the first week of school

after my first day of class

My brain is a little bit overloaded.  I'm going to keep this post nice and concise by just pointing out the highlights of the week.

• I've got some pretty stinking cool classmates
• Some fears were conquered
• I'm an expert on third class levers in the body (okay, maybe not an expert...)
• My instructors are wonderful
• Got to play with a box of bones (the ulna articulates with the trochlea of the humerus...)
• I ate PB&J every day 
• Experiencing overwhelming feelings of gratitude and appreciation

Another thing I discovered is that I need to do some major review on the anatomy of the body, so this whole weekend is pretty much dedicated to a stack of note cards and my anatomy atlas. I hope your weekend is just as exciting! 

happy birthday, Grampa Paul

My Gramps and me on my wedding day

As I am writing this, I realize that this will probably be published on June 9th, but June 8th is my Grampa's birthday.

It wasn't too long ago I wrote a post about my other Grampa. Well, let's just say last year was a difficult year for my family. My Grampa Paul passed away nine months ago, and today he would have been 83. 

Gramps was a difficult man to get to know, and somewhat intimidating. I remember how nervous I felt to call him up to tell him I was getting married, and his reaction sure didn't disappoint. I believe it was something to the effect of , " What?! Are you kidding!!!!???" As you can tell by the picture, he eventually warmed up to the idea.

Even though my Gramps wasn't the most sensitive man, nor was he open with his feelings, he never failed to let me know how much he loved me. I can't even count the number of times he would slip me a $50 bill for a little fun money, or send me e-cards, pass along helpful life skills tips, and show up to my softball games. Or that one time he drove 4 hours to pick me up and then take me to buy my first car. He was always looking out for me. 

My Grampa was articulate and intelligent. He lived humbly so he could give generously. He loved to eat. Watching him at Thanksgiving time was the best." Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm, this is SOOOOO good" he would say as he slowly (and I mean VERY slowly) polished off his plate. He loved his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. We would always here him pull up to our house with his dixieland jazz tunes blaring. He had a great appreciation for music and a stellar voice. He would always add a little bass line to any song he would listen to ..."bum, ba-bum, bumm". He loved to golf. He loved his family, even more than he loved his country. And that was a lot.

And he called me Andy. 

cloudy with a high of 65

I got this beauty in my bountiful basket and I can't wait until it's ripe.

Here we are. The first day of June. Looking outside, you'd never guess it was June. It more or less resembles April weather. But, there is one upside to the unusually cold weather. You see, my car has been nicknamed the "easy bake oven" because it's small, dark blue, and will slowly cook anyone riding in it. It is always at least 10 degrees warmer than the weather outside. Oh, and it doesn't have a working air conditioner. So this cool weather provides temporary relief while I'm driving.

Typically, I'm always a little sad to say good-bye to the month of May, but this year there's a lot to look forward to in the month of June.

• Ahhhh....the Farmers Markets. Though they started popping up in May, the good stuff doesn't really start to come out until June. I miss the market in my hometown in Wisconsin, but I'm trying to make the most of what's available here. I think it's important to support my local community, and this is such a fun way to do it. 

• At the end of this week, I am dropping down to working one shift a week at my job. As much as I love my job, I will not miss the crazy hours and unpredictable work schedule that is so not conducive to any sort of a social life. This schedule change will definitely help with finding some rhythm. 

• I'm getting a little visit from my dad and his wife. It's his first time out to the great northwest and thank goodness it happens to be a pretty "happening" weekend in my city. We'll be busy hanging out at the Farm Chicks Show to visit my friend, Becca, who is a vendor, and also head over to ArtFest and maybe even take a drive up to Green Bluff.  (Strawberry picking also starts in June! Bonus!)

• Next week, I actually get to have a couple of days off with TJ. That's right. No school. No work. No homework, even. This hardly ever happens, and so we always appreciate times like this. I'm thinking we're going to live it up with a drive to Coeur d'Alene, a little frisbee, and maybe even catch a flick. And definitely ice cream. 

• The biggest and best-est thing that's coming up the start of GRAD SCHOOL! I've been nervously anticipating this since I first got my acceptance letter on March 15, and now it's less than 3 weeks away. I just need to do a little school supply shopping and take some time to crack open my giant anatomy books to give myself a little refresher. I can't wait to meet my classmates, a.k.a. the 29 people I will spend all of my time with over the next 2.5 years. Maybe I'll even make some new friends. 

Here's to June, and all the good things it brings with it.

keep breathing

Almost four years ago, Pandora helped me discover Ingrid Michaelson. This was before hearing her songs in Old Navy commercials, Grey's Anatomy, or on the radio. I've been a fan for a while. 

Do you ever hear a song that seems to put to words exactly how you've been feeling? This song has done just that for me the last few days. 

It's been a season of change and adjustments. Between crazy school schedules for my husband (TJ) piled on top of his new job, combined with my crazy work schedule and the anticipation of grad school starting (in less than a month, may I add), it's left us wanting to get some rhythm back in our lives. 

It's on the horizon. I know it's coming. But for now, all I can do is keep breathing...

a very belated birthday present

For the most part, I've been attempting to make birthday presents instead of buy them this year. Unfortunately, I have failed miserably at getting them done in time. So far, my sister's gift is the latest. 

I finally got my sister her birthday present fourty-six days after her birthday.

I am a terrible sister. 

Also, instead of wrapping it, I had my little bro model it for her. He's such a good sport.

I found the tutorial here. The tutorial was great and the pictures were very helpful! The blogger mentioned that she whipped it together during her son's afternoon nap. I'm assuming her son napped for 15 hours or so, because that's about how long it took me.

Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out. But more importantly, I think my sister is too. 

fruits and veggies

I'm in day 5 of a week long fruit and veggie cleanse.

I have been thinking about doing something like this for months now. I have researched different kinds of detox diets and I knew I wouldn't be ready for anything like the Master Cleanse. I had been leaning toward a green food only detox, when last week I talked to a friend who had just done a fruit and veggie cleanse. Essentially, for 7 days you can eat as many fruits and veggies as your heart desires, but only fruits and veggies. It sounded much more doable, so a few days later I gave it a go.

Here's what I discovered.

If I was given the choice between dying and eating something I hate, say... mayo or seafood, I would probably die.

I don't eat for survival, I eat for pleasure.

I always kind of assumed I had an unhealthy attachment to food, but this solidified it. Almost all 4 nights I've gone to bed hungry, because I just can't seem to get myself to choke down anymore cauliflower or spinach. Typically, I have no problem eating my fruits and vegetables, but when it's the only thing I can eat it loses its appeal very quickly.

I'm not sure what to do with this realization. I'm not necessarily content in this, but for now I guess I'll just hope that I'm never in a "eat this or die" situation.

One thing that I have loved about the cleanse is my fruit smoothies for breakfast. My favorite part of the day. This morning I threw together a smoothie with strawberries, peaches, and a mango, and it was fantastic.

happy birthday, Grampa Don

*I'm not sure how I managed to go through the whole day thinking it was the 17th of May, which is my Grampa's actual birthday...not May 16th. I guess that's what happens when I have a day off work. 

Today would have been my Grampa's 79th birthday. He passed away a little over a year ago from cancer.

He was a remarkable man. I know my words can't do justice. He was a strong, but gentle man. He was the definition of a hard worker. He loved everyone and judged no one. He was intelligent and innovative. He was humble and always cared for others above himself. He had a great sense of humor it was so cute when he would make my Gramma blush. He was the best story teller. He spoke with such wisdom and depth. He always beat me at zilch, but he could never beat my Gramma. =) I miss him more than I can express, but I'm so thankful that I got to have him as my Grampa.