New Lesson Learned

Styrofoam is NOT microwaveable. Trust me.

Last Night Was Fun

I ate at the grill with Cassie and Cerise, where we ended up meeting up with a couple of more friends. One thing I've found is that when I eat by myself it can take maybe 20 or 25 minutes. But when with friends, it turns into a socializing time too, which can last an hour or sometimes even 2.
Then I went and did some errands with Cerise. Yes, on a Friday night, I know, bums. We decided to make cards for people afterwards, and we watched Anastasia at the same time. I forgot how creepy that Rasputan guy is. Scary.
After that we went back to my room since Cerise's room mate was trying to sleep and we hung out with my floor mates for awhile. Noticing a common theme yet? Hanging out. It happens alot, and I love it.
We went next door to meet Cassie's new room mate Silviya, who's on a study abroad type of trip. We thought she was from France, but found out she just goes to school in France. She's actually from Bulgaria! Anyway she was so funny, she had us cracking up for about half an hour telling of her adventures getting here. It will be cool to have her here, a chance to learn a little about another culture. After a 21 hour flight she was pretty exhausted, so we let her sleep.
Somewhere in all of this I called my family, but didn't get a chance to talk to my dad, he was so tired he went to bed at about 8:00.
The evening sort of died down, so I finished the night instant messaging my friends Emma and Matt. Fun stuff. I love friends!

It's Raining! Alot actually.

Although this picture isn't from today raining, I like it anyway.

It's Good To Be Back

Let me reemphasize that. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK. Maybe that sounds odd after my last kind of down post. I think that was just a gloomy day, I'm better now. :) But really I love it here in San Diego. I love the people I have become friends with, even though it's not as many as I thought. I love the atmosphere on campus. I love my room mate, and the rest of my dorm mates. I love the freedom. I love life and all of the upcoming possibilities, whatever they are. I love the independence, working to make my own money. I love being able to be myself and no one judges me because that's just who they know me to be. I love the people I work with. I love hanging out with whoever whenever just because, and feeling comfortable the entire time. So far I love all of my classes. I can tell they'll be challenging, but in a good and interesting way. A lot of work ahead, but that's ok. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

Oh yes, Corrie's right. I love not living with my parents. Which reminds me, I should probably call them. I haven't talked to them since I got back...

Just Truckin Along

I'm kind of blah at the moment. Actually I have been for awhile. I just didn't start out the day too well at all really. I had an 8:00 class this morning, which I actually got to on time, I just didn't give myself enough time to shower or eat or anything. I was hoping it would get out early so I could go back to my room and "freshen up". Well I realized I'd left my keys in my room and Sophia had classes for the next few hours, so so much for that one. Then I had to pay for my own lunch since my ID card with the meal plan was on my keys. Basically I didn't make it back to my room until about just now. I went to work right after my last class and was actually supposed to work until about 10:30, but luckily got done a little early.
It's only day 2!!! But I think there's more to it than that. My life is at one of those points where I feel like I'm just scooting along, going day by day. Nothing to look forward to at the moment I guess. School and work are full speed ahead, already have papers due and homework assignments to look forward to. Rush week at work means working every day and long days at that, running around as a "lead" trying to help the newbies.
*Sigh, not sure why I feel that way right now. I think maybe I'll try to go to bed early so I can get up in the morning and maybe go work out, that would be nice. I work another 8 hour day tomorrow after 2 classes.
Now that I've managed to whine the crap out of this post I'm going to get some homework done.
I think I need to start figuring some things in my life out. I don't think I'm just tired from work and school. I've been struggling lately with giving my life back to God. I want to do everything myself, or I just don't think to ask Him for help. I should be living for God. Right now I'm not there, but knowing that I want to and need to go back to Him. Working at it...

1 Day Down, Many More To Go...

I'd say day 1 of this semester went pretty well. I was kind of hoping that it would be an easy day, as in professor hands out the syllabus and we go over it and leave. That didn't happen, lectures started right away, but that's ok. I had my 2 PE classes today. Sophia was joking about the lab part of the class. She said something like "what, are half of you going to act like kids while the other half teaches the class?" I laughed at her, probably not I thought. Well she was kind of right. For the first day, we did all kinds of kids activities, like skipping around to the music and once the music went off, touching our foreheads to the ground and stuff. I have no problem being a complete dork in front of little kids, but we're all college students here. And yes, we are going to break up into groups and make lesson plans and teach the rest of the class as if they were kids.
Maybe now's a good time to bring up the fact that I'm not so sure that I want to be a teacher anymore. I don't really know why, or what I DO want to do, but I just have these kind of doubts. I want to do something I love, but what that is I don't yet know. In my math class we also have to get up and explain concepts as if to elementary kids. And then once a week we go to a school and actually teach kids. So I'm thinking I'm going to wait out the semester for now. The problem is just that I have no idea what the heck I want to major in. This is the first time I've really talked about my doubts, because the idea of having to change everything, setting me back a bit, is somewhat overwhelming. I know that I love working with children. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I am going to enjoy teaching. Well, we'll see.
Anyway, gotta go. I need to make a Staples and Target run and then I have a dorm meeting!

Whew! Made it.

I'm back in the SD. Actually I've been down here since early Friday, but I'm finally all moved in and settling back down. My mom and sister just left. My dad couldn't come because he's been working 10 hour days for the past 3 or 4 weeks without any days off. Lots of money, but no fun at all. That's what the rain does to telephone workers.
Over the last 3 days I've worked, worked some more, ate at Macaroni Grill and Chili's, shopped alot, got 2 new pairs of Diesel shoes from Nordstrom Rack, bought my text books and really expensive parking pass, moved everything back in, got a really stupid $45 parking ticket, and said goodbye to my mom and little sister.
Oh, I'm finally not a minimum wage worker anymore! For the first time in my life, haha. An entire 20 cent raise since I've been there for a semester now, that's fun. Well I think I'm going to go catch up with some friends and then walk around campus and find my classes so I'm not totally lost tomorrow!
I'm sure now that I'm back in San Diego I'll be updating my blog more frequently since I'll actually have things to write about. As well as the fact that it's a really good form of procrastination! Toodles.

Packing...

Well this is it... I've been packing for the last couple of hours. Trying not to forget anything, but I'm sure I will anyways. I realized today was my last day to sleep in, so I definitely took advantage. Didn't wake up until 11:30. Which means 11 hours of sleep, nice. Soon enough I'll have to get used to the lack of sleep again. Although I figured out last semester that I really don't do well on a lack of sleep. So one of the things I'm going to try and change is the procrastinating problem. We shall see. Pray for me for a safe trip down tomorrow and a good start to the semester! Off at 6:00AM tomorrow. I'm going to miss everyone from home that I've been able to see alot lately :(

Gettin Ready

Time sure does fly by fast when you're on vacation. This is my last week off. And really I only have a couple of more free days. I work tomorrow then go back to work and for good on Friday morning. I can't say that I'm completely dreading it. I'm kind of looking forward to the new semester and the chance to be on my own again. Yet at the same time I was definitely enjoying the days where I didn't wake up until noon. Or even change out of my PJ's all day for that matter! Well, such is life. Almost back into the swing of things...

Where'd You Go?

I was trying to make a couple of modifications on my blog in the template section. After adding some new things I republished my blog. But then when I went to view it, my blog was gone! Well, no idea what happened. However when I went to look back at the template almost all of the coding was gone. Did I delete it somehow? I really have no idea. But after messing with a few things to no avail I changed the entire template in hopes of getting my blog back. All of my posts still existed, they just weren't showing up! So now it should be okay. The only problem is that I lost any modifications I had made, meaning my entire link section is gone. Bummer. And I don't know how to put it back. And Melissa Macomber who helped me with it the first time, is in the Philippines. Well, I guess no links for a while :'( Sorry Tim Rake.

2 hours, 50 minutes

That's how much time I have left to work in this day. I'm sitting in the food court right now on break and realized, hey, I can post from the computers! Anyway I'm tired. Been up since 4:30 and couldn't fall asleep until about 2:00 last night. Well I should have no problem falling asleep tonight! At least I hope not. I think I might be getting sick. Nothing serious really, just a cold. Been stuffy all day and have downed 3 bottles of OJ. I always crave orange juice when I'm getting sick so I know it's here! Yuck. Nice timing eh?
Well time to get back to work, stink.

This Post is Dedicated to my Room mate Sophia and her Weird Thumbs

(Couldn't resist :) )

And it's in...

I knew that I was going to have to work the 2 weeks before school started, but I was definitely dreading it. Well, I figured out the first week's schedule:
Wednesday 8-4:45
Thursday 8-4:45
Friday 8:45-4:15
Saturday 9:45-3:15
I guess all of the hours should at least somewhat make up for the gas it will take round trip once. Katie's being awesome to let me sleep on her couch for a few nights. I'm not going to drive down until Wednesday morning bright and early. Basically I'm going to be standing around with the new people, there if they need any questions and helping them out. Doesn't sound that fun to me. I know I was pretty full of annoying dumb questions when I first started. But oh well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess.

Ants... Grrr

A bad side effect of the rain is the ants that seem to always find their way into our home. This morning there was a long thick line of them from the doorway, across the carpet, along the coffee table, and into the fireplace. Because we have cats, we can't spray Raid everywhere. So I got them with vinegar, which slowly kills ants. But now the house smells like vinegar and I feel like I have ants crawling all over me. Grrrr...

Lots of Rain

Going to UCLA and visiting Emma was so much fun. It managed to rain my entire drive and the whole time I was there. In fact, it hasn't stopped raining yet. We walked to Westwood and ate salads and ice cream sandwiches. Since we didn't know where there was a place to rent a movie we bought a cheap one at Rite Aid. What was funny was we only had 3 choices: A romantic movie that looked too gushy for us, Care Bears, and a movie called Rudy. So we chose Rudy, which ended up being really good. We both cried at the end and tried to cover it up from each other.
I think one of my favorite things about Emma's and my friendship is that we don't have to actually be doing anything to have fun. We played many many card games where Emma beat me almost every time like she Always does. We were being extremely loud and obnoxious because we're so stinking competitive, but it was a blast!
After just talking for a few hours after that we fell asleep around 2:30 AM and woke up the next day at 1:30 PM. After eating breakfast I really wanted to go out in the rain and get a UCLA tour. So we went out and got completely soaked, (really good when you only have one pair of pants and one pair of shoes). Of course the fact that we were jumping in all of the puddles and kicking water onto each other for about an hour didn't help.
Then I drove home in the downpour, soaked in the car.
It was such a blast. I really wish that our schools were closer together so we could visit each other more often!
This is me and Emma roaring like the Bruin Bear. Actually I think Emma missed the whole roaring concept :)

Hello

The last few days I have done quite a lot of shopping. Not necessarily buying things, just hanging out in malls, which is always fun to me.
In about an hour I'm going to UCLA to visit Emma and stay in her dorm overnight until who knows when Sunday. Should be fun! So see you all later! :)

In Limbo

I think that I am becoming too comfortable being back at home. Don't get me wrong, I love being home, not having to worry about doing everything for myself because the parents help out. Seeing friends, getting to spend time with my family. But I am beginning to feel that 5 weeks is too long. I am settling back in. It's not a vacation to me anymore, it's living here again, if that makes any sense.
I'm just afraid that when I go back to school it will take a bit of time to adjust... all over again. I am starting to miss San Diego too. Some of the people and the relationships with friends that I have down there that are still forming.
Of course next week and the week after I will be working, I just don't know when yet, back at the bookstore. Maybe that will cure some of the itch to go back, live on my own again. Albeit a dorm gives you that false sense of being "on your own", I still miss it.
Home can be a strange thing. I believe it's the place you feel most comfortable, where you can walk inside and just completely relax and feel like you belong. Half of a dorm room is obviously not a home, but it was getting there for me. And the house that I am sitting in right now does not feel as much like that place anymore today, and I don't think it ever fully will again.
Here's where it becomes exciting to think about what the future holds, when I finally settle down and create my OWN home. I think only then will I truly feel settled.
But for now I am, and shall remain, in Limbo.

January 4, 2005

I registered for classes today, it was a bit of a hassle because when I tried to add a class the system said that I hadn't paid my registration fees. But after a few calls it was all right and I was luckily able to get all of the classes I wanted. The perks of having priority registration, even though I got out of the honors program which is the reason I had the priority registration to begin with. It seemed a little bit like cheating, but it's not my fault they couldn't change it until next semester. So lets see, I'm taking Philosophy 101, Elementary Math (how to teach math to elementary kids), Art History, Earth Science, PE of Children Theory, and PE of Children Activity. Fun stuff.
I went shopping with my friend Dana later in the day, which was a lot of fun. Winter Break is nice when everyone is in town at the same time. It was good to catch up with a friend.
Unfortunately Emma left to go back to UCLA tonight and she was busy with family things all day, so I didn't get a chance to see her, which was kind of stinky. But this weekend I'm considering driving up to UCLA so we can hang out without worrying about the family stuff! Should be fun.

Grades... Finally

Tomorrow at exactly 1:15 I get to register for my classes for next semester. I decided to check my grades online today and they are finally all there. So what does my first semester in college look like? Well... a C, B, 2 B+'s, and an A- (pluses and minuses make a difference at State schools, which kind of stinks actually). That amounts to a 3.07. Sounds good to me! No complaining here. Well actually I don't like the C, considering the entire year it was a high B in my History 100 class, and then after the final (the final that I studied the most for and really worked at), it turns out to be a C, just barely passing. But oh well, tis the college life.

What I Have Been Up To...

A lot of random things... Lets see...
I have seen many many movies over the past week or so: Van Helsing, Garden State, Wicker Park, Wimbledon, Spanglish, Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind... there's more but I can't remember. I think that is way too many.
My mom had all of last week off so I've been staying home alot to try and make her happy. But after our last argument I decided she is never going to be fully happy, and there is a point where I have to stop letting her run my life. I mean yes, some would say she is paying for my schooling and I am at home right now (although living on campus during school), but that doesn't mean that I have to try and please her all of the time and not hang out with friends that I want to see.
That leads to Thursday, I helped Corrie pack from the time she got home until 2:30 AM. If you read her blog I'm sure she'll write all about that sometime soon. I stayed with her until Saturday morning to continue to help pack and unpack her things in the new apartment. Whew, that was a lot of work. We also helped our friend Jeff move out on Thursday as well.
Friday night I went to the New York New Year's Eve at the Smith's new Condo. That was a lot of fun and their new place is so nice and cute! So exciting, they are blessed.
After continuing their until the real New Year's Eve at 12:00 Corrie, Katie, and I went back to Corrie's new place to find her room mate's brother sleeping on the couch (long story). So instead we went to Katie's house and watched a movie and had fun, finally making it to bed around 3:30 in the morning!
So I had an unplanned nap earlier today because I was so tired. Tonight I was going to go out with my friend Dana who is home right now from school as well, but instead we are going to do something tomorrow afternoon since we are both kind of tired and I wanted to spend a night at home. My mother of course again is upset that I will not be home tomorrow since I am going to church at night as well. But I have decided to not let her continue to run my life so when I want to do things I will and I'm over feeling guilty about not spending enough time with her.
Whew! I think that's it! I hope everyone's having a happy New Years!