Happy Neeeewwwww..........

(RENTheads will get the title)

No MHIGTLS news. I just want to write before the new year. This will be my fourth New Year's Eve on the west coast and this is the first time it's bothered me that i'm still in one year and most of my family and friends are in another one. it makes my head spin. no, i have not been drinking. alcohol free since 2001. w00t!

anyway, i typically do a run down of the months of the year. i see no need to change.

JANUARY- this was a shitty month. we went to the hub's mom's funeral. the month did progress with a much better tone.

FEBRUARY- the hubs turned a year older. the calm before the storm.

MARCH- we celebrated 2 years o marriage.

APRIL - began the year of travel with a trip to the local long beach, washington. it was a anniversary/Easter trip. we had a visitor stay over. we moved from our one bedroom to a two bedroom in the same building.

MAY- i spent two nights alone in Vancouver, BC. the hubs came and we took a four night cruise to Alaska. the stop was Ketchican- gorgeous little town. great trip.

JUNE - i spent two separate weekends in Manzanita- a cute little Oregon coast town. we also went up to seattle and took the father-in-law to a mariners game. they actually won.

JULY - i spent a week in Georgia. the purpose was to help my sister out with a week's break from taking care of my niece. didn't really happen but i enjoyed seeing them all the same. this is the month the hubs told me he was going to take the LSAT and "we'll see what happens"

AUGUST- most of the month was pretty tame. we went to seattle for a long weekend so the hubs could attend his first writer's conference. then we went to maui, hawai'i. i cannot express how much fun that trip was. i'm going to risk sounding like a melodramatic cornball but i will forever hold that trip in my heart. it was so mellow, so peaceful, so warm and calm. i loved the warmth and bouncing in the ocean. i loved waking up and taking coffee on our patio. i even loved swimming in the hotel pool. plus, i hadn't been that dark in a LONG time. i had a tan for days. all in all, a great, great four days.

SEPTEMBER - i turned another year older. the hubs took the LSAT.

OCTOBER - we started the month on the road. we flew into north carolina and went to my high school reunion. that was really fun. then we spent a night with his brother. cute nieces! then we road tripped it down to atlanta and spent four nights with my mom. my niece was cute but we spent most of our time with my mom- i really enjoyed that. we drove back up and spent a night in charlotte, a city both of us unexpectedly fell for. who knew? rest of the month was fairly chill.

NOVEMBER - last month was a friggin' blur. work became a renewed stress. some serious introspection and meditation on what i need to make some more money in the rest of my life. wow, typing that almost depressed me again. anyway, we celebrated a really chill thanksgiving.

DECEMBER - hell, this month was friggin' blur! on December 4th (remember that Jay-Z song?) we took off for the empire state, speaking of Jay-Z. Anyway, it was a quick trip but good. it always is good. Christmas was cool and quiet. new year's eve is proving to be the exact same. i cleaned the whole house because i have to adhere to the superstition that was drilled into me when i was a kid. my mom always said her mom always said her mom always said: don't bring old dirt into a new year. the other superstitions are having black eyed peas and collards for money and good health in the new year. i don't do those because i don't eat them. maybe next year...

i don't typically do resolutions but i think i'll give myself a few guidelines: 1). keep up with the no land mammals eating 2) keep doing those things i like that get me moving 3). speak more kindly to people especially the hubs 4) choose joy 5) start and maintain a hobby that doesn't include electronics

i think those should just about cover it. i'm actually excited for 2010 since 2009 was so cool i figure why not.

happy new year to us all. hopefully 2010 will rock for us all.

peace!

End of year recap

So here it goes, in order of acceptance date.

1. Michigan State (50% scholarship)
2. Valparaiso (50% scholarship)
3. University of St. Thomas (50% scholarship)
4. Creighton (25% scholarship)
5. CUNY (no $$ but they're cheap)
6. Mercer (60% scholarship)
7. U of Toledo (Complete grant covering tuition, fees and books)
8. University of Arkansas, Little Rock (no $ info yet)

Schools at this point we are desperately waiting to hear from: Willamette U (Oregon) and Seattle U (duh).
Schools I no longer believe matter at this point unless they give whole tuition awards: Drake, ONU, Howard, U of D.C., NCCU, Drexel, Cleveland State, Hamline.
Of those the ones I'm hoping do give UToledo a run because they are far better locations: Willamette, Seattle, Howard

this makes...8?

So I learned via online status checker that he got into the law school at University of Arkansas-Little Rock. we don't know, yet, what kind of financial aid they're offering. i can't imagine they're giving a full ride (based on their history with that). they also have a horrible bar passage rate. i'm also fairly sure that we'd rather (if it came to that *shudder*) live out our lives in Ohio than Arkansas. Ugh.

But, I also said I'd never want to live in Ohio. Funny how that changes.

Learning

No new MHIGTLS news. The same stuff: wondering, reading, researching, etc. Looks like Toledo is gonna be the clear winner. I read up on the other contending schools to see how likely it is that such another generous award will be tossed his way. The answer is not so likely. Truthfully, I'm a bit bummed right now. I'm very happy for him but can't help but wonder about what in the world would it be like to be a Toledoan??

In wondering this, I foolishly turned to that internet bastion of geographic negativity- city data. I've used them to learn all kinds of things, none of them too positive. What I've concluded is that, generally speaking, people who leave comments on the internet are either really happy and need to get it out or they are really upset and need to vent. Neither helps, actually.

In regular old boring stuff news: I didn't do much today. Dragged the husband to an aerobics class this morning as payback for the horrendous training session he put me through last week (my arms *just* recovered). It was mostly step which I hate and feared he'd have a hard time with. The man has rhythm but he thinks to much about moving to music. Anyway, the class leader felt the need to come to me after class and tell me, "You were so good! You have great form- you would have thought you were here just yesterday!" She said all of this because in the beginning of class she simply had to know who we were (common interaction) and learned it was my first step class in ages. Her skepticism and literally telling me to "go ahead and use the lighter weights, you know, since you haven't done this in a long time".  I hate to admit it but I thrive really well when people tell me I can't. In my head I'm thinking: oh yeah! watch this! Anyway, her comment after class just fed that particular monster. Tomorrow, jazzercise, hopefully. Sans husband.

Christmas 2009

We celebrated Christmas this morning. This was the tree. Maybe you can tilt your head or screen to see it full effect. We gave ourselves a $50 limit for each of us. We both went over, naturally.
I opened the green stocking at got: a stuffed frog named Leopold, earmuffs, crossword puzzle book and oddly: 'Twitter for Dummies'. This is from a man who wouldn't know a tweep from a retweet.




I look confused because...I was.


I didn't get him a stocking but he had a gift box that was full of gum, tic tacs and chocolate because he always takes whatever gum I remember to buy so now he's got his own stash. Too bad he gave up chocolate...


Other gifts I got: the softest robe you've ever felt, workout outfit, watch/earring set (so unexpected!) and a digital photo keychain. Great haul! He got: a $60 gift card to his favorite clothing store. We had a faboo breakfast featuring chocolate chip pumpkin scones,

baked oatmeal, eggs, sausage (meatless for me) and sparkling cider. Merry Christmas everyone!

Oh boy

So I did not open the small white envelope for the University of Toledo. Good thing. It was an acceptance with a full scholarship offer. To quote Bill Nighy in LoveActually "shitfuckbuggerpissing..." I am so proud of him! Make no mistake. I am not, however, keen on Toledo, Ohio. Anyone actually been? Reassurances? Warnings?

I also know I shouldn't completely freak out he still has eleven schools to hear from. What I am thinking though is that the remaining schools we've heard from don't give out near as much money as UT. There's hope though, I know he's brilliant and hopefully the schools will too.

Bottom line though is that wherever he is, I will be too. I can't imagine life otherwise.

Mo' money, Mo' problems: Biggie never lied!

So yesterday, my mom texts me that the package from Mercer came to her home. She would not, however, read the letter to just me because she takes the whole tampering with mail is a federal offense thing seriously. WTF?! Anyway, we found out that they offered him $20k/yr which essentially equals a 60% scholarship. This is huge, big, wonderful, complicated news.  That knocked CUNY completely out of the running (*sniffle) because their bright spot was that they were so cheap that the other scholarship offers made the tuition at the other places equal to CUNY's base non-resident tuition. BUT Mercer's offer makes it even less expensive than CUNY. Plus, jobs for me down in GA are more plentiful and pay more AND we have a free housing option. That's nice because the minuses of Mercer are that we would have to move across the country again and buy another car. Decisions, decisions.

A small envelope from the University of Toledo arrived today. I so don't care because I'd rather live in Lansing, Michigan than Toledo, Ohio. Still...I want to open it. Yay, Nay, whatcha say?

the break up

So I wrote my good-bye on LJ today. I just like this format so much better. Plus, I can post on the go. So many more reasons but this is enough.

Nothing doing on the MHIGTLS front. That's cool. I had a few conversations about this whole change of life at work. I had a few supportive pushes towards Minneapolis. That produced a big ol 'wtf' in my mind but...ok. I also realized how nice it would to just stay put. I haven't tried that before. Just maybe...

In related news: turns out the hubs has been seriously holding out on me. I came home today to some sort of wonderfully evil dessert concoction he'd made for his office holiday party. He was trying to make these yummy cake balls we had when we visited my friend in Charlotte. He did damned good! He used rainbow cake batter and then dipped half of it in melted chocolate and let it harden. I was so mad he never made it before and even ore angry he only left me ONE. Another wtf moment.

I'm bingeing on really bad reality tv so I gotta go. Priorities.

the end

 my blogging has been spotty, AT BEST, lately but life has been so good to me, so full of ups and downs. it's a really good spot i'm in lately- i love that i can see it- finally. all this being said, life is also changing and i've also changed my blog address. you can now find me here now. this blog was so helpful to me in really tumultuous times. i don't think these times are over but they're different ones now.  thanks for listening and reading. whoever you are. 

so much going on...

MHIGTLS news: he heard from two more schools today. In at Creighton University (Omaha, NE) and CUNY (NYC). He got the official letters from Michigan State (MSU) and University of St. Thomas (Minneapolis). St. Thomas gave him a cute hat. They get my vote for that. Mercer packet hasn't been received yet.....

But seriously, I remain concerned about the viability of his career following law school. All these schools are tier 3 and CUNY is 4, I think. They're all known fairly well in their state so there's that. I mean, NE has only two schools however, I have no desire to live in NE much less past three years. I sound like a broken record but we'll see...

So just a recap of acceptances and rewards:

1. Michigan State (50% scholarship)
2. Valparaiso (50% scholarship)
3. University of St. Thomas (50% scholarship)
4. Creighton (25% scholarship)
5. CUNY (no $$ but they're cheap)
6. Mercer (haven't received info yet...)

These are just in the order they were received. Both of us would put CUNY/Mercer at the top in terms of preferences. For me the preference is related to job market and livability. We are truly just waiting to hear from the local places. Fingers crossed.

maybe 3?

today in MHIGTLS news: the hubs got a phone call from the folks at Valparaiso asking if he'd received the decision letter. we're both assuming that means he got in. if they call everyone they've rejected then they must be busy. I wonder what the $ award from them will be. it'll have to be pretty big to matter- it's a school that neither of us are interested in. its only saving grace is it's less than an hour from Chicago. I guess we'll wait and see.

in my own news, it's always been a dream of mine to live/work internationally and I received an email from a British sw agency asking if I was interested. I have a phone interview set for Tuesday to see what's what. it can take forever to get going so I want to jump on it now. if they offer a short term assignment then just maybe...

Exciting times...

official acceptance #2

big MHIGTLS news: yesterday a big white envelope from the university of st. thomas (minnesota) arrived. the school welcomed him warmly w/a $15k scholarship for all three years contingent upon nothing but passing each year. that is a plus. i was excited for him. i was glad he got a good scholly, i was also glad it came from a place far better than michigan. i'm not knocking MSU but seriously, i cannot bring myself to imagine living in the middle of michigan. who does that??

on a more serious note: i've been thinking a lot about these schools. DH applied to only one T1 school. granted his undergrad gpa was not worth bragging over so i understand but i worry about the future job implications. MSU isn't ranked very high and talk is that they're losing ground. Also,UST isn't ranked very well either. Better than MSU but still. I just have to let go of my worries and trust that he'll wind up where he needs to be.

on a more selfish note: i can't drive in snow. somewhere warm better accept him soon. i'm also persuing job/apt listings for minneapolis just in case. its listings are WAAAY better than east lansing, michigan. *shudder*

'tis official

So in breaking MHIGTLS news: He got a call from an admissions director from MSU. They officially congratulated him on being accepted and offered at 50% scholarship. The school is not good, has name recognition and is in a state with one of the worst economies in the country. Chances are we won't go but I know he feels so much better (as do I) to just hear something for real from someone. We'll see what comes next....

decision 2 or 3

well, depending on whether or not i want to count Little Rock as a decision, the hubs found out via the status checker that St. Thomas (Minneapolis) mailed a decision on 12/8. exciting! it's totally not in his top 10 but, at least for me, it is so good to hear from somewhere. i mean.....he applied to 18 schools! it's nice to knock some out once in awhile.

decision two? and a visit

well, we're in nyc and loving it. since we're here we decided to visit his no. 10 of 18, CUNY school of law, in beautiful flushing, queens. sorry that was snark-tastic. the people were very sweet.

little rock law school asked him for an addendum in order for scholarship consideration so that is probably an upcoming acceptance. yay?

now we really begin

Breaking MHIGTLS news: he got his first acceptance yesterday for Michigan State University. Out of his 18 schools applied to this ranks 17 for him and 18th for me. I think we were both just happy to hear something. But seriously, who moves to Michigan in this economy??

still no words or give us some more words

we continue the wait. no word from any schools in the last few days. well, he did hear from little rock that although his personal statement was "excellent", they need to know "why us, why here?" I seconded the question. I suppose I'll have to do more work on my penultimate list.

big sighs.