Happy 26th...I guess?

So, I've been somewhat dreading today for several reasons. 

1). It's my 26th birthday. I have officially reached past my first quarter-of-a-century. It honestly feels a tad weird. 

2). This is my third birthday away from my friends and family. Yes, I know I'm 26 and birthdays don't "really matter" after 21. But I still love birthdays, and I want to celebrate with the ones I love.

3). I'm not even with Mr. Ruby and the pups. I'm traveling and spending my day with strangers. 

However, today went much worse than I expected. 

Now, we all know that I'm accident prone and a magnet for awkward/embarrassing situations. Well, today was on a different level. 

Let's just say instead of celebrating properly:

I spent the last half of my birthday with this guy:

Yep. Happy Birthday.

To make a long story short, I am currently with another recruiter who I don't really know that well. We were on our way to give a presentation...when it happened. 

My stomach made a horrible gurgle noise and literally felt like 45 bricks dropped. 

I started sweating. 

Then, I panicked. 

I yelled, "I HAVE to find a bathroom"!

My poor recruiter gave me a worried look and directed me to a bathroom...about 2 blocks away (because we were on an enormous campus). 

I ran to the bathroom. Spent about 15 minutes in utter misery. 

I exited the bathroom in a puddle of sweat and with my face completely flushed. 

We then proceeded to the room where we were to give a 45 minute presentation to a group of students. I can't explain how nervous I was. Between the time we entered the room and the time our presentation was over, I left four times. Yes, four. 

I was BEGGING God to give me the strength to make it through the presentation. He did. He helped me through it...but I was in total pain. And was sweating bullets. 

Then, on the way back to the hotel, I had to stop 2 times and run into random coffee shops. 

So awkward. 

Hopefully this isn't a sign for how 26 is gonna go....

Travel News

So, I have some good news...and some bad news. 

I've always been one to start with bad news. That way we can end on a positive note. 

The bad news? I have a major travel tummy ache. Like stomach gurgling and no-amount-of-Pepto-Bismol-is-doing-me-any-good bad tummy ache. 

The good news? Traveling has definitely allowed me to start reading again! I just read a good one that I totally and completely recommend to everyone. It's called Sarah's Key. It's a fiction novel about a little girl's experience during the Jewish roundup at the Velodrome d'Hiver in France in 1942. So touching...and incredibly well-written.

In other news? I must apologize for being the worst blogger ever. I can't even begin to explain how busy my life has been the past month. I feel like my pups don't even know me anymore because I've been traveling so much!!! Luckily, I have the best hubs ever who welcomes me home to a clean house. 

I promise to get back into the swing of things soon...

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!!! :) 

Ahhh - I just need a breather

So, life has been going a mile a minute. 

Literally, I never know what day or time it even is. I've been traveling so much and have had something every single weekend. 

I miss my hubs. I miss my pups. I miss my bed. 

I need things to slow down, even for a few seconds, just so I can take a quick breath. 

This will be a quick post because I have a 6 am flight to catch, and I have a BIG weekend ahead (more on that later...)

I have a few things to share from my trip to ASU, but I wanted to post some pictures of last weekend. My dear friend Margaret is moving back to North Carolina to be closer to her family. Some work folks had a going away party for her. Let's just say it was a good time. :)

Hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!!! We'll catch up soon. 

Goodbye Madgey - We LOVE YOU!!!

Pure Exhaustion

I have officially reached the point of no return. 

Beyond delirious. 

Above and beyond slap-happy.

I am completely and totally exhausted. In fact, I'm not even quite sure what I'm typing right now. 

All I know is that I've been up since 3 am (or midnight according to Arizona time). Is that even possible? 

My body hates me. It doesn't know what time it is. It wants to eat, but it's like midnight back home. And my feet are literally never going to forgive me for standing at a career fair for so long. 

I am hitting my amazing Hampton Inn sheets and heading to doze-land. 

Oh, and Go SUNDEVILS! 

P.S. This school is absolutely huge. I'm quite terrified really. 

Amazingly Awkward Interview Moments

Yes. I have a couple of good ones for you.

So, yesterday I was rapping things at The UW (shout out to the Badgers!). I had 10 back-to-back interviews without a single break. 

Not only was my stomach growling, but my throat was so dry from all the talking. Surprisingly, nothing awkward came about from those two situations. 

However, just before I went to get my 11:00 interview, I decided that I had to at least eat an apple quickly so that I wouldn't pass out (not kidding...this happens to me more often than you'd think). So, I snarfed down an apple. I did not have any time to run to the restroom to see if I had apple bits in my teeth. I realized, I just had to deal with it. 

So, as I was conducting the interview, I felt incredibly paranoid that I had apple in my teeth. It was all I could think about. So, I decided to take a drink of water to try to discreetly "swish around". Well, I completely missed my mouth and the entire cup of water spilled all down my face and my suit. 

Really discreet, Mrs. Ruby. 

The interview-EE handed me a tissue and I wiped down my face and soaking-wet suit. Here I am, the interview-ER and I'm spilling water all over myself. The sweet thing said to me, "Don't worry, I saw a poor girl fall flat on her face last night at the career fair."

At least I wasn't that girl, right?

Then, it was almost the end of the day and I only had two more interviews. Both of which I was pretty excited about. My second to last interviewee showed up a couple of minutes late. Point deduction #1. He was profusely sweating. Point deduction #2. 

He sat down in a huff. He explained that he was running late because his class ran a few minutes over. 2 points back on the map - now back at 0. 

So, as he sits down, he explains that he had just come from his African Story-Telling class. Of course I was a bit intrigued, and so I mentioned that sounded interesting and asked what types of things he learned in a class like that. 

He said, "Well, for example, last week we went through a series of stories and they all revolved around a penis." 

Point deduction 500 and no final interview.

He didn't even elaborate. He left it at that. 

Seriously?

Loving Life

So content. 

That's what I am. 

I'm in the good ol' MidWest. Who cares if it's for work. I'm lovin' it. 

I woke up early this morning, went for a run, got ready, had a delicious breakfast, and headed to a local coffee shop to work for a few hours. Heading off to a meeting in a few minutes, but FIRST, I have to introduce you to Spotted Cow. 

YES! Wheat Beer!!!! I haven't had a really good wheat beer since the last time I was home in Kansas. Anyone familiar with Boulevard Wheat? If not...you're totally missing out. 

But, I do have to say that Madison's Spotted Cow is up in the rankings with my Boulevard Wheat. 

Man, I miss wheat beer. And wheat fields. And anything Kansas really.

Travel Pants Officially On

I am currently in the adorable city of Madison, Wisconsin. 

Really, it is just so cute and quaint here! Not to mention, it is SUCH a breath of fresh air being in the Midwest. I truly miss it so much. People are smiling all around me...I can totally get used to this again. :)

Well, sorry I've been so spotty with blogging. I started traveling last week and will be all over the country until the end of October. So bear with me.

I had a pretty uneventful day of traveling. I know, can you even believe it? But I don't want to speak too soon because it's only 5:30, and we all know my luck...

Awkward Travel Moments

Happy Sunday!!! 

For those of you who live in Indiana...I apologize. I JUST now got your comments. And yes, I was at Purdue University - TONS OF SUCCESS with recruiting. :) I will definitely be back in November...so I'll keep you posted.

So, of course it wouldn't be a normal trip without me having to deal with some slightly awkward travel moments. (Sigh). 

It started with my arrival to the Indianapolis airport. Flight on time. Luggage checked. Grabbed and iced coffee. No problems. 

Until I got to security. 

Backstory: I had to renew my drivers license a few weeks ago. Of course the ridiculous state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (ACTUAL full name of the state by the way...) takes away your old license and prints off a piece of paper. They say you can use this until your new license arrives in the mail. Like a piece of paper is going to get me through airport security...

So, I got to Indianapolis with no problems (probably because I left from RI and THEY are the sillies who issue these things). However, getting home was another story. 

So, the grumpy security guard asked if I had a passport. Unfortunately, I didn't. The woman made  few phone calls and advised that I would have to meet with the head of security. Meanwhile, everyone is tapping their feet and glaring me down because I'm holding up the line. So, this woman asks me a series of questions from where I was born to what my weekend plans were. No lie. 

Of course I was sweating, and my face was redder than a maraschino cherry. 

She asked if I had a credit card with my name on it. Luckily, I did. She then told me I passed the "lie detector test". 

I gave her a perplexed look with a touch of annoyance. Regardless, she let me through. 

THEN, once I started to get through security, they told me to walk to the side so they could "search" me. 

WHAT?!?!?! Is this a joke?

Apparently, I was one of the randoms who was lucky enough to get chosen to step in the space shuttle looking contraption. I had to lift my arms and spin around. Of course I had no bombs on me. Still, everyone was yet again staring at me.

Lucky for you, the most awkward event of the evening had yet to occur.

I boarded my plane and had to use the restroom terribly bad. (Because I had such a delay at security, I had no time to use the restroom). So, I waited. Waited ever so patiently for the seat belt signs to go off. 

BING. They were off. 

However, I noticed the beverage cart was blocking my path to the bathroom. 

Bummer. 

I started to squirm. 

I made my way to the front of the plane to use the restroom. And in front of everyone, the flight attendant advised me, "I'm sorry dear, you can't use this restroom - it's for first class passengers only". You've got to be kidding me. 

She told me the beverage cart would be done soon and that I could use the two restrooms in the back of the plane. 

Ouch. 

Oh, it gets better. They then proceeded to make an announcement over the loud speaker saying, "Please note that the restrooms at the front of the plane are for first class passengers only". 

Mr. Ruby told me I should have stood there and peed my pants...while standing in first class. 

Classy. 

And of course, awkward.

Travel Tidbits

So, I'm writing this post from my very cozy hotel bed. 

Yep. That's right. Another travel season has begun for me. I will be living out of a suitcase for the next month and a half. 

You know what that means - Stocking up on EmergenC and sharing my often-times horrifying/embarrassing/annoying travel adventures. We know I've had some doozies. 

So far on my first travel venture of the season, I have learned two things:

1). Apparently I can replace my newfound love of Melatonin to help me sleep, with an airplane ride. Seriously? How is it so easy for me to sleep through turbulence, stinky neighbors, and screaming babies...yet I can't even fall asleep in my own comfortable bed? The pitiful irony.

2). It's a small world after all. I am in the middle-of-nowhere Indiana, recruiting at a fabulous university. I was at Starbucks today sipping away on my venti iced coffee (skim milk and 3 splendas, if you must know), when I see a girl who looks oddly familiar. I realize there is no way I know anyone at this Starbucks because I'm nowhere near my old home or current home. 

She turns around. There was a reason she looked so familiar - it was an old sorority sister! She's apparently getting her PhD and decided she needed some good ol' Starbucks study time.

Hmm. Small world. 

That's it for now. Career fair tomorrow and interviews Friday. I'm sure I'll meet some interesting characters...I always do. 

Updates soon to come. 

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!

Love,

Samson & Sienna

Wildcat Memories

Ok, so one of my besties from college will be here in about an hour and a half. She's coming in from Atlanta. It's hard to believe I haven't seen her in about a year and a half. Wow. 

So, we have a weekend filled with beach time, good seafood, Labor Day cookout, and PLENTY of college reminiscing......

P.S. Have I really been out of college long enough (3 years) that I am already horrified by my hairstyle and clothes? Ugh.

P.P.S. Yes, in fact, I do document every.single.moment of life with photos. :)

Klutz-O-Riff-ic

First of all, thanks for all the kind comments regarding my sleep issues. I can't explain how miserable one can be without a good night's sleep. And this Melatonin is working so great. I can totally get used to this whole get-a-good-night-sleep thing!

Now, I've got two stories for you. Both embarrassing. Both involving me doing something silly. I mean, nothing should shock you by now. 

So I always try to take the stairs at work...and I usually almost fall down/up them about twice a day. (We all know how stairs and I get along). Well, today, I actually fell. Hard. We're talking completely tripped over my own two feet and not only fell up the stairs, but fell completely flat on my face. 

Luckily and surprisingly, I didn't really hurt myself, but I immediately shot up, frantically looked behind and ahead of me...and realized I was alone. I actually said "Oh dear" and chuckled out loud. Haha. I'm sure there are cameras in our stairwell, so security got a real treat today. 

But yesterday was much more embarrassing. Let me preface by saying that there has been a time or two when I've been known to say a few (ahem) not-so-bright comments. It's not that I don't have brains, I just don't think before I speak. Everyone at work calls my off-the-wall comments "Mrs Ruby-isms".

I digress. 

Yesterday, we were celebrating the September birthdays...and I was included. So, everyone from my department was in the breakroom. Everyone. They uncovered the cake, and much to my surprise, there was a picture of all the birthday folk on the cake. So, there was my face...right there...painted on a cake. I laughed out loud and felt really awkward because there was a picture of me on the cake. I didn't really know what to say. So, I suddenly shrieked and said, "Soooo...who wants to eat me?" 

Oops. 

Awkward silence.

My friend was looking directly into his coffee cup. A co-worker turned bright red and burst out laughing. Someone else turned and looked at the corner of the wall. I changed the subject and walked out of the room. 

Before the words left my mouth, I thought to myself, "Oh dear, this is going to come out wrong". But the words literally spilled out. Diarrhea of the mouth, I tell ya. 

Always entertaining. Always. 

One Happy (Sleepy) Gal

Why am I so happy?

I am finally sleeping (for the most part). I've mentioned before that I really struggle with sleep issues, especially if I'm stressed at all. Which, that is about 80% of the time...so, the odds are always against me. 

I've done it all:

Notepad by my bed, all specs of light completely covered, noise maker, drinking a glass of milk, no work before bed, warm bath, reading really boring stuff, and on and on...

Yet, I still have issues. (Especially when I'm stressed out). 

So, I decided to try some Melatonin. 100% natural, and I've heard great things. And honestly, it's worked like a charm! Seriously - this stuff is fabulous. I highly recommended it...and again, it is completely natural. 

I'm hoping for three nights in a row for a full night's sleep. Wish me luck!