It's a new day!

I am feeling amazing. It's not because I have three presentations, two tests and a paper due in the next two weeks. It's because we have HOPE and CHANGE...well, at least the promise of those two.

I know that there are a lot of different reactions to the new president, but I can't tell you how proud I am, for the first time in a long time, to be an American; to be part of something.

Today I was talking to my mom and she said, "I just felt a sense of doom," when she watched Obama speak for the first time as President-elect. This presidential election has been the hardest for me. While Stephen and I have had soooo many spirited conversations about the state of our nation, the promises of candidates, and our longing to be a part...our need to help the change...my parents and others that I so admire continued to be single-issue, fear-based, self-induced ignorant voters.

"Please," we'd beg. "Just read up on the issues. Here's a non-partisan website." "No," they'd reply. "We know where we stand."

Now with Obama so close to office, people continue to be skeptical, wary, and sometimes--racist. Why can't we unite under the banner of hope? Why can't we all work for change? Aren't we all tired of politics as usual and disrepect for the middle-class?

I still hope that we can unite under this presidency. I hope that Obama keeps his promises for bipartisanship, peace, and help. And I hope that I can be a part of it.

Until then, Stephen and I are feeling great. It's a new day.

So... it's been a while.

Long story short, life has been CUUUURRRRAAAZZZYY.

But now it's over. The tests, the conference, some of the presentations... but things are good.

The best part... our marriage is truly getting stronger and stronger. Stephen was the most amazing support to me these past two weeks. I realize more and more that the support we provide for each other means so much to our future. Stephen's support of my school endeavors... you know, the instrumental and emotional support, it helps us get closer to our goals as a couple. I'm so lucky to have him as my husband.

Can't wait to come home for thanksgiving. Whoa excited :)

The First Week

This week I learned a lot about myself and about us. It was my first week of school and my first week at my new job.

I work for my major professor who teaches two classes. I have never worked so hard in my whole life. Seriously. 8-5 constantly going... and that is just to keep up with her. This woman is like.... 57 years old and can move like the wind; 50 things in her head at once, always multi-tasking. I have never been more tired in my entire life trying to keep up with her.

Plus I'm taking classes...and auditing a class. I'm just exhausted.

I'm also traveling to ATL once a week to do a practicum at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. This is probably my saving grace. To actually be in the field, watching people work and learning from them... hanging out with the population I long to work with.... it's just amazing.

Well... my husband is amazing too. He's been so supportive and loving. He totally understands what I'm going through and just does everything in his power to help. I am SO LUCKY. People I tell you....if you decide to do the marriage thing, make sure you have a strong spouse. There's so much stuff that goes on in each person's lives....once you put two lives together--things are crazy. You have to have someone who can help, support, love and put up with all that you are. So... bottom line... i love my stephen. So good. Amazing.

Worst. Day. Ever.

At least in Georgia. It begins with me waking up at the butt crack of dawn to prepare for our New Graduate Student Orientation. I go to pick up Rachel to take her to campus because she's on my way. I go outside in my professional ensemble carrying boxes, etc. and it is POURING RAIN. Minor set back. I go get an umbrella and we're back on track..... until I get lost on the way to Rachel's house because of the rain. It's ok. I built in time because I naturally tend to run late.

I get Rachel to campus and decide I have time to make a Wal-Mart run to pick up some last minute essentials for the breakfast before orientation. More trudging through rain in a skirt. Funzies.

Last stop I have to make is to Jittery Joe's, a coffee shop near-ish to Wal-Mart to pick up coffee for the breakfast. Perpetually in a hurry, I swing the door open across my foot--which has a very professional, very open top portion of the shoe. JJ's door leaves a GINORMOUS gash on my right foot by the big toe knuckle. Trying not to cry, I order the coffee and let blood pool in my shoe.

I get to Dawson Hall, where orientation is taking place. The other GSO officers come to help me. As I'm pulling stuff out of the car, I set my purse in the passenger seat and turn to answer a question, closing and locking my purse, cellphone and keys in my car....which is in an illegal parking space. I had to wait an hour and pay $55 to get my keys out. Great.

Of course there was the tending of my still bleeding foot. Oh... and an orientation to run. Orientation was also AWFUL for many reasons that I won't expand upon here, but seriously! I have never EVER had a worse day. Wow.

I'll post pics later of my foot. I thought for a second I would need stitches.

Grandma Honey

As you may or may not know, Stephen and I moved from our less than desirable house on the undeveloped East side of Athens to a gorgeous, "apartment home" complex on the very developed West side of Athens. I LOVE this apartment. Anyway, we've been here about three weeks and finally starting to get rid of the mountains of boxes that had been plaguing us forever.

Last night I was going through "decorations" changing out old pictures for newer ones in frames, finding a nice place to display the wedding album, etc. when I came across a book my grandma had written about 12 years ago.

This isn't like a published work or anything, it's just a spiral bound book that my Grandma put together at the request of one of my aunts. it details her life growing up and talks a great deal about her life with my Granddad and raising 8 kids. She started writing this is '95 I believe, so I think it's amazing in the first place what she could recall after 70-ish years. The detail is impeccable; dates, maiden names of people who married into the family, relationships with neighbors throughout the world that she still corresponds with.... all there.

I can't lie. I've always thought my Grandma was amazing. My Granddad died when I was four and since my Grandma was alone in her house, I used to spend every weekend with her until she moved in '95. We'd have great times during our girl's nights. She taught me how to bake, sew, and most of all be kind and helpful to others. We were always going out on Saturdays to volunteer or help at church.

She taught me so many things and even in her writings she's constantly showing me how to live a life that is meaningful and full of Christ's Love. We had some rough patches when I got married because we didn't marry Catholic, but she still managed to look past it and love me through it. I love her so much and look up to her.

She's great.

In the beginning...

I had decided for our first anniversary I would start a blog. Many of my friends have started one to mark changes in their lives (marriage, babies, etc.). I must have missed that memo. So... in true Wagner (Donahue) form, I am late in starting my "new life" blog and I am also late in my decision to start that blog on our first anniversary (my idea of a change in our life). Awesome.

This blog will also serve as an excellent new source of procrastination for me. God knows I can't be doing schoolwork ALL the time :)

Finally, I'm hoping this will be a great way to update my friends and loved ones of our continuing adventures through moves, marriage, money, etc.

So... in order to start this thing off right, here's some information for inquiring minds:

Stephen and I have been married 1 year and five days. At this time last year, we had been married five days, been on a honeymoon, moved to Georgia, and I started graduate school.

We have an evil dog named Stella who wants to eat small children.

Stephen works at a brew pub in downtown Athens.

I am a slave to the University of Georgia. In one short year, I have taught an undergraduate lab, tested four year old's phonological awareness, was part of six figured grant, asked the question ," what is the first meal of the day called?" to 200 small children, and packed 1,000,000 pieces of tiny play food into HUGE boxes.

We are not fans of Georgia. The State, The school, the football.... none of it.

I'm going to graduate school to become a child life specialist. Don't know what that is? Read about it here.

Stephen's still not sure about what he wants to do next. He's considering a Masters in Forensic Science or becoming a Master Brewer. I think either one would be awesome.

We are extremely happy together. I am so lucky to have a friend and husband like him.

This was funzies. We'll have to do it again soon.