[A view from the guest bathroom door. Mandi is in the bathtub!]
[A closeup of Mandi in the tub.]Another week has come and gone. I have some updates, but for now I will post some of this past weeks pictures...
Justin and I had a big test this week. We didn't do too well. Probably because we delayed the inevitable--study time.
One of Mandi's favorite spots....which is why I have to often wipe nose prints off the glass.
Chili-cheese macaroni!! I love the sound that macaroni and cheese makes when you stir it.
Bicentennial Man-All three of us loved that movie.
Justin wanted to prove that our dog can be still and lovable. This is how we watched a good portion of the moviee. Why is it that the dog is on the couch and we're on the floor?
My man.
Yeah, he takes pictures of his shadow.
This is how Mandi looks when she wants to go on a walk. 
What is this thing? A giant blue bonnet?
Flowers are pretty. The best ones are yet to come!
This morning Justin and I were going to be ahead of the game. We knew we would be doomed if we were late to our first class. So, I woke up and went to work to get things organized while Justin got ready for school. Our plan was to be able to relaxe before going to school, eat some waffles, and just talk a little. Ya know, instead of running around the house grabbing all of our stuff last minute like we normally do. It is amazing how one little thing will mess up your plans. Instead of eating breakfast and just sitting around before class we went outside and ran...
After Mandi. I accidentally let her out. Loose. Running crazily around the apartment complex. Eating dirt. Sniffing dogs.
Now at this point usually, (this has happened before, but doesn't happen often) obedience is out the window. There is no way we could possibly ever get her to obey our commands when she knows she is free. So we just try to trick her. First, we leave our front door open. Then, Justin and I run around the complex until she chases after us and into the house we run! This time Larry thought it would fun to run around with Mandi. (what? we have another dog? you mean we can't leave the door open?) We had to yell at Larry to go to his bed. And after so so many frustrating moments I finally got Mandi in the house and in her stinkin' crate. I would have normally let this ruin my morning, but Justin was so patient and caring that I couldn't let it.
When it comes to school I am very encouraged! I am taking more communication classes, but a different kind: Interpersonal Communications and Human Communication. Up until now I've been taking mainly broadcasting communication classes and well, the classes I'm taking this semester seem to be a bit deeper. It is refreshing to have classes that aren't just about the business of programming to attract audiences just to make more money. PLUS, my teachers for those classes are awesome....1) they are Believers, 2) they are actually invested in the students. Dr. Towns quote: "That is some neat bling you have on there, sir."
I'm so proud of Justin!! He is taking 18 hours and dang, that's a lot of schoolin'. I know its been only one week, but he is seriously handling all those classes in one day like a champ. I couldn't do it.
That's that. Life is good. I'm sore from the running around. I have lots of reading to do.
Not much has been happening lately...
-Justin and I went to FUMC Lufkin's Pumpkin Patch the other day to pick out the "perfect" pumpkins. After much debate we picked out a nice medium one, a couple baby pumpkins, and a gourd. It was neat that Justin could see the colors and was able to help pick some out. Mandi ate the gourd on the way home though. Instead of using the pumpkins for Halloween decorations I used them for fall decorations....I love the fall!
-My birthday was this past week. Justin gave me a cool camera! So expect more pictures on my blog when I figure out how to work it....I missed having a camera. He also bought a couples' Bible that has a devotional every day for a year for newly weds. I love it! We went out to eat, and it was a fun day.
-This past weekend we watched Saw 4. (I know, I know..."What were you thinking?!"..."How could you subject yourselves to that?") It wasn't scary, and the ending was very abrupt. I really don't see how they could come out with more, but they are. I didn't feel as bad about watching this as I did about Halloween. And Luke from Gilmore Girls was on it.
-We've been better about going on walks here lately. It feels good to get back in the swing of things. I found a glow stick on our walk tonight and brought it home. Justin and I went to get something to drink and when we came back there was blue glowness all over the floor and on Mandi's paws. Good thing you can only see it in the dark. We checked her mouth and it wasn't glowing...so that is good.
This week is going to be busy. I have a couple tests and a paper due. Justin starts practices again. Our church's Fall Festival is Wednesday night and our small group is helping with the cake walk. That will be fun!
And now I have a Journey devotional to write because it is way past the deadline.
Yesterday marked my 1 year anniversary at Anchor Radiology! I really enjoy working for the doctors, and I hope to be there longer. I get to see a lot of cool things, and learn facts that I will probably never use in my lifetime. Thank you Paul for letting me know about the job opening!
I also locked my keys in the car along with my dog. Justin has my only spare key. I had to call a locksmith and pay up 30 buck for 30 seconds of work. I had a scare though when they wouldn't take my check because it was from Nacogdoches. They decided to call back to the store or whatever and ask if it would be okay to make an exception for me. And evidentally the deciding questions were:
1. What color is she?
2. What is she wearing?
What?! I was offended for everyone. So after looking like a dog abuser for leaving Mandi in the car, and being looked up and down by a couple of teenage locksmiths, I drove to Justin's house.
I had so much fun hanging out with Justin's sister for the rest of the night! We looked for her bridesmaid shoes, and ate at Logans. (really busy on Monday's and Tuesdays, but a great deal) I can't wait for her to be my sister-in-law!
Justin is still far far away in Arkansas.
Today Mandi graduated from Puppy Kindergarten! She has really matured a lot since the first day I took her into PetSmart. I have to say that I am very happy with the results. :) Mandi can now sit, lay down, stay, up-sit, leave-it, take-it, high-five, shake, roll-over, drop-it, and watch me. Here's a picture of the big event:
On to Middle School...
Finally, I can post a picture of Mandi using dial-up! Isn't she cute? I've decided to post mainly because Daniel Rowe was complaining about it. He said all I have to do is say that I'm alive, but if I'm on here to do that I might as well take the time to type a post.
I have chosen an apartment to live in for this school year AND I find out when I can move next week. I should be able to move early August I think. I will be living by myself because I couldn't find a roommate that wasn't wishy-washy. Oh well, that's what I get for procrastinating...
My new job is going well. I'm not sure if I every explained what I actually DO there. It is very simple really...I just hang films, handle the phones, and run errands for the radiologists. I think I'm catching on pretty well. The only really HARD thing is learning how to hang different types of films and knowing what different body parts look like. So far so good though. This week I get my FIRST pay check!! YAY! :)
Well, I better go walk my dog and feed my boyfriend...
So Justin, Katie, and I drove to Hempstead, TX on Saturday to pick up the newest addition to our little family. I am now a proud owner of a 9 week old black lab/border collie mix puppy named Mandi! She came with the name Savanna, but I decided that 3 syllables is too long of a name for a puppy you are trying to train. Mandi is very very cute and I'll post some pics of her soon. I am just really frustrated with her right now because of her puppy ways. All she does is chew on things--including me! I continue to correct her bad habits, but I just feel like it just isn't sinking in. I am ready to see SOME form of improvement!
The last couple of days have been stressful for me. I am almost completely moved in to Nick's room, and have ALL of my laundry to do. I need to get someone to show me how to work those stinkin high efficiency machines! This puppy thing is stressful because I now think that I decided to get her too soon. I don't even have a place to live next semester and now it will be harder to get a roommate. I was going to be able to pay all of my laptop off today with my $1000 my parents had for my education....unfortunately my mom already spent it w/o telling me or my dad. :( So, I can't get rid of that debt.
On a lighter note I was a victim of mass vandalization yesterday. I went to my car and didn't notice until I was driving around that a body part was written on my back windshield. That was embarassing...for one instant I looked like a rebel.
