…the one where I was able to Facebook, Google Reader, IM, Internet, blog, etc. everyday, multiple times a day.  I miss it so.  🙁 Waaaaaaa….

Ok, enough of that.  I can’t believe how long this studying has been going on.  And I’m seriously wondering if my brain can process much more that this book is shoving at me on each and every page.  It’s making my brain hurt…ouch!  You should see the stack of index cards that I have already made.  Good news – I’m in the middle of the next to the last section.  Bad news – I don’ move that fast through any section.  Sigh.  I need a hug.  I feel guilty if I do anything that isn’t studying, but sometimes my brain just needs time to let everything digest.  I don’t know what the right answer is.

Let me fill you in on life to this point as quickly as possible…

Hail Update:

Our car was totalled by the insurance company after they inspected the hail damage.  Every single part of the exterior would have to be replaced along with the sunroof and windshield.  Fantastic.  Too bad we turned down the gap insurance when we purchased the vehicle.  We will still owe another $4,000 on a car we don’t even own.  Super fantastic.  And we are down to 1 car which actually hasn’t been a problem at all.  We want to continue to do this as long as possible, but that mostly rests on when and what kind of job I FINALLY get.  Sigh (there will be lots of those this post)…

The insurance inspector also said that our roof (yes, the whole thing) needed to be replaced from the hail damage.  Awesome.  Actually, that’s not worrying me so much now that we had a company come look at it.  It should actually work out just fine, but we’ll be waiting until storm season is officially over.

Martial Arts:

I tested for senior brown belt on Saturday morning.  Everything went great.  The belt ceremony is tomorrow (Thursday) night.  I’m so close to black; it’s crazy!  I have been reviewing all of my material for blue belt in Kung Fu and hope to test pretty soon.  I’m still learning Tai Chi sword – a slow process let me assure you.  However, I have been totally digging Tai Chi lately.  I’m really trying to take it seriously and get the things out of it that I’m supposed to.  A good Tai Chi session definitely helps the stress of the day just melt away.  Come try it!  Oh, and I got Kung Fu toe hole again as well as scabby knuckles.  I wear them all with major pride.  😀

Pictures from my testing:

warming up 1

warming up 2

warming up 3

Video from my testing:

forms

sparring 1

sparring 2

Bryan’s Grandparents:

We got Bryan’s Grandparents all moved into their new house.  It feels good to have the house back, and equally nice to know that we have some family to go and visit.  I think this will be awesome on holidays like Thanksgiving where there’s just no time to get in a drive to Mississippi.  We helped them move some furniture, hang a fan, unpack the TV, and put contact paper on the shelves of the pantry, and we were repaid with bbq chicken and homemade mac n cheese.  Yum!  They’re still waiting on the delivery of their furniture (still a couple of weeks out), but at least they’re in the house and able to unpack and begin making it feel like home.

The New Diet:

Bryan and I started a new way of eating Sunday.  We needed something because as of late, we’ve been eating pretty much whatever we wanted whenever we wanted.  It had to stop!  And it has.  I’m feeling awesome after just 3 days on this new lifestyle.  The best thing about this diet is the off days!  While some take this method of eating to the extremes we do not though we are pretty strict.  Sadly there is no cheese, dairy, sugar, carbs, etc. – all the good stuff.  ;)  Just kidding what we’re eating is the good stuff, and it’s proven everyday when I feel more and more awesome.  In fact, the other day I had a burger with no cheese, bun, or fries and I was both full and satisfied.  Awesome!  :)  Still, I’m really looking forward to that off day…hehe.

Cats:

Here are some pictures that I took of Sweet Pea:

Sweet Pea guarding the cat door. Fierce!

Sweet Pea showing me how a proper cat back is done. 🙂

Here is a videos Sweet Pea:

Sweet Pea playing with the mouse

Sweet Pea vs. OC

Here is a rare picture opp:

All the cats eating at the same time. They do love the kibble.

Last Sunday in Pictures (we were totally lazy Sunday night though there was much to do…sigh):

Bella on her favorite part of the couch - looking down on us as usual.

Sweet Pea being cute as always.

Mallos is out!

Bryan looking too cute lounging on the couch. 🙂