Cake

I baked a cake for the first time in... well forever. And I spent most of the time cleaning up the mess, then I did baking. I used a hand held mixer my mom gave me almost 4 years ago and boy does that thing make it interesting. My entire kitchen is splattered with red velvet dots. Jaycie and Jack loved it because they got to lick the floor, but they missed a few spots and now the bottoms of my feet look like I have chicken pox. But hopefully it was not all for nothing. I'm waiting for what little remains of the batter I put in the cake pan to cool so I can taste my treat. I'll get back to you on how it all turned out. Until then here is picture of Jack the cat. 

New Birthday

Hello All!

I want to let everyone in on the switch. I am celebrating my birthday this year on November 1 instead of September 9. It is a little project I am doing so just indulge me on this one. Please refrain from mentioning my birthday until November 1. And stay tuned. If things go well I just might stick with the new date. So happy day... in 3 months!

I BOUGHT A CAR!!!

Interior View: only I don't have a manual I have an Automative with a CVT transmission! 
New CAR!!! Polished Granite is the exterior color
I look so tiny next to my new big car.

Ok so I bought a car yesterday! I have been looking for a new car for about three months. I initially wanted to buy a Nissan Versa, but they are hard to get at a decent price. My qualifications for the car was that it had to have good gas milage, dependable, come with a good warranty, and also the price. This Sentra gets 25/33, I bought a 7 year or 100,000 miles warranty, it has the beige interior which I prefer because it will match Jaycie's dog hair. I preferred white exterior, but they did not have that option. I could have waited for the 2009 Sentra's to come out, but then I would lose my rebate. So they had this car, minus the white, but with all the accessories that I wanted plus the beige interior, and I got a good deal on it! Oh and they had the windows tinted, and had this things called etching: where they etch the VIN number on different parts of the car so that if someone tries to steal the car and chop it for parts then I guess the cops will have an easier time to catch the thieves. Another fabulous feature that I love is that the back seat folds 40/60. Which means that I can fold the bench seat forward, then pull the back seat forward so that it lays flat. That way Jaycie can have an easier time riding in the back seat without having to balance on the seats. It also opens up to the trunk so I can put things in the back like a bike, if I were that type of person to haul bikes. But who knows!

Ok so I have been working with Chip, at Nissan Waco for about 3 months. I test drove a Versa when Taylor was in town. It was fun, but in the end I would be losing space. The car would be smaller than the small sports car that I had. So I started to look at other options, and then I settled on a Sentra. So this past week I went to the Nissan Dealership and worked with Chip for a Sentra. He told me about a used car, but I realized that I wanted a new car. So I got my old car appraised, ran a few numbers on the Sentra, all of which were very high, and sat down to do some negotiating. I was really worried about this part, and I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't wish that I had someone to help me talk to the big bad mean car salesman. But I went in anyways, I test drove the car I wanted to buy, got it out on the highway, and told Chip this is the one I want. The sticker price was way out of my price range, so I told him when he went to run the numbers if he couldn't make the price go down then I won't be able to buy the car. Well sure enough he got the numbers right in my range, only I still had to buy the warranty which was pretty pricy since I wanted the big "Gold" plan. So I told him if he could get the warranty in there without making the price go up then I'll buy it. Of course he said he couldn't make the numbers go down any more so I did the whole walk out thing. I got in my car and halfway to work and he started calling. He wanted to try to get me to buy another car, but I was dead set on the one I test drove. I made a quick call to Brent and asked him how much more he thought I could ask for and we agreed on $500 more. So when Chip called again I told him I knew for a fact that I wasn't buy that at cost price the dealership paid for, and that if he could take off another $500 I would buy the car right then. And sure enough he talked to the manager and I got the extra money taken off (actually they just raised the price of my trade in). So I went back, all the paper work was all ready done, so I signed my life away, took all the crap out of my old car and rode off in my new car! It still feel surreal. It is a little harder to get used to. My sports car made me feel like I was riding on the pavement, and now in the Sentra I feel like the car is longer, the steering is stiffer, the drive is lighter (no more sports car suspension), and the car has lots of energy. So it is nice. I bought an auxiliary cable for my iPod, which plays through my speakers in my car. It's awesome. All I have left to buy is a sun visor and a sheet to put down when Jaycie rides in the back. Still trying to capture as much of her hair as possible. So all in all I am so pleased with my purchase. I managed to get right under the high end of my budget. I had a bad feeling I would get carried away and buy something out of my price range, so I managed to stay right under and for that I am proud of myself. I accomplished my goal of buying a car, I researched it, I waited for the right time, I asked for help, and then negotiated the deal! Mission Accomplished!

Fritch

Beautiful Sunset at Home

So Izayah, Kris and I went to Fritch last week and hung out at home with Mom and Taylor. It was a small adventure. It started with me picking up Kris in DFW in 5 o'clock traffic on Friday. My car was in overheat mode and I felt like pulling over and calling it quits right there. I had given Jaycie and Jack doggie downers and they too were overheating. I felt like a horrible pet owner. I took Jack out of his box and let him sit in the floor board while I fanned him. So basically me and Kris looked like idiots driving up 35 with the windows down and my animals hazily looking over our shoulders trying to get some air. Well we finally made it to the spot where we picked up Izayah and my car started to act up. We had the emergency brake on while were were parked down hill and when I went to put it in reverse it just died. Geez I really hated my car at that particular moment. I just keep telling myself in one month... one more short month and I'll be cruising in a new car. I seriously cannot wait!

Izayah was really good in the car, but then Kris and Izayah fell asleep and I had to drive the last two hours home and that was scary. I am not a good driver at night and it was late and I was tired. Everyone was snoozing, even Jack and Jaycie. Anyways we finally made it at like 1 am and got up early the next day and hung out with my mom and my sister. Izayah had a cough and we were all tired so we didn't do anything special. The next day we went out on the lake with some of my parents friends in their house boat. That was fun. Izayah did not prefer the lake water that much. Look at the pictures below to see his sad face. In his defense, the water was cold, but I think he was mostly just pissed he had the life vest one and me and Kris were trying to get him wet. The rest of the week was uneventful. We did dinner and swam in our pool at the house. We did a lot of mowing. Poor mom, she is going to spend every waking moment mowing our estate up on Sanford Yake hill. So me and Kris helped her out a bit. I made Kris mow the shop yard because it was overgrown by like 3 feet. Thank god because he ran over a 5 foot rattle snake. I would have wet my pants and probably passed out. So it was best that he did that part of the mowing.

I think Jaycie might have had the most fun out of all of us. She loves my parent's house since she had full freedom. No choler or lease. She can run and bark at whatever she wants. It's really good for her to remember that deep down she is a country dog and she rules!

We stayed a full week which was nice. But it was good to get back into Waco. I miss my bed after a few nights on the trundle.

So I have a little bit of news. Dad is in full swing with his job in Port Arther. It was sad not having him at home, but I'm excited that he is somewhat closer to me now. We have family in Houston and I have friends so I can foresee myself visiting him in Houston some this summer. Mom is thriving at the Park Service and Taylor is doing her thing, texting. Kris has officially moved to DFW again. He had a job transfer so he could be closer to Izayah and I am excited for the two of them. He moves in two weeks so I might be making a trek up to help him move all his stuff in to his new apt. (that way I can ask him to move me out of Waco in a year!)

I have seen a few more movies: The Dark Knight, one word: Fabulous. It was packed with action, drama, and wonderful acting. I loved all the surprises and twists. I was long though, so a little warning to all those with small bladders. Come to this movie on empty and don't drink a thing. You won't want to walk out and no one wants you to piss your pants. Last night I went with MB to Mama Mia, and I have to say I was not impressed. I love musicals, especially when they remake them into movies. Now I did love the music. I actually bought the soundtrack when I got home last night, but I thought that the casting, directing, cinematography, and choreography were all off. It had so much potential and I was very disappointed. Maybe it was low budget, but either way there were major improvement that could have made the movie ten times better. My new obsession is watching T.V. shows on DVD. Right now I am addicted to Weeds and House. I'm a big fan!

Ok Here are a few pictures of the mini vacay to Fritch. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Summer. Enjoy the rest of it!

Me and Kris in my car on the way to Fritch.

Izayah and his foot!

Poor Jaycie and Jack... all drugged up.

Izayah feeding Jaycie his breakfast.

At the Lake

Not a happy camper!

Just too funny.

My mom had emailed me this forward a while ago and I keep it in my inbox just to look at it occasionally. It is funny and it makes me laugh. So I thought I would share it with all of you!

Here it is: An Efficient Way To Clean A Cat

1. Put both lids of the toilet up

And add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid...

You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times.

This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.

6. Have someone open the front door of your home.

Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerly,

The Dog

I hope you enjoyed it!

Runaway

The most frightening thing happened to me and my sister last night. We were both sound asleep when out of no where someone started knocking on my door. At first I thought I heard either Jack or Jaycie making noise, but then I heard it again and walked into the living room where Taylor was sleeping on the blow up mattress. I tried to look out the peep hole, but I'm really short and it's hard to see out when it's dark, but I did see someone pacing the hallways outside. Then he knocked again and when I turn away from the door I see a white blur. That way Taylor running for her life for my bedroom, and Jaycie making a fuss that someone was at the door. I was extremely scared and looking for the pepper spray as I say.. "Who is it?" The man on the other side of the door tells me "I've got your cat". I pause for a moment to let my brain catch up with the message and start unlocking my locks and when I open the door, there is my neighbor, with Jack in his arms, and he's like "he's been out here for a while, and I know it's late but I thought you might want him" OMG, OMG, OMG. After I profusely thanked him, and made sure Jack wasn't hurt or anything like that, I started to freak out. I know he likes to go outside, but I don't remember him being outside. So now i'm paranoid to even open the door with him in the room. I feel like a horrible pet owner, but I honestly didn't notice. Jack had been sort of been out of the picture since Taylor had been in town and hiding in cabinets, I just didn't notice that he wasn't walking around when I went to bed. I'm absolutely thankful that despite the fact that it was 2 am and I was scared out of my mind, that my neighbor had the guts to knock on my door. I think I'm going to bake him some cookies or something like that. I'm just really lucky that he knew what Jack looked like and that he brought him home. Geez I'm still in shock!

Fraudulent ID

This morning I went to mail off a package for Janet that was going to China and my camera, because it’s broken and has to be repaired (I’m very bitter about that). When the lady asked me whether I wanted to pay with debit or credit I usually say whichever is easier, but for some reason this time I said Debit. The stamp lady then said she needed to see my ID, which I gladly handed to her and after she looked at it for a few seconds, she looked at me confused and said “The hair is messing me up”. At this time I remember that I just re-dyed my roots so my hair looks especially dark compared to my high school photo on my ID with bleach blonde hair. I had to give her my Driver’s License, Baylor ID, and 2 credit cards in order for her to be convinced that it was me. Good grief. Taylor stood there looking like “oh crap, Jen’s a counterfeit” like she was contemplating what she was going to say after they arrest me for using a fake ID to send a package to China. But she finally accepted it. This isn’t the only place I’ve had problems. A man at Wal-Mart almost didn’t let me buy alcohol, and he was rude about it too. I just don’t want to go get my picture re-taken, 1 because it is expensive to get a new ID, and 2 it expires this year so I’ll get it retaken in a couple of months. It’s about time too. It will have been 6 years. My photo now is the day I turned 18, my senior year in high school. Now I’m a second year graduate student with dark brown hair. I have to admit I look different, but it’s such a pain in the ass. I wish there was some technology where we could just use our finger prints. Because no matter how many times I dye my hair, my fingerprint is indisputable.

Taylor is in Waco! She started her job on Monday and so far so good. She is going to be learning how to give a general tour at the DP museum so if you are in the area you should stop by and let her tell you all about Dr Pepper. We have a good month planned out for us. We are going to be going to movies and doing dinner with some of my friends here in Waco. We are also planning to do some school clothes shopping which is always fun. We get to spend some quality time with Kris later on, and we are both excited about that.

Here are a few photo’s Kris sent me of Izayah. Enjoy!

Summer Begins

Finals were done on Friday for me and this past weekend I stood in my apartment thinking there was something I had to do. For the past four months I have been elbows deep in books, papers, and research. So I decided to clean, because it had been four months since I had done that. It took two days, but at last the apartment is recognizable. You can see the floor, there are dishes in the cabinets and my desk and bookshelves are put back together. All that was left was to return all the books I had borrowed from the library. It took a full backpack and my large laundry basket to get all the books from my apartment to my car. I bet I looked like a hoarder when I returned them all. Thank god there is a book return right outside the building that you can drive your car up to, otherwise I would have looked like a crazy person carrying in all those books inside.

So now in my spare time…well I have only had four days of spare time, but I’ve been catching up on movies and books. I hope to get in a few books for fun while I do my research for my thesis. I am super excited about another summer of blockbusters. First and foremost is the next installment of Indiana Jones which opens May 22. So everyone go out and buy your tickets early and support one of the most favored heroes, Indy!

Taylor, my sister, is coming to Waco. She will spend the entire month of June with me, working at the Dr Pepper Museum. She is really excited because this is her first real job. It will be good experience for her and also look good on her college applications. But I’m excited that I will have company. I hate that no one from home gets to visit, so I’m glad to share my life here in Waco with Taylor. As horrible as the summers are, Baylor is wonderful because most of the students are gone and the campus seems deserted. I love feeling like I have the campus to myself when I walk Jaycie. Plus the campus is absolutely beautiful. Baylor does a good job with keeping the campus lawns cut and with great landscaping. Plus the fireflies come out right before the sun sets and it is cool watching them float around. So if anything Taylor should have a great view, though it will be blistering hot. But I’ll have my plus one all summer when we got to dinner and to movies with my friends. And also another dog walker for Jaycie.

Well Jack has become ferocious in his old age. He is One year young; May 1st is his designated birthday. Since he was rescued his original birthday is unknown and I decided to make one for him. Therefore, May 1st is the day. Jaycie and Jack like to play, though Jack likes to tease Jaycie more than she likes to chase him around my apartment. Jack gets jeslous seeing Jaycie and me walking outside so lately I have been keeping my door open so that Jack could linger outside if he wanted to, and indeed he did. At first Jack liked to sit next to my door and eventually he started to peak his head over my balcony. Anytime someone would walk outside Jack would run inside, but other than that he loved being outdoors. So tonight as I walked Jaycie I let Jack sit outside with us and he decided to try something new. He walked to the end of the balcony, then down the stairs, then ran like the wind down the corridor to the alley. At first I thought I was mistaken because he is such a scardy cat, but there he was, running like a jail bird for the alley. As I stood up (a bit woosie from the idea of my cat running away) I ran after him, and after a few minutes of him teasing me he finally let me pick him up and carry him up the stairs. This is the moment when he decides that he would rather sit in an alley way then in a nice warm and lit apartment and started to wiggle out of my arms. He scratched my belly in the process and as I hurled him back into his apparent cage, I ran to the bathroom to make sure I hadn’t been disemboweled. It is beyond me why he would prefer to roam the streets hungry and alone than my cozy apartment with a giant tuber ware full of Cat Chow. Anyways, he is presently running about the apartment, apparently showing me how brave and courageous he is, like he just had some amazing adventure and is such a bad ass for it. The little fur ball is keeping me on my toes.

So I should have more time to keep up the blog and let everyone in on how Jack has been arrested for an alley fight he started with another cat over a card game, how Jaycie has lost five pounds because her master now has adequate time to walk her, and how I am doing with my research, and of course all the latest news over the summer blockbusters.

Indiana Jones, Get Excited

I'm super pumped for Indiana Jones, May 22!!!

check it out below!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/

Ok so it has been a while. Unfortunately I have been very busy with work and school. I recently accepted an assistantship which is nice because it is some more money coming in, but more devoted to that job takes away from school. So it has been interesting trying to balance (or lack there of) everything. So this week is spring break for Baylor. I plan on working a bit at Dr Pepper and then working on my Civil War research paper. At the end of the week I am going to Houston with some friends to see the Lucy exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Me and the girls are going to stay in a really nice hotel in downtown Houston. I’m super excited.

Ok so what has passed: Well my computer died and then a week later my car was broken into. The culprits actually to my computer bag. I had left it in the back of my car so that I would have it when I went to pick up my computer. The day that I went to pick up the computer is the day that it was broken into. So it was a bit ironic. I guess the good thing about it is I finally vacuumed out my car. I had Sammy, a work buddy, help me get it all cleaned up. I also took the opportunity to get my windows tinted. I had ripped the tint off before I went to Europe last year because it was too dark and I had just never had it replaced. So looking on the bright side, I cleaned my car and snazed it up a bit with some tint!

Also big news: Jaycie turned 6 on March 2nd. She is my old lady! Well not too old. I told her she has to give me at least six more good years. I treated her to a two new toys from PetsMart. One is a huge octopus and the other is a large size “jack”. Both are plush with squeaky things in them. She seems to really like them. I usually give Jaycie rubber toys, but I have noticed that she usually goes straight for the plush toys when we are at other people’s places. So now she had some plush toys! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAYCIE!

Ok now for movies:
It has been a HUGE blockbuster month. We had the Oscars, major DVD releases, and a few good movies coming out. Ok some of the movies that came out on DVD that I saw and loved:
Elizabeth The Golden Age
Across the Universe
Jane Austin Book Club
Becoming Jane
Gone Baby Gone
We Own the Night
In the Valley of Elah
Lust, Caution
Margo at the Wedding
Rendition
Michael Clayton
Death at a Funeral
Silk
Into the Wild
Ok so let me comment on a few:
Elizabeth is good, not as good as the first movie, but still a very powerful sequel. It kept all the major actors, the same directors, and tried to make a good visual contrast between the two movies. Across the Universe is my new favorite musical drama. It uses songs from the Beetles to explain the era that involved the Vietnam War. Jane Austin Book Club is fabulous. Jane Austin is one of my favorite authors and this movie is just a great girls movie. Becoming Jane is a movie about Jane Austin, so again I loved it. Plus James McAvoy, who is just gorgeous. He is the lead role in Atonement which is released on DVD March 18th. In the Valley of Elah is based on actual events so that one is just interesting as far as being real. Lust, Caution was directed by Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) and he was going for something very provocative and extreme, and I have to say that he achieved that. I must warn you thought that it is very racy and defiantly should be watched with caution! Death at a Funeral is a wonderful comedy. I suggest this one if you are in for a laugh. If you want any more information on any of these movies and more you know where to find me!
I also went and saw The Other Boleyn Girl in theaters and it is wonderful. The second time I saw it I enjoyed it more. The first time I had a hard time getting over the stars playing British roles (both ladies are American and Eric Bana is Australian), but I think they managed their accents well. Plus my leading man in Across the Universe plays the Boleyn Brother, William and he was just wonderful to watch. So I recommend watching The Other Boleyn Girl and then going home and watching Elizabeth and then Elizabeth the Golden Age. That way you can get the whole Tutor Dynasty effect!

What to come?
Izayah celebrates his big First Birthday on March 30 (party is going to be the night before!) If you want to come let me know and I can forwards you the invite! I really want to make this a special day since Kris never had a baby shower or anything celebratory like that. I hope it goes well and that Kris really enjoys it.

Ok I will try to be more attentive to the blog in the future!

Update

Ok so just a small example of how crazy my life is right now. I was playing with Jaycie and eating dinner at the same time. She was handing me parts of a paper towel roll that I would try and throw, but she would catch just as soon as I threw them. Well I apparently was not giving her enough attention so she started chewing on the pieces herself. When I finally realized what Jaycie was doing my initial reaction was to tell her to spit it out, and in my mind that’s what I thought I was saying. Instead this is what came out, “Jaycie delete”.

Ok then losing my mind, I have been kept extremely busy with school. I can honestly say this will be the hardest semester at Baylor thus far. Even though I only have three classes, the work that goes with each one will keep me busy every day of the week. You should just see my Franklin (my planner). I have something to do for class everyday. So if you wonder where I’ve gone to, that’s were. My head will be deep in books. I hope to take a few trips up to DFW to visit Izayah when Kris has him. He turns one in two months! I’m excited, I’m going to be throwing him his first Birthday party.

But right now I’m exhausted, and I think I’m getting sick, yet again. So I’m going to keep this short, go to bed and get some good rest. I hope all is well in your corners of the world.

Here are a few photos of Izayah recently: