Weekend Update.

After work on Friday, I drove to Birmingham to see my betrothed. We had a delightful dinner at Roly Poly, and I was in bed and asleep by 10. Nothing exciting (or unusual) to report there.

Saturday morning, though, was kind of one of those milestone days. After breakfast, Alex and I went and looked at wedding bands. Now, the first obstacle was dealing with a salesperson who, though charming enough, was clearly battling a hangover. Obstacle number two: why is every ring out there so stinkin' shiny and beautiful? 

"Do you like this one?" they would ask me. 

"Am I breathing?" I would respond.

With some prodding and lots of trying on, we finally narrowed it down to one breathtaking band that suits my engagement ring just perfectly, took Hungover's card, and headed on our merry way.

Then the studying began. My comps were yesterday afternoon, so by Saturday I was in a near tizzy. I had done some studying over the week, but as the event grew closer, my inadequacy grew more apparent. I don't know how long I studied, except that it was for the duration of the Alabama basketball game. 

(I don't care to study in silence, and as it turns out, Bama basketball is the perfect background noise. It is not distracting in the least, as it is a team and sport I care so little about, and it's just enough chatter to keep my head from imploding into a mess of theories, stages of therapeutic change, central tendencies, and everything else I've learned since January 2009.)

After a few hours of frustration and cramming, our friends Joseph and Abby came over to cook dinner with us-- homemade fajitas, guacamole, and a peanut butter trifle-- followed by a few rounds of Mario Party and a movie called 30 Seconds or Less... or maybe it was 30 Minutes or Less. 

Either way, I felt sure I would be falling asleep in 30 Minutes or Less once the lights when out and the movie came on, but instead my phone was overwhelmed by a bajillion (that's a rough estimate) text messages. My own little Guntersville crew was out and about in downtown Birmingham, and my presence was requested. Nay, demanded.

So out we went, and I got to see some of my very favorite faces.

Like my bestie/bridesmaid, Alice.

And my very dear, good friend, Morgan

The rest of the usual suspects were in tow, but I had to put down the camera and mingle. And I have to give huge props to Alex for being such a good sport about my sudden and atypical urge to go out at midnight on a Saturday night.

Sunday, I studied. I wish there was more to that story, but unfortunately that's about it... from lunch until 4, I studied. And studied. And studied.

But then... there is more!

I had the enormous pleasure of introducing my dad to what is possibly the greatest Broadway show to hit the stage in decades. It was my third time, and even still, WICKED just gets better and better. I'll have to have him write a review for you.

We went to Jim and Nick's for dinner first, then settled in for a theatrical experience unparalleled by any show currently in production-- in my humble opinion.

You'll have to pardon the blur; I was frenzied with excitement.

Monday morning, Laura and I headed to Tuscaloosa. I wish I had had a funeral march to play on my iPod as we drove onto campus; that's certainly what was playing in our minds. The exam started at 1:00 and ended at 4:30. My usual test-taking strategy is, "You either know it, or you don't." I don't linger over questions, I just go with my gut. But for the first time in my test-taking career-- a rather lengthy one-- I sat. Stared. Meditated. Prayed. Considered. Erased. Reconsidered. Changed. Tried not to throw up.

But by the end of the day, the results were in...

PASSED.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

The implication of this is that I'll have a Master's degree regardless. My certification test is in April, and that will determine whether or not I can legally be a school counselor. Either way, I will require that I be called "Master Hays." 

I'm kidding! Sort of...

I'll cross the certification bridge, hopefully, when I get to it, but for now... I'm celebrating this.

I tried to celebrate last night with dinner with my future in-laws and future hubby, but I was really still too wound up to enjoy my food-- although the company was lovely. In fact, I was too wound up to even sleep last night, so I'm running on Coke Zero for now. But the celebration continues with a sushi date with Chas in just a few minutes...

Celebrate we must, for life is short but sweet for certain.