so it's been a while, eh? that seems to be the theme to my posts as of late. "hey, y'all, just popping in to say hi & do a brain dump!"

before i forget, i want theeeeese: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1460&f=32780
i love this kind of glass. mmm. gorgeous.

so, a whole lot has been going on in Heatherland. I've been babysitting up a storm (literally 2+ babysitting jobs a day), which is nice (& lucrative!), but exhausting and completely draining. there were times where i would just call Jason because i just needed to talk to an ADULT. ughhhh.

last week i was insanely sick. i have no idea what the heck happened. I had a sinus infection, but I also had some GI issues going on. I would get INTENSE stomach/intestinal cramping about 2-3 hours after I ate, with what I ate swiftly exiting my body shortly afterwards. The cramps would last anywhere from 20 mins to 1 hour. It was so insane, it was waking me up at night. I stopped eating for fear of getting the cramping. It got so bad that I went to the hospital on Thursday night, just to be told that my condition was "non-emergent" because I wasn't in pain right then. OK, fucker, give me something to eat & then my condition will be "emergent". Sometimes I really really hate doctors. I had a gallbladder ultrasound done yesterday (even tho I'm sure it's not my gallbladder, but whatev, what do i know? it's just MY BODY), so we'll see if anything comes of that.

last night we lost power. so what are two young folks to do when they lose power? get take-out sushi (yum!), light a whole lotta candles, and play Skip-Bo by candlelight. soooooo nice, such a good time. It was really really nice to be able to take a break from all the electronic shit in our lives & just sit & enjoy each other's company. Even though Jason totally threw the game & let me win. it's boring when that happens.

i have the summer off now, which is suuuuper nice. i'm even getting tan, if you can believe that. we're headed up to Lake George Monday night - Wednesday night, which is awesome. A nice break to just sit & relax. I'm bringing loads of books & magazines & maybe even some knitting.

Here's my dirty little secret: I haven't knit in over a month. OVER A MONTH. can you believe that?!?!? i think i just needed to sit. and rest. and just not do anything. so my knitting has sat, neglected, collecting dust. shame, shame.

Tomorrow, one of my favorite people in the world is getting married. I am so excited for her & her hubby-to-be. It'll be a wonderful time filled with friends & laugher & music & wonderful food. I can't wait! I don't think i've been looking forward to a wedding like I am for this one since my own. haha.

alright folks, I'm saying goodbye now. Hope I can find my way here to update soon!

why i love living where I live in the summer:

blueberries
raspberries
chocolate milk
eggs

all purchased from local farms, and all organic. and so cheap.


also: i don't think there is anything better in life than drinking local, organic, ice-cold chocolate milk straight from the glass bottle.

yes.

i want to move in, right now.

perfect house? i think so.

& it's in one of my favorite towns around here. dreamy.

i just gotta say: i really, really hate LJ userpics that move. it gives me a goddamn headache.


a lot is going on, and i'm so nervous. fieldwork is exhausting. my stomach hurts. i've been in kind of a crummy mood all week. i'm obsessed with the Twilight series. i'm ready for sunshine. i'm ready to have a day to myself.

i just made the Melt in your Mouth Strawberry Muffins from a Stonyfield Farms yogurt lid tonight. and holy mother of god, they are delicious. make them. and make them now.

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup Stoynfield lowfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped strawberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 12 muffin tin or line it with paper baking cups. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and baking soda. In another bowl, stir together eggs, yogurt, melted butter and vanilla until blended. Toss the strawberries with the flour mixture.
Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until the flour is just moistened. The batter will be lumpy. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Yields 12 muffins.

Yields
12 muffins

Nutrition Facts
(1 muffin) Calories 160; Fat Calories 45; Total Fat 5g; Carbohydrate 25g; Protein 5g; Fiber 3g

so i think i'm in the market for a new LJ friend or two (or five). i haven't added a new friend in forever. does anyone have anyone they think i'd love reading? i'd love some recommendations, and i know everyone loves acting as matchmakers. so! match me! ;)

oh, my. what a night. so many words, so little time to type.

soon, soon.

Some of you know already, thanks to twitter or whatever. But last night, my quasi-stepfather passed away. He & my mom had been together nearly 10 years - it was the most significant, longest relationship she's been in during my lifetime. He & I had a tumultuous relationship, as some if you know, and so this has been a very weird time for me.

He had a massive heart attack at work, and my mom was the only one there. She immediately called 911 & started giving him CPR. The ambulance came & they worked on him a bunch at the store, and then some more in the ambulance. He pretty much died immediately, as there was no heartbeat when the paramedics arrived.

My mom is devastated. It's been very strange, though, because they were in a totally abusive/controlling relationship & my sister & I had been encouraging her to leave him for years. So she is devastated, because she loved him, but she feels a sense of freedom now...

I had to tell a few people at school about it, and I guess the word got out to the rest if my classmates & teachers. Everyone has been calling & emailing & texting their condolences. It's strange for me though, because people assume we had some sort of really close relationship, when in reality, that's far from the truth. I keep telling people that I'm here for my mom, to help her through this, and I am. But folks think I am just glossing over my feelings/emotions and tell me to take care of myself/be strong/whatever, and it's just weird. I'm not entirely sure how to handle this. That's not to say I'm not saddened, because he played a big part in my life for a long time. It's just strange.

A woman I go to school with lost her mom about a month ago, and she was & still is devastated. My classmates & I put together this big basket & cooked for her & got her a gift certificate to a spa so she can take some time for herself. I sincerely hope that they dont do the same for me. That would just be very weird for me.

I don't know. What a crazy life. How unexpected.

i have today off, thank goodness. i've already wound a bunch of yarn into cakes, folded two loads of laundry, straightened up a bit, made a gyno appointment, and yelled at my dog a bunch. i have to make a trip to the mall today at some point. i have loads of stuff to return/exchange, a bridal shower present to buy, and a bunch of odds n ends to pick up (vacuum bags, slippers...). also, i will be on the hunt for professional clothing to wear to my fieldwork next month. because, oh, that happens SO SOON.

we ordered that bike for me yesterday (!!!). i am sooo excited. i dreamt about it all last night. no joke. i want it sooo badly, i want to go ride it. omg. want! i rode a different bike in the same size yesterday (That is basically the exact bike, but made with different stuff), and it felt soo good. it's so comfy. love it.

i keep forgetting that this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend. we're not planning on going to any bbqs or anything, which is probably the reason that i keep forgetting. it stinks to just have a few friends in your area. or, rather, like, 2. :( i need more friends. but honestly, how does a mid-20s person make friends? i'm not working, i'm in grad school but they all live 90+ minutes away from me... it just seems impossible to make friends. honestly. this sucks. :(

I got asked to go away for a long weekend with a family for a wedding they'll be going to in Pennsylvania. This will require me to:

ride in a car with them for several hours
take care of their two children (2 yrs & 6 months old)
be with them from Friday at 9am until Sunday at 6pm

they will be paying for my hotel room and my meals. what is a reasonable flat rate to ask of them? I wouldn't be charging an hourly wage, because that gets a little wishy-washy with car travel & time I'll be with the kids but with their parents as well.

I find things online that suggest a broad range of payment options. How much should I charge for a flat fee? Please! Help me!! Anyone!!