"Float On" - Modest Mouse

Yep, floatin' on to the next part of life.  Movin' on.  I've packed up almost my entire dorm room.  Yay!  I'll be so glad to get out of there.  Going home and hopefully landing a job and getting a car.  3 exams stand in the way of me enjoying a summer.  Well, actually 3 exams and 3 weeks of student teaching in a 6th grade class.  It will be a pleasant challenge.  Another "floating on" event is alumnae inductions tonight.  Oh boy... I expect lots of tears and nothing less.  I'll be saying, "Adios," to my Big sister and 6 others.
I'm so ready to move on; Gah! I can't wait!!

According to me, my second year of college is done.

Life is precious.

Cherish every moment you're given.  I know that sounds typical, and people may say it often.  But think about that statement.  Life can be taken away from you at any moment.  Last night at 8pm a friend of mine had a baby.  She was expecting a girl; they had everything set up and ready.  She went into labor early and had a baby boy.  His lungs and kidneys weren't fully developed, and he went to Heaven at 10pm the same night.  I saw a photo of that precious child and almost cried.  His parents and grandparents wanted him so badly.  2 hours was all that child was given on Earth.  I've been blessed with 2 decades.  I'm guilty of being a grumpy gills and a Debbie downer, but I wholeheartedly believe it's time for a change.  So often we sweat the small things in life.  I find myself mad at the simplest issues, instead of letting them go and moving on.  It's not an overnight change; it takes a conscious effort, and I can honestly say I'm getting better.

According to me, no one should take life for granted.

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to work I go!

Just kidding!  I love my job, and I do it well.  However, I get so bored sitting at the desk for two hours (sometimes four hours) at a time.  There are no residents stopping by, no drunk people, no problems, which is a good thing.  I'd like some excitement or something more to do.  I usually do my homework, but I have no homework to do.  So this is what I did...

And this...

 And this...

I have so much fun having mini photo shoots at work! :)

It's okay to be jealous of my awesome job at school.  I will miss this next year, to an extent.  I'll be the boss of people like me now. Oh yeah!  I get to come back later today and sit here some more... joy.  Tomorrow night I get to sit somewhere else.  Why do I end up with the late shifts?

According to me, money is worth boredom.

"Not looking back, not forgetting where I've been..." - Jason Aldean

But what a feeling chasing the sun, living my life like it shot from a gun, laughing a little bit more with every mile.  Oh what a freedom racing the wind, dying to know what's around the next bend, smiling as I watch the years roll by.  I'm learning how to take it day by day on my highway.

Those lyrics speak some truth.  I spend a second too much fretting the smaller things in life and not enjoying the drive.  I've made my mistakes and will make many more, but I'm done looking back.  Though I won't forget where I've been, I'm never going back.  I've learned my lessons.

Today was a not so good day at first.  The usual people problems and awkward situations, but once I left the area and started getting stuff done that I needed to, it got better.  I took many deep breaths of semi-fresh air and got on with my life.  I'm not one to repay bad slash stupid with more bad slash stupid, but I can.  This girl is real.  I'm standing up for myself nowadays.  I've got a list of things to do and a time frame to do it all; don't get in my way.  Now, I don't mean for that to sound negative; it's just a fact.  I know what I need to do to take care of myself, and I do not appreciate people trying to mess with me... not cool.  And if someone does try to pull one over on me and lie about it, oh, that's really bad news for them.  Two can play those games, sugadoll.  But anyways, so after the dipwads were taken care of, I went to class and taught a lesson.  However, there were a few peers who didn't want to do my lesson.  Tough poop!  It's my lesson and you need to do it.  I did yours just fine.  Give me some respect here people!  They get shocked when I fuss, but I have every right to.  I'm not always some nice, sweet, and quiet pushover.  Luckily, I survived that lesson even if it didn't turn out quite right.  So my next battle was to present my grammar card game.  Exterminate the Grammar Bugs!  Exciting, huh?  We wanted to present second, but turns out we had to draw numbers to find out when we presented.  We got fourth.  Not too shabby, but we had some good competition.  One group went to the campus printing services and had an actual game board -- very impresive and expensive.  I was still proud of us, and at least we got it over with today. That's one huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.  Now on to the next events -- ceremony practice and a "special meeting".  I've been waiting for this meeting for a while...

Oh, and an update on the printer: it worked this morning after being unplugged all night and a couple of tries this morning.  I do not understand that machine.

According to me, grab life by the horns and wrestle it until you just can't anymore.

My Printer

My printer is controlled by the Devil.  I swear every time I've needed to use it in the past few months it has not wanted to turn on right away.  I've only owned it for two years, too!  Talk about annoying!  It will almost turn on and then beep beep! it turns off.  It's one of the most aggravating noises, too.  I have waited over five minutes now for it to turn on so I can print out a letter to my Big.  It looks like that isn't happening anytime soon.  The Devil's toy is now turned off for the night.  Maybe tomorrow it'll have some mercy on my poor soul...
     Signed, one upset college student

According to me, technology is bound to fail at some point.

Happy Easter!

Jesus has risen and the Easter bunny has delivered his goodies!  What a glorious day-- candy and salvation!  Congratulations to all of you who participated in lent; you did it!  It's also the perfect weather for once.  I get to wear my yellow rose sun dress!  It has rained every Easter for the past few years but not this year!  I woke up this morning to a basket of peeps, reese's eggs, sweet tarts, chocolate eggs, and of course, a chocolate bunny. :)  I am one happy camper.  I've also had a productive morning because I've done all of my homework until I meet up with my partners later today to perfect our presentation.

Later that same Easter Sunday...

So I now have lovely pink shoulders from riding in the convertible with my Dad to go look at some cars.  No luck on the car hunting, yet.  I also have melted Reese's eggs.  However on a happier note, I have 2 more weeks of living on campus until I can go home for 3 months.  Praise God!  My partners and I had a lovely time working on our presentation; we're pretty much going to wing most of it, but that's okay.  I have faith in us, and we should do fine.  I'm still praying for an A.  I also teach a lesson in Kinesiology tomorrow.  I'm preparing myself to teach about the movement of atoms and molecules in solids, liquids, and gases... exciting, huh?  It's been a long day, weekend, semester, year, etc.  Next semester is looking better and better as the days go by.  This Easter chick is super tired!

According to me, Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  I am hardly ever upset, unlike on my birthday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.  Odd...

May be surrounded by a million people, I still feel all alone." - Blake Shelton

I want to go home.

Home is where the heart is.

"Home is wherever I'm with you." - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Though I may not be with my love all the time, I'm at home when I'm surrounded by those who love me.  There's just something good about being able to come home and be at peace.  Even if I have a ton of work to do, I can still relax and forget the mess in the world (to an extent). 

Today I was able to see my uncle, aunts, and cousins I haven't seen in months!  We met up at a nice park, rode some paddle boats, threw a football around, and shared many laughs.  It had to have been one of the best days I've had in a while.  At first I was hesitant to go to a park - sounds boring.  But when my family was all there, time flew because we were having so much fun.  My cousins made me promise to drive down and see them this summer.  I'm already planning that long 9 hour trip!  I really am blessed to have such great family even if I don't get to see them often.  Distance doesn't matter when it comes to love and family.  They're still there for you, love you and miss you even when we're separated for months at a time.  That statement stands true for boyfriends, too.  Although you both may be oceans apart, you're still connected and there for each other.  Distance (may) make the heart grow fonder...  I'm able to find peace by knowing that.

According to me, distance is good.