Danish's week off

I am currently watching Futurama with Danish and chillin' to the max. We got back from a very eventful weekend trip to Austin late last night. My brother was excited to return to UT and we spent the greater part of Saturday helping him get settled, buying groceries, and taking him out to eat at Torchy's Tacos. I ordered a Migas Taco (eggs, green chilies, crisp corn tortillas, pico de gallo, avocado, and shredded cheese on flour tortilla) and The Democrat (shredded beef barbacoa and onions, topped off with fresh avocado, queso fresco, cilantro and a lime wedge served on a corn tortilla with green salsa). I didn't think I could finish them as the tacos were very compact, but I devoured them.

Later that night we rode the bus to Trudy's. Apparently they are famous for their Mexican Martinis, served in a full-sized shaker and each patron is cut off at two. I could only handle one.

The next morning, we attended service at The Austin Stone with my brother and his friend. The message was awesome and the change of scenery much appreciated. The message was about how Jesus, although fully God, took on the flesh of man and faced every temptation yet did not sin. Because of this, He is able to sympathize alongside us and is ready and willing to offer us guidance when we ask for it. "Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." Hebrews 4:14-16.

After church, we had lunch at Madam Mam's; I ordered the Guay Teaw Nuer Puey - stew beef slices with with rice vermicelli in beef soup. It was so yummy, and I added a lot of chilli sauce which gave it a nice kick. We said goodbye to my brother and his friend; it was bittersweet as I was hopeful that he would do well in school and maintain integrity - I felt like my parents. We then went swimming at Barton Springs, a natural spring constructed into what looks like a giant swimming pool. The water was so refreshing! I can see how my friends wouldn't want to swim in it due to the abundant aquatic life in the water, but that summer scorch was definitely extinguished in that frigid water. I think I am usually feverish for no reason (perpetual PMS), so cooling down by immersing my entire body in that water was the perfect remedy for the day's high temperature.

Swimming brought upon an appetite which was satisfied by some Texas home cooking from Hoover's Cooking. The Red, White, & Bleu burger was juicy and huge, and the Jalapeno Creamed Spinach was so rich and flavorful. A pleasant eatery ending to a weekend of good eats and fun activities. We headed back to Dallas and arrived home at precisely 11:30pm. The only rude encounter before finally going to bed was the disgusting cockroach hanging on the shower curtain when I went into the bathroom to pee. By the time I had woken Danish up and equipped him with the roach spray, the little vermin was nowhere to be found. He liberally sprayed the corners and edges anyway to quiet my uneasiness. I. Hate. Cockroaches.

I have some good news! I've been cleared to take my NCLEX! Praise God. I've scheduled my test for Thursday, September 2 - the soonest date possible. I've never been so ready to get my license...I am almost a Registered Nurse. First I couldn't imagine the day I would graduate nursing school (let alone college); now the prospect of being a real nurse is presently blowing my mind. I'm so thankful!

Normalcy

I'm home again, with no outside obligations. I would greatly enjoy being a house wife. I love to cook and clean, and I would read books, take cat naps, play with my dog, work out, watch movies, and clip coupons for when I go shopping. I totally dig that kind of life style. At least once I graudate, I am only required to work 3 12-hour days and I have the rest of the week to myself to do exactly those things.

My story writing has definitely come to a halt. Perhaps I'm really just not that good, and I was merely psyching myself into thinking it wasn't too difficult. We'll see where that goes. I'm needing a delicious plot, one that involves death and tragedy. Funny is definitely not my forte. Daniel continues to suggest real-life writing: real situations, real dialgoue, real emotions.

My brother is is Austin now. I really miss him and hope he's doing well. He said he missed a class on the first day and panicked, but it turned out the class was cancelled. I remember when I first went to college at UT Arlington and it was so overwhelming to be that small and individual in a ocean of students and professors, surrounded by giant buildings. And UT Austin is massive! I've also never lived in a dorm or that far away from home...I'm sure with him it'll be different and fun. He's been longing for this, longing to grow up and get away from high school. I think.

I just finished eating this chinese snack called sachima and I feel a thousand times fatter. It's a soft flour cake made of flour, eggs, sugar, malt, milk, and oil, and it resembles a rice kripsy treat but tastes far less sweet. I like the texture which is like a mix between a soft cookie and a cake. But I guess I ate one when I didn't really crave it so now I feel sick.