update

Blogger is refusing to upload my pictures, so adventures from Texas, San Diego and the zoo, and whale watching will have to wait.

In the meantime, I committed myself to apply to grad school but I can not for the life of me get motivated to actually finish the application. I've filled out most of the online stuff, but actually trying to get the letters of recommendation and writing the essays has proven to be harder than I thought. Can't I just go to school without dealing with the application process?

J has been amazingly supportive and helpful during this whole process. So has my mom. Now I just need to get off my butt and do it, and I know how to. I need to seclude myself in a small empty room that is totally silent with no distractions. I have a lot of time at work to do stuff, but the TV is on, the phone is ringing, there is an endless list of websites to look at and I just can't focus. But in my procrastination, I watched an episode of 7th Heaven (nerdy, i know) where Matt realizes that being a doctor is not his thing. Helping people and listening to people is. And I realized that's my thing too.

In other news, I went up to the Burn for Christmas and spent a lovely week with my family and the most recent addition to our family, Karma the puppy. I have to admit, I totally procrastinated (shocker, right?) in trying to get together with friends and I didn't get to see as many people as I would have liked to. But it was nice just chilling at home and spending time with my parents and brother. We went to a local musical showcase, saw Marley and Me, and watched a lot of movies. It was a very quiet Christmas, and from hearing other peoples nightmare holiday stories, I'm glad it was quiet.

I spent New Years in San Antonio, Texas, with my friend Si, who is getting married pretty soon. We did the trying-on-the-dress in one exhausting day, and probably close to 50 dresses later found two that she liked. It was fun playing dress up and spending time with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. Texas was... interesting. It was very flat and the drivers were awful. We went to the Alamo and the Riverwalk, and because of the giant expedition I was driving (her car, not mine), we doubted its ability to fit in the low clearance parking garage and ended up driving around in circles for a long time. A fun, but not planned, way of looking around the city. Her fiancee drove us around later and I got a chance to see it from the passenger seat. Pictures to come soon.

Other than that, this next month is going to be super busy. A friend just moved into the house, our friend Brian is having a birthday party up in LA this weekend, J's birthday is coming up along with all the Superbowl weekend festivities, then it's barristers ball (I, for one, am very excited about donning my ball gown), my birthday, then valentines day (not to mention the millions of law, OCDem events, and fraternity events J is involved with). Holidays are much more exciting when you have someone special to share them with. Sorry. Enough sap, I'm done.

I would just like to say that this weather is WHACK. It is January 13th, people, and it is 85 degrees outside and beach weather. We had the AIR CONDITIONER on last night for hours, and I woke up in the middle of the night needing to turn the fan on. Not to mention the fact that I went with my new housemate to run a few errands and we had the top down on his convertible. At 9 PM. yes, PM. and it was warm.

Speaking of warm, instead of wearing a sweatshirt and jeans to swim practice last night, I was in shorts and a tshirt. Each Monday and Wednesday I dread going to the pool, yet when I get there and get going with my swimmers, I can't help but love my job. These girls drive me crazy, but they rock. They never fail to crack me up.

and yes, speaking of cracking up, at the zoo on Friday there was a little boy who ran up to the duck pond screaming, "QUACK QUACK QUACK.... DO YOU HEAR ME DUCKS? QUACK QUACK QUACK" repeatedly and I only wish I had turned my camera on sooner because I didn't catch it on video when he finally gave up and screamed, "FINE DUCKS, YOU MUST NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR. QUACK QUACK QUACK," and ran off.

kids. *shakes head.