this weekend was infinitely better than last weekend because i was actually able to get out of bed. i spent some sort of illness marathon in my apartment last weekend. i went to bed sometime relatively early on friday up and didn't do much of anything until thursday. that was not fun. i didn't really like it, but i feel like i've put in my time of being sick. so, done.

i finally downloaded the pictures that were on my phone to my computer (although because it's me, there were not that many) and i still really like this picture that we took at the thai place we ate before ingrid michaelson. it's just so cute and happy. and i still think it's just so important to remember how much we really are in this thing (called life) together and the how the best thing we can really do for one another is to love one another. in my humble opinion.

yesterday was the first conference game of the season and what a day of football it was. i don't think i have to express might delight at both usc and florida getting beat. although i was never at a missouri football game, i hope tomorrow finds them near the very top of the ap rankings list. so, if you saw the game, it looked something like this madness:

some of rachel's friends from the law school have the clever idea of getting a group of 10+ together and getting out ticket vouchers in advance, which means we got really great seats. see where the "S" is in the picutre? we were basically across the aisle to the right of that. it was really great. except i was really jealous because i've always wanted to be a part of the "S" - i'm not going to lie. that t-shirt would probably be the only free thing i ever got from penn state :) ahh....i feel like i'm talking about central college again now. but it was a great game, great seats, a good solid win, so i really can't complain about much. i think the next home game might be against michigan for homecoming, so i'm sure there'll be more whiteout pictures to be shared.

lacey and i just found out that the bodies exhibit is going to be in harrisburg until november 1st. has everyone heard about this? it's real bodies on display that is supposed to be both artful and educational. people have mixed feelings about it, obviously, but i'd actually like to see it. although if it turns out i have to go catch it when it's in new york city, obviously i won't be heartbroken.

i must get back to my packing and planning for my austin trip (apparently i'll be traveling to the land of eternal summer - seriously, how is it physically possible to have 90 degree weather in october? i just don't get it...), but i have to pass on this little gem that lacey received the other day. it's the RSVP portion of a real, actual wedding invitation. please take careful note of why anyone responding "no" will be assumed to be missing the special event:

that's right my friends....because the cows got out.

oh boy.

there is live music tucked in a small gym far away

it's been a fun and interesting (and fast-moving) weekend thus far. i finally got some time to catch up with nick, which was great. i think i hadn't realized how much time preparing for my thesis defense had actually been taking me. although listening to him talk about training for a marathon made me feel pretty lazy.

friday night we had a "girls night" with some of the ladies from the Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) department. they're so sweet and our schedules don't allow us all to get together very often, but it's always so nice when we do.

last night we went to a small (central-esque) school near harrisburg that was hosting ingrid michaelson . it was a pretty good live show. she really has an amazing voice and i'd bet money that she's had some training behind her. she's one of the most controlled performers i've seen in a while and it clearly pays off with the things she's able to produce. she played one new song that she had apparently just written which i, of course, want to own rightnowrightthissecond. but this one was good, too. and i'm not sure who put together the cute video, but it kind of made me giggle.

and did i mention how awesome it is to be able to watch the iowa football games now that we have the big ten network? particularly if it turns out to be one of the few times that the hawks can post a win. although i will say that i particularly enjoyed the announcers gushing over hy-vee after taking 10 minutes to explain what it was. i personally don't have fond chldhood memories of perfectly-backed hy-vee hot dog buns, but i suppose that there are worse things that iowa could bring to the world?

and i should probably make similar mention of missouri, since they are a team of similar colors that i was somewhat tied to for a time and still have some connections with. truth be told, i was flipping back and forth between games rooting for blacks and golds of different roots. my goodness, they're awfully good. i'm not really sure what else to say.

so, today there is a psychology department picnic which i should probably be starting to get ready for at some point soon. then it will be business as usual as i start to tackle the reading that will already be coming due on monday.

i know, it's an exciting life i lead.

how long does it take to catch up on life?

ohhhhhhhhkay. i think i've finally started to breathe again. perhaps i can have the life of a normal graduate student, whatever that might mean. so, i defended on tuesday and can now be honest in adding the letters m.s. after my name if i ever get the urge to be a bit more pretentious. i'll make revisions and turn in my final document to the graduate school sometime in november.

but the rest of this month will be devoted to getting my poster ready for spr and get this manuscript finished, hopefully, by october 1st.

our lab has gotten a new website up and running and because i had nothing to do with it, i can say it looks fabulous! i'm begging for a new picture, however. you'll understand why.

otherwise, its pretty much been business as usual. i've finally been able to have some quality phone time with nick and kara and soon to be erik as well. so, in the spirit of things that make nick happy, i'll post a picture of the woodchuck that lives outside of my apartment. i think we are equally scared of each other at this point and tolerate each other in medium proximity. he is vastly less terrifying since lacey named him (chuck, appropriately). he's our friend, though, and is likely equally dismayed about the quickly approaching fall.

lacey had a friend visit last week. meg, who is a teacher in new york with the teach for america program. they made yummy, yummy migas which are quite possibly my new obsession. it was so nice to have her here because she's so sweet and it made me eager to get home and see my own loved ones some time soon. thank goodness my mom has been persistent in asking me to get my tickets booked and "out of the way." it's almost time to start a countdown, i think :)

ttfn.