The Last Stretch

So with the start of a new school year I have decided to get with the times and move my online journaling over to the more mainstream Google blogs, leaving LiveJournal and all the stalkers I had on there behind. If you ever want to read back on any of those rants tho the link is:
http://hoonan913.livejournal.com/

There are 264 days left until I have my Master's Degree and officially transition to Big Girl world. Surprisingly I will be focusing my job search that's just around the corner at Stonybrook University. (I know I said I'd never go back to the island, but family comes first sometimes, so at least for my first few years as a new professional I will be there). I signed up for weekly job announcement emails just to know what's out there. Luckily I know 2 people who work there and they seem to enjoy it so hopefully I will too, though the size and location are not exactly my cup of tea.

I just got back from my crazy 4ish week vacation and am slowly settling in. I'm going into work all week (tho I don't officially start until next Monday) b/c I have too much to do, & I'll just bank these hours for when I'm sick, have doctor appts, etc. Summer completely escaped me, it feels like I just left.

While on break I got to see David, Ed, Jeremy, and the crew in the city for Jeremy's 24th B-Day party. It was a fabulous time, which included me severely burning my arm on a hookah & Ed & I sprinting across NYC to catch the train. Here's my fav pics of the night:

Most recently my family (my sister Dena & her fiancee Matt, my sister Krissy, & her husband Kent, & my niece Kayla) were up from Florida so we did all sorts of stuff like go to Splish Splash, here's a pic:
They threw a big birthday party for their grandpa, etc. My niece is seriously an 8 year old trapped in a 2 1/2 year old body, I swear. In the middle of the party she found this violin that automatically plays, but she held it with such form, she's clearly a natural. Here's a pic:
She calls me Teeny or Teen. I love that pumpkin so freaking much it's really insane. Time spent with her always goes by too fast. Here's the supermodel w/ straightened hair:
Here's a pic of me playing dress-up with her in Old Navy. She's a bad ass Elmer Fudd:
And here's BabyButt rocking glasses like Aunty Teen:
Krissy and I also took alot of classes at the local gym (like spinning which I'm pretty sure my butt is still sore from, damn bike seats!)

This past Friday & Saturday I had Noonan family gatherings. Friday my cousin Ryan (Fuzzhead) had a Bible Camp concert (for those of you who know me this clearly isn't my bag but I put my feelings aside to support my adorable little cuz!). Here's a pic of the 2 of us:
Then Saturday was my cousin Michelle's 40th B-Day party. Good times & food (& far too many rainbow cookies ) had by all. After the party I drove back to CT for Orientation bonanza with the first years in my grad pgm (it's still weird to me that I'm no longer a first year). I was in charge of planning the Orientation and aside from silly drama leading up to it, I think it went REALLY well! I'm very excited to get to know this amazing group of 18 individuals over the course of this year.

Tomorrow I'm going to a Vietnamese restaurant in West Hartford with some HESA people which is exciting b/c I'm all about trying new things and have never had that kind of food before. And, on Saturday I'm going to see John Mayer with Crissy which makes me so excited I could pee! Okay I think that's all I got for now, I'm super tired.