Back From Paradise

Jeff and I made it safely back to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. Those of you that followed me on Instagram know all the fun we had. I usually blog about my vacations on a day-by-day, play-by-play format. Well, I don't remember everything we did each day. In fact, the second half of Monday is a complete blank. Instead, I'll do different blog posts about each activity. It's never too late to spice things up a bit. For now I'll list a few things I learned about Kauai last week.

In Kauai...

1. chickens rule the roost. They are everywhere. You will hear the roosters at sunup (just before 6 am) and throughout the rest of the day. And they cross the road constantly. 
2. jean shorts are the new underwear, super short and super tight. I saw way too much hiney on this trip; of all ages.  
3. the sand is hotter than the surface of the sun. I lost a layer of skin on my feet our first day on the beach. My skin is prickling just thinking about it. 
4. the water is the most beautiful shades of green and blue you will ever see. St. Lucia has nothing on Kauai. 
5. no amount of running or weight lifting prepared me for walking in the sand. I was literally out of breath after 10 steps. 
6. you should book all your activities well in advance. A few things were not available even though we called a day or two ahead. 
7. good food is hard to find. We did have a couple excellent meals but for the most part we ate sandwiches in our condo. People don't really travel to Kauai for the food anyway. 
8. the fruit (this is the exception to the "no good food" thing) is delicious and extremely aromatic. I've never tasted sweeter pineapple or banana. 
9. everything is expensive. Everything. 
10. finding a parking space at any of the beaches is difficult. You get into standoffs with other cars waiting for spaces. And if you park in the "no parking at any time" places you will get a ticket. 
11. every one's yard looks like a botanical garden. Gorgeous plants and flowers in every shade of the rainbow decorate yards, fences, driveways. Georgia is a little monochromatic in comparison but there's no place like home.
12. a month would be insufficient to see and enjoy everything. Truly beautiful. This was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.  

I'll post lots of details and photos so check back for updates. 

GACE Ace

I passed my media specialist GACE exams!!! I didn't really ace them but I passed both and that's all that matters. The test was unpleasant at best; lasting 6 hours (including travel time) and it cost me about $170. I did not score 220 on the GACE exams, that's just the minimum score needed in order to pass.

I feel such a sense of relief. I'm not really proud of my score because it's not something you can necessarily study for but I'm so happy that I don't have to take it again or pay more money for another shot. It is a standardized test but it's not like the SAT or GRE. I did very poorly on both of those and thank goodness that's not all that schools consider when you apply. My final is tonight and after I complete the test I am DONE with school! I hear angels singing, does anyone else hear singing angels?

Candy Crush Break-Up

My mom sent me this hilarious email today.

How indeed? She's talking about the incredibly popular game Candy Crush of course. Last week I made the brave decision to delete Candy Crush from my iPad.

I think I only got to level 60-something. I was super addicted there for several weeks but it stopped being fun. The chocolate was causing me anxiety and I had to get away, cleanse, separate, delete; for good.

If only I felt that way about chocolate in real life. I feel that if a game is causing me anxiety then it's no longer a fun game. I have plenty of anxiety with work and school so I'm just saying no. Nancy Reagan would be so proud.

Lake Scene

I found this on MSN.com today.

"Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy, that is. Matthew Macfadyen's Darcy never sexily rose from a Pemberley lake and thus is ineligible for this 12-foot soon-to-be icon. In tribute to what every Jane Austen fan knows as "the lake scene," an enormous fiberglass statue of Mr. Darcy emerging from the water a la the BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice" adaptation was installed in Hyde Park's Serpentine Lake on Monday. The sculpture was built to promote Drama, a new U.K. TV channel dedicated entirely to British programs. It works, because Colin Firth in a sopping wet blouse nearly causing Elizabeth Bennet to faint is about the most British thing we can think of. The statue will reportedly visit several lakes before making its way to Lyme Park, where the scene was shot. A happy thought indeed."

So...I live on a lake.

Mine At Last

About 3 years ago we ordered a new set of Harry Potter books at work. The entire series is well loved and circulated at our library and the copies get damaged over time.  I have my own set of the series in hardcover. The new set arrived in an awesome cardboard case. Our evening library assistant also had a full set. Since we were the only two in the office that owned our own sets, and we both wanted to have the box, we flipped a coin for it. I lost. She accepted another job about a month later. The whole experience was very sad and somewhat unjust. Or it was until last week. We ordered another set...and this time the box is mine!

It sits where my collection originally sat but the volumes will no longer be covered with dust. They now have an attractive, protective case.

It has "travel" stickers to add to the box. I won't be using them but I'll keep them tucked inside the box for nostalgia purposes. 

It has a lock!

And handles!

My precious books are safely hidden inside the box. It's just the cutest thing.

I'm so glad this has finally been "delivered" to me. 

I wouldn't say my patience has paid off because I never really thought I would get a second chance to own this delightful box. I think I would call this good fortune. I treasure my Harry Potter books and they are the only books that I will not lend to anyone. I've learned my lesson with lending books and all but the first book of my Harry Potter collection are first editions. I would love to have the British version of the series (signed by J.K. Rowling, of course) but I'm more than happy with my set.