Decompressing

It's 9:30 already and the past week or so has definitely been sneaking up on me.

Last weekend:

• Went to class on Saturday to make up for the school holiday on Monday. Because, of course, it's my class's fault that the university shuts down on Martin Luther King Day. The lecture was good but a lot of people didn't show up, traffic into the parking lot was awful (some awards at the Shrine auditorium were the next day), and the Starbucks was really slow (but hooray for skinny lattes!).
  
• On the way home, stopped by the Lakewood Center for the Bridal/Quinceanera expo. I'll just say ... it was more Quinceanera than bridal. I saw my friend and my Mary Kay stalker, bought some great pants on clearance from the Gap in a very happy size, came home, and napped.
• Started our wedding registry. I'm not even going to mention where we started them - we're a long way from ready for that.
  
• Made a shopping run and finished the 150 or so pages of reading for my Monday class.

This week (so far):

• Went to work & school Monday. The lecture was just not as good as Saturday, and the homework we were supposed to substantially complete that night wasn't going to happen because the databases we were to use weren't working. But, I got to come home early! Good thing, too, because we had to get everything off the carpet to have it steam cleaned, as the roof was leaking from all the rain. They also fixed our front door!
  
• Work & school again Tuesday. I don't regret taking this spreadsheet modeling class, but it sure is boring. There is also homework due in that class for next week! It'll be a busy weekend for me.
  
• Today, Wednesday, was my non-school night before Andy takes off. After work I ran at the gym for just 20 minutes (but straight), came home, worked out some group homework stuff, emptied and loaded the dishwasher, rearranged the entire kitchen/dining room area, put away quite a bit of the boxes and things we moved for carpet cleaning, rearranged the bedroom, did laundry, and fixed salmon and sauce for dinner.
  

This week (to come):

• Tomorrow is work & school, but I have to get there early to work on one of the group homework assignments. If professors don't want students to "divide and conquer," why must they insist on assigning group homework?
  
• Friday is work, and then picking up race packets for the Pacific Shoreline 5k, and probably homework or hanging out.
  
• Saturday? Homework, I suppose. I have an amazing to-do list, and it might just include a trip to Ikea. It originally was for doing the laundry, but that's about done now. Also catch up on my law reading - I can see how this class is going to be in danger of falling behind, when there are actual assignments that affect my grade more pressing. It'll be quiet at home, so perhaps I'll hit up the Starbucks and get some bustle around to get me going.
  
• Sunday is the Pacific Shoreline 5k! After that, probably finishing up homework assignments and getting ready for the week. {edit: I just discovered two shirts in the laundry that have holes in them. I've felt like I needed a wardrobe makeover for a while now, but sometime this weekend is going to involve purging the closet. Again.}
  

Housing

No kidding, this song came on the radio while we were surfing Zillow for condos.

Condos, not giant plastic bubbles.

Bo-ring!

It occurred to me this weekend that I haven't been bored in years. And I'm not exaggerating - years!

Pouring

My dad emailed me today that he was shocked to hear it's rained all week in L.A. I replied:

"Normally I laugh and say it's not raining here, but it's rained all week! I may need a life raft!"

Because, usually, the news gets the conditions wrong like you wouldn't believe.

This week:

• Uneventful at work. Though things are getting a little more hectic now that I only have 2 months left.
  
• I confess: I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Wikipedia had this to say about it:
  

"Studies have also related carpal tunnel and other upper extremity complaints with psychological and social factors. A large amount of psychological distress showed doubled risk of the report of pain, while job demands, poor support from colleagues, and work dissatisfaction also showed an increase in the report of pain, even after short term exposure. A minority viewpoint holds that stress is the main cause, rather than a contributing factor, of a large fraction of pain symptoms usually attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome."

I do not think I have pain because I don't like my job. That being said, I don't really appreciate the sympathy pains people say they have. A little twinge in your wrist is not quite what I'm experiencing. From experience: it's a very real injury and it's horribly painful.

• Yesterday I went to the gym (good girl!) and who was next to me on the stair machine but my new manager! I talked to him today, and he's a very nice person.
  
• Lately my wedding planning has basically been reading True Bride Confessions. I haven't posted any "me too"s because I don't want to confess. That being said, my ring is looking exceptionally pretty right now. I like it.
• I wish school was this laid back all semester.
  
• I've been very good about cooking and bringing lunch to work, and generally not shopping, to recover from my trip. My taxes are just about done, and so far it looks like I'll get one of those $300 checks from the government this year!
  

Ahhhhhh,,,,

I had nothing planned this weekend, and that's exactly what I did. All school weekends should be this relaxing.

Friday we spent watching the Office online, eating ratatouille (so much better with the eggs and cheese), and drinking Consilience wine. We ate light knowing that we had a big birthday bash the next day. OK, so we had one thing planned for the weekend.

Saturday we still had breakfast, despite the big dinner waiting for us. We did laundry and I finished up some mini tarts. On top of that, I finished about half my reading homework, ran 4.25 miles, cleaned up, put on my new super-cute dress, and went out to Greenfield churrascaria. There's nothing like a 4-hour meat-filled dinner to make you never want to eat again!

Sunday, again, was kind of a bum-around day. I read magazines, did some reading homework (paging through a chapter called "Basic Excel Skills"), made a chicken, ratatouille, and pasta dinner, and reorganized my sock drawer. I can't tell you how long I've been meaning to throw out all those lonely socks that haven't had mates in years.

Tomorrow, I have to WORK. That's right, while you're enjoying your day off, I'm working. I don't have class, but I have to go next Saturday for a make-up class (which oddly works out, for reasons I'm sure I'll post later).

Blocked

Sad news.

Tomorrow is the last day our Disneyland Annual Passes are valid. I'm super bummed, because we're blocked out all weekend for the holiday (which we don't even get off work!).

In other news ... I started my tax return today. How, you are probably wondering, are these two things related? The sooner I get my tax return, the sooner I can blow it on renewing our passes. And maybe the half marathon. Maybe I should just make my tax return check payable to Disneyland, and save myself the trouble. $170 per pass, plus $70 for parking, plus $100 for the half marathon, equals $510.

Yup, Department of Treasury, just make that rebate payable to Disneyland.

Targeted

Sigh... Overstock.com sends me emails Friday - Sunday with special deals, knowing just what I like.


Luckily I know I don't need a $130 coat. On the other hand, I can't help but scope out potential bridesmaid dresses ...