mixed up time zones...

so you've been wondering where i've been, let me fill you in...

if you haven't been wondering, you should have been, and if you don't care, then why are you reading this? heehee... i'm sassy today.

anywhooo... after my wonderful awards banquet last week, thursday was intense day of work. lots of things to get done before i flew out friday morning. not too mention, we had a program in which we rented a theater and had a midnight showing of angels & demons for the students. it was great! i even got the chance to have my second date with the driver. :o) i had a blast. he's gorgeous, smart, funny, and sweet... it's ridiculous.

the issue was we didn't get home from the program until after 2:30am and we had to be on the road to the airport at 4:30am. ugh. the driver made sure i made it in plenty of time, but we sure didn't get any sleep. that made for a rough day friday.

i flew into baltimore and after picking up a few of my other sisters we headed to HQ to work for the weekend. we stayed at the office until almost midnight on friday and because some of us sisters don't see each other anytime except these events throughout the year, we stayed up until the wee hours chatting and catching up. we started bright and early at 8am on saturday (yes, that's 5am socal time!) headed back to the office and we didn't leave until after 11pm, where i then went back to the hotel to finish up some of my regualr work via computer and free wireless, then we all headed out to crapplebees to fill up on appetizers and mucho-sized drinks (their mango-strawberry margarita is TASTY!). so then after a night of being up way too late again, we started at am and worked straight through until the time we need to be dropped off at the airport. you might be wondering the benefits of this intense weekend??? well, i love to volunteer and they fed us really really well! heehee.

now sunday i didn't fly back to socal. i actually flew to the midwest, arrived around 10pm and was picked up and driven to my hotel (which i didn't realize that the 45 minutes trip would not only take me through #23's town but directly past his road... i text him to say hi and after he said hi back and asked what i was doing in the area he never replied... oh well, i guess being friends is out of the question). i arrived at my hotel at around 11pm and then tried desperately to get some sleep... unfortunately i was much too nervous because...

monday i had an interview! it started at 8am and went all throughout the day. i was driven back to the hotel around 7:30pm... can you say long day!!! the interview went really well and i think it would be an extremely good fit for me... i guess i'll just have to wait and see what happens. fingers crossed. that's a whole other topic... you all know i don't much like socal, but i am going to have a hard time leaving my students... ugh.

so i was up and at the airport by 5:30am (yes, 3:30am socal time!)... and when i got back to my apartment around 1pm, i changed quick and then headed back into work...

and that takes me to now. not quite sure what time it is, or isn't or is supposed to be, or what i feel like it is... and i know i need sleep because the rest of this week/weekend are going to be just as intense as the past weekend... but i'm all a jumbled mess right now!

some of my favorite highlights:

• getting to spend time with the driver.
• seeing my sisters and laughing, a lot!
• interviewing for a great job back in the midwest.
• running into people in the elevator.
• wearing a big bow.
  
• being in the midwest.
• good text messages.
• making the driver "feel weird", lol.
• wishing i had a lion.
  
• realizing i have a lot to offer professionally.
• eating way too much!
• heading back to work and realizing how much people missed me...
  

Read more...

my heart is all swelled up...

tonight was my big awards banquet.

i've been planning it for weeks and weeks. i've completely reworked the awards and the application process and the event. it stressed me out. it drove me crazy.

but it was so worth it.

to see all of the individuals and chapters being recognized for all of their hard work. to honor all of the advisors and leaders that dedicate so much of their time and effort to the fraternal movement. to be in a room full of my students talking, laughing, and sharing in each others accomplishments.

it was worth it.

my keynote went great. i spoke about fraternal relevance and not only managed to get a few oohs and ahhs but even a few laughs.

and the best part...

my students surprised me at the end of the night with an award to honor me. they showered me with love and even got me gorgeous flowers. sweet smelling star-gazers lilies to be exact.

i cried.

i am so lucky to be able to do what i do.

Read more...

if today was not an endless highway...

if tonight was not a crooked trail
if tomorrow wasn't such a long time
then lonesome would mean nothing to me at all

yes, and only if my own true love was waiting
if i could hear his heart softly pounding
yes, and only if he was lying by me
would i lie in my bed once again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

so as i have mentioned earlier, i have been trying out the whole online dating thing. besides the fact that any and all men in my life live in another state, which makes the whole commitment thing a bit difficult, i seem to be running short in the friend department these days. so... i put myself out there. i figured that even if i don't find my soul mate (even if i end up with mr. west) i could meet some new friends.

this has been my experience so far:

• lots of creepy messages from even creepier fellas (including married men)
• lots of really weaksauce attempts at witty/intelligent e-mails
  
• a fair share of x-rated messages from fellas i've never communicated with previously
• lots of lamesauce messages from fellas who clearly didn't ever even glance at my profile, just looked at my photos
  
• and a handful of interesting fellas

among those interesting fellas, here is a rundown of the most interesting:

• the soccer player - who i decided to have dinner with and then realized after meeting him in person that he is gay. and i'm not trying to be rude here people, this fella is gay... he just hasn't admitted it to himself yet.
• the dude - who i had a few beers with but then realized that all he does is drink beer and talk about philosophy and theory.
• the professor - he teaches religious studies and when we met for lunch he didn't wait for me to get there to be seated (i had to search the restaurant for him) and even though he asked me to lunch, i paid. yes, you read that right. check came, he just sat there. i pulled out my wallet (thinking to myself that he would, too and we would at least go dutch) and he continued to just sit there. seriously. that's class.
• texas - who lives approximately 1300 miles away but we just so happen to get along great (of course he lives in another state, why wouldn't he? lol) but he scares me a bit when he talks about visiting.

and the best:

• the driver - he's interesting, never fails to make me laugh, we have a lot in common (but not too much), his smile could make ANYONE smile, he's intelligent, random, my age (strange, right?) completely gorgeous... i mean devastatingly handsome people (makes me wonder why he's single???), and we connected by quoting on of my fave movies... heehee.
  

we finally met in person last night and it was wonderful. it may have been one of the best dates i've ever been on. no, wait. it was one of the best dates (not that i've been on many "dates", i tend to have the "let's hang out" kind of scenario more often... anyone have that issue?), hands down. i was nervous, i changed 4 times, i actually did something with my hair, and did i mention i was nervous? but it was so good... we had dinner, talked, laughed, talked, saw a movie.

and then after he dropped me off and walked me to the door he kissed me. and ladies... i felt the tingle. the spark. i felt all wiggly inside and i'm not going to lie... if he had kissed me any more my thighs would have started to itch... it was glorious.

and he text me before he had even made it home to thank me for the evening, let me know how much fun he had, and how he couldn't wait to see me again.

and i spent my 15 hour work day today with a shit-eating grin on my face... all day. :o)

Read more...

happy mother's night...

hahahaha!

i love JT on SNL - this is hilarious...

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Read more...

FREE chocolate...

yes, i said FREE* chocolate!!!

sign up at the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act every friday until september and you could win coupons for FREE* chocolate... i did!

from their website:

what is real chocolate relief?

Times are tough and we at Mars want to help. How, you ask? Every Friday through September, Mars will give away FREE* real chocolate to 250,000 people. That means you can enjoy your favorite Mars candy brands—M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS®, MILKY WAY® and DOVE®— for free*!

what is real chocolate?

U.S. Standards of Identity are government regulations that define which ingredients may be used to make a food product in order to be allowed to call it by a certain name. For chocolate, the Standards of Identity require that cocoa butter be the only source of fat (except for milk fat). There are several other requirements too, such as a specific amount of chocolate liquor, use of flavorings and sugar substitutes.

* limit: 250,000 Coupons per Friday (9:00:00AM ET to 11:59:59PM ET)

Read more...

on a pizza?...

you know what's yummy?

pizza with cream cheese, pesto, angel hair pasta, pepperoni, sausage, cashews, green onions, and jack cheese.

they call it the "brando." i call it perfection.

oh... so... yummy.

Read more...

fave film characters...

i've been tagged by my BBF Nickie over at Learn to Fly =) to do a meme about my top 10 favorite film characters and tell you why they made my list. now people, this is going to be TOUGH (only 10?!) but i'll give it a whirl...

Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) - Sixteen Candles
she's got to be one of my all-time favorites! not only to i love love this movie, but when i was younger i wanted to BE molly ringwald. and who doesn't have a crush on Jake Ryan?!?!

Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) - The Graduate
this is a classic, seriously. dustin hoffman is absolutely amazing in this film, especially since it was his first film!

Bridget Jones (Rene Zellweger) - Bridget Jones's Diary & Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
i have one good reason for this pick: bridget jones is ME. heehee... oh how i can relate.

Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) - The GOONIES
who doesn't love the goonies??? this is one of my all-time favorites! i have it on VHS and DVD and even taped off of TV! and seriously, sean astin is so freakin' adorable in this movie. "it's our time, it's our time... down here!"

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) - The Departed
mmm, leo is so damn hot in this movie. i've seen it at least 12 times and it never gets old. great story (yay martin scorcese!), wonderful cast (how cool is mark walhberg and jack nicholas?) and leo is not just hot, he's amazing in this flick!

Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) - Green Street Hooligans
if you haven't seen it, you should. who would have thought that frodo baggins could be a BAD ASS??? well, it's not only funny, but it has depth and even a few tears... not to mention hard core fighting scenes! elijah is a great actor and i think this role is underrated.

Connor McManus (Sean Patrick Flannery) & Murphy McManus (Norman Reedus) - The Boondock Saints
yes, i kinda cheated putting them both in there (but hey, at least i cut it down to 10ish, i originally had 16!) this move is epic (yes, i'm nervous for the sequel... let's not fuck up a good thing, fingers crossed) and the McManus brothers are not only gorgeous (i have to admit connor is my fave! yum.) but they are just perfect in this film.

Creasy (Denzel Washinton) - Man on Fire
people, it's denzel. and the story is heart-wrenching . he's flawed, troubled, and yet somehow perfect. i cry every time i see it...

Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) - Big
don't you just love tom hanks?!?! i do! this is another of my all-time faves. and when i was younger i wanted to be just like josh baskin when i grew up, haha!

Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) - Pretty Woman
i'm not going to lie, i sort of want to be julia roberts. i even have the unruly vivian hair... lol. what's funny is that when i first saw the movie i had no idea what she did for a living, i didn't really get it at all. but now, i know its sort of an unreal, raunchy, stereotypical, fairytale type story... but i just love the idea of the fairytale and the happy ending. don't you? and julia is just so wonderful!

and that's my list! at least the 10 i decided on for today. hope you enjoy.

anyone else want to take a whirl? feel free!!!

Read more...

oh how the sun hates me...

i had a glorious day off today (which doesn't happen often) so i decided to hit up the beach.

it was wonderful, great weather, nice breeze, yummy picnic lunch, a good book... and of course the best people watching ever... venice beach is seriously one of the best places in the world to people watch! i love it!

the trouble started when i was walking through the people and checking out all of the street vendors. the backs of my legs felt funny. i looked back and realized i was pink. really pink. i didn't think too much of it because i had used sunblock and had asked my friends to let me know if i was getting red.

then the car ride back inland... ouchie. sitting down hurt. and i was cold... but burning all at the same time.

then i get home, walk into the bathroom and pull off my tank top and board shorts and untie my bikini...

i'm a lobster. a lobster with freckles and a white halter top bikini. seriously. you can see the outline of my new suit perfectly. it doesn't hurt too bad, but the back of me knees are oh so tender and trying to sleep is going to be fun... and i kinda feel nauseous. ugh.

seriously people, when you are a redhead and run out of spf45... spf 25 just doesn't cut it.

the sun hates me. (but i do have 8,347 new freckles...)

Read more...