sadness

it makes me sad that i don't blog anymore :(

Yesterday Neill and I had dinner with Froilan at Demera - an Ethiopian restaurant right off the Lawrence Red Line Stop. It was delicious and wonderful to catch up with Fro. Although, it did make me miss NRS a ton. One of the best things about that job was how much I just got to hang out with people. An the fact that I liked most of the people there - pure miracle. Or, another way to say it in stats language, I liked significantly more people at NRS than you would expect by chance a lone (p < .01). teehee.

Tonight, my classmates and I are going to see the Bulls game. I'm super excited because I've never ever ever in my life seen a Bulls Game. I'm guessing the novelty will wear off in oh 5 minutes or so, but whatever. I'm going to try to have fun!

Unfortunately, I have a hard time having fun when all I can think about is how much work I have. I'm inevitably going to spend all of Friday night (I've got to get a rough draft of the MPA abstract done!) and all of Saturday working so that I can hit the town on Saturday night. What are you doing for halloween? I'm trying to rally you to go to boys town and dance dance dance dance. Puh-lease.

Other big news? There is none. Peace.

fml

i woke up today at 6 am to grade papers.

Vines On Clark

This place is an a-ok spot to to come for dinner on a friday when you are living on a graduate student budget. Their pizzas are actually pretty tasty and they make them square so the seem just a tiny bit hip. I'd particularly recommend the artichoke and goat cheese pizza. One down side is that they have premade topping combos and I'm not sure if you can switch things around or create your own. So this may not be the place to go if you just want slice of za with pepperoni. They also had 5 dollar effen black cherry vodka and 3 dollar coors.

Like I said - this place is just a ok. Big. Cavernous. Low on atmosphere. But 6 dollar pizzas? That's a winning deal. if only I hadn't spent all the money I saved and then some on cabs getting there and back . .

quickie

so i just had to share one little way in which i feel like my classmates and i are perhaps not from the same planet.

i put my gmail status as "no bra with that blouse is so necessary" and two people from my class asked me who wasn't wearing a bra that should have been. On the other hand, erica immediately gchats me with "no panties in jeans is so necessary".

::sigh::

thank god for friends like erica :)

stay punk

After the excitement of getting our engagement picture preview from Alix, the rest of the week was pretty blah. I had a lot of long days this week and there is just no way around how much that sucks. I am thankful for three things though:

1. my new phone has some addicting games that make my hour long commute much more bearable. (on the down side, I'm no longer using my train time productively to get reading done. Ooops.)

2. yesterday, while waiting for the north avenue bus, someone was standing too close to the curb and a car, speeding down the shoulder, ran through the huge nasty dirty rain water puddle that had accumulated (because apparently chicago streets just accumulate water instead of draining) and COMPLETELY soaked the front of that dude's clothes. It sucked . . .for him. Anyways, I'm not thankful for that happening to him. But, I am thankful that it didn't happen to me!

3. Neill. I've just got to give a shout out to Neill for being so wonderful this week. He really went above and beyond to make sure there was dinner on the table and I had food to bring for lunch. I heart him because without his help, I would have definitely been surviving on pickle sandwiches and poptarts out of the vending machines. Instead I got to have yummy homemade fried rice, yummy homemade casserole, delicious chicken tortilla soup, and homemade bread pudding! Don't forget to wish him a happy birthday on November 2nd- which is fast approaching!

I also have a nerdy story to share with you. I'm in the process of putting together a project to present at MPA. And it is sooooo fun! Way more fun than classes and homework and all the other crap I have to do. I'm actually self motivated to work on this! And its cool that I have the chance to do that and actually get paid (pennies) for it! Today I'm going to pull out my old notebook from college to relearn moderational analysis and get to work. I'm pumped! Once I have the results I'll share the project with you because I know that you guys will want to be the first to know! Unfortunately, it isn't on anything juicy like SEX - but it is still interesting. Actually, you can check out my lab's website here. It sounds more boring than it actually is - promise.

Engagement Pictures

We've been blogged!

I can't say enough good things about our photographer, Alix Klingenberg. She was amazing to work with and Neill and I couldn't be happier with how the photos turned out.

Check out the teaser pics she posted to her blog here.

Sweet Silence

I'm sitting on the couch right now in complete silence enjoying my free time. I just finished outlining an article on psychometrics, which technically doesn't have to be done until Monday so I am feeling ahead of the game. Earlier today I took my second test of graduate school - a psychopathology midterm. Last week my professor gave us a list of 10 questions that she would pick our 4 question exam from. Since then, I've spent more time than I'd like to admit pouring over my notes and readings to put together (what I think turned out to be) some awesome responses. Then last night I rewrote all the key points of my responses just to make sure that all of the details were singed on my brain. This morning, I went in and wrote my little heart out for two and half hours and then I was done. Next time, I will use a lap top because by the end of the test my hand was seriously cramping up. I was shooting for an A on this way so I have my fingers crossed.

Even though I still have a ton of work to do, I have less than I had so it suddenly feels very relaxed. Yippee for that! If I wasn't sitting here enjoying my free time, I'd be looking at a data set trying to get some stuff together for a possible poster presentation at MPA. Or I would be reading the other articles on psychometrics that I have to read for Monday. Or I would read the book chapters I was supposed to have read for tomorrow but decided to skip.

sigh

I'm not even going to worry about it. I'd rather watch porn.

I'd like to live

here!

Peanut Butter & Co

I was watching a show about sandwiches on the food network today, avoiding work, and a wonderful peanut butter heaven was featured - Peanut Butter & Co. The shtick is that all of the sandwiches offered are based on the lovable classic--PB & J.

Here is their everyday menu:

Lunchbox Special
Our freshly ground peanut butter, spread thick over a layer of strawberry or grape jam. For something different, try it with raspberry or apricot preserves. Either way, it's everybody's favorite.

The Fluffernutter®
Remember this recipe? Freshly ground peanut butter on one side and gobs of Marshmallow Fluff® spread on the other. It's heaven.

Peanut Butter Cup
Our freshly ground peanut butter, kissed by a chocolately layer of Nutella. Who hasn't craved this one before?

The Elvis
A grilled peanut Butter sandwich, stuffed with bananas and honey. Try it with bacon for that extra indulgence. Long live the King!

Peanut Butter BLT
We use fresh cut bacon and toasted bread to give this sandwich great flavor and texture.

Peanut Butter Club
Double your pleasure and enjoy two layers of peanut butter and two layers of jelly between three slices of toasted bread.

Ants on a Log
Memories of kindergarten will come flooding back as you munch on freshly cut celery sticks, stuffed with smooth or crunchy peanut butter, topped with raisins.

Flavored Peanut Butter Sandwiches

The Heat Is On™ Sandwich
Spicy Peanut Butter and chilled grilled chicken, with a little bit of pineapple jam. Like a Thai satay - only better.

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl™ Sandwich
Cinnamon-Raisin Peanut Butter and vanilla cream cheese, stuffed with crisp apple slices. Cr-runch!

White Chocolate Wonderful™ Sandwich
White Chocolate Peanut Butter and orange marmalade. Like a peanutty creamsicle.

Dark Chocolate Dreams™ Sandwich
Chocolate Peanut Butter and cherry jam, stuffed with shredded coconut. It's peanut butter meets black forest cake.

Peanut Butter Sampler
A sampling of our freshly ground peanut butters, served with melba toast and freshly cut carrots, celery, and apple slices. It's crudite our way!

I've bolded the ones that sound the most scrumptious to me. nom nom nom. Picking one was too hard! What are your favorites? Which one would you order?


p.s-is it insane that I am now started planning a fantasy trip to NY based solely on the wonderful places I want to eat?
p.p.s-after watching this show I ate 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter.

first of the month . . . belated

Sadly, I missed my opportunity to blast Bone Thugs' First of the Month on the actual first day of October. But, that doesn't mean I can't do the same thing on October 3rd! I think the sentiment still stands.


Yeah we havin' a celebration, I love to stay high
And you better believe when it's time to grind
I'm down for mine crime after crime
Fin to creep to the pad cause mom's got grub on the grill
If we got the food, you know it's the 1st of the month
and my ***** we chills foe real

How is October going for you?