Spring Break

I'm sorry that I have not yet updated everyone on the productiveness (or lack there of) from my spring break. But, I will tell you that I did go home to Mascoutah (St. Louis) to surprise my parents for a day. That was a lot of fun. One of the perks was that my dad loaded the most recent version of the Mac operating system onto my computer. Along with it came and free 60-day trial to .Mac, which allows you to do lots of fun things, one of which is create your own website. At the bottom of this blog entry you will find the link for the other version of Eric and Kerri's blog (which has some other entries, and some pictures).

In building this simple .Mac website, my desire for a new camera has been re-kindled. My in-laws were very kind in giving Eric and I a digital camera for Christmas right before our wedding. That camera has since bitten the dust. I guess I shouldn't say that. It still works, provided that you always want to zoom in completely onto whatever it is you're taking a picture of. For close up shots, therefore, it doesn't work too well.

So, I think I may have decided that I want a new camera for my birthday. I'd really like to have something small, something that could fit into my pocket. But, I also would like it to take clear pictures. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to purchase a .Mac subscription, so that I can keep the blog linked below (because I'm really starting to like it). And the nice thing is that it is really easy to load pictures and videos onto. So, if anyone knows of a good camera I might want to have, send me some specs on it so I can check it out. And I'll be looking as well.

Well, it is time for me to retire to bed for today. Go check out the new blog. Nothing spectacular, but I think it's worth looking at :)

THE NEW ANKENMAN BLOG

Spring Break

Well, this week I actually get to sleep in. I love it. Even though I don't have school work to do, I still have IKEA work on Tuesday and every day this weekend. And, I'm going to try to get a lot done. Below you will find my to do list, or at least as it is right now. Although this changes on an almost hourly basis.

SPRING BREAK THINGS TO DO

Create OAT practice tests for each grade (4 for each)
Back Up Computer info
Make back-up cds
Take dog to get nails clipped
Bathe dog
Start packing up books, etc.
Update Blog
Fix Blazer
Apply for Jobs
Write parent letters
Clean refrigerator
Clean bedroom
Do all laundry
Get hair cut

I'll let you know on Sunday how I did.

Stuck on the Toilet

Just when I think I've heard it all, I find someone has a phobia of leaving the toilet. Really? I've heard of some strange things, but that's one I definitely thought I never thought I'd hear. This woman sat on the toilet/didn't leave the bathroom for 2 years. If you wanna read about it, follow THIS LINK

Eric and I start out IKEA jobs tomorrow evening. He works 4-11, I work 4-10. I'm a little nervous just because I still don't feel completely prepared, but hopefully I can wing my way through it :)

48 more school days until summer. I can do this :)

Bully: Scholarship Edition

No, the title is not referring to a new contact sport in middle school, or even a skill taught in P.E. Rather, this is my latest XBOX 360 addiction. During the Blizzard of '08, Eric and I decided we wanted to rent a video game to play while snowed in the rest of the weekend. After much searching, prayer, and contemplation we chose to rent "Bully: Scholarship Edition." Eric spent a great deal of time this weekend (while I was doing absolutely nothing other than watching him play--see previous blog entries) playing. I did not pick it up for the first time until yesterday. And I was absolutely hooked. So much so, I really want to buy this game. Alas, it costs $50, which would probably be better used on other things. But eventually I will get to the place where I really NNNNEEEEEEEEEDDDDDD the game, and then we'll break down and buy it.

In other news, IKEA opens tomorrow. Thankfully I do not have to work tomorrow, or Thursday. But I do have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which I'm sure will be rough. But, that's what I get for signing up to work there.

And, I have to give props to the great author of the blog Seldom Wrong, Never In Doubt, one Dr. Jon Weatherly (one of our favorite CCU professors), for turning out attention to this hysterical Onion articles. Keep in mind, for anyone who may not know what the Onion is, these are all spoof news articles. That disclaimer stated, you've got to read this article about the Shroud of Turin.

Please keep my Grandpa in your prayers (my Mom's Dad). I'd really appreciate it!

The Epitome of Laziness

The following sum up my activities for this weekend: sleeping, playing video games, surfing the internet, and eating.

I should have worked on Saturday afternoon at IKEA, but the blizzard of '08 forced it to shut down. Nevermind the fact that Eric and I called about 5 times Saturday morning to see if it was closed, and they always reported that they were staying open. But, after Eric dug out our car, cleaned it off, and we braved the weather to get out to IKEA, we found a total of 2 cars in the lot, both covered in snow. We called again, and this time it had closed. We weren't bitter or anything...

So we came home. Eventually we ended up going back out that evening to get some Steak 'n Shake (we both had a craving), and to go to Blockbuster to get a video game. This morning, they canceled church, so we slept in. And we've played video games.

I'm amazed at my laziness sometimes.

No news on houses. We haven't really found any that we LOVED, but I think there's a couple we may try to look at some time. We'll see. But we have to figure it out by May 3rd, because that's when we have to be out of this apartment. Like I said before, one of our friends has very graciously told us we could move in with them until we find a place if we need to. So, we'll see.

The Blizzard of '08

I've been in school in one fashion or another (as a student or teacher) for 20 years now. And I never remember getting out of school early for snow. Sure, we had snow delays and snow days, but we never got out early.

I guess there's a first for everything.

They're expecting somewhere between 2 and 10 inches of snow today. Quite a wide range if you ask me, but since our weathermen can't ever seem to get snow predictions right, I suppose they need a window that wide. So, we were let out of school today at 12:20. It was great.

Now I'm wondering what will happen tomorrow. We're supposed to have family and friends day at IKEA. But it's not supposed to stop snowing until Sunday. I'd be amazed if they canceled it, but it might be a little dangerous out there on the roads. So, we'll see.

What a week

Sorry it's been a while guys. It was a very busy week. Not really anything exciting to write about, just busy. I worked on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at IKEA. Eric officially started his job at IKEA this last weekend as well (he's doing cold prep in the restaurant). So we both worked on Friday night. Eric also worked on Saturday.

Met with the realtor on Thursday. She just kind of informed us a little more on how the process of buying a house works. Haven't started going out to look at houses, but have ruled a lot of them out online. Still not sure where we'll be in 2 months, but we know it won't be here since we're giving out 60 days notice today.

House sat for some friends this weekend. It helped me determine that I have no desire to live in Hamilton, or at least not anywhere except the eastern outskirts of Hamilton. Downtown is a mess to drive through. But, it made me want a house. It was so nice to not have to take Sadie out, but to just be able to let her out in the back yard. And it was cute to see her playing with the other two dogs. If we buy, I think we'll get a second dog very quickly to give her someone to play with.

So yeah, that's about all I got...