Feeling better and lots of upcoming plans!

I can hear out of my right ear today! And I haven't been coughing like crazy or feeling like I have a bunch of bricks on my head. I think the inhaler and cough syrup from my recent doctor visit have started helping. I can't believe I've been out of work for an entire week. I swear I've been going stir crazy! And I've been so worried that people at work might hate my guts for being gone so long. But I found out that tons of people are sick, so I guess it's just that time of year. And thankfully, my new lead at work has been super understanding and seems to have just been worried about me getting better (and probably not coming in and getting everyone else sick)!

Most of my days looked like this:



And I was super excited to be home when this arrived yesterday!



Since I do feel better today, I figured it was a good idea to actually try to be semi-productive. I hate that I've been here all stinkin' week and haven't done a darn thing. So I started laying out and packing clothes for the trip home! I have to make lists and plan things out, so I started doodling outfits for each day!



Last time, I had no idea what to pack, so I ended up packing way too much stuff. My suitcase probably weighed as much as me! This time around, I'm planning everything out so I don't end up in the same situation. Since the temperature is so unpredictable this time of year in Nashville, I'm trying to cover all of my bases, just to be safe! I'm packing a pair of jeans, a few skirts, a couple of button up tops, leggings, a few cardigans, and boots. Something's gotta work! Mom told me it was 70 one day last week, and then the next day, it was in the 30's! Oh, Tennessee weather, you are so fickle.

I'm really excited about going home. I don't have any big plans this time around (last time I had college graduation), so I'm excited to kind of get a little vacation. Even though now I feel like a big ol' jerk for being out a week with all this sinus crud right before I leave town for a week! But still, being sick doesn't count as a vacation, right?

Doodling those little outfit sketches made me miss being in school and designing and drawing all the time. So I definitely want to get back to doing artsy things again. I have tons of supplies, so I want to buckle down and create at least one thing each weekend. I always have high hopes of doing something productive and creative at the end of the week. But besides going on our weekend dates, I usually just end up being really lazy and eating cereal bars, taking long showers, and playing Fairway Solitaire all weekend. Seriously! I'm an old lady, I swear.

I made a list of all the stuff I've been saying I want to do lately, and I'm going to get started on some of these as soon as I get home:

• create a web comic (I've already made my little character!)
• make some watercolor and gouache paintings to decorate the house
• make terrariums (I already have all the stuff!)
• sew buttons back onto all the one-missing-button coats and shirts I've been ignoring
• list lots and lots of things on eBay
• get my design portfolio and site back up

Another thing I've been thinking about lately is music. I've been listening to Joanna Newsom non-stop. I always bust out her music around this time of year for some reason. And even though I don't really think I have much of a singing voice, I really want to work on some sort of music project. She really inspires me with her "untrainable voice" (as she describes it). I'm so nervous about my young sounding voice, but whenever I listen to her music, I feel less and less insecure. Even though she doesn't like to be referred to as having a child-like singing style, it still makes me feel less self-conscious. I've let a small number of friends hear me sing, and they seemed to like it. And so many of my friends who haven't heard me have told me that if I did some sort of music project, it would be a really unique, fun sound. I'm excited to at least try it out and see if I'm any good at it. I already have a guitar, and I want to start learning simple things. I want to push myself to try this out.

I have so many things to start and do and look forward to! I just have to make the time and stop being so lazy when I have a teensy bit of free time. Time to immerse myself in hobbies and produce lots and lots of wonderful things! :D <3 Oh, and I'll leave you guys with a lazy nighttime picture of me feeling a little better, all cough-syrupped up!

Super sick day :(

Well, boo. I was looking so forward to getting back to work after the long weekend and talking to some sweet old ladies. But I woke up with the sorest throat of all time and a super stuffy head and nose. It started hurting a bit last night, and I just couldn't fall asleep because my throat felt so bad. So I laid on the couch until about 1, eating rice crispie treats and watching tv with Peaches until I finally fell asleep. I was hoping I would feel better after some rest, but no sir. :( I woke up every hour coughing and rubbing my throat. When I got up, I didn't even sound like myself. My poor throat was soooo hurty.

So I emailed my lead and his lead to let them know that I just didn't think I'd be able to make it in, and then I started looking for a primary care physician. I thought that by starting early, I might be able to find someone to take me today. But I had nooo idea that it would be such a hassle to find a new doctor! I started at 7:30 and left 2 voicemails, but never heard back. So I kept calling a few other places. But no one was taking any new patients, and the earliest anyone could take me was in March during the week that I'll be in Nashville! I think I called between 8 and 10 places. But I finally found a clinic that can take me on Thursday at 2, thank goodness.

So in the meantime, I'm just drinking lots of tea and taking a few at home medicines. I sound much, much better, and my throat has eased up lots! And my friend Ashlee called me and we caught up a bit since I was able to talk without any pain finally. So it was nice to not be so lonely and bored for a good hour! Now I'm just sipping tea and watching the Discovery Channel.



I hope everyone else is feeling better than I am today! <3

Valentine's Day and heading home!

I've been trying to make more time to blog lately. But obviously, it has been very, very unsuccessful! But since I get to be off work tomorrow, I'm making it happen now! Thanks, presidents.

I'll start with Valentine's Day; it was awesome! I made healthy, heart-shaped cupcakes for everyone at work, and they were a hit.



After work, Matt and I headed out to my new favorite sushi place, Tengu Sushi, where I had two eel rolls, seaweed salad, and green tea cheesecake. (My favorites/the only things I ever get!) Then we walked across to the theatre and saw Chronicle, which was amazing! Such a great movie.

Oh, and here's my silly pre-Valentine's date picture:



Also, I've officially been moved over to the phone team at work! I get to talk to cute little old folks about their games and such. And I swear, it's exactly what I was hoping for! I knew it would be a little trying at times, but I have tons and tons of patience when it comes to older people and walking them through things. So when something that should take 3 minutes to explain turns into a 45 minute phone call, it doesn't bother me a bit. And I think I'm doing okay so far! I'm looking forward to my first phone QA so I can see what they think. But either way, I'm having so much fun on phones! I really, really enjoy it. <3


Oh, and since I moved desks, all of these things have happened. (I've already pinpointed the culprits.)




Oh, and I'm making a week-long trip back home to Nashville! The tickets have been bought, and Mom has already planned to take the whole week off from work. The only thing left to figure out is what to do with baby Peaches. We had originally intended on boarding her, but that doesn't seem to be an option. I've checked out about 5 or 6 places, and they all refuse to accept "bully breeds", which includes her Staffordshire terrier mix. It's heartbreaking because she's such a big, sweet baby. So I think we might just have to leave her here and ask Matt's friend to take care of her when he comes to check on the kitties. I was hoping to maybe bring her with me instead, and my mom was totally okay with it. But apparently, the airline is just as crappy about her breed. :( I just don't get it.

But I'm trying not to think about that sad stuff or having to leave her here. I just can't dwell on it. I'm going to try to have lots of fun and spend time with my mom and see a few friends I've been missing. It's been almost a year since I've seen everyone!

I also bought my first set of luggage, just for the trip. I can't wait to get it!


My mom and I were talking about what we wanted to do when I get home. And all we could talk about was Cracker Barrel and the mall in Murfreesboro. Yep. All we did before was eat and shop. Same ol', same ol', and that's fine by me! So excited! Come on March 3rd. Eeeee!