A blessing and a curse....

Pros and Cons of getting the Wisdom teeth out
Pros: Percocet, ice cream, having a reason to do nothing, getting taken care of by the family, pretty much
everyone is nice to you, mostly b/c they feel sorry for your unfortunate appearance
Cons: HUGE cheeks, wooziness due to percocet, can't eat real food, being under house arrest due to unfortunate appearance

I am now well into my 3rd post-op day of recovery, and pretty much bored the hell out of my mind. I have watched at least 5 romantic comedies, 3 of which turned out to be huge disappointments (basically they didnt end up together in the end...WTF?). I have consumed a pint of coffee ice cream, some refried beans and scrambled eggs over the past few days, and my first order of business once I am able to eat real food again is to get a Tender Crisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch from Burger King. And I do blame most of my hankering for one on those commercials- I just love them, and do sing along to them when they come on.

Have enjoyed the well-wishings from friends and family. Nick and Kristi were kind enough to stop by w/ a little gift, which was very sweet. Oh and Kristi, thanks for not making a big deal about my face, you were sweet to lie :) "It's not that bad Natalie..." Hahahaha. Just hope I can recover soon, because this weekend is Lisa's birthday, and since I missed her entire birthday last year...ummm yeah....I did have a good reason...anyway, I want to celebrate! Both that and be able to celebrate my graduation- I know I kind of have all of spring quarter to do that, but it doesn't seem like I actually did graduate, seeing as how I was under the knife exactly 21 hours after my last test ended. Congratulations to me :)

Mrahhhhh. Ok, am now going to either conquer a game on MSN.com, or channel surf for a couple of hours.

Summertime

"And we all sit round,
here in our home town,
listen to the waves,
as they all crash down,
and watch the fire,
as it slowly burns away,
glowin' ambers,
fly across the sky,
your here by my side,
in the summer, all last summer.
The world passes by,
in the summer, all last summer."

Kad naks vasara?!?

The ladies... 

The boys... 

Me, Megs, and Heder at the All American for Mardi Gras 

Oh what a night....

..or two or three, hahaha! Holy crap, what a fun weekend. The chaos began on Friday with the sorority dance, which was a surprisingly pleasant evening. I asked my friend Chris who was such a fun date, and Lisa asked a fun guy too. We served tacos and Alix attempted to make Guava-ritas (which in all actuality became glasses of tequila with crushed ice and a splash of Guava juice. Ew.) The dance was at the Westin- also surprising, seeing as how an average of 4 girls are in the bathroom puking, when really no one got sick and everyone was in a semi-controlled state of drunkeness. Also, the whole PC turned out, sooooo, it was just great. Lots of fun dancing, got to dance with the crazy sis (who was smashed ;) j/k breeze). Afterwards we attempted to continue the party at Risa's cocktail soiree, but we were too tired. Then, the next night was the Nut Hut party. I, stupidly, wore my cutest and most uncomfortable shoes which tore up my feet on the 12 block walk there and back. Ouchie.
Having my midterm on Monday prevented me from getting too wasted so that I would have to sleep all day, so that turned out to be a relatively early night. BUT, Sunday night, despite my impending midterm the next day, Lisa and I went out with Risa and Dean to celebrate their birthdays at the ole' Emigrant. So fun, saw Ward and JJ from the old Ridgewood crew. Just good talking that ended up being 2 hours. Va bene- life's too short. And, I think my midterm went fine so, woohoo!
Valentine's Day brought no good things, but no bad things. Just an ordinary Monday- perhaps its better that way. Better, at least, than having a crappy ass Monday that just happens to be Valentine's Day so it just multiplies the crappiness of it. Nope, it was a fine day. So is today, just absolutely beautiful.
Today at the elemenatry school, the teacher of the class I tutor in had me read to the class. Why I was a ltitle nervous at first, I have no idea- they are only 8 and 9 yrs old! But, I loved it, kind of like acting in a way. Latvian wasn't bad today at all. Soon its time for dinner with Omi and the sibs, yum. Perhaps Italian? Haven't had that for a while.
Another day, another week. Keep on truckin, and look forward to the good things that are happening or are going to happen. Cheers!

That was a crazy night....

Last night was so much fun, a little crazy, and included alot of loud drunkeness. Awesome. We started the night off by celebrating Briana's 22nd birthday at Ruth's Chris- fun because we got to see our long-lost roomie Michelle who works there! I ordered the Ahi appetizer for happy hour, which ended up being 4 miniscule strips of fish. Really good, but hardly the sustinence I needed for a night of drinking. After that, I did some things around the apartment, and then Risaroo came over and we began the festivities. And when Lisa and Michelle finally joined us, and after 1/2 and hour of trying to call a cab, we ended up at the Ballroom in Freemont. So fun! All of our pledge class and a whole pack of Pikes were there, so it was so fun. And, to top off the dancing, the last song was "More than a Feeling"!!!! My and Lisa's song----needless to say we were flipping out, it was great. Then, we went to a Pike liveout house at like 3am.....played some pool (and was getting hit on by a guy who just turned 20, ummmmm, riiiigghhhtttttt)....tried to get the girls to come back home with me (didn't work) and ended up getting to bed at the respectable hour of 4:45am. But, feel great now, as have just cleaned kitchen and room and done a bunch of laundry. Feel as though have accomplished some great feat. Perhaps I should celebrate again tonight.....

Song of the Day: More than a Feeling- Boston

My brain has turned to mush

Today was my 4 1/2 hour Washington Educator Skills Test, and I am now completely drained. And the test wasn't even that hard! Basic grammar, reading assessment, and basic algebra. There was just so much of it! But now I am a little farther along towards achieving my goal so, yeah, I'm just glad its over with. Am starting to worry slightly about financial situation, seeing as how I would like to go to Mazatlan for Spring Break, however I have some other housekeeping issues that need dealing with. For example, virtually every electronic device I have is either broken, severely outdated, or (most often) both. My computer is not only old, but its power cord is almost completely frayed, and the screen is hanging on by one hinge. My phone is a Nokia brick phone that I have had since 11th grade (over 5 years ago) and it is constantly switching off at inappropriate moments. My discman must be held together with 2 rubberbands in a very distinct formation, or else it will not work. And my CD player is from the 5TH GRADE. It has been a trusty old piece of machinery, however, now its almost impossible to turn the volume down, and CDs usually never play on it. Oh, and there is a hole in my ceiling in my room at the apartment. Feel like am living in broken down shack.

Time to sit down with the vino and start my resume!

Good Weekend

Well, it was very nice to come home this weekend. Funny how being "away" from home for even just 2 weeks seems like a long time. Was soooo good to see family. Found a very important admission ticket that I will need next week to take the West-B exam (for my Masters in Teaching appl.). Last night went to Mego's apartamento which was hosting a white trash bash. I think everyone looked sufficiently/convincingly white trash, so that was fun. There was even an illicit baby being passed around! So nice to see the Roma girls- we topped off the night with a couple swigs of the last of my store of Limoncello from Positano, but- va bene!! It was so worth it. Broham came, which was so fun. Glad he got to meet my friends. Oh, and today the whole family went to Logan's soccer game and ...dundunaduuuhhhhhhh..........he scored a GOAL!!! First one of the season for him, we were so excited :) Wahoo. Sadly, tomorrow I have a buttload of work to do, even though it is MLK Day.
Oh, and I'm a little freaked b/c it sounds like we have an animal running around our attic. Sick. I'm going to sleep with a stick next to my bed.

If

If

Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!


New favorite poem....*sigh*...