Random Ramblings

This week has been busy. (It was my birthday week in case you didn't know.)

Updates?!

Darin made a wonderful meal last Monday night - chicken pomodoro. It was supposed to include angel hair pasta but upon cooking ours and then straining it, we realized there were little pepper specks all over it. Bugs. Gross. Ended up having to use the macaroni from our mac & cheese container.

We have been currently obsessed with McDon@lds cheeseburgers. I blame the Doritos chips. Guess it's alright as we eat only one of them each and do NOT share with the dog. (Almost got him one - and I think Darin would have if I wasn't in the car!)

Had a big presentation for our journal club here at work on Tuesday. This one was the second one I've done for my company, and I was much more relaxed this time around. The first presentation was on a couple of papers on an immunology subject. Giving this made me very nervous because I am not a 'trained' immunologist - and most of my coworkers are. Yikes. But I felt as though I did a good job, so was feeling pretty good about my second presentation which was on this. And in this instance I actually knew what I was talking about. Amazing?

That's it. Nothing too exciting!

The Real Deal

Birthday blog.

I have a lot of older pictures/fun times to talk about, but this has been on my mind this morning because my desk decorations were hard to explain to people last night as I told them about my birthday day.

Here was the story:

I walked into the office and saw streamers coming down from the ceiling. I was thinking my coworkers were going to do something for my birthday, but I wasn't thinking it would be so extravagant!

And there were balloons too. 30th Birthday Balloons!

Black streamers were everywhere!

Black tarp paper - around everything!
My whole desk was completely covered.

Glitter stars (for some much needed color)!

It was funny. And awesome. I guess overall it's a nice feeling to have people remember you on your birthday. And make it special.

I received birthday treats too. Rice crispy treats (my favorite), fantastic chocolate cake (see below), and ice cream cake too!

And poor Uncle Sam. He got it bad too. They mummified him - though we kind of think he looks like a ninja. Ninja Uncle Sam. With guitar.

With my birthday tiara (which I wore out for lunch)!

And then after all that - I got some beautiful flowers delivered from my sister! Aww!

And though she didn't pick out the exact colors, I'd say she got it right (Go Clemson!). They were gorgeous - purple, fuchsia, and bring orange. Loved them!

It was a wonderful birthday - made special my my family, friends, and coworkers!

Big 'n Black

Will add more pictures, but I must say I was very impressed.

My whole desk was in black shiny stuff - everything wrapped. Computer, speakers, keyboard, mouse, stapler, paper-clip holder. Everything. Poor Uncle Sam was wrapped up too.

More pictures to follow...

The Ongoing Obsession

Since my car is about to reach the 100,000 mile mark, I for some strange reason have been majorly obsessing about getting a new car.

Disclaimer:
I am not getting a new car. Nothing (for the most part) is wrong with my current car and I almost have it paid off.

Anyway. It comes and goes every other month I'd say. Darin has been pretty good about it - semi-supporting my obsession but then making me see reason. He doesn't say anything to make me see reason, mind you. It's that he doesn't say anything. Which is annoying, but at least consistent. And then I realize myself it's probably not a good time to get a new car especially when you don't need one. I'm being responsible, see?

So to get on to the cars.

(1) Ford Edge

I think this is the cutest car ever. And yes, I like cars on how they look. Come on, my first car was a Saab people?! And there are a lot of them here in Florida for some reason - when I was up visiting my parents awhile ago, I tried to spot one for my Mom to see, but we never found one. I really love the eggshell color. So cute! So I see them all the time which just adds to my obsession about getting one.

(2) Ford Fusion Hybrid

Both Darin and I like this car. Could be that it was named (2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year) as best car of 2010. It's very sleek and suave. Ahh. And I think a car would be ideal for us compared to an SUV/Crossover just because of all of the driving we do. But it's such an adult car. You know?

(3) Honda Element

I know this car was made initially for men (did you know this?), but I love it anyway. I think it's because I like the strangeness of how it looks. And how very modern and simplistic it is by design. And I love the colors it comes in. This obsession is particularly bad because there is one currently for sale in front of a bank I drive by every day going/coming to work.

Make it stop.

Kidding. I have enough self control to handle this for awhile longer. Plus I really like my car - it's just not a new cute car, but a boring almost-paid-off car. There is no excitement there. Maybe I should just paint it purple?

To Celebrate

Oops. Forgot to publish the aftermath of Anu's graduation.

See below:

On Saturday night after Anu officially became a Ph.D (not sure if that was a true statement. I guess the diploma was the official part? Or was it the defense? Not sure...), we decided to celebrate at Buca di Beppo. Anu's a big fan of Italian food. And it's a great place to get together to eat!

Suz and I.

Raji and Darin

LOVE this photo. Kucku and Anu.

Buca had a family style dinner - it was actually pretty fun to decide what we all wanted to eat. Especially because we had a vegetarian in our mists (and a gluten-free eater)! We got a super tasty huge salad, spaghetti, manicotti, and a chicken dish.

But we got like the perfect amount of food. Or at least I though so. And it was all very good!

Peace from Darin.

Candid shot.
Kucku, Anu, and Dominique

Cathy, Craig, and Raji

Did I mention the two bottles of wine we also ordered? Numm. I think only 5 of us drink them. Oops.

We exchanged gifts, made Anu give a mini-speech, and just enjoyed each others' company while celebrating with Anupama.

Great idea! We all got to sign it.

My gift to her. :)

Our Group (CW):
Cathy, Craig, Raji, Darin, Suzanne, Del, Kucku, Anu, and Dominique

Once again, congrats to Anu. Your Ph.D was an amazing accomplishment!

The Obsession with Blue

I hate white walls.

I think it's because I lived in an apartment for too long and didn't have enough color stimulation.

Which is strange by the way because my room at the house I grew up in was all white (fact: I got to re-due the whole room style when I went into high school). I wanted white walls and white carpet. It was a fresh cool feeling in that room - also semi-country feeling. But never-the-less white.

Sigh.

I guess tastes change. Or maybe I was in color overload at the other house (I don't think was true but you never know). Or it could be college and graduate school housing over time just took it's toll.

Whatever the reason, I must have color. Must.

I could be as easy as a neutral beige or pretty light yellow. But for me, color was a must.

So the day we got our keys to our new place, even though I was super stressed and uber busy, I painted the walls blue. Or one wall blue. Whatever.

I have before and after pictures.

(Strange photo color, sorry.)

Blue. With spots.
(The spots weren't there when it dried completely).

But I'll have more after pictures when we get the paintings up!

And if you have a keen eye, you might realize that the blue was the same as our old family room. It was left-over from when we painted three years ago. Yikes. Man did I stir that paint! If you like a color, why not stick with it?

And I only really got paint on my hands. Woo hoo. I'm becoming a better painter.

Score.

Random Ramblings

I decided to write every Friday about the daily and weekly strangeness that happens to me every week.

Some weeks might be a little more exciting than others, but I often find myself telling people the funny stories that happen to me at work and beyond regardless.

Hope you enjoy.

***

This week.

(1)

Since we have the new apartment, we have a new area to do stuff in (which we've basically already lived in before we moved out to the house), and there is a new drive to work. For some weird reason, when I turn out of my apartment complex and go right, on Tuesday and Thursdays it's super busy. But other days it's not. I though it might be the time I was leaving, but I think now it has to do with the community college further south of us on our same road. I can't figure it out, but I LIKE routine. So it is annoying me greatly. We will see how it works out.

(2)

I listen to books in my car when I drive. I think most people know this - and if you're interested in what I have listened to in the past, I have a list of the side of the blog. Right now I'm listening to "Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter".

It has (so far) completely taken me by surprise - love how it's creative and historical at the same time. And now whenever I think of our 16th president, I think of vampires.

This author has another book out. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Can't wait to read/listen to it.

(3)

Most of my company eats together at lunchtime. We definitely have little cliques here, but overall we mostly get along. A lot of people walk to the grocery store and pick up food for the week - lunch meat and chips, etc. The other day they got cheeseburger Doritos.

Now I am not a chip person. Or a sandwich person for the matter. But these are the strangest things you have ever tasted. They taste exactly, and I mean exactly, like McDon@lds cheeseburgers. It's creepy. You should check them out (but get a little bag because they're kind of overwhelming).

***

The end.