I survived my first lab.

Today, I made it through my first chem lab. Granted, I am sure it will be the easiest one, but I made it through. And I made it through while only getting 6+ hours of sleep (my fault), not having any coffee this morning and having forgot to read the material beforehand (I need to learn to view my lab and my lecture as two completely different classes).

So yeah! I made it!

I got it!

I got the job! Yeah! See you in May when I am not so busy!

I'm c-c-cold...

I can't seem to warm up today, the chill has settled in my feet and toes and my feet are one of my main body temperature regulators. Agh.

Anyways, I got the Wine Bible I asked for! And the Oxford Companion to wine! Thanks to Noble and Karen for this fabulous, fabulous gift. I have only read two pages of the Wine Bible and already I have more knowledge than before I started. I love those kind of books. Again, thank you so much to my fabulous in-laws.

I find out today or tomorrow whether I get the part time job I interviewed for yesterday. It seems really cool and laid back which is just what I need if I am going to be working on top of my 35 hours at Whole Foods and 5 hours of school. I get spa discounts, free use of their facilities and one free meal (gourmet, healthy meals) each time I work. Cool! So, cross your fingers and do a little jig to send good luck my way.

Chris has an interview today for a part time tutoring job at a learning center here in town. Also, there might be a grocery position open at my store that he applied for last night. Again, another little jig for Chris, please.

Also, I might put up a shared daily planner online. If you would like to be on the list of people who can view this planner (ahem, Ann), then let me know and I will add you and try to keep it updated so you know where I am at all times...ummm, scary...but sometimes necessary.

Much love,
michelle

P.S.

My birthday is this week. I am not asking for presents. BUT, if you are one of those types who gives presents even when I beg and plead for you not to, here are some ideas of what I want:

4 4by4s beams
enough lumber to make a small and modest chicken coop (could involve tin, 4by4s, and chicken wire)
1 or 2 cubic yards of granite gravel
1 cubic yard of garden dirt
gutters
The Wine Lover's Bible

Seriously. Those things I was planning on buying until Chris decided to look for other work. I am sure they would make lovely bday presents. BUT you don't have to get me anything. Seriously.

First day of school...

After an extra week of waiting (thanks Ice Storm 2007), my classes begin today. I am taking General Chemistry and an Aerobics course.

This will be a v.v. busy semester for me indeed as I also might be getting a part time job too. We'll see if I can get a PT job that fits in with my schedule.

Here is my schedule without the PT job:
Monday- class from 8-240
home

Tuesday- work at Whole Foods (time varies)

Wednesday- class from 1035-240
work evening at Whole Foods

Thursday- same as Tuesday

Friday- same as T Th

Saturday- work at Whole Foods, usually in evening

Sunday- off

With a PT job, I might be working at Whole Foods on T TH in the mornings and the PT job those evenings. I have a lead but haven't officially interviewed yet. Keep sending us your prayers and thoughts as Chris searches for a job. We are getting to the point where anything will help, including going back to waiting tables. Sheesh.

Much love,
michelle

Snow, ice sledding, four days off in a row...

So, I always have Sunday off and this week, I also had Monday off. But with the snow, ice and sleet, I got today off as well. And then tomorrow, I wasn't scheduled to work! Whoo hoo! The only downside is with Chris only being a sub now at his work, I..well, I need to be working. Overtime if I can. So, I might try to make it in tomorrow anyway just in case there are others who can't come in. We are sure to be open tomorrow with temps getting back above freezing.

I might be getting a small part time job. There is one that looks somewhat promising as a server at a spa/resort. It is only about ten hours a week and I get 10 an hour with discounts at the resort and free gym membership. But with all this weather, I have only heard back from the contact person yesterday and they are sure to be closed today.

Molly getting some ice sledding action.


Adam wipes out.


The skateboard with no wheels? Who need wheels when you got ice and inclines?



Masked and punk.



Cutest ladies eva'!


More pictures to come on my flickr site soon! http://flickr.com/photos/goldjohnson

Peace and warmth!
Michelle

Getting there...

So, the closet is done! A round of applause to Chris for making it possible and also making it fabulous! I actually enjoyed putting away clothes today because it was all in one area and it looked so cool.

Am I boring you yet?

Well, I guess I'll have to "jazz" this blog up with some pictures of our closet (photos thanks to Santa, for bringing us our camera).
Main view of the closet:


My jewelry cubbie in our closet:


Shoe cubbie:



Top shelves in the closet for sweaters and linens:


Whoo hoo! Fun stuff.

Other than that, we spent the entire day yesterday doing Nothing. Yup. Nothing with a capital N. It was Chris' last holiday before going back to school and I wanted the day to be lazy and free of chores. It was. Except I am paying for it today, but that is okay. I can clean before I have to go into work.

School starts next week. I am taking Gen Chem I. For those of you who never know when the right time to call me is, here are my hours for the spring semester, starting next monday:
Monday- class from 8-1150, 1250-225
Tuesday- work at Whole Foods
Wednesday- class from 1035-1150, 1250 -2, work night at whole foods
Thursday- work at whole foods
Friday- work at whole foods
Saturday-work at whole foods
Sunday- off

All right. That's it. Have a good week all!

2007

The new year is here. Farewell 2006. You were a decent year. Actually it was a pretty good year. I could look back on it and think, "Oh, I didn't shape up like I was planning to or get organized or get out of debt" but I did make new friends, bring home old friends, swim in the Atlantic Ocean and see a wild grey seal, I did finally find a therapist who helping me turn my life around, finish a class and get an A in it. And, of course, I still have my health, my wonderful husband, and home. So 2006, thanks.

We had a New Year's party. It was a dress up party and it turned out to be a small gathering, but fun, nonetheless. Here are some shots from it:

Brandy even dressed up for the occassion.


Chris and I pose for our prom picture.



If you would like to see more, I posted most of them on our flickr site (flickr.com/photos/goldjohnson).

And I have decided to make resolutions this year. I decided to stop being indecisive and DO something. I think resolutions fit in nicely with that theme:

Make decisions and DO them...ie: Get my botany degree. No more of this going back and forth between botany and nursing. I started to think about nursing because I thought it would be more practical as I can make money doing it and almost always find work anywhere....but plants and nature excite me more than the science of animals...so I should do that. Who cares? Just get my damned degree and then worrying about making money.

Get more organized, in my home and with my studies

Work on getting out of debt

Workout more

Eat smaller portions to help with the next resolution

Lose weight to be healthier and lessen my chances of heart disease, breast cancer, and diabetes (all of which run in my family)

Love more

Forgive more

Dance more (cheesy I know)

Try to care less about what people think of me.

There. I think that might be all for now.

Much love,
Michelle