Spending the Day With Bud and Friends--and Holy Crap! Lots of Food

My first weekend off in a loooong time.  Working and going to school 7 days a week made me forget what it's like to have a whole day where I don't have to do either one!  Except homework, laundry, dishes, and de-trashing the house I've ignored since school started.

Bud and I went to our first ever college football game yesterday, complete with early morning tailgating with our friends Kelly and Jon.  Jon tailgates for every home Iowa Hawkeye game, and he's a dedicated fan of the Hawks.  And since I am officially a "hawkeye" for the next 2 years, I figured Bud and I needed to see a game.  

Yesterday's weather was absolutely perfect.  It was a bit chilly at 6 AM, but it warmed up enough that we both managed to get sunburns on the side of our faces that faced the sun whilst watching the game.  I also have raccoon eyes, thanks to my sun glasses.  So attractive.  

Bud, me, Kelly & Jon
yes, Jon & I are drinking whiskey at 9 AM

Our tailgate was fantastic.  Yes, I did drink beer at 8 AM.  It tasted pretty darn good, too.  I made guacamole, pumpkin bread, chocolate/apple/caramel bark, and brown-sugar bacon.  I made 3 pounds of bacon and it was all gone.  It was pretty awesome--and I put in cayenne pepper to give it a slow burn.  Sticky, hot, and bacony goodness.  I was also up at 4 AM to make it, too.  

Jon made breakfast burritos (hence the guacamole) and nearby tailgaters brought apple crisp, fresh fruit, and cinnamon rolls.  It was all so damn good I ate too much.  And the game was fun, too.  I immediately went hoarse from yelling within the first five minutes.  I am that way at sporting events. It is embarrassing for those with me.  

People rent out their front yards for tailgating

We had so much fun, it made getting up at 4 AM worth it.  Good food, good people, and good times.  And most importantly, Bud and I got to spend the whole day together!

Bud took this panoramic view of our little tailgate community

We won!  Boy, did we win!

If only I knew I was getting a lovely sunburn!

I Am Doggie Paddling As Fast As I Can!

So....I continue to adjust to the work/school week.  Not having any time to think is making the time go fast--in a blink of an eye it's Thursday night and the week is (mostly) over.  

School is getting thicker.  That's the only way I can describe it.  I have been strongly (yet in a totally friendly, enthusiastic way) advised to attend another librarian convention in October.  I talked it over with my Bud and a friend of mine, and they both say "you'd better go!".  So, pencil that into my schedule.  That's two conferences in October--both within 10 days of each other.  

I am finding myself taking bits of time here and there to quickly try and get some homework reading done; plan my days, and think about upcoming assignments.  I am learning PowerPoint this Saturday on the fly from my sister--who says "I looooove PowerPoint!  It's so easy!"  I hope she's right.  I have my first big presentation next Thursday for class and I'm doing it on PowerPoint.  I feel like I should be flying a flag from my truck antenna that says "flying by the seat of my pants"  That truly is how I feel.  Really wishing I had a blow up ring around my middle to keep me afloat.

One thing I really really miss is working out.  I simply haven't been able to do it since I started  school.  40 hrs of work + 8 hrs of classroom time + 10 hrs of homework a week don't leave me with much wiggle room.  Right now I feel that getting sleep is more important.  Getting up earlier in the morning to do homework before work means I am ready for bed by 9 PM.  

School is much more time consuming than I predicted.  As I said in my last post, graduate school is so much more different than undergraduate school that you have to go through it to get it.  When I say "I don't have time to do that/for that" I really mean I have no time.  Just ask the unfolded clothes in baskets and the dirty clothes hamper; the sink full of dishes and the meals that I haven't made all week.  

I am not complaining.  I do not regret even for one nano-second going back to school.  It is hard.  It is time consuming.  It is tiring.  But I will get through it, one week at a time.  Me and my vitamins!  How do you cope with added responsibilities?