Lately...

Alright blog... here's the deal: for the first time in my "adult" life I have been BUSY.

On October 18th, I started a big girl job in an industry that I knew next to nothing about: finance. I say 'knew' next to nothing because for my first two weeks all I have been doing is studying. STUDYING. I thought that I was done with school... what the heck?! But for this new job I have to pass a couple licensing exams and it's pretty much consumed my life. I have honestly never studied this much in my life. The good news is that I passed the first one, and am taking the second tomorrow and, barring failure, will be done with studying!

Another new thing these days is that I am starting to lead Young Life in Liberty, MO. Liberty YL is in a redeveloping stage and so the time I spend mainly revolves around going to events and trying to meet students. For instance, Friday night our team volunteered at the junior high's haunted house. They gave us the job of guiding groups through, which I was incredibly awful at. I'm still getting the hang of YL, but I'm excited for the adventure that lies ahead.

So, everyone who is reading this should know that I went to the University of Missouri. Last weekend Columbia hosted Mizzou's 99th Homecoming celebration. 99th! It is also important to note that my alma mater invented homecoming. INVENTED IT! IN 1911! Pretty awesome if you ask me. Not only was the game a HUGE one vs. then #1 Oklahoma, but ESPN's CollegeGameDay decided to come and help the Tigers celebrate Homecoming. Zach scalped some tickets for cheap and so we got to witness our Tigers beat #1 OU! It was amazing... and of course I forgot to take my camera to the game. Typical. I also got to spend time with my ex-roomies and favorite dog. Here are some pictures from the weekend...

Me with some of my faves- Sophia and Mere

Sleepy Z and his little bro Quint

Matching friends Zach and Mary Kate at Chipotle

Vampire Dog

After mourning Mizzou's first loss of the season, we needed something to redeem the weekend. Cue Chiefs win, and Zach's oldest brother and sister in law's Halloween party. Cute kids in costumes, chili, adult bevs, trick or treating through old folks lane, and eating toooo much candy. Zach's niece and nephew were SUPER cute. Elijah was a piece of pizza (hilarious), and Andi was a fairy (super sweet). 

So there's what I've been up to while missing from cyberspace... now off to bed because I'm a grown up now and am getting up in the 5 o'clock hour tomorrow- ahh! 

Woof...

So.... I love dogs..... maybe I love them an embarrassing amount... 

Exhibit A:

Me and Copper Haslag's Christmas card pic

Exhibit B:

My former roomie Winston and I getting our snuggle on - Note: This pic is one of about a hundred similar snapshots. Nevermind the look on his face- he loves me, but hates the camera.

Exhibit C:

An incredibly hideous and really old Christmas morning pic of me and my parent's dog/other child Nicky.

The evidence clearly shows that dogs and I get along famously. I mean, dogs are (wo)man's best friend, right? However, my newest canine roommate and I haven't exactly hit it off. This is Midnight.

This is the only picture that exists of the two of us. I don't want to confess to how many attempts it took to get her to be this close to me. Maybe I'm just way too into dogs, but it's a serious blow to my ego and reputation as a dog lover that Midnight doesn't want much to do with me...

Here are the reasons why I think Mid and I aren't best friends yet:

1. Midnight is a very independent dog. Since I am still job searching and just working part time, Midnight and I spend a considerable time at the house together during the day. She just wants to do her own thing. She'll pay attention to me when I want to take her on a walk, which happens everyday, but beyond that she'd just rather curl up on her couch. I am just not used to this. All other dogs that I've been around always want to be near people.
2. Midnight doesn't cuddle. This is another thing that all other dogs I know love... but I guess Midnight is too big?! I personally think that she would make a great little spoon...
3. I'm not as cool as Zach. I think that this is the main factor in why Midnight hates me: Zach is here too, and he is way cooler than me. That dog looooooves Zach. Probably because he gives her Greenies, taught her a bunch of tricks, and play wrestles with her... How can I compete with that?!

Although I think Midnight likes me more than she did when I first started living here, we've got along way to go...