are wrapped in Christmas paper while birthday gifts are wrapped in birthday paper - never the other way around.  When I was younger, I thought that was just the way Christmas was.  Only recently have I realized how unique and special my Christmases are.

Thanksgiving Break

In about 15 hours I'll be on my way to see my family for the first time since they moved me in.  I'm excited to see them, even though it will be strange without Max sleeping somewhere nearby.  I'm glad for the break from academics and the lab, since I've given up most of my last 3 weekends.  I'll miss my bunny though....

As usual, we'll be down in Vienna, GA, for our Thanksgiving celebration.  I love gettin' together with all my Parker relatives.  Plus there's always good home-cooked food involved! 

End of Semester

Classes are finished.  Finally.  I'm one final, one grad school application, one paper, and one brief meeting away from winter break.  Two weeks (plus more I hope) of freedom from 67-page theses and demanding professors.  Granted, I do have to read and do some work over the break, but that doesn't seem nearly so awful compared to what I've done in the last 1.5 weeks.  I just hope my GPA reflects the ridiculous amount of work and stress I've been through.

I think I've done well this semester.  It's hard to believe it's my last fall semester as an undergraduate.  I just hope I'll have some fall semesters as a graduate student.  I won't know for a few months, though.  I'm planning on finishing up the last 6 applications over break.  The applications themselves aren't so bad.  It's the application fees and ETS's score-reporting fees that are killing me.  Oh well, college students are supposed to be poor, right?

I feel like I've been on a rollercoaster this semester, both academically and emotionally.  There were several times I didn't think I'd make it.  Yet here I am.

We've already had several days of snow here, though nothing too deep.  I'm kinda sad I'll be going away from the snow on Thursday, but I'd much rather see Max & Sugar!  Plus, there are times when Indiana is a bit too far north for my liking.  At least in Kentucky no one makes fun of the way I talk! :)

So....Close....

There's a good chance I'll be pulling an all-nighter tonight.  And fall break starts tomorrow at 3:30.  Go figure.

But I'm more than ready for the break.  Life is good, but I'm super crazy busy.  I'll be doing work on my theses so it's not really a schoolwork break, but I'll at least be able to sleep.  And see my bunny and my puppy dog. :)