It's a new year! Woo! 2004 was a crazy, fun-filled, completely packed and entirely eventful and life-changing year. Wow. 2005 had better be as good. If it isn't, hopefully I'll at least continue getting to know the newer confident me.

Sadly the graduate school apps aren't in yet. KU's is almost completely done, and the application has actually been sent it, but the rest of the materials have to go. The other schools require a modification to the KU essay and also applying and sending in the additional materials. I should be able to get it done tomorrow AND visit the dentist. Given that my car starts. I think it is just a bit too cold for my poor little car. On the plus side, it now gets to live in the garage. The downside is why. Thursday Mom, Sam and I were headed up the Poudre Canyon to go cross-country skiing. We ended up hitting some black ice and to make a long story short (and my eyes were firmly closed!) we tipped the SUV into the ditch on the side of the road. Only on the side, it wasn't technically a roll-over accident. Anyway, we're all here and the car doesn't appear to be THAT damaged (oh please let it not be). And the crazy thing is, only bruises, no cuts (though two windows broke), no breaks, no hospital visits, and the rented skis in the back seat were un-damaged. I have a feeling we won't be skiing this winter, partly because of the missing SUV, but also it seems like an omen. I am so thankful though. I can still picture the car in my mind, still feel what I felt when I opened my eyes. You don't think these things actually happen to YOU, but they do.

As to the relationship. It sucks being far away, on relationship 'pause.' I had a freak-out last week. I suddenly felt kinda annoyed, and I felt like I'd lost the spark and that I maybe didn't like him. I was really worried. I mean, this is me afterall. I was worried I'd hurt the poor guy, because it seems like he is really into me. All it took was a bit of time, and I also talked with Laura and things are better now. I just get scared. However, now I'm worried that I said something to turn him away from me. Go figure. I don't know how this works and I'm no good at it, but I thought it might get a bit easier. I wish I was back in Lawrence.

But, no simpathy. I'm actually doing quite fine. Life is good, I can't complain. I'm here, healthy, unbroken, and relaxing. Or I will be once I get the apps done! Adios

Wow! I'm done, and I'm not going home till tomorrow. Wow. I do want to get going today, but I'm not even packed and the extra time would be nice. So, here I stay.
Last night, what a night, and the night before, what a night! I'm beginning to get used to someone liking me, I think. Thursday was bowling and looking at the stars and deciding we could be seriously dating. Last night Ryan came over after work and we watched some TV and just relaxed. I was so tired last night. Then when he left (at 7) I went downstairs for food and ended up spending the next two hours helping clean out the fridges with my 'little sister'.
So today I pack, service my car (w/ gas, fill the tires) and maybe hang out with Kellee for a bit and relax. Since I'm going to have lots of extra time, I am thinking of trying to finish up my applications once and for all. It's a good goal, and probably one I could get almost completely done.
Calling Ryan, letting him know I'm in town still today is not a sure thing. I don't know why. I think I'm still trying to get over the idea that not all boys are scum (thanks Dad).
The semester is OVER!!!

Hehehe:) These are funny!

You're Canada! People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've got a much better life than they do. In fact, they're probably just jealous. You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and others. If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be the perfect person.

Who could have predicted it?

You're Colorado!You really enjoy getting high. Even though it's often a lot of work, the view from the top is almost always worth the effort. Your distance from others makes your relationship with them rather rocky at times, but they do look up to you. Be very careful around schools. And stop being quite so focused on the number 5,280!
http://bluepyramid.org/ia/squiz.htm

The other state I ended up? Montana:)

The paper, for the most part, is DONE! YAYYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I'm going out again with Ryan:) Things are good, if I can just make it through that physics final I didn't study for... oh, and biostats.

Sooo being threatened with jail by three cops tonight wasn't in the plans. A bunch of the amini kids and a pearsonite went to watch the meteor shower tonight at this place that really only two people knew about. Setting the scene, it's about 11:45, Seth, Rich and the others are already up there and Shannon, Mike, Sara, Nick and I are arriving. It is very dark and the park closes at 10, which we all laugh about as we climb through the iron fence...

an hour later after deciding we'd had enough of the meteors and 'bumper molecules' and the cold we start walking down the hill when three flashlights suddenly light up, shining right at us. They were just floating there with voices speaking at us telling us to stop right there. Whoa! Freaky times 10! So yeah, somehow they found us there and were sitting and waiting for us to come down? They surrounded us (3 cops!) and started the questioning. One of the first identifying questions they ask? Who's got the car with Colorado plates? ..... me ...... YIKES!!!!! Anyway, we then got a lecture about terrorists and not tresspassing on Corps of Engineers land bla-de-blah blah. And they let us go and you could hear them laughing as we got into our cars and sped (not really very fast) away. Nice.

Time for bed and tomorrow I SHALL finish this darn ecology paper.

One last field ecology picture (sniff!) Trying to identify a tree! There are tons of pictures of this sort if you are interested. They're kinda funny (to me) http://www.xanga.com/private/www.ku.edu/~kuesp

Sooo the lunch and subsequent trip to Target may go down in my book as worst date ever, or at least lamest. However yesterday (because that deserved a second try) was really nice despite my freaking out towards the end of it. Hmmm, the Target Date and the Heather Freaks Out Date seem like a rather dubious beginning. But somehow he still thinks I'm nice (we had hours of good conversation before I freaked). So we'll go out again when I've calmed down and am used to the idea.

Christmas caroling to the halls tonight went... well. We got lots of cookies, hit Miller during their hall meeting, Stephenson's SHD let us in, but when we tried to sing to the guys in the living room they turned a stereo on to dround us out and the guys at GP gave us dirty magazines that some of the girls actually took! Shannon had it under control though and they were quickly deposited into the dumpster. EWWWW!

The Da Vinci Code? Finished! So good? YES!
Strange happenings today. I've finally been set up and it worked out ok. Ahh the strangeness of learning people were receiving updates periodically during our conversation as various people left and then re-entered the room. Kellee was like "I heard it went well tonight" WHAT?? How'd she find out? Kim's updates. Not that there was much to update on. Anyway, lunch tomorrow.
I'm done with Physics (for the most part, only a final left)! And to top it all off, I got a 100 percent on my last unit test today!! Woohoo! I've come soooo far (those of you who know how far... bask in the glory that is a triumphant return from F-hood by your dear friend!)!
I'm off to bed because I am clearly too loopy to be making much sense tonight (as Shannon and Seth can vouch for, and the mittens I tried to start knitting)
ps-I am absolutly no good at knitting, but I shall perservere! Those mittens are as good as made! ...maybe...

Currently Reading The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown see related

Things are going well, and I'm quite enjoying my next foray into a good book... this time for older audiences. The Da Vinci Code is so interesting:) Physics test tomorrow, but I don't have to go to lab tomorrow so that's ok! I'm done teaching for the semester and it was nice and sadish. I am done with my field ecology course for which I am sad. It was an amazing class. And I'm almost sad that my advanced biology seminar class is over too. Tonight I helped Sara study for a micro test all because I had that class and we had a teacher come and discuss his research into T-cells! I've learned an awful lot this semester, and I'm impressed considering what other things I've had on my mind. Time for bed (and some last minute reading of Dan Brown!)

I was in the kitchen/dining room for almost 12 hours straight today. Oh my goodness! I went downstairs at 10ish to start cooking the turkeys (I learned how to cook a turkey!!) and after the turkeys were in the ovens I started working on the veggie option, then we cut up gazbillions of vegetables and fruit for the veggie and fruit trays... and I don't even remember what else we cooked and made. Oh, previous to today I ended up making my typical 5 pies (though not last year) for the hall Thurs/Fri and Sat (it took forever this year). So, lots of stuff. But the hall came together so AMAZINGLY to pull it all off... even the boys at KK were working super hard and made some tremendous food. The girls who came from Elaine's sorority were super nice, and I had a very nice chat with Alvar who showed up suddenly by invite from the KK men. :) :) :)
All in all, a very tiring and busy day. I was a little put off by some pre-meeting complaints that were circulating during the dinner clean-up (considering how much TIME I had just put into the hall meal) but everything simmered down quickly and the meeting went smoothly and fast.
Now, I have to get my grading done for mis estudiantes. I hope I can get it all done tonight!! It seems like it should be much later than 9:45pm.
Adios!

I scored an 8/10 on my physics test this Friday!!!!! Woohoo! I'm well on my way to a very stable B. That is all I ask for, considering I was failing miserably not too long ago! We're getting ready for our sneak peeker that we're hosting tonight. Her name is Amanda, and I'm thinking it will be fun. However, I haven't done any homework yet and I will not have time to do any today unless I get on the ball. Tata!

Currently Reading Physics : Principles and Applications (6th Edition) By Douglas C. Giancoli see related

Studying for a physics test today at 12:30. I'm worried and not worried. Kinda like the GRE test tomorrow. Worried, and kinda not worried. I feel like for how much I spent on both the test and the book (which actually wasn't that expensive) I should make sure I get a high score. And I feel like I need to get a high score so that I'll be ok going into grad school. I guess the real test I'm worried about is the general GRE next Saturday, and the fact that I have a LOT to do this weekend.
On the positive side, here are some more pictures from my field ecology lab! I'm so sad the class is over:(

The other girl is Sarah, she's in my group for the stream lab.





















As to the the measuring tape that we are holding is crossing a very deep pool, perhaps too deep for the waders, so we were being very careful with not getting too close!
have a good weekend everyone!

Currently Reading Kaplan GRE Biology By Tim Levin see related

Boo to GWB winning by concession. But I guess yay to JFK (hehe, did you know those are his intials??) for conceding and allowing the country to move forward without all the hoopla of 4 years ago. I'm scared the most by a government that is almost entirely one party, not that it is one party or the other (though I do feel that one party's interests align better with mine) but that the checks and balances are not there any more. That's not the way it should be when the country is split 50/50 about the important issues.
Next Saturday, the BIOLOGY GRE. Yikes!

Currently Reading Field and Laboratory Methods for General Ecology By James E Brower, Jerrold H Zar, Carl N. von Ende see related

So having been up this late (early?) I should not be postponing getting back to typing my paper, but I need a quick break!
Election night is really interesting if you listen to it from 7pm-6am STRAIGHT. Not that it was intentional, but it just happened to be on all night, and on breaks I'd check in. I swear, they seriously make up news that late at night!
I'm off to finish my paper before 9:30 class!

Hehe, here's another picture. It's of me looking knowlegable!















Notice Alvar in the corner. He's still beautiful;)

Currently Watching Labyrinth By David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly see related

A good weekend overall, and I actually did get quite a bit done when I think about it. I still have alot to do though. Right now I'm grading and watching Labyrinth:) It's some great stuff! Here are some pictures from my ecology lab.


























Steph, you'll find this one interesting. That's my teacher Dr. Loeb with the snake, and his eldest daughter behind him is trying to shove a snake down his shirt, which is why I am laughing!
Us field ecology students looking interested in the snakes Prof. Henry Fitch (of THE Fitch Reserve!) was showing us.















I can't wait for Thanksgiving break! I've decided that I'm not bringing homework home with me for vacation, but I think I might try and get a TON of stuff done for all my grad school applications. Essays and such is really all it is.

I'm going to definetly apply to graduate school at KU. If all else fails, I've got it made here. I know I'd be in good contention for 2 jobs on campus, 1) SHD to a hall, and 2) a GTA in biology. I don't know which program I'll apply to. Maybe Ecology and Ev bio and see if I can work with Kirsten Jensen. True, she studies tapeworms, which is ickky, but she also gets to go to the tropics around the world for a few months at a time! Or Dr. Mort. He gets to go to South Africa (YES!) and studies a plant which is a lot safer!

Happy Halloween!

Oh, and I'm kicking Physics in the butt! However my biostat class is kicking me in the butt...

Currently Playing Garden State By Various Artists see related

So I am 22 now... kinda crazy to think about. I've had trouble remembering it. Today I called myself 21, and almost didn't catch it before the person I was with did.
Nina has a lovely new car.

Chuck-E-Pearson's was fun today. The pizza was good (except the sneaky bacon-tomato pizza w/ hidden bacon), and I got to dunk Kenny in the dunk tank!

The Full Moon Party was a hit! The snacks were amazing, and the decorations were great. The music was good (!) and the planning was great. I think the new women might have been a bit dissapointed by the smaller turnout, but really, we did have quite a few people for it being a Wednesday night:)

Last night our hall was the winner of the pumpkin carving contest at KK and Douthart Romp in the Hay event. The entry? A pooping pumpkin. No worries, I'm sure pictures will be up soon, it was hilarious, and really gross!

Danica, Kelle and I got together for a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss how things are going and we all seem to be getting a bit strained and stressed with the jobs we have, and it was suggested we leave town (only for a day or so). Interesting proposition.

In other news, the birthday party I threw myself was AMAZING! It was really just a bunch of my friends and I at a restarunt talking and eating food, and laughing. Lots of laughing. Thanks to all my friends for coming!:)

Off to do maybe a bit of work, I have a TON to do this weekend, and as usual, Saturday has been a complete waste of time, but that's ok. I got to finish a good book I was reading.

Currently Watching Runaway Jury (Widescreen Edition) By John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Rachel Weisz see related

Just watched Runaway Jury with Lindsay and a crazy movie called Samantha that turned out to be a cute early ninties film... I got that one for 3 bucks at Hastings... great sale! http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=42701

KU won the game against KSU, super exciting and the streets are loud and ringing with yells even now a few hours after the game has ended. It's exciting! Tomorrow I have a few things to do, but I'm not too worried about getting a lot done because Fall Break is next week. And in 16 days I get to turn 22! Oh, and other good news is that I got a much better grade on my physics test this Friday than I got last time round (7/10) so I'm feeling much better about this class! Life seems to be looking up quite a bit.

Currently Reading Field and Laboratory Methods for General Ecology By James E Brower, Jerrold H Zar, Carl N. von Ende see related

Coming back to school after a good weekend is always hard.
Yesterday I spent an hour and a half in the Budig computer lab working on my physics online homework to great success... I got a 100%! Then I went to talk to my professor about that test I missed and luckily because it was excused (I was so sick!) I get to drop another test (bye bye 2/10!!). So, now I just have to prove to him (and me) that I am smart depsite all indications and get a good grade on the test Friday, but not before I get my lab paper typed (8 pages of joy) for tomorrow... I'm so tired, I think it's time for fall break.

Good times though at the president's roundtable last night. We're all getting to know each other a bit and thankfully most of us respect and listen to each other's opinions. There are some people though who drive me up the wall (grr!).

Life is pretty good despite all this;)

Currently Reading Physics : Principles and Applications (6th Edition) By Douglas C. Giancoli see related

I am now back in the real world after a heavenly (except the 32 degree temps Friday night!) 24+ hours at Hidden Valley with the Girl Scouts. I met my Mortar Board 4th grade pen pal, and two others, I ate a smore and a banana boat, I played games with little girls for 6 hours straight yesterday and sang songs with them 2 hours Friday night. I hid from them and then taught them about the seasons when they found me, and I got so many hugs! I love Girl Scouts, where else can you get all this and a deep sense of fulfilment at having helped another and done a good job? Oh I'm glad I am a Girl Scout, there's nothing I'd rather be... (line from a song).
I think the best part is just that I am there for the girls, and providing them a good rolemodel and illustrating to them that Girl Scouts can be forever and it is cool to be a Girl Scout all your life. I'll bet a great number of these 4th and 5th graders will soon be dealing with mixing Girl Scouts and Junior High together and that mix not being so cool. If my being there this weekend helped one girl believe that being "uncool" in the eyes of a classmate for being a Girl Scout is OK, then I feel like I've done my job.

So yeah, after that I now have to prove that being a Girl Scout and doing my job is not infringing in my abilities to be a good student... time to study!