Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Viva Las Vegas!

I just returned from Las Vegas and Lake Havasu. Keeno, his sister (Sam), his mother (Rita) and I left on Wednesday for his family reunion on his mother's side. We met up with with Keeno's aunt Mary (Mimi) and cousin-in-law, Janine, in Las Vegas and stayed with them most of the week. We stayed at Caesar's Palace Wednesday and Thursday. We ate expensive Japanese food in Caesar's Palace on Wednesday night, and I crashed around 8pm, which was 10pm central time, while the others played and explored the strip. Rita and Aunt Mimi saw Bette Midler at the Colliseum in Caesar's Palace, and I was secretly jealous.

I woke up 6am on Thursday morning while the others slept and went for an hour jalk around Caesar's Palace. I kid you not, it was absolutely magnificent minus the smoke in the casino. I peeked in some wedding chapels, stormed the stairs of the little outside island platforms they had everywhere with extraordinary marble-ish columns, explored around the Forum shopping center. Statue of the David that made my eyes bug out. Every designer name you can imagine...it was there and there were 3 levels of it with a grand opening that reminded me of Daddy Warbucks' house from the musical Annie. That afternoon we all went to an outlet mall off the strip, and I thought my sister, Megan, would have been in heaven since there was a True Religion outlet and a ton of designer clothing outlets. We came back to the strip and ate at an amazing hole in the wall family Italian restaurant called Batista's. If you ever get a chance, go! It was a phenomenon of its own. After dinner, Keeno and I saw the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor while Sam and Janine ventured out on New York, New York and Rita and Aunt Mimi explored Caesar's Palace. On our way to the exhibit (3 miles down the strip, thank you bad directions lady), we stopped in front of the Bellagio to pay tribute to the Ocean's Eleven cast. We saw a wonderful fountain show while Frank Sinatra played in the background. After we made the 3 mile jaunt to the Luxor, the Bodies exhibit was worth the rush. Every major system in the body (circulatory, muscular, respiratory, arterial, nervous, digestive, etc.) was preserved via a sillicon polymer serum, so every part was in tact and displayed clearly. I saw what a smoker's lung looked like and what a stroke victim's brain looked like. I was blown away and became slightly teary-eyed when I saw the stroke brain. There were 10 rooms to view everything. I thought the most interesting was the arterial system. Every capillary, blood vessel, artery was maintained and displayed as if in the living body. Truly an extraordinary show.

Friday we left for Lake Havasua City, which is absolutely gorgeous. I met most of Keeno's family on his mother's side Friday and Saturday. We stayed at a really cool hotel called "Heat" in Lake Havasu. We had a 2-bedroom 2-bath room with a huge balcony, full size kitchen with a living room, dining room, and washer and dryer and Rita and Aunt Mimi had the Inferno suite right off the water and across from the London bridge. Just a quick bit of trivia...Lake Havasu won the auction for the London Bridge when it came tumbling down back in the early 1900's and it is well-preserved from the mainland to the island where the Heat Hotel resides. Very cool and very cheap in the off-season. We met up with Keeno's family at his Aunt Marty's house in Lake Havasu City Thursday evening and played catch up. I met mostly everyone on his mother's side of the family minus a few cousins and was greeted with hugs from everyone. There's Gram, Terri, Mary (MiMi), Marty, Rita, Claire, Johnnie, and Joy (JoJo) of the Laws clan. His grandmother reminds of my own late grandmother in her frankness followed with a sweet comment or two. I played football with the chitlens in the amazing Arizona cool night air after dinner, and we left after a viewing some home videos of their late grandfather. Friday, I worked on school stuff in the morning and early afternoon. I wanted to play outside because it was so beautiful, but Sam and Janeen promised to send me pictures. So I went on with the school stuff. We had Thanksgiving on Saturday late afternoon with all of his family at his Aunt Terri's house. Yummay yummay! Overall, their family was really sweet and treated me like one of their own. It was a rare event to have all of the Laws family together with the grandmother like that, so I felt honored to take part.

We left for Las Vegas early Sunday morning to say farewell to Keeno's Aunt Mary and cousin Janine. After we dropped them off, we stayed at Planet Hollywood, played some penny slot machines, took a nap, and saw Penn and Teller in the evening. The show was really cool and reminded me of the magic show I saw at Branson a few years ago. I won $13.25 on the penny slots not knowing how, so I bailed after that.

Sadly, Keeno's mother became progressively ill on Sunday before we were set to leave on Monday. She ended up having to go to the hospital early Monday morning around 1 am or so. Turns out she had a lung infection and was sent hack to the hotel on Monday evening only to return Tuesday after a big scare at the airport for other complications. She's been in good hands in Las Vegas this week with Sam and the doctors, and they will be home on Sunday. We got in at around 3:30 or so on Monday. I was asleep by 7:30 and woke up at 7:30 for work. 6 of the 25 became ill following the reunion including Keeno. I'm doing just fine in that regard thankfully and hoping everyone gets well soon.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Roommate Found, Family Moved, Generals Done, and Other News!

Here's the latest happenings at our house:

Well, we found a new roommate. Her name is Jill, and Laura and I couldn't be happier. Jill happened to see my blog and contacted me back in May. We talked over the summer, and after a few background checks and some prayer that she wasn't crazy Laura and I welcomed her to our home. She joins us from the amazingly beautiful Seattle, WA, is a personal trainer, and has quickly become acquainted with the life of graduate student. I've already given her a nickname to join the others of whom I hold dear. Last week she had a major 20-page paper due, and I must say I admired her persistence and endurance on the project. Way to go Jilly! Laura and Jill have been able to attend a couple of OU football games this fall, and we've all enjoyed playing Rockband on our down time. We've been able to host a few cookouts this fall since the weather has been so nice and have enjoyed opening up our humble little abode for friends and family. Both Jill and Laura have really been blessings, and I'm thankful for them.

Since it's been so long since I've written on the blog, I must also include an important piece of news. My sister, Tracey, and her family have moved to Norman, and I've been able to see them on a more frequent basis. Tracey's currently working on her doctorate in conducting. Seth is the new band director at a nearby school district, and Emma's begun kindergarten and Tylar the seventh grade. I love being so close to them! Tracey and I have been able to have lunch on a weekly basis, and we've been able to have a family night at least every other week since they've been here. It's been so wonderful.

Another bit of news is that I decided to hold off on applying to internship sites for another year. In hopes of taking better care of myself and protecting my sanity, I thought this might be best plan since many students take 5 years to complete their Ph.D. in this program anyway. After some prayer, discussions with valued faculty, family, and friends, I haven't looked back since. It's been such a relief. I finished taking general exams a couple of weeks ago and am currently scheduled to take my oral exams next week. After that, I plan to devote myself to dissertation prospectus and remain diligent in my final courses.

A few exciting moments outside of the program occurred this month. Keeno and I were able to attend my sweet little nephew's, Boden, birthday party the day after generals. He turned 2! I was thrilled to see everyone, especially after such a stressful week. I can honestly say I've never seen a party quite like this one. Little man had it goin' on! A full size moonwalk/bouncy thingy. Kids from all over came to Boden's party. It was definitely the event of the season! Landry and Hudson played little hostess and host and Megan and Shawn attended to guests that arrived. Mom, Tracey, Tylar, and Emma were able to come as well. Naturally being so close to Thanksgiving, discussions surrounding who's house will we be going to began to transpire. It was determined that my mom will be having Thanksgiving at her house and my sister, Megan, at hers too since Shawn will be on-call during the holiday. So I'm going to try to make it to both houses over Thanksgiving break if I can.

Last weekend Keeno and I played football at friends of ours house after the OU/KU game. It was a blast. We had a pretty good size group turn out for the afternoon watch party/backyard football game. I think I only hurt one of the boys who played with us. I've missed playing sports, and Keeno was quite the talent and expressed a slight surprise to my competitive side. I laughed quietly. On Sunday, I got to go to hear my sister, Tracey, perform with her concert choir the Mozart Requiem Mass at OU's Catlett Music Center. Mom and B came down and my niece, Tylar and I giggled quietly while we read some of the funny last names listed on the program during the instrumental pieces. Tylar had to take the program away from me so I wouldn't be more disturbing to the audience around us. Yes, she's only 12! Apart from our silliness, I've never heard Mozart's Requiem Mass performed live, and it didn't disappoint. I kept seeing Tom Hulce in his portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in my mind as the movement progressed. I imagined him laying in bed slowly slipping away as Salieri transcribed for him the magnificent death requiem. An epic moment! It was a wonderful time hearing them sing, and I look forward to seeing/hearing more.

Other than that, I've been busy with school, work, getting my dissertation up and running, specialty practicum at a diabetes clinic at the OU-Health Sciences campus, and volunteering for a treatment center for school-age children. I've also become a megafan of the new hit show called Glee! If you haven't seen it, check it out! It's genius! Hope you all are well and hope to hear from you soon!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hail to the Mysterious 3rd Roommate!

Hey there friends and mysterious 3rd roommate,

It's been a long while since I've posted anything. So here's an update on what's new in my life. I finished my second year in the doctorate program for counseling psychology at the University of Oklahoma. Only 2 more years to go (assuming dissertation and internship fall into place)! It's been quite a year. I began dating one of the doctorate students, Keeno, who is in the cohort behind us. We have enjoyed our time together and amazingly enough he loves all my quirks. Seriously...any man who can put up with that is a Godsend! But really, though, he is an amazing man with a heart that loves to give to others. I'm blessed to have him in my life. Another part of this year is that my cohort and I presented our pre-dissertation projects last week, and what a relief it was to have that completed. I presented on the impact of ropes courses on adolescent relationships. I plan to continue my study for dissertation, so I'm glad I won't have to reinvent at least a part of the wheel.

Another big development is that I'm looking for another roommate. Leslie, my roommate of 2 years, will be leaving to do travel nursing on the west coast and possibly leave the country to do some work in New Zealand. How exciting that will be! I'm very happy for her and hope this next phase in her life will bring about new and exciting adventures, which I'm confident will come. I'll be sad to see her go, but I know it's her time to branch out and explore other parts of the world. Michelle, our precious Michelle as Leslie and I like to call her, just finished her bachelors in Chinese and International Studies. What a year she has had! She founded OU's first ever Journal of Global Affairs this year and the premier volume ran in April. I'm so proud of her and her many accomplishments. She is enjoying time with family in Europe for the next month and is looking forward to the future. While I've enjoyed having her as a roommate, I'm sad to see her go too. I know both her and Leslie will do great and positively impact so many people.

So with Leslie and Michelle moving on to new chapters in their lives, I'm still here finishing my doctorate degree in Norman, America. Laura, my dear friend from my counseling psychology cohort, will be my 2nd roommate in my cozy little 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. She and her husband, Nick, will make the move to Norman in July. Nick is an officer in the Navy and will be leaving us to serve an 18 month term sometime between now and October. He could go at anytime, so that is why Laura will be moving in with me this year and as soon as she is. I know the time apart from Nick will be difficult. I can't imagine being apart from my husband for that long. It amazes me that we have so many military families that go through this. It's definitely an area that is underserved, and we could be doing so much more to help families that have loved ones serving our country in all parts of the world. While I know this will be difficult on both Laura Lou (my nickname for her) and Nick, I have faith that if any couple can do it they can! They are truly the best people you'll ever meet. So as Laura and I begin our year together...applying for internships, preparing for general exams, writing our prospectus, completing our speciality practicums, and boogying through our course work....we expect it will be a lot of work. But in my eyes, it's who you work with makes all the difference. And I am definitely in good company.


So with my 2nd roommate already lined up and ready to go, I'm looking for a 3rd roommate. It's been difficult finding one, but we are hopeful the right fit is right around the corner. Here's the nitty gritty of it all and my fancy advertisement: $365/month plus bills (which will be split between me, Laura Lou, and the 3rd roommate). Bills run about $75-$95 each month, depends on the month. My house is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath with large backyard. I've turned the 4th bedroom into an office since it is the smallest room. The house is within 10 minutes to OU campus. It has central heat/air, wireless internet, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and nice size closets. No animals please. It's warm and cozy and wants to be enjoyed and handled with care. It's in the East Ridge Housing Edition. Please check out the pictures and contact me at cgregg_40@ou.edu or call me at 405.641.5367 if you are interested or know someone who would be. To the mysterious potential 3rd roommate: I cannot wait to meet you! Call or write soon!

That's the latest...until next time....