I'm done with my first year of graduate school. I feel a great pressure just lifted off my life almost. Especially because I think I've made a decision about this summer too. The paper I turned in today was the longest I've ever written, I believe. Even my thesis for honors in biology wasn't 30 pages (26 or 27 excluding references). The cool thing was, I didn't write all those 30 pages in one sitting. I wrote part of it for a different paper due last week, and that paper was based on a revision of a paper I wrote last December. Today and yesterday I wrote about 15 pages.

So now, I work, I try to get my thesis going (!!!) and relax.

Tonight is the 5 month anniversary... we won't be together on our 6th, but that's not why we're getting together... more a celebration of finals and the ability to go Salsa dancing again. The anniversary just kinda made today more special. So I'm going to make some dinner and then we'll go over and (I'm going to for sure!) have some drinks and dance.

So I'm going to head to Kansas next week/weekend for graduation and to visit friends! The non-exciting part about it is that there is an outbreak of a mutated form of mumps going around at KU... it affects people who have had the shot. That is so crazy. Lol.

To finishing a full year of graduate school and surviving extremely well!

It has been a lovely weekend. Now, over because I'm preparing a presentation for class tomorrow morning. I'm hoping it won't take me too long. Then I'm sleeping!

Sam is home, and so far we've seen each other all three days she's been here. I'm so glad to have summer so close. We played some games yesterday and listened to Garrison Kielor's show... we did mainly because it's good, but also because one of the local groups that played on his show yesterday are a family (the Greenes) we know from church. And then today in senior high sunday school (which I am now helping Bill with, and next year too) Josh, the eldest Greene came in, so it was fun listening to what he had to say about performing on A Prairie Home Companion yesterday. Sam and I really wanted Garrison to talk to the family, especially because Jonah, their youngest (11 years) who plays the drums would have been hilarious.
Check out their website: http://www.freewebs.com/thegreenesband/

Then today later in the afternoon Sam and I went swimming at EPIC and enjoyed ourselves.

Ontology... an interesting word. Something I have to consider for my presentation tomorrow and subsequent paper due Thursday. Ontology: the study of being, the word about the essence of things, the word about being. Madeleine L'Engle calls a blueberry bush ontological, it doesn't have the opportunity to be prideful or selfish, a bush just is, humans on the other hand have to work to just be.

"I go to the brook because I get out of being, out of the essential. So I'm not like the bush, then. I put all my prickliness, selfishness, in-turnedness, onto my isness; we all tend to, and when we burn, this part of us is consumed. When I go past the tallest blueberry bush, where my twine is tied to one of the branches, I think that the part of us that has to be burned away is something like the deadwood on the bush; it has to go, to be burned in the terrible fire of reality, until there is nothing left but our ontological selves; what we are meant to be." pg. 7 "A Circle of Quiet"

The semester is wrapping up quickly

This week hasn't been as horrible as I was expecting it to perhaps be. I had a presentation Tuesday and got the one today changed to Monday, and then I had a paper due today for my theory class. The paper wasn't so bad, and actually was at its heart a revision of the research proposal I wrote last semester, and so I actually liked what I was writing for the first 2/3rds of the paper (till I got to the methods section and the last half of the literature review... and also cause it was 2:30am!).

Next up is a paper due Friday at noon, which is going to be the hardest one of the three I have/had to do. It's about the norm activation model proposed by Schwartz (a norm is what people percieve as what "should or ought to be" and there are personal and social norms... they can predict behavior and are activated by different concepts, of which I studied Awareness of Consequences and Ascription of Responsibility) and trying to apply it to visitor behaviors at archaeological sites in Jordan. The data was done by someone else and already in the statistics program, but I had to choose what analyses to run and now have to write a paper on it. I still don't completely understand the concepts, but, I'll wing it:)

I have a new roommate, her name is Xinhua and she's from China. So far she's quiet and keeps to herself for the most part. She is really nice, and we've had some exchanges mainly related to hooking up her tv in her room and about how the microwave sparks. But, its dead week (week before finals) and soon finals week, so we're busy. I hope we can get to know each other well.

In terms of Stanford, they do not pay for housing, so I honestly don't know if I can go and do this internship. And I kinda just want a break. I got a scholarship (!!!) which now means I have to stay as a full time student when I had been planning on only taking 6 credits and relaxing a bit. I'm going to take Spanish though, so it will be more relaxing than three full time graduate or upper level classes. And I am getting excited about the idea of maybe having come up with my own project, actually doing my own research, that I think will be incredibly beneficial and add to the literature (which is such a huge requirement) on community based ecotourism. So, we'll see if I even get offered it!

So, I'm going to see what I can do with this Friday paper tonight so I am not up again super late tomorrow.

Grwarrrrr!
I'm way to up and down, even in a single day, for my own good.

well, I was called out and am a computer un-nerd. comment moderation, didn't know what that was and thanks to dear Naomi I discovered a backlog of comments! WOOHOO! So thanks to everyone for their comments. Erika, I hope you enjoy TA Barron... I started with 'The Merlin Effect" fyi. Lindsay, yup, I have a blog, and isn't it nice? I hope the vertigo hasn't come back. Naomi, you will always be far more technologically superior than I... and yeah, further away, but still a fun place to visit.

I was looking at a map last night and discovered that if I end up in Stanford I could visit the cities I was born and spend the first few months of my life in (Oakland and Walnut Creek, CA)! But then I also realized that if I want to visit San Francisco in my car, I should probably psych myself up for the massive hills.

And the best thing is, yesterday evening after I let Logan know the good news, he surprised me by coming over and congratulating me! It's good to know that he's not clingy, I guess, and that he is so supportive! Did I ever say it? I'm in love! :)

Naomi! I guess you're pretty busy... here I've got this great website you can post on now and not a word from you! (just giving you a hard time!).

So last Wednesday I mailed in my internship application to Stanford (which is in Palo Alto, CA apparently) and received this email today:

"Heather,
We were very impressed by your credentials, and we have short-listed you for the upcoming internship opportunity at CESD-Stanford. As such, I would very much like to conduct a phone interview with you sometime during the next few days.
Please let me know your availability during business hours for the following dates: Friday, April 28; Monday, May 1; and Tuesday, May 2. And, please submit a phone number where you can be reached during those times. With this information, I will arrange to speak with you for twenty minutes.
I will then notify you by Friday, May 5 as to whether or not you have beenawarded the internship position.
I look forward to talking with you soon.

Best,
Geraldine
Stanford Coordinator
Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development"

It's really exciting, provided that if I get it I can pay for housing this summer. A great opportunity, but really, whether I get it or not, they are impressed with my credentials, with ME! Stanford!

So, I'm beginning to wonder when I will stop coming across these really great opportunities that test my independence as a woman and committment to getting my degree.

I found out on Monday about this amazing sounding internship in Stanford at the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development. It is an internship that focuses mainly on research the entire summer about community based ecotourism in Central America, AND when I emailed the lady accepting applications, she said I could use what I do during the internship for my Masters project. So.... I applied and shipped it overnight to Stanford yesterday morning. If I get this that means a temporary vacate from my apartment for the summer (so I can come back, but don't have to pay rent) finding an apartment in Stanford, carting enough of my stuff there in my very small car to make the new apartment liveable, working straight through the summer for 10 weeks, 40 hours a week (UHG, I need a break!!) doing almost nothing but reading, and probably coming back the week after school starts here, unless I miss my cousin's high school graduation in June and go out earlier to Stanford.

So, great opportunity, and I am sure I'd enjoy it, and it would be the first summer I've ever spent outside of Colorado (a good thing to experience I think) but I wouldn't get to do all these things I'd been planning on for the summer. I wanted to hike some 14ers and spend time with my sister and go on a road trip with Laura and work at LSOP and spend time with Logan. But... I hope I get it, I really really hope I do. Life would be easier, and I might actually be able to get out of the MS program in 2 years. WOW. So, right now everything is up in the air till I start hearing back from all these opportunities. But keep it in mind, I may be in Stanford this summer. :)

Did I ever say? I went to a Guster concert a few weeks ago and it was amazing. I really had a good time despite some sweaty tall drunk guys who were being jerks for about a half hour. But it was fun! I'm going to try getting to more concerts more often, because the music is just so different when you hear it live.

Happy Easter!

Had good family time this weekend, and my aunt is going to frame my diploma from KU for me, so I can't wait till I get it back and can hang it up for everyone to see. I still sometimes forget that I actually have a degree... still being in school and all that.

I will be having a new roommate move in May 1st. She's originally from China. And then sometime this summer, perhaps in August before school starts again, I'll move in with Amy L., my current co-worker (and technically boss... she's the manager, I'm the manager's assistant...) and friend once she's no longer the manager and therefore no longer entitled to the two person room with just her in it. I took her some cookies today and we had a nice chat, along with her neighbor, Chris from England, from across the hallway. I wish I could move in with her earlier, but it sounds like it is not to be. I'm looking forward to my new roommate, but am not sure how to manuver my things so that I feel like it is still my apartment, but so that she feels that she can add a personal touch to it as well.

So, I'm back to studying. I actually did quite a good job today of that, despite starting later than I should have and watching more TV than I should have. Meh.

so unless I get offered a Biology Lab TA position (which pays for my tution as well as a stipend) then I'll be working at Little Shop again next year. We'll see... I am pretty darn sure that I'm going to get the biology position with my experience, but who knows. That would make life easier, by far easier, I could work faster on paying of my car repair debt and wouldn't be adding any additional loans for next year. So the current plan is to work like there is no tomorrow to get research started and then graduate next May and go into the Peace Corps.

I'm looking forward to the summer!

I just got offered a job... or at least requested to apply to a job through the office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement as the graduate coordinator for Americorps at CSU for next year. Dilemma. It sounds like a really great opportunity, I'd be working 20 hours a week (so not all that much, meaning I can still go to school/class) and I'd be earning significantly more than I currently do... and I still don't know about that GTA biology lab TA bit (which would earn a ton more than either LSOP or the Americorps position). So, a really great sounding job, working with people in the Americorps and in a coordinator type role... something I know I would be good at, my brain just works like that. The only catch is, it's a year long position, and the second is, it starts this summer, and I've already kinda decided I'd be working LSOP this summer (really, for lack of a better job) and I had plans for a lot of travel this summer too. I don't know what to do.

On top of that, I just had an idea for an actual research project not affiliated with the Peace Corps in any way... actual research... and something I might do anyways because it would help me if I enter the PC and it's just something I think needs to be done... basically a study of a number of Latin American community-based projects (hopefully they exist... I think they do) to analyze the strategies they use and overall what they view as the difficulties and benefits of such projects. The literature seems to me missing just such a study. Oh my God... I think I finally became a graduate student.

UHG! Well, maybe I express interest, and hope to hear from the PC recruiter soon so I get more of an idea of when I might be scheduled for departure... really, I feel like maybe if I got my act together, especially this summer and next fall, I may only have to push PC back one semester, and I could graduate with my MS in the Spring next year then enter the Peace Corps?

Also, I should talk to Stu about this.

Crap...I didn't really want an opportunity or an idea like this to come my way... I know I was saying if I found a good job I might just quit graduate school and put this whole bit on hold because it's hard and I didn't know what I was doing in terms of research... but I didn't expect to get a job offered to me in the context of school and simulaneously (I mean, I thought of this idea THIS MORNING) come up with a potential research project.

Whoa.

Friday night turned out to be the best date for what I needed. I guess I get easily freaked out because my mind is always working double time in the thinking department... and unfortunately not in the school department, like I wish... and for the past few times we'd seen each other, we'd stayed in and for whatever reason hadn't talked that much. So Friday at the Cherry Blossom FAC we had time to talk, and quite a bit of it, and then his friends invited us to a movie so we went and saw Inside Man (a Spike Lee movie you should see... it's trippy... a movie hasn't confused me like that since Mission Impossible). So it was good all around... we talked, we actually went out instead of renting a movie or having tea at my place, and I got more "face-time" with some of his friends, whom I have still yet to meet most of (though I'm sure I'll recognize them cause many are from high school).

So yeah, life's back to being good. And can I say, I believe I'm finally falling incredibly hard for Logan? I think I held back a little bit because of PC off in the future but for whatever reason, I've started falling for him even more than I already had. Yikes!

In other news, I've not gotten quite used to the homework and schoolwork routine yet after my Spring Break in Panama. So that's going to mean some hard core working on school stuff tonight... meh. School has kinda stopped bothering me. I'm more ambivalent about it... perhaps it is because already, my coursework is almost over (one more semester!) and maybe it's because I'm realizing if I don't want to do this, I don't have to and I can quit. I'm going to stick it out though.
I'm also going to see Guster in concert this Saturday! WOO! I'm super excited, especially because I don't have to leave Fort Collins to see them as they're playing the Aggie Theatre. I invited Ryan up to see them with me cause he likes Guster and introduced me to them last year. SO... my second concert ever:) and it's going to be great!

panama wrapup

me gusta Panama! Such a lovely place... so green and humid and warm. We met only nice, welcoming people. Now I feel like I've got some new aunts and uncles, as well as un mas abuelita.
I'm still processing the trip. It's caused me to question much more about my future, which while frustrating will end up being a good think in the end whatever happens with Peace Corps.
I'm looking forward to seeing Logan... drat busy schedules, I can't see him till Thursday.

To bed, b/c I'm super tired... it's 2 hours later in Panama!

Woohoo! Spring Break:) I'm so glad that it is finally here... we can all use the break. I leave for the airport Sunday at 7:30am. The flight leaves at 11am and by 10pm (Pacific Time) we are in Panama City! We spend the night there and then Monday we drive across Panama following the Canal and have lunch in the outskirts of Colon. The next 6 days or so we spend half the day building a birdwatching platform for the community, and the other half we spend in cultural tourism.
I'll talk to you all after break!

Snow.... I don't know if I'm happy or not... I like snow, but I also was really enjoying our 60 degree weather. Well, maybe if it stays cold and snowy when I get down to Panama on Sunday night, the hot and humid weather will feel nice by comparison rather than stiflingly hot.

I cut my hair off yesterday. Yay! And it was free, which is always nice. I wish I knew how many inches it was... at least 5 I'd say.
Ok, I'm off to class and work... wish me luck leading discussion in recreation behavior theory today!

I'm back from a day of inspiring Girl Scout leaders to be the best they can be and from a night of watching the Oscar nominated short documentary films. If I had been less tired, the films would have been more enjoyable... but I'm glad I went. The place I went I just discovered, and it makes my heart sing! The Denver Film Society has a place in Denver that shows international and independent films and things such as the Oscar nominated short documentaries and short fiction films. WOO!
I'm super excited too that they will be showing CSA: Confederate States of America. This film I saw maybe 2 or 3 years ago in Lawrence. It was directed by Kevin Wilmott... the first film teacher I ever had. He took it to Sundance along with the co-producer (I believe) Matt Jacobson, who I took my video production class from, and it was picked up for distribution by Spike Lee.
SWEET!!!
So, whenever it starts playing, be expecting me (if you live in CO) to be dragging you to see it... it's a part of my history, and the film means a lot to me in the sense that it was made in Lawrence, by people I know and respect, and I got to see the film at the Kansas premiere... so, I want to share that part of my life with my Colorado friends!
http://denverfilm.org/scheduledetail.cfm?MOVIEID=1024775
whoa... it's playing the 10th through the 16th... so that means this will be a really soon thing...

Current mood... yuck. Current face condition, still completely sunburnt. The only good thing about this week is that is it is almost over and that I did get to go skiing.

Currently Listening
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
By Sarah Mclachlan

this is a busy week, phew. Little Shop of Physics has the annual Open House this Saturday 10-6pm (for those of you in town...) and we have lots of prep going on for that, and I have a number of assignments coming due... as well as a new roommate who potentially will be moving in this weekend??? Maybe, that's totally a guess, but the custodial does come tomorrow to clean the apartment for her...


I love where I work, so much, so much. It makes my life so enjoyable. Why don't I just quit school and do this? Because maybe I'm meant to create something this cool somewhere else and I'm not there yet? Because I really do enjoy learning and school? Because because because...
Sometimes I try to stop trying to explain things. I can do this with God... I don't need explanations, I have faith. I try to have faith in my everyday life... faith in myself that I can do what I set for myself to do, faith in my relationships, that they are good and faith in my friends and family that they are good people... it comes and goes, that faith. I think God wants me to be more faithful in my everyday life. Is it strange that for me I much easier have faith in God than in things that surround me? Perhaps it is because things surrounding me technically should have explanations... God doesn't need any?


So, random musings for the day. I'm getting some work done, cleaning some dishes and going to a Panama Spring Break meeting. Tonight we get our packng lists. I love packing lists!

ps. for those of who who are discovering this blog for the first time, I'm still updating it from my old blog... might as well, right? So keep checking back for more as the semester continues. Just make sure to look at the date of the post... the posts are currently from a year ago!

Currently Reading

Studies in Outdoor Recreation: Search and Research for Satisfaction

By Robert E. Manning


I'm just working on some homework in preparation for a test Monday. Then I have to get my move on with a survey I need to design for another class assignment due Tuesday.

Heard back from the radiologist... no breaks, fractures or dislocations! Just a plain old sprain. Logan's dying his hair red next... he said he didn't want to get hurt at the rock concert he's going to in a few weeks should he show up with pink (now turning orangeish) hair. Sheesh! heheheNext Saturday (the 25th) at LSOP Open House, I'll be meeting Logan's Aunt, Uncle and two young cousins. Oh, and we were almost discovered today at work... I was showing someone the pictures I took on the walk in to school this morning (beautiful snow!) and had forgotten that Valentine's Day pictures were also on there. Oops.Today after work I actually made it to the rec center with Laura and we got our work-out on. Man, I miss swimming. I'm asking the doctor tomorrow when I can swim!


Ya'll take care my friends. Have a happy weekend!



It is fun to have confetti and chaos every now and again.=)Mmmm, swimming! I'm taking an HSES class and it makes me smile- forced swimming twice a week!
Posted 2/17/2006 5:44 PM by Shannona

Yay!!!

So last night I made white chocolate macadamia nut cookies for Logan and took them over to him. He seemed surprised... he said it threw him off. hehe. Tonight he's making me dinner!


Today I'm trying a new wrap for my wrist... I've worn this before for my cyst, so I'm hoping that overall it will still support my hand but not feel like I'm cutting off circulation and make it feel worse:)

Add to that list of stupid things I've done... riding my bike on an icy morning. The result? A fall and a sprained wrist. First ever. But, I'm doing ok! Happy Weekend!



Oh my! Hope that got better over the weekend. BE CAREFUL!
Posted 2/12/2006 4:41 PM by steph421

Man, I was really productive tonight! Granted, it wasn't that I did a whole lot of stuff... but what I said I wanted to do, I've accopmlished for the most part. All that is left is to prepare briefly for my class I teach tomorrow. It will be interesting trying to get there with enough time to prepare as we just got a bunch of beautiful snow... finally!!!!!!!!!!!!


I mean, I even made and ate a fantastic dinner tonight, and there are tons of leftovers. Also good, saw Logan, he was able to eat some of my food (he had Japanese Bowl for 2.5 hours tonight.. yikes!) since he hadn't been home for dinner yet anyways. And, Natalie is moving out this weekend. I feel bad that I'm glad to be rid of her... she's had a hard semester thus far... she's back with no money trying to make school work so she can get her PhD... but she's annoying, incredibly annoying. If she'd listen to my advice, I'd give it more often, but she just constantly refutes it or say she already knows that. She makes huge assumptions and should I begin to talk to her about anything it will last at least a good half hour or more. Oh man, I don't know.


Anyways, time to move on to my last task for the night. And then it's Friday! happy happy day! And tomorrow night I get to see Citizen Kane and a French New Wave film for only $3.50!

I should be in bed right now, but because I had to use the bathroom before doing so...
The door wouldn't open! I found myself trapped in my own room! I've been studying with the door closed because otherwise my roommate just keeps talking to me... not bad in certain circumstances... but tonight I had to type up a paper for class tomorrow at 8am. Anyways, I went to go to the bathroom, and the bedroom door wouldn't open! And it wasn't locked either... cause of course it would be quite easy to solve if that were the case. I pulled out my handy toolkit and found some things to play around with and try to make the door open, but it started to take longer than expected, and I was really starting to worry that I'd have to climb out my window and run around to the front door of my apartment (thank goodness now for the first floor apartment!) but luckily I jimmied it open after maybe 10 minutes.


That was one of the strangest things that has happened to me ever. I don't know that I'll be closing my door again for a while, so it's lucky that the roomie is moving out this weekend.
:)

the pink hair glows in the dark room.


He died it pink because he got called in to train at work on Saturday which he had planned to go skiing during and was probably the best day of skiing this season so far. So, he felt a little ornry (sp?).


I'm dropping one of my classes, and it feels really good. Especially cause I can still possibly take an independent study with that teacher over that subject this summer! Now maybe life will be a little more relaxing.

Currently Listening

Demon Days

By Gorillaz



I just spent some great time with Laura tonight crafting and watching movies. Course, Natalie was in the room the entire time and commenting on the movies and making a general nusiance of herself. But whatever. It was Laura-Heather time and was needed. She's in love, my childhood best friend. She's in love with a man who is good, and a man who will be in Iraq next October, and who is in training in Georgia now. She's taking it well, so well, especially considering the fact that here I am with my amazing new relationship wanting to talk about it and she does, and she's happy for me and she's happy herself (though sometimes lonely, I get the impression). To bed!


oh, and Logan's dyeing his hair pink... tonight I heard the first stage - bleaching - was almost complete. I'm trying hard to be open-minded, but really, in general I find it hilarious. I told my dad... a warning of sorts today should we have dinner with my parents while it's still pink, and all Dad said was, "it's not my hair." Dad's a good man, and Logan... he's just crazy:)

Currently Listening

Garden State

By Various Artists


Go see the film Munich. But don't go see it at any showing later than 9pm, because it is three hours and all you want to do is cry afterwards and that's not conducive to sleep. It is a brilliant film. I highly recommend it. Many "oh!" moments for the cinematography and a solid A+ for the portrayal of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. I'll leave it at that. Course, I am extremely fascinated by the subject anyways... but it's a Spielberg, and some of his best are the ones that deal with sticky issues and history.

Thank goodness for a life that has calmed down a bit more in recent days. I feel like I can breath again! And I can't help but like Wednesday evenings. Soup Night always puts a smile on my face, and it isn't just because of the free dinner. I get to chat with friends and enjoy good food and amazing conversation. Onto studying and a staff meeting!

P.S.: I am in love!

Just had a wonderful day that isn't over yet. I spent the day at the Abbey of St. Walburga with my college youth group (YUCCA - Young UCC Adults) and we planned the service we're leading Feb. 26th. Then I came home for a bit of family time and had not that tasty Chinese (not the highlight of the day) and now Logan is coming over to pick me up.


Tomorrow is the day of massive studying with Amy about Comm. Based Natural Resource Management. Her thesis for her minor in conservation biology is, coincidentally, the same as my proposal

Can I just give a shout out in thankfulness for relationships that are open in their communication!? WOO-HOO!


I'm tired today, but going to bed early and waking up in 8 hours ideally refreshed and ready for some studying before school.

"There can be no doubt that the desire lovers have for each other is not so very different from friendship - you might say it was friendship gone mad."Seneca, Letters from a Stoic

Currently Listening

Demon Days

By Gorillaz




I'm tired already and school is only 2 days in! This semester is going to be challenging:)

I had a brief period of not wanting school to start up again (and iterations of it all leading to Logan and I having to break up should we last that long, when I head to the Peace Corps assignment next January... sooo horrible and far reaching of me, I know... but I couldn't help it the thought came unbidden) but now I'm looking forward to it. I went to collect some textbooks today fully expecting one or two only, like last semester. nope. I have one text for one class, none for two classes, and seven texts for my community based natural resource management class. Books with these titles:
-Communities and the Environment: Ethnicity, Gender and the State in Community-Based Conservation-Working through Environmental Conflict: The Collaborative Learning Approach-Collaborative Environmental Management: What Roles for Government?-Bowling Alone-Groundwork for Community-Based Conservation: Strategies for Social Research-Swimming Upstream: Collaborative Approaches to Watershed Management& -Making Collaboration Work: Lessons from Innovation in Natural Resource Management

So looking at all these books makes me wish I had more money, but mainly makes me excited for this class and this semester and for the Peace Corps again. This is what I want to work in. All along I knew there should be a field that combined biological knowledge with working with people so they can begin to learn the importance of conservation, getting people involved in the process and excited about it. Involvement so they can see the benefits of conservation and the risks of utilitarianism and ubermanagement. Yay! Also it's very positive to see so many books, now that I think about it. I am so tired of reading articles. I know it won't stop, but it's nice to have some books that have to at least have some semblence of interest to readers beyond just the scholars of the world. Easier language so it becomes a faster read.

My roommate might be moving out. I hope this isn't God's way of letting me know to appreciate her despite her talkative nature and messy habits by giving me a new roommate next month who smokes and drinks and steals and is a pig etc.... Or cooks smelly food with my pots.
I'm in the process of hopefully reformatting my computer and clearing the drive and having a fresh start for the upcoming year. I hope to get rid of some viruses I have and finally eliminate Windows Millenium from the computer and completely switch to XP. Today I pulled all my music off my computer and archived it for the time being. Tomorrow I'm hoping to back up most everything else and go through the steps to rid myself of the viruses.

I've also decided that the second week of school I'm going to take my car in to have the ball joints replaced like was recommended. As I said before, I learned that it is a safety hazard to leave it un-fixed because a wheel could pop off. Logan mentioned his concern, which was sweet, and I had been thinking that I won't ever have the money for it, so might as well do it sooner. It ends up being under 500 dollars, which I don't thing is too bad.

Now, to bed! Church tomorrow and more getting ready for the new school year. Also some swimming if I can manage it.:)

Yesterday was hilarious in the sense that it ended up being just Logan, Natalie and I on the trip. Througout we were dropping hints like it was nobody's business because it was fun and I think because the day was a slow one (Nat's learning snowboard still, and we're both better than her). She was utterly clueless, despite the fact that she found out Logan got me free skis, we went skiing together last week, and he carried my skis (how sweet!) for me back to the car. Clueless, amazingly clueless. hehe

Otherwise things are uneventful. Classes start Tuesday as does the amazing busy life that I call mine. I'm doing a Girl Scout training in Greeley on Wednesday (stupidly signing up for it before checking my class schedule... I'll have to miss half of my last class that day) with my mom, which should be fun. I think she's aready super nervous, and I'll end up being lead trainer. Woo!

I'm off to finish some stuff up before heading to bed. I'm getting back to my school schedule for sleeping (except for tomorrow evening).

Currently Listening
Our Little Corner of the World: Music From Gilmore Girls
By Various Artists

More skiing tomorrow. This time I get to try out these nice Demo Pro skis. Having a boyfriend who works at Christy Sports rocks. This time it will be Natalie, Logan and I on the slopes, and potentially (and hopefully!) Kevin and Stephanie, should they decide to come.
School starts a week from tomorrow....

oh! and today I managed to make myself a (very makeshift) bookshelf out of my TV box and duct tape. Now I don't have books and movies lying around on the floor. Maybe once I get it completely structurally sound I'll cover it with fabric or paint it.

Currently Listening
Fijacion Oral vol. 1
By Shakira


Things are good, despite finding out that if a ball joint does break my tire could just fall off. lol. I guess I'll have to go get those replaced.

Dancing with Logan at Suite 152 on Thursday night. His first time was not that bad, but hopefully I can get him to some lessons. There is nothing better than dancing with a man who knows how to lead and can dance well (unless he can cook... it is a close tie).

Today I'm off to a craft day with my Panama Spring Break group so we can make bunches of cool stuff to hopefully sell at the Flea Market when school starts up again. (The Flea Market is actually a place in the Student Center where people can sit and sell stuff.)

And tomorrow is a historic day in my life. I will be attending the National Western Stock Show, which I have never done before. I'm both looking forward to it, and also a little bit dreading it since I do have to be there all day. Little Shop of Physics was requested to come down and have a booth there tomorrow to represent CSU (as we are the ag/land grant school). So whoohoo for being one of the only people wearing tie-die there!

I'm off to work again today after a few days of fun with friends and family. The application packet for Amazing Race was probably sent off by Dad yesterday. It feels really wierd to call myself one of those people who applies to reality tv shows, but it certainly was funny to do so (the video is good!). So, wish us luck. Either way, if we get it, or if we don't, it will be good. If we get it, we get to go around the world! And might win some money. If we don't get it, that's a whole lot of time I don't have to worry about taking off from work or school.

Went skiing yesteday with Logan and his younger brother Ian. Ian went off to do his own thing and Logan was nice enough to stay with me all day (which I guess should be expected) despite being much better than me (and I haven't been for at least two years).
Sam's making dinner tonight for the family, so I'll be home tonight.

And an update about the roomate. I think as we live together we're beginning to understand each other. It isn't so bad right now. Natalie turned 24 yesterday and I made it home, took a shower, and still had time to hang out in the living room with her and her friends from I-House to help celebrate her birthday. So that was good. I don't feel like such a bad roommate for leaving on her birthday.

Oh, yes, yes yes yes. 2006 has started remarkably well... just as 2005 ended remarkably well. Steph, you and Ben may well be right about your comment about mixing boys and vegetarianism... however I will have it known that I already have become more of a vegetarian for health rather than any obscure moral reason...

Happy New Year my friends! YAY!

Hey amigos, I need your help. My dad and I are applying to The Amazing Race to be filmed in June 2006, we figured, why not. We could see the world, possibly win a million dollars and get to spend time together. Anyways, one of the application questions is "What famous person reminds you of yourself?" and I'm pretty much stuck. I was thinking Audrey Tautou as Amelie... but that's a character not a famous person. So, do you have any suggeststions? lol. the questions they ask are all pretty interesting. We're also trying to come up with an idea for our three minute audition tape too.
Oh, this is funny!
Gracias!

That is awesome!!! oh my gosh, it'd be so cool if you guys got on there. I love that show! You'd be my first friend-turned-reality-show-contestant! As far as the questions go, that's tough. You kinda remind me of Eleanor Roosevelt- very humanitarian and wise. Or think of someone funny. You gotta stand out, of course. They want TV drama. Sound super competitive. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing on the tape!
Posted 12/29/2005 9:46 AM by steph421

Thank you, and Happy New Year's as well!!! You know, I watched the first season of the Amazing Race but haven't watched it for a long time. I would totally make time to watch if you made it on - that would be so cool!! Haha! And you definitely wouldn't be one of those fighting teams! I'm not sure if I can help you with the question, though. Have you decided on anything yet?
Posted 12/30/2005 2:42 PM by uruka

I am happy! Life, despite my car being in the repair shop, and being incredibly behind at one of my jobs, is good. I'm looking forward to a new year and a new semester and the challenges that it will present. I'm looking forward to this new relationship that, for the first time ever, is actually something good that might just last a bit longer than the last relationship (wait, it already did... lol). I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family tomorrow before work starts up again Monday. I'm looking forward to life. Even the car bit, I've learned a bit more about cars and what you do when the car breaks down and you have to get it towed somewhere. I've learned not to work three jobs during the same week and much less, during the same freaking day, especially the week before Christmas. Last night Logan and I went to a caroling party thrown by a friend of mine from high school. It was actually, really nice and I got to see tons of people I hadn't seen for years, including one long-lost friend from 9th grade and part of 10th who has been in Croatia for the last year and a half. Then we went to my apartment and watched the Skeleton Key and basically, it was good... it was all good.

God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!

Hanging out ended up being picking Logan's younger brother, Ian, up from the airport last night. It was nice though. On the way down we just talked, I met Ian, and then on the way back was more chatting and comfortable silences. That's pretty rare, the only person I've ever had comfortable silences with is my Dad... maybe Mom and I'm sure a friend or two. Tomorrow night we're going Salsa dancing and then probably watching the Skeleton Key.

I'm ready for a break. I know it is break, but I can't wait until this week is over because then there will be just less in general for me to cram into each day. The new job working on vacates for I-House is going well, but I'm behind. I don't think that matters though. Especially because yesterday I went in to talk with the office manager and she found a bunch of vacates that weren't done by one of the managers that I now add to my growing pile. I wish I'd said no to this job, it's kinda ongoing and something I should take an hour each day to do, but can't necessarily. After Christmas it will get better however.

I'm off to LSOP to work and then the library to work and then some vacates and then a staff meeting at I-House.

**edit** I passed all my classes with As and A-s (apparently in grad school A- is not a 4.00, though) and that's super exciting!

Woo, back at home for the next week or so. The roomie doesn't seem bad so far, but she is slightly messier it seems, but not bad. And the room smells different, but she is a different person than Karin blah blah. I feel kinda bad leaving her there while I'm home with family for Christmas when I could be getting to know her. But it was her decision to come back here right when everyone else will be out of town. I don't know why she did that. Do Armenians celebrate Christmas? I should ask when I next see her.

I'm just glad to be off of school, whatever I end up doing during the days during my vacation. Even the trying to manage multiple jobs isn't bad considering I don't have to worry about having to read anything or do any homework. I needed the break so bad. And now I'm crafting myself to death, which I like. Though knitting is a bit harder than I thought, I really messed up something on my sister's scarf today and after taking out 5 rows still didn't figure out what I had done, but somehow fixed it. lol

I'm also going to be reading alot. I really wanted to pick up the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but found, to my dismay, that I packed it away when I was back in my parents' house in September because I just had too many books to fit on the shelf. Why did I think it was one that I wouldn't read again in the near future? Curses. Tomorrow perhaps I'll find a copy at the library, but I doubt it (stinkin movie).

Tomorrow night I am also going to be heading for coffee with Logan, and then just general "hanging out." Any clues as to what this might mean to a guy? In any case, it will be nice.
'night and Merry Christmas to everyone!


Yay for being back home! I feel the same way about jobs- I'd rather manage odd jobs full time over break than be in school. School is stinky! And yay for another date or get-together, whatever, with Logan. You'll have to let me know how that goes!
Posted 12/20/2005 9:34 PM by steph421

I'm done! And Karin moved out tonight, which was sad. As the semester went on we ended up talking a lot more and I like her, she was just so different from anyone I know, but cool. So my new roommate, Natalya from Armenia moves in Saturday, which means that tomorrow the custodial staff will be cleaning the apartment all day. Ugh. The funny thing is, Natalya is the same girl who moved out from my room in September so I could move in, and now she is back.
I've heard horror stories about the dishes she leave in the sink forever, and the food she leaves uncovered in the fridge and lets mold, and this dish she cooks that smells bad... but I've also heard that she is very nice. So, I'm hoping for the best, and stocking up on plastic wrap and remembering that nothing can be as bad as Sophmore year (despite the good friendship formed!)

Good point. Why would someone lie about a thing like that! Lol! Best of luck with the new roommate. Maybe you can lay some ground rules together at the beginning so that things don't get tense later on? Grossness should not be tolerated!
Posted 12/16/2005 10:23 PM by uruka

Test? Completed! Left? Two smallish papers for my Ecotourism class. My goal is to have them done by Thursday afternoon.

Today starts my Christmas Break work-athon, or what ends up looking like one anyways. Suddenly I find myself with four jobs, and also advertising to the Mom's Club that I will be babysitting over the break. That on top of all the reading I'd like to do and the craft-making I'm doing for Panama fundraising along with craft-making for Christmas presents and just other things I'd like to do, like hanging out with friends, going out with Logan (though apparently he'll be working a ton too) and being with my family.

I think I can manage it:) And I'm excited to be working all these different jobs.
My passport is supposed to come tomorrow, which is super exciting!

Tonight I got to participate in some package wrapping at the new Barnes and Noble in Loveland with Clayton, the director of service learning at CSU. He's going with us on the Panama trip because he knows Spanish. He's such a neat guy, and we had just wonderful conversation the past two hours. I met him before Panama because he came to chat with my research methods class about service learning and involving the community in your research etc. And then I met up with him after that to just discuss how my project will be different becuase I'm going into the Peace Corps.
So tonight was great because we just had lots of conversation about how the country is treating change towards being more inclusive of different cultures and how we deal with the change, and how it isn't inclusive and stuff about indigenous cultures and how people alienate themselves and then come back to the culture depending on what is more beneficial. Anyways, incredibly interesting. So during this 2 hour period I came along alot further in my thinking about grades verses just having great life experiences. I have an awful statistics test tomorrow morning, but I would rather have had this conversation tonight than an A on my final and in my class. I feel much better about life if I have these experiences, rather than focusing so much on my studies. Maybe it's a handy way to excuse myself from the studying that needs to be done, but so far my life experiences haven't gotten in the way of anything I want to do academically.

So now, I do continue to study:)

haha, I think I called you back like right after you entered this post! I like to disrupt people's studying! You better watch out or you're gonna like two boys :) Heather's such a guy magnet.
Posted 12/12/2005 10:10 PM by steph421

Oh Kansas and evolution...Grades are sooooo overrated.
Posted 12/13/2005 11:32 AM by Shannona

Currently Listening
Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast)
By Jonathan Larson, Jeff Potter, Anthony Jackson, Daniel A. Weiss, Ira Siegel, Kenny Brescia, Steve Skinner, Adam Pascal, Aiko Nakasone, Anthony Rapp, Byron Utley, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Fredi Walker, Gilles Chiasson, Gwen Stewart, Idina Menzel, Jesse L. Martin, Kristen Lee Kelly, Rodney Hicks, Stevie Wonder, Taye Diggs, Timothy Britten Parker, Wilson Jermaine Heredia

What I'm so excited about and thankful for:
1) Good movies
2) Amazing dates!
3) Long lost friends suddenly calling you!
4) Being invited Christmas caroling with old friends
5) Getting that 4th job (the Manager's Assistant)
6) Holding hands:)
7) Samantha, Laura and Amy who listen and are happy when I'm happy!
8) The prospect of calling good friends with good news
9) Getting Christmas cards out on time
10) The (almost) end of the semester

I'm feeling pretty good right now... most of the above (ie: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9) happened today too:)


Awwww! Yay! So many good things! I'm glad tonight went well! ; )
Yes!!!! I thought Aslan was wonderful. Some of the other cgi characters were good, but every time he was "on screen" I was so impressed! Haha! I just wrote more about the movie in another post....guess I really enjoyed it! Happy almost-end-of-the-semester to you as well! (too many exclamation points!)
Posted 12/11/2005 11:22 PM by uruka

Currently Listening
Our Little Corner of the World: Music From Gilmore Girls
By Various Artists

The proposal is done and turned in! Another good thing about today... I learned that I don't have hallucinations when I'm stressed.

earlier...

I've decided that I really hate the APA 5th edition style of formatting and citing papers. The citations are not that bad or hard, but for someone who was trained many years ago that two spaces go between sentences, and now they have to write an entire proposal with only one space between sentences, you begin to hate the space bar. It might be because it is late also, but I don't think so. I think it's just the stupid APA. Why do they do this to us students? It's just so they can make some money, sell this stupid style manual to the dopes who decided that their discipline would use this style manual over one of the millions of others. I'm still working on my proposal. I should be done relatively soon, especially since the lit review portion is the longest/hardest and it is about half done and then all that is left is the methods. I may actually get a tad bit of sleep tonight... that is if I start working again.

Next semester... I'm not doing this to myself again.

ps-just so you know, I'm actually quite happy and content with life, things get out of proportion when you have a proposal due tomorrow and a guy who asked you out a week ago but never did call again and who you have to ask about that tomorrow with little to no sleep in your system. yah, that tends to make one a bit grumpy... ;)

Aww, Heather, sounds like you are overwhelmed. Good luck on finishing your proposal and with the guy. Perhaps he's just as overwhelmed as you and that's why he hasn't had a chance to call you? I dunno, just a thought. He could also just suck and not be worth your time, but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt first :)
Posted 12/8/2005 10:32 AM by steph421

OK, so now onto the proposal itself. The presentation turned out good, really good in fact. I got a 49/50 on it, and compliments as well. If only they all knew that what they took 2 weeks to prepare I prepared in a day. I feel like I'm cheating. I think it's because I do most of my work (before I ever sit down to type anything up) in my head. I've always been this way, I have to think about it a long time before anything coherent will come out on the page. It makes for long nights usually, but it works, I guess. I do need to change though...

Tonight I have an interview for the manager's assistant job I'd like to have the rest of the school year. I hope it goes well, because it would be a great way to be more involved in the apartment!

Good luck on your interview!
Posted 12/7/2005 11:20 AM by BluesOn22s

Good job on the presentation!! And good luck with the interview. I will post more sometime, but you're right, it is about the car.
Posted 12/7/2005 7:30 PM by steph421

Working on my proposal presentation for tomorrow... something I present on but I haven't even written the proposal yet (due Thursday). Oh fun. The background is done and I have maybe 10 more slides to go, but they're the hard ones... stuff like what theories I'll be using and my needs statement/problem statement. YUCK! I can't wait for this to be over.

My favorite thing is waking up in the morning and looking outside to discover the first snow of the season!


Sooo jealous!
Posted 12/3/2005 8:53 AM by uruka

Thank you so much for your comment, Heather. I guess I just never expected my parents to get older, as silly as that sounds!
Posted 12/4/2005 1:47 PM by uruka -

Happy December! I gave blood today and it didn't hurt much at all, and she stuck me in the middle of my arm unlike normally when they stick me further to the side! I knew it could happen!

I'm on to working on my proposal. Did I ever say what I hope to study? That is, if I get a favorable Peace Corps placement. I want to study Community Based Natural Resource Management in Latin America. WOO!

Yay Panama! Tuesday was a day for filling out a plethora of forms for the trip.

The end of the semester is fast coming to a close. I'm excited about it, and excited about my classes next semester and about the new start I get. I'm not excited because that means everything now comes due... my proposal and my proposal presentation, my paper on the Galapagos, my letter of inquiry and list of funders... ick. I'm also really not looking forward to that stat final I have to take either.

But I do love this season. I love the way lights in your window look when you wake up pre-dawn. I love how the smell of snow is in the air. (if only it would just snow!). I love the decorations going up around the town and I love the anticipation of the gift-giving season and the anticipation inherent in advent. It makes me smile despite the bitingly cold wind we get sometimes.

Girl, don't sweat it... I'm hoping to have some portfolio goodness by break- Dec 16th-ish. Take care of yourself and enjoy the winter season=).
Posted 11/30/2005 2:09 PM by Shannona

RENT is a great movie:)

Being with family this week has been really nice. The two boys are growing up so fast... Scott is no longer the smallest kiddo, I think Sam is now the shortest, and Mom is the shortest of the entire family... she wasn't happy about that.

Tomorrow I think I'm going to try and get some shopping in, just a little little bit of it. Mostly I'll be making presents for Christmas this year.

Happy belated Thanksgiving! Haha, I called Purina this mornin and they're sending me some coupons for free dog food...I don't think that'll have us set for life unfortunately. At least it's something! Doesn't pay for all the money we spent exterminating the place or the hours we lost in our day.
Posted 11/28/2005 8:45 AM by steph421

I'm back from Lander, WY and it was a really amazing trip! We visited two schools, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. Monday was Wyomin Indian Elementary School, and the kids were all so excited about the science we brought to show them. There were a few times I was completely mobbed by a group of young Arapahoe girls and dragged around the light room to look at the different activities. At lunch I sat down with a group of fourth graders who innundated me with questions enough so that by the time they left to go back to class, I looked up and saw the rest of my group of Little Shoppers standing around waiting for me to finish my food, and I was only half-way through what I was eating! Also at lunch I had this one little girl come up to me and ask "Are you a scientist?" and when I said, "Yes!" she ran back to her group of friends and I overheard her informing her group that yes, I was infact a scientist, to a chorus of "woooowwwww!" :):):):):) SOOOOOOOO COOOOLLLLL!Tuesday was good too... I can't remember the name of the school we were at, but it was mostly Shoshone kids. A completely different atmosphere from the day before... very laid back. The kids were excited, but not as crazy. And we had some really great questions from interested kids about how the experiments worked. Also the moment with the seventh graders taking around the kindergardners to look at the experiments was precious too. They were so nice and kind and made sure to show the kiddos what was going on with the experiments. Good stuff!

Additionally... the trip was me and three guys and Brian. For not having spent this much time with four men entirely unrelated to me before, the trip went really well, and not as much teasing occured as I thought would. However, there were a few more inappropriate comments than I expected, and that wasn't the greatest, but it mainly came from Kenn, who I would have expected to say awful things anyways. We stayed in this great place called the Bunk House, which was just a little room off a storeroom at the Lander Llama Company. The loft had three twin beds, and downstairs had a fireplace, bathroom, stove, minifridge, pull-out sofa and double bed and food! A great, relaxing place to stay... complete with llama puzzle:)

Oh, and now I've been picked up and thrown over someone's shoulder twice. Both were sneak attacks after some body slams (where you run and jump into someone, throwing them across the ground). Very fun stuff.

Crazy, I had no idea you were going to WY! It looks like the place you stayed was awesome though- big job perk :) Happy belated Thanksgiving!
Posted 11/25/2005 9:50 PM by steph421

I am so thankful for this Thanksgiving break! Funny how life works out so that you do end up incredibly thankful just when you are 'supposed' to be.
I'm sick, too, so the break was needed right when it came, but hopefully I'll be much better by tomorrow so the trip with LSOP isn't awful.
I've started in earnest today making some napkins for my apartment. If I finish them, I'll probably start on some Christmas presents/crafts to sell for Panama fundraising. I suddenly have all these ideas of what I could make, which is just fun!
So today, I'm taking the day off. I've got to do laundry, and I'd like to clean the apartment before I leave town, but otherwise I'm resting and recouperating!

Well, the literature review is done! It isn't the best thing I have ever written, but that doesn't really matter at this point. Also, the EPA grant isn't going to happen, but some other grant is, so now I'm working on a prospectus, which is a one page summary of the grant that is sent out to various foundations that look like they might support what we want to do. I'd done a lot of work for the EPA grant, so it's slightly annoying that it ended up being this wild goose chase, but I learned some incredibly valuable information. If you want to get your project done, look for a grant that fits what you want to do, rather than trying to fit your project to a specific grant. And since we did get everyone to sit down together for once, I have a much clearer idea of what these videos are going to be all about.
I also learned something pretty valuable from my advisor yesterday after the meeting was all over. Now everything that I do needs to relate to my project so that I can get it done and get out of CSU as fast as possible. No dallying along the way. If I work with this grant, it has to be because it will benefit somehthing having to do with my thesis, and also it would be good if I could get me some money too. What a different perspective. I thought I didn't want to become a doctor because I had to focus... but I guess anything post graduate level you have to focus:)
I can still make rocking apple pies! I made one last night for our staff meeting at work today. I have to make another one tonight for FAC tomorrow evening.

Lastly, I applied for a Manager's Assistant job here at I-House. It's only 4-8 hours a week, but the pay is 7.25 an hour! That extra bit of money coming in each week would be so helpful. I'd be working on the newsletter that comes out each month and also doing random secretarial/office type stuff. And the positivie is, I really like one of the managers at I-House, she cracks my shit up.

heh,... I've never used that phrase before, but it totally applies to Amy!

Working on my literature review.
Saw Kenan today for some lunch/dessert. It was lots of fun and we talked for quite a while. Still strange seeing people I knew in high school now four years later, but it can be nice.
Also visited with Grandma today. She looked really good for her, which was a nice change. I'm gearing up to bake a couple of my apple pies for some events this week too. Oh, and new news: Onur wants to be friends. He said he didn't when we were breaking up, and now apparently he wants to be friends. Does this mean he's going to try to worm his way into my heart now? lol. I guess that wouldn't be bad, I'd prefer to be friends first with a guy I start to date. Not that I'll end up dating him again.
Back to studying! (yay Panama!)

So exciting! I've discovered that the Keystone Center and their Professional Development wing are actually using the documentary I produced! The entire documentary is not on the web... it is, afterall about 8 minutes. I have a feeling that they have it there as a teaser, and that if a request for the documentary comes up they may send a copy. My name isn't attached to it in any way or anything, but it is mine. I made it, and they are using it. I made it in the sense that when I opened it in the computer lab just now (where the sound is muted) I could 'hear' what was actually being said... I've seen it so many times and spent so much time on it.
Yay:) Life is good when things you do actually have a chance to make a difference!
(to find it, on the website above click on the old film camera icon in the upper left)

So exciting! I've discovered that the Keystone Center and their Professional Development wing are actually using the documentary I produced! The entire documentary is not on the web... it is, afterall about 8 minutes. I have a feeling that they have it there as a teaser, and that if a request for the documentary comes up they may send a copy. My name isn't attached to it in any way or anything, but it is mine. I made it, and they are using it. I made it in the sense that when I opened it in the computer lab just now (where the sound is muted) I could 'hear' what was actually being said... I've seen it so many times and spent so much time on it.
Yay:) Life is good when things you do actually have a chance to make a difference!

88.25% on my second statistics test! I still have an A, and will maintain an A if I get at least an 85% on the final. Not the greatest odds ever, but I haven't scored below 88% on anything yet:)
PANAMA!!!!!! Our first meeting it tomorrow night, which is super exciting.
I've just realized that every night this week I have something going on, which is not good for the fact that I have a massive paper due Thursday next week... however it is cool because everything that I'm doing is really fun. Tonight was Ecotourism class, as will be Wednesday, but we're also having pizza and it is at our professor's home... (ie: it can include beer and wine). Tomorrow I've already said what that is, and Thursday is LSOP stuff. Friday is a movie/coffee discussion night that I'm planning with my church youth group YUCCA (Young UCC Adults... UCC standing for United Church of Christ, if you were wondering).

So. It will be interesting, but very good and very busy. Oh, and I saw Sebastian, Onur's friend, today. I miss getting to know him, he was really cool. Oh well. He leaves to go back to Germany in less than 2 months anyways.

Spending some time with my sister in Greeley was pretty nice. I finally got to meet some of her friends. We also watched Spanglish. A good movie!
I went to visit my Grandma yesterday. It had been way to long, even taking into consideration how busy I am. It was good, and I'm going back again next Sunday. She actually looked pretty good, and she was the one who suggested chatting in the kitchen, and she walked me to the door rather than having me take her back to bed. To me, that seemed positive. I wonder if she's happy.
I'm spending the afternoon studying and listening to this great online radio station I found that among other genres, plays some great 80s music:) Why do I like the 80s so? Perhaps it reminds me of the movies from that period that I like, and also the days when Michael Jackson was much less scary.
Back to studying!

Currently Listening
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade. Capriccio espagnol

For my friends out there:The short but incredibly confusing relationship with Onur is over. Thank you all for being so supportive.
Now I'm going to continue being excited about Panama, about figuring out what my research will be for my MS, the whole Peace Corps application process, and about being ME!

Panama!! Sounds awesome. Boo on confusing relationships... welcome back to the land of the single=).
Posted 11/3/2005 11:47 PM by Shannona

Actually, I got to thinking about it...and the MAJORITY of my friends aren't even dating anyone--There's some SOE single people, a few really close friends from our high school gang and tons of friends from high school that are single, and people I've met here. I'm with Shannon- boo on confusing relationships. At least it didn't go any longer than it had to for you to figure out it wasn't gonna be right. Hopefully talk to ya soon!
Posted 11/4/2005 10:29 PM by steph421

Yes, I think I'm going to just say "no" to matchmaking for a good long while. But Kim as a matchmaker? That is incredibly frightening!!!! Why would you ever let her do that? ; ) I mean, just looking at the situation with the guy she is currently dating and episodes in the past...Lol! Sorry about the confusing relationship - like Steph said, at least it was short. Have a great weekend!
Posted 11/5/2005 9:12 AM by uruka

Currently Listening
El Hombre Merengue
By Kinito Mendez

I'm mainly writing because I wanted to make sure and post the music I'm listening to currently. It's some pretty good Merengue, as far as I can tell. I wanted to make sure to post it because I'm amazed that the artist managed to pull off the patented geeky double thumbs up (go merengue!!) for his album's cover. Well, I don't think it is something you can pull off, but it's there, and hilarious. Now, I'm not saying that I've bever whipped out the double thumbs up before... infact, I tend to use it more often than I would like. It's almost unconcious. Besides the point. There's nothing better than a cheesy CD of merengue music!
My first Panama meeting is Tuesday evening. I can't wait to meet everyone and hear more about the trip. Next Wednesday I have my screening interview for the Peace Corps so next week will be fun!

I feel like I've had a breakthrough! Finally, I've had an actual conversation with Karin (my roomie) again!!! I had the feeling that putting my new TV in the living room as opposed to my bedroom (where she has hers) might draw her out or keep her out someday. Well, I was watching Family Guy last night and she came in from Ju Jiztsu class(sp???) and of course I asked how she was and things went from there so that she ACTUALLY sat down in the living room and we watched the rest of Family Guy and chatted through it till the next show started and then maybe 10 minutes into that.I learned that she locks herself in her room so she is forced to study, which explains the closed door and why she always studies with the TV on (she needs the TV on to study, I guess). I learned that she's got friends and has been making new ones through her class, and she's not making many here becuase she doesn't want to be distracted when she's at home.
YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!! Anyways, that was a good thing that happened last night.
I'm off to classes and work (and to vote)!

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!

Currently Listening
Our Little Corner of the World: Music From Gilmore Girls
By Various Artistssee

The move has commenced.

So, as you know, I went out with Laura and her friend Brian last Friday night. At least, I think you know.... Anyways, we had fun, and she and Brian were getting very friendly, sure whatever. Who am I to talk. So apparently he called her up and wanted to take me out on a date. Too bad he reminded me of bad Ryan and also said I wasn't a true Jayhawk (nor did I apparently graduate from KU) because I hadn't ever been to a basketball game. Funny though, very flattering.

So the new place. The carpet is slippery because it's still wet from when they cleaned it. Ick. The apartment is kinda smelly because of the previous resident's bad cooking skills aparently. And the entire building smells like food from different cultures. So that's kind of ikky, those of you who were my roommates will laugh because you know how I get about food smells and how they really do linger on clothing. But, it's a nice place and my bedroom (with it's own lock) is very large (and the closet is bigger than the one I have at home). My goal is to get everything moved in by Friday afternoon.

Saturday is Wicked with Sam and then potentially my cousin Matt's family birthday party. He'll be 23, or well, he actually is. He could use some prayers, but that's besides the point.
My friend Naomi who had to evacuate from her home in Beaumont, TX should be in town for the next few weeks. I guess she won't be able to go back to work on her oil rig for another 2 weeks so decided to just come home. Thank God that she has that option. I'm excited to be able to see her!
OH, and I love church, seriously, it's amazing how supportive the right church environment can be. I love the people who attend my church... most of them are a bunch of older extremely liberal people, very active in our community and in the church itself. The college group should be neat, we have some interesting ideas, like leading our own church service some weekend in a completely different style. Last Sunday Laura came to church too, and that was great to finally get her there. She said she'd like to come back too:):)

Next week I'm going to start going to a Spanish lunch that's run by the Center for Protected Area Management so I can work to improve my conversational skills and vocabulary. Hopefully I'll make it every week and then I'll really get picked for PC in Latin America.

I'm really beginning to learn a lot more about the expeiences of international students in the US at schools because of a friend I'm making from Japan. Her name is Akiko. Today we studied for her test on Friday (I'm just sitting in on the class for the info, but helped her study today) and also were joined by Aviram, a forester from Israel who is just here to take some classes and work on continuing and updating his learning. They were both discussing how it can be very frusterating to communicate in English when they are forced by lack of skill to use a more basic vocaubulary than they are used to using in their own native language. Inherently I knew this... I've felt the frustration when trying to communicate in Spanish. But this is (again!) another one of those things that wasn't in my realm of understanding or realization till today. It makes me glad that Aki and I are getting to know each other so that I can help her... I'm sure other people she has/might have met are not as willing to be understanding and helpful. I think we are going to go hiking this Sunday.

Currently Listening

The Lark Ascending: Violin Showpieces

The weather has taken a merciful turn towards the cooler end of the temperature spectrum, and we've been getting rain too. The downside is that the weather is quite a bit more humid than normal (though nothing like Kansas), but the fact that I'm wearing jeans to work is NOT normal given our 90+ degree weather the past few weeks, and it is so nice!

Yesterday was our first day of such weather, and I happened to also check out a CD of great classical music, one song on the CD just spoke to me. It was Ralph Vaughn Williams (sp?) A Lark Ascending. It was magical, standing there in the rain on my deck and listening to the music. It made my day, let me tell you, and very well might make today as well except for the headache I have.

Sam's wisdom teeth came out fine this morning, apparently. I'm heading straight over to my parents house after work to be with her as she recovers. I know the joy that is lying around watching movies and looking like a chipmonk, so I want to be there for her.

At church yesterday our associate minister Sharon asked if I'd consider being one of two leaders for our Senior High Youth Group. I don't really know what to do, but I know it would be good for me in so many ways. I'd be more comfortable at church (not that I am not, but I'm still shy at the fellowship hour, whatever the reason) and get to have more experience with young adults. Good all around, but it would be a big committment for the whole year and possibly beyond, and I'm starting Graduate School (which may be very hard!), and I already have quite a few committments. Like being a Girl Scout Trainer. I officially became an apprentice on Saturday evening after a day and a half of training. Tonight I attend my first Trainer's Roundtable in Greeley. I'm nervous, but this is also something that will be good for me, and conveniently look great on my resume.

Lest you think I'm someone who does things soley to put on a resume... don't think that. I've been a Girl Scout for 15+ years, this was a natural course for me to take, to become a trainer.
OK, back to work. School starts in a little over a month. YAY!!!

Currently Reading
An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
By R. Lyman Ott, Micheal T. Longnecker

I'm having trouble focusing on my schoolwork. And lots of good things are actually happening which could mean an increase in the amount of work I'm doing overall. So, somehow I need to get more focused.

Positivly, I did complete a monthly budget "plan" based on all the purchases I made this summer. That felt and still feels really good to have done. Especially since I'm moving on Wednesday and will be paying higher rent again.

Currently Watching
The Motorcycle Diaries (Full Screen Edition)
By Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo De la Serna

Back from a night with Amy of chatting and homeworking and movie watching. Gael Garcia Bernal is serously probably the hottest man ever! This weekend I also took part in an ecotourism experience planned by some people in my class. It was interesting, and ended with a 30 minute bike ride back to CSU in the rain. Oh what fun. Overall it was pretty good. There were some awkward moments, like when someone came back from a beer run with three cases of beer and a bottle of wine. Now, I'm ok with a few drinks here and there (which recently probably didn't seem the case with my exagerations... lol) but I was not comfortable when that happened! Luckily everyone seemed pretty responsible and anyways I'm not a night person so went to bed an hour or so after that. But still, just imagine someone coming over with all that alcohol, kinda scary not having been in such a situation before, even if I was with some really nice/neat people.

Campus Girl Scouts is really taking off. I'm so excited!

Also exciting, though strange to say, I'll be turning 23 in just a few weeks (oct 26th). Interestingly enough a week ago I looked into the mirror and suddenly realized that I do look older. It wasn't a bad thing either... maybe I saw how I've matured over the last few months, or maybe my wrinkles are starting to crease more permanently, I dont' know. But it didn't look bad at all! It looked quite nice.

Hopefully soon I'll have some pictures from Little Shop of Physics for you to look at! For whatever reason I still can't figure out how the picture feature works. Help, anyone?

My "the world is very small... or at least Colorado" for the month:

Last night I went to visit Laura at the old apartment to finally pick up my flour and sugar. When I got there, her new roommate Sarah was just getting in and so we introduced ourselves and she let me in. While there, I was chatting with Laura and happened to mention the name of one of the guys at the retreat that I swing-danced with. It turns out that he and her older brother went to high school together and were friends. So that was funny and random... I mean I've known this guy or of him since forever from church and then Laura knows him too. Then we were both chatting with Sarah, and I realized she looked familiar and it turns out I met her last February when Naomi and the CSM Society of Women Engineers came out to Lawrence for a conference... and now she is living with Laura!

So these two points really just go to show that Fort Collins, despite being over 100 thousand in size, and even Colorado are actually quite small. That, or I've stumbled into this crazy parallel universe where everyone I know knows everyone else.:)

Currently Listening
Elevation
By Yonder Mountain String Band

When did I become one of those people that goes to church retreats?

What I loved about it though was the focus on spirituality rather than relaxing and reading the bible. Really, is it relaxing to read the bible? No, it isn't, not for me. I got to do a unicursal labyrinth and last night we had some swing dancing, during which I got to dance with a number of really nice guys. It was like a weekend full of fellowship with each other and getting to know everyone there. So, it was good. As most of you know who read this, the church I attend is extremely liberal. We accept everyone. I mean everyone when I say it too. And people have recognized this and have started attending. For instance, Sam and I shared a bunk room with our Associate Minister Sharon and her wife. It's always nice to enter a space where everyone is accepted and loved, and that was this weekend. I felt like the rest of the world dropped away entirely and it was difficult to come back to the house I have to take care of till Wednesday and all the reading I have to do for class. Oh! And we had a coctail hour with wine and cheese... it was apparently something our minister really wanted to have. People got a bit more interesting after that, probably why more people ended up dancing that I had expected!
Oh, and I am sick. I have a cold which started Friday afternoon. So the weekend wasn't entirely wonderful.

Tomorrow I get to visit with my friend Drew who has spent the last year in France. I've known her since 7th grade, so she stands as my 2nd longest friend, and one of the closest. You know how some friends you have just understand who you are better than others? Well Drew is one of those friends.

Tomorrow I also get to have the doctor tell me how bad my vision has become over the last few years without changing the prescription for my glasses like I should have.

Currently Listening
Vivaldi: Eleven Concertos

I didn't mention that Sunday we also blew out one of the tires on Mom's car on the way to Greeley and had to change it, or would have if some random guy hadn't stopped and changed it for us, without even asking if he was needed. That was service, lemme tell you! We were back on the road again in 15 minutes after he came along.
I'm attempting to study.


Wow, you are really having a tough tire time!! IT's like that week where Ben blew 3 tires because of a car problem, eek!
Posted 9/13/2005 9:27 PM by steph421

You are pure, unadulterated evil.
Posted 9/14/2005 7:44 AM by blu_enigma