Good to be me

I'm working on my college summer bridge paper while listening to my ITunes list when Uncle Kracker's song, "Good to be me" comes on. I love this song and what better time to hear it when I am working hard on this big paper to complete my Master's degree? When I'm having a good day, this song is the BEST to hear. Ever heard it? No? Well, here's the lyrics and the video. Check it out. Add it to your "good day" playlist. :) Happy Friday everyone!

Nobody blowin' up my phone
I ain't buzzin' and I ain't stoned
But I'm ridin', flyin' higher than the blue sky

If you don't like me, brother, that's okay
I ain't gonna let it wreck my day
I keep stylin', smilin', handin' out the sunshine

I got no good reason why

Damn, it feels good to be me
Seats laid back in my Cutlass Supreme
I'll be alright
Rollin' these streets all summer long

Damn, I got it all figured out
I got no worries that I'm worried about
It's like I caught some crazy, happy disease
Damn, it feels good to be me

Bought some cheap shades at the Amoco Station
They make me feel like I'm on vacation
On my own island, motor city paradise

Ain't it funny how time flies?

Damn, it feels good to be me
T-Top's down in my Cutlass Supreme
I'll be alright
Rollin' these streets all summer long

Damn, I got it all figured out
I got no worries that I'm worried about
It's like I caught some crazy, happy disease
Damn, it feels good to be me

Got no particular place to go
My Alpine's pumpin' some Motown soul
Rockin' to a Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

Damn, it feels good to be me
Fresh pair of kicks and my old blue jeans
I'll be alright
Rollin' these streets all summer long

Damn, I got it all figured out
I got no worries that I'm worried about
It's like I caught some Coltrane Love Supreme
Damn, it feels good to be me

Get More: Good to Be Me, Uncle Kracker, Uncle Kracker Videos

women LOVE love

That's right, women LOVE love. As little girls we watch Disney princess movies and dream about one day of meeting our Prince Charming and falling in love.


It's magical...there are butterflies in your stomach....fireworks in the sky.....and whenever you look into each other's eyes, you just melt, because you're so in love.


The problem is when you grow up, it's not exactly like that. Here's some facts about the online dating world these days....

http://www.onlineschools.org/blog/online-dating/

Scary stats, right? I've known a couple people to have met their significant other through an online dating site, but that's just 2 people! 

The reality is, dating is hard. It is no Disney movie, that's for sure. So, people have gotten creative over time and so began online dating, blind dates, bar hook-ups, watching a movie in a guy/girl's dorm room, etc. 

I think the problem is our world today. We are so driven by our careers that we leave love and relationships by the wayside. Our careers take over and we forget to look our partner in the eyes and say I love you and mean it, not just say because you say it every day, but because when you say it means so much more than those three little words. It means, I am so in love with you, I want nothing more than to stand here with you and cherish this moment. Cheesy, right? Not to me! I may be a very educated, career-driven woman, but I still crave those romantic movie moments. 

I look at my grandparents, married over 50 years. WOW! I couldn't even keep a man in love with me long enough to stay married to me for more than a year and a half. [this is not meant to be a boo hoo moment for me...it's to prove a point about marriage today] Of course, many of us know the statistic (and we never want to think it could happen to us).....50% of marriages end in divorce. EEK! Now I'm a statistic. 

It has been over two years since my divorce now. Do I ever want to get married again? Of course. But...if I've learned anything, it's to not settle on mediocre feelings. That sounds awful. I loved my ex - very much, but we weren't right for each other and I think deep down we knew that. Some couples just reach a point in their relationship when they know it's not right, but some opt to move forward together, for various reasons. The most common is because they've been together this long, why start all over again with someone new? That seems like more work, doesn't it? 

The problem I see in some of the women I know who have fallen victim to this situation....of getting "stuck" in a relationship, is that they have forgotten about the Prince Charming they were looking for....the love they were in search of in the first place. So, they settle on something that is comfortable and easy. That might be okay for some people, but not me. To me, that is like giving up on your dream. 

Now, there are other women out there that their expectations, their "dream" is so big that no man will ever be able to make it come true. There needs to be a balance, ladies.

The important thing is to be honest with yourself. Don't deny yourself of the love you are looking for...that YOU need. 

I like this quote (I guess it's from 16 and Pregnant)...

"Never make a permanent decision on temporary feelings."

30 pages?! My brain hurts!

My blog has been a little quieter these days, because I am chipping away at writing a 30-page paper for my independent study for my masters. It's about college summer bridge programs. A research paper and a proposal included for the university I work for to create one.

I am on page 19. I am stuck and taking a break....to blog about it. Ha ha! I know that won't help, but my brain hurts. I need a break.

I am extremely nervous about this paper, not because it's 30 pages, but because my Vice President of my division, the university's Assistant Provost and my professor are all reviewing my rough draft (due April 16). I will be meeting with them the following week to go over edits and revisions they see fit for my final paper (due May 14). Sigh. Talk about pressure.

My goal is to reach 30 pages this Saturday, then edit it next week with a grad student writing center consultant before officially submitting it to my professor Monday, April 16. Eek! It's good that I have this Friday off (Good Friday) to work on my paper - so sad, but it's necessary. I have a lot of additional support to add to it throughout - this will certainly add more to the length.

Alright enough about my boring paper. Back to work. Here's a glimpse at my hard work in progress - even though this picture does not even do it justice....

It's official....

It's official.....my cap, gown & hood. May 20, 2012 cannot come soon enough. 

Two years....that's how long it has taken me to complete my masters degree while working a 40+hours/week job. Yeah, I'm crazy. No, but really, I've just been determined to accomplish something I put on hold for years (and for someone else). I am looking forward to several things.....

1. My mom here to watch me walk across the stage and receive my diploma.
2. Those four little letters after my name on my business card (it's the little things).
3. Free time.....to workout, sleep, cook, bake, and go to the beach without a textbook.
4. Be able to focus on my future career, life and family.
5. To make my family proud.

Hunger Games....bad influence?

OK....I know I am going to be alone on this one, but I am going to put it out there.

I didn't read any of the Hunger Game series, but I went to see the movie with my bf last night, and I have say, I'm not a huge fan. Don't get me wrong, the acting was great. I just couldn't get over this concept that someone came up with for the plot: teens brutally murdering other teens (sorry, if I just spoiled it for you). I have watched some pretty "out there" movies, but I just couldn't let go of this idea. I find it disturbing that teens are reading and are so into this book series. Maybe I am just being too conservative (I know there are other movies out there that are worse....hello, the movie, Jackas$!).

My bf informed me that many of his students have read these books.....ummmm, they are 5th graders!! I would not allow my elementary school student to read those books. Like I said, I know I am probably alone on this, but I just don't get all the hype. Why does this bother me? Have you seen the Youtube videos of teens beating each other up online? That is why. I don't think we need to put any additional encouragement or ideas out there for children or teens.

Soapbox post over and out.

Our first international adventure part II

Part II of our adventure was so much fun. Only pictures could truly describe it....

Celebrating with drinks poolside after the wedding....

Playing in the ocean...no big deal.

Before another delicious dinner.

YS Falls property

Getting geared up for zip-lining at YS Falls.

Oooo! HOT Jamaica shrimp soup!

The famous, Marcia. She makes the best Jamaican shrimp soup. We stopped by her stand on the way back to the resort from YS Falls.

That's the end of part II. There will be one final part posted soon. Jamaica was a blast. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a vacation. 

Our first international adventure: part I

Jamaica was our first international trip together. This was my second time and it was so much more fun. Different resort, different person, different adventure.

Boy, if a 4 hour international flight, going through customs and airport security doesn't test a relationship, I don't know what will. We could have completely ripped each other's heads off, but alas, we survived. Pfew!

Tuesday night we took the train into Chicago to visit his cousin, Andy, in the city for dinner.

Andy let us crash at his place, so we could catch the train to the airport at 5:30am Wednesday morning. Yes, 5:30AM. No coffee. Eek!

Made it to O'Hare (after I finally got a coffee) around 7:15am, Wednesday. Ready for Jamaica.

The flight to Jamaica seemed to go much faster than on the way back. When we landed, it was an hour and a half drive from the airport to the resort. We stayed at Sandals Whitehouse - a newer, smaller and more secluded resort. 

I thought we were going to die on the drive there. The roads are very narrow, full of pot holes and they drive on the left side. The differences in the people in Jamaica is very apparent along the roads. The homes are different sizes and quality. We learned that there is no type of government assistance for those who lose their job. They are to fend for themselves and survive on their own. 

It was very eye-opening and it made me thankful for what I have and realized not to take anything for granted. 

My brother and sis-in-law greeted us with hugs and smiles when we arrived and met them for lunch on the resort. It had seemed like forever since we last saw each other. The four of us really get along great and I feel we learn a lot of from each other too in our own relationships. 

The first two days were wedding prep and celebration. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and I had to fight back the tears throughout. I know my brother's dad would have been so proud of him and would have liked to be there. I am happy and honored that I could be there for Mark and Amanda and stand by them on their special day. I have never seen my brother so happy and in love with someone. What I really love and admire about the two of them, is that they have fun with each other with little play fights/flirting. They turn those small things that many couples bicker about and then make the best of it and laugh with each other. I love them both. 

The next two days of our trip will have to be for another post. Jamaica just has to be a two part blog post. Haha! More pictures to come! Stay tuned for part II this week.