There's Always Money in the Banana Stand

New Nephew

2011-08-20T09:49:00.006-05:00

My handsome nephew Max Samuel Utley was born late last night to my brother Clay and his wife Heather. Here he is in all his cuteness.

Mom, dad, and baby are doing wonderfully. I can't wait to meet this little guy next month!

New House!

2011-08-13T22:54:00.011-05:00

I thought it was time for an update when we bought our first house! We officially moved in on August 2nd, and it's been a crazy but wonderful two weeks. Almost everything is unpacked and in its place. It'll probably take a while for everything to go up on the walls since I'm going back to work next week, but I'll just take it one room at a time. It's slowly beginning to feel like home. There's always that weird in-between period after you move in where it feels like "my new place" instead of "my home", but I'm getting there.

Living in my own home has been delightful. Everything is all yours, and you feel this sense of ownership that I never felt in any rent house or apartment. But, the house-buying process was lengthier and more stressful than I anticipated. When we initially told friends and family we were looking to buy a house, their response was almost the same: "Oh, buying a house is so much fun! You'll love the process." For us, that was halfway true. The exciting part is finding a wonderful house you love and can see yourself living in. Then, there's the other side to that coin. Finding that house is not nearly as easy as it appears on HGTV!

We visited about ten homes before we found ours, minus the daily and extensive house-hunting online. Once we decided that this house was the one for us, we stressed and prayed over whether we should put in an offer, and what our price ceiling would be. We decided to go for it and were delighted when we got the counter-offer we were hoping for. The house was ours about a month later.

All in all, it took us about four months to find a house. Our experience may not be the same as other people's, but I want to emphasize how important it is to wait for the right house. Toward the end of our house-hunt, we swore we'd never find the right place and would have to settle on a house we were only lukewarm about, or spend another year in limbo in our apartment. But in the end, the wait paid off. This may sound silly, but I truly believe it: finding a house is like dating; you have to be patient and wait for the right one, even if it takes longer than you thought.

Enough of my soapbox. Here's a little taste of our new place. The inside won't be photo-shoot ready for a while, but we're getting there. Enjoy!

Hiatus

2010-12-29T23:37:00.003-06:00

I'm back and blogging again. I decided to take a hiatus because I began to view blogging more as an obligation rather than as a fun way to share what's going on in my life. But I'm back, and here are some things that are on my mind as I close out 2010:

1. I'm totally in denial that Christmas break ends at the end of the week. Where have my two weeks gone? I relish having time off from a very stressful job; but the longer the break, the harder it is to go back to work. I'm beginning to miss my students, though, but I don't miss grading their papers.

2. Speaking of Christmas break, the time off has allowed me to start watching Veronica Mars. I was experiencing Dexter withdrawals after the season ended a few weeks ago, but now I have a new TV obsession.

3. Our three-year anniversary is today. We were planning on spending tonight downtown, but thanks to the Alamo Bowl practically every hotel on the river is booked. So, we're going to pretend that our anniversary is tomorrow and stay downtown on Thursday. It kind of makes me sad to think that we're officially out of the newlywed stage, but then I think about all of the wonderful blessings that come with many years of marriage and intimacy. I know it'll get even better.

What's On My Mind

2010-06-29T20:09:00.009-05:00

1. I finished my first book of the summer, John Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven. Not what I expected when I first picked it up, but a nuanced and thought-provoking read about the intersections of faith and violence. Book review pending.

2. Brendan and I leave for our Alaskan cruise in ten days. I'm excited to get out of town and have an adventure in a state I've never been to, and poor Brendan's just happy to have 1.5 weeks off work and a break from iPhone 4 madness.

3. All this summer free time has forced me to get creative in order to stave off boredom, so I've gotten into [read: obsessed with] the series Dexter. We have instant streaming with Netflix, making it way too easy to watch several episodes without realizing how long you've been staring at the TV. Although, I think I may have been watching a little too much lately: I think the main character was in my dream the other night.

4. We went to Schlitterbahn last Monday, which was super fun, but got dreadfully sunburned. As in, so sunburned that it hurts to sleep on your back or your side. Owch. Brendan got it worse than I did since I was more diligent with the sunscreen (but obviously not much more). I'm feeling much better now, but I have learned my lesson: re-apply!

5. This past weekend, we went to the Metroplex for wedding double-duty: my college friend (and fellow Fat Tuesday-er) Carolyn got married, and cousin Brittany had her bridal shower. It was a whirlwind weekend -- we left Saturday morning and returned Sunday night -- but I had such a wonderful time. It felt so good to be around some of my closest friends; some people just get you deep down. Those kinds of relationships are what make life worth living.

MIA

2010-05-20T20:14:00.004-05:00

I'm here, alive, and still blogging.

My dearth of updates can be blamed on the fact that SCHOOL IS OVER IN TWO WEEKS! I'm unbelievably glad that my first year of teaching is over, and that I'll never have one again. It's been a year of joys, tears, and learning experiences, but I survived and still want to come back in the fall; I count that as a little victory. Bring it on, second year.

So, here are my tentative plans for summer: sleep in, pleasure read, cousin's wedding, Alaska trip with Brendan. More to come as the school year winds down and summer arrives...

Vegas Fun

2010-04-12T20:16:00.016-05:00

Our Vegas trip was fun, but quick! We arrived Tuesday morning and left on Friday, which was just enough time to enjoy the city.

We stayed at the Belagio, which was gorgeous. I seriously could have lived in our hotel room. The one thing I never knew about visiting Vegas is that you walk and walk and walk, since visiting the other casinos on the Strip is half the fun. Thankfully, our hotel was centrally located (and fabulous). As far as gambling, I won a few dollars on the penny slots (I know, high roller!), only to lose it again. No worries, though; it's all part of the fun.

Outside the hotel

Inside the lobby
So cute, although I kind of felt like an ant.

As I mentioned in my last post, Vegas shows that aren't burlesque or washed-up oldies singer are hard to come by, but luckily we found ones that fall into neither category. We saw Jersey Boys and Cirque du Soleil: O, which were both fantastic. Jersey Boys told the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and I think we were the youngest patrons in the audience by about forty years. But, hey, the show won the Tony for best musical, so we're not losers! Or at least that's what I said to make myself feel better. Also, Cirque du Soleil: O was fascinating. The show is like a modern-day circus, with acrobats and tight-rope walking, but it was performed partly underwater with a retractable stage that allowed the actors to walk in ankle-deep water, or dive from heights of sixty-plus feet.

Speaking of burlesque shows... I was telling a friend about my trip to Vegas and lamenting the lack of non-naughty shows. He replied, "Oh, come on, everyone has to see a Vegas burlesque show at least once! You're so far away from the stage, you can't really see anything." Hmmm. I think he'll have to convince me of that one.

Partying Vegas-style

Enjoying our "gondola" ride inside the Venetian

Eating on the patio at Olive's

I had a wonderful time on the trip and look forward to going back. Vegas, you saucy minx, I hope to see you again soon.

Vegas

2010-03-14T14:32:00.020-05:00

Spring Break is finally here, and boy do I need it! Brendan and I are making the most of it this year by heading to Vegas. We fly out on Tuesday and get back on Friday, which is just enough time to enjoy the city without blowing all our money (just kidding!). We don't have a super-detailed itinerary, since neither of us have been before, but here's what's on the agenda:

We're staying here

The Bellagio

We're seeing these shows

Part of the show is underwater, and I've heard great things about it. But what I really want to know is, will there be a splash zone?

and

Jersey Boys is a broadway musical, and if you know anything about me, you know that I love musicals. The funny thing about Vegas shows is that they typically fall into two categories: washed-up oldies singers and burlesque. Happily, we found two shows that fall into neither category.

Finally, we're spending the weekend with this little doll for her first (!) birthday. She's such a joy, and I hate to admit that we spent an obscene amount on her birthday presents. But your niece only turns one once, right?

Hello Again, Abilene!

2010-02-19T19:35:00.006-06:00

We're heading to Abilene this weekend to attend Sing Song and to visit my cousin Brittany, who recently moved there. I'm really excited and am looking forward to seeing friends and family, visiting our old church, and spending time in a city that's close to my heart.

The trip back to Abilene will be bittersweet. We moved to San Antonio almost seven months ago, but it feels much longer; my life has changed so much since the move, and in many ways I feel like a different person. Living in San Antonio is great, though; I love my new job, being in a bigger city, and living close to family. However, a tiny piece of me will always miss Abilene because of those special college, grad school, and newlywed memories.

I miss those local, mom-and-pop places that big cities can't replicate, like McKay's and Cajun Cones. I miss spring-and-summertime walks with Brendan around the ACU jogging track. I miss my Highland family and a church who fit me perfectly. There were also a lot of reasons why I was ready to leave Abilene, but I sure do love the memories I made there and the people I left behind.

Number 27

2010-01-31T18:46:00.003-06:00

Brendan turns 27 today! This morning he said he was finally beginning to feel old, but I kindly reminded him that I will always be two years younger than him.

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!

I'm Alive

2010-01-25T20:54:00.004-06:00

Yes, it's been way too long since I've updated, but I'm still here. So many things have happened in the last month that they deserve a brief re-cap. So, my friends, take in a few weeks in the life of Erin, in no particular order.

1. I'm teaching To Kill a Mockingbird, my favorite book ever. Joy.
2. Brendan and I visited the niece in Fort Worth, and I can't believe how fast she's growing up. While there, I was sexually harassed by a five-year-old when we visited the children's museum; as I bent over he declared, "I can see your bottom!" Lovely child.
3. We celebrated our two-year anniversary at a bed-and-breakfast that's on the land of my grandparents' old ranch in Blanco County. Even though they don't live there anymore, it was wonderful to show Brendan a piece of my childhood.
4. Spring Break destination = Vegas! I've never been, and the trip should be the perfect mini-vacation. I could invoke an abundance of Vegas cliches right about now, but I'll spare you. See, I bet you're thinking of them already.
5. I'm officially halfway through the school year, so I count that milestone as a little victory.

Two Years

2009-12-29T15:15:00.009-06:00

Brendan and I celebrate two years of marriage today. Two years seems so short, but I feel as if we've always been married, always been together.

Our one-year anniversary couldn't come soon enough, and we looked forward to that first relationship milestone to celebrate our marriage. Now that year two is here, I don't have that "Yes! We made it!" feeling, but more of a warm contentedness and a desire to keep going. Instead of celebrating the event, I would rather rejoice in our relationship together.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T16:46:00.004-06:00

Due to the inevitable chaos that ensues when one is a first-year teacher, unfortunately my Christmas cards will be tardy this year. But fear not; they will be in the mail very shortly. So, here's a little something to tide you over. Happy Christmas!

My Little Niece

2009-12-06T15:00:00.010-06:00

Brendan and I spent Thanksgiving with his family in Sugar Land, and one of the trip's highlights was spending time with my little niece, Allison. She's eight months old, and every stage keeps getter more fun. Sure, she was cute when she was super tiny, but she didn't do very much, except sleep and stare at you. Now Allison is crawling and sitting up, which means she can finally play with toys! We already bought her Christmas presents, which was way too much fun.

Here are some highlights from our visit at Thanksgiving.

Giving the herkie. Perhaps she has a future in cheerleading.

Sweet, sleepy baby

How can you resists that face?!

Enjoying some playtime with Aunt Erin

Giving Thanks

2009-11-22T17:28:00.005-06:00

I have a full week off from school this week, so I'm (finally) enjoying being lazy and not doing anything. As much as I love my job, it can be very exhausting in many ways, so I'm looking forward to re-charging and enjoying some time with family.

We're traveling to Sugar Land on Wednesday to spend the holiday with Brendan's family. It's the first time for me to spend Thanksgiving with his side, which seems crazy since we've been married for almost two years. Being introduced to another family's holiday traditions and foods is always interesting, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the Vosses celebrate. Hopefully it will include the Cowboy game and a long post-lunch nap.

One more thing to be thankful for this time of year: my baby niece. I get to see her this week for the first time since July, and I cannot wait. Babies make everything better, and I can't wait to snuggle with her, or at least try to catch her as she's crawling madly across the room.

Go Spurs Go

2009-11-03T20:37:00.014-06:00

Note: I've made a resolution to blog more. Balancing life with this whole first-year-of-teaching deal has been interesting, but trust that you'll find copious blog updates in the future.

I've been a Spurs fan as long as I can remember. Actually, anyone who has lived in San Antonio for any length of time can probably claim fandom; since the Spurs are the only professional sports team in this area, we townies tend to be rabid supporters. So when Brendan and I found out that we were moving to San Antonio, one of my first thoughts was, "Yes! Live Spurs games!" We attended our first game on Wednesday, which was the season opener against the Hornets -- and we crushed them. The game was wonderful, and I look forward to many more in the future. And I just may coax Brendan, a long-time Rockets fan, over to the dark side.

Everyday is Spurs Day at my house.

No Spurs game is complete without cotton candy.

How appropriate

Kicking some Hornets tail

The first of many Spurs games together

Happy Days

2009-10-17T18:09:00.003-05:00

Five reasons to be happy this week:

1. Fall(ish) weather, which qualifies as anything cooler than 90 degrees.
2. The return of 30 Rock.
3. I'm beginning to hit my stride at school.
4. It's candy corn/mellowcreme pumpkin season.
5. I can see the new Spurs season on the horizon.

Downtown

2009-09-26T19:27:00.017-05:00

Brendan and I ventured downtown on Saturday to enjoy some cheesy tourist fun. It had been quite a while since I'd been there. Even when I was growing up, trips to the touristy parts of downtown were rare and usually were reserved for visitors and out-of-town guests; tourist attractions are never as appealing to the townies.

I had a wonderful time going back with Brendan. We visited the Alamo and the Riverwalk, and ate dinner at the best restaurant on the River.

We remembered the Alamo.

My 'coon-skin cap

On our River Cruise, the guide informed us that the top three reasons people fall into the San Antonio River are: drunkenness, horseplay, and texting.

We finished off the evening with a delicious dinner at Paesanos.

Musings

2009-09-25T18:03:00.006-05:00

- The show The Wire is fantastic. Brendan and I rented the first season this week, and I can't stop watching. Imagine an episode of Law and Order played out over an entire season; you really get to know the cops and the criminals. It's a thinking person's crime show.

- Continuing the television theme, Glee is my newest addiction. The musical numbers make me giddy, and it reminds me of my high school choir days.

- My newest book is Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven. He also wrote Into the Wild and Into Thin Air (two incredible books), and I'm a little obsessed with his writing. I can't start reading it just yet because of schoolwork, but it's sitting on my nightstand calling my name.

- Living in a city that has a Banana Republic and a J. Crew makes my heart happy.

I've Defected

2009-09-10T20:27:00.004-05:00

I've officially joined the Dark Side: I bought a Mac. And I love it.

After a long and dutiful life, my old desktop PC from undergrad finally died last week. Needing a computer for teacher-y things, I gave in and bought a MacBook over which I had been lusting. Best. Decision. Ever. It's faster, prettier, and just plain better than my old clunker. Plus, I love being able to input grades while sitting on the couch watching television.

In other news, life is going pretty well, too. It's strange to think that I'm part of the working world, but the paychecks sure are nice. However, I haven't gotten used to the early mornings just yet. Six a.m. always comes way too soon; I think there should be a law against having to wake up before dawn. Thank goodness for Saturdays, though.

The Big Day

2009-08-23T20:17:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I start my first official day as a teacher. Yikes! I feel ready, but we'll see how it goes tomorrow morning. I just keep telling myself that after tomorrow, I'll never have another first day of teaching. That's a happy thought.

Back to Work

2009-08-13T19:15:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm officially a working woman. Yesterday was my first workday, and, let me tell you, it's exhausting. I know I'll eventually get used to waking up before the sun, but right now 6:30 a.m. comes way too early. I keep thinking to myself, "How did I ever do this during student teaching?" I'm missing those lazy, responsibility-free days of summer, when the most I had to accomplish was getting out of bed before 10:00 a.m., and watching CSI. However, the new paychecks will certainly be nice.

This will probably be my last update about work, since I feel kind of weird blogging about teaching and school. But you can always ask me about it in person!

An Abundance of Meh

2009-08-08T09:00:00.021-05:00

I hate finishing a book that you never really liked in the first place; it has that dissatisfying feeling of staying in a relationship that you know isn't going anywhere, but you're too lazy to break it off. Such was my experiene with my latest read. I just finished John Green's YA lit book An Abundance of Katherines, and I was sufficiently underwhelmed. I originally read it because I fell in love with Green's haunting, heartbreaking first novel Looking for Alaska, a book that I still think about (which is always the mark of a fantastic story). However, a formulaic plot (a coming-of-age summer roadtrip, where we learn of love and identity) coupled with a trite message (Gee, I am in charge of my own future! I'm not defined by my past or my former self!) make for an average read.

The book tells the story of recent high school graduate Colin Singleton, a former child prodigy and wannabe genius, who has been dumped by girls named Katherine exactly nineteen times. Nursing his latest Katherine-related broken heart, he and best friend Hassan embark on a summer roadtrip, the outcomes of which the reader can easily predict from early on in the story. As expected, Colin learns to love a girl whose name is not Katherine, and he recognizes that life and his own future are unpredictable.

Despite the book's formulaic plotline and tired themes, Green excels at building interesting, complex characters, and one of the book's bright spots is main character Colin. Colin's vast intellect results in a general misunderstanding of social cues and human conversation; Hassan frequently chides him for bringing up uninteresting topics, like Austro-Hungarian archdukes, in social situations. At one point in the story, Hassan makes a grammatical error in conversation, and, not wanting to bring up a topic which regular people find boring, Colin internally corrects the grammar mistake: "Stolen something, Colin wanted to say. But grammar isn't interesting." Oh, Colin, I empathize with you. While grammar is infinitely interesting to me, and I could have a lengthy discussion about it with you, I must repress those urges in everyday conversation so as not to look like a complete nerd. All readers will find some of their personal neuroses, academic or otherwise, mirrored in Colin.

Much like romantic comedies, YA lit is always about the same thing, those familiar feelings and experiences of adolescence, making it very easy to screw up. At its best it grabs hold of a worn idea, or premise, or character, and transforms those familiar tropes into something new and fresh and magical that touches all readers; at its worst it feels predictable and gimmicky, using teen drama to disguise poor writing and a trite story (can you hear me, Stephanie Meyer?). And while its story may appeal to young adults, overall An Abundance of Katherines does not stand on its own outside the genre.

One word: meh. Just read Looking for Alaska.

New City, New Apartment

2009-07-31T23:12:00.042-05:00

I've lived in the apartment for one week now, and I can officially say that we're all moved in. Art and curtains are hung on the walls, everything is organized, and it feels a little more like home everyday. So, enjoy a tour of my new place... and prepare yourself for copious amounts of pictures.

This is the view from the front door into the living room (and a bit of the dining room). Luckily, all of the furniture fits nicely, albeit snugly, into the new space.

More living room, as viewed from the dining room. Sadly, the lovely fireplace had to be covered up by the television. But what I want to know is, who needs a fireplace in San Antonio?

Here's the dining room. Happily, I finally have enough space to put all four chairs around the table. Yesss.

Next, take a gander at the kitchen, which happens to be an amazing space. Why, you ask? It contains a dishwasher, endless counter and cabinet space, a pantry, a working stove... the list could go on and on. Basically, it's head and shoulders above my old duplex kitchen.

We have some adorable built-in book shelves between the kitchen and dining room, the perfect place for narcissistically displaying all of those wedding photos! (Jk, people.)

Another perk of this apartment is the second bathroom. The days of "calling" the bathroom after coming home from a road trip are history.

The lovely guest room

Our bathroom (which was hard to get a good picture of).

And finally, our bedroom. The curtains are my favorite.

So, now that you've seen the apartment, you know you want to come visit me!

Settling In

2009-07-27T13:06:00.011-05:00

Today marks my third full day in the apartment, and things are finally beginning to settle down. All of the boxes are unpacked, and I've been gradually putting everything where it belongs, hanging art and curtains, and generally making the place feel like home. Right now it still feels like a placeholder residence, as if my stay in this apartment is only temporary and I'm supposed to head back to Abilene in a few days.

Even though I'm very excited about this new chapter in my life, I do miss Abilene, but mostly because of the friends I left behind. It's weird (and a little sad) to think that life there will go on without me, that the people I love will have new experiences and make new memories, and that my church will change and grow, without me. However, change is part of the progression of life, and leaving Abilene was the right thing to do. But right now, I'm very ready for San Antonio to start feeling like home.

Almost Home

2009-07-23T10:44:00.005-05:00

Well, it's finally come to this: my last full day in Abilene. And let me tell you, I am so ready to get this move started. We pick up the moving van this afternoon, load it tonight, and head out tomorrow morning. San Antone, here I come.

Waxing Nostalgic

2009-07-20T17:08:00.006-05:00

Moving Day is scheduled for Friday, so all I seem to think (or talk or dream) about these days is bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, and moving vans, as evidenced by my last five or so blog posts. All of this packing has got me nostalgic about my little duplex, and even though we're upgrading to a larger and nicer apartment, I'll very much miss the place I currently call home. So, please indulge me as I recount some of my fondest memories of 1740 Lincoln:

1. Senior year dinners with Fat Tuesday around the white Ikea coffee table

2. Brendan saying "I love you" for the first time on the front porch

3. Living with Smay, the best roommie a girl could ask for

4. Arriving home from our honeymoon to our first home as a married couple

Our homes are often tangible reminders of our life experiences, built around the memories we made while we resided in them. And as ugly as my duplex is, as excited as I am for a newer and nicer place, it will always remain special to me because of the life I lived there.

Can I Be Your Friend??

2009-07-15T23:56:00.007-05:00

I recently finished reading Sarah Vowell's non-fiction book Assassination Vacation, and I'm experiencing book withdrawals. Well, more like author withdrawals. In the text, Vowell explores the lives and deaths of the first three assassinated presidents (Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley), and recounts her travels visiting the locations touched by those assassinations. While the book sounds dark and morbid (and at times it is), it's equal parts travelogue, history lesson, and humorous musings. And while it was a delightful as well as fascinating read, I very much miss Vowell's enchanting style and tone.

The text is written in first-person, and Vowell frequently offers her personal experiences and anecdotes, so her personality seeps through onto the page. So, after reading the book, I feel like I got to know her pretty well (or at least her carefully crafted literary persona... but we'll save that discussion for another day). And now... I want to be her friend. She sounds so awesome! Vowell deftly blends history and modern-day, weaves the intellectual with the mundane, and makes the arcane seem relevant, while offering an insightful yet humorous take on life and politics. Plus, she's freakin' hilarious. Who wouldn't want a friend like her?

Of course, the real Sarah Vowell may be nothing like the one on the page. But lucky for me, two of her books are on my reading list, so I have much more to look forward to.

You know you want to read it.

Our House Is a Very Sad-Looking House

2009-07-12T18:07:00.027-05:00

I've made a lot of moving-related progress in the past week. My mom and grandmother arrived last Sunday to help us begin packing, and now my entire kitchen and most of my bathroom are neatly packed in brown boxes, labeled things like "Silverware" and "Bath Towels." My house (or rather, the collection of possessions which make it my house) is slowly evaporating. All of the art, curtains, and decor is also packed, leaving behind only the most basic of living essentials. As a result, the place looks rather glum; you never realize what a cheery difference the little things make until they're gone. The rest will all be packed in about ten days, when we leave our little duplex for good.

Being in my house kind of depresses me now; most of the small touches that made it my home -- like honeymoon pictures, red candles, and green valances -- are packed away, leaving only stark, white walls and empty cabinets, so that it feels like a placeholder residence. I wish I could fast-forward my life to a couple of weeks from now to our new, fully-decorated apartment, and that warm feeling of home.

Take a gander at our growing collection of packed boxes.

The ones marked "Erin's Books" are my favorites. :)

Just Doing Their Civic Duty

2009-07-02T20:52:00.023-05:00

(Apologies for all the recent moving-related posts; it's just been on my mind lately.)

Moving day is quickly approaching, so Brendan and I are attempting to slowly gather all the essentials needed for the big day. My mom and grandmother are coming to town on Sunday to help us begin the slow, arduous task of packing, so boxes are the first item on the list. We've been on the hunt for them lately, but it's easy to put that type of thing on the back burner. Well, we happened upon a fortuitous find this evening.

I had heard that Pinkie's, the local liquor store, offered free boxes. My freshman year roommate had hit them up before moving out of the dorm; most of her boxes were (humorously) labeled "Jack Daniels" or "Grey Goose Vodka." However, I wasn't sure if they still offered free boxes, or if they gave them out at all, but we ventured there this evening, hoping to get lucky. Once inside, I hesitantly asked the clerk if they had any extra boxes that we could use, not wanting to be a bother. He kindly led us to the stock room, where we had our pick of their superfluous shipping boxes. All in all, we ended up with about a dozen of them, which is wonderful. I also take (juvenile) pleasure in the fact that our moving boxes say "Beringer Wine" and "Tito's Handmade Vodka."

I'd like to meet this Tito.

It's too bad that the boxes weren't accompanied by the
corresponding liquor. (Jk, people.)

So, thanks, Pinkie's, for generously supplying us with moving boxes, and myriad jokes about their labels.

San Antonio-Bound

2009-06-26T19:18:00.010-05:00

This week has been both relaxing and stressful, restful and chaotic. But, it's been a very good week.

I drove down to San Antonio on Monday because I needed a break from the boredom that is Abilene, and I wanted to help out my parents with a garage sale they're having tomorrow (and make a little money in the process). Brendan had two days off from work in a row, so he came down to visit on Wednesday and Thursday. We'd been waiting (not so patiently) to hear whether or not his transfer at work had been approved, and we were basically in moving limbo until we knew where in town he would be working. Happily, he got the call on Thursday morning that he would be working at a store about 20 minutes away from the school I'll be teaching at, which is an ideal location.

Since Brendan was driving home that afternoon, and his start date was set for July 26, we had to find an apartment as quickly as possible. So, we spent the morning frantically calling apartment locaters and searching for a location that would be convenient for both of us. Around mid-afternoon, we found the perfect place; it's practically equidistant from my school and his store. Even though we weren't able to do our research and take our time, I feel really good about our new place; it just feels right. And if you've seen our current duplex, it feels like a palace in comparison; we'll actually have a dishwasher!

God is good, and He answers prayers; it was so fortuitous that Brendan received the news about his transfer when he was in San Antonio, and that we were able to sign a lease for a great place so quickly. Everything is finally coming together.

Away We Go

2009-06-18T13:47:00.003-05:00

Well, it's official: I have a job! A few hours after my interview on Monday, the principle called and offered me a job teaching Sophomore English. I didn't expect any job offers this soon, but when he offered me the position I didn't feel like I could turn it down in this job market. So San Antonio, here we come.

As thrilled as I am to have a job, and to know where we'll be living, it feels kind of weird to be moving back home; we never planned on moving to San Antonio, and I certainly never thought I'd be teaching at my old high school. But that's the way the cards fell, and sometimes wonderful blessings can arise out of something unexpected.

Next on the agenda: getting Brendan a transfer to a store in San Antonio. I'm hoping he gets one very soon, in part because we can't technically do any planning/moving until he has a job. I can't wait to start apartment hunting!

Home, Sweet Abilene

2009-06-10T12:25:00.005-05:00

Brendan and I returned from D.C. on Sunday evening, which marks the official end to the Super-Vacation. I had a great time, and I'll post about that trip very soon. But, the most exciting news of the week is...

I have a job interview at my old high school on Monday. I had been (and still am) a little antsy about not hearing anything from school districts, so I decided to e-mail my cover letter to a couple of principals from my old school district. I figured that I wouldn't hear anything back from them, or at the very most receive a "thanks, but no thanks" reply, but it was worth a shot. Surprisingly, one of them responded that he'd like to interview me. I guess the lesson to be learned is, never underestimate the power of pestering the person who has the ability to hire you.

I'm not crazy about moving back to San Antonio because I'd rather move somewhere new and have an adventure, but I certainly won't turn down anything; in this economy, I just want a job. So, if you feel like it, please send happy thoughts and prayers my way on Monday morning.

Catching My Breath

2009-05-29T20:35:00.003-05:00

Brendan and I arrived back in town late, late last night from our wonderful trip to Washington State to visit Clay and Heather. I had so much fun, and updates from that trip will be posted soon. I'm so glad to be home and sleep in my own bed, but we're leaving again tomorrow evening for our vacation to D.C. Craziness.

One totally awesome thing about our trip to D.C.: we're getting a tour of the White House! Brendan e-mailed our senator around Christmastime to see if we could book tours of some of the more exclusive spots in D.C., like the Supreme Court and the Bureau of Engraving (where the government prints the money). I knew that we wouldn't find out if we got the tours until a few weeks before our trip, but when we didn't hear anything by late May I assumed that we didn't get them. Lo and behold, last week we got an e-mail from our senator saying that we were signed up for every tour we requested. I'm beyond excited, especially to see the White House.

Noooo!

2009-05-20T21:31:00.006-05:00

America got it wrong on American Idol tonight. It should have been Adam. Grrr.

Trying to cheer me up after the show, Brendan said: "Well, even though Adam didn't win, Barack Obama still won the presidency. That should make you happy."

Very true, and I'd obviously pick Obama if I had to choose between him winning the presidency and Adam winning American Idol. But Adam so deserved to win over Jason-Mraz-lite.

Super-Vacation

2009-05-18T20:53:00.010-05:00

My summer officially began on Tuesday when I turned in my English 107 grades, which was a wonderful moment for so many reasons. I've been delightfully lazy for the past week, sleeping in, watching numerous backlogged episodes of CSI on DVR, and reading copiously. My laziness won't last long, though: we're about to embark upon our super-vacation.

Brendan and I will be gone for the next two weeks visiting my brother and his wife in Washington State, and then vacationing in D.C. Since our trip is so lengthy, and we'll be hitting up both Washingtons, I've dubbed it the super-vacation. We are flying to Washington on Sunday and will arrive back in town on Thursday, and then we head to D.C. on Monday and return on Saturday. (Whew. It makes me a little exhausted, but excited, just thinking about our crazy itinerary.) We didn't plan our trips to be back-to-back, but that's the way Brendan's work schedule fell.

I'm really excited about both trips, and they'll be special for different reasons; I can't wait to see Heather and Clay, and the trip to D.C. will be our very first married vacation. Washingtons, here we come.

Graduation Celebration

2009-05-12T16:56:00.022-05:00

I graduated from grad school on Saturday, the thought of which is still a little surreal for me. It was a crazy, chaotic weekend with all of my family in town, but I had a great time. My parents and grandmother drove in on Friday night, and it was nice to get some alone-time with them. The next day, Brendan's parents, my uncle, and my other grandmother arrived in time for my graduation ceremony. It wasn't very hot that day (of which I'm thankful, because polyester robes don't exactly breathe very well), so I was able to hang out in the mall area with the M.A. grads and some English professors. My whole family ate at the Home Place that night, and the food was delicious as usual. Overall it was a great weekend, and I'm glad that so many people I love could be there.

It still hasn't sunk in that I'm finished with grad school. I'm sure it will soon, but for the mean time I keep thinking that there's something I need to be doing; I'm not used to having free time. The first thing on my summer to-do list: read Neil Gaiman's YA lit book Coraline. Everyone I've spoken to who's read it says it's downright terrifying, so I'm looking forward to starting it. I'll be able to do a whole lot of pleasure reading thus summer since I won't have a job, so I've already started a summer reading list (which makes my heart happy).

Here are a few pictures of graduation day. Some of them are a little washed out, but you'll get the gist.

The four of us started our Master's at the same time.
I'm going to miss these wonderful women

Me with Dr. Carroll, who was my Comps chair.
I want to be like her when I grow up.

The four M.A. graduates with the some of the English profs.

Brendan, me, and my folks

Transitions

2009-05-06T21:30:00.005-05:00

I graduate from grad school on Saturday, which is CRAZY! It feels so surreal that this moment is finally here. I can't relax just yet, though, because I have to finish a take-home final and a paper, and grade a set of finals before my summer officially begins. No worries, though; it'll all get done. Also, pretty much my whole extended family is coming up for my graduation, which I'm really excited about. However, if you know my family, you know it'll be one loud, chaotic weekend.

I'm kind of in limbo on the job front, but that's to be expected. I know that school districts don't officially start the hiring process until the tail end of the school year, but I'd just like to know where I'm going to live and work. Because the job situation is up in the air, this will be the first summer since high school that I won't have a summer job. I'm looking forward to no responsibilities and sleeping in, but, knowing me, I'll probably get bored pretty quickly. But, it'll give me some time to catch up on my pleasure reading and visit some friends and family here and there.

Part of Your World (Grad Student Remix)

2009-04-26T12:03:00.008-05:00

I share a tiny office with three other English graduate assistants, and the other day I noticed this little gem on the desktop of our communal office computer. I couldn't stop laughing because it perfectly captures the grad school experience.

I couldn't get the resolution any higher, so make sure to click on the picture. And sing it to the tune of "Part of Your World."

Hippity Hoppity

2009-04-11T15:47:00.011-05:00

Sorry about the lame title; I wanted to come up with something Easter-y, but that was the closest I got.

Brendan and I are driving to Fort Worth tomorrow to spend Easter Sunday with his family. We couldn't leave town earlier because Brendan has to work today, so we're heading out early tomorrow morning instead and meeting everyone for the late service. I also get to see Baby Allison for the first time since she was born, so I'm really excited about that. I'm sure she's grown a lot.

Words cannot express how happy and relieved I am that Comps is over; I feel like I have my life back. For the past three months, I couldn't do just about anything without thinking about the Comps homework I was putting off. Now I can read for fun, watch TV, or just be lazy without worrying about all the work I'll have to do later. I only have homework for two classes now that Comps is finished, so the rest of the school year will be a breeze. I've also had the last few days off from school, so I've been intentionally lazy; it's been downright wonderful.

Now I can finally start looking forward to graduation next month. For the longest time, I didn't want to get excited about graduation because Comps was all I could think about, and I didn't want to jinx Comps by looking ahead to graduation. (I know, I'm weird like that.) So, now I can finally count down to the date in about a month when I get my Master's Degree. (!)

I Passed!!!

2009-04-08T15:27:00.002-05:00

I can breath a little easier because this afternoon I PASSED COMPS! I'm so proud of myself!

DONE!

2009-04-05T22:14:00.004-05:00

I finished writing my written exams for Comps this evening, and I feel like an elephant has been lifted off of my shoulders. When I finally finished revising my essays, I ran through the house like a madwoman, screaming, "I'm dooooooone!" I just hope our neighbors with whom we share a wall don't think they have a crazy woman living next door.

Comps as a whole isn't quite over yet, though. I have my oral defense on Wednesday afternoon, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. The hard part's over (finally!), and I'm looking forward to some well-deserved relaxation.

Please, Let It Be Monday at Noon

2009-04-04T12:48:00.002-05:00

Comps is officially here, and I want to magically fast-forward my life to Monday afternoon so that I can turn in my essays. I'm not really worried about my oral defense on Wednesday; I just want to stop writing papers. I even dreamed about writing essays last night.

I'm beginning to think that Comps is just one big hazing-esque initiation that I have to go through before I can get my degree.

Let the Countdown Begin

2009-03-30T15:35:00.002-05:00

I take my Comprehensive Exams this weekend, which means that in about four days I'll be writing non-stop until Monday morning.

Even though the experience is stressful, I feel ready. My Chair has really prepared me for my exams (which is a nice way of saying that she's given me a TON of work), so I kind of view Comps as one more (inconvenient) hurdle to clear before I can get my diploma.

Allison Elizabeth

2009-03-25T21:40:00.006-05:00

I had so much fun seeing Allison last week. I miss her so much, even though I've only met her once. Here are some highlights from our visit.

She's so tiny! She didn't do very much, except sleep.

She's already sticking her toungue out at me.

Here she is with Uncle Brendan, or, as I like to jokingly call him, Fun-cle Brendan

Sweet baby girl

Maybe That's Why You Struggle with Critical Thinking

2009-03-21T18:09:00.010-05:00

I didn't teach class on Wednesday because Brendan and I went to Fort Worth for the day to visit baby Allison. I sent my class an e-mail on Tuesday night saying that someone else would teach class on Wednesday because my sister-in-law had a baby and I was going out of town to visit her.

I had this conversation with a student in class when I returned on Friday:

Student: I'm glad you're back. Hey, did you have a baby while you were gone?

Me: Um, no. My sister-in-law had a baby, and that's why I was gone on Wednesday.

Student: Oh. Sorry. I guess I didn't read the e-mail closely.

Me: Guess not.

Keep in mind that this is a college student who's had class with me for three days a week since January. Now I know why he has trouble turning in his homework on time.

She's Here!

2009-03-17T20:35:00.005-05:00

Allison Elizabeth Brackett made her debut this evening! Brendan and I are driving to Fort Worth to see her tomorrow morning. I still can't believe she's finally here!

The baby shares her birthday with my brother, so I'll never have trouble remembering their birthdays!

Baby Brackett Is Coming SOON!

2009-03-16T21:34:00.004-05:00

Tonight, Brendan and I got a call from his parents saying that Baby Girl Brackett will arrive either tomorrow or on Wednesday! Natalie has been in the hospital with high blood pressure since yesterday, so she's scheduled to be induced tomorrow morning. If for some reason the baby still doesn't come, they'll perform a C-section on Wednesday. Either way, I'm going to be an aunt very, very soon! The baby wasn't expected to arrive for another two weeks, so it's a wonderful surprise that she's coming early, although I wish her arrival had been under less-stressful circumstances.

If you feel like it, please send happy thoughts and prayers Natalie's way so that she has a safe delivery and a healthy baby girl.

Springy Break

2009-03-08T21:40:00.004-05:00

Around this time last year, Brendan and I embarked on the infamous Family Mooch Week. This year's Spring Break, however, will be decidedly less exciting. Brendan is working during the entire week, so it'll be just little ol' me around the house for most of the break. My parents are coming up tomorrow and staying for a couple of days, though, so it'll be good to see them and to have something to break up the week.

Even though it would be nice to go somewhere exciting (or, to just go anywhere) during Spring Break, I'm really fine with staying in town. I have loads of Comps homework, so it's not like I'll be laying around the house watching CSI in my pajamas all day, although that does sound kind of lovely. Comps is right around the corner, and staying on top of my assigned readings is the only way I can keep my sanity. So while it would be nice to leave town for a week with my hubby, I'd probably have a massive homework-induced freak-out when we returned. And no one wants that.

Brackett Baby Shower

2009-03-01T18:49:00.007-06:00

On Saturday, I trekked to Fort Worth for the day for Natalie's (and Baby Girl Brackett's) baby shower. The shower was gorgeous, and Natalie made out like a bandit with all kinds of cute baby gear. Natalie officially has a beautiful "pregnant" belly, and it feels surreal (and exciting!) to know that I'll have a tiny niece in about a month. I've officially decided to let the little one call me whatever she wants, instead of me choosing an "aunt" name. The baby is due the same weekend as my Comps written exams, so we're planning on visiting her after I have my oral defense the next week. What a wondeful way to celebrate the end of Comps - seeing my beautiful neice for the first time!

Since Natalie is older than I am, I was the youngest guest at the shower. Being around lots of women at the party who already have children, or those who don't yet have them but want them, was an odd experience. After the shower, I came to the realization that I am so not ready for a family at this point in my life. I think it's a life-stage thing. I'm ecstatic to have a niece next month, and I'm more than willing to love on, cuddle with, and play with other people's babies, but I'm not quite ready for my own. I figure I'll know when the time is right, but right now I get kind of freaked out when I think about having a tiny person to take care of. I'm just going to enjoy being with my husband and starting my first job for now.

I hope writing this post hasn't jinxed me in the baby-making department...

D.C.

2009-02-26T12:11:00.003-06:00

Brendan and I are taking our first married vacation this summer to Washington D.C. This vacation has been a long time coming; we intended to take one last summer, but because of work schedules and other summer craziness we never got around to it. We're flying out the week after I graduate, so it's a combination graduation celebration/vacation. What a wonderful way to celebrate finishing two tough years of grad school. I went to D.C. with my family when I was in high school, but it will be nice to view the city with fresh (and more mature) eyes, and to experience it with Brendan.

My Crazy, Book-Filled Life

2009-02-17T18:14:00.014-06:00

I've been a delinquent blogger lately because my life currently consists of the following three activities: school, Brendan, and sleep. Most of the time, I'm reading. If I'm not reading, I'm hanging out with Brendan. If I'm not doing either one, I'm probably sleeping. (I must admit, though, in undergrad I was usually one of those semi-committed students for whom sleep almost always trumped homework. But I've learned my lesson in grad school.)

I live a crazy, school-filled life at the moment, but I actually don't hate it like I thought I might. (That realization probably means I was destined to be an English major.) My Comps reading load is insane and sometimes overwhelming, combined with being a student in two classes and a teacher in another. But it's not so bad. I love my Comps topic -- gender performance and the construction of gender -- and enjoy reading about it. I like my classes (they're all Comp/Rhet this semester... yay!). And while teaching 107 is challenging in many ways, the class is fun and will be a great learning experience. Basically, I'm a nerd; but I don't mind.

Brendan and I celebrated our second married Valentine's Day on Saturday with dinner at Cypress Street Station, which has become one of my favorite "date" locations. It's a local restaurant (with steak to die for), and I'll really miss it when we move. The reality of leaving Abilene is beginning to hit hard. For most of my time at ACU, I've been itching to get out of Dodge; I couldn't wait to leave this small, provincial town behind. Now, I'm realizing all the things I'll miss: the entire ACU English department, professors and students included; Cajun Cones; and the easy pace of a friendly town, among others. I've been ready to move on for so long, ready to move to a bigger city with bigger opportunities; but leaving this small, West Texas town will be bittersweet.

Valentine's dinner

Brrr!

2009-01-27T09:05:00.010-06:00

Thank, you icy weather! You canceled classes today! Although you have made my house freezing cold...

ACU canceled classes today because of the icky, icy weather outside. It's kind of a moot point for me, though, since I don't have classes on Tuesday/Thursday anyway. But my two meetings were canceled, so that's a good thing! And I also don't feel guilty about hanging around the house in my pajamas. But seriously, couldn't the cold weather have picked a Monday, Wendesday, or Friday to ice over? That would have been awesome.

ACU is notoriously bad about communicating to students when classes are canceled due to bad weather; they just can't make up their mind. One year I kept checking my e-mail right up until I left for my 9:30 class, waiting for news of a cancellation and hoping I wouldn't have to drive on the ice. I finally gave up and drove to school, and as I was walking to class I ran into a professor who asked me why I was on campus, since classes were canceled. It turns out the administration closed the school at 9:28 or something. Smart.

I really do love the cold weather, though. I always get a little excited when the weather gets cold enough to wear my heavy coat, thick sweaters, gloves, and scarf. I suppose it stems from growing up in San Antonio, where the weather never, ever gets cold; you can wear flip-flops every day of the year and be just fine. During my first semester of college, I remember thinking how bizarre it was that I had to buy a coat and closed-toed shoes to wear during the winter. I'd probably go crazy if I lived somewhere really cold where it stays cold, but right now I'm enjoying this chilly Abilene weather.

Back to School

2009-01-15T16:37:00.011-06:00

This week has been pretty eventful; I started back to school on Monday and taught my first 107 class. Teaching 107 is fairly similar to teaching 111, and for that I'm thankful. I use a very similar syllabus, so I can re-use the successful activities from last semester and weed out the ones that just didn't work. I'm also a lot more confident this time around. I know how to teach freshmen, and I feel like I'm a better teacher that I was a semester ago. Even though beginning a new teaching job in the fall will be stressful, my 111 and 107 classes have equipped me with confidence and valuable experience.

While teaching is going well, I have one huge obstacle to tackle this semester: COMPS! I finally narrowed down my topic and have the makings of my booklist, which I'm very excited about. I met with my committee chair this morning, and I showed her my current bibliography of nine texts, thinking she'd congratulate me on having such an extensive list. She said, "Everything looks good, but it needs to be about twice as long." Yikes! That's a lot to read. Comps will be an interesting journey, but I know it will be rewarding in the end (or at least that's what I tell myself).

A sampling of my Comps texts
Can you guess my topic? :)

Brendan and I are headed to San Antonio on Friday for a three-day weekend. He usually isn't able to come home with me on the weekends since he works Saturdays, but he's off this weekend. I'm so excited we can spend the weekend together. It'll be good to see my family and spend some of those Christmas gift cards that have been burning up in my wallet!

Looking to the Future

2009-01-08T17:25:00.004-06:00

My last (!) semester of grad school begins on Monday, which officially kick-starts the beginning of the end. This semester I have to complete two classes, pass Comps, and teach an English 107 class, and I'll be home free. I'm so proud of myself and my achievements in grad school, and I look forward to the days when my semesters will no longer be punctuated by twenty-page papers. Graduation is looming on the horizon, and despite the feelings of joy and relief, it brings one horribly frightful thought: I have to get a real teaching job!

I don't know where that job will be located or when it will be offered to me. I'm such a planner and certainly not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of person, so not knowing anything about my future can be pretty disconcerting. I'm probably being more dramatic about this than I need to be, but transitioning from college to career is pretty intimidating. I've got a couple of months before the job hunt officially begins, and I'm really ready for the future to start.

365 Days

2008-12-29T08:52:00.013-06:00

Brendan and I celebrate our one-year anniversary today, which is surreal. I can't believe it's been a year. My life before I married Brendan seems a million miles away, but it still feels like we haven't been married that long. Exactly one year ago, I was sitting in the hair salon getting my hair and make-up done with my bridesmaids, so ready to get to the church to see Brendan. The next morning, we flew to Disney World for a fantastic honeymoon. Brendan and I were talking the other day about our plans for New Year's Eve this year, and we agreed that nothing we'd do would be as exciting as New Year's Eve last year.

I'll probably be way too sentimental today, but I don't care. While it feels good to be sentimental about events like your wedding, I know it's not everything. It's so tempting to hold every memory of our marriage up to our wedding day to see how they compare. While one needs to cherish those special events, it's important to look to the future and make more memories, which is what I look forward to doing year after year.

DONE!

2008-12-16T09:08:00.004-06:00

I finished my second-to-last semester of grad school, and that's a wonderful feeling! I turned in my 111 grades yesterday afternoon, and now I'm home free; I'm still riding that end-of-the-semester, everything's-turned-in high. I still have to work on schoolwork over the break, though. I need to compile my booklist for Comps and start reading so I can be ahead of my reading schedule when the spring semester begins.

Since Brendan is working right up until Christmas Eve, and I'll run out of things to do pretty quickly in Abilene, I'm making a short trip to San Antonio on Thursday and coming back on Monday. Leaving Brendan for four days won't be fun, but it'll be good to see my parents and take care of some last minute Christmas shopping at a real mall.

Home for the Holidays

2008-12-11T13:54:00.011-06:00

Ta-da!

Here's a picture of our first-ever Christmas tree! The ornaments are a little sparse, but that's because I'm too cheap to buy any new ones. I figure we'll collect more ornaments over the years, which will make decorating the tree even more special.

I know my updates have been sporadic lately, but end-of-semester papers have currently taken over my life. I think I can hear an evil laugh from them in the background somewhere... Thankfully everything will be finished and turned in very soon, and I can finally enjoy a well-deserved rest.

We'll be in Abilene for most of my break from school (except for two quick trips to Sugar Land and San Antonio to have Christmas with family), since Brendan's work has mandatory black-out days for the holidays (lasting from Thanksgiving to New Year's) where no one can use their vacation time or take off. Don't feel sorry for me, though. While Brendan's at work I plan on sleeping in, watching copious amounts of CSI, and finally reading books that I chose to read. Ahhhh. I also intend to visit some out-of-town friends, and hang out with my parents in San Antonio for a few days.

Let the countdown begin!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

2008-11-26T12:15:00.011-06:00

Brendan and I bought our first Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago, and it's standing proudly and beautifully -- albeit shortly, since it's only four feet tall -- in the corner of our little duplex. Its only adornments are a tiny, red tree skirt, a silver star tree topper, and one little ornament that's currently situated right in the middle. The tree's current dearth of ornaments has occurred because I'm too cheap to buy any new ones. My parents are giving me my childhood ornaments from their tree when we see them over Thanksgiving, though, so the lone ornament will soon have some friends.

The tree's singular ornament is one Brendan and I brought home from our honeymoon almost a year ago. We wanted to buy a Christmas ornament to remember our honeymoon by, and we found this adorable one at a Christmas shop in Downtown Disney. I love it, and I was so excited to finally remove it from its box and gingerly place in on the tree's sturdiest branch.

It feels weird to be celebrating our first Christmas when we've been married for almost a year, and it will be fun to have one more "first" before we hit the one-year mark. But no matter how long we've been married, placing that Minnie and Micky ornament on the tree will be just as special as it was the first time.

How Long

2008-11-04T22:15:00.009-06:00

Obama was just declared the winner of the general election, and I'm so proud of him and our country. However, part of me is deeply sad tonight; I'm reminded that for one more election cycle our nation won't have a female president.

I hope someday we'll break that highest glass ceiling.

Baby GIRL Backett

2008-10-27T18:48:00.007-05:00

It turns out that my baby intuition was wrong, but that's okay!

Today, Brendan and I found out that Tom and Natalie are having a girl! We don't know her name yet, but we're both beyond excited. This whole baby thing is becoming more and more real every time we find out something new about this little person.

Another wonderful thing is that I'm going to be this little girl's only aunt. Tom's brother isn't married, so she'll have two uncles and only one aunt. Ha! Take that, Brendan.

I still haven't decided what I want her to call me instead of "Aunt Erin", but I've got about five months to figure it out!

Cake Wrecks

2008-10-21T17:12:00.012-05:00

Pretty much everyone who knows me well is aware of my undying love for cake. Well, I've recently discovered the most amazing blog called Cake Wrecks. The site showcases professional cakes that have gone horribly, hilariously wrong. Check it out; it'll brighten your day, and you'll never look at a store-bought cake the same way again.

One of the delightful Cake Wrecks

Teaching Tales

2008-10-12T20:23:00.016-05:00

Several of my friends who are teachers have posted funny blogs about their students, so I thought I'd do the same, even though my kiddos are college students.

On Friday, the kids (I call them "kids," even though they're 18) were in an unusually good mood. I teach at 1:00 p.m. MWF, so by the end of the week they're pretty dead; they had just turned in a major paper the class before, so they were still riding that "My paper is all turned in!" high. I must give a brief bit of back story before I continue... Most days I'm in the classroom by 12:45 so I can set up my lesson and meet the kids as they wander in, and everyday I lock the door at 1:00 so I won't have kids ambling in at five-after.

However, I was running late on Friday. I planned to facilitate an in-class activity with a DVD clip, and I was borrowing the DVD from another professor who teaches at noon. So, in the process of meeting her after her class and procuring the DVD, I arrived at my classroom at 12:58. I didn't realize how late I was, and as soon as I walked into the room all 17 of my students were staring me in the face. I smiled and apologized for being late, and one of my students jokingly replied, "We were about to lock the door on you!" I kindly thanked them for their vigilance and began teaching. It's nice to know that my kids noticed -- and cared -- when I wasn't there.

In the middle of my lesson, one student interrupted me by asking, "Ms. Voss, are you sick?" I answered yes and told them that I have an icky sinus infection. "Oh, Ms. Voss," a number of students replied, "you need to go home and get some rest so you can feel better! It's alright with us if you cancel class today... anything we can do to help you get well." I smiled and thanked them for their "kindness," and continued on with my lesson.

Those little moments when my students show that they care about me as their teacher -- even if they have weird ways of showing it -- make it all worth it.

Count 'Em... Six

2008-10-08T17:25:00.007-05:00

I got some exciting news this morning when I went for my normal dentist check-up: I have six cavities. Yaaay! Going in I knew that I probably had one cavity, but certainly not six. I'm kind of embarrassed by it, too. I mean, I'm 23! It's not like I go around eating candy all day like a small child and never taking care of my teeth. The dentist told me I had pretty teeth, though, so that softened the blow a bit.

While the dentist was informing me of the cavity count, I seriously flashed back to a seven-year-old Erin leaned back in that wonky chair with the dentist telling me not to eat too much sugar and to always brush my teeth.

At least I'm getting everything taken care of in two deeply-numbed visits, and then this cavity nightmare will be over.

State of the Union

2008-10-05T15:50:00.006-05:00

The Birdcage airs on cable every Saturday.

If you close your eyes, Sarah Palin sounds exactly like Frances McDormand's character in Fargo.

Every time you watch 60 Minutes, you learn about a horrible new way you can die.

You know who always has a good haircut? Jennifer Aniston.

You can never go wrong with To Kill a Mockingbird.

This is how a three-year-old will tell a knock-knock joke:
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
I've got a bug in my pocket!

You can wear flip-flops every day of the winter in San Antonio.

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equally important groups.

It's a bad idea to get on the monorail going the opposite direction from your terminal at the DFW airport when you're trying to reach your gate.

No one is too old to enjoy Disney World.

Nine Months and Counting

2008-09-28T20:41:00.015-05:00

Brendan and I will celebrate nine months of marriage tomorrow. Wow. That's a long time; we're only three months shy of the one-year mark. Before I tied the knot, all my married friends told me that once we were married I'd love Brendan more than ever. And that's very true; I never thought I could be this close to another person. I also learned that you won't really discover those little eccentricities about someone (say, that he is incapable of not leaving his shoes in the middle of the living room floor) until you've lived with him.

But the most important lesson marriage has taught me is how to be unselfish. If Brendan wants to eat at a restaurant that I don't particularly like, I let it go because I know it will make him happy. I'm the messy one in the relationship (big surprise), but I'll intentionally try to keep the house clutter-free because it's important to him.

And Brendan does the same things for me. He knows that I'm an obsessive recycler, and he'll go out of his way to recycle something even when its inconvenient. He'll suggest going to McKay's for lunch because he knows how much I love their cupcakes.

I can be a pretty selfish person, but I'm willing to take one for the team because I'd rather Brendan be happy instead of me. That's the magic of marriage.

Baby Brackett

2008-09-19T22:19:00.007-05:00

I'm going to be an aunt! Brendan's sister Natalie and her husband Tom are expecting their first child in April, and I am beyond excited. Brendan and I found out at the beginning of August, but we weren't technically allowed to tell anyone until Natalie was in her second trimester. I've waited for so long to tell everyone, and I finally got to put the news up on Facebook for the whole world to see.

The baby will be the first niece/nephew for both Brendan and me. I haven't even met this little person, but I already love it so much. I can't wait to start buying baby clothes and toys. And the best part is, I get to play with a snugly little baby! I'm not too crazy about the name "Aunt Erin," though; the words kind of run together and sound like "Anne Taryn." Maybe I'll be the cool aunt and come up with an original nickname.

I predict that the baby will be a boy. It's just a feeling.

Four Weeks Down

2008-09-18T22:14:00.005-05:00

I'm about four weeks into the new school year, and things are going well. Teaching my 111 class is fun, and the kids are great for the most part, but the semester has also been very stressful. It's difficult balancing being a teacher with being a student, and preparing for one "job" can sometimes take a backseat to the other.

My little 111 students turned in their very first paper yesterday, and no one turned it in late! I was so proud of them. I think that they think I'm a little scatterbrained and too excited about English (which is probably true of me in real life), but they know that I want them to succeed and that I won't be a pushover. They're a really sweet class, and I don't have any troublemakers. (I hope I haven't jinxed myself by writing that...)

While it can be stressful planning my 111 class and keeping up with my work as a grad student, I do enjoy teaching. Every now and then I'll have a rough day teaching where I'll think to myself, "I don't know what I'm doing!" But most of the time, I'm glad I'm a teacher.

I'm a Dork

2008-08-30T16:54:00.009-05:00

That, of course, is no secret. But the most recent reason I am a dork is because yesterday I bought an autumn wreath for our front door. It may be a little early for fall decorations, and the weather in Abilene certainly does not feel autumnal, but Target is already selling Halloween candy and decorations, so I guess that makes it okay -- or at least that's how I rationalized it.

I really like it. I think it communicates to our neighbors, "Hey, we have a wreath on our door; we're friendly people. And we like to decorate a little too much for holidays."

Ain't it purty?

111, Here I Come

2008-08-24T21:56:00.007-05:00

I teach my first English 111 class tomorrow afternoon at 1:00. Eeek! My syllabus is printed and ready to go. I have my lesson planned for the first day. I'm about as nervous as I am excited, which is a lot. We'll see how it goes.

Breaking Up is Hard To Do

2008-08-21T17:07:00.030-05:00

This week, I took a major step in my personal life. I broke up with my purse. It was large and boxy, made of soft, colorful canvas. I bought it last summer, and it lasted me through many milestones in my life. It had become like an appendage and was by my side through my engagement, my first year of grad school, and almost eight months of marriage. It's in most of our honeymoon pictures, a small stripe of green and white stretched across my body. It was cavernous and could easily fit my camera or a small shopping bag, in addition to it's everyday contents.

But, it was time to move on. Eventually the dirt began to show, and I wasn't proud of it anymore; it began to feel kind of ugly. Even my mother, the least-critical person in the world, would say every time she saw me, "Honey, when are you going to replace that purse?"

Goodbye, old friend.
Enjoy your stay at the retirement home (a.k.a. Goodwill).

I was at Target the other day, and I decided that this was the day to move on. So, I hesitantly walked down the aisles of purses until I found one that I could get used to. It's smaller, less summer-y and, dare I say, more mature(?). I'm still getting used to the new one. I keep forgetting that I have to unbutton the top (unlike my old one), and I'll mindlessly try to jam my hand in there when the flap is closed, without success. Its belly is much smaller, too, but that's probably a good thing; I really didn't need to haul a knapsack around with me.

Mama's got a brand new bag.

When you get a new purse, it's a little hard to let go of the old one because of all the memories it symbolizes. This new purse will carry me through my second(!) year of grad school, my one-year anniversary, graduation, and my first real job. I'm ready to start that journey.

A Family Affair

2008-08-14T08:25:00.003-05:00

We had a whirlwind weekend with lots of family in town. On Friday Brendan's mom, aunt, and uncle drove to Abilene for a long weekend. Brendan's cousin Victor just graduated with his Ph.D and was hired to work at ACU in the fall, so we threw a party for him on Friday night. The rest of the weekend was filled with shopping, a trip to Chuck. E. Cheese (wow, I had forgotten how bad their pizza is), lots and lots of food, and copious amounts of the Olympics. We got to show off our little duplex, too, so that was nice. They left on Tuesday morning; I do love seeing family, but it was an exhausting weekend. Victor and his wife and kids are wonderful, so it will be nice to have some family in town.

School starts a week from Monday, and I think I'm ready. It's weird to think that I'm about to start my last year as a student (minus that Ph.D I've been thinking about), and my last year at ACU. I'm so ready to finish, so ready not to have 20-page papers due, but I will miss this place. All the second-year English grad students (woah... I'm a second-year grad student...) have formed this tight-knit group of wonderful, slightly-nerdy people trying to wade through grad school together. We've been through a lot and shared some wonderful experiences, and I'll be sad to leave them.

Today is my last day at work, which is a little sad. I really enjoyed working at the Camps office this summer; it was the perfect summer job, and I worked with some great people. I'm using next week to prepare for classes and to plan my English 111 class. That's right, I'm teaching a college class in the fall; all the second-year grad students are encouraged to teach a freshman Composition class. Why did I sign up to do this? I want to be a teacher more than anything, but I admit I'm pretty terrified. This is college, people! I go through periods where I'm really excited about my class, but then I'll get nervous. Oh, well. Student teaching equipped me with valuable experience, and the seniors I taught during student teaching are pretty much at the same cognitive level as my new freshmen. We'll see how the semester goes.

Wonderful Wedding Weekend

2008-08-04T10:45:00.030-05:00

Brendan and I spent the weekend in Ohio for Clay and Heather's wedding, and it was so wonderful. We flew out late Thursday morning and arrived in time for dinner, so we (my parents, grandmothers, aunt and uncle, cousins, Brendan, and I) ate at this really interesting and delicious Mennonite restaurant. Almost everything on the menu was homemade, and it sure tasted like it. We saw quite a few Amish and Mennonite families while we were there, and I think they're fascinating. Central Ohio houses one of the largest Amish/Mennonite communities in the country; there's even a "buggy lane" on the road so that Amish families can drive their horse-and-buggy around town.

My beautiful mama and me

Hangin' out at the rehearsal dinner

On Friday afternoon, we helped set up for the rehearsal dinner and the reception. The rehearsal dinner later that evening was one of the funnest ones I've ever been to. Heather's parents own a coffee shop in Coshocton, and it was the perfect place for a rehearsal dinner. They shut down the coffee house for the evening, and dinner was very small and intimate. After dinner, we busted out the karaoke. My cousin Brittany and I tore it up with our renditions of "Goodbye Earl" and "Wannabe." It was so hilarious seeing my family members belt out karaoke.

Spice Girls, Utley-style

Brendan rocking the house

Good looks run in the family.

The next day, I was up bright and early for my hair appointment and left Brendan sleeping in the hotel room. Guys always have it so easy with weddings. The girls have to get up extra-early to assemble their hair, make-up, dresses, etc., while the guys simply have to put on a tux and head out the door. Seriously.

The ceremony was lovely, and my dad performed the service. He also married Brendan and me, so it was very special for our family. I was a groom's attendant and stood on the boys' side, which was really cool. I had never been in a wedding before, so that was a neat experience to have. It was interesting, though, because since I stood on Clay's side during the ceremony I was in the pictures with all the groomsmen. I definitely stood out!

The reception was awesome. It was a big dinner-and-dancing reception, which I love. I even managed to drag Brendan onto the dance floor for a few songs. Brendan's not a big dancer, and his philosophy of dancing is to intentionally act stupid rather than try to dance and fail, so there was lots of "white boy" dancing from Brendan.

Chillin' at the reception - I'm wearing clothes, I promise!

Beautiful bride

Dancing with bro

It was weird seeing a wedding ring on my brother's finger. I'm glad that he's so happy.

We flew back home on Sunday afternoon, and I was a little sad to leave. I had so much fun, and it felt so good to spend time with my family.

Countdown

2008-07-29T09:40:00.023-05:00

On Thursday morning, Brendan and I will fly to Coshocton, Ohio, for Clay and Heather's wedding! I can't believe it's almost here. They got engaged a few days before Brendan and I were married, so it feels unreal that their wedding is only days away. (That means Brendan and I have been married for seven months! Weird.) I just want to get to Ohio. I'm so excited about the weekend that I want to start packing, but I'm forcing myself to wait one more day before piling everything into my suitcase. I can't wait to see my family and start enjoying all the wedding festivities. We're having karaoke at the rehearsal dinner, so I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to sing.

The other day, I was in David's Bridal trying to find some earrings for my bridesmaid dress. (Actually, it's a groom's attendant dress; I'm standing on Clay's side, which I think is wonderful.) I walked into the store and felt a little bit smothered by all the veils and guest books and puffy dresses. Brendan was with me, and on the way out I told him, "I am so glad that I'm done with being engaged."

I was talking to Clay the other day, asking him about the wedding, and he told me this story that he'd heard from an older woman at his church. Her daughter, engaged and very stressed out about wedding planning, said, "Mom, I thought being engaged was supposed to be fun!" The mom replied, "No dear, being engaged is awful, but after the wedding life is so wonderful." Yep, that sounds about right.

The smitten kittens

The Corners Always Get You

2008-07-24T20:15:00.006-05:00

Today, I smacked my foot on the corner of the entertainment center while doing cartwheels in the living room. For anyone who knows me well, this is not surprising.

I was watching TV before Brendan came home from work, and two little girls were doing cartwheels in their backyard. I thought to myself, "I used to be able to do cartwheels right and left when I was a kid. I wonder if I can still do one."

It turns out that I can still do a cartwheel... just not in the middle of the living room.

A Needle Is Never a Good Sign

2008-07-15T22:25:00.010-05:00

I'm lying flat on my back thanks to a blindly-painful shot given to me at the doctor's office this evening. Thank you, sinus infection. You give such wonderful gifts.

On a lighter note, it's T-minus 48 hours until the Fat Tuesday Reunion! On Thursday, five of my closest college friends and I will head to Lake Travis for a much-needed girls' weekend. It's been about a year since our diaspora after college, and I'm so ready to spend some time with these girls. I have no doubt that the weekend will involve laughter, gossip, and lots and lots of food. The latter is a given; I mean, just look at our name.

Looking for Alaska

2008-07-10T11:30:00.009-05:00

No, I'm not talking the about the state, but rather John Green's fantastic novel Looking for Alaska. The book came highly recommended by many of my friends, and since I love Young Adult lit I put it on my reading list. It thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Looking for Alaska is heartbreaking, yet so beautiful and such a pleasure to read. Even if you're not a fan of YA lit, you need to read this book because it perfectly captures the feelings of real love and loss.

In other news, I'm going to San Antonio for the weekend! I'll be getting my bridesmaid dress altered, doing some shopping with mom, and catching up with the fam. Unfortunately Brendan won't be able to come because tomorrow is iDay at the AT&T Store with the launch of the new iPhone, but he'll stay super-busy with work all weekend.

I'm a Big Kid Now

2008-07-04T10:52:00.012-05:00

For the first time in my life, I'm beginning to feel like an adult. I graduated from college, started grad school, got married, and am financially independent. I can't sleep in past 9:30 in the morning, and riding those scary roller coasters at Six Flags make me feel as if I'm going to black out.

So, I've tried to channel all that adult-ness into my morning cereal. I've always been a cereal girl; I turn my nose up at bagels, Poptarts, and any other breakfast food that I can't pour milk on and eat with a spoon. And don't even think about convincing me to go without breakfast - do you want to see me pass out before 10:30?

Over the last several months, I've tried to wean my palate off the sugary kiddie cereals that are so near and dear to my heart and move on to more substantial adult cereals: Kashi, Raisin Bran, Fiber One. However, my heart just isn't in it. (Have you ever tried Fiber One? "Twigs" have no place in one's cereal, even if they are fiber-y.) So, it's back to the old tried and true - Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs. I figure all that peanut butter makes it a little healthier than Cocoa Pebbles, right? Right?

Book Withdrawals

2008-06-24T09:40:00.011-05:00

I just finished my first pleasure-reading book of the summer, Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. I've been gnawing on this book since the middle of May, and now that I've finished it I'm experiencing book withdrawals. Maybe it's the English nerd in me, but whenever I finish a book in which I have become emotionally invested, and have become so familiar with the characters that I feel as if I know them, I mourn the book just a tiny bit when I come to the end. I think to myself, "There has to be more. It can't be over!" Only meaningful books do this to me, though. I always felt this way after I finished a Harry Potter book.

And what book, you ask, will I move on to next? John Green's Looking for Alaska. As much as I loved Into Thin Air, as much as I didn't want the book to end, it was pretty depressing. I need some fiction to perk me up.

You know you want to read it.

Love Story

2008-06-17T23:19:00.006-05:00

Brendan and I will celebrate our six-month wedding anniversary at the end of June, and that's just crazy. I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. Part of me feels like we just tied the knot a couple of months ago, but I can't seem to remember what my life was like before he was my husband, as if he was always part of it. You know what I mean?

So, with all of this six-month nostalgia in the air, I've been thinking about love stories, the way people find each other and decide to stay together. Some couples have sweeping, romantic, movie-quality love stories, while others meet and marry with less fanfare. Brendan and I are one of the fanfare-free couples. Our courtship was fairly simple: my cousin introduced us, Brendan asked me to his fraternity's formal, and pretty soon we fell in love.

I've always been a little bit jealous of couples who have really great love stories. Some friends of ours are eloping in Hawaii this weekend for a beach-front wedding. Wow. Another couple we know started dating when they were in the same summer school class, and they were married before the fall semester began. My brother Clay and his fiance Heather have an extraordinary love story, too. They met at a conference in Austin when he was living in Tucson and she was in Seattle. They exchanged phone numbers and dated long-distance for about a year before he moved up to Washington. They're getting married in August.

Our love story may never make a good romantic-comedy, but I've still found my happy ending.

Baby Girl Utley

2008-05-30T21:00:00.006-05:00

My cousin Shane and his wife Stacy delivered their first child this evening, a girl named Laedin Grace Utley. She is the first baby to be born out of all the cousins, so we're all very excited. Stacy is recovering well, and Miss Laeden is healthy and beautiful. When I was younger, I used to think that delivering babies was no big deal, but now I'm thankful when babies and mothers have healthy, normal births without complications.

I can't wait to see her! Brendan and I will be heading to Weatherford in a few weeks to visit, and there's nothing like snuggling with a tiny baby.

A Few Weeks in the Life of Erin

2008-05-27T21:21:00.011-05:00

Lately, nothing in my life has been so exciting that I felt the need to blog about it. Summer officially started, so I guess that's something. Listed below are some (semi-)exciting happenings in the life of Erin.

1. I started my summer job. It's an office job, so there's lots of typing and fielding phone calls and filing involved, nothing too stressful, which is nice a change after a crazy semester. I work with some fun people, too, and they make the day go by quicker. And Kayla works across campus, so it's been fun running into her periodically.

2. David Cook is the new American Idol! Yesss.

3. Brendan is moving up to cell phones at work. He's been selling internet for almost a year, and last week he found out that he'll be transitioning to selling cell phones. He's been wanting to move into cell phones for a while now, and I'm really proud of him. He'll be in the Metroplex for training during the first three weeks of June, so I'll be visiting him on the weekends - anything to get out of Abilene. It'll get pretty boring around the duplex during the weekdays, but I'll pass the time by going to bed early (a guilty pleasure of mine), watching lots of CSI, and catching up on some Into Thin Air (which is fantastic!).

So Keep on Comin', these Lines on the Road

2008-05-22T22:22:00.009-05:00

As I survey the ground for ants,
Looking for a place to sit and read,
I'm reminded of the streets of my hometown
And how they're much like this concrete that's warm beneath my feet.

And how I'm all wrapped up in my mother's face,
With a touch of my father just up around the eyes,
And the sound of my brother's laugh,
But more wrapped up in what binds our ever-distant lives.

But if I must go,
Things I trust will be better off without me.
But I don't want to know,
'Cause life is better off a mystery.

I love these lyrics. They just seem to fit.

Idolatry, Part III

2008-05-15T15:32:00.004-05:00

It's finally come down to this: a David vs. David showdown. Wahoo! I've been waiting for this for months now.

I'm officially endorsing David Cook, just in case you were wondering.

Dunzo

2008-05-09T14:59:00.006-05:00

I'm officially one-half of a master (of English)! School is finished for the semester, and I start my summer job bright and early on Monday. I don't know what to do with myself now that school is out. I honestly can't remember the last time I had absolutely nothing to do. Sure, there were times this semester that I had free time because I chose to procrastinate, but this time my days are a blank slate. It's a weird feeling.

This school year has gone even better than I imagined. When I started grad school last semester, I wasn't sure what to expect. During undergrad, I had been residing over in English Education Land for so long that I hadn't taken a real English class in three semesters, and I wondered if I could make it. I also worried about making new friends. Fat Tuesday had disbanded, and three members of the group moved to different corners of Texas. Even though two other girls stayed in Abilene, I knew things wouldn't be the same. My first week of grad school was terrifying, and the initial transition was pretty rough. But I finally hit my stride mid-semester, and it's been a wonderful (albeit sometimes stressful) ride. I am so blessed to have made so many wonderful new friends. I successfully made it through two semesters of grad school, and I'm so proud of myself and my scholarship. Only two semesters to go!

Wanna know one of the best parts of my new-found freedom? Now I get to read what I want to read! First on the list: Into Thin Air by John Krakauer.

Engagement-iversary

2008-05-01T15:09:00.018-05:00

Brendan proposed one year ago today, and it was a day that began a wonderful journey in our lives together. I remember how giddy I was on the night he proposed; it all felt so surreal. I had an honest-to-goodness engagement ring on my hand! At work the next day I squealed, "I'm engaged!" to every person I ran into. I could finally buy wedding magazines without feeling like a loser, and it was both exciting and scary to realize that I had eight months to plan a wedding.

I can't believe it's already been a year. This year has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.

So, in honor of our engagement-iversary, here's the story of how Brendan proposed.

By the end of April 2007, I had a good feeling the ring was coming; I just didn't know when. Brendan and I met my parents in Dallas the weekend before we got engaged, and on the drive back to Abilene, Brendan asked if we could stop by his sister's house in Fort Worth to "pick up some pants" that his mom had sent him. "Um, whatever," I thought. "He's got to be up to something." We stopped to pick up the pants, and I had an inkling he had the ring. But I still had no idea when the proposal would come.

At ACU as an undergrad, I was part of a six-person group called Fat Tuesday. The six of us were best friends, and we always shared meals together on Tuesday nights. On Tuesday, May 1, the girls suggested we go to Monk's coffee shop after dinner. I wasn’t too crazy about going, but I knew Brendan was working late that night, so I decided to go so I could kill some time before he got off. We were there for quite a while, just talking and having girl time. Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, and Brendan was standing right beside me. For a split-second I thought, “What’s he doing here? He knew I was having girl time tonight!” Then I saw the flowers in his hand, and he asked me to take a walk with him. By then, I knew what was coming. It was so surreal walking out of the coffee shop knowing I was about to be proposed to.

Brendan led me by the hand to a beautiful waterfall in downtown Abilene. He got down on one knee, told me he loved me, and asked me to marry him. When we got back to the coffee shop, my sweet friends had all signed an engagement card for us. It turns out that Brendan was in cahoots with them the whole time. Together they planned going to Monk's after dinner so Brendan could surprise me after he got off work. The fact that he involved my friends made the proposal so much more special.

Then, Brendan drove me back to his house, which was decked out with rose petals and candlelight. He had even bought a cake, which he knows is my very favorite dessert. The night was so wonderful, and it was even more special because Brendan took me completely by surprise.

Out on the town for our four-month wedding anniversary

Good Times Never Seemed So Good

2008-04-28T22:56:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow's gonna be a great day. Do you know why?

1. Brendan and I celebrate our four-month wedding anniversary.
2. It's Neil Diamond night on American Idol.

It can't get any better than that.

Oh, the Joys of Coffee

2008-04-26T20:51:00.016-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about student teaching lately. Exactly one year ago this week I tearfully finished up my last day at a local high school, and I'm meeting up with my cooperating teacher in a few days to catch up. I can't wait. As I was reminiscing, I remembered this rather hilarious incident from my student teaching days that I just had to share.

My cooperating teacher and I had a standing appointment with the coffee pot in the teacher's workroom everyday before school. We'd pour our coffee (which I usually needed after waking up at 6:00 a.m.), she'd check her box, and we'd head to first period.

One morning she was running late and didn't have time to run her morning errands, so she asked me to check her box, retrieve the day's copies, and bring her some coffee while she taught class. So, I dutifully visited the copy room, grabbed the mail from her box, and ventured to the coffee machine.

My hands were full with mail and copies, and I attempted to balance everything under my arms as I poured the coffee into a Styrofoam cup. I say "attempted" for a reason. Somewhere in the process, I poured an entire carafe of coffee onto the floor while aiming for that little cup. The liquid showed dark brown against the blue carpet and quickly formed a stain the size of a large beach ball. I immediately looked to my left and right, and thankfully I was the only person in the workroom. I was slightly panicking at this point, thinking through the best way to explain how exactly I managed to pour a full pitcher of coffee on the floor, when something came to me.

I peeked into the secretary's office next door and quietly said, "Um, someone spilled some coffee on the floor in the workroom. I just wanted to let you know."

"Oh dear!" she replied. "Thank you for telling me. We'll get someone right on that."

The stain remained on the floor for the rest of the semester.

My Next Two Weeks

2008-04-22T16:56:00.006-05:00

School is raining down on me. Seriously.

I have about ten days to finish and turn in a total of 35 pages in papers, and create and present a ten-minute PowerPoint show. My only consolation is that it'll all be over after those ten horrid days.

It's times like these that a fast-forward button on life would be pretty darn useful.

9 Things You May Not Know About Me

2008-04-18T19:22:00.020-05:00

1. In middle school, I was in band for a brief period. I wanted so badly to play the flute, because all the cool girls played flute, but I got stuck with the baritone horn, thanks to my band instructor; he said my big lips prevented me from playing it. I was crushed, but I ending up being darn good on the baritone.

2. I love poodles. My family has always had poodles, and they're such wonderful pets. Call me an old lady, but I really want to have one when Brendan and I get a dog.

3. I have really small toenails. I mean, freakishly-small toenails. Whenever I get a pedicure, the nail person always gives me a funny look and laughs when she first sees my feet.

4. The children's book Love You Forever makes me cry every single time.

5. In high school I played a Puerto Rican in West Side Story, if you can believe that. They only cast me for the role because I could sing, so I was Consuelo, the blond-haired, green-eyed Puerto Rican.

6. I love yoga. I started practicing it in college when I took a summer course, and I've loved it ever since. Some day, I'd love to be a licensed yoga teacher and teach some classes part-time.

7. I judge people by their poor grammar. Not in a mean way, but it really bugs me when people mess up things like "I" and "me" or "who" and "whom;" it's like nails on a chalk board. I guess that's why I became an English major.

8. I'm a forensic science nerd. I'm obsessed with shows like CSI and Medical Detectives, and as weird as it sounds I'm fascinated by stuff like that. I could never be a forensic scientist in real life, though, because the tedium of cataloging a crime scene and the like would drive me crazy; I'm a very macro person and can't handle small, detail-oriented tasks.

9. I'm obsessed with cake. Really, I am. Some people crave chips and salsa or ice cream; I crave cake. It's my very favorite dessert. Naturally, our wedding cake was very important to me. The cake is one of the best parts of a wedding, and I can't stand it when I wait in line at a reception, only to receive a lousy piece of cake. So, we visited about six places for wedding cake until we finally found the one that was up to my standards. And it was perfect!

Idolatry, Part II

2008-04-16T14:10:00.008-05:00

Pardon my brief digression into American Idol territory...

A few notes from watching Idol last night:

David Cook = A.ma.zing. And he gets extra points in my book for singing my favorite Mariah song.

Kristy Lee Cook = Gone. Golly, I hope so.

David Archuleta = The new American Idol, according to my calculations. And I think I'm okay with that. You can conquer the world with the power of millions of squealing teenage girls behind you.

Rainy Days and Mondays

2008-04-09T23:40:00.014-05:00

I got caught in an utter deluge today.

If you've ever lived in (or been remotely near) West Texas, you know how unpredictable and ridiculous the weather is. Outside your window, the blue sky will be dotted with wispy white clouds, letting through soft, dappled sunlight. And then, ten minutes later, the sky will redden with dust and the wind will thrash about, producing what looks like the Second Coming. I experienced something very similar as I left class today.

As I walked out of the Ad building, I noticed through the window that it was raining. "No biggie," I thought, "I can get a little wet since I don't have anywhere to be." It was as if the rain heard me, because I opened the door and walked into a complete downpour. The cold, splashy run to my car was miserable, and after I had triumphantly shut the car door I could still feel driplets of water running down my back. What's worse, right as I turned into the driveway the rain completely stopped, and the sun was out again. Sigh.

I walked in the door literally soaked to the skin. Brendan gave me a funny look because outside it was sunny and dry, but I looked like a wet dog. My hair was as wet as if I had just stepped out of the shower, and my clothes stuck to me like pancake syrup on skin. Inky rivulets ran down my cheeks as my mascara bled. I think my purse is still drying out.

Thanks, Abilene. That's one thing I won't miss when I leave you.

Idolatry

2008-04-02T21:02:00.010-05:00

Three things I learned from tonight's American Idol:

1. When Dolly Parton is in a room, everyone else looks sort of drab.

2. Ryan Seacrest can make a sobbing, heartbroken contestant smile and sing her (or his) heart out.

3. America's a sucker for a pretty girl who sings country music (for better, or for worse).

Summer, Summer, Summertime

2008-04-01T09:59:00.019-05:00

Summer is on the horizon, and I'm so ready for a break. In about 1.5 months I'll be one-half of a Master (of English), which means only one more year left of school! In honor of the impending holiday, I'm counting down the top-five things I'm looking forward to this summer.

1. Abilene in the summertime - I love Abilene in the summer months, and this will be my third summer to spend in town. During the school year, Abilene is filled with thousands of college students flitting around. Most of them clear out in the summer, and the town magically becomes calm and laid-back.

2. Cajun Cones - Anyone who's lived in Abilene knows how awesome these snow cones are. These are not your typical snow cones, mind you. They are hand-made in a tiny shack in the United parking lot, and offer such flavors as Fuzzy Navel, Old-Fashioned Ice Cream, and I Don't Know But It's Good. (And they always give you extra syrup if you ask, which earns points in my book.) More than anything, though, summer to me means Cajun Cones with Brendan. It's our place during the summer, usually in conjunction with the park, to goof off and spend time together.

3. My summer job - I'm working a full-time office job on campus this summer, which will be a welcome change of pace from the erratic hours, classes, and homework of this semester. I'm so excited that I can leave work at work at not have to bring anything home.

4. Clay and Heather's wedding - My big brother is getting married on
August 2! Heather is a wonderful woman who'll make an excellent addition to our family. I'm a groom's attendant, meaning I'll stand on Clay's side. I think that's pretty awesome.

5. Our first married vacation - "But wait," you protest, "what about your honeymoon!" Technically our honeymoon was our first trip together, but anyone who's actually been on a honeymoon knows that it's not your typical vacation. When you leave for your honeymoon you tell yourself, "This must be the most amazing vacation ever! We must do as much as we can so we can have the best time ever, and take as many pictures as humanly possible so we can remember it as the best vacation ever!!"

Consequently our honeymoon, while wonderful, was busy. At Disney World I kept thinking, "We have to keep moving and doing things, because I have to make memories!" For our next vacation, I'm looking forward to sleeping in, not having a schedule, and just enjoying my husband.

Family Mooch Week: A Look Back

2008-03-26T17:09:00.016-05:00

Brendan and I had a wonderful Spring Break with our families! We left early on Monday morning for Sugar Land and spent the day bumming around town with his parents and doing a little shopping. I had wedding credit left to spend and thoroughly enjoyed bringing home bag-fuls of stuff without spending a penny. We hung out with our good friends Landon and Aja all day on Tuesday, and on Wednesday we took it easy around the house. Just so you know, I have no pictures of our stay in Sugar Land because I just plain forgot to take any. But I do have some of San Antonio. Speaking of...

We arrived in San Antonio around lunchtime on Thursday. I did a little shopping with my mom, and we hung out with my parents that night. On Friday we went to the Witte Museum downtown and saw this really cool -- but very creepy -- exhibit called Our Body: The Universe Within. It's basically a knock-off of Body Worlds (if you've heard of that), and it showed human bodies that have been plastinated and posed to reveal the intricacies of the human body -- muscles, nerves, and all. It was pretty intense, but overall I enjoyed it. Saturday we visited the Zoo, which was wonderful. I hadn't been to the San Antonio Zoo since high school, and it was so much fun going back with Brendan. My grandmother came down for a lovely Easter Sunday, and we headed back that night. Overall, it was a very relaxing and fun trip.

Sprinkles cupcakes! If you've never had a Sprinkles cupcake, you are missing out on one of the joys of life. When visiting my old roommate Stephanie last month we went to the Sprinkles cupcake bakery in Dallas, and that cupcake changed my life. Seriously. They only have a handful of locations in the entire country, but I found their cupcake mix in Williams-Sonoma and made them in San Antonio. Mine were almost as good as the real thing. Let me tell you about the icing, so you can really understand these cupcakes. The recipe calls for two sticks of butter and about four cups of powdered sugar. Wow.

This is my puppy dog, Abby! Brendan and I aren't allowed to have a dog at out current place, so it's always fun and entertaining to have her around when we're home. Playing with her makes me realize how much I miss having a dog.

Doesn't he make a beautiful butterfly? This was taken at the Zoo.

Yes, that is a bird on my head. At the Zoo, we visited an aviary with live birds flitting around, and you can feed them nectar in little Dixie cups. One decided to perch right on my head for about two minutes.

Our friends Brandi and P.A. got married on Friday, so we trekked downtown for their beautiful wedding. This was our first wedding to attend since getting married ourselves, and weddings mean so much more now. As I watched Brandi walk down the aisle, I was reminded of the emotions I felt on my own wedding day, and it brought everything back. I remember how excited I was to walk down the aisle to Brendan; he was all I could see. Weddings are more special now because I remember how much I loved Brendan on that day, and how I love him even more now.

An Open Letter to Chocolate upon the Conclusion of Lent

2008-03-23T19:32:00.000-05:00

Dearest Chocolate,

It's been so very long. I must admit, there were times during your absence that I wondered if we could ever rekindle our relationship. But the wait is over, and I have you back in my hands once again. You must have questioned my affection for you when I declared that I couldn't see you for forty long days, but it was because of my deep love for you that I had to let you go. But I promise from this day forward to make you daily a part of my life.

Sincerely,
Erin

Happy Days Are Here Again

2008-03-16T13:17:00.021-05:00

Good news! Brendan's recovery has gone very smoothly. He felt well enough to go back to work yesterday, so Family Mooch Week is back on track! We're leaving tomorrow morning for Sugar Land, and I'm really looking forward to getting out of Abilene and visiting our families.

I've already confessed my penchant for estate/garage sale shopping, and I just have to brag about my latest finds. Brendan and I have needed new lamps since we moved in, but retail-priced ones are ridiculously expensive, even at discount stores. I've been making do with an old one from my dorm days, but poor Brendan didn't have one and has been mooching off the light from my lamp during bedtime reading. Our church put on a giant garage sale this weekend, so I woke up very early on Friday to get my hands on some discount lamps, and found these beauties for a total of $7. The lampshades that came with them were heinous, so Brendan and I made a trip to Target to replace them. Here are the results!

My lamp! Brendan picked out the lamp shade; he's so stylish.

And here we have Brendan's lamp. I think it looks very Parisian.

So, funny story about the lamps... we took the lamp bases to Target so we could pick out just the right shades. The two bases were in my cart, which I was wielding down the shampoo aisle, when a woman stopped me and asked, "Where did you get those lamps!" I feebly replied, "Umm, at a garage sale..." She looked mildly amused and walked away. I must admit, I felt like a loser at that moment, but in hindsight I should have triumphantly bragged about my finds and responded, "But I got them for $7!"

There's Nothing Like a Drugged-Up Husband

2008-03-12T21:46:00.009-05:00

Brendan's getting his wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow morning at 10:30, so if you feel like it please send happy thoughts and prayers our way. He's pretty nervous about it, and although I love my husband like crazy, I can't say I'm excited about playing nurse for a moaning grown man for the next few days. Oh, and just for your amusement, I'll post some chipmunky pictures of Brendan soon! Aren't I a good little wife? :)

One last thing... I'm an unashamed American Idol watcher, and I am not happy about tonight's elimination. Kristy Lee Cook must go home now!

Our two month-iversary dinner at Olive Garden

Family Mooch Week

2008-03-08T17:18:00.007-06:00

My Spring Break begins next week, and I really need it; I'm very ready for some time off from all the monotony of weekly readings and papers. We originally planned on Brendan taking the entire week off for Family Mooch Week (as I've dubbed it) and spending several days with each set of parents. But unfortunately (for Brendan), he's having his wisdom teeth out on Thursday, so an abbreviated Family Mooch Week starts on Wednesday! We're leaving that morning for Sugar Land and heading to San Antonio on Friday. I'm excited about our little adventure!

Also, I'm really looking forward to spending Easter with my parents. I've made pilgrimages to San Antonio for Easter every spring since my first year of college, and my visit has sort of become a tradition. Every year, my mom and I shop ourselves to exhaustion for new spring clothes at La Cantera and North Star Mall. Easter Baskets, courtesy of the Easter Bunny (a.k.a. my mom), "magically" appear by the fireplace when I awaken on Sunday morning, with Mom chirping, "Erin, the Easter Bunny came!" And I gorge at Sunday lunch on whatever vice I happened to give up for Lent (This year it's chocolate. Pray for my waste-line once Lent is over). I'm glad Brendan can share in these family traditions.
And I've already warned him about the Easter Baskets.

All That Jazz

2008-02-28T22:37:00.016-06:00

Brendan and I are heading to Fort Worth this weekend to see the musical Chicago! His sweet sister Natalie and brother-in-law Tom gave us the tickets as a Christmas present, and the four of us are going to the matinée show on Sunday afternoon. Brendan and I are huge musical lovers, so we're really looking forward to the show. Also, it'll be nice to get out of Abilene since we've had so much family in town the last few weeks. I love spending time with Natalie and Tom, and I can't tell you how excited I am to do some shopping at a real mall.

Musicals are also very special to us. Some couples share concerts, sporting events, or restaurants; we share musicals. Chicago will be the fourth musical we've seen since we've been together (the dinky ones that come to Abilene don't count), and each one corresponds to a unique point in our relationship.

Les Miserables - We saw Les Miz in June 2006 in Dallas for our three-month dating anniversary.

RENT- In March 2007, we saw RENT in Fort Worth to celebrate our one-year dating anniversary.

Wicked - We saw Wicked in Dallas in April 2007, and Brendan proposed three days later. He sneakily got the ring from his sister then, too!

And now Chicago will be our first musical as a married couple. It also happens to correspond nicely with our two-month wedding anniversary!

Forcing Creativity

2008-02-24T16:15:00.005-06:00

In an assignment for my American Autobiography class, I'm supposed to write a five-page Creative Non-Fiction piece (a.k.a. autobiography) of an event that has shaped my life. Against my will, I've decided to write about my grandfather's death almost two years ago. I was hesitant at first to pick that event because a woman writing about the death of a family member felt so overdone. Honestly, I tried to pick another topic, I really did, but this one just kept coming back to me. This is my first-ever foray into creative writing at the college level (I wrote tortured love poems in middle school, but who didn't?), and quite frankly I'm scared. I don't want to mess this up, especially a topic so close to my heart that it's still painful to talk about.

But here I am, poring over the first draft of what I hope will be a meaningful piece to me. When I'm finished, I want to give it to my grandmother. I want her to know that he's just as much a part of my life now as he was back then.