BONNAGROUP 2010!

Fresh.

I'm in Tampa. I have my own apartment. Yesterday was my first day of graduate school.

*deep breath*

When I left Niceville, I was in a bad place. I was convinced it was too early for me to be leaving, that I had unfinished business, relationships that needed more development, money still to be earned. So I went back after moving in. Worked a couple shifts. Hung out with friends. And I realised that it was indeed time to leave. So I went to Gainesville for a few days. Rewarding yet draining.

I've now been in Tampa (actually, Lutz) for 8 days. I started work at my new Starbucks (the fourth store I've been at in my 3 year career). Things are going well there-many of the other employees are recently graduated and trying to "figure things out". I can relate. By starting my Master's, I am forcing direction in my life because I have felt erratic this year. These people know what that's like - working a non-career-oriented job for the benefits and the measly paycheck. Maybe the free pound of coffee a week. It's good. It's relatable. It'll do for now-as it always has.

I spent the last week dog-sitting for my friend Brandon. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. His dog is Jesse, a 9 month old labrador. He seemed well-behaved when I first met him a few weeks ago. Only problem is, he lives outside in a small fenced-in area because Brandon isn't allowed to have him in his apartment. So I should have anticipated problems. But I'm good with dogs, usually. Napoleon has completely chilled out, and I figured they'd get along. Well. What a week. Jesse had to be kept on my porch at all times because he terrorized Napoleon. He tore up the insulation lining my porch wall. He chewed a wire. He tore up the box I used to block the wire. He woke me up every day at 6am whining and howling. He peed on my carpet. He had diarrhea several times on the porch. And then Brandon's flight was delayed and I had to keep him an extra day. Trials. My mom said "well you've learned a huge lesson". And I said, what's that lesson? That I should never do anyone a favour because it MIGHT end negatively? If I had known these things would happen, I wouldn't have said yes. Then again, I hope someone would do the same for me. And not kill the dog at the end. So, the lesson learned? To maybe be more wise and discerning in deciding what favours to pick up- think a little more about what the consequences could be.

Also, in recent SHOCKING news, I've become something of a clean/neat freak. IMPOSSIBLE! you may say, if you know me or have known me. I tend to let things clutter up, to leave my stuff all over the place and when I "clean" just do the bare minimum to make things acceptable. This has changed. Having my own place meant creating an environment I'm proud of. Every single day I find myself devoting time to tidying up. Every room is practically immaculate. When Brandon left with Jesse and promised to come back later this week to clean my porch, I agreed that was fair. But within an hour of his absence my skin was crawling knowing what a mess that porch was. So during the commercial breaks of ANTM I was out there with my broom and bucket. And except for the missing insulation, it's back to normal. I've been vacuuming every other day. It's crazy. I'm crazy. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME? Come visit. You gotta see it to believe it.

Grad school. This summer ought to be a breeze. My first class is child's play, i.e., "Testing and Measurement"- lots of focus on creating tests. Whatever. Been there, done that. Our teacher even said for our first project (writing a test in the subject of our choice) we could use one we had already made (if we had teaching experience). Piiiiiiiiece of cake. (This is me feigning confidence. I'm terrified of this whole going-back-to-school thing)

Really, super excited about Bonnaroo. And also next week's episode of Glee featuring Lady Gaga music.

Thanks for reading.

untitled, currently

I'm hoping that soon I will dedicate some time to writing another post. I'm currently working 60+ hours a week (between Starbucks, J. Crew, and teaching Latin to three home-schooled boys, ages 7, 14, and 15). When I'm not working, I'm usually doing everything I can to NOT think about work (which usually means vegging out in front of the television- sad.) Most of my internet time is either via phone (tweets, etc) or used exclusively for looking up Latin derivatives and apartments in Tampa (more on that another time, I suppose. Ugh.).

I'm trying to start reading again. Currently in both Vanity Fair and The Screwtape Letters.

I miss a lot of people.

Cenam bonam coquere est placeri.

Success on the first two dishes!

Here is the sesame seared tuna with the rice and julienned carrots, squash, and zucchini.

Unfortunately the tuna wasn't QUITE at "sushi-grade" (though they claimed it was) so it didn't slice as nicely as I would have liked, but I was pleased with the outcome.

Even if my parents did cook theirs longer.....non-lovers of sushi, them folk.....and Matt doesn't even like tuna, so I had to bake salmon for him. But that came out pretty nicely also.

And this is the pork chop with an apple cranberry green onion glaze with mashed potatoes (with chives, garlic and pepper corn).

Served with salad on the side, of course.

Everyone loved it! Yay! Definitely a recipe I'll make several times in the future =)

So far: success. Not sure when I'll get to the other three since Dad is going out of town this week, and as a matter of fact, so am I (Gainesville, here I come!). But I'm excited because it's very satisfying to put time and love into food and see it enjoyed and appreciated!

Also, went to the movies twice this week (gotta love Mom being bored and wanting to pass time). Wee!

It's Complicated I couldn't wait to see this because of the glorious Meryl Streep and the impeccable Alec Baldwin, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The theme was rather sad, and I can't say I totally loved the ending but it really couldn't have ended any other way. A

Up In The Air There was a lot of hype about how good this movie was. I enjoyed it, and the concept seemed really unique, but I can't say I was blown away. Plus it was really just very depressing, and I left the theatre feeling pretty bummed out. But, good movie, and Mr. Clooney never really fails to disappoint. B+

I start working at Starbucks again tomorrow, so at least I'll have something to do. I'm also going in for an interview right after for a position open at my old high school to help put together bulletins/postcards/posters...it's kind of a graphic/computer design job, so I'm not sure how qualified I am, but my old principal (now the superintendent) is the one who called ME and asked if I was interested and he knows what I'm capable of, so I hope I have a chance. It pays really well. Plus a family at church asked if I was interested in tutoring their home-schooled sons in Latin, which of course I am, so maybe that will happen also.

So, other than that, I'm looking into various possibilities for my future....and they're not exactly what I was considering before.

1. Still hoping to get approved for applying to George Mason in Fairfax, VA. Waiting on one of the professors to get back to me regarding my transcript/resume.

2. USF has several Foreign Language Education Masters that I might apply for. They also have a Certificate program that could easily be done in under a year that I'm interested in. Tampa though. Yeesh.

3. The Geneva School (a Christian Classical school) in Winter Park, FL is hiring a Latin teacher next year. I already sent them my resume and got a response saying they'd be in touch within the month.

So...I wasn't planning on staying in FL. I still don't want to, ultimately. But getting a Masters in-state would be WAY cheaper than going elsewhere (and I can always move once I've done that). And if I don't go to school I would love to teach again SOON (I'm done with this whole "job I don't want to build a career around") and I've heard great things about the Geneva School from friends at UF who went there, and Winter Park is a particularly nice city. Needless to say, I have lots of praying and thinking to do, but it's nice to know I might have a couple options.

Miss you all who aren't here with me. (I think that means all of you.)

P.S. "Cenam conam coquere est placeri"= "To cook a good meal is to be pleased"

Niceville, Smiceville.

Soooooo I'm back in Niceville. I'll start working part-time at the lowest pay possible at my original Starbucks next week, and I've been applying to other jobs as well (JCrew, Kenneth Cole, Michaels Kors [all outlets] and various office/clerical jobs). We'll see what happens, because currently my daily routine has consisted of eating about 9 meals, walking around, checking Facebook/Twitter nonstop, and watching a ridiculous amount of 30 Rock (that part I don't regret).

Books I've read recently (I guess there's only one....sad)

Pirate Latitudes (Michael Crichton, found after his death)- definitely not as good as his other stuff, but entertaining all the same. B

Movies I've watched recently:

High Fidelity it's true, I'd never seen it all the way through. A-

Amelie charming. A

Pineapple Express pretty dang funny, but I don't find Seth Rogen to be a very good actor, to be perfectly honest. B+

Best in Show witty, and featuring Susan Boyle... A

Sunshine Cleaning not that great. not that bad, either. B-

Doubt Meryl Streep + Philip Seymour Hoffman? Pure genius. A-

Vanity Fair (re-watch, to spot Tom Sturridge) B

Rachel Getting Married actually haven't finished it yet...I got bored.

The Hangover so, so funny. just DON'T watch the credits. seriously. bad. A

New in Town predictable, yet relatable. B

I need to start work very, very soon. And visit Gainesville.

But for the time being, I get to make dinner for my family. Yes, "get to".... I've been awaiting a well-stocked and roomy kitchen for YEARS. And also a grocery bill I don't personally have to pay. Here are the 5 recipes I've picked out for the week:

1. Corn & crab chowder with home-fried hush puppies (made this combo last winter-delicious!)

2. Pot roast (mmm. crock potted with carrots, potatoes, and onions.)

3. White chicken chili (never made it myself, wee!)

4. Pork chops with apple-cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes

5. Sesame-seared tuna with rice & julienned carrots/squash/zucchini

I'm pretty excited about that.

Good grief.

I don't even feel like explaining the past week right now or on this silly blog. If you'd really like to know the gory details, call me. This picture ought to suffice.

So here's to an impromptu "Sarah got unjustly fired and now has to move home immediately" party. Thank you friends for your encouragement and prayers.

No Latin, Christopher.

Saw some movies recently. Here are their grades.

Last Chance Harvey (B)

Confessions of a Shopaholic (D+)

Smart People (I actually only got halfway through this because I hated it)

Gigantic (B)

Sherlock Holmes (A)

Mamma Mia! (B+)

Book-wise:

Sherlock Holmes Mysteries (22 Short Stories) (A+)

A Study in Scarlet (A-)

The Sign of the Four (A)

The Great Gatsby (a re-read, naturally. A+)

Julie & Julia (A-)

Christmas with the fam was nice. I'll try and write about it another time. I don't have much motivation for that right now.

New Year's was uneventful. Do I have a resolution? Probably a thousand.

Andrew & Rebecca are visiting.

Chris is finally here, which I am pleased by. It definitely didn't feel like there were several months between our times together.

I'm so.....gosh. I don't know. Uneasy? Unsettled? Something doesn't feel right. Somethings, perhaps. I need to pray more often.