Day Eleven:

Studying. 

Tomorrow marks my first college exam. I know that I should be studying..and I really need to, so I'm going to keep this short. I've always been quite the procrastinator (as I find just about everyone is) and am seriously struggling with that now. 

It's 1:30 AM and I need to work on these darn notecards. Fortunately, I don't have class til 12:30...but I do have to participate in a psychological research thing, so that'll have me from 10:00-10:30. ...why did I choose an exam day to do that..? The whole time, I know I'm going to be thinking about my exam. Dang. 

Well, off to the notecards for me. 

Also, today (Sept. 19th) is my mama's birthday! I made her a video. Feel free to check it out! 

(P.S. the vocals aren't the best ever..so don't hate.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM4T6Nwk30o&feature=plcp

Day Ten:

Papers. 

I love to write. Obviously, I've been doing this blog, which is great, but it's not the kind of articulated writing I truly enjoy. I love writing poetry and I love writing essays. I was SO excited for college because I was under the impression (because everyone and their mother told me) that all college is is writing papers. 

Most people grumble over that idea, but I embraced it. My senior year, I had a free hour every day. I could have been a TA or done something else, but I decided to make my own class just so that I could write papers. Call me crazy, but I love it. 

My view on writing is this: It's like a puzzle, you pick out what pieces you want, and then you get to rearrange it so it fits together perfectly. This applies to all kinds of writing...music, poetry, essay, etc. I just love it. 

Anyway, since I've been at MoWest, I haven't had ONE paper assigned! This is my fourth week here! BUT FINALLY, my Women's Chorus teacher assigned us a paper..kind of. 

We are singing a piece about perspective in time and aging. He wants a response/relational story to the song. He said we could just write it out and it just needs to be half a page long...BUT he said that we could type it if we want (....ohhh mann!) and it could be longer than a half page! OH MY LANTA. I AM SO EXCITED.

I just can't wait. :)

Day Nine:

Space.

The very first day I was here, I was scared out of my mind...for many reasons. One being that I hadn't realized how tiny my room was. I was planning on bringing a futon, but I soon found out that space is limited here. At first, I felt like there was no hope. I felt like this place was smaller than a jail cell and just going to be horrible. Three room rearrangements later, and I am so happy with my space! I think I've made the most of this space. 

I have a bed, a dresser, a big comfy chair, a desk, a refrigerator, a bookshelf thing, and a tv in here. AND IT ALL FITS. My lovely friends, Kayla and Sha'Rron, helped me move everything around last night at about 11:30. Haha. They are great. 

I've also cleaned my room, organized everything, and finally have settled in. It feels good. 

I think I'm at a point, now, where i could fit two air mattresses on the floor (a twin and a full)! Now that's what you call maximum floor space! BAM!

Ha. Well, that's pretty much the most exciting thing in my life right now...which I'm totally okay with. 

Like I tell my friends all the time, if you can't get excited about the little things in life, what can you get excited about? :)

P.S.

Mama - I taped your nickel on my fridge. I think of you every day!

Day Eight: 

Sick. 

I've heard that what goes around comes around, but before I lived in a dorm, I never understood it fully. I have witnessed a horrible cold float from hall to floor to wing of this building. Unfortunately, I've become a victim. For the last five days or so, I've been dealing with a cold - stuffy/runny nose, coughing, fatigue, off and on fever, and achy-ness. Basically, an overall feeling of bleh. 

I was told that one of the hardest parts of your first year away from home is being sick for the first time. Mom's not here to bring me food or check in on me. ...I'm all alone...there's no one here besiiiiiiiiiddee me... (Ahem...Shrek reference). Anyway, it's been weird being on my own and sick. I skipped a math class because I had my head over the toilet. And the weirdest thing happened.. My teacher didn't email me telling me what we covered or even that she was praying for me and hoped I'd get better! WHAT?! I don't even know if she realized I wasn't in class. Anyway, missing that class is kind of kicking my butt right now as far as homework goes..so that's great. 

On another note, I'm all out of sunny d. And that is a very bad thing. 

And on my last note, I'm joining the Black Student Union! :) 

so soft. :)

Day Seven:

Laptops. 

I was under the strong impression that everyone uses laptops everywhere in college. This idea was due to the scene in Legally Blonde when Elle goes to class and she's the only one without a laptop. 

When I got my mac, (thank you mom and dad!!!) I was expecting for my classrooms to hold the same atmosphere as in Legally Blonde. Holy dang was I off.. 

We don't do any computer-work in my math class. Electronics aren't allowed in either of my English classes. We don't need computers in my Vocal Chorus class, and laptops are optional in my Psych class. I think one person uses a laptop in that class. 

Such a disappointment! Fortunately, I am literate. So, I can write. That's a major plus in these classes and I've been going through paper like it's nobody's business. :) 

Hey hey!

Day Six:

Home. 

I am a proud aunt of 3 (soon to be 4) beautiful nieces. Being an aunt is my favorite part of life. As I always tell people, being an aunt is great because you get all the perks of having a kid without the responsibilities. Yay! 

My first blessing of a niece was Annalise, my brother's daughter. She's four years old and has quite the personality. She's a blast to be with and I love hanging out with her. Her mama, my sister-in-law, is expecting another little girl and we are SO excited. The more pink the better. :) 

My other two beautiful nieces are Kate and Grace. They're twins and came forth via my sister, Sara. SO cute! I love them lots. Sara, Austin, Kate, and Grace live in Chicago and about every month and a half or so, I get to see them. :) I love spending time with them and I soak up every chance I get to see them. 

Sara and the girls are in KC this week! This is so great and I'm so happy that they're close. The plan was for me to see them Friday and then go home to spend the weekend with them. Well, I was talking to my mum on the phone today and I just hated that I was so close (45 minute drive) but I wasn't taking advantage of it. So, right now, I'm in my house and I have been soaking in all the baby time I can get. :) 

Fortunately, I have late classes on Tuesday/Thursdays (see blog: 12:30) so I can stay here tonight and drive up in the morning with no problem! 

Also, I love the free food. Definitely a plus. 

The real babies are sleeping, so this was the closest thing I had.

...it's Annalise's. 

Day Five:

Homework. 

It has officially started. Homework. We're past the fluffy syllabi and introductions. This is real college now. I think I spent two and a half hours on my first math assignment, bearing lots of question marks, crossed out equations, and "I don't know how to set this up"s. Frustrating. Homework in college isn't a joke...unfortunately. 

I've also started embarking on my English homework, which I don't mind at all. I've enjoyed the book and poems we've been reading and analyzing and it's been a breeze. The only problem I've had thus far is a confusion about my latest assignment. It's too late to email my teacher, so I have a choice: wing it or don't do it. Of course, I'm going to do it...but it's frustrating. 

A great resource I've been able to use is our hall's study lounge, which is just an isolated room with a table, chairs, and a window, that is available to any students in our hall at any time, day or night. I used it today for the first time, and it was wonderful. I turned the air down and put my math stuff all over the table. It was a great space to be able to use and just get away from the cramped-ness of my room and little desk. 

Yay college.