Divorce. Ack.

So my parents decided divorce is in the works for them. Rather, my mom decided. Then she decided she wanted to stay married. Then today she kicked my dad out of the house - again - and it seems the divorce is back on. Now, their entire marriage has been rather up-and-down-y, but geez, this is ridiculous. All I ask is to be left out of this, but my little sister is right in the middle, and even though she's 20, being mentally disabled means she doesn't quite understand what's going on. Only that everyone is mad at each other and threatening to never see the other person again. And that's pretty fucking traumatic to a child who adores both her parents. Ugh. Seriously, sometimes I want to smack my parents and tell them to grow up. Want a divorce? Fine. Great. But be mature about it. Do not completely freak out your mentally disabled child by making her believe she'll never see one of her parents again. Don't make her have to pick someone.

I swear, if I had a stable job, I'd just kidnap my little sister and have her live with me. The emotional environment here is SO much more stable.

Moving!

So I'm moving. Not out of state, just a couple blocks away. My favorite cousin has decided that she wants to move away from home, and thought, hey! why not move in with my favorite cousin? (a.k.a. me). So...yes. And now I'm looking for apartments - I've got my first appointment in 15 minutes. So I should run. But yay! I'm excited, a little scared, but excited.

UPDATE: Apartment hunting? Yeah, it sucks. So time consuming. Le sigh.

Forehead Hickies

My boyfriend gave me a forehead hicky. How, you ask? Or rather, why? Or maybe both. Well, perhaps I should answer why first. Because I'm apparently dating a 5-year old (at times, anyways). Yesterday he thought it would be absolutely hilarious to suck on my forehead for a couple seconds. And let's ignore the fact that I let him, because, really, it cracked me up a little too (which probably means I'm not much older than 5 either). And today I wake up, take a look in the mirror, and what do I see? I see a big red splotch on my freaking forehead! And I think to myself, gee, what happened here? Why do I look like I have a severe allergic reaction in one circle on my forehead? Hm. Then I remember Collin, and proceed to slap him hard the next time I see him that day.

Now I don't want to leave the house.

5-year-old boyfriends are no fun sometimes.

Yoga is nice.

So, I've been going to the gym lately. I got my membership at the beginning of December, and my visits have become more regular recently. I'm a little pissy that I can't seem to lose those last 12 pounds, so I've been especially focusing on developing muscles, which means hitting the weights. And as a result, I...am...sore. Not that I'm complaining. I love being sore. Perhaps I'm a masochist, but in this case, I think it's simply knowing that progress is being made. And it's not so extreme I should worry about damage.

But anyway, on to yoga. My gym provides various free classes, like kickboxing and cycling and water aerobics and step aerobics + abs and pilates and, of course, yoga. So far, I'm a little intimidated by the step aerobics (step on, kick! step off, kick! jump on, kick! jump off, kick! S-c-a-r-y), and while I love the cycling class, it's either too early (5:30 AM? Um, NO) or too late (during my bar study classes) to attend. And there's no way I'm putting a bathing suit on until I've lost those last 12 pounds. So water aerobics is out. Kickboxing? Meh. I had my fill of kickboxing/boxing this summer. But the yoga class is at the perfect time, and heck, I've always wanted to check it out. So I went yesterday. Sore as always from my workout the day(s) before. And, of course, I sucked at mostly everything, but, I did try. And while I didn't feel much of a "burn" (like I do with cardio and weights), my body certainly felt the difference the next day.

My soreness? GONE. Okay, okay, I know I hardly stretch after exercising. Or before. I mean, I warm up with cardio, but that's pretty much it. But, dude, if yoga helps me become more flexible, burn some calories, AND gets rid of my soreness, then, by all means, I gotta continue. As often as possible. Go yoga!

New Day, New President.

Wow. I seriously feel like Bush has been President my entire life. Or at least, all the majorly important years. College, first kiss, first boyfriend, first time living away from home, first time visiting Europe, grad school - all during the Bush administration. And now, today, is the first day of my adult life with someone new.

I can't say I expect ridiculous amounts of change - Obama is certainly an intelligent man, but there's only so much one man can do, no matter how much power he has. But I'm a wee bit excited, honestly. And hopeful. So I send out a little prayer for Obama, in hopes that he stays strong in the coming years.

Bar Studying Commences.

ACK.

So, have I mentioned I have (what seems to me) a GINORMOUS box sitting in my living room crammed to the brim with books that I have to fully read within the next 29 days. And then, I have a week to self-study, and THEN...

THE BAR.

(cue dramatic horror music: *dum dum DUM*)

So, naturally, I'm freaking out.

Not a LOT, but the butterflies are definitely there.

*sigh*

Fortunately, I've got Collin to entertain me. And give me a hug when I need some comfort. Having a sweet boyfriend rocks.

2009!

So, uh, it's a new year.

Last year was rather...difficult...in many ways. Breakup, graduation, financial issues (which have overlapped into 2009 - I need to find a freaking job!)...but it was also great. I got to spend a couple months with my aunt and cousin, who I completely adore more NOW than I did back in the day, I met an amazing boy I'm now dating (uh huh, I said "boy", Collin), I got to move back to Minneapolis (which got rid of my depression at being in Michigan), I passed the MPRE (and I'm taking the Minnesota bar in less than 2 months), and I have an apartment! And people that love me, spread out all over the world.

So I'm pretty lucky.

And 2009? Will be SO much better than 2008. It's a fact, people.

Where am I spending Christmas?

Ah, that question is complicated. I have family all over the US, all asking me to come over for Christmas. I have my mom, dad, and sister who were coming to Minneapolis for Christmas, but due to car issues and snow fears, they'll now be spending Christmas in Michigan. And I - broke as hell - will be spending Christmas HERE. Alone.

Well, so I thought.

And then Collin's mom invited me over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Which means not only hanging out with Collin's dad, mom, sister, and brother, but being introduced to his entire extended family. It's a little scary, actually. But I appreciate the offer.

Now I just hope I don't accidentally trip on the tree (which, btw, is Collin's dad's favorite little obsession during Christmas) and squash all the presents.

Oh God.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Snow = Naked Me

So I live in Minnesota.

And it snows.

Like, for example, today.

A lot.

And it has been snowing for a couple weeks now.

And although it's all nice and pretty and white, there are downfalls. Like cold. And glare from the freakishly white snow blinding me when I drive. And cold. And my hair freezing when I walk outside shortly after taking a shower. And, um, cold.

And lately, me taking my pants off. Yep. So I have a new routine when I get home. I take off my coat, hang it up in the closet, take off my Ugg-like boots (which are AWESOME makeshift snow boots) put my purse on the bookshelf, then ever so carefully take off my snow-covered pants. I shake them like crazy until most of the snow is on my tile floor. Then I lay them on top of a chair. And let them thaw out and dry. And I walk around the house with my sweater and panties.

Yeah.

Winter has turned me into a weirdo.

So, um, I'm pretty sure I'm in love.

It's pretty effing fantastic.

So, remember my dating adventures this summer? Well, Collin was one of my dates. He was quite different from everyone else I met or talked to, and although I moved to Michigan in August, we kept in touch. Finally, sometime in September I decided I was moving back to Minnesota because, dammit, I can't stand Michigan. Sorry. I missed Minneapolis, I missed my friends, I missed Collin. So I started the whole process of trying to move back, which included taking out a bar study loan for my expenses, registering for the Minnesota Feb. bar, blah blah blah. It took me way longer than I had hoped to finish it all, but finally, FINALLY, by the end of November, I was packing my bags and driving back to Minneapolis for good. Sometime between September and now Collin and I decided to go ahead and date officially, considering we couldn't quite get over each other, despite our efforts. So...um, yeah. I have a boyfriend. Who I love. Who's so ridiculously sweet, it makes me slightly misty eyed thinking about it. Honestly, I don't think I've ever met anyone who I "get", and share similar goals and beliefs, as much as with Collin. I'm just a lucky girl, I guess.

So right now, I'm living in a relatively inexpensive apartment which is FABULOUS, I just got gym membership for the first time since July and can work out whenever I want (YAY!), I'm looking for a job, I'm taking the February Minnesota bar and hopefully passing.... overall, it's a little scary but great. My puggers, unfortunately, are not with me right now - it's HARD finding cheap housing that lets me keep dogs. So my mom is keeping them at her house for now - we've got a nice house with 11 acres, so there's plenty of space for them to run. They seem to really like it, and my mom spoils them like crazy. I hope to find a job and a more permanent place to live within a year, and then bring them back to Minnesota. That is, if I can pry them away from my mom's hands. :)

My butt hurts.

Those cycling classes are evil, I tell ya.

Yesterday I went to the gym for the first time since the 27th of July, and I took my first cycling class. Now, yes, it was a great workout. And I'm a little sore today. BUT, I was not expecting my butt to be KILLING me. I swear, those damn bicycle seats HURT. I was thinking about taking the cycling class every day, but.........um.......... NO. I'll stick to every Monday/Wednesday/Friday. I can barely sit down comfortably, people. It's sad.

The gym is yet another step in me getting in shape - I started dieting about 1 1/2 months ago, and I've lost 13 pounds so far. I'm so excited!

Oh, and I have a new boyfriend! Who I totally adore. He's tall, completely sweet and caring and thoughtful, and I'm very very happy. Oh, his name is Collin.

(Disclaimer: More details to come of what the hell I've been up to for the past couple months. I swear.)

Mommy Blogs

So I've decided, for my own sanity, I need to stop reading mommy blogs. Now, this doesn't include you, Tam, because you're mostly past the baby-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night stage.

But I constantly find myself telling my boyfriend, "Oh, God, I really hope I'm able to breastfeed when I have kids," or "Do you KNOW how much a baby poops in one day?!" or "I can't imagine, EVER, having a newborn AND a toddler. I'll just sit down and die one day. I know it."

Today he told me to stop reading mommy blogs. There's no reason to freak myself out about something that isn't going to happen for the next ten years. Soooooo.......

I'll cut back. I promise.

(And yes, I did say "boyfriend". And it's a new one. All shall be told soon enough.)

I interrupt this monotony of non-blogging...

To simply say (and please pardon my language, but it must be used):

FUCK YEAH!

Obama, we love you.

Bwahahahahaha.....

I just had to take time out of my crazy busy day and post this. That's exactly how I feel.

Say It!

Aren't they cute? Aren't the duo colors adorable? Say it! Say they're cute! I heart my PRESHUS toes.

Awwwwww.....so cute!

I think I like Orlando Bloom now.

Meet Gretchen

So, who's the boss now, huh? Gretchen. That's right. Uh, huh.


(I've moved into my aunt's/cousin's place - Gretchen is their dog. Just in case you're all confused.)

Reality Check, Please!

Am I the only one who feels my foot tingling with ass-kicking desire?

The Japanese Are Insane!

Wanna see more? Go! Go see more!

So I've moved, ya'll.

Yup. Finished law school and moved back to Michigan. Grudgingly.

So that's what I've been doing these past couple weeks. For those of you that wondered. (*cough* kitty *cough*)

Now I'm contemplating doing the Indiana bar and moving to Indianapolis. Michigan just isn't my cup of tea anymore. We'll see. For now, I'm busy trying to finish one last paper, and after that, job hunting! Woot! Yeah. Blah. I know.

Wish me luck with my endeavors.