Quick Anatomy Lesson

We interrupt your quasi-regularly scheduled blogging program for a brief lesson in anatomy. It has come to my attention that some people in this world do not understand the difference between seasonings, condiments, and meat. This is for you- Bernie's BBQ of Knoxville.

First let me introduce myself- I am a pescatarian. That might be a big word for your BBQ filled brains, so how about a related but similar concept- vegetarian. See Bernie- there are people in this world that do not eat meat. I know you can't barbeque a vegetable, so that's probably a foreign concept, but it's true. In fact, for some people, eating meat is even against their religion. Your customers take these things seriously, and an establishment concerned with good customer service would too. However, Bernie, I get the idea that you don't take much stock in that whole customer service mumbo jumbo. 

So here's my grievance- The baked potato and salad I ordered this morning were asked to be prepared WITHOUT MEAT. We even underlined the word meat. You can hardly blame me for being a little shocked when my food came looking like this... 

In fact, these pictures do not even do justice to the comical piles of bacon you covered my veggies with. I thought it was an honest mistake, so I had a colleague call and inform you of the mix-up. A decent restaurant establishment interested in keeping its customer base and avoiding bad press would have fixed my order. But not you Bernie. Apparently you will support your carnivore world view despite any personal loss. You refused to fix my order claiming that your restaurant "does not consider bacon a meat." Because I had not specified NO MEAT OR BACON, I was going to have to go without lunch. When asked what you did consider meat, you said "Chicken, BBQ, Beef, or Ham." Well Bernie- I've got something to show you. 

There it is- bacon right next to the ham. I don't think it could be any clearer. Dictionary.com defines meat as "the flesh of an animal used for food." Bacon comes from a pig. A pig is an animal. Bacon is used (by some, not all) as food. Ergo- Bacon is a meat. Not a condiment. Not a seasoning. It's a meat. 

End Scene. 

Day 8: If a pic is worth a thousand laughs...

Then this video is worth a million. Enjoy. 

Day 7: Material Girl

I'm not very materialistic. So today when the challenge asked for my most treasured item, I had trouble trying to pick out something I couldn't live without. So I am bending the rules a bit and settling for my most treasured items... 

my puppies. <3

These guys are definitely my favorites. If there was a fire in our apartment building, I would grab them and the guinea pigs and everything else could burn up. You can't replace the puppies. Never ever.

Day 6: Trading Places

 Today's task is to post a picture of someone you would like to switch places with for one day. Now, I'm very happy with my life, and I'm well aware that no one's life is perfect. I wouldn't want to take on anybody else's problems- that is for sure. However, there is someone that I would love to trade talents with.

Since I was a little girl, I have loved music- especially singing! The only issue was that I wasn't very good. I had allergies a lot as a child (DORK!), so when I tried to sing it sounded all nasally. Not pretty. As I got older though, I grew out of my periodic sniffles and I found out that I actually could sing. Not especially great, but good enough to sing in church and to my husband/friends. I LOVE singing now. I love the idea of performing, and I wish I was really, really good though so that I could have more confidence singing alone. 

And that, along with the hours and hours of Glee I've been watching, is how I decided on my person for today. I would love to be as talented a singer as Lea Michele. She's gorgeous, and her voice is so unique! Rachel is easily my favorite Glee character for her voice alone. Now I'm sure Lea's life isn't perfect, but I'd love to know what it would be like to have such a talent. I can tell you that if I had her voice for 24 hours I would sing EVERYTHING, and I mean everything. I would sing my lectures, I would sing my orders at the drive through, and I would turn simple greetings into complex vocal runs. My neighbors would hate me, my students would think I was weird, and Robert would probably try to have me committed, but I wouldn't care. I would be having way too much fun!

Day 5: Forever and Ever- No matter what.

Today's challenge is to post a picture of your favorite memory. I think this one is pretty self explanatory. 

Happiest Day of My Life. 

Married My Best Friend. 

Couldn't Stop Smiling. 

The First Day of Forever. 

And a million more cliches that are overused because they're true. 

Press Pause

I'm going to have to take a day or two off from my challenge; I got really busy, really fast. Today I'm taking my GRE at 1:30pm and then driving up to Blacksburg for my friend's bachelorette party. It's going to be a long, but fun, weekend. Wish me luck on my test! I'll see you guys back here on Monday! :)

Day 4: Changes

Tonight I'm going to kind of take the night off from blogging. The theme for today was to show you a picture of my night, but it's just a Thursday for us. I sincerely haven't done anything special... except a small celebration dinner at Cracker Barrel. Mainly I just wanted somewhere to get blueberry pancakes, but we felt the need to celebrate something. And there's always a reason to celebrate right? Big change is on the horizon. I can feel it. God is so good! ;-)

Day 3: Television, Schmelevision...

So today I'm supposed to post a picture of the cast of my favorite TV show. Truth is though- I don't like TV much anymore. I've rediscovered a love for books (and discovered how much I like saving $100 each month not paying for cable...), so I'm limited in my television selections. However, every once in a while a show will come along that catches my attention. The X-Files was the first one, and to this day it has been the only show I have ever rushed home to see. Dad and I used to watch it together every Sunday at 9pm. I was in 8th grade, and I probably should have been more into MTV or the Eric Von Detten... No. Not me. I was a weirdo and had a ridiculous crush on David Duchovony. I'd watch the pseudo-romance unfold between Mulder and Scully, and then I'd gush the entire plot line to my best friend on Monday morning. Poor Abby. She was a good friend though and either really listened or at least pretended to listen.To be honest- I still find David Duchovony incredibly attractive, which would be why I was overjoyed when I discovered all nine seasons of the X-Files on Netflix last spring... 

I had no life this summer for sure. 

Anyway. The show that is currently my TV flavor of the week is Glee. I find it so hilarious and unrealistic. Plus I have a bit of a girl crush on Rachel Berry. Her "overambitious to the point of recklessness" attitude and overall awkward dorkiness reminds me of myself. I've been watching it regularly on Hulu this season, but now I'm really addicted since season 1 is on Netflix. In fact, this post is a bit ironic because right now- I'm going to watch Glee and do Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. 

What a GLEEK!

Day Two: Family is Everything

For today's post, I'm supposed to post a picture of myself and the person I've been closest with the longest. The most logical person to choose is of course- my mother. I've known her all my life, and she and I shared a circulatory system for about 36 weeks at one point. Mom is a wonderful person, and she's had so much influence on my life. I'm glad I got her compassion and willingness to volunteer, and I'm even ok with the fact that I got her messiness. She's the best! 

But she couldn't do it alone. The man in the photo means just as much- my daddy. The poor guy took a lot of abuse during my teenage rebellion phase, and I may or may not have treated him like an ATM a couple times in college... but my favorite memories of my childhood are curling up on the armrest of his recliner and having him read me a book. The poor armrest took so much abuse it warped! But that was our spot... Just the two of us.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that God blessed me with not one, but TWO amazing parents. I love you both so so much! Thanks for making me who I am today. 

Day 1: Get to Know Your Blogger

1. Let's start with the basics. My name is Liz. 

I am a high school science teacher.

2. I've been happily married for almost 

two years to the best husband ever!!! 

Seriously- be jealous. He cleans. :)

3. I am a liberal, kumbaya singing, 

love the world, give peace a chance, 

(almost) vegetarian, Christian hippy. 

4. I am living with a clinical case of 

generalized anxiety disorder. 

This is nothing I try to hide, 

so if you have questions- ask away!

5. I am the most ambitious procrastinator you will ever meet. 

By the way if you were wondering- 

those two things are not compatible at all. 

6. My doggies are my babies! 

I actually want a real baby really badly, 

but it's not in the cards right now. 

I settle for playing with my nieces/nephews/friends' babies.

7. I'm such a snob when it comes to food, movies/shows, and music. 

I rarely like mainstream things, because I like to feel like I'm different. 

Don't we all?

8. I want to write a book before I die. 

9. I grew up wanting to be the first lady. 

I think I got pretty close when I ended up being a minister's wife.

10. I am not naturally extroverted. 

That surprises some people because I seem outgoing, 

but the more stressed I am, the more reclusive I become... 

and I'm the WORST at keeping in touch.

Breathing Life back into the Blog

I have seriously fallen off the face of the blogging earth, and I'm so sorry about that to all of you who still check back with me now and again. The good news is, I'm determined to fix this. I've discovered that blogging (good blogging anyway) can be a bit like an extra job, and with the physics class and the masters degree applications, I haven't had time to think about Problem Half Solved. In order to kick-start my blogging habit and give me some time to think about what direction I want PHS to go in, I've decided to be a little cliche. I have seen these challenges on facebook and other blogs, and I have been dying to do one! I think they are so much fun, and it will give you a chance to know me a bit more as a person and a writer. By the time I'm done with 30 days of random posts, I will have found a new direction for PHS, I will be used to blogging everyday, and I will be beyond the End of Course tests that are just around the corner and seriously stressing me out right now! So, as usual, I ask you to humor me (and pardon my vicious case of blogger's block) and enjoy these little daily bits of insight for the next month. After that, I'll be looking for your input as to what you want to see on the blog in the future! I'll be back tomorrow with day one!


Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messeed up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that had a huge impact on your life
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss