Birthday Academy

I redesigned my layout! how do you like it? (I spent far too much time on it yesterday :)

The only news I have as of late, and it's pretty big news at that...is that Robert got into the police academy! YAY! He had completed the entire process and ended up 3rd in line (due to them not hiring as many as they originally planned) and his only hope of getting in was two people retiring or quitting before the August 21st deadline. And lo and behold 3 people vacated their positions and Robert was in! He's wanted this so badly for so long I couldn't be more happy for him. He got the news on August 11th and his birthday was August 12th, it was a great birthday present for him :) We went to Salt Grass steakhouse Friday night, it was amazingly delicious. One of the big perks of Robert being in the academy is that he'll have normal hours for awhile! We'll acually be able to spend evenings and weekends together. Exciiiiiting :)

Other than that all I have to say is....can fall get here already? I am soooo tired of this heat. I don't want to go anywhere or do anything because I don't want to sit in a 120 degree vehicle and sweat my booty off! I find myself dreaming of fall weather. It can't get here soon enough!

Worst. Night. Ever.

It started like any other night. Robert and I made chicken and rice for dinner. We spent most of the evening in our respective places in the living room, I was reading and he was playing with his phone. Well then Robert decides he wants to go to the gym. And after much prodding, I agreed to join him. I rode the stationary bike for about 30 minutes and he lifted some weights. When we got home he took a shower and then began making a protein shake. I asked him if I could try it. It was gross...not to mention not fully shaken up..I inhaled a big chunk of powder and decided then and there that protein shakes were not my cup of tea. Little did I know how right I was.

I got in the shower and noticed my mouth was itching really bad. I tried and tried to rinse it out to no avail. I began to feel what seemed like severe heartburn. I brushed my teeth to scratch my itchy mouth, took some heartburn medicine and a benedryl. Then my ears started itching and my eyes were kind of bloodshot. I went back to reading on the couch...but then my lips started feeling tingly and numb. I went back to the bathroom and saw that my bottom lip had practically doubled in size. Then I began to freak out. Robert got me some ice and his flashlight. (to put his medical school skills to use?) He said my ears and throat looked normal..I looked in the mirror again only to see a huge lump had formed on my eyelid and my neck had hives all over it. It was time to go to the doctor.

When I got there they kind of ignored me, the receptionist was having a lengthy conversation with some man about his insurance. A male nurse took notice of me and asked what was wrong...i showed him my lips and eye and they took me to a room right away. Another nurse came in and took my vitals. She filled out some paper work and left me in there. I could hear the doctor on the other side of the curtain giving a little boy stitches. At this point, my lips felt tighter than possible, I couldn't breathe through my nose, my hands were on fire...I felt so horrible I couldn't stop from crying intermittently..it wasn't helping. About 30 miserable minutes after arriving she finally came to see me. They kept asking what I was allergic to...but I have no idea! There was an entire concoction of crap in that protein shake, and I'd never had this kind of reaction to anything. She told me they were going to give me a shot of epinephrine and steroids. Another nurse, who had apparently had a long day, came to give me the shots...she was not the friendliest person. I got the epi shot in my arm...holy crap it hurt. It felt like my arm was simultaneously being injected with fire and being punched forcefully. The steroid shot was in the hip...I barely felt that one. I laid there for another 15 min or so and they let me leave. My lips already felt less tight and burny.

I went to sleep and when I woke up this morning I was feeling significantly better. My eye lid is all hangy now and I have a bad headache. I'm supposed to take more benedryl today, I figured that would make me pretty much worthless at work, so I'm home, waiting to call my supervisor.

I hope I can figure out what caused my reaction...that's terrifying to know something unknown can do that to you!

5 Movies I Will Never Get Enough Of

Everyone has them. Those movies, no matter how many times you’ve seen them, they continue to make you swoon, cry, laugh, and smile. I’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of MY movies.

You’ve Got Mail

I don’t know what it is about this movie. Whenever it’s on TV I will forgo the rest of my day’s plans and sit on the sofa and watch it in its entirety. Of course Tom Hanks is an amazing actor, he’s not the typical choice for a romantic comedy, he’s no Gerard Butler, but I think his “real” demeanor is what makes him all the more appealing…you could completely believe that he was the guy you were chatting with online. I think the “online” perspective is also what draws me to this movie. It’s the first movie that brought to life this new method of romance…being that Robert and I met on Facebook, I can really relate to this manner of falling in love. Something about not even truly knowing a person but simultaneously feeling completely connected is very romantic. But for me, what it all comes down to, is the New York City backdrop of this movie. The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing New York’s essence through every season. This movie made every season wonderful and romantic. From Meg Ryan’s initial depiction of her love of fall and school supplies, to the beautiful farmer’s markets and spring followers in the park that would come to be their first physical meeting, they really made New York seem like the perfect place to fall in love.

Office Space

As long as there are cubicles, there will be people that love this movie. It is such a genuine depiction of what goes on in an office environment, everyone can relate. I love that the premise of this movie is “What would you do with your life if you had a million dollars?” As silly as this movie is, that line has set me into deep contemplation more times than I will admit. I definitely do not want to spend the rest of my physical existence in a cubicle. (“Did you get that memo?”) Ironically enough, this movie was filmed and based in the exact same Texas Metroplex in which I am currently employed. (“The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.”) Every time I hear an annoying voice echo over the cube walls (“Coorporate accounts payable, Nina Speaking… JUST a moment”) or shock myself on the way into the bathroom, I am reminded of the greatness of this movie.

300

Let’s see…Gerard Butler, amazing visual stimulation, and ABS! What more could you ask for in a movie?? Hehe…no really though, this is movie is amazing. I remember seeing it in the theatre and walking out feeling like I needed to do something great with my life. Their passion to protect and devotion to their craft is inspiring. I also really love, even though this is a highly testosterone driven story, that one of the strongest characters is King Leonidas’s wife, Queen Gorgo. “ Freedom isn't free at all…it comes with the highest of costs. The cost of blood.” She knows the war will likely cost her her husband, but she’s strong enough to recognize that he has to leave her. Their love is unspoken and unyielding, and Leonidas knows he would be half a man without her by his side.

V for Vendetta

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I know of no reason, why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot...

This movie is beautiful, poignant, and incredibly acted. I love Natalie Portman, and while she’s been praised recently for her role in the Black Swan, I think this performance was even better. The premise of the story is based on a man that was held captive in a government funded prison camp where he was relentlessly tortured. He manages to escape and spends the rest of his life plotting his revenge on all the parties responsible for the camp. He meets Natalie Portman’s character, Evey, and is convinced this was not a chance happening, being that her parents were also taken away for opposing the overbearing government. Together they manage to achieve vindication for everyone who died in the camp and the rest of the country that had been horribly oppressed. The themes of sacrifice and absolution draw me to this movie over and over.

Dirty Dancing

Hey…I didn’t say these were the best movies I’ve ever seen…just the movies that I can’t get enough of! I blame my mom for this one, she introduced this movie to me when I was very little, she, along with every other woman in America, couldn’t get enough of dreamy Johnny! I think the appeal of this movie is that Baby is just a nerdy teenager on a lame summer vacation with her family, and she meets this sexy man that opens her world up to scary and amazing things. The soundtrack to this movie is so classic, you can’t help but sing along the entire time. When I was 13 I re-watched the scene pictured above about 15 times on repeat until I could reenact every line. That’s a talent that comes in handy, let me tell you! :P

So there you have it, the cheesy, the inspiring, and the poignant. All glorious. All addictive. So go see ‘em!