I'm off to get myself some new glasses, hopefully really styling.
My roommate was up at like, 6am this morning and since I left my door open I heard her moving around. Not annoying, but surprising. All the times I've been up at that time since moving in and not a peep from her side of the apartment. She's an interesting person, that's for sure.
I've got another statistics test coming up, so I'll be studying to beat heck this weekend, especially so on Monday I can pretend like I know everything and help out my friend Tamara by studying with her on Monday evening.

OK, wow. Now what do I do?

Yay birthday:)!!
The plan is dinner tonight w/ my family and my friend Akiko, and tomorrow is Salsa dancing with friends. Yay fun times! I miss all you out there in Kansas today!

Currently Reading
The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism (Cabi Publishing)

Peace Corps application?
Submitted!!!!!!!!
(And I got an inverview with alt. breaks for the Panama trip!)

Currently Watching
Gilmore Girls - The Complete First Season
By Lauren Graham

Friday Afternoon Club...
I walked in the door, FAC hadn't even started yet, but people were milling around b/c a ceremony for induction of some leaders in apartment life into ILUHAC (or something) and not a minute after entering I run into James and Amy who both mention that I ought to come country dancing with them that night. Discussion ensues during which the other 2/3rds of the Trio (as James, Erik and Rob will now be called) show up and begin harrassing me to come as well. They finally get tired, I finally extract myself and Elliot shows up and convinces me to eat some of the leftover goodies. I get introduced to some more people unsuccessfully and head to my room, but not before Elliott invites me to the opera put on my CSU Music Dept. that night. To continue... FAC actually starts, I get free Subway for dinner and mill around once I've finally put my backpack in my room (maybe 45 minutes after arriving home). A little speech about Ramadan was very interesting, I tried a date and then started chatting with Onur (from Turkey). THEN! Marlies from my department shows up (she's from the Netherlands) which was great because she's so nice and actually my age. We all chat together about Turkish weddings (3 days long) and then I get invited out to some korean guy's birthday party by Marlies and Onur. I decline b/c really, all I wanted to do that night was watch 'Crash' after FAC being shown by another really nice gal, Veronica (El Salvador). The movie was great. You should see it if you have't already. Apparently McDonald's now rents movies for a buck and amazingly has movies such as Crash (where Veronica got hers). Then after the movie I was chatting with Veronica who introduced me to Nasr (Egypt) who introduced me to Tim. The night ended with Tim, Nasr, Amy and I going out for coffee at Alley Cat and playing chess till 1am when Nasr and Tim suggested going to Black Jack for an extra large pizza, which Amy and I declined and then I finally got to go to bed. All this and I've only been here 3 weeks.
So. I am completely amazed at the people who live here and associate with I-House and apartment life. I am amazed at myself handling it so well. This is probably the greatest place I have lived ever. I loved the hall, I still love the hall and really miss all my good friends and the fun atmosphere. I miss having amazing roomies (mine is somewhat reclusive), but this is better. I'm learning how to interact with a more diverse group of people (including the fact that there are now men in the picture as opposed to an all girls hall) than I have ever had to before. This, this my friends is good.

Currently Listening
Tuck Everlasting

Yeah, last night was interesting. The standing joke going around the group of people now is that I am Elliot's (my community coordinator) wife. It all came about because Elliot was introducing me to someone new who misunderstood what he said and thought he said "my wife Heather" or something. So Elliot thought that was really funny but we cleared that up. But then Rob comes in (he's this crazy 6'5" redhead) and Elliot asks him if he's met me, his wife. So Rob can't let go of this, and he is a somewhat hyperactive kind of guy with a talent for taking things farther than they should be taken. I left to go do homework when he started discussing moving our twin beds together. Sheesh. Then today at the Wholistic Health Fair Rob brought it up again when Elliot entered the room.
Is this some sort of new resident hazing initiation? Should I have anticipated that upon falling into the group of guys that I did that poor young, pretty Heather would be teased? dunno. It's funny, to a point. And when that point comes I either leave or ignore the comments or start sassing back... probably what they're looking for.
In any case, the guys are fun... not lifelong friends (though Elliot is a possibility, he's pretty laid back, not a drinker, deep...) but someone that I know goes to Sullivan's every Wednesday night so I can get some socializing and pool in.
I think I'm beginning to react better in social situations that normally I would have not enjoyed... namely being around a lot of new people, and a lot of them being male. Mainly the new aquaintances are: Elliot, James, Rob, Eric, Amy, Shu and Nina. Amy is who I may go salsa dancing with, she's one of the managers of I-House.
Also very important: I will be writing a grant proposal for EPA provided Environmental Education Grants! It's still the same idea: creating training/instructional videos for protected area managers to use in training tour guides and interpreters (of nature, not language). I'm excited because I can learn about grant writing, and also beause if it all works out well, I may be funded next Fall and then when I come back from PC for my final semester I could still be funded. My department couldn't get any better. Every professor, it seems, interacts with the other professors, comes up with crazy projects to pair together two people you wouldn't have expected, and look for ways to support and encourage their graduate students. Maybe it's just Stu. I know he's who wanted me to write the grant, and with Tamara (another student he advises who I hang out with lots since all our classes are together) he got her some funding for the rest of this semester. Stu rocks.
I'm going to bed... I might or might not finish reading up on this EPA Grant from the Federal Register.
Wish me luck!

WOO! I've been invited out by some new people here at the I-House:) It didn't take too long either, I just met them last Wednesday and now tonight at another free soup night I was invited out. I'm not staying too long b/c I have some tarea, but it's just across the street so not far to travel. Yay potential friends!

I finally went swimming yesterday morning. It felt nice but I am definetly out of shape. Panting and swimming don't go well together;)This morning I read a testimonial type statement at the Girl Scout fundrasing breakfast. Kinda scary with most of the people in the room being super important rich people from Fort Collins. Even a newscaster from channel 7 was there! He was pretty nice.
I'm tired, and off to work!

Hey! That is too bad about Naomi. I hope her job allows her to remain there if she wants to stay there...it's scary to think about moving to an area like that, but it doesn't occur often and the chances of it happening again in the next like 7 years aren't good. Anyway, I'd love to meet her sometime! Also, we visited 2 schools (UT Southwestern and Baylor College of Medicine)- crazy goof, did you read my entry? :) I miss you!!
Posted 10/18/2005 11:48 AM by steph421

Oh yeah, and sorry to say, we were eating fish :( haha It did occur to me after we ordered it was rather ironic. It wasn't those types of fish though. They were cool tropical fish.
Posted 10/18/2005 11:49 AM by steph421

Currently Reading

Earth Prayers From around the World: 365 Prayers, Poems, and Invocations for Honoring the Earth

By Elizabeth Roberts

Were I still in Kansas at KU, I'd be on Fall Break right now. It is very needed. I guess my own mini Fall Break is not having to do the Teen Advisor Training for GS on Sunday (3 hours + prep time!) because only 2 people are registered. I have a paper on the state of ecotourism in the Galapagos to write and suddently don't remember how this whole paper writing/research thing goes. Urhg.
Sam is coming home this weekend and we'll do a family movie night tomorrow and go see the new Wallace and Grommit movie (*cheese!*).
Saturday I work with Brian and Kenn at the Fort Collins Museum on some LSOP funtimes. I'm presenting on sound... how sound is a wave bouncing around in an instrument... blah blah. Anyways, I'm having kids make their own amplification cones for a record player we got to play old 78s. And Brian pulled out his antique Victrola that I can play for them as well (it is really suprisingly loud) and then I'll probably also have a guitar to play and talking strips to hand out. It should be fun!
It is amazing where you can find support from people when you are having a rough time with life. Acutally, in general it is amazing how many people are actually willing to help you when you ask them for it! For instance, the assistant director of service learning (Hannah, you will be getting a package SOON, I promise) came to talk to my research methods class a week ago and now after having met with him he is going to help me with my proposal(he's an anthropologist PhD specializing in indigenous culture empowerment in Central America!!!) and will probably help me get into an Alternative Breaks trip to Panama over Spring Break. This guy is seriously really cool.Also, my boss Brian has been so nice to me. I think I've cried in front of him at least twice. He's one of the infuriating people who can read when someone is upset and actually cares enough to ask what's up. He's also funny, saying he'd like to go beat up whomever/whatever is causing my distress because he's funny like that. It's nice to know when you work for someone who is decent.
So, I'm going to continue to work on my statistics homework. It's a never-ending process!
Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up,and so the door of my heart can be left open,the door of compassion. Thich Nhat Hanh

Ooh Panama - that would be cool ( - :Glad to hear you have some cool people over there to keep you company.Hope all is well!Terri
Posted 10/14/2005 10:30 AM by BluesOn22s

Take it easy sometimes, woman=). Sounds like you have a lot of cool things goin on- be good to yourself=).
Posted 10/16/2005 12:24 AM by Shannona

Currently Watching
Finding Neverland
By Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie

I finished editing a scene for the show I'm working on! WOO! It took forever, but I now know I have the hang of it:) Fun times. I love working here, everyone gets along so well. Movie with my mom tonight!


Awww! Waders are sexy! But what do you mean about Click and Clack literally laughing at you? I'm confooosed!
Movie with my mom this afternoon!
Posted 10/8/2005 10:38 AM by uruka

Cute picture!! I'm glad things are going well.=) Methinks that someday Octarium will be travel-ready, but probably not this year unless there's a lot of money behind it for us all to take off work and whatnot. Someday though!!
Posted 10/8/2005 3:43 PM by Shannona

10 years ago:
* I was 12.
* I had finished my first year at Oakwood.
* I had been a Girl Scout for 6 years.

5 years ago:
* I started my senior year in high school and had turned in my applications to college.
* I directed my first video.

1 year ago:
* I was getting over spending my summer in Keystone and having to be back in KS.
* I was acting president of 2 organizations on campus.

Yesterday:
* I got my first grad. stat. test back with a 92%!!
* I spent my 3rd night in my new apartment.
* Campus Girl Scouts successfully elected a president and treasurer!
* I gave a presentation about ecotourism in the Galapagos Islands.

5 songs you know all the words too:
* Suerte, For a Reason, others...

If I Had A Million Dollars:
* I would pay off my parent's house
* pay for my sister's education, especially for her to transfer to Julliard
* support my church more
* travel to Latin America to learn Spanish
* Donate to Habitat, Girl Scouts, the ELC

5 snacks you love:
* chocolate teddy grahams, cheese, fresh picked rasberries, chocolate, chai tea

5 things that make you happy:
* Video production, my family and friends, Girl Scouts, little kids, rain

5 of your favorite T.V. shows
* Gilmore Girls, Lost

iQue dios!

I just spent an hour listening to a presentation in espanol which I actually understood most of. Now, however, I am finding myself thinking in spanish more than I normally do, which is somewhat annoying. But good. If it only took an hour for me to be thinking in Spanish (mainly just how would I say what I'm saying/writing in Spanish if I had to) maybe learning the language over again won't be so hard. I think I surprised some people with my 'skill' when I introduced myself. Ha!

Wicked was SOOOOO amazing!!! I saw it with Sam on Saturday and the seats were phenomenal, despite being labeled "obstructed view." We were in the 6th row in the left side orchestra seating kinda in the middle of the row. Stephanie K. Block and Emily Rozek were Elphaba and Glinda (the Ga is silent!). Ms. Rozek was an understudy but was so good! It's amazing how much you miss when you just listen to the soundtrack, and now everything on the soundtrack means so much more. OH! Also exciting, Carol Kane was Madame Morrible. Ms. Kane was the witch who lived with Billy Crystal's character in the Princess Bride. I had no idea that she did stage! She was incredible. The audience in Denver was really into the show too, they were very enthusiastic, laughed in the right parts, applauded thunderously. SO... it was very very good. You must see it if you have the opportunity to.

Now I'm working on a presentation I give on the Galapagos in my ecotourism class tonight. I have to do well because not only is my professor my advisor, but some people from the Center for Protected Area Management (one of whom just included me in a proposal for spring funding to create some training videos en espanol) will be there during the presentation to talk about the Galapagos and their personal experiences there. Huy!

adios mis amigos buenos!