I Graduated!!

A week ago last Friday I graduated from grad school....such...a...relief!! I really can't believe it's done - the past two years have been really difficult - emotionally, mentally....just kind of draining. The whole time we have lived in Colorado has just been non-stop for me. Working, going to night school, homework every weekend. I am so glad I am through (well, for the time being, but more on that later). But looking back - I did it at the right time in my life. Being in the part time program at DU really gave me an opportunity to meet some really great people. And I am glad that I waited to go back - I'm not sure if it meant more, but I felt like I could really contribute more from my experiences. Don't get me wrong - there were times when I was FLAT OUT miserable and wanted to quit. I'm so glad I didn't. I'm happy I got this degree before my baby is born - that way I can focus on her and not worry about the other million things (I will worry about well over 1 million things, but they won't have to do with grad school).

Last weekend was just wonderful though! My family came up - Amy, Mom, Dad, and my grandma, and my  friend Beth. We had such a nice time, and it meant SO much that they came to see me graduate. I really had not wanted to do it....but my mom talked me into it and I am really glad that she did. Everyone was so proud...I guess I was just feeling like this was something that I did....like grocery shop every weekend, but my family being here made me realize it was so much more and it made me feel proud of myself. I'm not sure if that makes sense....

So for now my college days are through. I have my nights and my weekends back!! I already have a book list and a movie list going. And I want to start watching TV shows....and sewing and cooking and baking...thingsI have dreamed about for 2 years. And of course, priority #1, start decorating the baby's room!

My Weeks End

Not too much happened this week so I just thought I'd post the low down of our regular every day goings.

Tony started school and his week went really well. His classes seem like they are going to be pretty good - and a couple of them sound really interesting. He has to read the book Botony of Desire and it actually looks like a good book - he's already began reading it. It's a very interesting way to look at our interaction with plants, or plants interactions with us. It's still so exciting that he is doing this. Oh, the places he'll go.

I've still been sticking to my running plan, some days its more, some days its less. But either way I've stuck to it now since Jan. 1 and I'm already feeling stronger.Today was the longest one yet. Granted, I'm more of a jogger than a runner, but it feels really good to get back into it.

So I've been wanting to take yoga classes again, since we quit the gym. There is a place here in Parker (it's a franchise) called CorePower. But it's pricey! So I was really trying to weigh whether or not it would be worth it to join since I'll only be able to go a few times a week. Then what pops up in my inbox from Groupon??? A $49/month coupon to CorePower!! So I hoped on that and finally got something good out of Groupon. Now at least I'll get to check it out for a reasonable price. They have hot yoga, which is something I've always wanted to try.

I tried a new recipe last night and it turned out great - it's definitely going on our rotation. I was talking to Marla the other night and we were talking about what a great recipe book Savoring the Southwest is so I decided to find one out of there. (This is a recipe book from my hometown. It is illustrated with art work from artists in New Mexico throughout the book. As much as I love to read recipe books, this one takes the cake because of the beautiful drawings and paintings scattered it in.)
Here it is along with my substitutions:

Southwest Fettucine
1/4 cup butter (I used Smart Balance)
1 cup sliced Canadian bacon (or you could use ham)
1 jar (8 ounces) roasted sweet red peppers, drained and diced
1 package (10 ounces) frozen green peas
1 cup heavy cream (I used fat free half and half)
1/2 tsp. salt (I used course)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 pd. fettucine noodles
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp. minced garlic (I added this because we are fans of garlic but the recipe does not call for it)

Melt butter in large skillet. Add bacon and cook for 1 minute. Add peppers and peas, cook for 1 minute to coat with butter. Stir in cream, salt and pepper. Bring to boil; lower heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove sauce from heat; reserve while cooking pasta. Cook and drain pasta; return to pot. Add sauce and cheese; toss over low heat until mixture is well blended and heated thoroughly.

This was a really quick meal and Tony and I were both big fans!

Bon Appetit!

Speaking of food - I started a new book this week - My Life in France. It's written by Julia Child (with the help of her nephew). So far so good! I think I am equally facinated with cooking and with France. Since she did both I am a fan of hers. I did watch Julie and Julia in the theater and thought it was great! I wasn't as impressed the second time I watched it when it came out to video though. I think it has something to do with the fact that I googled Julie Powell and she's not at all what I thought her to be from the movie. I was just really disappointed with an interview I read with her. Anywho - I'll let you know how the book goes!

Now we are off to my favorite place - the Public Library! After that we might try to get in some Geo Caching.

Have a good weekend!

The Homework is already starting....

Tomorrow I begin school again. What a nice break it was.....now back to the real world. Tomorrow begins my 6th quarter in school. I am scheduled to be done in August - so only 3 more quarters to go. But I already have homework! I have some accounting and law homework and I am still working on my risk managment research paper. I have 14 pages so far. The central issues and identifying the ways to mitigate the risks have to be a minimum of 20 pages....after all is said and done it should be around 30 or 40 pages though. Whew!!! It's not that difficult - what is difficult is getting all the ideas down in an organized manner. I am turning in the paper to 2 professors though - one for a grade and the other one in *hopes* of getting it accepted to a larger project and maybe get published....that would be ideal.

Hope everyone has a great week!!

College 101

This is a little something I journaled tonight, while waiting for my statistics refresher course to start (it is kind of random, just a hodgepodge of thoughts):

I'm nervous, anxious, scared.
Do I belong here? Already I feel like everyone is smarter than I am. What if it's too hard? What if I fall on my face? What if I fail?
On the verge of tears.
I am now realizing that everyone brought their laptop. Except for me...shit.
I feel out of place. I know my anxiety is apparent I hear other languages being spoken. This is a part time grad program...Great, even the guy with highlights that just touched down from Cali has his laptop.
At least everyone looks older like me. That's comforting.
I am so intimidated right now. What am I doing? The girls sitting in the row in back of me are fast becoming friends, I can hear a couple of them giggling. Sitting in front of their brand new dells....man, new technology scares me.


So I feel ALOT better now, after the class. The professor was very interesting and engaging. And it wasn't over my head. I remembered my t's, z's and probabilities some what. I walked out feeling like maybe I do have something to offer. I just doubt myself sometimes. This is going to be a big dedication, but if I put my whole heart into it, I know I can do my best. It was just scary to start something new. Walking through the campus to class today reminded me of the first days of my freshman year of college. Feeling small in a great big college. Wondering if I was going to be as smart as the other students, if I was going to make friends. Is everyone going to be dressed up? You would think 10 years later I would be so much more confident....but I think everyone is apprehensive when they are starting a new chapter in their lives.