I've had this thought in the back of my mind for the last year or two that perhaps having pets during this time of my life isn't the best idea. Every career-option I've researched at this point takes me abroad or gets me involved in an organization where I can't take pets....the Peace Corps, the AmeriCorps, studying abroad, International Travel, etc. And every time I research these paths that get me really excited, I get this sinking feeling in my stomach...."What do I do with my cats??" Do I forgo a career-field that I feel passionate about because I have cats? Or do I try to find a more stable home for them? I'm not sure. Sometimes I think that finding a home for them would be best for me and for them (they are already anxious and nervous because I move around so much....and my next move is Denver). And then other times I look at them and get sad and guilty for even thinking about giving them up. I could only do it if I truly find a good home for them.

Last Saturday was a fantastic series of events. I went out with James and his friends, Brian and Angie. We started the evening out with a hockey game....Indianapolis Vs. Greenbay. I had never been to a hockey game before, so it was a new thing for me and it was SO much fun! They go so fast and are so incredibly nimble on the ice. And Indianapolis won by a landslide, so that was cool. This was the best shot I got of the hockey game.


And the highlight of the game was that the rapper, Biz Markie, scratched and DJ'd during halftime and after the game (that wasn't really the highlight.....more like an amusing side-event). He's the guy that terribly sang the one song "YOU, you got what I neeeeed, but you say he's just a friend, but you say he's just a friend, OH BABY!" This was back in the early 90's, I think. Anyway, this shot is of Biz scratching....at one point, he lifted his shirt up, revealing his enormous girth and scratched with his gut. Now THAT is talent, folks.

After that, we all went to a club downtown and salsa-danced. I had two extremely good Long Islands and giggled the rest of the night. This picture is all of us sitting on the couch having drinks before we went out to salsa.

What kind of a blog would this be if it didn't include the extremely valuable photo of me (and a few of my acquaintances) with Screech from Saved by the Bell?? He came to Cracker's Comedy Club in downtown Indianapolis in 2004 and we decided that we just had to go. He started his routine with a joke about how if we expected him to spout out jokes about Saved by the Bell that we could go screw ourselves. It was an amusing time. Please ignore Robin....the one making the rude gesture with her chest. :)

I got my complimentary George Bush Sr. tickets this morning. A few months ago, Clinton spoke on Butler campus and now they are having Bush Sr. visit as well. I'm not a Republican nor am I really much of a Bush fan, but I'll just view it as an "educational experience" and will compare his speech with Clinton's. Plus, the tickets are free and they are visiting the campus where I work, so I figured, what the heck! At least he's not quite as annoying as his son.

I've been fortunate to have had jobs that have utilized a variety of my strengths and weaknesses. My current job has taught me a lot about what really motivates me. I'm such a people-person, it's actually quite striking. When I'm in my office for long periods of time doing "desk-work" I get really down and lose motivation quickly. But when I'm interacting with people...in meetings, consultations, teaching a class, even talking on the phone....it doesn't feel like work to me. I love it!

Looking back, this important characteristic of my personality seems obvious. As a child, I hated being alone....I always wanted to have people around. My main problem in school was "talking too much with my neighbors." Even in high school....I remember when Nate Bersee and I had to be separated in band class because we talked and goofed around too much. I was a senior in high school and had to be separated from my "neighbor." And looking back at all my jobs....the jobs I enjoyed the most were the ones in which I interacted with people the most. My sales job, while mundane and not very challenging, was OK because I was constantly on the phone with clients. My job as a lab assistant, however, was torture. I would spend hours in the lab by myself working on web stuff by myself. Then I got my teaching job at Indiana University....it was the hardest job I ever had and the one I loved the most. Being in charge of a group of 30 undergraduate students was daunting at first, but it got easier with time and was SO much fun.

The problem right now is that most of my job seems to be desk work. I'd say I have to do about 75 percent of my work independently and most of the time I feel like I did when I was a lab assistant. It can be pretty awful. That's why I think it's so important for me to get back to teaching again. It's such a tough job, but it's also so much fun. And I'm excited that I finally have somewhat of an idea of my future career endeavors.

Karaoke is so fun. I went out with my friend James and a group of fun peeps on Saturday night to a bar that has karaoke. After my first Long Island, I reluctantly went up and sang a group song. After my second Long Island, I went up and timidly sang Chain of Fools with backup. After my third Long Island, I went up and belted out Hit Me with your Best Shot and danced around as though I was on stage. It was great. I also played (and won) a game of pool. Overall, it was a fabulous night. No pictures. At some point, I need to get a picture of me singing.....but not until the third song (and third drink, of course).

Here's the picture I promised of Rinnert and Eric.....can you say CROTCH SHOT?? Amy Kronberg and I spent a long while giggling at this photo. It's a double crotch-shot!! It makes me laugh.

I went to the dentist today. Whoo hoo! Exciting times, I know. But I actually don't mind going to the dentist. I usually never have any problems and the time is spent admiring and complimenting me on my fabulous teeth. :) So, my next appointment will be in mid-July. I'm sorta planning on quitting my job in the June/July time-frame, which poses a dilemma. Should I hang on an extra several weeks so I can have my dental insurance pay for me cleaning? Or should I just go ahead and say SCREW IT! and just get a dental cleaning whenever on my own? Such difficult decisions.

Anyway, so now that my teeth are all clean I'm going to start using the Crest Whitestrips that I bought last month. I used them once before about two years ago and they really work well.

My sister bitched at me for not updating my blog often enough, so I'll try to do better. Happy now, Leila??!! Happy??!! :)

Ok, so the top picture here is of my Christmas Cactus. I've had it for about 5 years now and it's not ever bloomed. This will be the first year for it to finally bloom! It's going to be so pretty. I think the fact that it's finally blooming this year is a sign that it's going to be a good year for me (OK, I don't really think so, but maybe a little).

The other photo is of the Christmas gang in Montpelier Ohio. Starting from the front left, that would be Bill, my mom, my mom's husband (looks like Santa), my grandma, and my Uncle John. It was fun and I received enough gifts of money to have a nice little shopping spree on LLBean.com....I love their stuff.

My New Years was fun as well....I spent that in Indianapolis with my fun friends. We went to Jillians....a bar with lotsa arcade-type games and a dance floor on the third level. It was a smashing good time and I was thoroughly lit, but not so much that I spent the night heaving like last New Years. I made it a point to start drinking water by around 12:30.