Welcome to Clifton Heights!

Sorry for my posting delay - MOVING this weekend cut into my blog writing time.  Also into my having internet, being able to find my computer and my eating and sleeping time.

Friday morning started bright and early (well, 9:00 early) when we did our closing paperwork.  We picked up the U-HAUL truck and started loading things up.  While moving down three flights of stairs was significantly better than when we moved up three flights of stairs, it still sucked.  Big time.

Luckily, we made it a family affair! We had help from both of our parents (who are amazing and we love them so much) as well as my two sisters and our super fantastic friend Matt.  It took us 4 hours to load the truck with stuff from a one-bedroom apartment.  Disgusting? I think so.

We drove (literally) 2.5 miles down the street, and arrived at our new home!  

We look happy, but we're really exhausted. 

Unloading the truck took significantly less time than loading, mostly since we had three fewer flights of stairs to contend with!  We got everything unloaded, returned the truck and put some lasagnas in the oven.  And broke out the drinks...

And, an incredibly thoughtful housewarming present from Zac's mom, who is darling and whom I love very much. When it comes to future mother-in-laws, I hit the jackpot.

Our giddiness here is partly due to sheer exhaustion. I just realized how crazy-happy we look here.

In the end, 12 hours after the process started, we were moved into our new house, thanks to our wonderful family and friends and at least three bumped knees along the way.  I'd say it was worth it!

Pictures coming soon of the house as we unpack - I promise!!

UK Social Work Grad Gives Back, Comes Back

Here's the link to the Alumni Profile UK did about me... I know it's shameless self-promotion, but I think it turned out really nice so I wanted to share!

Working Woman

UK is doing a profile on a College of Social Work alumni, and they asked to profile me! No word yet on when it will be available, though I'll definitely share it with you.

In the meantime, they asked me for some pictures of myself in action at work.  So... what do you think?

I should note that it's Tuesday, and I've already logged 27 hours of work.  

Yeah, good thing I love these kids!!

Are you watching CSPAN??

I think this is the first time in my life that I've watched CSPAN for any length of time - holy cow.  This is crazy!

I'm loving health care reform, but the way these proceedings take place is totally ridiculous.  There is more yelling than a high school football game.

Weekend was good... celebrated my friend Ashley's birthday on Friday, Junior League Gala on Saturday, and tons and tons and tons of packing in between.

T-4 days until Moving Day!!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Tonight, I believe I solved one of the great mysteries of the universe.  I'm serious.

I am insanely productive at work. Probably 97% of the time, I get a ridiculous amount of things done at work, ranging from small, I almost forget to do that tasks to larger project plans.  I have improvements to make, but at work, I rock.

At home, it's a different story.  I get home, I do nothing, next thing I know it's 10:59 PM and it's time for my nightly date with Jon Stewart.  Nothing to report - nothing to show for my time at home.  What the heck is wrong with me?

I've been blaming it on the fact that I work hard during the day so I get home and I just have nothing left.  That excuse is maybe 15% true, 85% bullshit (wondering if my mom will leave her first comment on my blog telling me not to swear. Let's see!).

Tonight, I worked late, and then didn't have a choice. There was no "vacuuming can wait until tomorrow" or "I'm sure I have something clean I can wear and postpone laundry."  A week from tomorrow morning we are MOVING.  Out of this house, everything has to be put on a truck moving.

So I just didn't sit down. I got home, put my bag down, changed into comfy clothes, got a glass of water, and started cleaning the shower.  The basketball game is on, but I haven't sat down in the past 90 minutes.  I'm actually writing this right now standing at my counter waiting for water to boil.  I rock.

So - here's my life advice that I assume at least one other person besides me can use. Just don't sit down. Another shout out to my mom - I don't think she's sat down since 1984.  And that's why her house looks perfect, her kids are happy, and her bills are always paid on time. I'd adopted that attitude at work, but not at home.  Ugh... I can't stand it when she's right. Not because I don't love her, but because she's seriously right about everything!

Oh, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog. Or my sister's blog!

Officially a Social Worker!

According to Social Work Boards across the country, you aren't technically allowed to call yourself a social worker if you aren't licensed. Even if you have a degree.  Or two.  Or three.  You have to be licensed to drop the SW+er term.

Well... today I am officially a social worker! I sat for my license test this morning and passed. Yes, to those of you who know me, I don't often not pass tests, but I didn't really do much preparing.  My old job paid the registration fee before I left, and I had to take the test by March 16, 2010 or I lost the fee.  Yep, I took it today. On March 16.  What is happening to me??

170 questions and about 90 minutes later, I was done!  Some questions were ridiculously hard and probably had no answer. Other questions I hope they use for screening purposes to weed out testers who could cause some serious damage to people depending on their answers.

The other highlight of my day was a Junior League Provisional Meeting tonight, which always makes me happy.  I really like all my Junior League friends!

Hope Daylight Savings Time is treating you better than it's treating me... I'm exhausted! I woke up today in the dark for the first time in a long time (teachers and other people who get up early, feel free to leave hate in the comments).  XOXO until next time!

Catching up!

Had a pretty busy but totally uneventful weekend.  Friday, Zac played in an indoor soccer league and I caught up on weeks of DVR'd shows with no cliffhangers or commercials.  If that's not an exciting Friday night, what is??

Saturday I went to Dayton to get my haircut and visit with my parents.  The highlight of my visit there was my mom making her grocery list.  She wrote down the word "cottage" then turned and looked at me.  She said, "That's lingo for cottage cheese. Did you know that?"  Wow, Mom, wow.

Sunday we took all of the Leaders and Scholars from our program to the Symphony.  They were so great - but I think they deserve a baseball game for their next field trip!

Tonight we went up to Monroe to visit our friends Shannon and Nick and their two adorable kids, Max and Avery. They are some of our most favorite friends, and we love inviting ourselves to their house for dinner.  Bonus, we get to play with their really cute kids while we're at it!

We're gearing up for our T-10 days until moving countdown.  Not sure where anything else can be squeezed into the next two weeks, though I assume we'll certainly try.

AND... it will all be worth it, because in just 10 days, we'll call this place home!

This is the year they're going to win it all!!

Last night we had a C-Change (Class 4 Forever!) Alumni event at Great American Ballpark.  We got to hear from the COO of the Reds about some of the changes they've been making to the "business of baseball," and then took a tour of the ball park.  If there is one thing that C-Change Class 4 likes to do, it's go on guided tours.

If you look really closely, you can tell that this is the field.  Someday I'll get a better camera.

Khoa and I rocking our really fabulous (read: FREE) Reds hats in a killer shade of old-man beige.

Tracy hanging out in the dugout - all of this is probably cooler when it isn't dark outside.

Tricia found a bat! Word to tour guides everywhere: If you do not specifically tell us not to touch, we will touch. EVERYTHING.

Except these ghetto fabulous sunglasses that have been there for almost a year.  Those, we will leave alone.

The batting cages are pretty cool - file this under "amenities the Reds don't deserve until they win" in my opinion.

Myron rocking again, because again, no one told us not to touch things.

Bummer that the door was locked.

I LOVE this city!!!!

Husbands and Husbands

I found this video on my friend Ashley's blog and WOW...

I hope my future children are just like Calen.  I love when it just makes sense to him: "So that means you love each other!"  Yep Calen, that's exactly what it means.

Dreaming about decorating...

Ever since we bought our new house, I have been day-dreaming about what to put where, what color to paint what... it's incredibly fun!!

The floors in the new Master Bedroom are a dark stained hardwood, which I love.  But, my bare feet don't love getting out of bed in the morning onto hardwood. So... I think I need this!

(Overstock.com, Hand-woven Shag Honey White Rug)

I don't even know where I would put this, but I love it and will find somewhere in my new house for it to live!

(Sams Club, Shag Bloompetal Rouge)

And these would be beautiful in the living room...

(Bed, Bath and Beyond Capri Window Panel in IVORY)

We have a beautiful new patio, and I see many nights in my future, enjoying this (bonus points because it's from Martha Stewart!).

Home Depot, Martha Stewart Living Copano Bay

Off to do more online dreaming - it's not really shopping since I'm not buying anything yet!!

My mom is awesome...

I heard a rumor that tomorrow morning, my little sister is going to write about my mom on her blog, so I thought I'd beat her to it... =)

Love you Em!

Passing the Torch

I went to an event tonight called "Passing the Torch," which was a panel featuring prominent Cincinnati feminists. The panel included Francie Pepper, Marian Spencer, Barbara Myers and Mary Levin, and their stories were incredible.

L to R, Marian Spencer, Mary Levin, Francie Pepper and Barbara Myers

What they shared with the audience was amazing. Marian Spencer told us about how she (pretty much single handedly) integrated Coney Island in Cincinnati.  Barbara Myers was denied a credit card unless a male relative would co-sign.  Francie Pepper's godmother was the first female Police Commissioner in New York City.  WOW.

Their stories were so inspiring. They've done so much for the community, and it was an honor to spend the evening with them!

My weekend...

I'm happy to report that we had a fun (albeit tiring!) weekend...


Friday we went to the Aronoff to see 39 Steps.  We have season tickets, and usually sit up in the nosebleed seats. We somehow got upgraded for this show, and quickly learned what it's like to live the good life. Don't tell any of the ushers that I snuck a picture!  The play was really fun - definitely worth seeing.

Saturday, my parents came to visit and we started PACKING! I am so excited to move, but much less excited about the actual moving part.  We definitely made some progress:

(Excuse the weird angle - it's an upstairs shot!)

Saturday night we went to Louisville for a friend's birthday party, then to Lexington on Sunday morning to watch UK kick some Gator tail!

Senior Celebration

And, if you've never gone to a UK game, this is the total craziness that happens EVERY GAME. Not just on senior night!!

Busy week ahead with lots of work, volunteer events and the never ending packing that is taking over our lives.  Hope your weekend was as fun as mine was!

Happy National Social Work Month!

March is National Social Worker Month, so I couldn't let the opportunity go by to say how glad I am to be a social worker!

I found Social Work pretty late in my undergrad life (second semester Junior year!) but made a mad dash with a crazy course load so that I could graduate with this degree.  I learned so many practical skills in my SW classes, and I'm so proud to be a social worker.

I'll share with you an article I wrote for our college newspaper (the fantastic Kentucky Kernel) because I was slightly more articulate and less tired 4 years ago... 

Full text after the jump!

Schnitzelbank!

Sneak preview of my wedding (whenever that happens):

You're looking at the official Bonistall Schnitzelbank song chart - and I want another one so I can hang it in my house! I can't find the exact one online - but I'm working on it. Wouldn't it look nice in my living room?!?

I will not bite my nails, I will not bite my nails...

I'm trying to stop biting my nails. Again. For what must be the 76th time.

It's not going so well.

Every few months, I decide that I'm done being a nail biter.  I take a lot of time polishing my nails with "make it grow faster" nail polish, subsequently embarrassing myself into not biting for a little while.

They start to grow, they start to look great, my itches get used to being scratched with something other than fingertips.

Then something happens.  More than once, it's been me getting on a plane.  This week, it was attending my boyfriend's grandmother's funeral, coupled with a new job and trying to purchase a new house.

The nails are back to not looking so hot. I'm trying to figure out when I bite them, but that's not going so well either. I bite them when I'm bored. I bite them when I read.  I bite them when my stomach hurts.  Oi.

Mark my words though - with a blog to hold myself accountable, I am officially done.  For good.  Because this is just getting ridiculous!