Such a good week and weekend!

Well, everyone that reads this already knows that Mark FINALLY proposed and we are now engaged:) It was such a wonderful surprise on Easter Sunday, he did it when I was least expecting it since two of our very close friends got engaged just three short days before that. But, we are so excited and me going to so many weddings, I know exactly what I want and where I want to have it. So, Friday we went and looked at a reception/ceremony location. It will be at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course, the wedding will be outside and then the guests and the group will walk up to the clubhouse for the reception. That is all I have planned right now, future wedding plans will be posted as they come up:)

This weekend I ventured to Manhattan, while Mark went to KC to meet up with some friends that were on his internship in Las Vegas. I went to Manhattan to meet up with my very preggo friend Riley and see Annie, Hallee, Claire and Katie. It was so great to see them all again and to catch up. We haven't seen eachother in so long but whenever we get together the conversation flows like we've been living together this whole time, its so great. Then, today when I got back into town, I went to the Chi Omega sibling day and we had so much fun in the beautiful weather at Holmes Lake Park. But, now I'm so pooped and I'm ready for bed. Pics and everything will be up later this week. Peace out everyone and keep it real!

Dana

Such a semi-lazy Sunday afternoon

This weekend, I feel like I've been working really really hard up until 5 minutes ago. I've been going into the lab this weekend to catch up on some work so I can make myself feel better about taking the weekend off in a couple of weeks. Also, I need to do a lot of lab work so I can go with the horse judging team in the middle of April and take 3 days off.



Anyway, today I worked until noon, then I went out and rode my horse. I came home and lounged (because its the weekend, and I can do that). Now, I decided that I should probably start putting a presentation together that I have to give in a week. But, here I am, typing.



As for anything new, nothing is new. I haven't heard a lot about my comps, however I did hear from my advisor that I did very well on her questions. So, still be keeping your fingers crossed that I passed with flying colors! Mark left me to go to KC for the weekend to help his sister paint her new house. I would've gone, but I had the aforementioned lab work to complete.



Oh, we bought new furniture for the house! Slumberland was having a super sale and we scored a sofa, love seat, two end tables and a coffee table for a helluva price. I'm very excited about it, again I can't wait to move into the new house!



Also, since the weather has decided to turn nice, I've been running outside and its been so great. I'm trying to get into bikini shape before we go down to the Lake of the Ozarks at the end of May. Hopefully all the running and riding I'm going to be doing will help slim me down fast.



Sigh, ok well I should probably get back to working on my presentation. Man, I feel sorry for these people that have to listen to this, they have to listen to me ramble on about crap for 40 minutes. Oh well. Happy days everyone!

I changed my look:)

Due to the fact that "my house" passed inspection and Mark and I (well Mark) are getting it, I changed the color of my blog. I feel that the new layout reflects my house's style, laid back, cool, and uncluttered. I'm so excited to move in I can't believe that I have to wait two more months before I move in!

Other than that, I'm totally nervous about my comprehensive exam tomorrrow. I've been told my pretty much everyone that I'm going to pass. The test is pass/fail, so I don't need a certain percentage to pass it which takes some of the pressure off.

Well, Mark is laughing histarically in the bedroom, watching America's Funniest Home Videos so I better see what he is laughing about.

Oh, and I heart Bravo, they have the best junk food tv for my brain.

In case you need to watch something funny, this is what I watched today when I needed a break from studying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9zcRDeEcQ&feature=related

I leave you with that link, go ahead, click on it.....

All of the sudden, I feel very grown up....

Ok, I was trying to put these at the end, but I'm lazy and I don't want to move them. So, here is the house! Excuse the random people, they are family.

Yes, yes its true. Maybe a year late, but I feel like that all of the sudden I've been thrust from poor college student to you-have-to-be-an-adult poor college student. No, I'm not preggo or engaged (although last week at the wedding I did tell Mark that if he took the bouquet I caught we were officially engaged, don't ask, I was drunk). Mark recently bought a very cute little house for us to live in together. I'm very excited about it, we close May 3 and we aren't moving in until our lease is up at the apartment, which is the very end of May. So, the month that we have it we are going to redo the wood floors and do some painting. This way when we move in we hopefully have everything that we have to cover funiture for done.

Also, this week, I'm taking my comprehensive exam. For those who don't know what this is, it is an exam that your committee members make. I have three committee members and they will each submit 2 to 3 questions each, and some of these questions will be open book and most will be closed. I have all day to complete these questions. So Wednesday night, if your in Lincoln, you'll find me at Risky's which is right behind east campus. Come by and have a beer with me!

So, as you can see, I'm moving closer to graduating and moving into a house...yes, I'm being forced to become an adult and less of a beer slugging idiot. Although I never knew when this day would come, I'm actually excited about all of these changes. It keeps me going and makes me feel like even though I am in school, I'm not falling behind in making all of these key transitions.

Ok, now the moment you've all been waiting for...the house

Please excuse the random people in the pics, they are family members who were walking through with us!

Down in Georgia where the peaches grow...they drink coca cola and talk real slow...

Well, I've been back from Atlanta for a week. To catch up those who don't know, I was in Atlanta for a poultry conference (yes, get your giggles out now). I had to present some very important findings from the first half of my research on Monday. Then, we were there until Thursday morning and the rest of the days I took in the meetings, the people and the sights of Atlanta and proceeded to get my name out there in the poultry industry. I had a lot of fun and made some really great contacts. It renewed my excitement for all of my research and getting my M.S. done. Speaking of that, I've finally gotten a ballpark date for my comps (for those who don't know, in order to get a M.S. degree, you have to pass an exam given out by your committee and then write and defend your thesis), my date is around the first of March. So I need to get crackin on studying!

Other than that, I'm a crappy blogger. I think about blogging a lot, but just never get around to it, and for that my followers I apologize.

Anyway, since the weather has decided to be halfway decent (and I mean temperature wise) I've been getting in a lot more riding lately. Charlie is coming along nicely and hopefully I'll be able to show him this year. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh, and a large piece of news that I need to share. Mark has recently decided that he (and by defalt, I) are financially prepared to buy a house. So, now we embark on the daunting task of finding one that fits us. I'll be sure and keep you posted on what we like and what we end up with. In order to get the tax credit, we have to move kinda quick (by April 30), so hopefully we will find something quick. Oh, and for those who read this as a sign that we will remain in Lincoln for ever and ever are wrong! Haha, since I'm getting my Ph.D. and we will be here for about 4 more years, it makes more sense for us to buy and then sell when I get a job rather than rent for 4 years.

Other than the above, that is whats new in my life. Let me know whats happening in yours! Leave comments, I love to read them, but only the nice ones, no mean ones please:)

Happy Days!

Fun times had by all

Last weekend the wonderful and fabulous Katie Franke came to visit me. We had the most wonderful time hanging around the apartment playing the Wii, eating out and playing with the ponies. She is planning on coming back over spring break, but I think is mostly so she can play with Wii and Charlie.
When Katie sadly had to leave us to go back to Manhattan, Mark and I decided to go to a movie. We ventured downtown to see the 3D viewing of Avatar. For those who don't think they will like it, go see it in 3D, its well worth the trip. Its so cool! I normally don't like those types of movies, but Mark and I both really liked it. It is a long movie though (2 and a half hours), so be prepared to take a pee break in there.
Other than that, I'm just trying to stick with my workout plan (which consists of running, and I recently added pilates and then I'm also going to add another workout video, but I have yet to get that from Amazon). I'm also preparing to go to Atlanta next week for the International Poultry Expo to present my research findings for half of my trial. Don't worry fans, I will take many pictures of the expo and around Atlanta. I'm pretty exctied, I've never been to Atlanta so its sure to be a good time.
Alright, I better get back to work before people catch on to what I'm doing. Happy day!

What do you want to do before you die?

I know its the trashiest channel, but MTV has come up with a concept for a show that genuinely intrigues me. Its called the Buired Life, and its about these 4 friends that make lists of 100 things they want to do before they die, and they go out on the road to accomplish these goals. Its the 20 somethings bucket list. The concept of the show has compelled me to think about some things I would want to do before I die. I know I've already accomplished some of the things on my list, and things that are probably on everyone's list. There are crazy, rediculous things I want to do, and some things that will be readily achievable. But, below is a short list of what I want to do before I die (in no particular order):
1. Get Married
2. Have a kid (shocking, I know but hopefully I'll get to that sometime...Not soon, but sometime)
3. Finish School
4. Go to Europe
5. Go to Germany (I guess this can be included in Europe, but I really REALLY want to go to Germany)
6. Go to Hawaii
7. Compete at the World Show (Quarter horse or Paint horse, don't care)
8. Place top ten at the world show
9. Win a world buckle
10. Go to a fabulous rich person party
11. Have a character in WoW reach level 80 (or 85 when the new installment comes out)

That is the short list, its not everything but just some things I could think of off the top of my head.
Think about what you want to do before you die, its kinda fun.
Happy Day!