cross that off yr list!

southhaven04.jpg
Originally uploaded by alipants.

This week has been one crazy, run-around thing. The good thing is that I've gotten a lot done, despite the massive, oppressive and amazing heat wave we got hit with.
Saturday, we finally got to go to Paw Paw to St. Julian's and do a tour and wine tasting. We wanted to wait to go with my parents so we didn't feel so young and more people equals more entertainment. We then hung out at the cottage and tried out this HUGE 11 foot inflatable island called the Funsomethingorother, which I started calling FunFest '06. This big circular, inflatable thing has two "beds" (complete with inflatable pillows!) on the sides, creating the circle, and in the middle, there is mesh, creating this "WHOA. I'M IN THE WATER, BUT NOT! It's CRAZY." feeling. We had tons of fun on that thing, I think we all regressed to being five years old and amazed at everything. The last weekend we're in Michigan, the family's going out again Saturday through Sunday. I think we've planned to meet up with them on Saturday and entertain ourselves some more.
Monday, I finally got to eat lunch with Jen at Saffron. She had never been and I had never been for the lunch buffet. Man, it was good. I am really glad there will be Indian food in Virginia. I can't live without Middle Eastern or Indian food. I love it. Anyway. Jen and I talked a lot about how she basically got screwed out of a job for KPS (surprise, surprise!), how glad I am I didn't have to try and find a job around here, and how summer school is. It was great to see her, I hope we can see each other again before we leave.
Nearing the end of Jen and I's conversation, I stumbled upon a decision I didn't know I had finally made: I want to get my Master's. And I know what I want to do with it. I would like to be someone who was qualified to create and implement after-school and summer school programs. Oh yes.
Tuesday, Natalie and I had plans to go to South Haven. Because of the wedding and working 2-3 jobs at a time, I haven't really had a chance to go out there. Plus, my parents have their cottage on another, closer lake (smaller and not public, too), so there really hasn't been a reason to go. But I did miss it. Which is how it got added to the "To Do Before Leaving Kzoo/Michigan" list. At first, I was kind of bummed David couldn't come along with us because he was scheduled to work. Then our alarm acted up again and didn't go off (it happened on Monday, too. I woke up with ten minutes to spare. Awesome.) David was still sleeping by the time I got home from work at 1, so he was already over two hours late. And out of a job (unfairly). So, David got to come! It was perfect. The lake was actually warm and we thanked the 100°+ weather. We had some delicious food and ice cream and went home happy and sleepy.
Wednesday, I finally got a haircut. I got it cut a while back, really cute, and grew it to the length I wanted for the wedding. Last night, I finally got to cut it. It feels great to not have hair on my neck anymore. Then, I hung out with Meg and Mike, we watched Project Runway, 30 Days, and laughed a hell of a lot (as per usual when one or both of them are involved). I'm going to miss my sister a lot. Oh! There was also an amazing storm, mostly lightening. We put up our car windows not 30 seconds before the downpour. Amazing.
On Thursday, I was home from the first job, and making food and getting ready to head to the second job for the day when I happened to peek outside. There was this adorable little kitten outside. I went outside to pet her and offer food/water and noticed that she looked pregnant. And she was. She is very sweet and cuddly and I immediately called Animal Rescue and e-mail SPCA, even though they were probably full to the brim with kittens/cats. They were both interested in taking her in because she was skinny, young and pregnant (with fleas. But we did manage to get rid of all of the fleas except the ones around her face because the shampoo shouldn't get near their eyes/mouth). Today we drop her off with Animal Rescue. I'll miss her a lot. She was very cute.

Today, we were supposed to go to Food Dance for breakfast. I got up and realized that we had left the gift card at my parents' house. Plus, there was some drama with the cats getting out through a screen that popped out at three in the morning. Gabriel finally came back at five a.m. (Jackie is always easy to lure back with treats). They got a little freaked out (well, that's an understatement) by mopeds starting up while they were waiting on the porch to be let back in (such good kitties!). All is well now. All cats home plus an extra (for the next hour).

So, David slept some more and I watched the movie Stay (that was just okay, as well). Then I called up my dad and we headed to the storage unit we'll use to make the move a little easier. We have to move out of our apartment andl ive with my parents for a few days, so having a storage unit doesn't burden them with finding space for our crap and it'll be easier to load up on the actual day. We did make it to RibFest today and tried two different kinds of ribs. One had a really good Texas tangy sauce, the other were really delicoius, but we went for the sweet sauce which was just okay. Tonight, we're meeting Katy at 8 at O'Duffy's. So, this weekend is still a major success in crossing things off of our "to do" list.

Next week, there will be Binder Park Zoo, another possible trip to South Haven with Meg on her day off, finishing up projects, and packing up. On my last Friday at job #1, they're throwing me a going away party of some sorts. That weekend, I would really love to get a group together to go to the Metro. It'd be perfect because they have a relaxed section and a dance area and they let in 18+, so Meg could join us. It'd be an awesome way to end our time here and see my favorite people one last time.