Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sweet Surprise

Friday evening, I hung out with the Correll-Hughes'. Not only are they great people, it just nice to feel as though you are known. I enjoyed getting to know new people and making new friendships, but every now and again it's nice to go...where everybody knows your name.

Anyway.

When I arrived at the CH home, Larry mentioned that his friend Megan who worked in Housing at UGA would be joining us but that she was late and we should start eating. After dinner, we sat out on the porch chatting. There was a knock at the door and Larry went to answer it. As two women entered the house, I thought, wow, his friend Megan looks a lot like my friend Megan.

Then it hit me. It WAS my friend Megan. Ha.

Rewind to earlier in the day. I was hanging out with Laura. Laura is a 2nd year in the Masters program and did her summer internship at Baylor. I was using her ticket into the game, as she wasn't going to be going. When she gave me her ID (how the student tickets are issued) she also gave me another ticket. She said this was in case I couldn't get in on her ID. I laughed and asked if she remembered Megan from Baylor. I made some sort of comment that Megan was going to be upset because I had an extra ticket to the Arkansas v. Georgia game (Meg is Arkansas alum).

Fast forward. I was surprised to see Megan, I even asked...what are you doing here? Then I laughed and told her she was in luck, that I 'randomly' had an extra ticket to the game. Oh yeah, not random.

Megan had planned it. All very last minute of course. Her friend Alicia had posted on facebook that she wanted to go to the Arkansas Georgia game. Megan asked her if she was serious, since Alicia currently resides in the state of Arkansas. She was. So they began trying to make plans. It wasn't until Wednesday that things looked like a go. Megan had called Laura, secured a ticket, talked with Larry and Christy to make sure I was around. And the rest...history.

It was a nice visit. Quick, but nice.

Saturday we went to the game. Saturday night we hung out with some of Megan's Arkansas people. Sunday (today) she left to go back to Little Rock (drop off Alicia) then head back to Waco.

What a fun surprise!

Megan and I on the bus to the game
Noon kick off, it was hot!
SEC football! WOOHOO!
Goooooo Dawgs, Sic Em, woof, woof, woof, woof
Sorry for the whistler, and yes, she was just as annoying in person. SEC football is something to marvel at. We were in the 'overflow' student section as the first was filled AND we figured it may be safer for Megan as an Arkansas fan. I was excited to experience my first game with Megan. Again, what a fun surprise!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

101 things to do in 1001 days

A friend, and member of my cohort, introduced me to a website called Day Zero Project. It's a site that lets you create a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Interestingly enough, if I had started this on the first day of class (Aug 16th), 1001 days later would be the day after graduation, May 13th.

Although I'm a month behind, I thought it would be fun to create a list of things I wanted to do & accomplish during these next three years.

Here is the beginning of the list

Walk across the stage (one final time)
Visit the Georgia Coast
Visit North Carolina
Visit South Carolina
Visit Kentucky
Be the first author on a published paper
See the Appalachian trail head (GA)
Purchase sweat pants
Run a 5k
Go to Disney World
Create a list of 101 things to do
Get contacts
Go to a planetarium
Go to a drive in movie theater
Run warrior dash
Run the Nike Women's marathon
Participate in the urban adventure race
Visit the Florida keys
Send a note via balloon
Write a letter to my future self
Learn to water ski
Road trip back to Texas
Pictures with the uga mascot around Athens
Attend a SEC football game
A one month photo journal
Watch the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean
Apply to be a court appointed special advocate (CASA)
Go to a UGA gymnastics match

Obviously I need to put this list together quickly as I'm already behind. Thus I'm soliciting you for suggestions. :) Thoughts?

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

California Dreaming

This weekend, I flew out to California to spend some time with my grandparents. Additionally, my sister found a flight and was able to join the party. We had a wonderful visit with our grandparents.

Here are some pictures from the (quick) wonderful trip.
On Sunday, my aunt, uncles, and cousins also joined for lunch. While my cousin was there, she fashioned her new work outfit. After she left, my grandma fashioned the jacket she got when she was up in Portland last time visiting my mom & sister. She needed a little coaxing, but came out parading the coat. :)
While sitting around eating dessert, my grandpa was looking at pictures on my sisters iPhone, amazed by all the things it could do.
We had to leave early Monday morning in order for my sister to catch her flight out of San Francisco. Unfortunately, both grandma & grandpa were in bed, which we thought might be the case, so we said goodbyes Sunday evening.
My dad took us to the airport on Monday. Since there was a bit of time between my sisters flight and mine, we went to Pier 39, ate sea food, visited with my Aunt Laura & Uncle Robert, and of course made a stop at In-N-Out before heading to the airport.
Although the trip was quick, I know I was extremely blessed to have been able to spend the weekend with my grandparents. Not only was the timing perfect, I was able to find a flight for around $350 with a weeks notice. Amazing. I know I am blessed to have almost 30 years of memories with my grandparents, and call me selfish, but I hope and pray that I have many many more to come!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Labor Day 2010

Since I don't work Friday's, I've been trying to determine what to do with my four day weekend. Many ideas came to mind. Visit friends in Texas. Visit friends in South Carolina. Read, study, and feel accomplished. Stay at home and veg. Or book a plane ticket at the last minute to see my grandparents on the other side of the country.

Guess which won?

In addition to seeing my grandparents this weekend, I will also get to visit with my sister! We found her a flight too (thank you Continental frequent flyer miles)! She'll be flying in on Friday evening and I'll be flying in Saturday morning (which also leaves Friday for me to bust my butt reading and such).

I am so grateful to be able to spend this time with my family, and I'm thrilled I found a flight for a decent amount of money on such short notice.

There are many other things to update on, but this was the most pressing for the moment. Thank you to those of you who continue to keep my family in your prayers during this time!