May Photo-a-Day Challenge: Days 10 to 20

Also known as “playing catch up”

Day 10: Stars

I took this one while we were rehearsing our graduation ceremony. That is a light on the ceiling that I zoomed in.  It kind of looks like a star although it’s not really a star.

Day 11: Smile

I graduated on May 11! I couldn’t stop smiling I was so happy! I feel like I owe myself a post on what it feels like to have accomplished this.

Day 12: Mother

My mom is here and she’s staying with me the whole summer. It’s been great to have my mom here, but it’s also been hilarious watching my mom interact with my husband.

Day 13: Sunset

Outside my backyard. Beautiful.

Day 14: Needs

I was clueless as to what to photograph for this prompt. I figured a basic need is oxygen or food. Since I do not know of a way to photograph oxygen, it had to be food. I chose fruit since they are some of the most “photogenic” foods.

Day 15: 7 o’clock

I know. How original, right?

Day 16: Mailbox

Nothing special about this one other than the fact that I took it a day late because I was really tired that day.

Day 17: Season

This was a really nice day here in NC. Neither hot nor cold. Lots of sunshine and a nice breeze.

Day 18: Want

I love this trail and all the old trees in the area. I have decided that I want to live near trees for the rest of my life.

Day 19: Favorite View

Love reading on Sunday mornings. It has become part of my weekend routine.

Day 20: Light

I was trying to be artsy with the lamp on my night table.

May Photo-a-Day Challenge: Days 6,7,8 & 9

Day 6. Broken

 

Day 7. Something beginning with F

 

Day 8. Shapes

 
Day 9. Snack

 

Day 6: My printer decided to break the week I had to print my thesis. Oh, well.

Day 7: I have decided that hydrangeas are my absolute favorite flowers. That is, until I declare another kind of flower my favorite.

Day 8: I got creative with index cards during my lunch break.

Day 9: Edamame hummus from Trader Joe’s. That thing is like crack to me. I actually don’t buy it very often ’cause I could probably finish the whole thing in one day. It doesn’t help that neither my mom nor my husband like hummus.

May Photo-a-Day Challenge: Days 3, 4 & 5

Day 3 : This is really good

 

 

 

Day 4: In my cup

 

 

 

 

Day 5: Paper

 

Day 3: The first sunny days in a while. It’s been cool, dark and rainy for the most part in the last two weeks or so.

Day 4: Ice cold water next to my basil plant

Day 5: That’s the printed final draft of my thesis. I had a mini breakdown at Office Depot because I couldn’t keep the format from being all over the place.  Can’t wait to be totally done with school.

 

May Photo-a-Day Challenge: Day 2

 

Day 2: Morning Ritual

I normally eat breakfast at my desk at work. If I wake up too hungry, I eat at home. Today, it was steel-cut oats topped with almond butter and fresh strawberries along with some iced coffee with Dunkin Donuts, to which I added too much milk.

May Photo-a-Day Challenge: Day 1

Yay! It’s back!

 

Day 1: I bought this!

 

 

 

My mom arrived last Friday and I bought her the bouquet of tulips above. She had never seen tulips in person before!

On Life

On blogging

Yeah I know. Bad blogger, bad! Truth is when you can’t really muster enough energy to go to one gym class a week, chances are not you won’t write on your blog for a really, really long time. I’ve missed blogging. I really want to start doing it with regularity, and not just for the sake of saying “I have a blog”. I want to further develop my writing skills. Hey, I wrote almost 30,000 thousands words for my thesis. Writing a couple paragraphs once a week should be no problem, especially when those paragraphs don’t involve having to cite my sources or using academic language. And there have certainly been times since last December when I’ve really needed to let out my thoughts and emotions and the 140 characters from Twitter wouldn’t cut it. But then, I had a deadline to meet or there was laundry to do and blogging always was put on the back burner. Much like working out.

On Work

So I kind of have a new job.  It is in the same field, but I have new responsibilities, and I guess you can say I was “promoted”. I’m purposefully vague about work because I’m paranoid and don’t think that it’s wise to talk about the things that go on at work online. What I can say is that I’m really really happy with this new job; it was totally unexpected but very rewarding. It hasn’t been easy in some aspects, but I’m learning and I feel like I’m getting better at it every single day.

On School

I’d never thought I’d say this,  but I am freaking done! I defended my thesis last Saturday and I think I did pretty well. Some of my professors recommended that I present my thesis at the TESOL conference and they all said I should really consider writing a textbook for English instruction based on my research project.  God willing, I’ll graduage May 11! Can’t wait! And the best part? My mom will be here to attend graduation with me!

On Facebook/Pinterest/Instagram and Such

I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but I’m so over Facebook. Still, I can’ t bring myself to close my account for good. Facebook is like this huge circle jerk that you hate to be a part of but can’t live without. Part of my reasoning is that I live so far from relatives and friends, FB is a good way to keep in touch without much effort. So what do I hate about FB? The same thing everyone probably hates: Grown-ass people taking way too many selfies with a duck face. Hey, I’m guilty of the selfies too, but as I approach my thirties I am less and less interested in that kind of stuff. Also, there’s the people who use FB as their confessional, or as if it were God’s direct line for requests. But the thing that kills me the most is the over-sharing.  The question I ask myself when I read most status updates is, who the heck cares? And don’t even get me started on people making certain type announcements on Facebook before picking up the phone and calling the important people in their lives to let them know first.  It must be really shitty to find out on Facebook that a close relative has died.

On Marriage

I have been married for almost four months. That time hardly seems like a milestone but I feel like it is an accomplishment. When friends and relatives asked me the oh-so-common question, “how’s married life?” I never know what to say. It’s not that I’m unhappy or anything. I think we’re still in the honeymoon stage, but we’re also in the trying-to-adapt-to-each other phase. It’s just that I never know quite well how to answer when people ask me how I feel about married life. If I say, “it’s awesome, all rainbows and unicorns!” it sounds like I’m bragging. And I would also be telling a lie because living with another person is hard. Now, I’m not saying that I’ve been miserable or anything like that. I guess an honest answer would be that there have been challenges like when we argue over doing the dishes or cleaning the house but it’s also been so sweet to share my life with someone I love. Sure he is a bit messy, but he’s also thoughtful and caring. He buys me flowers for no reason and makes me coffee first thing in the morning. I can see he appreciates me and does not take me for granted. Also? I’m no angel. I know it is not easy putting up with my moods. Living with Jason has made me realize how bossy I can be. I honestly had no idea I could be that bossy. Luckily, he calls me out on my shit when I’m being particularly annoying. And God knows I can be annoying. I feel like we complement each other very well even though we fight like most couples do and don’t always see eye to eye. So how do I convey this sentiment in one or two sentences without giving too many details about my personal life? I guess I should just tell people to mind their own business.

On Health-related Issues

So…it turns out I have a heart condition. It sounds more serious that it really is. Mostly. It’s called a Bundle Branch Block and it’s like a defect in the electrical impulses of my heart. My doctor says I was probably born with it and I shouldn’t worry about it. For now, I’ve had to get a bunch of studies just to make sure everything is alright. I’ve had no symptoms other than a sharp pain on my chest a few weeks ago. My doctor thinks it the pain was probably due to stress, but I seem to be healthy otherwise. I’ve been monitoring my blood pressure every day too since it tends to get a little high when I am under a lot of stress. I have to admit it kind of freaked me out a bit when doctor told me. Especially, the way they told me. I had gotten a EKG and had already left the doctor’s office. As I was walking in the parking lot back to my car, a nurse came to get me and said that the doctor needed to talk to me.  When I went back in, she was all like, “I need to inform you about something but please don’t be alarmed”. I was obviously alarmed after she said these words and cried like a baby once I got home. But then J and I Googled the issue and we found out people can live normal lives with that condition. I just need to be more mindful of my heart and be extra aware of my diet so I don’t worsen the problem.

2012 Wrap-Up

In keeping with last year’s promise of writing a wrap-up post to reflect on the highlights and lowlights of the current almost-over year, I’m recapping 2012. This time I managed to get it done before the actual end of the year.So, go me!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I can think of a few things: I moved in with my fiance. Got married!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I’m kind of over resolutions to be honest. I made a big deal of resolutions around this time last year, but I’m just not in the mood to do that now. I did keep some of last year’s. Others not so much. Maybe I will go over them. Maybe I won’t.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friends A and J had a lovely baby girl! She is so cute!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not anyone in my immediate or extended family, but some people I knew and cared for died in violent circumstances. It is so sad to even think about those things. My heart still breaks.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. I want to travel, but there is not enough money or time. Here’s to hoping it will happen in 2013

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More free time to read for pleasure.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 11, November 13 and December 28. I moved in with J, my mom’s visa was denied and I married the love of my life on those dates respectively.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I managed to keep an A average in all my classes. I paid off my car and student loan. Not to be all lovey dovey, but also, I GOT MARRIED! That is a huge accomplishment in my book.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I neglected my health. Ignoring my migraines and not working out as regularly as I should have.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Migraines were more frequent in 2012 than they were in 2011. What gives, brain?

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My wedding gown. I know, I know. I need to shut up about it already.

12. Where did most of your money go?

School tuition, books, and Christmas presents.

13. What did you get really excited about?

Wait for it…

My wedding! (Are you sensing a theme here?)

14. What song will always remind you of 2012?

It has to be “Call Me Maybe”, although I despise that song. It was just playing every-freaking-where!
15. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter?Richer or poorer?

Happier, same, richer.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercising. Sleeping. Saving.>>>>Same as last year!

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stressing. Worrying. Buying so much damn stuff.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Exactly as I did last year. Visiting my husband’s family down south. ( I just had to type the word “husband” somewhere. Ha!)

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Still Dexter.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

I loved Stay by Allie Larkin. I didn’t read much for fun this year.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

Pandora’s Spa Radio Station.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Life of Pi was great. Also, the teenager in me loved Breaking Dawn 2 and The Hunger Games.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28. I went out to dinner with J and received awesome presents.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I could have spent at least a week with my mom.>>>>>> Same from last year

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Other than the fact that I wore a lot of coral in the Summer and dark blue in the Fall, it pretty much stayed the same.

26. What kept you sane?

Long phone calls to my mom. My loving husband. Audio-books for my long commute.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Good things come to those who wait.