What's New:

So, a lot (kind of) has been going on.

First, I chose to return as an RA next year for my third year. I'm excited but also a little nervous. I think it will take Spring Training to energize me. Right now I'm still focused on this year. Plus, I am still bummed about not getting ROTH. Not upset really...I just know I would've loved it there.

Second, my work out class is damaging me. I thought I had shin splints, but my boss's husband who is an AD at a highschool along with coach for softball and football sent me this thing about shin splints. And, while it is painful, some of the symptoms just are not present. I've never had shin splints before so I'm kind of out of the loop and clueless. I decided I'm going to rest. If it doesn't get better before Monday I will probably go see a doctor. Who knows...I certainly don't.

Third, school stinks! Classes are ridiculous. And, it's really difficult just due to teaching styles. 3 of the 4 professors I have utilize PowerPoint and that's pretty much all they do. 2 of those professors have quizzes over each chapter and you don't know when they'll be. So, you really have to keep up on the reading. I can not learn and absorb information strictly by reading and listening to a professor read directly from a powerpoint slide. I can't do it! I'm better off in Intermediate Accounting than any class because it requires me to only study before class, teach myself, and I take notes on everything. Writing is how I absorb information. I can't write notes for every class. It takes approximately 6 hours of studying for 8 to 10 pages in intermediate. Think of my management classes that have 30 page chapters!!! That would be 18 hours for one chapter! That will NEVER happen! But if it did, I would be phenomenal in all my classes!

Fourth, and this kind of goes along with the previous point...Time is a true struggle for me. To be able to perfectly balance school, RA job, residents, posting of signs, Josh, relationships with staff, meetings for Fall Training and NRHH, exercising, sleeping, eating, checking emails, etc seems impossible! Josh and I don't eat together on Tuesdays...this week was nearly impossible to eat together mainly due to my odd schedule with RA interviews...It was rough. And for some reason, that scheduled time to just sit, eat, and see his face seems to be a necessity because I got all off-kilter when we hadn't seen each other for 2 days! Ay yi yi....if I were a superhero, Time would be the villian! ha!

Fifth, next weekend in Valentine's Day Weekend. No plans. Maybe I'll ask for the gift of help to organize? Yeah, it's free and includes spending time together so it works for me!

Decision Time

So, I applied to transfer to ROTH (apartment/suite style living residence hall).

In the end, the budget was the reason I didn't get it. There was an RA in another hall that was going to apply for a position that was opening up called a Graduate Residence Education Coordinator. But with the budget getting cut and everything, those positions won't open next year. So, she applied for ROTH. There was only one spot open for a female RA.

Now, I have to decide if I am going to be an RA next year or not. The due date for my decision is February 6th. So, I will be making a lot of pros and cons list as well as figuring out single room options.

Beginning

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Spring 2009 Semester.

On my plate I have:
Organizational Management
Operations Management
Intermediate Accounting II
Accounting Information Systems
RA
Fall Workshop Committee
NRHH planning for Among the Stars
and life...

I'm ready. Kind of.

No, I am not organized. Yes, I am ready to become organized!

I am taking an exercise class twice a week for a total of 3 hours per week. The title is Total Body Conditioning. It consists of cardio-endurance, muscular strength, land & step aerobics, kickboxing, strength, and core stability. The actual 1st class is Wednesday. On Thursday you should ask how I am doing haha! I believe it will kick my butt. However, I hope that at the end of the semester I will be more in shape and it won't be kicking my butt anymore!

It has arrived

The time has come...

When I have to drive back to UNI...

I don't know when I'll be back...

I'm afraid it will be Spring Break...

I'm not going to Florida with my family over Spring Break. I will have the house all to myself. It's kind of scary and surprising at the same time. My parents really wanted me to go with them. However I know I will be having a lot of things going on with homework and I have a dentist appointment scheduled. Plus, there won't be anyone around my age there. So, while it's always fun just to go down to Florida, I don't think I would enjoy it to the fullest. Hence, I should probably be more productive and just stay here. Maybe then I can FINALLY get my car fixed! Oh goodness...

I'm off to do laundry before I leave...

Needed Advice

Ok, so I am home. I was planning on working but they never called and I kind of just want a break to rest!

Also, Christmas celebrations are beginning to get stressful! Why? What do I do? Here's what's going on...
1) Gonnerman celebration Wednesday night and Thursday in Des Moines
2) Mabrey celebration in Chicago with my family leaving Wednesday afternoon
3) Josh leaving to go to his grandparents' on Friday

I honestly don't want to miss either Gonnerman or Mabrey celebrations...
My plan to satisfy both would be to go to Josh's parents' on Wednesday night, call it an early night, and leave for Chicago on Thursday morning. I would also like to have someone accompany me in my drive (Josh) but it doesn't look like that is possible. If it was possible, then that would mean he would have to drive/ride in a car for a very long time. And I know he wouldn't be a fan of that. I just don't want to miss anything. I love Josh's family celebrations but haven't been to a Mabrey side Christmas for a long time. (Last year they held it during my finals week so I couldn't attend).

To make things worse, Josh's phone is dead and I can't ask him what he wants to do..........I just want a compromise.

Home.

I'm coming home tomorrow (technically today)! WOO HOO!

Finals are over. They were the worst finals I've had so far! And very very stressful! As of right now, I have a B+ and a B- and I have 2 more grades to come! Intermediate Accounting will most likely be my best grade! But wasn't it supposed to be the hardest class? Hmmm...I'm still pondering that one!

Thursday night (last night) Cedar Falls was dumped on. We got like at least a foot of snow! So, while I was on-call today, I went and shoveled out a bunch of cars including my own. I also climbed a mountain of snow and slid down it! It was a blast! I also checked out a bunch of people from the hall, ate a lasagna dinner with my staff, and other closing stuff!

I'm off to clean so I can then pack to GO HOME!!!!

Mumble Jumble...

So, it is officially 11 days until I come home for 2.5 weeks! WOO.

The only slight wrinkle in that time frame is finals...

They're only a slight wrinkle right? (Just say yes!) haha.

Yeah, I know, finals are going to be downright horrible this semester. I'm stressing out now. However, they could be worse. I have one final each day (Monday through Thursday). I could have multiple finals on any day. My only concern is that I am going to get worn down and I won't have the motivation to study at the end.

On another note, I need to come up with a better system to be organized. I am not succeeding right now. So, my plan is to get those black shelves that piece together. Then I can have an inbox for each class, RA stuff, committee stuff, NRHH stuff, and signs that need to be put up. And then maybe an URGENT to do box or something. That makes it 9 boxes....YIKES! haha.
I also think I am going to rearrange my room to make it work better. But I really like having my bed by the window. HMMM....

I have until Josh leaves for break to figure out what I want for Christmas. What happens when you don't have a wish list other than an external hard drive (and you've already given that wish to your parents). How do you come up with another needed item? I don't have room for another wanted item. I'm on a need-only basis right now. I could ask for a new purse, a new pair or jeans, a new pair of shoes? I don't know. A new sweater? An at home workout thing? Like a DVD I can put in and do in my room since I'm so well getting to the WRC. I just don't know. I wish I could ask for more hours in the day or someone to come clean! haha! But that is just a dream.

Moving on....

Lately, I thought I had all of next year planned out perfectly. Little did I know that my plans would stop dead in their tracks. My original plan was to run for VP of the Acct'g Club (and win). Then, when I got that position, most of my time would be taken by that so I wouldn't be able to be an RA. So, I would live at ROTH as a regular resident and be a desk assistant.
Well, I didn't get the VP position. So, now I do believe I am going to apply to be an RA out at ROTH. If I don't get that position, I will just live out there and hope to be a desk assistant. Maybe for one year I can just be a regular student. I don't know what will happen. All I know is that I really like ROTH and I want to be there. I've met some very cool people in my house this year and I want to flexibility of just being friends and not their RA. I love being an RA. If I don't continue to be an RA next year...I will most definitely be sad and a little lost at the end of the year. How do you go from being an RA for 2 years to just a resident? I guess I'll figure that out eventually.

On an almost ending note, Josh and I are doing really well. I still wish we had more time together. It's really difficult to balance everything and now with finals approaching it is going to be really hard for me. He's the pillow that you scream into when you don't know what else to do; similar to the one comfort food that you grab when you barely have time to think. But what do you do when that one person you lean on is in the same boat as you (the boat of stress from finals)? Do you just stand there and hug each other (because that's all I want to do right now)?

*SIGH*