Rules

I maintain that when playing hangman, the full word should always be used. If an acronym or abbreviation is chosen, nondisclosure of said information renders the game unfair. Period.

People Sacks (aka 'baby bumps')

I realized today that I'm beginning to move into a whole new phase of life. You always hear about the marriage phenomenon. You know the one. Everyone you've ever met in the 4-5 years following your high school graduation decides to get married within a 12-24 month period.

Marriage Phase - Check

(I'm through the thick of it anyhow, there are still two or three big ones to go)

It's fairly intuitive that the baby phase should follow. While I knew this, something in me didn't realize the transition was imminent. I suppose it's mostly my subconscious wanting to maintain the common ground I have left with my married friends...but alas, they are slowly beginning to fall victim to the baby craze.

The marriage phase made me the queen of bachelorette parties. While this is still a useful skill, I now find myself in the process of adding baby showers to my repertoire.

This week I have learned how to properly construct a diaper cake, brainstormed creative invitation ideas, and got a feel for what types of snacks/activities might be appropriate. My friends will be adorable pregnant and I'm certain that their babies will be precious, it's just another way life is changing this summer! I get to be the crazy friend who brings toys and feeds them sugar at inappropriate times. I must admit, I'm pretty stoked about that part of the job. (:

Simple Minds

My preoccupation with childish interests attacked unexpectedly today while we were wandering through some small shops on our lunch hour. I spotted something....shiny.

It was glitter. I was intrigued. Check this out!



I was instantly taken with the toy. The one I chose has iridecent/opalesque glitter and is absolutely fascinating. I got the smaller version, but am beginning to regret my decision. A trip back may be in my not-too-distant future.

As an aside, one of the best birthday gifts I've ever received came from a dear friend...and the following website. https://sendaball.com/

Quotables X2

Okay so this is slightly paraphrased....but funny nonetheless.

'Blood tubes have no morals. They take the substance of life! And what about the spleen? It just takes things out for the slightest little flaw. I mean could you live in a society like that!? You only get 120 days to begin with.'

Me: What is that supposed to be?
Ely: It's a car - heading off into the sunset. He's chasing the sun....like cowboys on steel horses.

Perspective

I've been in the midst of job searching for a while now...and the process is beginning to make me a little apprehensive. Quite frankly I'm just ready to have it be overwith! Yesterday the whole thing seemed to consume my thoughts. The more I think about it, the more all these big decisions seem overwhelming and exhausting.

Anyhow, last night changed my outlook. I woke up around 3AM in a dead panic. In my dreams I somehow discovered the only job anyone would hire me for was in specimen receiving. (where essentially you type names and demographics into a computer all day)

I wish I could describe the relief I felt waking up. Although I know that the dream has absolutely no basis in reality, I have a whole new appreciation for the job search I'm able to do now!

Quotables Of Ely (aka Larry...aka Wallace)

1: "God, I hate radiation training. I swear it's almost worth the cancer."

2: On my opinion of mustaches being totally creepy: "Mustache culture is pretty cool. You get to do things like wear all denim....or just leave porn laying around your apartment."

3: "No, see, I don't take hydrocodone as a pain reliever, I only take it 'cause I'm an addict."

4: During a game of catchphrase "Oh! Okay. You use a Bedazzler to put these things on your clothes!" .... blank stares .... "Time out, Ely. Why are you so familiar with Bedazzlers?"

More to come....stay tuned!

I'm Alive!

I'm alive and well in Rochester, MN! Life is good, we're all settled in, and have completed our orientation (thank GOD). Life has slowed considerably and the whirlwind of class/finals/papers/projects/work/packing/moving/whateva has finally begun to die down.

For those who may not know, I'm ALMOST done with my degree. 8 weeks of interning at the Mayo Clinic and 40 pages of research manuscript until I'll officially be Stacie Gasser, Master of Science in Molecular Pathology. Then I get to sit for the certification exams. (yuck) This year has quite possibly been the most ridiculous and stressful of them all, but it's almost over and for that I'm thankful.

I'm back to feeling like myself -- keeping a regular workout schedule, eating (relatively) healthy, reading for pleasure, smiling more of the time, and generally being more secure in being me. All-in-all I'm getting to rearrange my priorities so that they're back where I like them to stay!

Still no job, future remains uncertain. I won't get into it because I'm tired of thinking/talking about it - I'm just trying to 'be' for a little bit and see where life takes me.

So, world, I'm back. It feels good!