I love my neighborhood.

I love where I'm living in Columbus this year. Within walking distance, there is virtually everything I could possibly need. If only my restaurant were a lot closer, I might never have to drive this summer!

Today I walked to the post office and library, with a stop at Panera for a patio lunch and at the garden center to check out the veggie plants. My friend and I have discussed planting a garden in her backyard, and I'm really hoping we follow through with it! She also lives within walking distance. I planted my herb garden this week. I opted for starter plants rather than seeds so that I don't have to wait as long for results. Basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley are hanging out on my windowsill (on the outside).

I also just learned that my FAVORITE ice cream flavor at a local "gourmet" ice cream place has made its return. I learned of it a little too late today or else I could have had some for lunch since the ice cream shop is along the way to the library.

I hope to make walking virtually everywhere a habit this summer. If I can condition myself over the summer, I hope I can continue when I start back to school. It's only a 1.7 mile walk according to Google so really, it shouldn't be too difficult until the weather gets nasty. Even then, I could probably walk all but the worst of days, and on those days I could take a bus part of the way. I just don't want to buy a parking pass for a tiny drive!

So that's what's up with my world right now. I'm adoring this taste of summer, and I can't wait for it the weather to actually stick around!

Still Around...

Just don't have much to write about! My days are pretty mundane right now--working or hanging out at home. I'll be bartending in the near future, so perhaps I will have some interesting stories then.

With spring and summer around the corner, I might try to chronicle my attempts at gardening. With pictures!

I just can't think of anything to write about!

Depressing...

It's absolutely depressing to hear at least a few times a month of a murder-suicide or just a suicide, committed by a sad soul who has fallen on hard financial times with no light ahead of them. I can't imagine the place you must be in if you feel that the death of yourself (and your family) is better than fighting back from poverty. :-(

So far we've been lucky--my mom hasn't lost her job, my brother and I still have our jobs, and my boyfriend has only lost cost of living raises at his job.

C'mon economy! Buck up!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Today was my interview at OSU for admission to the College of Optometry and...

I AM THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2013!

Yay.

New Year's Resolutions?

I didn't consciously make any real resolutions this year. However, there were a bunch of "chores" I wanted to get done, so maybe I can consider those resolutions? We finally arranged the furniture the way we wanted and hung pictures on the walls, which I'm very happy about! The top of my dresser is finally visible, and I was able to put the up fountain I got for Christmas.

I'm also getting around to organizing my recipes--writing up the keepers and putting them in my cookbook and sorting through my Rachael Ray mags for the recipes I want to try. I don't want to keep the old issues, especially when I'm getting new issues again (and issues of Cooking Light).

I've also done some "cooking to freeze". I've made soup and chili and frozen portions so that I have stuff to eat for lunch and won't be tempted to run out to fast food or the grocery. We're trying to save money around here and food is one of our biggest spending sprees. Oops.

Of course there's also the general stuff that I always want to do: drink more water, eat healthier, exercise, spend less, blah blah. I might make my boyfriend join a gym with me--it's 24 hours and really close to where we live. I want to get more fit, not necessarily lose any weight. Hopefully when the weather gets warmer I can get out and walk around the neighborhood.

Oh. Hey, I'm back!

I've been terribly MIA around here. Oops! I just returned from Christmas Vacation 2--Gatlinburg (with my boyfriend's family). It was fun and relaxing, but I hope that next year we don't go anywhere other than his grandma's farm. Just too much pressure. I would like to go back to Gatlinburg when it is warmer and do some more hiking, perhaps a horseback ride, and one or two of the fun commercial places (most likely Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum). We went to Tanger outlet mall, and it was a real letdown. There weren't many "factory" stores so everything was basically the same thing you'd get back home--except with a 9.5% sales tax. Yikes!

My favorite souvenir would be my newest spoon for my collection--a porcelain spoon with a sea turtle from the Aquarium of the Smokies. I'm also excited about my cherry pit pack and flax seed eye pillow.

I have to get back to cleaning now. And making a grocery list. We have no food!

I DID IT!

I took my OAT today! My unofficial score overall is a 360/400! That's above the average for all three of the schools I applied to, so I'm not going to worry about retaking the test.

I'm so relieved!!

Change for America

It gives me chills to hear "the First Black President". It seems unreal!

Congratulations Barack Obama and Joe Biden!

I'm happy to live in a blue state (even though it sure doesn't look like one!) and I'm happy that both Ohio counties I call home are blue :-)

Random thoughts on a chilly Thursday

Yes, I'm still alive. For most of October I was working every day of the week, except Wednesdays. I'm now a supervisor, which means I get to be the night manager on duty on Tuesdays. Whee! I really like doing it (in addition to the nice paycheck it brings).

My AeroGarden plants are growing well. Of the three, one didn't germinate. I think that's because the seeds were on TOP of the pod instead of in it.

I managed to make my desk more comfortable today. It has a keyboard tray, and before the tray would only pull out a little bit (about halfway out from under the desk top). Frustrated with that this morning, I pulled it really hard and it slid out "all" the way. There must have been some "stop" that I needed to get past and hadn't done before.

My favorite Quaker Instant Oatmeal is Dinosaur Eggs. Yes, it tastes the same as the other brown sugar oatmeal. But I love the dinosaurs!

I'm applying to three optometry schools: Ohio State, Indiana University, and Illinois College of Optometry. I just have to finish the personal statement for the applications, get my letters of recommendation into the colleges, and take the Optometry Admissions Test. I take that on December 3, so wish me luck. I'm SO nervous.

My boyfriend is on the "nights" portion of his shift work, so he works from 7p to 7a, and sleeps all day. It's very strange to know that he's here...but I can't talk to him. Urgh. It gives me plenty of quiet time to study, but I don't get to see very much of him. Just a smidge here and there. Tonight we both don't work, so we'll get to hang out for awhile. Yay!

I love walking to the grocery! We live right across the street from Kroger, and I get some minor exercise by walking over there a handful of times per week. It also ensures that I don't overbuy things since I have to carry it all home. Nice little system :-) I really need to make a walking plan and walk every day, but I haven't gotten motivated yet. And then it got cold. Bleh. Perhaps when spring arrives?

Gas prices are absolutely amazing right now. $2.18 at my favorite gas station.

I wish we had a kitty to keep me company. And to roll around in the glorious patches of sunshine on our carpet. *Sigh*

Until next time...

New Toy

This is my new toy. The AeroGarden3. It was impossible to get a good picture of it because of the bright growing light! I've wanted one for a LONG time, and now that they sell a slightly less expensive 3 plant model, I decided it was time. I really want to be able to grow herbs in my kitchen. I tried the Chia Herb Garden, and it went well for awhile, then everything died. There are currently flowers growing in there because I didn't want to waste herb seeds if it didn't work. So far, after 3 days I've got...

Fantasy petunia!


Stock! I assume it's just a random flower with no name :-)

So I'll let these grow until they bloom, then I'll plant my Tuscan Italian Herb pods. I'll have to choose from these: Mint, Genovese Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Italian Parsley, and Savory. Decisions...