Please don't try this at home

I'm SO glad people are deciding to be more frugal after feeling the economic pinch. Honestly, what is this world coming to?

Oh, and don't forget your insurance.

The Fruits of My Labors (aka the $20 Zucchini)

Well, I'm kind of disillusioned with this whole gardening thing. I blame it on the balcony. Rather than being a nice little alcove for my veggies, it has more or less played the part of an oven. Luckily, before my plants completely fried, I got some cute little peas and a lumpy zucchini (see above). You know, I think with some practice, and a better environment, I could crank out the veggies at an economical rate, but......at the moment......between the paying for the pots and potting soil, that zucchini cost about $20. GOOD THING IT WAS THE BEST ZUCCHINI I'VE EVER EATEN!

A few random announcements

My new favorite cereal is organic, and it's called "Puffins." I can't tell if it has won me over through it's healthy-peanut-buttery-wonderfulness or because there's a picture of a penguin on the box.

My next announcement is that Puffins are actually COUSINS to Penguins, and they live in NORTH AMERICA!!!! Alaska and Maine and such.

Thirdly, I watched "Dan in Real Life" with my roommates last night, and I cried through almost the whole thing. Is that normal? I think I need a long weekend.

Sixth and most importantly, my roommate and I stopped by Old Navy to buy $5 flag t-shirts for the 4th, and.....

They were NOT $5, they were 50% off $14. That = $7.

And we had 3 options:

"Life
Liberty and the
Pursuit of
Boys"

"Hot as a Firecracker"

and

"No Flirtation without Intoxication."

We didn't buy any shirts.

Just Add Water?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/29/AR2008062901872.html?hpid=topnews

Ay! Ya no son plantitos!

Although I am very impressed and excited about the large size of my plants, I'm kind of starting to wonder at what point they will provide me with food.....I'm hungry!

Grad Schools Schmad Schools

Well, you all may or may not be aware that (quite on a whim) I applied to 4 grad schools back in January. I have officially heard back from all of them, and although I didn't apply to nearly as many as some of you out there (11, Steve?), I figured I'd go ahead and post the results as well so y'all can know what I'm up to. All of the programs were International Affairs Somethingorother.

I was accepted at American University and George Washington University (w/ a scholarship!).

And...I was waitlisted at Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University.

I accepted GW's offer and decided to defer until Fall 2009 (to give me another year to earn some dinero). When all of a sudden......JH took me off their waitlist and accepted me! And gave me a week to decide what to do! The fact that I didn't get their info packet until the day before the deadline didn't impress me either :)

All things considered, I decided to stick with GW instead of going with the more prestigious JH. Crazy? JH would be two years of insanely intense schooling and would cost me, well, ick...too much -- tuition-wise and burning-myself-out-wise. After talking with some mentors/professors, I figure the prestige would only be worth it if I want to get a PhD and teach. GW has a good enough name for a future public servant, I can cover a good chunk of the tuition with my scholarship and savings, and I can go part time while working or do some distance learning.....it's much more flexible.

Them's my thoughts. Thanks for listening. It feels good to write it all down......I'm feeling better about my decision every minute! Glad that stress is over (unless Georgetown decides to grant me admission in late August. Ay. I think my head would explode).

Mas Plantitos

Here's my progress report on the plants: