Enough of the mushy stuff, let me get to some more big news. Another one of my best friends, well actually 2 of my best friends, are engaged!! Congratulations to Whitney and Justin!! It is about time, they have been dating since our senior year in high school! That’s life forever ago! (don’t act surprised that I’m not doing the math, I done with stats, remember?) Here is a picture of the happy couple for the few of my readers who don’t know them already.

Oh and today is Tuesday which means: Teen Mom Tuesday!! Tonight Alex, Sarah, and I are walking, then going to Alex’s to make homemade pizzas and then watching Teen Mom. I’m pretty sure that tonight is the night that Amber gets arrested for beating up Gary. Quality, classy TV, I know, I know. But I just can’t stop watching it.

Besides that, not too much else is going on. What do y’all have going on the rest of the week, anything exciting??

I still haven’t proposed my thesis. My meetings keep getting pushed back. I would like to be angry and blame it all on my teacher (which, I’m not going to lie, I did that yesterday) but in reality, it is all my fault. I was so on top of it at the end of my first year and then over the second year of grad school, I lost all interest and did as little work on it as possible. So, I put it off then and now she’s pushing back my meetings, but if I would have just stayed on top of my game, I would be done (the thought of that kind of makes my stomach hurt, ughhhhhh) I just have to get myself motivated and finish the damn thing so I can get on with my life and not have it hanging over my head. I’m still hoping deep down, however, that I will finalllllly win the lottery and just say F the thesis. I know it would be silly to waste all the time and money that went into getting my master’s but really, if I won the lottery I would be done with it so quick.

Enough with the thesis talk, I guess I should fill you all in on the 4th. It was ahhh-mazing as usual. Our boat, Swamp People of Lake St. John, got 3rd place in the flotilla. I’m pretty sure we would have taken at least 2nd place, if I would not have fallen off the boat mid-flotilla and taken half of the decorations with me, but that’s a wholeeeee nother story for a different day. We had lots of fun singing American and Cajun songs and ”chootin’ ” people with our toy guns. The rest of the weekend went by too fast as always, but we had a great time, in between my bouts of tears over stupid boy drama (yet another story for a different day, haha, I can be quite the drama queen, believe it or not). The pier decorations looked simply regal thanks to Mattie G. and Wiz’s help on Friday afternoon. The Glitter Boys, an awesome 80′s cover band, for those of you who don’t know) showed us a great time in the Dock on Friday, for our official last Dock night ever. How sad is that? If I win the lottery, that is something else I am going to do, reopen The Dock. All in all, the weekend was great filled with red, white, and blue everything. Now, the countdown begins again and just so you know, there are only 357 days left until the 4th of July.  Here are some pictures from the weekend. Sadly I never got any in my full American attire, most of these are us in Swamp People attire.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for today. HOPEFULLY, I will have some good news by the end of this week so keep checking back if you want to know what it is, if not, then well, check back anyways, it isn’t like you have anything better to do. I have to get back to acting like I am working. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

So, here is what is pumping me up this week.

1) We are officially below flood stage! Yay! For those of you who didn’t know, our little town was in a HUGE threat of flooding and we packed up ALL our pictures and papers and some furniture (we were lucky smart and had flood insurance, so we didn’t have to move our entire lives like the majority of the town) but luckily, only the river font flooded, which just happens to be home to two of my best friends’ family businesses, so I guess it wasn’t s lucky after all. But now, the water is finally down and life is getting back to normal. This is a story about my good friend Lee’s family’s lumber company and how they were effected (that’s him in the pic, he isn’t as dorky as he looks, I promise, ha). And here are some pictures of our little riverfront…

This is the hotel on the river front, there is a whole river walk in front of that, where I used to run

This is one my of my best friends, Sarah's, family business Luckily they only have to replace the floors and sheet rock.

2) I am loving having a job. I am working at the Sheriff’s office again, good thing they love me and will give me a job every time I need one. I was out of money and having nothing to do really made the days drag on (yes, i could have been doing my thesis, but what would have been the fun in that?) I will finally get paid just in time for the 4th!

3) My new boot camp. It literally kicks my butt every Tuesday and Thursday morning. I hates Sarah for making me sign up for it at first, but now I am starting to really see some effects from it and I like it. It gets my mornings started in such a good way and then I don’t have to worry about running in the heat later in the day!

4) And of course, next Friday starts my favorite weekend of the year!! I can’t wait!!

I was going to write more, but I ran out of time and now it is time to go home! Wooo.

Anyways, who wants to spend time talking about my thesis when there is something so much more important to talk about, THE FLOTILLA and THE 4TH!! Flotilla festivites start next Friday! I’ll take the day off of work to cook and then head out to Wyatt’s that afternoon! That’s only 9 days away!!! Well, plans are well underway for our boat theme. This year we are doing “Swamp People of Lake St. John” My room is currently full of inflatable alligators, snakes, and frogs. It someone went in there and didn’t know what was up, they would think I was some kind of freak. Between those and the ever growing pile of red, white, and blue stuff in my room, it is getting kind of hard to walk in there and Betsy Ross isn’t really sure what to think, she sniffs it, paws, and jumps on it constantly; makes it very hard for me to sleep! I’m very excited about my goodies this year. I will share a few with you, only because I know very few people who read my blog will be in attendance.

First and foremost is my towel, no word is fit to describe it but majestic. I searched and searched for the perfect towel and when I found this one I knew I had found a winner. People will be jealous and some may try to steal it, but a good thing about this towel, I’m pretty sure no one else will have it.

Next, are my sunglasses. I have to find the perfect pair of glasses every year. I am particularly found of this year’s pair. I will look cool and patriotic. Can’t beat that!

And last but certainly not least, is my American blow up cooler. I think this one speaks for itself. All other beer will be jealous of my beer.

This year my snack menu includes patriotic cake balls, cookiewhiches, chocolate covered pretzels, brownies, and a few yet to be decided dips. I have to hurry and pick because it is getting oh so close and I need to buy my supplies and mentally prepare myself.

Whitney is coming to my house this afternoon to work start drawing out some of the float decorations on the wood I bought yesterday. Then hopefully Wyatt will get the shapes cut out within the next few days and we can get it painted this weekend and start decorating the boat sometime next week.

I’m oh so excited; I can’t even begin to explain it! What are y’all’s big plans for the 4th? I’m sure they are good, but I bet they aren’t as good as mine

I have been doing what I do best and putting off my thesis. I will pay anyone who wants to finish it for me. However, since I am currently unemployed (more on this to come) the check will be small, but you will forever have my gratitude. I swear one day I will finish the thing and officially graduate with my master’s. On a brighter note, I am done with school forever! No more test, or homework, or projects. DONE! DONE! DONE! Oh and I made a 101 on my last final ever, take that SELU! Oh, while I am talking about school, I must not forget to mention the back row reunion that occurred at Ana’s wedding! It was fun to play catch up with Stephanie and Kevin and to watch Ana and Josh say “I do!” Now they are both married and I’m holding for the single people. I may be the only single person in my class, cool. Anyways, the wedding was perfect and it was great seeing my long-lost school friends!

Anyways, since I have been out of school my main focus has having fun, I’m not even going to try to lie, because my mom reads this thing and she doesn’t like it when lie. First, the week after I got out of school we took our girls trip to the beach, which was made even better this year by the fact that the Vine’s had the 1st floor condo and we got to play with baby Grayson all week. If you don’t know me very well, then let me inform you that I a baby (as long as I can give it back to its mother and/or father when I am done playing with it). The beach was fabulous and for once I did not get a miserable sunburn. We went out a few nights and had a really good time for Wiz’s pre bday celebration. All in all, it was a wonderful little vacation!

Grayson and his favortie aunts

There has also been a lot of pool time, tye dying, eating out, going out, movie watching (Bridesmaids and Hangover 2 are both must sees, but I really thinks Bridesmaids wins!!) and just plain playing with friends. It is so good to be home and get to do things with all of my friends who are home for the summer or home for good. I know I say this all the time, but I seriously have the best friends in the world. If you don’t agree with me, just keep it to yourself, because I have been known to fight over this before and I’m sure under the right conditions with the right amount of drinks me, I would do it again.Other than that, I have just been looking for a big girl job, ughhh. Not ugh to getting a big girl job, I really want one, just ugh to looking for one! I am a fun, nice, hire-able person, so hows about someone just go ahead and hire me. I mean I feel like I am qualified to do things other than work at Fred’s or sell snowcones. I have gone to school for a really long time, that means give me a freaking job already. I will seriously punch the next person that tells me I did not get their job. I am really starting to get aggravated.Now on to the most important thing of all the 4th of July! The Flotilla is back on! For those of you who didn’t know, the flood almost ruined my 4th, the flotilla was temporality cancelled, but luckily someone came to their senses and decided that the world would end if there was no flotilla! So, now all is right in the world and the 4th of July preparation continues. I have ordered a GLORIOUS beach towel, which has to remain a secret until the big day (for those of you who won’t be present, I will do my best to get a pic), a special pair of shades, and some other goodies. I can’t wait, I mean I really don’t know if I can. So, until then, I will leave you with a pic from last year. 

I will try to be good about keeping you posted on my life and if I get a job and finish my thesis, but we all know I can’t make any promises. I forget to blog or don’t like to take the time to do it when I could be baking or buying something red, white, and blue. But I will see what I can do…

In other AH-MAZING news, this is my last week of classes EVER. How freaking awesome is that?? I can’t wait for Thursday at 3:30, all that will be left is my final on Monday morning. Of course, we all know that I still have that small little thing known as my thesis hanging over my head, but I am determined to get it done and graduate in December. Everyone cross your fingers and say a prayer, because we all know how I L-O-V-E to procrastinate.  Anyways, after being in school since kindergarten, I will be as happy as this cute little pug to never, ever, ever have to sit in a class again or take notes again or study again. Can you tell I am excited??

I have even more exciting news (while VH1 didn’t actually call me, it is pretty much the best week ever) I have a job interview on Tuesday. I am really excited, but trying not to get my hopes up too much. It is kind of the prefect job for me, ever since I started in psychology, I wanted to work with prisoners or with the military (One of my teachers told me I must have a thing for men with guns and I’m not denying that. However, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to meet my future husband in jail. I’m kinda desperate, but that’s pushing it even for me.) Anyways, the job is in Natchez, so I could live at home and start saving up some moolah to pay back my student loans. And I’m surprisingly not one of those people who can’t stand living with their parents. I get along pretty well with my parents most of the time. They are sweet and funny and if we for some reason are working each others’ nerves, I can always seek refuge at Wiz’s for a while. Living at home would also open up all my weekends for the lake I mean my thesis So, everyone cross your fingers that my first real interview for a big girl job goes well!

One thing that is really, really putting a damper on this whole best week ever thing is the stupid Mississippi River. Normally, I love the river; it is beautiful and it means home, but not right now. It is expected to rise to 65 feet and that means a flood. And 2 of my best friends have family businesses located directly on the river and to be blunt, they are both screwed. They are all taking every single precaution they can, but really there is only so much you can do. And if it gets as high as they are saying, that is going to mess up the water and sewer systems in Vidalia and that obviously won’t be good. So everyone please, please, please say a little prayer that there is a miracle and it doesn’t get as bad as they are saying it will.

So, that’s my update for now. Besides the river trying to ruin everything, I’m pretty happy with this week and the way life is going right now (knock on wood)! Oh and only 62 days until the 4th of July (which will be extra magical since Osama is GONE! I can only imagine the things I will be yelling come the 4th, my current prediction “Ding Dong, Osama’s dead!”)

That is neither here nor there though. It is Thursday and that means it is time to talk about things I am loving this week, not things I hate (aka school). If has been a pretty rough week (but we won’t get into all that), therefore I will be stretching to get any more than about 2 things. So, here it goes…

1. I have to start by bragging just a little bit, because my favorite thing this week so far has been my Weight Watchers weigh in on Tuesday night. I was oh so surprised when I stepped on the scale and the receptionist told me I had lost 5.8 pounds. I made them let me get on another scale and double check it, but it was right! That means I have lost  26 pounds so far! All that running must be doing something! Yay!

2. This weekend!! I can’t wait for today to end and it to be my weekend. Although all day Friday and Saturday morning/afternoon MUST be spent catching up on school work. Saturday will be an oh so fun but busy day! First, I have to wake up early and meet Stephanie, Ana, and all of Stephanie’s friends for her WEDDING DAY 5K! Yes, I’m excited about her WEDDING DAY, that is why it is in all caps, duh. We are all going to have a little run/walk gossip session to start of her WEDDING DAY! Then later I will get all dressed up and go to the wedding and meet Ana and her husband-to-be, Josh, at the wedding. I will spend some time playing with my back row buddies at the reception and then haul booty to Natchez for Wyatt’s ball. I’m so ready to see everyone, a bunch of friends I haven’t seen in a while are coming in. It should be a good time! So, yay for fun with my new friends and then some more fun with my old friends, it is the best of both worlds!

3. Most of you know this already, but my sister is engaged!! How exciting is that? I’m so so so happy for her!! She couldn’t have found a better guy! I’m so ready to get into full swing planning and such! Yay!! And she bought a house and we got all moved in this week. My sister is such a grownup this days

Well, that’s basically all I have this week so far. I told you, it hasn’t been the most exciting week, so that’s all ya get for now.  What are you guys loving this week? I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

1. My weekend plans. This weekend should be AH-MAZING. I’m going home Friday afternoon and meeting Sarah and Mattie at the pool to get our tan on (yeah, I’ll just be getting my burn on, so what?) then we are doing dinner at Pearl Street and then going out. Saturday morning, Sarah and I (and maybe Mattie) are getting up and running the 5K path, then lunch at Magnolia, and then back to the pool. In the afternoon, I will be heading back to BR to get ready for Stephanie’s bachelorette party! Which should be oh so much fun! And it feels like I haven’t seen my back row friends in FOR-EVER!! So, I wish tomorrow would just get here so I could start my super fun weekend!

2. Running. I’m starting to like running! Is that even believable? Sarah and I have our first 5K nest Thursday (I know that’s weird, I don’t know why it is on a Thursday) in Baton Rouge. It’s at Lafayette Park, wherever that is. I guess I should probably look it up. I’m so excited, but scared at the same time, I haven’t go up to 3 miles just yet, but hopefully, I can get so pumped up at the race, I can push all the way through it. If not, as long as I finish, I am happy.

3. This weather!! I am loving that it is getting hotter and it is getting to be lake time. Which means that the 4^th is quickly approaching! (Only 101 days left!)  I simply CANNOT wait until lake days. That is my little piece of Heaven on Earth! Great time with great friends and when you are out there, nothing else matters!

4. Music almost any music. Especially sappy songs, they are just gettin’ me at the moment. Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band. I L-O-V-E this song. I can’t personally vouch for the version on the link I posted, because I am in class and just searched it and obviously can’t listen to it. Oh, and Adele, she is my new fav. Rolling in the Deep makes me feel alive and wanna tell a certain person off, but ya know how that goes. If you haven’t listened to it, DO IT.

Those are a few of the things I am loving this week. There are some more, but I am in class and I’ve decided that it is pretty obvious that I am not typing notes, so I have to give it up now.  I hope everyone have a wonderful weekend!!