exam season's greatest hits

I am up to 3-4 hours per day of study. This is what I should always be doing, but I usually fizzle out at the 2 hour mark. I guess the 2nd trimester and the reintroduction of coffee has really improved my focus. (Don't worry, I'm only having one 1/2 decaf cup and my doctor says it's okay.)

The last few weeks have been a bit crazy... as always is the case as the exam approaches (next Thurs for anyone curious.) I have continued, as is my custom, to have a life. I just don't take as much care in documenting it as I normally would. I don't have any pictures from my "girls' night" at Mamma Mia! (on stage.) The music and costumes were great, but (and I can't believe the blasphemy of this statement) the movie was better.

The same weekend, I went to the circus for the first time, ever. It was small, but having nothing to compare it to, I was the most value for $10 I've had in a long, long time. A little of everything, and plenty of "akkk - don't die!" moments.

A highlight is that right after the show, Madhuri gave me a big bag of these maternity clothes.... pretty much everything I will need. Study, study, study and fast forward to last weekend... my BFF in college, Tiffany (who now lives 2 hours away in the desert) came, picked me up, and I had a weekend vacation on her turf. She took me for a day trip to Lake Isabella and a quaint town called Kernville where we shopped in some antique stores, got lunch and visited an old museum.

We spent a lot of time catching up on three years time, just hanging out at her place. We also got a drive through tour of the Naval base that she has been working at for the past couple of years as a civilian mathematician for the DOD. Then she drove me back to town and we caught a few hours at the Page Natural History Museum (Tar Pits) which I found out I get free admission through my work! You can look into the area where they are cleaning a big find, including a well preserved columbian mammoth. The tusk is longer than I am tall, I think.

As far as the whole preggers thing goes, I feel significantly better... appetite, energy, etc. Still wouldn't characterize any part of my life as "normal" -- but I can handle this part. I am infinitely greatful for the massage chair topper I got for christmas. I am trying not to think about everything too much (study, study) for now, which is hard. I let myself read a bit today and while sitting very still reading, I felt something. A flutter. Not gas. A flutter! It's early but within the range of plausibility - I think I felt the baby move! Wow. Still no pic of the bump to share. It just feels like the pizza and burritos I was once able to 'suck in' is now sitting out several inches - and who wants to see that? I know, fans. You do. Trust me. No one wants me to be a cute pregnant more than I do. But, you know not everyone has a cute little bump. I want to be one of those ladies who is normal from the back and then she turns around and you think - "wow... she's smuggling a basketball... I wasn't expecting that." But, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to swell up everywhere (given the current disappearance of my waist from every angle.) Don't worry. I will definitely post a pic - but let's just let it get it past the point of being mis-identified as a failed diet/exercise plan first.

Study, study, etc. Now you are all caught up to date and I should go study some more.

crazy amounts to discuss

We have been doing so much stuff with Brittany. Meditation gardens, Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art's Friday night Jazz (above), an Improv Comedy show with Madhuri, a barbeque taco night at Nancy's, to see "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D and "Dark Knight," to a mid-night party for the release of her favorite author's newest book (Stephanie Meyers,) shopping for school stuff, Scrapbooking with Madhuri every weekend, mini-golfing and batting cages, and the planetarium. Of course it wouldn't be LA without getting on set of a TV show (they were filming something for MTV at the mini-golf place) and being shaken up by a pretty decent-sized earthquake. (We're fine, by the way. But we were IN it. And it was relatively scary.)

We do have a lot of pictures, but not a lot of time to post. It's been a whirl wind.

Oh, and I got the score for my exam - a four. If you recall, six is passing, and last time I got a zero. So, four is okay. I can accept a four. And that means that next time, a six is within reason. Oh, and exam study season is already resumed. I need to kick butt.

learning by osmosis

My cat, Kira, can be such a riot. This is her studying with me.

I am behind on my studying, but it is such a gorgeous warm day, that I have the urge to do what the cat is doing, and just soak up the wonderfulness.

I have been scrapbooking at work for a poster contest and trying to keep up with life.

I fly out to Arizona in a couple of days on a work sponsored vacation. I'm representing my company at an event at my Alma Mater for a couple of hours. I am hoping to split the remainder of my time: study and relax. I need copious amounts of both.