and i'm back!

so it's been a while...i realize. i'm working on it.
where to start....i guess right where i left off. this could be a long one!

june.

i think my only excitement in june was my trip to manitowoc, wi. (it's a very exciting town, you know!) i spent a long weekend there to help sarah celebrate her bridal shower and bachelorette party. it was a great trip...lots of laughs, relaxation, and really cheap drinks! some pics are below.

s & i - hanging out the first night i got there.

s opening her gifts.

some of the girls - pre-drinking at s's.

s & s

s & i

s - later in the night.

s in the van. i think this is shortly before i yelled at c (the groom-to-be) and he walked home and slept in his car. oops.

july.

rachel slurs came out of retirement!! rachel performed at legends (a nightclub in raleigh) for the second year in a row. this was a charity event for the crape myrtle festival (cmf). cmf is now the oldest aids-related fundraiser in the southeast. the festival has raised over one-million dollars for more than thirty service agencies in nc.

chris and i met up with rachel and a few of her friends before the show. her performance was hilarious. here are some pics.

r & i

close up.

the heels.

michael came to town for the show.

shake the dew off the lily.

during july, i also volunteered for the special olympics north carolina midsummer tournament. it was a blast. i worked at one of the bowling venues again this year. super fun experience. i recommend checking it out next year! unfortunately, i forgot my camera...so i don't have any pictures from the weekend.

i also made the move to greensboro, nc. i rented a cute little one-bedroom apartment...nothing too exciting about it...except i'm living by myself (yay!!!) and my washer/dryer are in my huge walk-through closet! ;) feel free to come visit me!

august.

my last day of work at unc-chapel hill. it was a good day. i suppose a little sad...ok, not really....i hate work...of any kind. ;) since my last day was the 1st and school wasn't starting until the 26th, i took a trip back to the midwest. christian came along with me. it was a 2 week trip, starting in appleton, wi and ending in iron mtn., mi.

we spent the first couple of days at christian's parents in appleton. we were also able to have dinner with some of my good friends (ktk and moira) and party at the bar with some of christian's high school buddies.

we then headed to manistique, mi. we spent a week there...which if you've been to manistique, you know that's a LONG time to be there! haha. we celebrated cousin ella's baptism with my mom & dad, brother, soon-to-be sis-in-law, grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins...played horseshoes and cards...had a cookout with my grandma & grandpa, uncle, and cousin...went to lake michigan beach (the water is way too cold for us southerners!)...went fishing in indian lake (chris caught 2 perch)...walked the boardwalk and went to the lighthouse...chris helped my dad and brother with the cabin...went to big springs...went to the casino...out to lunch with michelle...and watched a ton of the olympics.

after a week, we headed back to wi...to 3 lakes...to christian's cottage. we spent several days there fishing, bike riding, horseback riding, kayaking, and hanging out and playing cards with christian's parents and grandmother.

the last weekend (and i suppose the initial reason for the trip) was spent in iron mtn., mi for sarah and craig's wedding. it was an absolute blast!

it was an all-around fabulous trip...however, chris and i had eaten too much, drank too much...which translates into gaining many pounds...and so we were ready to come home after 2 weeks.

here are some pics from the trip...

night out in neenah.

christian & the boys

c & c

lake michigan

sassy - almost 13 years old

the cabin

christian & joshua

elisha - showing me her horseshoe throwing technique

tri-state champions - 3 years running

mom & joshua

soon-to-be sis-in-law & brother

christian, elisha, joshua, dad - watching horseshoes

joshua, me, grandma m

joshua & dad

dad & grandpa m

c & c - walking the boardwalk and breakwall

c at the boardwalk

dad & mom at big boy

c & c - we will never grow up

the raft at big springs

me - i'm very happy to be at the cottage ;)

chris caught a fish!

christian

kayaking. we watched A LOT of the olympics...i think chris thought he won a gold

sarah & her maids

mr. & mrs. l

sarah & her mom

d-phi-e girls - pre-reception

c & c

orange shag room reunion

cecilia

my boyfriend & the groom - dancing the night away

he thinks he's so hot

i have no idea

711...

more days to complete my 101 things...

i was born at 7:11 pm. random thought.

i'm almost done with 'the kite runner'...my 4th book for #2 on the list.

i signed up for the nyc marathon. but it's a lottery system...and i found out this past wednesday that i wasn't accepted. no one i know was accepted. meg thinks it's rigged. and so, i think i'll be running the obx marathon...or the raleigh marathon. we're still trying to figure out the details. but they're both in november...so i'll be a running fool once again. and then hopefully i'll run it under 4:45...my #3.

brother and i (and possibly mom)...have decided we have to lost 20 pounds before josh and elisha's wedding. we weigh in tomorrow...and have to lost 10 by july 11th. so it's back to ww, pilates, and daily runs. and so hopefully i'll be fitting comfortably in my "skinny" jeans soon...my #4.

i'm planning to take a little vacation back to michigan before school starts...and hopefully christian will be joining me...and we're thinking of going camping somewhere in the u.p. my #7.

and maybe we'll go canoeing too...my #9.

and maybe we'll go out on the boat on indian lake...and go water skiing. #80.

i spent the weekend volunteering for the special olympics summer games. i was supposed to be a volunteer manager for athletics (track & field). although the heat was crazy hot (100 or higher) and so they cancelled all the outdoor events (athletics and softball). i was pretty bummed...and i'm sure the athletes were as well...but i suppose it was for the best. i'll also be volunteering the special olympics midsummer tournament in july. i'll be the housing manager on that friday at the dorms...and the volunteer manager on saturday and sunday for one of the bowling houses. should be fun. and so #11 is completed.

i'm in the process of reading the bible...cover to cover. i'm in the middle of genesis. i better get reading.

ok, i think that's all for an update on "things."

weekends on the boat.

christian and i spent memorial day weekend...and the weekend before...out on the boat at carolina lakes. it was fabulous! the first weekend we went fishing (#99 completed)...pics below. the second weekend, amy and craig (and toby) came down to hang out with us on the lake. we spent the weekend enjoying the sun, eating, drinking, laughing, and playing games...and chris and craig both did a little wakeboarding. more pics below.

i caught the first fish.

my fish.

chris caught one the next day.

chris.

toby...before being thrown in.

after.

craig, amy, & toby.

us.

us again.

101 update...

#1 - one of the most important (and most talked about) on the list has been completed. (yay!) here's the recap. january/february - i had applied to 6 genetic counseling programs (uncg, uw-madison, university of s. carolina, vcu, wayne state, university of colorado). march/april - i interviewed at 3 schools (wayne state, uw-madison, and uncg)...the other 3 apparently didn't think i looked good on paper...whatever. may 2nd (match day or whatever they call it...i called it black friday...) - i received a call from all 3 schools (they call you whether they want you or not). i was accepted to wayne state, uncg, and waitlisted at uw-madison. so it was a fantastic day. i accepted at uncg (of course...in-state tuition, fabulous weather, clinical rotations will be at duke, unc, and wake forest, and the boy only lives an hour and a half away)...i never did find out if i would have been accepted at uw-madison. i was told i was high on the list and they were waiting to hear from one other person in order to offer me a spot...but i declined my waitlist spot after accepting at uncg.

and so, i'll be starting the program this fall...classes start august 25th. my class (class of 2010...) consists of 7 other girls...and thankfully one of them i'm close in age with. i thought for sure i was going to be the only "old" one in the class. phew ;) i'll be moving to greensboro in early august.

#10 - i swam in the ocean. again, i suppose. it wasn't the first time...i just wanted it on the list anyway. christian and i swam in the ocean while on vacation in hawaii (04.17.08 - 04.21.08). i want to go back. now.

#11 - i'm in the process of volunteering for the special olympics north carolina. i'll be one of the co-vounteer managers for athletics (track & field) at the summer games (06.07.08 - 06.08.08) and housing manager and volunteer manager for one of the bowling houses for the midsummer tournament (07.18.08 - 07.20.08). should be fun. if you're in the area and would like to help out, let me know.

#13 - i got a pedicure before going to hawaii. again, not the first one i've ever had...but i wanted it on the list because it's not something i normally do.

#28 - i travelled outside of the continental us...to hawaii. but we all know that already.

#32 - i went to a concert - kokua festival (in hawaii). go jimmy go, mason jennings, paula fuga, dave matthews & tim reynolds, and jack johnson. it was amazing. beautiful sunshiny weather, a rainbow, a cute boy, and incredible music.

#72 - christian and i went snorkeling at hanauma bay. i wasn't going to leave until we saw a sea turtle. we saw a turtle. :)

#96 - i went to hawaii...state i had never been to. i want to go back. now.

#99 - christian and i are planning on going fishing this weekend in sanford...since i don't have to stay in chapel hill and check for pregnant mice.

only 734 more days left...

hawaii.

ok, i'm back. which i guess (sadly) means that i'm back from hawaii. since it's been a while let me refresh your memory. about a month ago (april 17-21) christian took me to hawaii...to the kokua festival...for my 30th birthday present. yes, i have the best boyfriend ever! :) and no, we did not get engaged.

here's the recap...i apologize if i ramble. we left thursday morning...arriving in honolulu around 3 pm (hawaii time). we finally got to our hotel around 5...we had to get our rental car..chris upgraded to a convertible...i thought it was a bit ridiculous at first to spend the extra money on it...that is until we were riding around in the sun with the top down :) and then we had to deal with the outrageous traffic! but whatever, we were in hawaii. thursday night we went out for sushi and then went to bed early...we were exhausted!

friday we got up early to go to pearl harbor. we went through the uss arizona memorial museum, listened to the audio tour, went out to the memorial, and met a few of the pearl harbor survivors. it was very educational...and a very sobering experience.

we then headed for the beach. several drinks later we cleaned up and headed out to dinner. again it was an early night.

saturday we hung out on the beach for a few hours before heading to the concert...the kokua festival. we had lawn seating and therefore went a bit early to get relatively good seating. although we quickly found out that it's a pretty small venue and therefore even the bad seating was good seating. we spent about 8 hours in the sun...listening to mason jennings, paula fuga, go jimmy go, dave matthews & tim reynolds, and jack johnson. it was fabulous. absolutely fabulous! (and some guy - approximately 10 ft from us - proposed to his girlfriend while jack was singing 'better together') chris wasn't feeling well...so we gathered some more drinks (from the abc store...my mom's favorite place!)...and went back to the hotel.

sunday we went our for sushi, had drinks on our balcony, and then went snorkeling at hanauma bay. we saw a turtle. he (or maybe she) was the highlight. so cute. then we went out to dinner...and headed to the international market - because my mom raved about it. we're still wondering why. it was fun to walk around...but we just don't get it. LOL. (no offense mom!) we took a stroll on the beach...then headed to a bar near our hotel to have a few beers and listen to some live music. low key night.

monday morning we hiked diamond head. it was hot and the sun was beating down...but it was a beautiful view from the top...and some much needed exercise.

sadly it was a very short trip (we've already started a list of things we want to do when we go back!!)...but i couldn't have asked for a better 30th birthday present! thanks christian :)

some pics are below. they're not of the greatest quality (i need a new camera...hint hint). you can find the rest of the pictures here.


the view from our hotel balcony.


christian in the convertible.


before going out for sushi on thursday night.


the uss arizona anchor.


uss arizona memorial.


on the uss arizona memorial.


hanging out on the beach.


going out to dinner on friday night.


kokua festival.


dave and tim.


courtney, christian, dave, & tim.


drinking on the balcony.


christian was finally able to use his flip flops!


on our way to go snorkeling.


hanauma bay - where we went snorkeling.


diamond head.


the bus - this is for nicole and jeannine :)


the following are two videos from the concert...note - they are not good quality at all!!! one is of dave being odd...as he usually is in concert. and the other is jack johnson...and this one is mainly for robin...because she moves like a jellyfish...

this is mainly for my mom... :)

i'll have updates and pictures up tomorrow...don't fret my pet.

:)

4 days til Hawaii...

it's only 4 days...but yet, i feel the need to keep myself occupied until then so the time passes as quickly as possible. :)

and so i sit here...on a saturday night...by myself...drinking from a box of wine (yes, i said box of wine...bought it from the drugstore...i thought it was funny)...downloading all of my cds to itunes...listening to music (mostly dave and tim)...and eating ramon noodles (yes, ramon noodles...see drugstore comment above)...doing laundry...and super troopers is playing in the background just in case i get bored (ha!). i know it sounds a bit sad, that i'm sitting here (drinking) by myself...but it's not...i'm waiting for brother to get home (his flight was delayed...damn airlines)...and chris is on his way from florida (he's a slow driver...his first eta was 9ish...he has changed it to 11ish...drives me nuts...but nobody's perfect!). plus these cds were not going to download themselves.

anyway, quick 101 update.

i have finished book #3. nineteen minutes by jodi picoult. and it was good. very good. gets you thinking. however, i thought there would be a little more to the ending....but excellent nonetheless. if you want more details...let me know. i'll be starting book #4 this week. the kite runner.

interview at UW. it went well. i guess. like i've said before...i can't tell one way or another. i talked to 4 people...i always feel like some of those are fabulous and some not-so-fabulous. so, maybe that's not a good sign...or maybe i'm being too hard on myself. we'll see. may 2nd. if you haven't heard from me by the 5th...then it's probably bad news. but for now, we wait...and enjoy hawaii!!! :)

raleigh rocks. pictures are posted below.

rhonda and i near the start of the race...she's the one in the white hat...she ran virginia beach rock-n-roll half with me (ok, really only the first 6 miles...then she left me in the dust) last labor day weekend.

trying to pretend the course is only "relatively flat"...those people that make up the course are such jokesters...nearing the end, i think.

almost there...

rounding the last corner...i thought the finish line was going to be RIGHT there...it wasn't.

so, i know you look at those pictures...and you think, they're all the same...and well, they do look all the same...but they're different, i assure you. :)

i hope you're having a pleasant evening as well. cheers!