On the Occasion of My 25th

Today's the big day. I'm 25. Officially in my mid-twenties. No longer in my early twenties. It was tough to get used to... Today I am old. Older. I feel like it, at least. Don't know why this birthday has affected me more so than others. So, today, on the occasion of my 25th, here are some things you're dying to know about me:

1. I haven't read a book since this summer. It's like blasphemy in my own world.
2. I have not yet found a good way to express how much I love my new apartment.
3. I still have 3 boxes to unpack. Don't tell my mom.
4. Robyn Carr is my favorite author. For now. It changes all the time.
5. I'm thinking about cutting my hair.
6. I accidently flashed my neighbors last week.
7. I LOVE going to Gamecock football games, but hate watching them on TV.
8. The alma mater always makes me cry.
9. I want to make my own dishwashing soap. Any ideas?
10. I argued with my professor because he gave me 3.9 out of 4 on a discussion question.
11. Yesterday, I was called someone's "twin in white skin"
12. I had my first kiss at 17.
13. I've only ever kissed 3 men.
14. It took me 5 years to get through college. Oops.
15. I lost my scholarship because of my zoology class freshman year. Oops again.
16. I can't take naps. I wake up in a bad mood.
17. Fall is my favorite season.
18. Hair cuts in fall make me feel collegiate.
19. My toes are always cold.
20. One day, I want to own chickens and goats.
21. I love the smell of bread baking.
22. The bread machine was the best thing I ever bought myself.
23. I love money in my bank account. Money hates to be there.
24. I'd like to start menu planning. It's hard to only plan for one person, though!
25. Whenever I am asked what I want for a gift, I always say diamonds and rubies.

Confession

I have a confession. I'm addicted.



My name is Maggie and I am addicted to Freecell. I play it all the time. I play while I watch TV. I play while I'm on the phone. I play when I should be grading papers. It was suggested to me that I should join a tournament because I play so much. I'm sorry.

Update: Long Time Coming

Yes, it's been a while, but I think I have a good excuse: I have moved, started grad school, and had my first ever by-myself parent-teacher conferences.

My new apartment is fantastic. It's a dream and so much better than my last place. It's cleaner, better taken care of. I've been here a month but haven't received my security deposit back. Is it wrong to be upset? I've called my old landlord numerous times and finally got a response last night - he'll mail it this weekend or first of next week. Dad wants to call a lawyer if I don't have it by Friday. We'll see. Any suggestions?

I also started my online grad school class. It's more work than I thought. "What, you thought going to grad school would be easy?" the Engineer asked. Well, no, but... I don't know.

I've been teaching for 3 years and have been to parent-teacher conferences for years. Participated, even. But, as a departmentalized school, I always was there with another teacher. A talkative teacher, which left me with little time to talk. This year, I'm self-contained. They went much better than expected. Everyone left smiling (except for some children, but that's to be expected), which is the point, right?

Disappearance

Yes, I've disappeared. My apartment was broken into - by someone with a key, although he shouldn't have had it.

You go over the scenarios in your head and feel like you just KNOW how you're going to react. But, it's so not like that. I became a mess. A blubbering fool. That's not my personality. Type A. Get things done. Follow the order. I think what messed me up so much is that he was a person who I should have been able to trust. I have a strong conviction of right and wrong, of believing in authority. It's not been easy, but I have since realized that I did nothing wrong, and there's no shame in freaking out about something like that.

Needless to say, my locks have been changed, and no one has a key anymore. There are massive bolts on both of my doors. I sleep with pepper spray and am hardly ever home alone. I just don't want to be.

Oh, and I'm moving. I'll find out the exact date on Monday - it's a matter of when the current tenant moves out. Things are packed, but I'll do much more tomorrow. Oh, boy I'm ready. My house is a wreck and I can't handle it!!

It's sad, really

I might have a touch of agoraphobia.

Yesterday, I went to the big city. What an exciting time! I got butterfly stomach again, but I went anyway. After I ran the one necessary errand, all I could think was that I wanted to go home. I forced myself to go shopping somewhere else, just to expand my horizons. I did it, and I did it with a smile, all the while wanting nothing more to lay by butt on the couch and read my book.

I didn't even go to Target!!

"Don't Be Afraid"

So says Julia Child. So shall I be.

Post Grad, redux. I'm going back to school. I'm getting my Master's in Instructional Design & Technology. I'm finally learning to combine my love of design/programming with education.

And if I don't like it? After 4 classes, I'll have a certificate in Instructional Design.

"Be ye not afraid." I'm trying, oh Wise One.

Boy, do I have a lot to get used to

It's been quite a day. In fact, I've been told it's almost "back to the country." At least, it's preparing me for that.

It started yesterday. My landlord had a guy come install a new front door. No reason, except it looks nicer. In doing so, my door was left off for about an hour. By the time I started eating supper, I had flies buzzing around my head. A few swats and they were gone. I THOUGHT.

By this morning, I started looking closely. The front window had maybe 5 or 6 flies. Aggravating but manageable. I don't know what caught my interest, but I headed to the window in my dining room. I never go in there these days because it's full of school things. There had to be 20 flies on the window, not counting the ones in the air. Holy Toledo. I flew my tail straight to Home Depot and got THREE fly traps. Two hanging fly paper type things and one bag that has attractant in it. One of each in the dining room. A hanging version at the front window.

As of now, Maggie: 8 Flies: 0

I have this sick fascination with going to check on the bags. When looking at the one full of water and attractant, it falls straight to my CARPETED floor. Oh, fantastic. I dab it with paper towels then left it covered up with clean PTs. Either my flies are stupid or that junk doesn't work because not a one has gone to the spot on the floor. Either way, most of the liquid remained in the bag. It still hasn't caught a fly.

Oh, but then. I was walking back to check on my traps. Barefoot. La te da. Probably singing in my head. When I came this close to stepping on a LIZARD. In my DINING ROOM. Oh, yes.

I haven't checked a trap since.