Its the last of the monnnnnth

You wake up, wake up, wake up on the first of the month....so does that mean you get naps on the last day of the month? I am super slow at work today and a siesta sounds great. But alas, the government doesn't like it when you sleep on the job.
My current internet busy-list:
-Find a dress for graduation/upcoming weddings
-Plan a European vacation
-Look at houses in Louisville...and dream about what house we'll buy when we're back
-Check job sites for new listings

Thomas James Bacigalupi

Eric lost his Papa Tom last night. I am feeling the need to get my thoughts out. I know it was probably for the best because we didn't want him to struggle and suffer. Still, it hurts to lose such a central member to your family. I want to lock up all the great memories of having Tom around. While he won't be there physically anymore, he has created a great loving family, so we are lucky to have that. Some of my favorite things about Tom were his wittyness and banter. Saying "read between the lines" or talking about UK/UL. Talking about how "Alice beats me at night." Making goofy faces. Being ready to punch somebody if they were to touch his ears. "Saving up beers" so he could drink more at our wedding reception. Calling me "Pat" and "doctor" when I saw him right after defending my dissertation. Picking on the "blue-haired ladies" at Bingo or Eric's Aunt Mary Ann. And always being the one to butter the biscuits at breakfast. I know Eric and the rest of Tom's kids/grandkids have SO many more happy and funny memories of Tom. I want to seal them up and share them with our kids and each other, so he is still around.

ATL...

I had high hopes for this past weekend. I was making a spontaneous trip to Atlanta with great people to watch my team in the Final Four. What started out with excitement ended in disappoitment. If you go to Atlanta, NEVER stay at the Wyndam/Windsor hotel. It ruined our trip. They "overbooked" so those who had booked through third-parties, like Priceline or Hotwire, were told they didn't have any rooms left. That included us! To make matters worse we didn't find this out til it was too late to find any other hotel sin Atlanta. Everything was SOLD OUT. SO, my friends and I had to drive about 1.5 hours outside of Atlanta to find a place to stay. So much for planning to go clubbin! I am so lucky to have been there with GREAT friends who made the most of our trip gone wrong. Sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from cryin and that's what we did.

Easter and other things

We got to go home this past weekend. To our real home.

It was full of family and friend time. Just how I like it. I enjoyed the time spent with my Nanny and Eric's Papa Tom. I think the longer I am away the more I miss the older people and the little kids in our lives. Side note- Katie made Eric and I each and Easter card that said "I love Patti. I will for ever" and "I love Eric. I will for ever" HOW sweet is she?! Seriously.

My alma mater has been having a pretty sweet week...two teams in the Final Four! Watching those games was dramatic and heart-wrenching...and I am excited to be heading to ATL this weekend to watch the Men's team play...and hopefully get to run into T.I. or Big Boi??

Also, while in town, I defended my dissertation SUCCESSFULLY! That was pretty sweet. I celebrated with a lunch at Check's with B & Rae (friend bologna and mac&cheese YUM).

While I LOVE going home, it can be exhausting running and tryin to fit in every minute with the people I love. It leaves me wanting to snuggle Eric and Lou on the couch for about 4 days.

Until next time. -patti