LOVE

I've been a little MIA lately, and for that I apologize.

Currently, I am in the middle of baking, laundry, photo uploading, and lesson planning, but I came across this gem that was too good to not share. 

It should be noted that these little hands cannot write their first name.

 Imagine the shock I felt when I rolled out a piece of easel paper for my students to color on at the end of the day, and my little man started writing "LOVE" everywhere.

  I asked Little Man how he learned to write that word, and he told me, 

"My brudder teached me. I have so much love I had to know." 

And then I melted into a puddle on the floor.

But seriously, how beautiful is that? Add this to one of the many things I love about four year olds. 

Did I ever mention...

...I have the best boyfriend in the world? 

Because indeed, I do. 

I mentioned earlier that due to yesterday's natural disaster, the public schools in the county were closed. Ergo, Ms. Y had a day off.  Of course I spent the day sunning with the girls at the Pool, and of course it was perfect. 

Later, as I was in line at the check out counter of our local Target, right before my credit card was declined and I walked out merchandise-less and ashamed, I got a phone call from the front desk of my apartment building.  

"Hi Maggie, this is Alice from the desk, you have a perishable package waiting for you that you should probably pick up as soon as possible."

No problem, Alice, as I can't bring home the cart-full of items I spent an hour and a half in Target shopping for, so I need not waste any time unloading a car or putting things away.  I'll be there in 10 minutes. 

I was somewhat curious what could be waiting for me that was perishable. All I hoped was that it wasn't something awful like an uncalled for prank in which someone sent me stinky cheese or bottles of ranch dressing. Because that is my worst nightmare. Because those things are dreadful, and who wants them being delivered to their apartment? I only hope that I don't have any enemies that would think to send me rank food products.*

Luckily, when I returned from Target with nothing, I was greeted by Alice and a pink vase of short stemmed roses. From Loverboy, of course :) 

Let me just take this time to remind myself how much I love this boy. Long distance relationships can be difficult for most people, but for three years now I've lived two states away from my boyfriend and have never been more sure of anything in my life. I'm not saying it's always easy; I find myself getting foolishly selfish when I don't get to spend as much time as I want with him. But times like this remind me that even through football camp, classes, school work, lifting, meetings, work, and personal chores, my C is always thinking of me.  

He spoils me to death and I hope he knows how thankful I am. I don't only** receive flowers on traditional flower-giving days (i.e. birthday, Valentines Day, etc.) ... can any other girls say they received a "Happy Move-In-Day-of-Second-Semester-Sophomore-Year" bouquet? Or how about a "Good-Luck-In-Student-Teaching" heart shaped display of roses? 

I think I've done enough gloating for one post, but let me just say that after a surprise day off from School, a fabulous pool day with the girls, and a Target Shopping mishap, flowers from my boy made this day an A+ in my book.

Thanks bebe! 

*By the way, JK about the cheese delivery. Of course I knew it wasn't white food (I detest) waiting for me. That would be unfathomable.
**I appreciate my flowers any day of the year!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday! I won't share how old he is, mostly because I am unsure myself, partly because it is irrelevant.  

No matter what age, today marks the day my generous, warm-hearted, intelligent, persuasive, funny Daddy was born. Today we shall celebrate how often he made us all question our habits, wonder about facts we thought we knew, broaden our musical horizons, and laugh at his inappropriate humor. 

My Dad is one-of-a-kind. He is smart, funny, and would put me and my sister before anything. All girls should have a Daddy as generous as he. 

Happy birthday Dad!  I owe you a Muffaletta. 

PS- I once beat him in Trivial Pursuit. It's true. Not many people can say that. 

Movie Review Monday - Love and Other Drugs

I was going to entitle this post "Weekend Recap" but then I reconsidered. My weekend was boring and uneventful (other than my emergency trip to the Patient First Clinic to be put on antibiotics for an ailment I won't allow myself to share on Blogger.)

I babysat twice. I laid in bed. I was filled in on Emily's birthday celebrations of which I did not attend. I sulked. I prescribed myself some retail therapy at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

The movie I rented from my trusty 7/11 Redbox was the romantic comedy "Love and Other Drugs" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.  Jake Gyllenhall was dreamy. So so dreamy. I fell in love with his dimple and his chisled bod, but his acting - eh... your typical rom-com hunk of an actor.  Anne Hathaway was great. Boy did she grow up since "Princess Diaries." I loved that she wasn't the typical blonde actress usually seen in romantic comedies. I also loved that her character's name was Maggie.  What I didn't love was that the script did not leave a single scene out where someone marveled, stared, or mentioned her breasts. I didn't notice them ... Why did they have to play up an asset that she (in my opinion) is less than famous for? 

Maggie is a snarky artist with early onset Parkinsons. She is not dying, just slowly deteriorating with the only visible symptoms a hand tremor when she becomes nervous.  

Jaime (Gyllenhaal) makes her his catch of the week after coming in unexpected view of her naked boob. To fulfill his predator reputation, he chases her until she accepts his courting. The agreement is that their relationship is purely sex. No feelings, no dating, just sex.

And so it works for the first week. Then of course they eat Chinese food on a couch in a dimly lit living room and fall madly, irrevocably in love because that's how it happens. Eat Lo Mein out of a cardboard box with a sexy man and he will devote himself to your every breath. Thank you Hollywood. 

Seriously though, I really enjoyed the movie. But I like rom-coms. If you don't, don't waste your $1.06. 

Or do, because the actors are beautiful and easy on the eyes.  It's painfully predictable and mildly funny with a cast to please any female viewer and a plot line sappy enough to leave these same viewers in tears.  I'll admit I cried for the last ten minutes. And then I called my loverboy to tell him I loved him and I want to eat Chinese food with him... I'm pathetic. 

Also, if I could live in one store for the rest of my life it would be Nordstrom. 

Seniorita

My Junior year of College has officially come to its conclusion with the completion of two Saturday final exams.  I couldn't have been more excited for paper-writing and test-studying to be behind me, but now that I am an accredited Senior I'm kind of wishing I could go back. Life Junior year was slightly reckless, minimally stressful (in hindsight) and awesomely fun. Life post-college is increasingly frightening, expensive and sad with ever day closer. I can't believe I only have one more year left in this awesome, awesome place. 

Here's an end-of-the-year summary in a photo gallery of highlighted Junior-year moments: 

Tailgating the MD v Navy Football Game @ Ravens Stadium

Advocates for Children, CP Scholars Graduation

Parent Tailgate for the Blackout Game

C's first year as a DL starter

Etown comes to CP for Jesse's 21st 

The beginning of an excess of 21st birthday celebrations

Group Fitness Demo Team @ the NEC Fitness Expo in Chapel Hill

Relay for Life '11

Peace out Junior Year, it's been real.  

Here's to a Senior Year where we have the chance to relive all these moments and more. Let's make this the best year yet, class of 2012 :) Love love love you guys

xx

Cheers 

Friday the 13th

So rumor has it that today is the only "13th" of the month that lands on a Friday this year. I'd believe it.  Considering I woke up at 6:45 to study, then stepped outside to walk to my 8:00 exam to discover it is the first cold and rainy day in a string of perpetually beautifully sunny days.

Rest assured, my Friday got increasingly better.  Once I finished the exam (composed of 5 essay questions - 2 of which I had no idea how to answer) I had a quick sweat sesh with my girl Ashie to work off any remaining stress. (Insert another 4 hours of studying here that I would rather just forget) 

Around 3:00 I headed to the CYC for my last hours in the Yellow Room for the semester.  Really really sad. All I kept thinking about was what on Earth I would blog about for the next month away from the kiddies?! But seriously...I can't believe half of my munchkins will be going to Kindergarten next year ... and even the half that will be back in the Yellow Room I won't see as much as I did this year due to my less-than-accommodating class schedule for next semester. 

To end my Yellow Room adventure I'll sum up the afternoon's events:

3:30 pm - I am greeted with three running-start-hugs. =]

3:31 pm - "Ms Alensis do you know today is your last day?" 

(I may or may not have teared up answering yes)

3:45 pm - Sang the Insect version of "Head,Shoulders, Knees and Toes"

 ... "Head, Thorax Ab-dom-en, Ab-do-men."

3:50 pm - Passed around a centipede to observe during Circle Time.

3:50 pm and 30 seconds - Centipede escapes. Screams and Cries ensue.

3:51 pm: Little Man accidentally smushes centipede with hand in effort to save it. Circle time is over.

4:00 pm: Cutie-Patootie, Munchkin and Girlygirl present me with a card (signed by all my kiddies with pictures!) and a gift bag. I feel so loved :) 

Aaaah I miss them already! 

Anyway, back to being a real college student and studying until my brain fries itself to a crisp, or my 8am and 4pm exams are complete. Whichever comes first. (and yes, 8am on a Saturday. They are trying to torture us.)

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! Glad it's almost over. 

xxoo 

Preschool Flattery

In a matter of 2 seconds and 1 full breath, I was greeted in the yellow room today with,

 "Ms Alensis remember when you came yesterday and I said hi I wanted ice pops but we played inside then outside and you looked pretty, where did you get all of those jewels, will you rub my back?" 

Shocked and impressed with the munchkin's ability to recall, summarize, flatter, and inquire all within the limits of one long run-on sentence without breathing, there was only one way I could respond; I laughed.

"Ms Alensis why you laugh?" 

I don't know, munchkin, you just make me happy.


I can appreciate that he's learning to butter up the women in his life prior to asking favors.  I wonder if he knows this is the exact tactic my boyfriend uses to get everything he asks of me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This morning didn't feel like Valentine's Day. I finally got out of bed after hitting the snooze button three times, and turned on my phone to a text from my Valentine: "Happy Valentines Day!!!!!"

After a brief "thnx babe you too" correspondence, the early-morning texting rapport ended.  And I left to class, not to hear from Christopher until around 10:00 pm, again, via text.  

This is the first year in four consecutive years to not be with loverboy on V-day.  Sure I was mildly depressed seeing happy couples walking hand in hand on this unusually beautiful 60-degree February day, but I really can't complain.  You see, Chris treats me everyday like most boys only do on Valentine's Day.  I didn't receive any roses in the mail today, because last month he sent me a bouquet just because it was Tuesday.  Last week he sent me a gift I had my eye on for months, and my favorite recent picture of us in a beautiful frame. He's the best. 

Not to mention, I didn't have much time to feel lonely today; I talked with the main man in my life (Daddy) while walking across campus, and I spent my afternoon with my adorable yellow-roomers.  Man do those guys know how to love.  I was greeted with uncountable hugs, 'i love yous,' and homemade Valentines.  

"Ms. Yelencsics I made you a card.  Because I love you and that's what you do for people you love on Valentine's Day." --yellow-roomer.  Why can't everyone put so eloquently into words what they are feeling? Why do we forget how to express our love once we graduate kindergarten? It's amazing to me how much love can fit inside those tiny little bodies.  

-The Valentine I received from my yellow-room friend

Random Romantic Musings

"In the midst of danger and pain, my contemplations have ever been cheered by your image.  Every object in competition with you, was worthless and trivial. No price was too great by which your safety could be purchased." - Pleyel in confession of his love for Clara Wieland; 179

I am currently reading the gothic novel, Wieland, by Charles Brockden Brown - it's dark, romantic, and mysteriously intriguiging.  I don't know why, but while I was trying to accomplish my 40 minute/night reading goal*, this passage jumped out at me.  You rarely hear such passionate declarations for love any more - and that kind of makes me sad.  What was it about the 18th century that made men swoon?  Does anyone else agree that over the past four centuries the art of romance in language has certainly fallen?  Poe, Hemingway, Melville, Brown ... they all would be turning in their graves if they were aware of the effort (or lack thereof) put into modifying the written word to fit into 140 characters or less on Twitter.  #tragedy.

*(English 313 is taking over my life)

PS - My oldest cousin Billy proposed to his girlfriend, Jen this past weekend! I wonder how eloquently he asked for her hand in marriage... At least I know he didn't use any social networking sites (#phew. )

PPS - I obviously jumped on the Twitter bandwagon recently, hence the abundance of "#." ... At least I'm still able to write more than 140 characters  (#phew.)