Random but funny apparel

If I were wealthy I would by these shirts.

Reunited and it feels so good!

Riley got to see his big(er) brother Dalton last weekend and they were both ecstatic!

Ahhh nostalgia

Target is absolutely amazing.  I could live there.  Anyway, they currently are selling lunch trays.  I bought a pink one.

 

That's a meatless chicken patty I'm about to enjoy, by the way.  They are actually pretty good.

This brought me right back to elementary school.  Ironically my homework for that night brought me right back there as well.  I had to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.  When's the last time you had to do that.  I never ever expected I would have to do that kind of math in college.  I wasn't good at math in elementary school and I am not that much better now.  Uhg and we had a quiz over it on Friday.  I couldn't believe it.  But it was more annoying than difficult I do admit.  It made me really think how great elementary school is.  I wish I could have appreciated it more when I was there.  Savored recess, the fun activities that tricked you into learning, music class, gym, art.  Elementary school was the shit.  

Brrrrrr

So, I realize that I am currently living in Mankato Minnesota and it's the middle of winter.  I also realize that winter equals cold.  I am not one to usually complain about it being cold because duh! it's winter and it gets cold.  However, I was unprepared for the shock of yesterday's chill factor.  I don't think I have ever been so cold in my whole entire life.  Really.  I had about a 4 min walk from the orange lot to the Taylor center.  I literally almost started crying as soon as I stepped inside the door.  I'm talking knives piercing body cold.  My ears hurt so so so bad and I'm pretty sure my face fell off 50 yards behind.  I may as well have not worn gloves.  The wind was absolutely ridiculous.  Granted I didn't wear a hat.  I almost grabbed one too and was pissed.  Anyway,  I like having four seasons.  I appreciate the different seasons when they come.  But, I absolutely hate these frigid Jan. and Feb. days.  I heard a ridiculous rumor that this weekend it will get to be like 30-40 below with windchill.  Even though I like having four seasons I wouldn't mind living in a more milder climate where winter is tolerable.  I'm thinking New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Southern California, or Florida.  I may just possibly contemplate one of those destinations after graduation.

P.S. I Love You

I very much enjoyed this film!

It was touching.  And rarely rarely does this ever happen but I much preferred the movie to the book.  Crazy I know.  I didn't cry through the entire thing like it was rumored most of the female audience does.  By the way, there were several men in the audience.  We concluded they were all getting laid afterward.  I would never force my boyfriend to see that movie, but it would say a lot about our relationship if he decided to see it.  I think the title sort of scares guys away, and I'm sure after reading the synopsis they would have decided it was cheesy as all hell.  But it was done well I think.  It dealt with a sensitive subject.  It seemed real to me.  It shows the desperate feeling of being alone when your "soulmate" for lack of a better term, is gone and how to find the hope and faith that you'll be ok and maybe love again.  That sounds really cheesy I know.  Ultimately it's probably a girl movie...but I would love to know a guy who saw it and thought it wasn't silly or foolish.

p.s. the soundtrack is really good...

I have homework...before the term starts?

You know what blows?  People studying abroad in foreign countries and me reading their blogs and feeling like I was there then realizing I'm in Mankato Minnesota with legitimate homework and the semester hasn't even started yet.  

HA! I'm just kidding.  I'm not that bitter and jealous.  Your blogs are a treat and will serve as a wonderful study break throughout the semester.  But back here I really do have homework, BUT it's, um...REAL homework?  You know the kind that you will be applying to your job type homework!  This is it folks!  I am learning how to do things that I will be doing for the REST of my life!  I'm learning to do things that will bring me a decent income and immense satisfaction.  I am learning my CAREER!  Kinda scary, but exciting.  We had a meeting t

oday for the nursing program.  I was assigned homework and have three quizzes next Friday(mind you the semester doesn't start 'til Monday).  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and may be in over my head these first few weeks but I am confident it will sort itself out.  I spent 150 dollars on a stethoscope, scrubs, and a lab coat.  700 dollars on my books(and I can't sell them back as they "will be life long resources").  This is the only downside right now...the program is sort of costly.  Despite this homework assignment I will still find time this weekend to improve my guitar hero skills, see a movie, and maybe have a few drinks.  It may be my last weekend to do so for a very long time...

In other news, I watched 3:10 to Yuma yesterday and quite enjoyed it.  I found it to be kind of tense in that you didn't know who was gonna make it and how far they would get...I hate that.

This is my favorite quote...it's probably only funny if you've seen it...

Butterfield: Why the hell didn't you do somethin'?

Charlie Prince: They had a lot of weapons, Mister - and they were shootin' bullets.

I really like his outfit as well.  Even if he was a bad guy.

Back to School

Mostly it feels good to be back.  Sioux Falls provides for me a nice place where I can completely relax and recharge my batteries.  I love that Sioux Falls is not a typical "college town."  Yes Augie and USF are there but they don't dominate the population.  I don't worry about my appearance as much at home.  I don't worry about who might see me and who might not.  I like the fact that I don't drive around town desperately trying to see every driver and whether or not I recognize them.  I love being at school but at the same time there feels to be too much pressure.  I am literally surrounded by thousands of my peers.  Every which way I look there is someone around who is my age.  I can't help but feel we are all looking at each other and judging.  I know it's weird and probably just me.  It just feels like we're all in this competition.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel very much on display when coming back to school.  It's amazing the change I feel once I pull of 169 onto Riverfront.  Long gone is the relative anonymity of Sioux falls and in an instant this flash of self-consciousness races through my mind.  I push it to the back of my mind and remind myself that you don't have to change a thing.  However, it still sticks in the back of my mind and causes me to be much more aware of my surroundings.  When I'm walking to class or to my car I make sure I know 7 people in advance coming toward me.  No one takes me by surprise.  By doing this I can decide who warrants me making eye contact or just looking down and scurrying past.  Just once I would like to be able to walk down a hall and not notice anyone.  I am forever swiveling my head this way and that I see everyone who sees me.  I have this overwhelming need to please people.  I can't stand it when I think someone may be mad or annoyed with me.  At the same time though I have no problem stating how or what I feel if it's a legitimate defense.  Sometimes though I think back and feel that I may have overreacted.  It's really hard to just be yourself.  I try every day to just be me.  It's so hard though because I am easily swayed by my surroundings and the people around me.  I feel like a slightly different "me" in Mankato than in Sioux Falls.  I guess as long as I am not completely changing who I am it's ok.  Ultimately I think this feeling comes from going to a large school.  I see new people every day.  You don't know where you stand.  There is less familiarity or at least you have to work harder at becoming familiar. 

That may or may not be clear but I don't care I'm sick of writing about it.

Guitar Hero...a threat to safety.

Who knew guitar hero could cause the city of sioux falls mayhem.  Ok maybe not mayhem but at least summon a good portion of the cities finest policeman to be on the lookout for a bearded man in a white ford escort holding a young driver at gunpoint...Our story begins with me extending an invitation to A to come over to my house for some casual drinking and guitar hero playing.  A's sister drove A and her friend E who has a beard.  They made a pit stop at Hy-vee to get some tonic water and limes for the gin they already had.  Once reaching my house the drinks were made.  Of the 5 people at the house, only A and E consumed alcoholic beverages.  Some guitar hero was played and the trio was here for maybe 45 minutes when A's sister gets a call on her cell from a restricted number.  She thought it was a prank call.  It had something to do with how her license plate was called in for a threat to safety...anyway she didn't buy it and was freaked out and hung up.  2 seconds later my house phone rang and we all kinda freaked out.  I answered it and it is A's mom asking if A and A's sister were there.  I said yes and she said that there were cops at the door asking about the car and how there was a call from someone about a threat to safety.  As I handed the phone over to A's sister, I heard our front door open and footsteps from above.  A and E scrambled to hide their G&T's while A's sister and I headed up stairs.  As we reached the top, 4 cops are suddenly walking through my kitchen shinning their flashlights this way and that.  These 4 immediately headed downstairs.  I go to the door where my brother is standing letting in two more cops looking slightly bemused.  One headed into the kitchen and started interrogating A's sister.  G and I got cornered by a lady officer who calmly but seriously asked us questions.  I was asked if I was in the car, who all was here at my house, who the driver was, and how E was connected to A and A's sister.  Finally, after her questioning she explained that a call was put in to 911 about how a girl was forced into a white ford escort by a bearded man and held at gun point.  The reality of the situation is that E was in the passenger seat rocking out with his guitar hero guitar...

Great in 08

1.  Get back on previous eating regime...HEALTHY more fruits and vegetables and little or no meat.

2.  Get back in work-out mode.  "MAKE the CUT" (workout and diet) is a must for February and March.

3. Consume 64oz. of water every day. (how cool would that be to say for a whole year you for sure had 64oz. of water every day?!)

4.  Be more outgoing (give a simple "hi" to someone you pass in the hall...you have no idea how ridiculously difficult that is for me.) 

5.  Spend wisely.  (probably the most difficult).

6. Convince Dad to go to Florida over Spring Break (this one must be broached carefully but tackled asap! March is not far away)

7.  STUDY! STUDY! STUDY! (The nursing program is no joke and will probably kick my ass this first semester...for once I want to start the semester off with guns blazing and ace those first tests so I don't have to play catch up and bust my figurative balls all semester).

Looks like 2008 has the potential to be GREAT! starting tomorrow as I did not workout today, eat any fruits or vegetables, consume 64oz of water, spent foolishly and bought a wii, didn't bring up the subject of florida, and haven't looked through the Pharmacology book even though I said I would over break.  TOMORROW January 3rd begins GREAT IN 08!

WEEEEEE!!!

We bought a Wii!  Me and Garrett bought a Wii!  It will be here on Friday!  I am pretty excited!  If you can't tell!  

January 1st 2008

Well, it's that time of year.  The beginning.  I can't help but get caught up in all the hooplah about the new year being a time to "start new" or make resolutions, or think that this year "will be the year!"  The year for what I might add?  Well, that is just it.  It's exciting to think that this year "could be the year!"  It's fun to anticipate what we know will be happening or what we hope will happen.  A year is an awfully long time.  So much can happen to a person in one year.  People become different people in a year's time.  There is a generous amount of room in one year.  Half of it could be absolutely splendid while the other half can be downright miserable.  Most often when a tragedy of sorts strikes, the year becomes blemished as "a bad year."  Yes, a good chunk of 2007 was unkind to me and as much as I would like to say that 07 was simply awful I just can't.  I don't feel right tainting the whole year as bad.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not entirely sure a bad year can exist...for me anyway.  It's far too easy to focus on the negativity of a year.  We forget about all the good.  While the worst may of happened there was still plenty of good.  A good portion of 2007 was undoubtedly unkind, but the last day of 07 was one of the more fun nights of the entire year and certainly one of the top ten in my life.  This one night has to compete with many awful nights but just one night can make all the difference.  I didn't have a "bad year"-I had a less than ideal one.  In all honesty we're all gonna have one of those years.  Mine was just a bit harsh and much sooner than expected.  I am so very thankful for all the people who love and care about me.  You people have let me reflect back on 2007 with bittersweetness instead of complete bitterness.  I do hope though that 2008 can be looked back on with a little more sweetness.