Working from home...

For work I am currently writing a grant, essentially an application for money from the government. This grant is a short grant, 6 pages of science, now keep in mind it isn't 6 regular pages: 12 point font, regular margins, and double spaced. Nope this is 6 pages of 1/2 inch margins, 11 point font, and single spaced. This is like writing about 10-15 pages of regular text, I have to keep this in mind when at the end of the day I only have 1/2 a page written. My grant is starting to come together, I am pretty close to getting everything done and it looks like I am going to actually make the deadline of July 25 (it is going to be super close though).

Since I live 45 minutes from my office my boss said that I can work from home... this is both glorious and horrible. I love that I am wearing my gym shorts and a T-shirt and getting a chance to hang out with the dog today. I hate that I want to do lots of things instead of working on this grant. I have no quite figured out how to master this from home stuff. I worked from home one day last week and I was pretty productive I just sat in the dining room and worked for a while. I think that is where I am going to end up today, at the moment I am on the couch (this doesn't work, not even a little). I cleaned the house this weekend so I am not trying to do that at the moment but I do have my laundry going and there are a few odds and ends that it will be nice to get around to today.

At the moment I am not sure that I could ever work from home on a permanent basis because I think I like to go to an office and get things done. I really enjoy feeling like I was productive and I just don't think that sitting around the house working is ever going to feel like work it mostly just feels like a party... I am sure I could get used to this but it just takes so much more self-discipline and I don't think I have enough for this. Sometimes I can get around this by working in a place with a witness, starbucks or a library where someone can see that I am just playing on the internet not working.

Well I guess I should get back to folding my laundry, playing with the dog, organizing my makeup, and I guess writing my grant... hahaha this has got to be productive... I need this to work today.

I really love my job today...

Junk Mail

I really love getting email and playing around on Facebook but I don't know what you see when you look at the right side of your Facebook, but I have singles ads. I get ads from every single dating site and then some from things like married women looking for studs... I am not really sure how the entire world of advertising knows that I am unmarried, I am sure that it has to do with Facebook. Most of the time I find the ads hilarious. Case in point: when I use pandora the side of the page has lots of cute guys saying things like click here to meet cute singles in your area... really that super hot guy is single and happy that you are using his photo to advertise?!? Perhaps they are really single but I am sure it is somewhere very far from here since these are the same guys that were on the side in St. Louis.

I know that I have often thought about doing a dating website or at least looking around on one if I am not meeting lots of people here in Dallas. I just don't want to feel pressured into by my junk mail and ads on the side of my screens. I know that I am still single do you really have to point it out to me every stinking day?!?! Give a girl a break and send me some ads for something else like shoes or cooking.

I know that junk mail is part of life at this point and I am just glad that they are unable to call my phone and say something like... hello incomplete single person we have people waiting to meet you... press 1 for preppy, press 2 for rugged, press 3 for super nerds (who knows who would press this), and press 4 for other. That would be horrible and kinda fantastic at the same time, it would be horrible to hear it everyday but super fun to play around on after a few cocktails.

Being single in my late 20s is a little hard I feel as if I missed the boat or something but it is made worse when people say things like: don't you feel incomplete, I don't know how to function alone, maybe you would get more dates if you lowered your standards, or some other inane statement about their stinking feelings about my singleness. Those statements make me feel like a freak and are really hurtful and if we are being honest somewhat damaging to my self-esteem. I think that it is hard to wait for the right man but I refuse to settle for a marriage that I don't want to man I don't love just so other people are comfortable around me.

Well what I thought would be a light hearted statement about junk mail is now a little more serious... yikes. Remember it sucks to be single but it sucks more to be in a relationship that sucks.

The day that never ends

Most mornings when you wake up you have an inkling of how the day is going to go and on Thursday when I woke up I was a little crabby and it seemed that everything started on the wrong foot, it was one of those moments where I felt as if I was just running into every single obstacle known to woman. I won't share all of my trials for the day but here are the highlights.

I woke up not ready for the day and a little out of sorts since my Thursday felt like a monday, when I took the dog out for a little walk she decided that we had to walk around the block 3 times before she would poop. Seriously 3 times, it was hot and humid and by the time I was done I knew this was going to be a long day. But we get in the house and I start making my lunch, I didn't want what I had and I didn't really want to spend money on a mediocre sandwich at work. I love when it seems to take forever to get out the door, it took me an eternity for a variety of reasons I won't share at this moment.

I finally get in the car and out the door, I know better than to call anyone because I am really really crabby at this point which is fine at least I know it. I get to work and go straight to the library because I just couldn't stand to look at anyone. I was remarkably productive in that time but it wasn't perfect or nearly as much as I wanted but I did get several pages written and that was glorious. I finally went up to my office which was good.

I had a doctors appointment in the afternoon for what I thought was a verbal communication and more of the hey lets schedule those procedures that I need to have done NOT a surprise let's have another biopsy. Really, I went to the doctor and it was like nope lets have another just to see if the results are the same and most likely you are going to have to have surgery to remove this nasty. Holy f-word, surgery.

At this point all I can here in my head is this quote that I have seen on pinterest often over the last several weeks...

Sometimes life just hits you with its best shot...

At this point I go back to my office since I left my laptop there and I just want to go home but I have to talk to the boss for a few. By the time I get out of the office it is almost 5 and all I want is to drink heavily... cue to going out to dinner. Sometimes I just want to say I am going to sit in my room alone with my dog and this bottle of vodka so don't bother me. But it is not about me it is about loving the people in your life for the time that you have them.

I am going to be honest if I had known that was in store for me yesterday I would have never gotten our of bed. In science you have to know when to just throw in the towel, in life you don't get to throw in the towel you have to keep going until you can get a drink or back into bed... I am looking forward to a new day today.

Happy Birthday America!

Today is the fourth of July, the birthday of America. I am not typically super patriotic, although my kitchen is done in red, white, and blue (but not flags... really no flags). I do love the sense of American's pulling together to root for the home team or to celebrate some portion of our heritage. I find this summer to be a little more American than usual because the Olympics are coming. I absolutely love the Olympics, I will watch just about any sport since they are the best that a country has to offer. In the last winter olympics I would watch the curling events on my laptop at work and I loved it. I got the scoring and how you really had to focus so you could get everything to work.

I love the moments when American's chat U-S-A.. U-S-A it is probably one of the most beautiful things to me. I love the moment when our flag is raised and we as a country celebrate our athletes. Two summers ago was the men's world cup soccer event and a friend and I went up to a bar to watch part of the game. It was amazing to see so many people out to support and event they won't watch 99% of the year. I love watching soccer games, really you are going to run around for 90 minutes and still have strength for more if there is a tie?!? Amazing.

But this summer there isn't a world cup, there was the Euro Cup and I didn't catch a whole lot of that. In a few weeks the Olympics start and I will feel like a true American. I cannot wait for the swimming and the gymnastics, they are amazing. I am sure that I will get into something crazy like fencing or maybe archery but it will all be glorious. I love hearing the USA chat and getting a little misty every time our flag is raised and we hear the star spangled banner play over the sound system. I am just so excited for these games. The other night I watched the majority of the clips for the best 30 olympic moments that is going to be on NBC at some point, I will admit I was so proud to be American in those moments.

Well I can't wait for the games this summer, but today is America's birthday! So happy birthday America, I am glad that I live here where I can be free to do what I love and worship a God I love. I have no idea what I am going to do to celebrate the Fourth but I am sure it will be fun. I hope to spend some quality time with the dog and then do some work (I really am a workaholic, this sucks) but my main goal is just to enjoy this day off.

Happy Birthday America I can't wait to chat USA here in a few weeks. GO TEAM USA!

A Sunday Lunch Adventure

I am going to be honest and say that I probably have some of the best date stories of anyone I know. Now, we should keep in mind that I am one of the only single ones left so of course my stories are the best but to be honest some pretty random things happen to me. So as I begin to date here in Dallas I think I will try and share some of the best stories, so boys don't screw up or it will become public knowledge. I will try and share the good stories too (when that finally happens) but mostly these will be the ridiculous things that happen when boys try to hit on me.

I like to think I am a nice girl and I like to give everyone a chance. If you ask me out, most likely I will say yes. However, that doesn't mean that I want to be there it just means my southern charm is ruining my life. I am not sure how I am attractive to some men, they often like to tell me I am funny in those moments I am not really joking I want to do whatever it is that I said I would do. Now enough about that usually happens it is time for my adventure from Sunday.

As you know I live with my grandfather, his neighbors across the street are really nice and I tend to enjoy dinner with them. I usally seem them once a week for a meal, often we eat lunch on Sunday after church. Our plan was to go to Church and Sunday School and then meet the neighbors for lunch at this restaurant. They called on Saturday and said why don't you come to the house and Hannah can meet our grandson. As I am super nice I say that would be great and fun and all of that.

Cue Sunday Morning: as I am getting ready for church I cannot decide what to wear. I couldn't decide on something moderately cute (this assumes the meet is a bust) or to be a knockout (this assume the meet is amazing). I opt for my new maxi dress which I think I look phenomenal in but I don't know it is drop dead gorgeous or not. Now on the way home from church I ask about this kid. Here is a brief synopsis of what I hear: he does radio, he went to arlington high, and my late-grandmother thought he was a huge nerd. In this moment I realize that this is going to be a HUGE bust of a meeting but I try to pull on my big girl panties and smile.

Once we get to the house, as I walk in the door and get my first look at this kid... it was not love at first sight it was agony. I realized this was going to be a long long lunch, I considered fake throwing up but realized that was a little too much (maybe next time). So I am not in love with his looks, he was wearing a light gray or off white linen suit with a green T-shirt and some brown shoes with no socks. Now I personally love a man in a suit but you should wear the suit it shouldn't wear you.

During lunch it was OK, I don't think a one on one date would be a good idea. It would be very very bad but who knows. I think the worst part was that he doesn't like dogs, he called Lily a pet?!?!? Uhh... she is a fur-child and very much loved by me. That was really the nail in the coffin... no dogs no date. But I haven't shared the best part of the day with you yet, at the end of lunch he gave me a business card. I was a little shocked I mean really is this a professional meeting? I put the card in my bag and said it was nice to meet you and left. Later I realized it was a personal business card with his home info and I realized he handed it to me and said you should Facebook me?!?!? REALLY?

So I guess I have learned a few things about dating:
-Business cards are the new way to say I like you
-I have very high standards
-I like really well dressed men or a good southern cowboy
-I also want someone who can keep me amused and gets my snarky comments

Don't worry there will be more stories like this... I just know it.

Keeping it real and single!

My hopes for the month of July

Well I am about to wrap up my second month here in Texas and I am adjusting nicely although this heat wave might be a little bit much but I am getting used to it. I am really loving how nice everyone is here and how much that just seem to enjoy being who they are. I thought I would mention the things that I have learned so far, things I would have done differently, and the things I want to do this month.

Things I've learned:
-If you like your job and allow it to just be a job it doesn't quite seem like work at all.
-It is just plain hot if the temp is above 85, it doesn't matter if it is 20ºC cooler than yesterday it is still going to be hot.
-Adjusting to a new grocery store is hard work, it takes so much longer to find simple things like pepperoni
-Living in a big city involves lots of driving, all the time.
-Trying to make friends when you don't go to class is hard work.

Things I would have done differently:
-I would have packed my title in my temporary boxes.
-I would have picked up my medical records.
-I would not have brought so much of my bathroom stuff to my temporary housing.
-I might have tried to bring a cookbook or two, trying to recreate loved recipes without them is very hard and mostly unsuccessful.
-I would have brought more small storage bins, the type you can put under the counter to hold things.

Main goals for July:
-Figure out what I want in an apartment
-Look for an apartment and hopefully get close to signing a lease (at least decide on a property)
-Spend more time with Lily
-Post on here between 4-5 times a week (hopefully not all on the same day)
-Get in touch with additional old college friends and try to expand my friend group
-Continue to set good work boundaries, not staying too late and not working more than one weekend a month.
-Get all of my healthcare stuff figured out.

I am sure there are more goals and things I wish I could change but at the moment I am really happy with life here in the Big D. I am looking forward to what is coming up next for me and how amazing it is going to be. I hope that I am able to get lots of things done around here.

Hope you are enjoying your July!

Blueberry scones... breakfast of champions

One of my favorite breakfast items is scones, over the years I have tried many different recipes from many different sources and none of them really ever tasted like the ones at Starbucks and let's be real those are the most delicious things you have ever put in your mouth until you make these scones. I found this recipe on google, I will try and find the original link but as my paper copy is covered with batter and in some places is a little hard to read it may be somewhat difficult to find it.

These are a little labor intensive and I will try and indicate what tools I use and if you don't have that tool how you can work around it. I hope that you enjoy these scones as much as I do. I wish I could make these more often but there is lots of butter (which makes them amazing) and as I am trying to not get fat these are typically a once a month or every other month delicacy. Well with all of that lead up I hope that someone at least makes these.

Amazing Blueberry Scones

Ingredients:
2c flour plus 2 Tbsp., plus 1Tbsp.
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
3 Tbsp. Sugar
1/8 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter plus 1/2 Tbsp
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 c half and half cold (you can use fat free here)
2/3-1 c frozen blueberries

Directions:
-Heat oven to 425
-In a small bowl mix the blueberries (I like lots so I add closer to a cup of blueberries) and one tablespoon of flour, swirl until all of the blueberries are coated in flour and return to freezer. This keeps your batter from turning blue.
-In a large bowl mix the remaining flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt
-Get the butter out of the fridge and cut into small bits and add to flour mixture
-Cut butter into flour mixture. I tend to use a pastry blender and this makes really uniform butter chunks, however in a pinch I have used my hands. I scoop up the flour and butter mixture and rub it between my hands until there are no chunks left. The one thing I really must insist on is that the butter is cold so that it doesn't melt into the flour that will NOT work.
-Add vanilla and half and half, stir until mixed but try not to over mix there should be some lumps but no visible dry flour. I tend to use good vanilla, I think that is part of why these taste so fantastic. I opt for Mexican Vanilla (purchased at a mexican market) but I think any real vanilla will work, don't go for imitation vanilla.
-Stir in blueberry mixture, again everything should be incorporated but don't over mix.
-Plop dough into a scone pan that has been sprayed with pam or some other grease substance. If you don't have a scone pan you can just make drop scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. At this point your dough should still be cold to the touch
-Cut the remaining 1/2 Tbsp of butter and place a small pat on top of each scone. If you have non-salted butter this would be a great place to use it but I never have it so I use my salted butter.
-Place in oven for 15 minutes if you are using a cookie sheet. I found that with a scone pan it takes almost 20 minutes for the tops to get browned.
-Enjoy them warm
-If you have leftovers I find that storing them in the fridge is best otherwise they mold quickly on the countertop

Other helpful hints:
-If your scones are tough you over mixed, just stir less next time
-If they are blue, add a little more flour to the frozen blueberries
-If the tops taste really salty you put too much butter on the top, this I learned from experience you really just want a little piece
-I have used fat free half and half and the scones turned out fine, I haven't ever used margarine I just don't think that would turn out as well.

Let me know if you try this recipe.