New semester, painting and a volleyball seeding...

I really thought the ASU semesters were like those in California... you get about a month off of school and at the end of January you go back to school.  Luckily I decided to look at my schedule at the end of December and LO AND BEHOLD!  I started on the 7th.  So, off I went to my first day on Tuesday with no "first day of Spring Semester" photo taken or any type of fanfare (Steve was working).  I found the parking structure I paid and arm and leg to park Pricilla in, I arrived a little early and after finding my class I decided to peruse the Life Science wing and it had displays of SNAKES!  They were pretty cool.  The snake in the picture and I had a staring contest...the snake won. 

 

 

The Chemistry class is very large, homework is done online and I had to buy this clicker thing so the teacher can poll the class, the class uses the clicker to answer the question and that's how you get points for participation.

 

Now, while we were at Lowes looking for paint, I came across this Metallic paint that caught my interest.  It's shiny.  I love shiny things.  Then while I was looking for the special rollers I found paint crystals that you add to the paint to make the walls sparkle!  You would have thought I just won the lotto.  Steve was stunned that they actually made that and the paint associate laughed at my enthusiasm at sparkly metallic paint for the bedroom.  Fast forward one week.  While I was in class, Steve was making the wall sparkle in our bedroom.  I called him as I left school and he said that the walls were almost done and they looked good.  I couldn't wait to see them!  Right when I got home I ran up the stairs and ran into the room and look on Steve's face stopped me in my tracks.  I look around the room, the wall, the bathroom and back to Steve...  "What's wrong?  Why does it smell so clean in here?"  Steve proceeded to tell me that he finished painting the wall and took a step backwards and knocked the rest of my sparkle paint over on the carpet.  He made up a few new cuss words, screamed some favorites and cleaned up the mess before I got home.  After he told me the story, I just looked at him... smiled... and got the response, "NO!  This doesn't mean you get the flooring."  I love the wall... so much that we'll be painting another accent wall and then continuing a lighter silver into the bathroom.

 

 New Years Resolution that I came up with for my sister is making a family dinner Friday nights.  I extended it to be every other week and on her off weeks I would cook.  So Friday (11Jan) I cooked enchiladas, home made refried beans and rice.  The family time continued into Saturday as we all woke up at 5:30am to get ready to head to Chandler for Nikki's volleyball seeding tourney.  It was 27 degrees,  lots of blankets, hats, gloves, coats and coffee..  It was a long day, but so exciting and I love watching my nieces play their sports.  Nikki is no exception!  Her serves, spikes, slowing play down to get her team in their places and her gazelle like moves makes us one proud uncle and aunt!  Steve and I even got teeshirts made for the tourney which we will proudly display for her first real tournament.  It was great fun watching the girls (95% of the girls on the team never played Club VB) and as the season progresses, I  know they'll find their rhythm soon!

 

Well, that's about it for this week.  Next week is a full week of school, work and driving into San Diego and Cypress to visit family and work!  Click on the link below to see a few shots from this last week.

 

 

A Week in Photos...