I like, I like!

The first day of classes areu usually boring. Not for me. A teacher in my class was describing his wife and said, "Don't get me wrong, she's a nice lady, but she could go bear hunting with a switch."

Frankly, I wouldn't mind that if someone described me in that way someday. How badass is that?

I was also on the phone with a new suitor last night. When he asked how tall I am, I answered, "I'm five feet three inches of greatness." I know, I know. Sometimes I should turn the charm off. Just a little bit.

Now I'm getting political on your a$$

A summer full of a retarded schedule must equal to no blogging. I was about to write that I was unsure of why, but I think I know. For some reason, I have been in this weird depressed state over the summer, and I am trying to work through it. I think I wanted to work through it alone, and it has been working. Here's to progress.

So, I have some comments for the summer. First, I have decided that I need a May break, and an August break. I am exhausted, and school starts next week. The one good thing about it is that a) That means my fitness schedule increases so I can quit the crappy job I had and b) I will be on more of a set schedule so *maybe* I won't be so damn tired all the time? We'll see. I also backed off on some of my teaching, so I will be teaching about 15 hours per week instead of 20. I think that will help.

This semester will be really busy, but I am taking a lot of classes I am excited about, particularly biomechanics, the physiology of exercise, and Spanish. I hope that my reduced teaching schedule will leave more room for studying. We'll see how that pans out, since I'm such a lazy little bitch. ;)

My Olympic feevah is slowly subsiding. I want to keep Shawn Johnson in my pocket and let her out when I'm sad. Flip, Shawn! Flip! That would make me very happy. At the end of the day, it would be great to have her in the house, you know? You come home from a hard day's work, and she's there to flip and jump and twirl...anyway, enought about gymnastics. I would also like to marry Aaron Piersol. Backstroke to me, baby! So ladies, you can have Michael Phelps. I will take the backstroker any day.

Um, hi, Aaron. Um...are you wearing any pants? Well, they're really not necessary perse, I'm just asking:


But for real, I have promised myself that I will keep my options open with dating, and will try to not be such a scaredy cat. Ever since a BAD, BAD breakup last summer, I've been pretty closed off to opportunities and have exclusively tried to date guys that live out of town. I just need to get over it and be happy with me, and what I might find right in my own back yard. (But Aaron Piersol is a dandy alternative...even if it is a fantasy!)

Finally, to the theme of this post. I have finally gotten involved in politics a bit. For the first time in my life, I voted in the primary election. Even though my pick was not the ultimate winner (Hillary), I am still pleased with the result. Honestly, I was torn between the two, and my ultimate choice came down to health care. It seemed to me that Hillary's plan had a better chance of actual action compared to Barack's, but I am still hopeful for change. During my adult life, I have spent the majority of it uninsured, yet gainfully employed. I am tired of working my butt off while the unemployed individuals get coverage, and I don't get coverage because I'm not "poor enough".

I am also extremely frustrated with John McCain's choice of VP. Actually, I'm less frustrated and more annoyed and offended than anything. To me, it's like saying, "Hey ladies, you didn't get Hillary. Of course you were just voting for her because she's got a vagina, so here's a vagina for you to vote for. You don't really care about the politics anyway, now do you? Get back in the kitchen, and vote for your fellow woman come November." So, yeah, that was a little sarcastic, but really? Oooh, she's breaking the glass ceiling, but watch out. She will take away all of your rights of choice while she's at it. She will get all the glory, and if she has her way, your sisters, nieces, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and every other woman that might be affected by a violent sexual crime will not have a choice if they happen to conceive. That's right I said it. Let's set aside general choice. Let's talk about instances of rape, incest and endangerment to the mother and/or fetus. If Sarah Pallin has her way, women in America will not have a choice in those situations. That is not okay with me, nor is is okay with anyone I know.

This woman removes choice from the equation, and refuses to acknowledge extreme circumstances:


Do you agree? Disagree? I promise to not be a sarcastic bitch if we talk about it.

I'd better run. Before I offend anyone else. Honestly, though, I have been keeping up with just about everyone this summer. Eliza, congrats on baby Weston! Jackie, congrats on the house! Katie, I can't believe your little man is walking! Post a video already! Mel, congrats on hanging with Neil Diamond (well, almost--he looked just like him anyway)! And April, your kids are just adorable.

We'll see if I can keep this up. I've got no guarantee for ya.

My favorite song

Right now, this is my favorite song. I ADORE it. Listen to the words, and pretend he's singing about you. Making you feel very amazing.

Long time, no see!

Whew! What a crazy few months this has been. 2008 has brought so much to me, and I am truly lucky to have all that I have, despite all the ups and downs. I've been home from Hawaii for a week now, and even though I'm no longer in paradise, I'm glad to be back. But, check these out!

Beautiful flowers:



Exotic beaches:



Amazing food:



Amazing drinks:



Amazing adventures (Check out the North Shore SKYDIVING view!):



Palm trees:



And finally...North Shore chickens!!



When I left Hawaii the first time, I felt like I left so much behind. This time, I feel that even though I'm no longer in paradise, I came back whole, happy and ready to continue with my life just as it is.

It was a struggle to get through the end of the semester, but it all ended on a positive note, and I am excited for a break. It feels like I could sleep for a long time! I'm lucky that I have some time to do that this summer, although I'm still working quite a bit. And...working on the tan I acquired while in Hawaii might be in the mix a little too!;) I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Oops! I got tagged.

Katie tagged me! So I must oblige...

A - Attached or single? Eh, single. See last post. I'm feeling better, though. Time heals all wounds, for sure.
B - Best friend? My sis Nicole. Plus I have a lot of really awesome close friends all over the place!
C - Cake or pie? That's a mean question. Don't make me pick ONE! I'll take both and work out extra hard later. :)
D - Day of choice? Any day I get to Zumba or rock climb; even better, how about both?
E - Essential item? Chapstick. Food. Workout shoes.
F - Favorite color? Green, purple, red.
G - Gummy bears or worms? Bears. I like biting their heads off first! Muahahahahaha!
H - Hometown? La Crosse, WI
I - Indulgences? Travel, good food, workout gear.
J - January or July? July, unless it's January somewhere tropical. ;)
K - Kids? Goodness, no!
L - Life isn't complete without? Family, all my pals, working out.
M - Marriage date? NO THANK YOU.
N - Number of brothers and sisters? Two of the best sisters ever!
O - Oranges or apples? Fruit salad!
P - Phobias or fears? Fear of falling, being alone forever.
Q - Quote? Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes it is the quiet assurance that you will try again tomorrow.
R - Reason to smile? So many reasons! Good family and friends, an awesome career path...
S - Season of choice? Summer, and it's almost heeeeeeeere!!
T - Tag six: Do I even have six friends? :D Whoever would like to reply I guess.
U - Unknown fact about me? I'm pretty much an open book. Um...one of the reasons why I teach at the jail is so the inmates can teach me hip hop! :D
V - Vegetable? Anything that my mom makes.
W - Worst habit? Being cluttered.
X - X-ray or ultrasound? Never had an ultrasound...
Y - Your favorite food? I'd probably have to say Mexican, or Sushi.
Z - Zodiac sign? Crabby little Cancer. ;)

Breaking up...

...is hard to do. It is hard to not take things personally. It is tough understanding that this person you care about so much just doesn't feel the same way. I don't know how much hope I have left for relationships, but I'm trying. Today, I have so many things to do, and all I want to do is sit in bed and watch 'The Sweetest Thing'. Over, and over again.

Grateful

The sun is shining, and it's time to accentuate the positive: let's talk about some things I've been thankful for lately.

1. Crazy friends that will travel thousands of miles with me to walk around aimlessly in a city they have never been to. Luckily for me, it was San Diego, so there was plenty to do. And plenty to eat.

2. People that speak intentionally with awkward voices and noises. This especially works when you speak LOUDLY.

3. Parents that make me lunch every day.

4. A boyfriend that says, "Stay in bed while I make breakfast."

5. People that I have only met a time or two taking the time to see me when I'm generally in their neck of the woods...only an hour away. Three times in one week.

6. Randomness in drive-thrus at 2am. Yelling, "I love you!" so many times that the drive through attendant says, "I love you too." comes to mind.

Have a happy day!

Pay it forward...

With all the hustle and bustle of life that I experience (just like everybody else), sometimes it's easy to forget about the little things that matter. I have been teaching so much that I have forgotten those little things.

I have people that attend my classes for me, not for anybody else. I hope that someday, they go for themselves, but it is so humbling that they are so dedicated to the way that I teach. I have realized that when I teach, my problems go away for a little while. That feels so nice.

Despite our differences, my parents are so supportive. One of my sisters is having some serious problems with her in-laws, and it has made me realize how important it is to have loyal parents. Not everyone has that advantage.

And despite the enormous headache it is, I have the opportunity to be back in school to pursue a dream I didn't realize I had until a few months ago. I am SO TIRED. But after this semester, I only have 2 left, then it's on to my internship. There will be a summer in there for some rest, and I think that will help a lot.

After feeling down for the past couple of months, I just don't feel like I have the right to continue to feel bad about my life. I may not be sure where I am going, but I certainly have the tools to succeed wherever I end up!

Better

Not all the way of course, but I'm feeling much better. I had a good, long talk with my counselor today and we are working on a few things to get me in the healthy mindset I need to be with relationships. Somehow, some way, I will be able to fill that void I feel, and I will fill it myself. Right now, it seems like a daunting task, but I trust that I will be able to do it. I've come a long way.

Spring break is approaching and I am so excited! I am glad that I will be spending time with my good pal, instead of the boyfriend. It's just too soon for that, but we were thinking about going on a trip...I will have to save that for another time.

On a lighter note, I was able to work in RICHARD SIMMONS and CHUCK NORRIS into a speech I did today. Boy, am I good at public speaking! I hope your day is half as good as his, because you know no one is quite as happy as Richard Simmons.

Lonely

Don't you hate it when you realize that something is bothering you...after it has been for a long time? That's how I've been feeling for the past few days.

After my sister's mental breakdown over a year ago, I sought counseling since the circumstances were difficult for me to deal with. The counselor I saw was awesome, and helped me a lot. I guess I thought it was all I needed, and the effects of the situation were over, but I was wrong.

The thing is, I completely lost my best friend. That one person that I could tell anything to, and would feel zero judgment. The one that was always there. Since this whole ordeal, this void has slowly been effecting my relationships with others; I am constanly seeking a replacement and placing people in a position where they don't belong. I had expected everything to get back to normal, but this will effect our relationship for the rest of our lives. The medication she needs to maintain a normal life keeps her emotionally distant, and emotions in general are difficult to express. The vibrance she used to show is quelled, and I understand it is for the best since her lows were just as, or even more extreme.

Now that I udnerstand this, it's hard to figure out where to go next. I am in the process of re-evaluating many of my friendships and a romantic relationship that began a few months ago. You have to begin somewhere, right? Wish me luck. Hopefully I won't cry so much tomorrow. (It doesn't help that I'm PMSing rigt now either!)

I know this is a generally sad post, but I felt a need to get things out. I'm okay, believe me. Just a little stressed and emotional...sounds like a busy student! :p

Advice...

I'm going to So. Cal. with one of my good friends for spring break. She's never been to Cali, and I was wondering what you would reccommend we see. We don't have many days there, so I'm just trying to get her the highlights. I was thinking Venice beach, Pacific beach, definitely a drive up/down the coast on Highway 1. She wants to see the sunset strip, but that's the only request. Since this his her first trip, I want to make sure it's awesome...so friends...help me out and give me suggestions! What's your favorite thing to do in So. Cal.?

I'd put a visit to "The Price is Right", but I don't care for Drew Carey and his Republican, gun toting views. I wish Bob Barker would still be there, so I could try and make out with an old man. :P

Once upon a time...

...I wrote a blog and it was fun. Life has been hectic, and I am full of excuses.

A lot has been happening lately, including the start of a new semester, and it seems harder and harder to acclimatize, especially in the winter. Here in the heartland, we have experienced the hardest winter just about ever. It started early, and is still in full swing with sub-zero temperatures and tons of snow. At least the sun came out today. I thought I just might die on Monday, it had been so long since I had seen sunshine. I have also had to really adjust my attitude since it was getting me down. It's time to look on the bright side of life!

So here are some things that make me smile/get excited:

My roommate's note on our electric bill (in red sharpie marker): I HATE XCEL ENERGY AND ALL OF THEIR REPUBLICAN FREINDS!!

Eating Valentine's Day truffles

Receiving Valentines vial snail mail from pals

Eating Taco Bell

Pancakes with peanut butter AND maple syrup on top (if you haven't tried this, then you're missing out. It's absolutely sinful)

Jim Gaffigan and his musings on Bacon and Hot Pockets

These are just a few. More to come! I hope everyone is having a sunshine day! :D

2007 in review

nIt's been a big year. I've decided to highlight it since I have time and am on vacation, this time will be something of a mystery very soon, and I'm not sure when I will have more. Maybe the next holiday.

First, the year started with a big move. I decided to go back to school after some career changes gone wrong, plus an incredibly telling and fruitful trip to San Francisco visiting a pal of mine...happening to get his PHD in psychology. We had many walks up and down those San Francisco hills, and I feel as though I finally came into my own during that time. What a great trip. I need to go back again soon and visit the Marina, Haight-Ashbury, and various other districts of the city soon.

I moved in with my parents shortly before 2007 started. I drove halfway across the country with my best friend and sister, who, soon after, was found to be mentally ill. She had many symptoms when we were together, but it seemed to be just stress. I spent much of the beginning of the year dealing with the fact that my sister was bi-polar, and it had nothing to do with me leaving her. It was a tough time for the entire family.

I rang in the new year with an old acquaintence from high school. At first it was a little ackward, but we had a good time. Once he realized nothing was going to happen, everything turned out fine. ;)

The rest of January was spent finding work in my old hometown, and finalizing all of my school plans. There was a lot of paperwork to do, and I am thankful I had the time to dedicate to it. I was also quite ill at the time with a terrible flu, and it was nice to have mom take care of me for the first time in many years.

After getting in touch with many old pals, I really connected with one from my high school show choir. She was wanting to start a band, and needed a bass player. I decided I wanted to re-learn what I had learned and commit to the band. I had a bunch of instant friends from this project, and it helped keep me busy socially. This was really great to have.

I found a waitressing job at a local restaurant, along with working at the University's rec center to teach Cycle classes, along with aerobics. My boss was very helpful in getting me started, especially with aerobics since I didn't have a lot of training. She has turned out to be a mentor of mine and a person that I look up to a lot. I have the highest respect for her, and would not mind if my life turned out similar to hers someday.

The band, work, and school kept on trucking. I picked up the bass quite well again and was able to progress with my bandmates. We were excited and were able to get a lot of press since we were an all female group. Things were looking great there. At work waitressing, I was soon promoted to be a manager, which was okay. I was starting to get pretty excited my other job teaching fitness classes at the university, so the waitressing thing was losing its steam. I started getting certified in more specific classes, to include Cycle, Pilates, and Zumba. My new mentor taught me, and participated in all the classes.

Life at home was difficult and weird for me. I essentially had moved away from home at 18, and other than a couple of summers, had been away from my parents. They were not happy with the choices I had made as an adult, and I was not sure how to act around them. My sister's issues with bi-polar disorder, although painful and difficult to go through, helped us discuss our issues with each other and get everything in the open. Even though we still have difficulties, as all families do, we are in a much better place than we were before. In fact, our relationship has never been better. In the early summer, I moved out to my own place, with a couple of roommates, and it has been a positive change. I am able to have more social time, with friends and my parents, and it is working out fantastically so far. During the semester, I eat lunch with my mother every day, and we are getting along better than we ever have been. We still have our struggles, but overall, it's fantastic.

The band kept on trucking through the spring, although we ran into one pretty major snag. It seems that drama within musical groups is inevitable, and our group was no exception. The lead singer's husband was having an affair with our drummer, so we made the executive decision to find a new percussionist for our group. This was a big strain on all of us, since at least from my perspective, were pretty starstruck with our success that we had up to that point. It felt like we had to halt all progress. Another part of this was that I felt that I was obligated to make a stand morally in this situation. I let our old drummer know that I was no longer interested in any sort of friendship with her. The things that she did made her a disloyal and untrustworthy person in my eyes. Even though the marriage between the other friends was splitting, and it had to do with more than just the affair, I felt right about my decision. I still do.

Work started to change too. I started getting more jobs in the fitness field and felt that the restaurant industry was beginning to hold me back. So by the end of June, I was solely working in my desired field and had quit my other position. This was a difficult decision to make since I didn't have enough work to cover expenses, but I knew I could make things work, and I did. I am proud that I was able to make it work and worked hard, especially through the local YMCA to make things better for my life.

In the spring, I re-connected with an acquaintence from high school and we began to date. We were caught up with excitement for each other and made some pretty rash decisions. It did not work out, and he lied to me about his intentions for several months, dragging out the entire relationship through the summer. This was one of the most disappointing aspects of the year, but helped me realize some things about myself. I have had a lot of struggles with relationships in the past, due to several reasons. My tendencies for latching on to something, anything that will come along is quite strong, and this experience helped me recognize it and tackle it head-on. The fact that I was raised to be a wife, coulpled with some other very terrifying experiences in my adulthood altered my sense of reality in relationships. It will be a constant struggle to overcome my past in some ways, but this year, I was able to learn a lot about myself and how I react to relationships, especially romantic ones. In the fall, I ended up meeting someone that I feel is spectacular, but we have given ourselves the time and patience to develop a relationship over time. I do not know what will happen, but what I do know is I feel like we are doing things right....and that is a great start.

My work started to pick up speed in the fall. I had taken the plunge on a latin dance aerobics certification (Zumba) and it really started to pay off. I also started establishing myself as a depndable instructor in the community, and was getting enough work to support myself easily. I was teaching at 5 different sites around the city, and even working through the Sherriff's department teaching inmates at the county jail. I have been able to learn a lot from this community, and am happy to say that they are my favorite population to instruct. One snag happened there, though. My kickboxing class was so effective, they had me discontinue it. It seems as though I teach such a great kickboxing aerobics class that the staff at the jail was scared the inmates were developing skills that were too violent. So I have had to re-design the program. I guess I have to chalk it up to learning experience!

School both semesters were successful. I have qualified for the Dean's list both semesters, and plan to continue the tradition. Intially, I thought I would like to pursue a degree in Community Health Education, but I have since changed my major to Exercise and Sport Science, with a Strength and Conditioning emphasis. I still have to be accepted to the program, and will be applying in the spring. I hope that my good grades, even though not 4.0, will help, along with my extensive experience. This will be a telling semester, as my financial aid depends on my acceptance. One of the biggest struggles of the fall was dealing with the financial aid office, appealing different aspects of my academic and fiscal life. I am still unsure of my future, and not sure if I will stay at the institution at which I'm currently studying. I will know more in a few months.

The band found a new drummer, albeit male. He is much better than his predesesor, so that is definitely a positive aspect. We have been successful on our own with him and have been working hard to make good music despite our changes. It has been a hard road, and I will not say it has been without difficulty. I have found that it is especially hard to work with individuals and their egoes, especially in a creative setting. Most of the time, people have different goals and objectives while working in crative groups, and at times, it is difficult to come to an agreement. Sometimes people don't understand each other, or they might be suffering from paranoia from other relationships. All in all, I hope to never be surprised with other issues with creative partners. It will always happen, and I find that with honesty, things will always work out.

With my studies, I found myself intrigued with Buddhism, and it connects with many aspects of what happened through this tumultuous year. It helped me re-connect with my spirituality in a way that is less abstract than other paths I have found. I feel that I do not, and never will align myself with a specific religion, but if I had to pick one that helps define to others how I feel, this is the closest thing that I've got. Between Buddhism and Altruism, I feel I have found where I belong.

2007 has been a year of changes. I feel the changes will continue. I find myself on vacation, in a place that I practically ran away from, feeling right at home. The things that will happen to me in 2008 are still a mystery, but the one thing I do know is that I've never been happier. And that happiness is bound to continue, because it always has.

I hope that the few of you that read this blog, whoever you are, have had as good a year as I have just had. I also hope that your life continues to be as lively, surprising, and vivacious as mine, because I know that it is what has made me so happy. I know life is so hard sometimes. I am constantly surprised with life and the twists and turns it brings, because even though some of those twists become challenges, they always make my life better.

I wish you the best year of your lives. 2008 will be even more amazing than the year before it!

Some Lyrics

(Title) Twos

I find myself thinking
always I'm in twos
I don't konw, because
I'm always alone, alone

My mind always
works in twos
No matter how surprised
I am , I'm always
thinking in twos

My mind always
works in twos
No matter how surprised
I am, I'm always
thinking in twos.

You are always...
there, ever there
hey constant enemy
stop spending time with me...

My mind always
works in twos
No matter how surprised
I am, I'm always
thinking in twos.

I never admit that
I need you, I need you
Too strong, strong
Too wise for that...

My mind always
works in twos
No matter how surprised
I am, I'm always
thinking in twos.


(Title) Goatee

I played swords
thought it would get me
somewhere
I got somewhere somewhere,

Lessons on sucess
success will get you
everywhere
not just somewhere,
where you want to be.

My elders, my superiors
they think I will end up
somewhere
but they find I end up
everywhere, 'cuz

Lessons on success
success will get you
everywhere
not just somewhere,
where you want to be.

Success is what
you want it to be.
My success,
Yeah my success,
is everywhere.

Lessons on success
success will get you
everywhere
not just somewhere,
where you want to be.

*Bridge*
I want to be
everywhere
I'm everything
Because I take every....

Lessons on success
Success will get you
everywhere
not just somewhere,
where you want to be.

A dedication

I have always been a fan of James Bond movies. As I was searching through the television today, Dr. No was on so I stopped. I appreciate classic movies more and more the older I get. It makes me think about how realistic body shapes were back then. Check out Ursula Andress in her famous beach scene:

Yes, she's got a rockin' bod, but one that is attainable if you work hard. It looks healthy too, and she still has a very womanly shape...none of this anorexic crap we're inundated with these days.

So yes, I know that James Bond films were and still are cheesy, but I appreciate the realistic aspects...and strive to look like Ms. Andress in a bikini!

A great goal for me has everything to do with my big x-mas present this year: a trip to the lovely Puerto Rico in April! I think with some hard work, I can look like that on the Puerto Rican beaches. I'm going with one of my good friends and just can't wait!

Procrastination at its best

Here I am at 12:30am watching Craig Ferguson during finals week. Drinking wine. Doing lame searches on random subjects, aside from the searches I'm supposed to be doing about the paper I'm trying to write for Friday...but I guess the wine helps me not care so much about the Chinese revolution of 1927, and care about this man much more:



He makes this face a lot, and even without wine, this makes me laugh for ages. After his monologue, he sits at his desk and pretends to get down to business. But all he does is play with the sounds he has set up at his desk area. Scream! Whip! Ridiculous!

While searching for images, I found this one included below, and felt it appropriate for me to include because I think it looks incredibly delicious. What a delicious man.



His smashing good looks aside, what really gets me is is sense of humor. This guy is seriously hilarious, and his accent doesn't hurt. I melt when someone makes me laugh. I think the two people that read this know that already, though! ;)

On to studying...or falling asleep, whichever comes first.

There are so many things running through my head, I can't wait for the break to get some of it out. Naturally, some of it will be on here, but I think there will be some lyrics in there too. I hope that the poetess in me will come out this holiday. Maybe someday I'll be courageous enough to share on here. That sounds like a New Year's resolution if I've ever heard one!

My mother is hilarious

So I'm an anatomy nerd, especially with muscles. I could stare at the cadavers all day and name every muscle I could see. Scary, I know.

I was teaching a fitness class the other day and noticed that my pectoralis major muscles are getting pretty defined, especially at their insertion point (Geeky anatomy terminology). I was showing this to my mother, and we started talking about muscles, then all of a sudden, it was a discussion about breast implants. After I assured her of my stance on that (I'm totally against it--for me anyway) she said,

"Well I don't know why anyone would want them in the first place. Who wants to walk around like a pigeon all day?"

Remember my mother is foreign, so pigeon is pronounced pee-john. Hilarioius.

Post? What's that?

I've been crazy busy. And if I have a free second, I avoid getting on the computer because then, all my free seconds will be squandered away...wasting time on myspace and searching people.com. Yes, I'm that horribly boring in real life, no matter how I try to convince myself and others otherwise. Forget it, I'll just accept it and keep up with Dancing with the Stars. It's great this year! :p

A sigh of relief.

Mid-terms are over for me and I wasn't sure if I would make it through in one piece. I got one test back today and did pretty well on it, so cross your fingers for me...let's hope they all turn out that way! I think I just might be getting in the swing of things for the semester. Too bad it's half over already!

It was funny that today in my anatomy lab (the class that is kicking my butt harder than it's ever been kicked in my short history) we only received eight muscles to memorize. There is a lot to memorize for each, but the fact that we only have eight...that seems so easy compared to previous units. Oh the joys of perspective!

I've been having some serious issues with financial aid, and am now in a position where I need to decide how worth it school will be. My first semester back, I was able to get a lot of grants, but no dice for the rest of my undergrad, as far as I know. It's back to the financial aid office to see what else I can do, before I start incurring huge amounts of debt. I guess they're not too huge, but it's still more than I had ever expected. As an independent adult student, I was told that there was a lot of help out there...I guess a lot of that information was wrong. :( Wish me luck with all those dollar signs.

I've kept this site fairly anonymous, but I'm too excited to not post the link to my band's website...we just recorded our original songs and I thought some of you might want to give them a listen. I'm proud of every one of them, as we try to write songs as a group, so I have creative input for every one. I also wrote the lyrics for 'Fight' and 'Sometimes' so I'm especially proud of those two. Let me know what you think! :) Oh yeah, and they were recorded in a friend's basement...so don't expect studio quality sound. ;)

www.myspace.com/gingerpresley

Yeah, I'm dropping the ball!

Trying to do a grant proposal at mid-term time is not a good idea. Because you don't have time to do it. Think about that the next time you agree to do a research project....

Oh and a random rant. If you purchase a truck or SUV, please learn how to parallel park it first. Then, people like me with their two-door Hondas won't make fun of you so much when you perform your Twenty-point parallel park...BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE YOU'RE DRIVING. Thanks.