Bloggy

Today I got the bill for my first semester of nursing school. It's thousands more than my car cost. On the bright side, I don't think that in 10 years it will be outdated!

Last night I met up with some fire hula hoopers in a park here in Louisville. It's a super small community, and were so happy to have more people join in the fun. And, they made me hoop with my hoop on fire! It was awesome! I was scared at first, mostly because I'm pretty sure my shirt was polyester, but also because the flames are pretty big. More details to come on that...and pics, too! But, I think I know what I want for my 30th b-day. No, not a fire hoop. An LED hoop!!! Yes, I want a hula hoop for my 30th b-day, and no, I did not mean my 3rd b-day. www.hoopingharmony.com sells them, and these hoops in particular were highly recommended by the hoopers last night. I might actually buy myself an early 30th b-day present....just because hooping in November sux. The picture is not me, but I may soon have pics like this! Oh, an LED hoop is just a regular big ol' dance hoop that lights up and looks super awesome at night. It's way less work than lugging around white gas an...

I was reading a fellow hula hooper's blog tonight, and I came across a post she'd written recently about how she'd been interviewed on TV for a movement she's into about slowing down and unplugging. Her post is here , and the segment is here . She's a freelance writer, etc., in Seattle. I like the message. I am constantly trying to simplify and slow myself down. I am not addicted to my computer or phone too much, but I want to cut down on driving, and I want to enjoy being NOT busy. I am constantly trying to plan something or make something or go somewhere. I need to be busy. I hate it. Living in Portland really gave me a glimpse of what it could be like to rely on walking for most errands, and it really slows me down. I love it! Going to the grocery store makes me feel like a robot for some reason. Same with getting gas and really anything else involving waiting in line or traffic. However, a quick bike ride to a farmer's market is therapeutic. So is walking to...

Here's a pic of someone's sweet ride. These are all over here, and I don't quite know why. Brandon loves them for some reason, and fantasizes about lifting his 1996 Buick Park Avenue and sticking some huge tires under it.

I forgot to mention school started last week, and already it's flying by. So far, I am an awesome student. Being a student in my late 20s is way different than being a student in my early 20s, or even mid-20s. I am so prepared and motivated this time. Not that I wasn't before, but at Cal State Long Beach I was a different person. I went to class and got A's, but I read only what was necessary to pass the class. Now, I find myself reading ahead chapters, and following up online or in conversations with my dad, who's a nurse. I also finally see what an advantage students who don't have to work while in school have over those who do. Throughout high school, junior college and CSULB I worked. Sometimes I took breaks, but I was always trying to support myself. I worked my ass off, putting in 12 and 16 hour days. No wonder I was an average student. I am not working this year, and this will be the longest break from work I've ever had. My schedule now is roughly 7 a.m....

Ok I am not really a wino! But due to the lack of Trader Joe's here, my wine habit has been taking a serious beating. Here in Kentucky they don't sell wine at most grocery stores. You have to go to a wine shop or liquor store, where the cheapest of the cheap is $8. Ok ok... $8 is a cheap bottle of wine, I know. But as a starving student nowadays, I long for the $2 Chuck of ol' California. Boo hoo. p.s., check out this blog. It has more information and more dialogue that you'd ever need on cheap wine and $2 Chuck!

After weeks of hype, we finally got to witness the Kentucky Derby. For a full 2 minutes and 1 second of excitement, the entire city was held in suspense. Brandon and I got caught up in the action a little bit--we considered heading out to the Derby, but backed away from the crowds. We opted to BBQ at home and place bets online, but even that backfired when we couldn't get our online betting account to work. So, we made fake bets and watched hours of coverage leading up to the Derby. Finally, a little after 6 p.m., the horses were off-- and a big brown horse named "Big Brown" crossed the finish line first. I had placed a fake bet on him, and with his 2.5 odds he won me $75 fake dollars. He was a favorite in the Derby, but had drawn post position #20, putting him in the very outside slot of the track. But his trainer was confident. This horse was undefeated for 4 of his previous races! Brandon put his fake bet on a filly--the only female horse in the Derby--named ...