Slumdog $$

Slumdog Millionaire
We saw this movie last night at The Five Points Theater and oh man it was amazing. EXCELLENT.

The story was beautiful, the cinematography was gorgeous, the acting was great and the soundtrack was awesome.

The story centers around an uneducated Indian boy from the slums of Mumbai who makes it onto the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and wins the top prize - 20 million rupees. The show thinks he cheated and demands to know how he was able to answer the questions. That's really all I can tell you without giving it away, but it was so great.

We both loved it. Get thee to the theater and see it.

school

On a typical day at the downtown campus of FCCJ I either feel like I'm back in high school or about to get beat up. It's humbling but half the time I just want to yell at people to get out of my way or to grow up.

Grands

This picture makes me smile so big.
Piper adores my mom and it is so sweet to see them together. I am so excited for Piper and all her little cousins to grow up with their incredible PopPop and MeMe. My grandparents were (are are!) kind, wonderful, loving, fun, gracious and unique people who adored their children and grandchildren. They did incredible things, loved fiercely and made real changes during their time on the earth. Grandpa Purnell was an amazing artist and during his 20s traveled through Europe as a private tutor. He also gave me my curly hair and er..Purnell forehead. Grandma Purnell...well, she's a legend. Pharmacist, mother, devoted wife who lived every second of her almost 100 years on earth. Grandfather Williams was a self-made man who put himself through medical school, was an eternal optimist with an infectious positive spirit who always remembered to take care of his fellow man. Grandmother Williams is a regal beauty whose love and devotion for her husband has trickled down the family tree showing us all how to support and love our mate.
I'm so thankful to have such incredible grandparents. And now my little Piper will be supported and loved by her grandparents who think she (and Madison, Megan, Ashling and now Meredith) hangs the moon.
I wonder what wonderful words she will write about her grandparents some day.

Our little Democrat

On Inauguration Day.
She's particularly interested in Pres. Obama's economic stimulus plan, health care reform and international relations and trade.

Husband of the Year here people

Guess who was the one sitting on the porch, drinking a beer and taking the pictures??

happy girl

North Beach of Elbow Cay, Abacos.

December 28, 2008

Meredith!

Welcome little Meredith! We love you already!

me, only better

I am tired of worrying and being a pessimist. I waste so much time fretting over life, school, money, things and everything always, always works out. I freaked about starting school again after 8 years of having not opening a text book and I got A's. I worry about arriving to appointments on time, not hurting other people's feelings, cleaning the house, getting out of the door early enough so I don't have to rush to class, having enough time, etc and it.doesn't.matter. If I'm late for Piper's pediatrician's appointment, who cares? If my bathroom is dirty and the toilet needs to be cleaned, it's fine, I'll get it done. Maybe not this minute, but it will happen.
Money is a constant pain and is like a little evil troll sitting on my shoulder whispering stressful thoughts in my ear. I am always worrying about paying bills, trying to save, making ends meet. But uh hi. We just got back from two weeks in the Bahamas where we flew on a private charter and vacationed 500 yards from Tiger Woods yacht. Last time I checked that means you must be doing something right.
Everytime I'm stressing about something, the panacea (new word I've been looking for the chance to use!) seems to fall into place a few days later. And I'm left thankful, but wishing I could go back and have those moments that I wasted worrying back.
An anal, controlling side of me has started to sneak in and I'm not sure if I like her that much. I want to work to be the carefree Sarah that Patrick fell in love with. He deserves it and so do I.
The word that keeps coming to my head is: freedom. I want freedom to be me and not worry and fret and to remember that it all works out. God's hand, coincidence, luck. It always comes together and works itself out.

Geeking out big time

Ciabatta Bread

I made this today and it was easy and turned out really well. I spritzed it a few times with water and the outside was really crunchy and the inside was warm and soft. Perfect.

Ciabatta Bread

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 1/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

DIRECTIONS
Place ingredients into the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer (Liquid first, then dry ingredients and make a small well in the center and put the yeast in the center). Select the Dough cycle, and Start.
Dough will be quite sticky and wet once cycle is completed, resist the temptation to add more flour. Place dough on a lightly floured board, cover with a large bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes.
Lightly flour or use parchment lined baking sheets. Divide into 2 pieces, and form each into a 3x14 inch oval. Place loaves on prepared sheets, dimple surface, and lightly flour. Cover, and let rise in a draft free place for approximately 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Dimple dough for a second time, and then place loaves in the oven, positioned on the middle rack. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. During baking, spritz loaves with water every 5 to 10 minutes for a crispier crust.

I am a strong, independent woman. I believe men and women are equal. I believe women are so much more than their looks and that the female body is grossly objectified in the media.

However, as a woman I feel it is my right to feel no shame in watching the horrific train wreck that is the new season of Brett Michaels: Rock of Love Bus.

man's best friend?

It's official, Sammie doesn't really like us anymore.

He loves our next door neighbor Sera and has pretty much assumed her as his new master. He spends all of his time on her porch, picks his head up when he hears her voice outside the family room window, runs to the backdoor when he can hear her outside with her dogs and bolts out the door each morning to sit on her porch and wait for her to return from her 7am shift at the hospital. Last night around 10pm Patrick went outside and called for Sammie to come in since we were getting ready for bed. He called him for a few minutes and when he never came Patrick walked outside with a flashlight to look around for him. Yea, he was sitting on Sera's back porch just staring at Patrick and it took Patrick calling and calling for him and then eventually dragging him home for him to return to his OWN home.
I just came home from class today and was in the house for about 10 minutes before I came back to the computer desk and when I walked in the family room Sammie is lying there on his bed. Never got up to greet me. Never picked his head up when I walked in the room.
It makes me kinda sad.

so...

what do you think? It's pretty loud yes? It's the only decent free template I could find online.

fever

It's not an option - if I don't see the movie Twilight sometime in the next week I will self combust.

ring the bell, schools in sucka

New semester started today - Statistics and Anatomy & Physiology II. I did better research this semester and was able to register for two really good (read: easy) professors, unlike last semester where my A&P prof was one of the hardest. The downfall is that both of my classes are at the downtown campus - so no more walking to class. It's only a 10 minute drive so I can't complain.
I was dreading the start of classes because well, I don't know why. I guess it would have signaled the end of vacation. But when I slipped into my chair today in statistics it was kinda exciting. Like a feeling of where is this going to take me? how well will I do in this class? will it be interesting?
Tomorrow I have A&P II and I'm anxious to see how this class will be. It's at 8am and that is going to be a beyotch to get to on time.

side note:
dinner tonight - chicken and rice (thank you Wan for the suggestion). it was SO yummy and easy. sauteed onions/garlic/celery/carrots, added in shredded chicken from a publix rotesserie chicken, a chicken bouillion cube, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sour cream, poultry seasoning and then 1+ cups of cooked rice.
salad was all handpicked from our garden. toot toot.

back to reality

Our FUN FUN FUN vacation has come to a close. Wah. All the family flew back to their houses this morning(except for Mom and Dad who are in the islands for another week) and our house is quiet and still. Patrick and I have both felt really blue and just..off all day. We've had 2 weeks of non-stop family, beaches, sun, sand, noise, talking, food, people, cousins, kids, boating, swimming and now we ... gulp...have to go back to work/school tomorrow.
There's just no way of getting around it - it's gonna suck.