my friends make me giggle.

"your life is like an episode of the hills...in north carolina." -sterling

"now all you need to do is get in a fight with your best friend..." -marla, after telling her sterling's quote

"ooh, yeah, but when we fight we'll hafta wear those maternity-looking shirts and carry coach purses." -(best friend) jessica, after telling her sterling's and marla's quotes

"hahahahahahahaha! lol!" -jackie

golly, what a day. i'm not going to elaborate, but I will tell you that you should probably not play "never have I ever" with me, 'cause now I've got a good one. :) also, yikes. luckily, I had a nice long drive during which I could talk to lots of people. thank goodness for cell phones.

so this weekend, went to DC. we had a whole lot of fun--took an impromptu nighttime tour of DC (aka I got lost, but the monuments are pretty at night!), ate really good food, had my ass kicked at pool (seriously, matt switched from playing stripes to solids on the last game when he got to the eight ball--but at least I won with my EXTREME lead that he'd given me!), went to the smithsonian (that planetarium is awesome--did you know that the moon resulted from a collision?!?) and the spy museum (which I can't tell you about or I'd have to kill you), drank beer from a 32oz mason jar, had my first genuine melting pot experience (yum!), took pictures in maryland, went to ikea (!) and had a banana latte. here are some silly pics from the weekend.

also, do y'all say "home again, home again, jiggity jig" or "home again, home again, lickety split?" oh, and this there was A LOT of talk/teasing about me and my oklahoma accent. a LOT.

and jessica? well, she had a bridal shower on thursday planned by the loverly ladies renee and leanne. I sent flowers, (which got there late!) and sophie, leanne's cat, posed glamorously for a photo with them. cute, no? also, shout out to leanne for getting my shipping charge refunded! :D

oh, and my aunt carolyn? sigh. let me just tell y'all this--friend to friend--please never go on a ninety day fast "'cause it's just something you wanted to do once in your life." people, that doesn't EVER work out well. I really wonder when I'll start exhibiting the crazy streak that clearly runs in my family. I mean, I love them and I love being a part of them, but there's a little bit o' the wacko in all of us it seems, and that means I'm likely not an exception. also? shudder. anyhoo. she's going to be just fine, so that's good.

carrie=hap-hap-happy today. I like being happy. :D

like hell, you say.

I don't often get hangovers. It's quite fortunate, but it means that when I do get one, it's miserable. I'd like to think it's because I usually drink enough water, so when I actually get a hangover, I am dehydrated, hence the miserableness.

like hell, you say.

on tuesday I found out that I don't need a root canal. the tooth is calm now--it was just angry 'cause the dentist people didn't use enough cement on the temporary, and it was jiggling around or the dentin wasn't all covered, or sumpin. happy teeth news--for ME! That's two in a row!

like hell, you say.

yesterday I went to a "toy" party. I bought some stuff for Jessica's bachelorette [insert evil laugh here] and I won the doorbell prize. (yes, really, doorbell prize. go with it.) I like winning prizes.

like hell, you say.

my accent gets CRAZY when I drink. I mean "aaah driiink."

like hell, you say.

on the way to the shindig I explained to Kara and Sean what a pun was. they didn't know. or rather, they thought they didn't know. it was fortuitous that I happen to be an expert on all things punny. I should get a degree in it or something! I felt like I was doing a stand-up routine for them. I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip your waitress!

like hell, you say.

I should have my dialing privileges revoked. Friends should not let friends dial drunk. At least I hear I'm cute when I'm drunk. [cringe.]

like hell, you say.

My married or in-a-serious-relationship friends are all living viCARRIEously through me. I'm getting a kick out of it. I'm glad I have interesting stories...no, really, I do.

like hell, you say.

I woke up with a hangover. How am I feeling now, you ask?

like hell, I say.

:D
heh. okay slightly less hellish than earlier. but still, icks.

also, I found out that a great cure for a hangover is getting naked.* It yummy and good.

I am glad it's Friday. Glad glad glad. I'm going out of town and I'm bound to have a great weekend, lots of fun and take oodles of pictures--AND add another state to my list! (don't worry, Mary Alise, I know DC isn't a state. But Maryland is!) Yippee! And this nice weather REALLY makes me want to ride a roller coaster. Soon, Carrie, Soon.

*

see, they come with torches, to take messiah away.

~forsaken

okay, so, if I can't get these cantata songs out of my head easter's gonna be a loooooooong time coming. I'm sure my choir director would be thrilled to know that I am constantly thinking about the songs, but really? going to make me lose it.

...into the plot they stride...


also, I learned something new. The name of the guy whose ear was cut off? Yeah, it's Malchus. That's your factoid o' the day. We didn't really realize that he HAD a name (or one that was in the Bible anyhow), but I figure that they used it because "guy-whose-ear-got-cut-off" doesn't go so well when you're singing about Jesus' death and that kind of stuff. yeah.

ugh.

maybe I can get the last song stuck in my head instead. at least it's all happy, yay He's risen, and all.

yesterday? this made my day.

not lost, mind you---'cause it was on during lost. which was eh. I *may* have to give up on it soonish, I'm not all that interested. i mean, this ep was def MUCH better, buuuuuuut. still waiting for some consistency in the goodness.

but this? me like-ee.





and did I mention I have a wee little obsession with Claire Danes? 'cause yeah, I do...

key-ping it together

so, if you've spent any time with me you probably realize that I have key problems. it's a key issue in my life. and sometimes it key-ps my from getting to places on time.

i have tried so many things--clipping my keys to my purse, a hook by the door, a dish on the table, a spot on the floor. I draw the line at getting a clapper.

but I can never find them immediately, it's always a search that ends in me finding 'em somewhere weird... I've found them under a rug, in the refrigerator, under the mail, beneath a bag of (clean) kitty litter, in coat pockets, in jacket sleeves, buried in my comforter, in laundry baskets, on various horizontal surfaces (counters, tables, chairs, shelves) and most recently, underneath my purse. that happened this morning, and I decided to blog about it.

now, I often blog at lunch, y'see. sometimes it's in the morning, but a lot of the time, at lunch. and as I walked to the break room I was thinking what I'd say. and I got my lunch bag out of the fridge, removed my salsa pasta, put it in the microwave, went to get my cheese out and lo! and behold!

my keys. in my lunch. cold from the fridge. little help?

yeesh.

i blame jackie*

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*actually this is really cool and I should probably thank jackie instead of blaming her. :)

and the more the glee, the more I'm a merrier me!

~mary poppins

the GRE went fine, just fine. I did not "ace" it, I did not kick its ass. But know what? I got exactly, precisely what I was shooting for. I said to myself (self, I said) "you should get at least a _____" and know what? I did. And my score is 100 points over the average-ish GRE in the MSE program to which I'd like to apply. So I think I'm just fine. Funny thing though...I did better in the verbal! I had some weird problem in the math section that was super hard and I had NO IDEA how to do it--which means I was doing well at that point--but still. icks.

and I am SO GLAD it's over. especially since I almost got stuck in an elevator with a man named Greg. He was quite friendly, taking the GRE for the third time, and I got a little freaked out when he touched me on the shoulder. But he was super helpful, so I'll let it slide.

oh, and? I got to park in space 42. :)

Also, kudos to Mary Alise, the wonderful. She bought me a congratulatory margarita. And I like her style. Yay for her. hip hip hooray and all that jazz. Plus, our waiter was funny, so that was good. And I got to hold a stuffed animal that looked rather bee-like while waiting for our table. good times, people, good times.

and now, it is bedtime. my schedule is a skosh off, from the lack of sleep last night and then a nap, but hopefully I can re-adjust.

check one off of the procrastination list for carrie, thank goodness!

carrie heart, carrie shamrock.

there were three homophones at the med-school party last night, carrie, carey and carrie. Ariel made me Carrie Heart. The other I made Carrie Shamrock. See?

but I'm getting ahead of myself...first was the tomfoolery at the white's house. I lost my flip cup virginity, and that was fun. And it's been a LONG time since I've seen so much testosterone in one place--the guys were CRAZY! like, it wasn't just that there were a lot of guys, but they were all of the buff-frat-persuasion. 'course, that was prolly 'cause they were a bunch of sean's college frat brothers, soooo...yeah.

and yikes.

but patty, kara and I had fun. and their house was geeee-orgeous.

and miles, their boston terrier, got some action--see, daren and kara with miles? lucky dog! ;)

and then it was off to the med school party. it's so awful being popular, I know, I know. the lovely arrrr-teest! katie helped me draw some stitches on my cheek and neck. they were hot! and very difficult to get off, actually.

so, this place was crazy. the D5 normal vodka went well with some sprite zero (ariel and I are dispensing it above), Katie and I bowled on the wii (and you're welcome for me not sharing the pics!) and I had SO MUCH fun! And of course, talked to Carrie. Here's Carrie, Carey and Carrie.

and the Merritts with their silly "hot beef injections." how scandalous!!!

katie, ariel and I were cute.

but we get even cuter if you add Audrey and Paddy into the mix!

and I think it's adorable when katie crinkles her nose. a-dor-a-ble! it was super cute too--katie's sticker said "kiss me, I'm irish" and ben's said, "hooray for the irish!" awwww.

and I thought this was fun--since we were celebrating their "match day" I brought a location-appropriate thing for all of 'em! audrey was like, "wait, you got me mayonnaise?!?" but it made a whole lot more sense when everthing was together. (that's new england clam chowder--and if you haven't you should try cream of onion soup with hawaiian bread-mmmmm!)

and? Christopher Merritt, damn him. He made me cry. But it was really sweet. And it kinda made me sad--because although I know I will see these people again, it's sad to know that all of these things are going to be changing--the Merritts will be in Hawaii, the Wards in Boston and though the Turley's will be in Durham they'll have Sam to keep up with! And I might be moving too.

It was so sad to think about how there's going to be so much change in the next few months--but then at the same so wonderful to think of all of the fun we have already had together, and the fun yet to come! These six people are definitely a good portion of why I'm thankful that I live in North Carolina. They were some of my very first friends--and Audrey was my very first--and I love love love them. Love. What a lucky girl I am. :)

and last, but not least, I cannot wait to clean my bathroom. what?!???? uh, yeah. because, y'see, I'm taking the GRE tomorrow morning, so my shower kinda looks like this...hooray for soap crayons! cross your fingers for me.

my miraculous liver.

(is the sponsor of this post. promotional hats, tshirts and koozies are available.)

so, I can totally be the driver and still have PLENTY of fun, thanks to my liver. I'm so pleased with it, I'm going to celebrate by buying it a drink! uh, er...whatever. anyhoo last night, after some good ol' gre studying (pat on the back for carrie) kim and I coerced susan into joining us on the t. nelson pub crawl. and hilarity, per usual, ensued. see: group below. yikes!

things that happened.
1. I became a member of a bar.
2. I danced eighth-grade-style with TGo.
3. I ate hushpuppies. With LOTS of butter. And drank Old Speckled Hen.
4. I sang along to A LOT of songs.
5. Kim and I forced Terry and Ryan to do-si-do with us to "the devil went down to georgia." (fire on the mountain, run boys run!)
6. Irish. Car. Bomb. oopsie. (just one for me. i stayed nice and sober, thanks.)
7. darts. heh. longest. game. EVER. (we actually conceded, but I must say they were kicking our butts)
8. dancing with Preston, my I-just-met-him-teammate.
9. getting hit on by a (very likely) gay man, also, Preston. oh dear.
10. getting coached by Tom on the "zoolander" pose. apparently I need to practice being a model.
11. in true carrie fashion I asked "are they sometimes open irregular hours?" upon seeing 518West's "open regular hours" sign. silly me....

so, copious amounts of very funny pictures--mostly from list above!

tom getting his darts on!

dancing with preston. I like how my hair is whipping in that middle pic!

the zoolander wannabes. the dancing.


and assorted funnies from the evening

oh and. mcdonalds? yeah, hadn't had one of their burgers siiiiiinnnnncccceeee....um, maybe ever. but at 145 in the morning they said the following: "no, we don't have any cheeseburgers." what?!??? mcdonalds not serving cheeseburgers? crazyness, methinks.

anyhoo. I am tired, it is rainy, and I wanna go home, nap and study! soon enough, my dears, soon enough. and? tomorrow is St Patty's!!!

ooh and, happy friday AND happy birthday to susan!!!

ps-for the record. since it was brought to my attention...there was NOT copious amounts of drinking on the part of Carrie. the miraculous liver was referring to the fact that at 1.5 beers in the other girls were all tipsy, and I was nada, thanks to my liver o' doom. It was a reference to the fact that I'm not a cheap drunk, and that is all..I certainly didn't drink a lot and then drive. that? that would be STU-PID. just wanted to point this out...that is all.

caesar had an eye for clothes, he saw them spats and said I like those

~the spin doctors

et tu, brute? Man I think of that song EVERY March 15th. All of 'em. Well, since I've known the song, anyway...

So, I registered for the GRE. And while some of you may be thinking, "big whoop!" or "well you should have taken it forever ago, silly!" I assure you, this is a big deal for me. As someone so astutely pointed out, it's a big deal for me to pull the trigger. And here we go...yikes!

Also, my friends the Merritts and the Wards find out today where they're moving--I can't wait to hear!

And seriously, is it St. Patty's day yet? I DON'T WANNA WAIT ANYMORE!!!

tonight? studying then pub crawl. should be a little crazy. I'm sure I'll take pictures! :D

now it's time to return to the lab, make sure my data makes sense and try to avoid death via carbon monoxide inhalation. ooh and do my timesheet!

i heart you.

this is renee. today is her birthday! (and her mom's birthday too!) and i love her.

see, isn't she cute? she's the one in the green.


i could write for hours and hours about how awesome she is and the funny times we've shared together. we've been bfs for a long long time! but instead I'll just say that I miss you terribly, and save the mushiness for a card. one more down, eleventy billion more to go!

ride, [carrie], ride.

~mack rice/wilson pickett

yesterday was a fun day. not particularly fun, not life changing fun. but fun.

I had my first "commissioned" photography experience, and it was wonderful. I took pictures for my softball buddy Nick--they're a birthday present for his dad. The weather was perfect, the sky was beautiful, the backdrop was picturesque and wowzers. Beeeee-utiful. I'm still processing them and picking out which ones to keep, but so far? Loooooovely. Here are a few teasers.

it's a 1965 Shelby GT-350. and it was awesome. the owner thought I was a car chick since I knew about some old cars--my old impala, our batmobile and david's celeste. thanks, btw, mr. henze, for unjumbling my words and getting the song stuck in my head--ah, mustang [carrie]. also, makes me think of when I got to hear Sally Ride speak at the SWE conference--she was the first American Woman Astronaut, dontcha know? And while we waited for her, guess what they played?

also, the picture taking was also great 'cause I had one of those I-can-do-anything moments. And know what? I sure as hell can. Carrie the now-and/or-future patent lawyer / engineer / photographer / mother / teacher / friend / church-goer / singer / painter / guitar player / crafter at your service. :)

and last night I had a very weird dream about frogs. and wasps or bees (something flying and with a stinger). and a mall--or at least I think it was a mall. "To see frogs leaping in your dream, may indicate your lack of commitment. You have the tendency to jump from one thing to another. Alternatively, it may suggest that you are taking major steps toward some goal." and though those two things are completely unrelated they are also quite applicable. weirdness, much? yeah, crazy carrie and her crazy dreams.also, I love love love love love girl time. dinners with girls = best thing ever. except for maybe blue bell icecream. :)
and I feel like I must include this picture of Kim. mostly because she and I have spent a ridiculous amount of time together recently and I STILL like her! seriously though...I've seen her a lot--at least, um six of the last, what, nine days, or something like that? yowza! anyhoo, hooray for Kim.

oh, and a shout out to jackie for calling me a hussy. you make me giggle.