word cloud

i think this word cloud might only capture the first page of my blog (i couldn't figure out how to capture the whole thing), but still, it seems fitting that the 3 biggest words (meaning they're the most repeated) are "granger," "apartment," and "beach." they're some of my favorite things!!! :)  also, if it caught the whole blog, there would probably be more words like "stressed," "school," and "paper." maybe it's best that those entries aren't included...

 

APARTMENT!!!

if all goes well, granger and i will be moving into an apartment together (with sadie) this coming weekend.  we submitted the application last week, and everything was cleared except our criminal background checks, which apparently requires 48 hours to process.  we should hear about that today, and unless granger is a secret criminal, i think we're set to sign the lease this friday and move in on saturday.  yay!!!

the apartment is in rockville, MD. (here's a map).  it's not an ideal location for the commute to work, but it has several advantages that outweigh its location: 1. it's the ONLY apartment complex that we've found that allows pit bulls to live there, meaning that all 3 of us can actually live together. 2. rock creek regional park (which is connected to rock creek park in DC) is immediately behind the complex, meaning that there will be lots of walking/hiking/biking trails to explore. 3. it's in MD, which means that granger will qualify for in-state tuition at UMD when he transfers there, and the GI bill will cover 100% of in-state tuition. it's also really convenient for granger to get to MC, where he'll be taking classes until he transfers to UMD. 4. the apartment is a 2br/2ba, so we will have lots of space, and there's a patio that goes out onto a grassy area so we can have bbqs etc. (also convenient for letting sadie outside).  5. there's a pool AND a gym in the complex.  so yeah, the commute won't be as awesome as the one i have now, but i'm still really excited to live there!!!

UPDATE - we passed the criminal background check!!!! now all we have to do is go sign the lease and then prepare to be a lot poorer very quickly...

the beach

so, if you know me well, you know that i LOVE the beach.  going to the beach is like therapy for me.  whatever cares i had pre-beach are gone (or at least forgotten) post-beach.  there's just something about settling into the sand with a good book, bobbing waves, diving through waves, building sand-castles, burying friends/family members, hunting critters, tossing around a football or a frisbee, playing volleyball, going on beach walks, or just plain-old lying around soaking up the sun.  whatever you end up doing is awesome.

having said all that, 2012 has turned into the Year of the Beach.  turks and caicos in january and greece in july/august (even though i was working, i managed to find *some* time for the beach)...  and, since returning to the US 16 days ago, i have spent 8 of them at the beach.  not too shabby!  also, there is some serious talk of trying to get together a group to go to jamaica in december, meaning that my beachy-exploits for 2012 might not be over yet. which, if you ask me, is AWESOME!

well, at least it's over...

this summer was stressful and i'm glad it's over.  i'll try to post something about what i did with the 5 weeks i was in prage/crete later on, but for now, i'm simply basking in its over-ness.

smile.