Finals are over

Finals are over! (they were over last thursday but it took me this long to recover)

It was a really hard semester, which thinking back to the beginning of it I thought it was going to be easy...boy was I wrong.

It was 15 hrs of near H*ll because of two particular classes but I made an A in one and a B in the other, kind of frusterated about the B as it was my only one but overall glad about my GPA inching up (not that I have to worry too much, it is really good right now)

Still haven't heard back from the Graduate office if I was accepted or not and it is starting to make me frusterated. I am a planning...I want to KNOW.

Also I am starting to stress about student teaching next semester, that should be interesting. I am going to teach high schoolers for a semester...without any prior experience, hoping my teacher in the class is a good mentor.

So no new pictures, Christmas cards are going to be mailed today (cross your fingers? hopefully).

"Dead Week"

This week has been crazy, its "dead week" at school. My school doesn't recognize that though so I have had a lot of work to do. I can't believe finals are next week. They are coming up way to quick, and I have way too much studying to do.

Less then a week and a half and this semester will be over with Yea!! It has been a very hard semester and still has the potential to get harder but I am hoping it will not.

I still am waiting to hear back if I got accepted into the Graduate program, this is a little nerve racking, I want to know! so I can start preparing financially for it by applying for scholarships and saving. But I should know by Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

This is a really short post but I have to get back to studying.

Update November

So this is a short post. Updates are going to be in the mail with Christmas cards which I will email next week (or as soon as the pictures I ordered get here). I figured some new pictures were in order for a good update. I also have a current dislike relationship with the camera so there is only one of me, but enjoy the ones of Sam. :)

West Texas

This is what West Texas looks like in October. No it doesn't get any better then this and yes I am heavily biased against West Texas. Figured I'd get that out of the way for now.

We were driving back from a town that was about 90 minutes away from where we live.

Update on Sam and this blog

Okay, the semester is slowing down...*crossing my fingers that I am not jixning myself*.



I am passing all my classes with a minimum of a B which is thrilling for me. I know I haven't updated this blog as much but I will try and do better, mostly I use this one to update family about Sam and I and use my other blog to update on anything fun. I know complicated. I will post the link to my other blog so you can see more of what I have been up to stuff I like.



I think I have decided to make this update blog password protected so I will email those that I know that read this blog the password and keep my other blog open to the public as it won't have much personal info (like how Sam is doing and talking about where I live). I realized that anyone could read this one and I am not really okay with just anyone in the world knowing where I live and where I go on a daily basis.



Anyone else who reads can just go over to: www.bibliophilist89.blogspot.com

And for an update

Sam is enjoying the first few days of his new job. I am just glad he has a job because he was driving me insane!

Pictures

Update: Finally some pictures

Also I am thinking of making this blog private because it is really just to update family. My other blog is more open and talks about anything. So I will try and email those that I know read this blog with the password and leave this blog open for another two or so weeks.

Update again

I have pictures, will be uploading them tonight.

Sam is still looking for a job and driving me insane in the mean time.

Dad is home now, he dropped out of his PhD program because it wasn't worth he said to continue doing stuff he hated (research).

I am working and keeping up with school. More to come later.

Life

So...I have written a letter updating people who don't read blogs, now my problem is actually mailing them. I am horrible at mailing stuff, I normally mail stuff once a year christmas and that is only because I kick my butt into gear at that time of year.

Update on Sam, he was just laid off this week because there isn't enough work to go around. He is searching for another job and hopefully studying for the test needed to get into the military like he says.

I am totally stressed out with school and having a hard time keeping my head above the water so probably won't post for another 2 weeks...

Wait take that back I will probably post in the next day or two because I finally have pictures of Sam to put up...it only took blackmail to get them...lol.

When I can safely swim again I'll write more posts.

another update

Another update for family:

This once a week thing is so not going to happen in the coming weeks because of the amount of papers I have to write in the next week and a half as it is mid-terms.

Sam is good, he got transferred to Midland pit and is staying in a hotel that is down town so he has lots to do when he isn't sleeping or working to occupy his self. He is working day shift till friday then he is back on night shift. He was home this last weekend but again no pictures he is hard to get pictures of lately. But since I need to take christmas pictures soon I will get some.

I am okay, super busy with school and getting ready for student teaching next semester...and writing this reminded me I have something I need to turn in today oops. Guess I will get to that after I finish writing this.

I take the GRE this friday and I am soo unprepared but I am too stressed about it because I just found out I really don't need it to get into Grad school at the school I want to go to so it is all good.

Still working at the archive and loving it as well as at the nursery at my church. Love both so it is good. I got involved in a bible study on wednesday nights so I am plugged in to my church at least once a week.

Sorry it is so short but don't have much time to write today.

Update

Quick update with no pictures

Now a month in to my senior year and it's going well, if a bit crazy.

I start observations at a local highschool for my education classes on Monday, that will be four days a week.

Went to the doctor again for a follow up (this experience has cemented in my mind I don't like doctors), and found out what my knee pain is about for the last like 10 years. I have Patella femoral syndrome, also known as: Chondromalacia Patella. It boils down to my kneecap likes to rub on my femur bone resulting in the pain and sensation of instability.

Wrote my first paper of the semester it was supposed to be 2-4 pages but I wrote 5 so I had to cut back on my paper, which is a first.

Sam is doing well. Working nights still, he is home this weekend and I will try and get some pictures to post.

Survived

So I survived the first 2.75 weeks of my senior year.

It has been so crazy with school, work and doctor's appointments.

Finally have my schedule down between work and school and it is about to be messed up in another week or two because of observations in a public school soon for my education classes.

I finally got my knee checked out and got an MRI, still need to get an X-ray done before tuesday I think I can get in either tomorrow or Monday, the Dr. on base told me I didn't have to make an appointment and just come back anytime to get it down but I haven't had time. I am going to call tomorrow morning to double check that because I am paranoid like that.

Sam is doing well. Still working nights, had a couple on call nights because of the weather we have been getting.

Oldies

So since I didn't get a new picture of Sam and I haven't posted pictures in awhile, I went through my billions (close enough...) files of pictures and picked some old ones to post.

The one of Sam is at his 17th birthday party (2 years ago) and the one of me is 3 years ago in B.C. (with my much hated short hair at that point in time)

I also added two pictures of West Texas area (more around Big Bend), Welcome to my world...

Update

Okay another update on Sam and I.

Sam is working like crazy, from 7:30pm to about 7am. He does get a "dinner" break at like midnight and he seems to be liking working at night.
He has been looking for a car and it looks like he had found one but it didn't have AC and to add it would have cost $2500 on top of the cost of the car. And if you live in Texas AC is a must because inside of a car temp can be 30 degrees higher then outside (and when it is 103 degree F. it is unbearable).
He is thinking of working where he is now for another year or two and either testing to get into the military again or going to a trade school. He is beginning to save for retirement (crazy but good saving now (19) and retireing early because he was smart...me not so much).
He is starting to lose his tan now that he is only working at night but he will always be more tan than me because I think I am related to Casper or something...

Me: Getting ready for school to start in two weeks (from today), which is crazy. I have paid tuition now I just have to get my books which I am dreaded. I have at least two books $90+ and a couple in the $50 range. No fun but I need them for my classes.
I do have a doctors appointment on the 23rd (first day of classes but my class MWF don't start till 1pm and the appointment is at 10am) to get my knees checked out finally. Not really looking forward to it because I am not a fan of doctors (they do really good things I just hate having to go to one). But hopefully what ever is wrong with them can be easily fixed. But until then I am not jogging as much because it hurts my knees to much right now (think can't extend fully for the next 2 days after jogging).
I am praying for cooler weather to come quickly because this triple digit stuff is killing me! I want it to be like mid 80's but I can't really expect that till mid-October.
I can't believe I only have a year to go for my Bachelor's degree is finished. I have this Fall semester of classes and then in the Spring I student teach. The Spring is going to be the hard part lol.

Okay no pictures (because Sam is avoiding my camera :( I can't help it if I love taking pictures....

But hopefully next month I can get sibling pictures done so that I can use them in the Christmas cards in Dec. Yes I have to plan that far ahead because Sam is only home 2 weekends a month and Texas only stays pretty for so long...

want versus need

Okay the title is a little misleading because I am totally not going by the normal definition but by my own currently twisted one for the below products.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tower-with-2-Cabinets-Shutter-Collection-Espresso/11079895

This ---^ is something I really really really want so in my mind I translated it to I need! Its bathroom storage that I really want. Mostly because the current thing (it can't be called anything else) is pathetic and worthless. it collects dust like nothing else and it small and makes the bathroom too cluttered instead of serving the purpose of helping to tame clutter.

It really is pathetic, that I'm not even going to post of picture of it. Lets just says its 2 feet of white dollar store plastic stacked on top of each other. I have been looking for awhile but it is hard to find something that fits in the corner that is the only place you can fit in my very small bathroom.

Now my problem is justifying the cost to myself. I have been trying to budget but also look for things that serve a purpose to help clean my room a bit. I did manage to unclutter it enough to donate 4 bags of clothes to goodwill and put 3.5 bags to the trash. Yea it was a little too cluttered and it still is pretty cluttered because I don't have enough storage space just florr space that things get piled up on.

I think I may have found a bookcase in the local paper for $25 which is a really good price. :) I called them this afternoon but they weren't home so I will try again on Monday (not a good idea to call around here on sunday because most people are doing church stuff).

So there is the want and need perspective.

Oh and I have decided to really budget so far it is working out pretty good but I have decided to mostly ask for Amazon or Itunes giftcards in the future because I spend too much money there which doesn't help me stay on track budget wise so I have had to cut both cold turkey, so no new books for the Kindle or music for the Ipod for awhile :( I know it is for the best for now but doesn't mean I have to like it.

School??

So I have been playing around with my blog a little. I'm still not sure if I want to go with someone who designs blog headers to change it. I have tried step-by-step DIY but I'm not very good at web designs (currently I am hoping to change that but it is going to be awhile). It will probably change again in the near future.

On to another note,

School starts up in three weeks! Where did the summer go?? I have a theory it goes like this: school gets out later and starts earlier so the summer is shorter, sounds good right? Yea, not so much I have had 3 months off pretty much so I know it is not true but it sure feels like it.

I got my work schedule for the fall, 20 hours a week, which is the max I can work on campus but it will work out great. I have to do observations in a local high school, all 20 hours in 6 weeks. Doesn't sound too bad until you figure in my classes and work and then work around the high school teacher's schedule. It looks to be an interesting semester.

My classes don't seem to be too difficult this semester, don't get me wrong they are by no means easy because they are all upper level but they are not like economics which I struggled to make a C in. Two History classes (U.S. Constitutional history and U.S. Diplomatic Relations history), with at least one 10 page paper to write for one of the classes if not both. One English class (Fiction and Fiction Writing) which from everything I have heard is going to be fun but hard. Then I have two Education classes both online so it will be interesting to see when they schedule web discussions.

Currently reading

Currently reading:

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John rated: 3.5 books
(it will probably go up in rating once I finish it but I'm still in the middle part)

Dark Magic by Christine Feehan rated 4.5 books
(Very good read, a little darker than her other books but still has a good plot and because it is romance you know they end up together)

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey rated 4 books
(Very long but very informative)

August 2, 2009: Two previously unknown works by Mozart - a concerto movement and a prelude, are performed in Salzburg, Austria.
From: www.brainyhistory.com/days/august_2.html

My rant

They invented AC just for Texas!

Uhh, it has been triple digits most of last week and all weekend. No one should have to live on the surface of the sun (otherwise known as west Texas). My family all don't get why I don't like living here, as they love this state. Which is fine but the minute I am able to I am leaving this place. I grew up in Vancouver, rainy, rainy, wet weather and I loved it! At least with the cold you can wear layers to become warm. In this heat, the minimum amount of clothes is the game except that would mean exposing way more skin than I am comfortable with so I am stuck sweating it out walking to and from home.

It is not natural to live in places that are this hot! The whole you can fry an egg on the sidewalk was coined here I am sure (not really but it is probably entirely possible with how hot it gets here). I am actually tanned which is not natural for me as I have Casper the ghost legs but tanned arms (I don't wear shorts).

I just keep telling myself 3-4 more years, just finish school with minimal to no loans here and probably teach for one year before moving to another state (preferably on the west coast or east coast) where cold is the norm.

Okay, my little rant is over... If you couldn't tell I'm not the biggest fan of the current place where I live. I know almost everyone else loves it but it is not for me personally.

History Facts

1984: Holly R. (11 Days) gets heart transplant

1982: U.S.S.R. preform underground nuclear tests

1981: Belgian Senate accepts laws against racism

1966: England beats West Germany 4-2 for soccer's 8th World Cup in London

1956: U.S. Motto, In God We Trust, authorized

1944: Heavy battles at Tessy-sur-Vire and Villebaudon Normandy

1913: Conclusion of second Balkan war

1909: Wright Brothers deliver first military plane to the army

1898: Will Kieth Kellogg invents Corn Flakes

I could go on but I'll stop there...
Found all at www.brainyhistory.com/days/july_30.html

Operation Christmas Child

Update, at HEB there is the school supplies on sale for like 25 Cents rather then 2-3 dollars so I bought some stuff so I needed to update my list :)

I remember doing OCC with Girl Guides growing up and I have kept up the tradition of doing 2-3 boxes. This year I want to do 6, one for each age group for both a boy and a girl. Here is my list so far. I have already started collecting things because it get expensive buying all the tings at once during the holiday season. I have 3 boxes partially done and still haven’t started three. I read on Samaritan’s Purses site that you can send in boxes year round so if I finish early I will send them in before October. Here is what I have so far on my list. Feel free to comment if you think there is something else that would work for any of the age group and gender. I am open to suggestions since I still have lots of space.

Things still needed for OCC (Operation Christmas Child):

1 Hairbrush

3 Bars of Soap (Packs of 2)

3 Toothbrushes

1 hand towel

3 Toothpastes

3 Hot wheel Cars

2 Coloring Books

2 Blank (lined) Notebooks just need one more

2 Yo-Yo’s

1 Pack of Receiving Blankets

3 Stuffed Animals

1 pack of Hair Elastics

3 Bags of mixed Candy

3 $7 donations to cover shipping for each box

1 Play dough set

3 Toques (A.k.a Beanies)

Have 1 boy 6-9

Have 1 girl 10-14

Have 1 boy 2-4

Thinking of doing

1 box boy 10-14

1 box girl 6-9

1 box girl 2-4

Would then still need

1 Pack of receiving blankets

3 stuffed animals

2 toothbrushes

2 toothpastes

2 bars of soap (packs of 2)

2 Blank (lined) Notebooks just need one more

2 boxes of colored pencils

1 box of crayons

2 sharpeners

2 packs of 20 pencils

2 notebooks

2 Packs of Hair Elastics

3 bags of mixed Candy

3 $7 donations to cover shipping for each box

3 Hand towels just need 1 more

2 jump-ropes

1 Play dough set

3 toques (a.k.a beanies)

They have updated there picture section to reflect what they have been doing around the world.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/In_Pictures/

College

College life (I use University and College interchangeably, both mean the 4 year public institute in which I am studying):

It is not all that it is cracked up to be. But I don’t have the typical experience either. I live at home with my parents and walk to school, as it is less then 10 minutes of walking distance. My freshman year I socialized a lot and I had a ton of fun but at the expense of my studies (which is the reason I am going to University isn’t it?). I ended up with good grades but I wasn’t happy with how much extra studying I had to do by finals to get the grades I did. My sophomore year I cut back on hanging out with friends (which they weren’t too happy about) but over compensated in the work area (Because I was doing a summer semester in Germany…SO worth it), so my grades again suffered actually ended up with 3 C’s that year (2 from the same History professor for different classes, He was a great teacher I just couldn’t pass his tests to save my life and in Economics, again great teacher but Economics is something I have resigned my self to never understanding). Germany summer classes were easy and I enjoyed the experience of a whole month in a different country. I was a little home sick by the end but totally worth it. That part of College I recommend if at all possible if it is offered. My Junior year of College was good, I worked and balanced out friends, but my Spiritual life suffered, I was working in my church’s nursery so often that I never got to go to a sermon, so having learned about balancing I changed up my schedule so in the Spring semester I at least got to go to body life (our small groups that meet Sunday evenings at church members homes). Going into my Senior semester of University I have learned that the stereotypical college experience isn’t all that great because most students grades suffer, which is fine if they don’t have personal and parental expectations of all A’s and B’s (from having a dad that did Undergrad and Graduate degree in 3.5 years at 4.0). But I don’t like have any C’s (even t though I do have 3 that I worked my tail off for), so my goals going into my senior year are to study hard early so by the time finals roll around I don’t have to worry as much but try and balance all three aspects of my life. I do have to worry about doing my GRE and applying to Grad school and applying for scholarships and student teaching in the Spring, but for now I’m just trying to focus on one thing at a time, right now studying for my GRE coming up in less then a month.

Real Life

Currently Reading:

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey

And the Bride Wore White: Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity by Dannah Gresh

Lonely Planet: Brazil by Gary Chandler

I do have another (like 10) on my wish list on Amazon for my Kindle which I will get to once I finish the three I have going right now. They are all great informational books that are educating my in different areas. I will write longer posts on each book.

Currently should be doing:

Studying for my GRE

Cleaning my room

Really...I should be cleaning it is a huge mess because my parents are away for a week so I commandeered the living room and dining room to organize my stuff but now that it is out of my room I don't know how I fit it into my room in the first place....

I should post pictures and I may still but they definitely represent the reality of not having enough space and having too much stuff.

Pictures

Just some random pictures from my trip to B.C.

Jumbled

So I have been neglecting my blog...again.

Nothing much going on in life, just working, hanging out with the niece and nephews and studying for the GRE, which is not going very well. I am also going to be taking it a lot sooner then I though I was going to be taking it but oh well.

My nephews and niece are great! I love hanging with them. We went swimming and J, was showing off how well he could swim and B actually put his face in the water. N, clung to her mom most of the time but that was okay. She got brave towards the end.

Work is still there. My bosses are great and very relaxed. I wore the wrong dressy shoes and butchered my feet, so for 3 days I would walk to work and then talk off my sandals till I needed to go help someone or until the end of the day it was great. My feet healed really fast.

I love my Kindle, though I now have to figure out how to budget impulse book buying into my budget, didn't take into account how Easy it would to just by a book and not think about the amount...

But thats okay, its a good problem to have.

I have decided I need to change how much the world influences me in every aspect of my life so I am making some changes. I will blog more about that separately in a day or so.

decisions, decisions

Okay, a update again.

Sam is doing well, and he even got his hair cut! I'll take his picture later for proof.

I'm same old, same old.

Okay, preface, Some people seem to think I just come up with stuff off the cuff but that is soo not true of me, just because I talk/write something doesn't mean I haven't thought about it for at Least 3 weeks. I just don't let others in on my thinking process. So the next statement means I have been thinking of doing either option for a while. One for 2 months and the other for about a month and a half.

I've been thinking of what I want to do the summer after I graduate and I have two thoughts. I'm kind of torn because they are both the complete opposite of each other and the prices are very different also. I wanted to voice them out and see what other's thought about each option. Emailing me would be great (it would prove that I have people reading...since no one comments).

Option 1: Cruise, around the Caribbean, $700 but have to add in price of either gas to drive to Tampa, FL or a plane ticket so probably est. $300, so $1,100 in total ish, before excursions, which I don't have prices for. It would be for 7 days and 6 nights.

Option 2: Volunteering in Brazil (I am fascinated by the culture and the country interests me is the reason behind this country). For a month it would be $3000 not including Airfare, which is $900-1,100 depending on the time. A lot more expensive but more worthwhile use of my time and I want/like to help people. I would be going through crossculturealsolutions, and helping in an orphanage.

So what's the verdict?

Obviously I am going to have to fundraise if I do the second option because of the price tag but it is for a month. The first one I can swing by saving for the next few months. I have a little time before I make a decisions but I want to have a firm plan in place before september.

Edit

My list has been revised...
The kindle dropped in price AND I got a dog sitting job so I was able to afford it, so I bought it and it is amazing. Now just have to get a case from it.

I'm deleting the Ipad currently, because of the bad reviews that are coming out, so I will wait and maybe put it back on when they have a new model out.

The Canon is still on:

Canon EOS Rebel X2i EF-S 18-55IS kit: 899.99 plus camera bad: $45.99 and Camera strap: $15.00 for a total of: 960.98

And finally the one that WILL take me 5 years to save for:Apple Macbook: 4GB memory, 500GB hard drive, Apple protection plan, plus a case for it…*little squeaky voice* Ahem…1498.00

I am thinking of adding Rosetta Stone language programs to my list, because I want to learn different languages that can help me in the future. And because I want to travel a lot and knowing the language is always a good thing.

The U.S.A. made it to Round 16, it is great! Now if they can make it to the Quater Finals that would be amazing! My first pick is Italy but they didn't even make it out of their round so My picks are U.S.A., England, Uruguay, then Brazil.

Sam is doing well, he normally texts me when he gets off work (like 6 in the morning, I don't always reply...)

Hmm,

Maybe I will be able to get one thing off my 5 year list. The Kindle just dropped in price to $189.00. Much easier to afford.

This FIFA soccer cup is very interesting. Non of my teams are doing very well. But a lot of the underdog teams are tying or winning. Also some of the games have been very high scoring which is not normal for this sport. Germany v Australia 4-0 and Portugal v North Korea 7-0, the two highest. Spain is favored to win it all and maybe they will, they are doing well. The England v U.S.A. was a great tie, being that the last time they faced each other was in 1950 when the U.S. beat them. I wrote a 10 page paper on it. It was really fascinating. I am going to watch the Portugal v Brazil game with interest because they are both great teams. I

I was looking at Jersey's, I soooo want an Italy one but they are 80 dollars. Not something I can afford currently...maybe one day.

Not much to report, Sam is doing well. Looks like he could pass for anyone in South America because he is so tan. He is enjoying his job, he is on night shift now.

I'm studying for the GRE and working and enjoying life.

Hmm, I think I need to save more

So I was thinking of what I want on my 2-5 year wish list (yes I project that far) to save for. I realized I have expensive tastes…

I am thinking of starting at my cheapest one and working up to saving for the most expensive. I figure it will take me five years to get them all and since I’m always adding stuff to my short list there will always be a list.

Kindle 6” (Though I may wait because there is a new one rumored to come out in August). Price: $259.99 plus 2 year extra warranty $65.99 plus a cover $35.00 so a grand total of: $360.98

Ipad: $499.99 plus case $35.00 equals to: 534.99

Canon EOS Rebel X2i EF-S 18-55IS kit: 899.99 plus camera bad: $45.99 and Camera strap: $15.00 for a total of: 960.98

And finally the one that WILL take me 5 years to save for:

Apple Macbook: 4GB memory, 500GB hard drive, Apple protection plan, plus a case for it…*little squeaky voice* Ahem…1498.00

Like I said, I have expensive taste, but I figure it might save me money eventually, because the Kindle is a eBook reader and has cheaper books because there is no paper involved, hence I will spend less on books (though because of trying to save for this fall semester I have been frequenting the library to a crazy degree…I have read most of the romance and mystery books, now onto non-fiction…). The Ipad, because it doesn’t replace a laptop (not even close and I am aware of its drawbacks) will replace my portable DVD player (longer battery life and better quality plus it can do some other fun stuff but only at one app at a time) that I need to replace as it is on the fritz). The Camera because I have always wanted one…I LOVE to take pictures, though I am not good enough to take professional ones I still love capturing little perfect moments forever through a lens and a digital just can’t compare. Finally the laptop because it will be PORTABLE, don’t get me wrong I love my desktop but it hasn’t been the best for college life when I want to study or write a paper in weird places. I know, I will be done school in 3 years but I can dream that I might save enough to buy it before then. I am hoping to try to save $100.00 a month towards this goal but come spring time that won’t be possible because I will be student teaching and only working 7 hrs a week when I can squeeze it in. So I’ll only be bring in like $200 so not feasible. But I can dream right? That is my projected timeline, wish it was shorter but hey the life of a student right? I know I will have a “real” job for 2 of these 5 years but I will also be paying rent and other stuff instead of for school so I figure things will still be tight.

Vancouver

So here are the promised pictures (and they are not 2 months late). I am going to experiment with photoshop and maybe add some more but that are not all just one after another. Park that I played at as a child by my Grandma's house.

Cute pond within the park.

Kitsalano Beach (pretty sure I misspelled that but I don't want to look it up right now).

Family picture...all happy of course to be there...cough cough. I should be nice and say it was great being back together but its my blog so I can be honest and say it was really really (in place of another word I wanted to use) akward.

Beautiful Sunset, my grandma would have loved it.

So there are a few pictures for now. Will post more later when I have time. Pretty busy lately, I am trying to come up with an extra job to save money for this fall semester. I am in the process of making business cards for babysitting and dogsitting so I can hand them out. Don't have much of a life so why not watch children/dogs. I like both so its a good idea I think. Hopefully it works out.

Also planning something for when I graduate to celebrate, keeping it quiet right now because I want it to pan out and not jinx myself.

Summer

Summer is here in force, triple digits and all.

I am so glad from the break from school, just wished they hadn't raised tuition once again. Uhh, three more years before finishing with school forever, wonder how much more they can raise it (sarcasm intended).

Job one is going great, I love my co-workers and bosses, we are always playing pranks on one another. This week we are plotting what to do to my boss that is away, changing her background is something that is expected so we are trying to think outside the box. I should take pictures...maybe, not the best at doing that...

Starting tomorrow (I keep pushing it off but I will begin tomorrow) I am starting to studying for my GRE, not looking forward to it. I am horrible at math, but I need a good grade so I can apply for scholarships, time to suck it up and study.

I promise (E and GP) that I will be posting pictures from my B.C. within 2 weeks. (Just email/nag me to...)

Quick Update

So, back at work now, after two weeks away.

My friends wedding went really well. I hated the bridesmaids dresses but it was her day. The groom looked excited to see her walk down the aisle. Nikky's nephews were adorable. So was her tiny niece. My feet were killing me after wearing heels for 4 hours something I rarely do. After the wedding I hung out with her family (her Aunt Denise invited me, she is who we stayed with while in Michigan, she is amazing). That was incredibly fun, hung out with Ian who turned 3 and talked with Aunt Denise. Then I went home at like 1am, then went to my 2nd job at 9am. Fun times. But I survived. Then I got on a flight to Seattle early the morning afterwards.

Okay, Flying sucked! I didn't like the flights to B.C. Sam didn't think here was anything wrong but there was too much bumpyness for me. The first week was okay, very stressful but dealing with my mom always is. E. was great :) Couldn't have made it through the week without him. We scattered my grandma's ashes on Thursday May 27, that was an interesting evening. Mom put on the act of her life and then preceded to drop my grandma into the ocean, container and all. Tigh was able to get her out and then we spread the rest of her remains in the pacific ocean by Kits. Beach. I just did my own little thing, telling grandma good-bye and I'm glad I did.

The second week I mostly hung out with friends. Learned that some friends have changed a lot and others haven't which was nice. Hung out with my bestie 3 times which was amazing, and my other bestie once, hopefully I get to hang out with them more when I road-trip it up next summer.

I did go see two movies, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and Robin Hood, I would see them again because both were very good.

Now I'm back to 'real' life, working six hours a day and hopefully get to hang out with my nephews and niece a lot this summer.

Sam is back at work and doing good. Not much to report on him. He did enjoy his short trip but he also got his eye's opened to a lot of things that he needs to think about.

That's a very quick update, sorry no pictures this time.

Pictures

And a truly recent picture of myself, taken on friday.

Now off to study for my finals.

Finals

Well, finals are next week. It has been a crazy semester (or more like whole of junior year). I’m going to write a reflection next week about all of 2009 and 2010 so far (I know I should have written about 2009 in January but hey this is my blog). Looks like a mostly B semester which is a downer because I like to keep my grades at A’s to keep my GPA up. But after this semester I will only have one more year before I graduate with my Bachelors degree. I am still debating on if I want to go straight to a Master’s and get school over with or to wait. I am going to study for the GRE just in case I do decide to go because I need it to be accepted into the graduate program and to get scholarships.

Work has been great! Love the people I work with. I know people who gripe about their bosses but I have to say I have the world’s GREATEST bosses. S.C. is just amazing. S.S. is who I mainly work for and she is GREAT. We are friends outside of work also so that has been great. I love working at the archive. Some of the time can be boring but meeting all the older folks that have stories to tell is just amazing. The other day I got to meet a WWII veteran. We are currently working on looking up the medal of honor recipients and honoring them.

I love history which spills over into my job because it is all about history. There is a display up about the history of the town and it is REALLY interesting to learn about how it came to be. It started because of the fort that was here, but the first business was a combined Saloon and Grocery store. And where there is a saloon you have soiled doves (a.k.a. prostitutes). S.A. also had a significantly high divorce rate then you typically think up during the 1800’s.

I am currently a little obsessed with Amazon’s Kindle E-reader. I want one soooo bad, I love to read but I just don’t have enough space to by anymore books and I think the library is tired of seeing me. I have read through, ohh, probably a good 1/3 of the libraries books. I am saving up for it but I am also saving up for a sewing machine…I know odd choices but I love to sew and the Machine F. has is just archaic and HATES me, not kidding. Fran can use the same thread and everything will work fine, I can use the machine literally seconds after her with everything the way she left it and the thread will break and the bobbin will do some crazy thing. It is really weird.

I can’t wait to go to Canada, I miss it A LOT! I am extremely sad about grandma but miss her like crazy. I wish I would have been able to be with her during her last days. It is going to be hard to go through her things, but I am glad I am going to be able to bring about some of her things to remember her by. I am also glad that I will be able to see people (most of the people who read this blog…) that I haven’t seen in like two years.

Well, this post was a little all over the place but that’s how life is like right now. I know, no new pictures, but I haven’t seen Sam in a few days as he is working 2 weeks on 1 weekend off. I will try to take some new ones this weekend. I am babysitting on Saturday and then I think celebrating my birthday on Saturday evening because Sunday is Mother’s Day, and even its my actual b-day it will harder to celebrate it.

Pictures....

So here are pictures of part of my campus and then of a park near me. See I can keep promises...
This below picture is part of the Computer Science and Accounting and Marketing building. This next picture is of the univerity flag along the "mall" its a long, straight path that connects the two parts of campus.

This next one is of the "mall" towards most of the dorms and cafeteria.

This is a small map of the university, it is very spread out.

The signs that help direct visitors and freshman to what buildings they want to get to.

Sitting area on campus.

The tennis court at the park near where I live.

The path that I walk in the evenings when I can.

Teeter totters, There is also a swing set and baseball area.

Interesting picture of the carport.

So I finally added some pictures. Sam has been away for awhile working so I don't have any pictures, when he gets home this weekend I will 'kidnap' him to take some pictures of him to post here.

Another Update sans pictures...

I know I keep promising pictures…but it’s just not happening currently. I AM going to be taking some pictures of my neighborhood and campus, tomorrow, truly…I AM.

Sam is doing well. He is working two weeks on and one weekend off currently. He is at a different site right now so he is staying in a hotel and living on ramen noodles and Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches. He seems to like what he is doing so I am happy for him. He is already starting to tan again from working outside…I wish I could tan like he does, he does brown almost. I stay pasty white or look sick when I have a tan.

Me, hmm, there is 2 weeks left in school and I can’t wait. I do have a 5 page paper to write and a presentation to do next week but then there is dead week and finals. The running joke around where I work is that I should go get drunk on my birthday because I will be 21 but there are three things wrong with that scenario, 1) I don’t normally drink (I did a little while in Germany, where I sipped others beers and had ONE shot of something, but from that I found out I HATE beer and I am not much of a drinker), and 2) I have finals starting Monday no way I am going to be partying when I will be studying 3) My birthday falls on Mother’s Day this year so Yeah, going to be a crazy busy day anyway.

We are coming up to Canada, and I cannot wait. Sam will be there for a week and me, 2 weeks. Then I come back and work in my church’s nursery the rest of the summer.

I am so excited about June and July….it’s the FIFA 2010 Soccer Cup in South America. I am going to be watching as many matches as I can around my work schedule.

P.S. I have taken pictures I now just have to get them from my camera to here...

School and other

So no pictures this time either.

School has been insane! Why did I think it was going to be easier after spring break?

Oh and about spring break, it was okay. I worked most of the time. I did hand out with Kim and J, B, and N. that was a great afternoon and evening. I enjoyed helping J. with his reading and B. with his spelling. I did get sick on Wednesday of that week which was not fun. I thought I was getting the Flu again but it turned out to be just a cold (praise God, if it had been the flu I would have wished to perish because I did not want it a second time).

This past weekend, I got to see my G.P. and D. It was a great weekend. Playing domino’s and resting and reading. The drive to Kerrville was good. I did find that my little car and the West Texas wind do not go to well together, but I made it there and back in one piece.

School is insane (I say again). Two papers (5 + pages each) due in the next two weeks. I have a test in Texas History next week plus another paper…just too much to think about right now. I cannot wait till summer. I will be working more but I at least will not be going to school. I can enjoy the summer!

I am planning on going to Canada from May 24-June 5 and Sam from May 24 –May 29 (if he will get his act together and ask for the time off work).

That’s all for now.

Spring Break

I cannot wait till next week. School this week has been incredibly stressful. I did make decent grades on the paper and tests that I know of this week.

I made a 92 on my Texas History paper. Which a great accomplishment, lots of apparently of people have told me that Dr. D, is really hard and boring but I have not found that. He is very entertaining and yeah some of his jokes are corny but at least he has a sense of humor. I enjoy his class which is a good thing because I have to take another course he teaches in the fall semester.

In geography I made a 92 on the second test of the semester (88 on the first one). I don’t feel that I really earned it though. I haven’t really put much effort into studying for his class as I should, but it comes easy for me. I can memorize places on a map or geological features with ease. The cultural part of it is becoming interesting at least.

I do have a French IV test tomorrow that I don’t feel at ease about. Even if I study I can’t seem to do well in her class, it is very frustrating.

Spring break is next week though. I cannot wait. I will be working at the WTC and the church nursery plus I will be house sitting but it will still be a change. I won’t have to worry about going to class or over sleeping because my bosses at the WTC don’t expect any of us student workers in before 9 or 10 am. Which is a great change after having 8am classes all week.

I am going to start a paper for English class and possible start on my other history book but mostly just trying to relax and breathe. And work through all the emotions I have been keeping inside because there is too much else going on in my life to deal with them too.

Feelings

I'm really tired of people asking me if I’m okay, need to talk etc, etc.
I'm also tired of the remarks that “your acting weird” or “why aren't you crying”.
After crying more than I have in the last six months in a 4 day period I can't seem to cry anymore. I FEEL like crying but I don't seem to have anymore tears to cry with. I Love my Grandma, just because I am not falling apart now that is gone doesn't mean I don't care. I’m trying to compartmentalize my feelings right now till spring break (another week...) because I have way to much school work going on this week and next. I am so stressed out right now with everything that has been going on, part of it is because I have been slacking on my daily quiet time with God. I’m trying to handle everything on my own and I am soo not good at it. This week has been horrible because I can’t bring myself to care about anything school related even though I have so much of it due. I have been forcing myself to go through the motions and write a 5 page History paper, study for 3 exams next week (possibly for depending on how the teacher feels) and 2-4 page English paper.

To try and relax (is that even possible while in university?) I have been organizing all my Germany pictures I took last July and picking my favorite to make a book on shutterfly.com. It takes my mind off stuff I should be doing….I know, I know studying should come first. Not really concerned with that right now. My dad is though, I know he is trying to think of my future but right now a failed assignment will not affect my grade too bad in 2 out of 5 classes. One class has a lot of extra credit 1 page papers I could do I could pass the coarse alone if I did all of them.

I am just so worn out this week it makes me wonder if I really want to do Graduate school. I have another year till I finish my bachelors and it would add 2 more years on. Lots to think about after this coming week.

Grief

I've decided grief sucks.

I know grandma was dying, I've been getting phone calls all week on how she was. I thought I was prepared. I guess not.

I think about grandma or something we loved to do together and I feel tears on my cheeks. I've never been a crier so its uncomfortable and weird to me.

I love grandma. I have such great memories with her.

Walking to Safeway to get groceries, was fun, she would talk about the buildings or just how things had changed.

Playing Cribbage together, that will forever be etched in my memory as "our" game. She was always patient with me. She taught me how to play and as I got older she made the game more "grown up" by stealing points if I didn't add the math right. I remember 2 am in Mexico, neither of us could sleep so she says "you awake Kerry?" me "Yeah" her, "want to play some crib?" and we did. We played like 5 games of crib till both of us couldn't count and we were able to sleep. We did this several nights while in Mexico, with the spanish music station on t.v. softly playing in the background.

I remember sleep overs at grandma being a highlight. (especially if it was just me). There was one time I got to bowl with her team because they were a person short. I was so proud. (I didn't do very well but that fact that grandma would let me play was a big deal).

I love cooking with her, and hearing stories about growing up on the farm and then her travels through the years. I loved going through her picture albums and asking her questions about her friends and even about what her first thoughts were when I was born.

I am going to miss my grandma!
I wish I had some pictures of grandma to put here, but all my pictures of her didn't make it down to Texas.

Update 2/16/2010

So update.

School: STRESSED (have three tests this week, one next week, and a 5 page paper due the next week. I am hopeing (but not holding my breath) that it will calm down after spring break but that has never happened before but I can always hope.

Valentines Day: Happy Belated Valentines Day to y'all.
Mine was pretty fun. I got flowers at work on friday (and got asked out), went on my first officail (the guy met my dad and stuff) date. That was cool. Went to see a movie and just hung out and talked afterwards.

Sam: Still hasn't found a job. May be going up to Canada for a few weeks (wouldn't hold your breath over that). Mom says she will buy his ticket as a early birthday present.

Hmm, that seems to be about it for now. No new pictures. I haven't had time to take pictures, I will try and make up for that in the next couple of weeks.

the break

Okay here are the pictures I said I would post (and look it hasn't been a month, I am trying to be better about updating more often)

You can't really tell but there is snow falling hard in the above picture with a tree.

This is in front of Nikki's brother and sister-in-law's house. I haven't seen a snowman in several years so I had to get a picture of me with one.

OKay, this is the windshield after the crash...we were on our way home from michigan through chicago because we wanted to go to the field's musuem. About half way there (yes I was driving) I hit some black ice, started to skid, slowly corrected that one, than hit another patch...and nikki started screaming...I over corrected and we did a 180 into the steel cable fence in the medium (I don't know how to spell that). We both were physically fine but not mentally. I was really shook up but got myself under control quickly as I called my dad, then the police then my dad again etc. It took awhile but we (with my dad's help) decided it would be best if we flew home because I certainly was not fit to drive (it took me a couple of days when we got home before I stopped having little panic attacks when I first got into the car). Nikki was in NO shape to drive either. So, we found 2 tickets on southwest flying out at 9 am in detroit on saturday. (the accident and everything happened on friday at about 10 am). So that was a nice chunk of change (I was willing to spend it to get home and I never thought I would say it but I did, I was happy to be in texas again when we landed in San Antonio, which is 3 hrs away from where we live). Anyways...Nikki's aunt was a blessing, and drove to where we were (3 hrs away, taking off work to come pick us up) and took us home, bought us dinner and was extremely sweet, helped us repack because we could only take so much on the plane and the car was packed, so some stuff got left behind. I learned there was a Tim Horton's near her place (and nikki said my face lit up...because I didn't know there were any in the states) and she said we could go there for breakfast (which was amazing....I love their donuts...so made my day) and than she drove us from Ann Arbor to Detroit Airport. Than we got through secruity (which was on high alert since the bombing attempt on christmas eve) and than we had 3 very turbulent flights home (which did nothing to calm my crazy nerves) and at one point said we would have to prospone take off because there was ice on the wings of the plane, at the next airport, we had to circle because there was ice on the runway...by this point I can HATED ice, so when we finally got to San Antonio and there wasn't a single white fluff falling or ice to be seen I almost cheered. Than my Grandpa (Dad's dad) picked us up and we had a great evening with him and Dorothy (his wife) before going home the next day.

There are 2 more pictures of the car... it looks even worse than these pictures tell, I am just glad that we didn't hit another car or another car didn't hit us since we were on a busy interstate.

Also, I before going to michigan (on dec. 22/23) I went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to go to a book signing by the pioneer woman.... :) that was alot of fun, even though it was a 6 1/2 hr drive one way I enjoyed it very much. But I almost had a blow out on the way back so I had to buy 2 new tires....

I've decided Road Trips are just not good for me...they drain my bank account to new lows. So no road trips for me for several months. ...