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...

Come On People, It's Sunday...

I live downstairs, and my roommate's room is directly above mine. There's a vent (on my ceiling, her floor) along with insanely squeaky beds that allow me to hear everything she does. Everything she does. Everything. Let me just say, her boyfriend is here this weekend, and now I play my music as loudly as my computer will allow so I don't have to hear consistently-spaced bed creaks and "Smooth Operator" leaking from my ceiling.
Only 11 more days of Sexcapades Live and really bad music.

3:31 afterthought

Pizza rolls are the enemy. Actually, pizza in general is the enemy. I have had some form of it every day for the past 6 days. I'm not joking. Pizza, pizza rolls...I'm going crazy here. I've probably gained 7 pounds this week from pizza alone. Eh...I'll work out this summer and lose it. I hope. Oh summer 09, how different you will be from summer 08 when I didn't give a crap.

Pretty Ugly

Just had a Mary Kay party. My face is all pretty with sparkles and color. But my attitude is ugly today. And when you're attitude is ugly, let's face it, you're ugly. I think I just need a nap. And a walk in the sunshine. I think I'll do that.

12 Minutes of Terror and Thrift Store Thursday

I had a little mini piano recital today. I was so nervous! I'm not used to playing in front of anyone besides my piano teacher or my mom. But I had to give a little recital for 4 other people who were also playing. It was just to get us used to playing in front of other people. It actually wasn't too bad. We just all played for each other, and that was it. 12 minutes. But I was worried because before we started, the teacher was talking about how the other people playing today had been playing for 2 semesters, and I have only been playing for 1. But actually, since I used to play when I was younger, I was actually at a more advanced level than them, which really surprised me.

Yesterday, I went thrifting! It's my newest hobby. I went with my friends Ellen and Elise, and we found some goodies. I bought two skirts that I'm going to hike up and wear as dresses with a belt and jacket or something. I also bought some crazy (and I mean CRAZY) looking pants. I wasn't really planning on buying them when I grabbed them, but the more Ellen and Elise teased me about them, the more I wanted to buy them...just out of spite. So I did. And you know what, those babies are pretty comfy. They're hideously bright and ugly, and I was told last night when I was wearing them that they are very "loud," but it's not like I'm wearing them out, gosh! They may just be PJ pants, or something I can throw on on a gloomy day like this to brighten everything up! Regardless, they are sweet pants and totally worth the $3.50. I also bought another Barry Manilow record! Every time I go, I look through the records to see if there are any Barry Manilow ones. Earlier this semester, I found one. And last night, I found another! The second one will be on my wall before the end of the day. All in all...good thrifting trip. :)

Coincidences or God-cidences?

So I've written three blogs already...and erased them all. Pointless blogging is probably the point of it all, but I didn't want to post a pointless blog.

But I have been thinking lately that there is no such thing as a coincidence. I believe those little crazy/cool things that happen to us on a daily basis...the things that are too crazy to call coincidences or the things that make you say "it's a small world"...happen NOT by chance. I believe God has a hand in all of that, and there's a reason that it happened, whether the reason is big or small. Like, yesterday, I had to attend a recital as part of my final for my piano lesson class. And singing in the recital was a girl I went to high school with. What are the chances, right? There were 3 different recitals I could have chosen to attend, each recital only had a couple people performing in it, and I just happened to attend that recital where she was singing. I don't know if there was really a needed purpose or reason for that to happen. Her and her parents had to leave the recital early, but her mom came back because she lost her keys. I ended up finding them, and they could leave on time. Maybe that was my purpose of being there...? Just to do something little like find her lost keys so she and her family could get to where they were going on time. You might think I'm crazy, but I think things happen for a reason. When I think about it too much, it makes my head hurt. Sometimes I just need to take time to reflect, step back, and realize that I'm not in control and that this is God's world, and I'm just livin' in it! I now look for little ways that God shows me He's here and in control. And when I finally see something, like yesterday, I think it's really neat.

Google is Creepin' Me Out!

Ok, so I was at work, a little bored, and decided to start googling people's names to see what the Internet was capable of finding. Advice: don't do it. I was so creeped out at everything google found out about me. It pulled up both of my blogs, my Facebook page, things I've done through my college, and my Twitter account. On all my profiles and pages, I have a privacy setting, but google still found me! So, then I started googling other people's names, and you'd be amazed at what you can find out about people! Seriously, if you ever want find out about someone or possibly start some stalkerish tendencies, just google the person's name. You'll find out everything you need to know! It's also a good idea to do before going on a first date with someone...just to check out their record and figure out if you're going to make it home alive that night. :)

If you would like more tips on how to fully stalk others, talk to my friend Mika. She's the best at finding out information about people! :)

Anyway, summer plans are falling into place. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to do it all in one summer! (and how I'm going to pay for it all, too! tuition...yikes!)

Stressin', What's New?

So, first off, I had an amazing weekend. I was a group leader for an event at my church called Disciple Now (D-Now). There were about 40 kids there, and I was a group leader for 5 girls. My girls were awesome! They were a little attitudey, of course, because they're middle school/high school girls, but they were just great! I had a great time, and I really feel like I grew closer to God in just this one weekend. I know the event was for kids to develop a relationship with God, but I think many of the adults, including myself, were just as moved as the kids were. I'm so glad I went, and I wish I would have helped last year too! We also did some community service projects Saturday, picking up trash around town and passing out 400 water bottles to people at stop lights in town. As a bonus, I got a sweet farmer's tan. Chya.

The next couple weeks are going to be crazy crazy busy! But in the end, it's never as bad as I planned for it to be. Like, Sunday night I was majorly stressing about everything I have to do this week for my classes and to prepare for this summer. But now that I'm a couple days into the week, I can see the finish line of Thursday. I know what I have to get done to make it through this week with my head above water, so I feel a little better. But then, of course, I start thinking about next week and panic hits again. My problem is, I'm trying to work ahead to get everything done sooner so I'm not as stressed out, but in reality, trying to work ahead (especially in the hectic weeks before finals) stresses me out more than if I just took it one day at a time. So, I have accepted the fact that working ahead is impossible in college, and especially this late in the game, so I am going to stop trying to work ahead. I am just going to finish today what is due tomorrow and be done with it. I just hope my summer isn't like this...

I love Wednesdays!

Despite the fact that I'm still sick, today has been/will be a great day. I slept in until 9 (and I can't believe that counts as sleeping in), and came to work at around 10:30 (just a tiny bit late today). I'm working on some homework now at work, and I'm about to eat lunch and watch an episode of The Office online (an everyday ritual). I have piano lessons at 2, and then it's back to work for a few more hours. The best part about today is that my 6-9:30 night class was canceled!
Oh, and I'm wearing a new dress.
...but it's not green.
Oh well.

Cough, Sniffle, Ouch

I'm still sick! I'm not sure exactly what I have, but it's no walk in the park. Friday I felt fine, but my voice was starting to go. Saturday, I still had no voice and started to feel congested. Then, yesterday, this cough gets added to the mix. It's a dry cough, which makes it that much more annoying. I took some medicine before bed last night, and I woke up at 2:30 am coughing. I couldn't stop! So I was up for another hour waiting for more medicine to kick in so I could get some sleep. My roommate heard me coughing all night and brought me some tea, how nice of her! Finally around 4 am I fell back asleep. I must have been sleeping pretty soundly because (despite my alarm going off at 8 am) I woke up at 10:15 am and realized I missed my 10 o'clock class. I am still kind of mad that I missed it because I know we had a quiz in there AND I missed the notes for the test. Dang. This sickness is just messing everything up!

On a side note, I hope to get some pictures on my blog this afternoon to spice it up a little because right now it's boring!

Anyway, I really need to get over this sickness because I have a busy busy busy weekend ahead! I'm helping with a weekend-long youth retreat at my church. It starts Friday night and it goes through Sunday morning worship. I won't be home all weekend because we stay in host family houses. I have my own group of girls; I think they're middle schoolers, which I love! They're such brats...I can't wait! Hopefully this weekend I will learn a lot. The experience with middle schoolers will be good because that's what I hope to teach after college. And I hope to learn a lot about myself and God this weekend too.

Wish me luck,

The Girl in Green

Two in One...

Two posts in one day...crazy, I know. But I just have to say...I have the best job in the entire world. And, the best boss in the world, too! I won't go into great detail, but I just had to say it.

And so it begins...

So, this is my first blog. Exciting stuff. Well, actually, I guess it's not technically my very first blog ever because I'm blogging for my technology class, but those blogs don't really count (sorry Dr. Herring).

Anyway, summer is right around the corner (woo hoo) and I'm trying to figure out my summer plans. I realized I'm not too far behind after talking to my friend Brittney who is trying to figure out her summer plans, too. I would like to take 2 classes this summer. Actually, let me rephrase that...I need to take 2 classes this summer. I don't really want to. I probably should though so I can graduate on time. I already signed up for one class...Family Psychology...online. I'm also taking another semester of piano lessons. I love to play the piano, and I couldn't give it up for the summer. I've also been thinking about taking a dance class this summer at a studio, but that's just a crazy idea that popped into my head. I think it would be fun, and it would force me to get in shape and stop being so lazy. And, to top it all off, I'm working 30-40 hours a week this summer on campus. I'm probably going to be helping with the youth group Wednesday nights, too, and I'm applying to be an orientation leader this summer for incoming freshmen. And somewhere in there, I hope to have a little fun. Just a little.

Summer '09 Fun Plans:

1. Have at least a dozen slumber parties with Brittney (the bff)
2. Drive to Kentucky to visit Valaria (the other bff)
3. Go to at least 3 concerts (so far, I have Rascal Flatts and The Veronicas on the schedule)
4. Spend more time with my family.
5. Love.
6. See Dane Cook.
7. Go swimming more than 3 times (which is how many times I went last summer)
8. Put a new color in my hair (I've already tackled purple and pink)
9. Go to camp (2 months from tomorrow!)
10. Learn to drive a stick shift ("in case there's an emergency" as my dad says)
11. Go muddin at Brittney's
12. Read at least 3 books in the Bible
13. Thrift at least once a week
14. Go to Chicago to see the ex roomie Vicky!
15. Make a new friend.

More plans to come,

The Girl in Green