Long Time No Blog

Haven't written anything for a while, so I figured I'd better do that! I've just been doing the same old thing...work and classes. This past weekend, I helped with the first of four freshmen orientations. It was very tiring but a lot of fun! I'm becoming friends with other orientation leaders whom I've known for the past two years but never really talked to. Plus, I got paid to do it and got free meals, which makes the tiring part tolerable. This week I'm working ahead on my homework so I don't have as much to do next week when I go to CAMP! I'm very excited to be reunited with some of the greatest people and spend an entire week with them! Every year I'm on the fence about going, and after I do go, I can't believe I ever second guessed it. So, this year, without thinking about it, I just decided I was going. Cut out the fence part and just do it.

Anyway, I'm pretty boring today and have nothing exciting to write about...well, except for the parts of my weekend when a snake moved over my foot or a slug was found on my finger. Eh...not too exciting. :)

I Miss My Chi-town Lady

So, this is my friend Vicky on the left. She was one of my roommates sophomore year, first semester. Then, she moved back home to Chicago, and I miss her so much! I visited her over Christmas break, and I'm planning on going back this summer sometime, too. We still talk a lot online or through texts and phone calls, but it's just not the same! I want her to come back and live with me again! We had so much fun together! Come back Vicky!

When she moved out, she left me little notes on all my stuff in the kitchen and on my door. I wanted to cry when I saw them because they were just so darn sweet. She is a great friend, and I wish she didn't have to transfer to our stinky sister school and leave me in our "house of doom" second semester. Oh, I just remembered, I parodied a song for Vicky a while back...

Title: Daughter of a Cop

Bout the shortest girl I ever seen

Straight up out the Chi city

Who knew she was a drama queen?

That a turn my life to drunken scenes

Up late night like she on patrol

Turning off my lights like I'm on parole

Told her some things, like that she's really warm.

She never let it go.

She liked it. Because it's all true. And because, as her boyfriend has said before, she's a drama queen!

Hot Pocket!

Check out this video of Jim Gaffigan talking about Hot Pockets! So funny!
Best line:
"There is the vegetarian Hot Pocket..."
Wait for it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9c9lAfXQHs

Summer: Week 2

I'm taking two summer classes this summer, and one starts next week. At first I was dreading it, but now I'm looking forward to it because I've been so bored all week! I've enjoyed relaxing and not having many responsibilities, but I'm not the type of person who likes to lay around and do nothing...unless I'm doing that with a friend or something. This week, I would come home from work, eat supper, watch some tv, and go to bed. I may later regret saying this, but I'm looking forward to my classes starting so I will have some homework or something to do in the evenings. Now that I've said that, I'll probably find something fun to do in the evenings this summer and wish I didn't have to do homework. Regardless, I'll be staying busy, which I love, so that's all fine with me!
So, going back to my summer goals that I am convinced to complete, I said I wanted to start working out, be healthier, and get in shape. I'm thinking about starting a membership at a gym. I think if I'm paying for it, I will be more likely to use it and work out a lot. I guess only time will tell!

Summer: Week 1

So, finals week is over (thank the Lord). I survived. Final grades come out today sometime. I think I got 3 A's and 1 B+. Not too shabby. That B+ ticks me off, though. Haha, but it could be worse, so I'll take it. I'm so glad this semester is over and summer has begun. I am just taking one class this summer, college algebra. Not thrilled about it, but eh...it will keep me busy.
I'm working on some of my summer goals, like the one about getting tan. I have been tanning, but I stayed in a little too long last night, and now I'm pretty much just red...especially in the areas that don't usually see the light of day! :)
The one thing I hated about summer last year was driving 45 minutes to work every morning, and then driving 45 minutes home. This week I started that daily routine, but my drive home was rudely interrupted by road construction. It took me 1 hour 20 minutes to drive home the other night. Twice as long as it should take! So, I decided to experiment with my route home to try and avoid the construction and shorten my trip home. Yesterday, I took country roads and got home in 51 minutes! Much better than an hour and 20 minutes! I'm trying a similar but slightly different route today when I go home. Hopefully, by the end of the summer, I will know the fastest alternative route home!
...and by then, the construction will probably be done.
Besides working, I have just been spending time at home, relaxing, which is weird to do when you haven't been able to for an entire semester! Of course, there have been the usual first-week-home power struggles between my parents and me, trying to find that balance of "you're living under my house, so you will follow my rules" and "I'm 20 years old and have lived on my own for the past 9 months and was just fine, so I don't need your rules." We're working on it.
Last night, my town experienced a black out. From what I was told, 700 homes were without power last night. It started around 8 pm, and we were told the power would come back on around 11 or 11:30 pm. So, my family and I stayed up, so bored, talking, waiting for power. The roads were so dark without street lights. I could not even see the end of our block! It was scary at first, but after a while, it was kind of nice to have a break from all the crap that clutters my life. My cell phone had died, my computer wasn't charged so it didn't work, the wireless internet was out. Everything that entertains me, such as the television, movies, computer, and communication with friends was not available for my use...for just one night. And it was driving me crazy. That's when I realized how dependent I've become on those things. I didn't know what to do with myself. I just sat there, bored, with hope that the power would come back on and I could reconnect to my "world." Sad, isn't it? I went outside and looked up in the sky, and I could actually see stars at my house. So many stars. And that's when I realized that I need to stop letting my entertainment and enjoyment come from my cell phone, computer, tv, or whatever else, and let it come from the real world around me, relationships, and the small things in life. I'm sure the black out was caused by a blown transformer or whatever it's called, but I'd like to think it was God telling me to chill out, slow down, and refocus my eyes on a new perspective. Let's see how this thing plays out.

Finally, Finals!

So, today starts the dreaded finals week. It's never as bad as I expect it to be, but there are just a lot of stresses that go along with this finals week. There's just a lot to do in only a few days. I have class/presentation this afternoon, which won't be bad at all. Tomorrow, I have a final at 3. I'm stressing out about that one because I did what you're not supposed to do: I calculated exactly what I need to get on the final in order to get the grade I want for the class. I shouldn't have done this because now I realize it's next to impossible for me to get the grade I want in the class, which is a little discouraging. And also, when I'm taking my test, it will make me want to calculate what score I think I got so I don't have to wait a week to find out. Then, Wednesday night I have another final, but I think I figured out that I can get a 55% F and still get an A- in the class, so, I'm not too worried about that one...but you never know! So, Wednesday is my last final, but then I have to worry about moving out and getting all of my stuff organized and home. Friday night my mom is graduating, so I'll be busy with that, and Sunday I have 2 graduation parties to go to, and possibly a birthday party, as well. Ahh! Also, sometime before Friday I need to take my (new) car into the shop because it's sqeaking, and I need to go shopping for a gift for my mom. So, finals week is more than just 5 days of tests. It's 5 days to wrap up the unfinished business of the school year, completely move out of your house, and ask yourself, "Where did the time go?"

Finals week has also got me thinking about everything I'm doing for the "final" time before summer. Like:
Living in the House of Doom and Darkness
Living next door to my favorite girls
Walking down to the guys house to hang out
Telling Sam that I will never show him...anything.
Leaving my house at 9:55 to be at work at 10
Staying up until 4 am having great conversations with even better friends
Being careless with my money
Being, literally, less than 100 steps away from my friends
Thrifting with Liza
Having my own space

I can't believe my second year of college is over. I only have three more semesters before I student teach, and then I'm done. Finished. Moving on to real life, with a real job, real responsibilities, and real life stresses. But I can't worry about that right now. It's finals week, and, obviously, I have a lot of other things to worry about right now. I can only handle looking as far as a week from now. Next year will have to wait!

Planning for Plans

First of all, I feel old because I just found out my little cousin is going to prom this weekend! Prom! I forget sometimes that she's even in high school...or starting to drive...and now prom! I remember when I was going to prom (all 5 times...gosh) and she would come to my house with my grandma to see my dress. She was just a little thing. Now I'm going to see her in her dress. She's growing up so fast!

My semester is almost finished! I have to finish a paper that's due tonight, go to my last piano lesson at 2, 10 am presentation tomorrow, and an extra credit assignment due Friday. Then just 2 exams next week and I'm done! ...Except, I'm taking 2 summer classes..so...yeah.

Ok, weekend plans:
1. make cupcakes/cupcakesies
2. art project with saved up 2-liter bottles
3. bowling and/or comedy club
4. make this banana stuff they had in the cafeteria
5. be positive
6. see my cousin go to prom
7. spend mother's day with my mother
8. study for finals

I thought of a few more things to add to my summer list:
-go to a Rascal Flatts concert. I think the STL concert is sold out already, so it looks like I'm taking the train to Chi town.
-be a freshman orientation leader! woo!
-spend time with the twin cuties!
-start exercising and eating healthy, which will help me...
-lose the 20 pounds I've gained since high school
-grow my hair out without going crazy
-be less involved in my cell phone and Facebook
-spend more quality time with my grandma, she's the best!
-get tan

Alright, that's enough for now...