...Has come and gone and it was a blast. Maybe a more coherent post later when I've had some more sleep, some more days off to organize my thoughts and catch up from the weekend. Let me just say that I had a wonderful time and it was all due to the incomparable switch842  whom you all know is the most awesome person in the whole entire world and I couldn't ask for a better friend. ((((HUGS)))

I present what switch842 has dubbed The. Best. Photo. Op. Ever. (TM) which may surpass the previous The Best Photo Op Ever that was also in Chicago, but three years ago. I give you Michael Shanks, tongue and why a conversation that ends with the word kiss and trailing off in mid sentence is a good thing.

( Michael Shanks Photo Op )

Heading out to the airport momentarily. See you all on the flip side. Chicago here I come!!!

Now, where's my Michael??

An iPod meme. Because I have nothing else to post about and I really wish it was Thursday so I could be on a plane and heading to Chicago for the con. I can't believe it's almost here! *BOUNCES*

And there goes the thunder. Been watching this storm roll in all evening. Here's hoping that the projected thunderstorms here and in Chicago on Thursday won't wreck my travel plans. *head desk*

Put Your Player On Shuffle And Write The First Ten Songs That Show Up.


1. Big Casino - Jimmy Eat World
2. Cradlesong - Rob Thomas
3. Blackbird - Alter Bridge
4. Animal I have become - Three Days Grace
5. King Nothing - Metallica
6. This is such a pity - Weezer
7. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
8. Kristy are you doing okay? - The Offspring
9. King of the stereo - Saliva
10. Get Stoned - Hinder

I would have updated much MUCH sooner, if my internet connection wasn't being a complete douche. Can't get LJ to load at all on my desktop but no problem on the laptop. Once I got the net to work on the laptop. GRRRR, HULK SMASH!!!

Anyways, the good news. I took my licensure exam yesterday and blew that sucker out of the water, 127 out of 160.

I PAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!

Which is pretty much the text message that like 12 different people got from me yesterday. Just call me Counselor Erin.

Now back to the regularly scheduled keyboard smashing. GAH!!!

But I can't hear the keyboard smashing over the sound of awesome I am.

Licensure: Lets update on the more important thing first. I am FINALLY scheduled to take the National Counseling Exam (NCE for those in the field) on August 7th at 130 pm. Prayers, rain dances, monetary gifts and sacrifices are all welcomed. 17 days and counting....

Health: So after I was told that I would need surgery to correct the ruptured tendon in my right foot, my podiatrist decided she wanted another set of x-rays. After said x-rays were taken, she discovered an abnormality in my foot that I won't bore you all with the sordid details of but suffice to say the deformity would make a tendon surgery a no go. She troops me off to her husband, who is a podiatry specialist who has advanced training in my particular form of foot deformity. He states that he needs to consult more with his wife after seeing but also diagnoses me with a severe bone bruise and orders me on light duty at work. At a retail job. That involves 8 hours of standing/walking. Sure right whatever. I go to work on Monday and try to get the boss to allow some of my restrictions. He relents but says that he needs a form from my doctor detailing my injury, exact restrictions and length of accommodations. My doctor then calls and states that she discussed my case with her husband and is convinced its a stress fracture and not a bone bruise and I need to be off it immediately. Panic, anxiety and horror ensues and I spend a week or so trying to figure out if I will still have a job if I follow the restrictions that my doctor has placed on me. She has me scheduled for an MRI to further check out my deformed foot which I went through and did but decided that I couldn't afford to lose my job or go on an unpaid LOA. So I am back to working normally after begging my doctor to sign off that I am okay to work, which her nurse did because she was out of town. Which is good because I really didn't feel like arguing with her. Maybe I am doing more damage to myself, I dunno. The foot does feel better after I took it easy for a bit at work and I am no longer going to the gym at all, I have put myself on a self imposed exile for two months, which is wrecking havoc with my waistline, but what can you do? I have to work, I can't NOT work and my job doesn't allow me to sit around and let me foot heal. She has yet to call me back about the results of the MRI. Figure no news is good news.

Concerts and Harry Potter: Went to two concerts over the weekend, Sonic Youth and then Incubus. Have been invited to another concert this weekend, which is a rock tribute show with a bunch of cover bands playing U2, Bon Jovi, The Eagles and Led Zepplin songs. Saw Harry Potter, was amused by the romantic shenanigans and felt it held fairly true to the very overarching storyline of the book. I think that the studios want to continue marketing these movies to kids, so we won't see really very much of the dark stuff from the books, it will only come in spurts like Draco and Harry's fight in the bathroom, Dumbledore's death and anything dealing directly with Voldemort. Couple of things I would have liked to have seen, the Dumbledore funeral at the end and lots more Snape. But we can't have everything sadly. Prisoner of Azkaban is still my fave Potter film. Saw it 8 times in the theater.

TV: Currently my summer lineup has Warehouse 13 on Tuesdays, Leverage on Wednesday's and Burn Notice on Thursday's. In the in between hours, which I am no longer sadly filling with my obsessive need to stay fit, you can find with my nose firmly stuck in the Encyclopedia of Counseling, 3rd edition, study guide for the NCE. 

Chicago: My FIL has decided that with my ongoing and constant financial woes that he must purchase my plane tix to Chicago so that I may join the rest of you in the annual pilgrimage to stalk Michael. Let the squeeing and much joyness begin. Now let's hope he actually follows through in a timely manner and sends me the $150 that I need to buy said plane tix. *SQUUUUUEEEEE*
 

It's official. I will be having foot surgery...AGAIN....on July 29th. Yes that means I'll be on crutches and a stupid stupid boot thing for Chicago. I really can't put it off past Chicago, I don't want it to mess up my job searching for after I pass the NCE (provided I pass and I'm not just running with empty optimism here). I ruptured a tendon in my right foot...the same foot I have had two previous surgeries on....a few weeks ago at work. I rolled a pallet jack onto it. With stuff sitting on the pallet. Go me. Anyways the doc says insertion of a pin and 8 weeks off my foot should do the job. We hope. Cause this whole foot pain tingly weird feeling shit is getting really old, really fast.

I could take the workman's comp but I would go BAT SHIT CRAZY sitting at home for 8 weeks. So they are working around my foot injury cause there are plenty of things I can do with not being able to stand much. They'll find stuff for me to do. Praise the Depot.

This will not deter me from planning or executing a party in honor of switch842  and her upcoming litter. There will still be a party damnit. Even if I have to limp while I am throwing it. *CONFETTI*

I have a co-worker who is looking for someone to do some simple website design for him. Nothing real fancy, just 5-6 pages of mostly text with a few simple graphics. The only quote he has is for someone who will do it for $150 an hour. I feel this is a bit steep, so I told him I'd put the word on my trusty ole f-list and see if anyone has someone they'd recommend or if anyone here can do simple website design and won't charge him an arm and a leg. He already has the domain name, he just needs the designing done. Thanx!!!

I've done it!!! I have watched every episode of Star Trek and every movie. I started in August of last year and have finally completed the journey.

( Star Trek Thoughts )Also have watched all of Leverage. Bring on season two! This show is awesome, thank you switch842 for insisting that I watch the show. Now I have three summer shows to watch, Burn Notice, Warehouse 13 (heres hoping it doesn't suck) and Leverage. And filming in my birthplace of Portland, OR....just icing on the cake.

Now the hubby has prepared the list of Star Wars books that I am to read to further expand my knowledge and appreciation of Sci Fi. I have no other shows on my viewing plate and think it maybe time to take a break from TV for a bit and dig into the pile of unread Star Trek and Torchwood books sitting on my bookshelf. Oh and doing that whole studying thing for my licensure exam might be a good idea to. *SIGH*

Additionally....if anyone is feeling generous I'd love icons made from the two below pics. *DROOL JENSEN DROOL*

( Pictures under the cut )

Happy Birthday to my most bestest friend in the whole wide world switch842 !!! This is an extra special birthday as you await the birth of the newest member of your family! Congrats and may your birthday be everything that you wish it to be.

Oh and here's some shirtless Jared for you to. Enjoy!!!

I have finished SPN. I am ready for season five. Is it time for season five yet? Like I want it now, like RIGHT NOW! *stamps foot impatiently*

I think I'm in love.

I love Dean. I love Sam (especially WoobieSam!). I ADORE angsty, tortured, sad, dramatic Castiel. I just want to hold him, hug him and squeeze him. *SIGH*

I totally ship Dean/Castiel. Like, surfing the net for an hour looking for good Dean/Castiel smut kinda shipping. Any recs? Anyone?

*sigh* thank you switch842 , daniel_shadow and whisper99  for dragging me into this. I adore thee!