Life's Tough, Wear A Helmet

One month later...

2008-06-22T16:00:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon readers...

I"ve been home for exactly a month now and I still don't really know what to think. I don't really think I miss Seville yet. Strange huh... I think it's because I got home a month ago and I really havne't stopped moving since. I've been working a lot and trying to catch up with people. Trying to recooperate the bank accounts after their hard hit in Spain. It is kinda different to look at my accounts online and now instead of seeing a currency conversion fee and addresses from all over Europe, I see ATM withdrawls from Urbandale and Waukee. Asi es la vida... you know... my card just isn't international anymore.

So yeah, work is good. I've started my internship at Principal here in DSM. I am working as an IT Business Analyst. It's very hard to explain so ask me at the 4th if you are unsure. Basically I translate business speak into developer speak to try to fix problems. I'm the middle man I guess you could say. It's been fun, challenging, and tiring. But all together worth it. I'm also still working at the course which we now lovingly call "the Sugar Shack." Although there are certain people in the city of Waukee I'd like to punch, it's still one of my favorite places at home. And although I'm not working at HyVee anymore, I go in periodically to check in with everyone and say hello. They seem appreciative. Everything except the fact that they are working and I am not. Owell... I like having weekends off most of the time.

As for the boy, he's good. Still a dork but good. He doesn't have access to the blog yet and he does know I call him a dork. So it's all good! He's met the fam and I've met his fam and all is good. He's spending the summer doing research at St. Olaf. He's working on some project but his professor lost the grant that was supposed to fund their summer so now he's doing minimal tasks because there isn't any money to do something better. He's still content though. I would be too... he get to play in a lab all day getting paid for 8 hours when he really does maybe 6 a day. His life is rough... The distance is different but really... I kinda like it... I'm not as dependent on him and he isn't dependent on me. We're both content living our lives and being with eachother when we can. So... buttons on your underwear... hopefully things will work out... for once!

Other than that, life is pretty good. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you at the 4th celebration. I may or may not have more pictures... just ask anything if you want to know more.

See you soon!

¿Speakenzie English?

2008-04-28T12:01:00.002-05:00

So that is most definitely not spelled correctly but you will soon get the point! Hello out there blog readers... I know it´s been awhile since I´ve blogged... I´ve been busy! But I don´t have anything to do now that I finally finished my paper. Yes mom and dad... I FINISHED it!

So... About a 2 weeks ago my cousin from up north, Jennifer came to Sevilla to visit me. Let me tell ya... that first day was rough! I´m sure it was worse for Jen and she didn´t speak the language and had no idea where she was. At least when I was dropped here I spoke the language! Anyway... in the middle of my business language class I received a call from a frenzied Jennifer who couldn´t get on the bus because it was too full and didn´t really know what to do. I was trying to help her out when we got cut off. I returned to class and explained to my prof that my cousin was stuck at the airport and didn´t speak spanish nor did she have a cell. Hehe... she laughed. And wished me luck in finding my cousin.

About 2 hours later, after an hour of waiting in the lobby of Jen´s hotel making friends with the awkward man behind the desk, Jen finally arrived and was never so happy to see me! She got situated in her room and then we headed out for some lunch. I took her to the italian place right by school I had eaten at before and we enjoyed some good food. Then I had to go back and study for a crappy test and Jen was off to explore. Ask her about her trip thru the barrio and the old guy she ran into twice. It was be more than hilarious. Let´s just say she got lost and it took her a few hours to get out. After I was done with class we went for dinner and then called it a night. She was exhausted and I was tired!

On Thursday I went to class and Jen went exploring. Then I took her home for some spanish cuisine. My señora cooked tortilla and pureed vegetables. It was actually a very tasty vegetarian meal. Then I had more class and a test and then we came back for dinner. Then, at 12:15 AM we took off for the bus station to board our bus to Madrid to catch our plane to Munich. A little over 7 hours later we had arrived in Madrid at the bus station and taken the metro to the airport. There we got a little lost, it´s a huge airport... ask my sister! And we got on our plane to Munich. Turns out there was a wind advisory and we weren´t able to take off for about 2 hours. Didn´t matter... I slept the whole time, including air time and landing. We got to Munich a few hours later and tried to figure out just how we were going to get to our hotel. Lets just say... I wish I knew more german than... Speakenzie English? Either way... it was helpful to know how to say "do you speak english" because neither of us knew a lick of german! We traveled around on the metro system to see the glockenspiel... so cool... and one of our biggest landmarks. Then we went to the English Gardens for dinner. Dinner consisted of a very large, very tasty beer, and a pretzel! Equally large and equally tasty! It was an amazing dinner. So amazing that we went back on Saturday for the same thing! Friday we called it an early night and went to bed.

Saturday morning we got up and wandered the city. On foot this time. The metro was expensive! We went to some of the bigger churches and then had lunch at the Haufbrau Haus. Here... was an even larger, even tastier dark beer, and some soup. Yum yum! Lunch of champions! After a litre of bier, the afternoon was a little more interesting for awhile! We went up the fromekirche (sp?) dome and St. Peter´s church which was rediculous! It was a crapload of stairs. And by stairs I mean extremely narrow and extremely steep. And lots of them! Either way it was worth it... The views from the tops of these churches were breath taking. We could see the snow-covered alps and everything. I feel in love with Munich then and there. Ok... it might have had a little more to do with the bier and pretzels but whatever! After all that, we went back to the English Gardens for dinner and then walked an hour back to our Hotel. Earlier that day we went to the big open air market where some other tourist made fun of me for pronouncing one of the street names something to the effect of schlopengoober. Or something of that nature. You know... nothing remotely close to what the actual name was! I forgot to mention that I didn´t know what the metro system was called in Germany so I called it the goober. After a few times Jen picked it up and that is what it was known as.

Sunday morning we took the goober out Daucau (sp?) the old nazi concentration camp. It is very hard for me to descibe this experience because it was very hard for me to be there. I saw where prisoners lived, and slept, and worked, and even the gas chambers and incinerators where a lot of them lost their lives. As I walked around in awe, realizing that because of the nature of my geneology, being Blonde with blue eyes and being a christian, I would have been saved. I would have been saved because I was "perfect" according to Hitler. Both Jen and I had a very unsettling feeling after being there but we were both glad we got to experience it. After seeing so many historical monuments in Europe I´ve realized so much about myself and history. I had always read about concentration camps, or bull fights, or gold routes and trade, and the fight between the moors and the christians, and romans and all their influence, but I never realized just how important all those things were until I´ve seen them with my own eyes. Absolutely incredible...

Anyway... sorry this was brief. I gotta run to class! Hope everything is still going well. 24 days!!

Love ya,
the bloned

Love Rome, Hate the Romans!

2008-04-14T11:12:00.001-05:00

So... it´s been a few weeks since I was in Rome... but trust me... it´s still on my mind. I´m officially convinced that everyone needs to go to Rome once in their life. Especially if they are studying abroad and are this close to where some of the most important and influential times and events took place in history. Amazing...

So to start things off, we had to sleep on the cold, hard floor in the Madrid airport for about 4 hours before our flight left early Friday morning. We had to take the 8:00 bus from Sevilla to Madrid because the midnight bus was cutting it WAY too closely. Needless to say... I didn´t get much sleep before I went to Rome. On Friday we checked into our hostel and left to venture the city. After lunch of course. On Friday we saw the collesseum. Oh... my... goodness! The architectre, the history, the massiveness... we ended up paying for a tour... the tour of the collesseum was pretty crappy but it paid off. We got a free tour of the Palantine Hill after the Collesseum with an amazing girl from Austrailia. Like she said, she loves Rome, but HATES Romans... we all felt the same after our time there. She was amazing. Funny, nice, and very informative. She really knew her stuff. At the Palantine hill we saw the Roman Forum, the remains of where every Roman emperor lived, walked down the street that all Roman soldiers walk down before battle, saw where they left Cesar to burn on a rock for a week, and so much more. I have pictures... but flickr is dumm.

Friday evening we went back to our room and took showers and dressed for dinner. We went to this cute little place aroudn the corner from our Hostel where we proceeded to stuff ourselves silly. I had the most amazing pesto pasta I have ever had. And some authentic Bruschetta (sp?). Later we went to see the Trevi fountain at night. Qué bonita! It was so pretty. We took the traditional throwing coins over your shoulder pictures and lots more. Then we went to the little place across the street for some gelato. Here is where my night got hilarious! So the gelato man was hitting on all three of us as we entered. Well he ended up helping me with my Maxi! cone of Gelato which was delicious! I wanted Banana ice cream because it is my favorite. Gelato man proceeded to ask me if I wanted big banana or little banana. At first I just looked at him and didn´t respond... then I started laughing histerically at which point he realized what he said and laughed too. And then he asked me again if I prefered big banana or little banana. Of course I said big banana because it is my favorite and of course he had a huge smile on his face and gave me a high five. It was probably the funniest thing that had happend that day. Didn´t help that I was real tired by this point. Friday was good, long, but good.

Saturday morning, after falling asleep and waking up in the EXACT same position (sweatshirt over me head and all which NEVER happens), we got up to meet our favorite tour guide for a tour of the Vatican City. Holy crap... it was gorgeous! They said that if you were to look at all the art in the public collecion for one minute each piece, you´d be in the Vatican for over 8 weeks. If you were to do the same for the private and public collections together, you´d be there for over 12 years! How sweet is that! I got to see the Sistine Chapel and all of Michaelangelo´s work. There just aren´t words to describe some of the things that I saw there. And St. Peter´s Basilica... seriously... I´ve never seen anything that big and magnificent in my life! The lifesize statue of Mary holding a dying Jesus almost brought me to tears it was so beautiful. The marble in the place, the entire Vatican really, was just incredible. I saw the largest bathtub I´ve ever seen in my life! It was so cool! And made out of really expensive marble... it belonged to a king... go figure! I guess I gotta become royalty to have a bathtub that big! The Vatican was sweet and everything we did on Saturday was well worth it. After the Vatican we had lunch and went back to see the Trevi during the day. Definitely way cooler at night but it was well worth it to see it during the day too. Highly reccommended. So of course... since we were back by the trevi, we went back to the gelato place where gelato man was oh so excited to see me! Again, I got Banana gelato and I got lots of strange questions from him and the other guy. Then... gelato man kissed me! Kissed me! It was so funny. Him and the other gelato man were in a competition to give Amy and I more ice cream and decorations for our cones. Finally I won when gelato man put two heart shaped cookies in my cone and said, "one heart is mine, and one is yours... we will be together forever." Yeah... then gelato man asked me out for a drink in which I replied I had to stay with my friends. I was wearing my rings and he said oh... you have boyfriend... which is what I normally say to avoid europeans, but he said he didn´t care, he had a girlfriend too and we would just have a drink and talk. Yeah... I don´t think so! But it was hilarious none the less. Amazing!

That´s pretty much all of Rome... it was so cool. I can´t believe I got to see it. Really.... London and Rome go up there on my list of favorite places. I could´ve spent weeks in both places. Seriously... if you ever get the chance... go to Rome... go to London! It´s well worth the trip. More when I can... Hope all is well...

Te amo,
Grande

Lo Siento Poozie

2008-03-25T12:22:00.004-05:00

Alrighty... I know I´ve been extremely behind here. But I was without internet for an entire week! I lived. It was actually quite nice! Anyway... during that week a lot went down!

For starter... MY POOZIE CAME TO SEE ME! We had so much fun. You should see some of the pictures we took together. We looked goooood. What can I say, it´s kinda hard to take pictures together when you are traveling in a pair. I took Pooz to the Palace in Madrid which was a favorite of ours when Mom and I were here the first time. She loved it! I believe we will be stealing a few of the chandeliers to put up in our homes when we grow up. We also went to the Prado and looked around and the Botanical Gardens as well. And of course... we went shopping! Pooz bought some sweet shoes and I am VERY jealous! But... she can pull them off better than I can. Our hostal in Madrid was... interesting so to speak. I´m pretty sure it was run by a male gay couple and one of their female friends. It was on the 4th floor of an apartment building in this little street off Calle Gran Vía. It had the worlds SMALLEST shower. In which the two big Americans couldn´t put our arms on our heads to scrub in the shampoo. Somehow we managed... I think Poozies ways of doing this were more entertaining than mine! We wandered and shopped and looked and everything for two days. We were exhausted! Another strange characteristic to note was the amount of Asian influenced restaurants and stores in our area. I was starting to wonder what would happen if you mixed and Asian and a Spainaird. I found out on Monday night when I got hit by a ball kicked by one and she looked scared to death! so funny... anyway... it was an interesting neighborhood...

On Wednesday we got up at the crack of dawn to catch our flight back to Sevilla. We got here and of course... in the city where it NEVER rains... it was raining! Que mala suerte! It rained on and off on Wednesday and Thursday but we still managed to see some cool things. I took Sarah up the tower of the Cathedral that I climbed a few weeks ago. Her reactions were the same as mine. It was so cool! By now I have my pictures up so you can see the views we had from the top. So beautiful. Then we went to the Plaza de España. I had never been there and so I decided I was using Sarah as my excuse to go. It was amazing! It was gorgeous even after it had been raining all week. I have to go back. Perhaps when Jennifer is here. Otherwise some afternoon I decide not to siesta... ha... that´s got a snowball´s chance in hell of happening!

My Poozie left me early Friday morning. Mommy said I would cry... As I sat their staring at the clock waiting for it to be time to leave I kept hearing her voice in my head telling me I was going to cry and it was going to be hard. I was fighting it so bad and surprisingly I held it together while Pooz was still with me. Trust me pooz... as soon and I turned around I was crying... I stood in the parking lot waiting for the bus and cried. It was depressing. I was mostly ticked that mom was right! Thanks Mommy... I hear your voice in my head half way around the world!

After Pooz left I went home and packed my bags again. I headed down to Malaga with my roommate Dani and my friend Amy. We were staying in a 4 star hotel becuase it was a vacation week and ALL the cheap ones were booked. It was a double with 2 huge twin beds and a couch so it didn´t really matter. We all had a place to sleep and it was cheaper than a hostel when you divided it between 3 people. It was pretty amazing! We laid on the beach for a little bit and then had dinner and called it an early night. We got up the next morning and went to the beach. It was GORGEOUS! The Meditteranean is so blue! After some lunch and some beach we got back on the train and headed home. It was a good way to end the weekend. Very relaxing...

On Sunday we got up WAY early to go see a paso. It was Semana Santa here, right before Easter, which is actually a bigger deal in the states. Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday are more important here than Easter itself. Anyway... all week the city was FULL of Sevillanos and visitors here to see the pasos. The pasos were big parades basically where each church in the area took their most prized alter out of their church and carried it around the city. There were also what I like to call the rainbow KKK. Now I´m sure that sounds funny to you all but ask Pooz... they are kinda creepy. Here they are called Nazarenes and they are actually like the Easter Bunny to kids here. They hand out candy and little gifts to children. They are really a holy symbol in the Catholic church which sucks because we, as Americans, associate pointy hats and full body masks and capes with death and hatred. Whereas here they are celebrated for completely different reasons. The reason I refer to them as the Rainbow KKK is that they come in multiple different colors to include: red, white, purple, black, blue, etc. It was an experience but I´m glad the city has calmed down a bit.

Anyway... that was my week with Pooz. I had a cold ham sandwich for Easter dinner. My family here went to be with their family so she made us sandwiches... yummy... so please don´t tell me about all the delicious things you ate over Easter!

Love ya,
Grande

My roommate licks her food too!

2008-03-06T11:56:00.004-06:00

IT´S NOT JUST ME AND MOM!! Sorry to those of you who have NO idea what I am talking about. However, to my family you should know that I discovered this the other night and just about fell out of my chair laughing. She was seriously confused! Anyway... there are other food lickers out there too! We are not alone mommy!

So in other news... there are SIX different languages being spoken in our house right now. Currently Aimee and I live with 2 15 year old girls from Canada who speak/whisper french ALL the time and it´s really annoying when they get up 2 hours before I have to! Dani lives with 2 15 year old boys from Italy who want to be American adults and listen to heavy metal. There are 3 18/19 year old boys from Norway living in Carmen and Pepe´s room who speek norweigan (sp?) and english. Funny how europeans don´t really get my humor. The one with very pretty blue eyes asked me if I was from Canada. As I laughed and told him I was from the states he looked slightly confused. Then I told him that I should be from his country and looked even more confused... I told him we could be brother and sister... you know... blonde hair, blue eyes... he didn´t get it... I thought it was funny... And then of course there is Ronaldo. Ronaldo is the 29 year old deaf man who lives in our old room and we barely see him. Which is good... because he´s kinda creepy and we really don´t care for him all that much. Then of course there is Sara, Carmen and Pepe´s niece who goes to the University of Sevilla and lives with us during the week. So... count that up! That´s a TON of people! I am sharing my bathroom with 11 people right now... I haven´t done that since I was a freshman in college and even then per toilet there weren´t that many people! Ay... it´s just for a few weeks... I can handle this... I hope...

In a lot better news... I went to LONDON! And it was AMAZING! We had so much fun despite the weather and all. It was definitely a HUGE difference between Sevilla and London. I actually wore a coat and mittens for the first time in over a month. I´ve been trying to load pictures all week but I have really crappy internet which doesn´t make me all that happy. Owell... makes me miss my computer less since I don´t have internet that works anyway. So we took the 1:00 AM bus to Madrid from Sevilla, about 6 hours, and then took the metro for an hour to get to the Madrid airport to get on our flight to London. We got into london around 3:00 and checked out our hostal and then ate because we were STARVING! I had a bacon cheeseburger... it was fantastic! Don´t worry... I had the traditional fish and chips the next night with my half pint of english beer. I still prefer others... That night we looked around the city at night. Walked down by the river and saw the London Tower and the Tower Bridge. My friend Amy has a ¨crush¨so to sepak on Big Ben and she seriously has probably 50 pictures of the thing! Ok... so it is pretty sweet that the subway dumped us out right at the base of it and it was sweet all lit up. It was so gorgeous! You should have seen the look on Amy´s face when she realized where she was. All she had been taking about for the week before was how excited she was to see Big Ben. Her look was a mix between pleasantly high and euphoric. Like a little kid on Christmas. Anyway... I can´t tell you house beautiful everything was. On Friday we got up and trecked across Hyde park to get to our Hotel for that night... which was amazing and had a shower and everything and only cost 2 more pounds than the hostal. Anyway... went back and saw Buckingham, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul´s, Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare´s Globe, walked up Picidilly and through St. James park, and so much more! I can´t even tell you how much we did. It was awesome. I´m go glad I got to go. We were so tired when we got back to Sevilla on Sunday morning at 6:30! Took the midnight bus from Madrid back to Sevilla. Then I got home and my señora had torn apart my room and I couldn´t find anything and I had no sheets. I was so tired! I was slightly irritated and then I remembered that she has A LOT going on right now so I forgave her. Slept most of the day Sunday. It was a good weekend!

Overall, I´d say that I am still loving it here. Every day I´m continuously happy that I got to be here. I learned the other day that the neighborhood I live in is not only the richest but also has the most bars than any other in Sevilla. Anyway... still in love... still missing home... I´m trying to convince my parents to bring the gatos to the airport when they come to get me. Also trying to get my sister to sneak them in her suitcase! Somebody webcam me from my house so I can see the gatos! P.S. Mom and Dad... I´ll email tomorrow to set up a time for Sunday... probably afternoon... sorry daddy...

Te amo y te extraño!
Love you and Miss you!

the bloned

I pay for internet here!

2008-02-25T05:08:00.003-06:00

Hola friends and family!

So today started out well... I got to sleep in because I don´t have class until 1:00 in the afternoons now. Slept til 9:15, had a leisurely breakfast with Dani. Took a shower BEFORE class which was amazing! And then walked to school with Dani to blog and work on my Wartburg schedule for next year. Upon arriving at the school... I went straight for my favorite computer room only to find that the internet was NOT working as it was promised to when I originally signed up for this program! Yeah... how exciting! Not... So... I walked back down the street I walk every day and now I am paying to use the internet because the network at the school here is about 20 years behind any other network I´ve worked with! So... there´s my little rant for the day.

Also, woke up at 5:00 this morning and couldn´t breathe and my throat hurt. Laid in bed thinking to myself that most of you were probably still awake either watching the Oscars or doing homework because it´s only 10:00 your time for most of you. Anyway... still can´t breathe and still have a sore throath. My roommate pointed out that it is probably due to the fact that I wandered around ALL day and ALL night on Saturday in the rain. Stupid rain! Altho I shouldn´t complain because the sun is shining and it´s 70 degrees here. Sorry for all of you surrounded by snow!

Anyway... so now I´m at an internet cafe paying for my internet and I can´t access anything from wartburg.edu so I can´t work on my schedule anyway... grrr.... My good morning is turning out to be crap! Um yes... so let´s just go with something new then!

On Saturday I got up really early and went to catch the bus to take me to Jerez and Arcos. Jerez is where the Gonzales Byass winery is that makes Tio Pepe wine, one of the most sought after wines internationally, and some other stuff here. It was kind of interesting and of course we got to take a taste of the Famous Tip Pepe Jerez which Jerez means Sherry. It was kind of interesting and I have some good Pictures. Then we went to another small town and saw half of a horse show. It was pretty good. Not my favorite but whatever. I thought that we were going to get to ride horses but no... they lied! Um then we went to Arcos where it was still raining! Most of us went into a bar and had lunch and of course becasue it was siesta everything was closed and there was NO ONE on the streets! Arcos is a ¨white town¨because all the houses are white and it´s built into the side of a mountain. It would have been gorgeous if it hadn´t been raining. Owell... It was still ok.

This week I have three days of class and then I go to London! I´m so excited! I know it´s going to be super expensive tho... owell... the money train is slowing significantly because I have booked so many trips on my card which means I´ve spent a lot of money so far I just haven´t received any of the benefits yet! I will send out more pictures after my London trip. Those should be a little more interesting!

Let´s see what else... um... Not a whole lot going on really... if I¨m home on Sunday I just hang around the house and do nothing because everything is closed. I met up with some friends for a coffee last night and we spent probably 3 hours talking. It was a good way to kill some time and get out of the house for awhile. Other than that, nothing really went on this weekend. And because it´s the first day of the semester I don´t really have anything going class wise either. Owell... life is life! And I´m thouroughly (sp?) enjoying it here! Sunday´s get a little boring because we can´t do anything... but that´s when I sleep the most or read. It´s not a bad life. Just sucks when it´s raining because then I can´t even go to the park! Yikes!

So my friend Zach will be here next week and I´m so excited for that! And in exactly 3 weeks poozie and I will be in Madrid starting our adventure! I can´t wait! The entire family called me last night from a program that runs through the computer. It was good to talk to them all. So confusing tho because Pooz and Mom have very similar sounding voices here epecially over the computer! Well... I should probably head back to the school. I´m sure I can find someone to talk to... Hasta luego!

Love ya,
Alyssa

Estoy tarde... Yo Sé...

2008-02-18T10:38:00.002-06:00

Hola! I know it´s been awhile since I´ve written. I´ve been very busy and it´s a half hour commute on foot to get to a computer. I just sent out a link to the pictures I uploaded. Let me know if you don´t get it and I´ll forward it to you! Um... This is going to be random and kinda long I´m sure... so here goes....

This is what I have eaten since I have been here:

Paella con mariscos - The national dish of rice with veggies and seafood YUM!
Soup with Beans - In various different forms...
Soup a la puré - something the color of the outside of a lime blended into soup!
Soup with fidejos - soup with noodles
Soup a la chicken broth and maccaroni noodles - I mean just that!
Hamburger - litteraly, a HAM burger!
Hamburger - with beef
Bocadillos - Like a hot ham and cheese sandwich... one of my favorites here!
Sardines - I would just like to state that fresh sardines are good... however... you should all know that I was given a plate with 4 WHOLE sardines on it and told to pry them apart and tear out the espinas (spines) and pick the meat off the skin. You should all be so proud of me! It took me a lot but I did it!!!
Ensalada - plain lettuce
Ensalada - plain lettuce with salt
Ensalada - lettuce with salt and vinagre
Ensalada - lettuce with salt and olive oil
Fried ham patti - two pieces of ham with cheese in the middle breaded and deep fried... in olive oil of course
Arroz a la cubana - white rice with tomato sauce to taste and salchicha (like kielbasa)
Croquetas de jamón y pollo - like a chicken nugget but with potato and ham or chicken
Something that reminds me of a mashed potato patti breaded and deep fried
Tortilla de patata - basically like a potato omlet with garlic and onion
Tortilla a la francesa - plain egg omlet
Tortilla con queso - egg omlet with cheese
Fried egg in olive oil - fried egg sunny side up with it´s own pool of olive oil!
Cold tomato soup - not gazpacho... rather something with a TON of garlic and salt and of course, tomatoes!
Fruit - various forms... oranges are the best followed by apples and pears
Yogur - Yogurt... also in various forms and flavors. Aimee´s favorite was RASIN yougurt... if the color and texture weren´t enough... the taste was!Icky! My favorite is banana
Pan Tostada - toast with butter and jam. But not regular toast... more like a small loaf of french bread cut in half and toasted. It´s what I eat every morning but I like it!
Café con leche - coffee with milk... finally my señora has started making me café con leche rather than leche con café.
Tinto de Verano - my favorite drink at the pubs... red wine and something else to be revealed later... trust me... it´s good! Even when you buy the 2 euro bottle at the M.A.S. supermercado!

I think that might be it. Or at least it´s what I can remember! Hope that gives you a better idea of what I´ve been eating over here...

As for me, last week I went to the palace here. It´s called Alcazar. Make sure you pronounce the z with a th sound. Then you will be truly speaking like a spainiard. It´s my goal to come home with a spanish lisp. I´m kinda excited! Um... the palace was beautiful. You can see where the Muslims built and then where the catholics built on to that and it´s just beautiful. The pictures on my website are from Alcazar and the cathedral. I´m not sure if I wrote about the cathedral in my last blog because it´s been awhile. Nvm... I remember it now. It was awesome! This week is the last week of the intensive period here. That means I wont have class for 4 hours every morning any more! And no more class on Friday´s! Heck yes!

What else... Oh! We moved rooms in our piso (apartment). Aimee and I now live in a bigger room at the front of the house with two sets of bunk beds. We live on one and put our crap on the other. It´s worked out ok so far. We are still waiting for our dresser with drawers to put stuff in. Right now the closet is a little cramped! Um... the two beds thing worked out well the other night. On Friday night Aimee and I went with Dani to his friends house and watched Casino Royale. It was pretty good I must say. I´ll have to watch it again in the states tho to actually watch it. Um... Saturday we hung around the house and went to the park in the afternoon. It was gorgeous! I did some homework and then I just laid in the sun and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The two bunk beds came in handy Saturday night when no one in the house was really up to going out. So Dani brought in Volver, a newer movie here by Almodovar, a famous Spanish director. We put the laptop on the bunkbed we don´t live on and then the three of us crawled up to the top of our bunk and watched the movie. It worked out pretty well. And it was something cultural to do even tho we sat in my bed in our pj´s and watched a movie! It was a really good movie tho. I´m going to watch it again when I´m not so tired.

Earlier that afternoon I had gone to an internet cafe with some friends to book our flights. It´s official! I´m going to London in 2 weeks!!! And I´m going to Rome later in March. So exciting!!! I probably wont get to all the places I wanted to but I´m doing a lot of traveling through the school so I am going to be away for quite a few weekends. I´m going to Jerez y Arcos this weekend. Small towns outside the city to ride horses through the country side on a wine tour. Then it´s London the next weekend. My friend Zach will be here the following weekend and we are going on an adventure! Then the next weekend I´m thinking of doing a day trip by myself becasue all my friends here are going to Morocco. Then POOZIE gets here!!!!! And then we are going to Madrid and then spending the last part of the week here. Poozie and Mommy... you need to get Euro! Then I think I go to Portugal and some other places April. So fun! I´m really looking forward to it!

Um... I think that´s about all I have so far. I´m going to post this and then try to upload some pictures in another blog.

Hasta Luego!
The Bloned

This is what I know...

2008-02-07T11:28:00.000-06:00

1. I know that I do NOT fit in in Spain being almost 6 foot tall with blonde hair and pasty skin!

2. I know that I am not Catholic anymore... sorry mom...

3. I know that the weather here is beautiful and I am already in love with the city.

4. I know that there are girls here who have more money within the contents of their luggage than the price of one year of my private school education!

5. I know that I am a midwest girl and that´s the way it was meant to be!

6. I know that I better lose some weight here because I walk more than 2 hours to and from school EVERY day!

7. I know that I miss you all and wish all of you could experience this!

Yeah ok... So I´m in love... in love with a country. I love Spain. Every day, especially the last two since it has been so nice, I walk across the bridge and wish that everyone that I love could experience this. I can´t wait for Sarah to get here. I want her to experience what I did the first time I was here. Only this time, I get to be with her and for that, I am so thankful! I miss you Poozie and I can´t wait for you to get here!! I´m planning our trip now! You are going to love it!!! You´ll be able to wear your jeans and tshirts, if you want to stick out mucho, because it´s so nice here!! I also would love to experience this with my family. Daddy, you would love it here... everything is so rich with culture and architecture and history. The city itself is beautiful and well, the people are like most, kinda in their own world, but my HyVee Bakery helpful smile in every aisle is still on my face because I´m just so happy I´m finally here!

This morning I climbed to the top of the bell tower in the Cathedral of Sevilla. Let´s just say... it was a climb! But the views... breathtaking! Ask my mom and dad... I called them to tell them that it was amazing becuase I was so excited! It might have been something like 6:15am there!! La Catedral de Sevilla is the third largest Catholic Cathedral in the world. It´s so awesome because you can see exactly where the Catholics came in and took over the land and added their cathedral onto the muslim worship center. The architecture and the history! Amazing! Christopher Columbus is burried in the church as well. Kinda creepy but sweet at the same time! I was going to load pictures today but I forgot to bring my camera cord. Lo siento!

Classes are ok... nothing out of the ordinary. This class I´m in now is a lot like my class in Mexico. It´s a three week intensive period in which we talk about the culture and society of Spain for four hours every morning. And of course work on building vocabulary and working on grammar at the same time. I also have a current events class that is going to be cake! It meets for one hour every week starting yesterday until the end of April. We give 15 minute presentations over something about life in Spain. It requires no official research only what we see, hear, and experience. Me gusta mucho! And then, then there is the clase de baile. Yup... dance class in spanish! I feel like I´m in showchoir all over again. And those of you that had the pleasure of seeing me perform while I was in HS know that I am not the most gifted when it comes to dance. But... I try. Today the profe. had me dance with her and then after we finished she asked why I was so timid to dance with her... she said I did everything really well. That was refreshing and something I am NOT used to hearing from choreographers! So... that goes thru April as well. It´ll be fun!

Let´s see... Oh yeah... I went to Ash Wednesday mass last night in the Cathedral that I toured earlier today. Um yeah... I don´t really remember the last time I went to Ash Wednesday service at a Catholic church... I have flashbacks of early hs but that´s it. Now I remember why I practice Christianity and not Catholism any more. Of course I respect the ritualistic society that still participates in all of the holy days of obligation, but it´s just not for me any more. I kept watching people and it was like they weren´t getting anything out of it. The girls I went with, all attend St. Mary´s private Catholic college in Indiana, were oober excited about the fact that they received ashes from the Bishop of Sevilla. Ehh... big deal... I would have been much happier if I could have actually gotten something out of it other than enough material to journal about for my homework. Ehh... owell... I still have my faith!

Uh... yes... as for being a midwestern girl... MOST DEFINITELY! There are girls here who dress better than I ever will! I brought everything practical. Simple, easy to wash and wear with lots of different things, easy to layer, easy to reuse! These girls from all these east coast schools brought at least 2 large bags of stuff over and a big carry on! I brought one suitcase! I don´t have anything to wear out and I do not fit in here at all! Probably a good thing I never really cared about that anyway. I´m here to be me and study what I want and if I look like crap while I do it... so be it! P.S. The BRIGHT pink ISU sweatshirt got lots of funny looks when I wore it yesterday! I have to do my homework at the center and I normally do my homework in my pj´s so I thought I´d make myself comfortable! I like it so there! About the only thing I brought that fits in is the coat with the fur! Gracias Aunt Stacy! I´ve been wearing it almost every day. I use it like a coat and most of my shirts look pretty good with it. I also bought a brown scarf that looks awesome with it! You did good... the fur fits in in España!

Well... I think that´s todo! More luego!

Ciao,
The bloned

Estoy en España!

2008-02-04T13:47:00.000-06:00

Hola!

Well, today was my first day of classes. It went ok. 4 hours of class went a lot faster than expected. So far so good. After the major shock of the hostal and then of our piso(apartment). I had a change of plans when I got here... first we traveled for almost 2 entire days. I can´t tell you how gross I was after that! Then we went to this spiffy hotel and stayed the night for orientation. It was nice. Then on Friday it was off to our homestays. My roommate is pretty sweet. Her name is Aimee and she´s from Utah. Never known anyone from there but now I do. She is a sophomore at St. Mary´s in Notre Dame, Indiana. I wore my ND sweatshirt last week and all 14 students from around there asked me if that´s where I went. No no inuit. Wartburg!!

Our room... well.... it was muy pequeña. I´m pretty sure my parent´s bathroom at home is bigger than the rom I´m going to live in for 4 months. Owell... my señora is pretty sweet. Her food is good and she´s very nice to us. She makes fun of me because I´m either cold or asleep. Yesterday siesta lasted for almost 6 hours. I was out cold. I still slept last night! After the initial shock of our room, we had to go back to school where I talked it out with some people and it seemed like everyone had tight living quarters. I felt a lot better after that. Oh yeah... there´s a chico who lives with us too. He´s studying at the CIEE, another program like mine in Sevilla. His name is Dani and is from Iowa City. Small world huh? He´s the only person here who knows where Wartburg is. Problem is he´s tall and kinda cute... yikes! He´ll be here all semester too so maybe I´ll get to know him!

Anyway... Sevilla is beautiful! we originally got in around 10:00 on Wednesday night. We had made the reservations for the Hostal on the wrong night so we ended up paying twice. Owell... at least we had a place to stay. We were taken to the center of the city and right outside our cab when we stopped was a Starbucks! I knew I´d survive then!! I didn´t like the city at first. I was so scared and had been away from my mommy and daddy for more than 2 days. But our school is in a more residential area... more similar to Waverly and not the crazy chaotic city we first landed in!

Traveling was alright... to start everything off... it was snowing when I left DSM. Yeah... it had been 51 degrees the day before and of course I had to fly out at the beginning of a snow storm. I checked in with the airline only to find out that what I had read on the internet was wrong and my bag was 12 pounds overweight. So...I ran to the giftshop and bought a poka-dotted bag to transfer some stuff too. Thanks mommy! It´s worked out pretty well tho. Mom and I sat in the airport for awhile until I had to go. Of course I cried and as I got to security the guy asked me how I was doing that day and I just looked at him. He told me there would be extra security so I just assumed it was because I was flying internationally. They put my stuff through the x-ray machine and then gave me the pat down and opened all my stuff and did chemical tests on everything to include Brown Bear! Yeah... because the 21 year old girl who is bawling and carrying her teddy bear would be a terrorist! I asked the cute security guy if I was being checked out because I was international. He said no, they do that to about 100 random people a day and my number just happened to be pulled. GREAT! That was just what I needed!! So I left DSM after sitting on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for the de-icing truck... It was very frustrating. I sat there with my teddy and waited for the plane to take off. Got to chicago where it was snowing as well. Met up with my friends from Wartburg who I was traveling with. Made it out of Chicago pretty much on time. Landed in Sweeden around 8:00 Wednesday morning (1:00 CST). Sweeden... we were so confused! Nothing in english and of course none of us knew sweedish!! But Amy and I fit in pretty well being tall and blonde. They asked Amy if she spoke scandanavian or english on the plane! Left Sweeded at 3:15 and headed for Barcelona. Landed in Barcelona at 7:00 to connect to our next flight at 7:30 to Sevilla. We were running needless to say. But we made it. I didn´t sleep on the 8 hour flight to sweeded but I was out cold on the way to Barcelona. It was amazing! Anyway... not much else exciting yet. I´ll let you know when I know more! We don´t even have our classes yet! GRR!! The organizational freak in my is dying a slow death. I think I´m going to have to take on the ¨no pasa nada¨ mentality in order to survive!

Pues, email me, comment on the blog, facebook me, or write me at:

My Name
CC-CS
Calle Harinas, 16-18
41001 - Seville, SPAIN

Don´t expect me to get anything you send me for at least 10 days! But anything is welcome! Muchas gracias!

Spain-O here I come!!

2008-01-27T23:10:00.000-06:00

Well well sports fans... the day has finally arrived... almost!

I officially have a day left in America! Wow... It's so hard to believe that I've been talking about studying abroad in Spain for over a year and a half now and it's finally here... It's still so surreal. I've been packing a lot of tonight and will undoubtedly spend most of tomorrow doing the same. I'm going to forget something I just know it! Luckily for me Poozie is coming over in just 6 weeks to see me so she can bring me stuff!!

Like any true member of this family, I had to get ALL of my prescription meds filled for 4 months. You should see my bag-o-drugs! Holy crap!! Along with that I have my cute new red tote to be used as my large purse carry on and my backpack which I'm sure will be packed! Mom is making fun of me because I want to take my Tinkerbell blanket with me... the airplane blankets are GROSS and I need something that's like home for the next 4 months! Thus far I think I will have more room than I thought I will in my suitcase. That is a good thing!! Other than that... life is hectic with getting everything in order and packing and spending LOTS and LOTS of money on this trip. I got traverlers checks the other day and just about cried when I got back in the car because of the amount of money I had spent! YIKES! All totally worth it!

So... I don't think I have much more about the trip yet. I should be arriving in Spain Wednesday evening. I'll have my cell phone on me for awhile on Tuesday until it stops working. Call if you would like. Um... other than that. Email/Blog will be my way of contacting you. Emails are always greatly appreciated. I'll get my mailing address up on this when I can. Hope to hear from lots of you while I'm gone!!

Love ya,
Alyssa

And yes, the answer to the question is I'm nervous as hell... but I'm also so damn excited I probably wont sleep for the next two days!

Life.

2007-08-08T01:16:00.000-05:00

Life...

It's a peculiar thing sometimes.

sometimes it treats you like shit and you have no idea why.

sometimes it is amazing and you wish you could live every moment like the one you are in now.

sometimes you wish it wasn't the way it was.

but that's life.

and it sucks a lot sometimes.

I'm puttin' it all out there again... here you go...

2007-03-01T13:17:00.000-06:00

Well... I'm sitting here pondering what exactly it is that I am getting myself in to next week. I leave good ol' Waverly, Iowa tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 and head south to New Orleans. I signed myself up for a service trip this year. So instead of going home and spending 40+ quality hours working at the Urandale HyVee, I'm going to be spending 17 hours in a 15-passenger van to get to N.O. tomorrow night. Honestly... that's the least of my worries. I am offically certified to drive Wartburg vans so I get to drive. Some of you might think that driving a huge ass van with lots of kids in it isn't ideal, however, driving will give me some sense of control. That makes me sound like I am some sort of control freak, I am to an extent, but I like to feel like I am helping out and that I am a part of whatever task is at hand. Driving will give me that sense of control. Plus... my friend and possible roommate for next year, Emily, will be my co-pilot and I'm OOBER excited about that. She's pretty hilarious so I'm not worried about falling asleep or anything like that.

What I'm most nervous for, working. We are going to be helping re-build two homes of resuce workers in New Orleans. Most of our tasks will include cleaning up and dry-walling, simple enough, however... there are a few people on the trip that I would like to put behind the drywall. Hopefully, you all pray for me, that this person wont end up in my group and away from some of my friends on the trip as they all have the same feelings. It isn't that I don't totally like this person, it's just that they ask dumb questions and tend to be more bloned than myself. And no... we are not talking about Matt. Which is another interesting story...

So I decided last year that I wanted to do something to help this year. Now a year and a half after hurricane Katrina wiped out most of New Orleans, they still need our help in rebuilding. I'm excited about that, I think. It's been a stressful few weeks and I'm hoping that this break will help me unstress. Anyway, I signed up for this trip way back in October. There were two trips going down and I knew the leaders on both but last semester I was dating Matt Wahl and so I chose his trip. So now two months after the break we are headed down to New Orleans together. It's been so strange. Some, if not most of my stress has been self-induced caused by my personality and the fact that I fight for my friends and that I hold on for way too long. I was sending myself further and further into darkness and I knew that I needed out. It was a real shitty few weeks. And finally, I decided that I had to cut my losses and focus on me. Regardless, Matt and I are not on the best of terms, civil to each other but not really speaking. And, I'm headed 17 hours from home with not only him, but his father. And I know that Matt talked to his dad when we broke up so I don't really know what kind of light Matt painted me in. Mom said it was probably a good thing that his dad was going. It would keep him in line. I think she's right.

Things between us are ok now. It is sad to say that when our RA came in on Monday night asking about our plans for departure and she told us that the service trips might be cancelled, I felt relief. Mom told me not to go if it was going to stress me out. Aunt Stacy told me no to go if it was going to be too hard. Steven told me not to go if I was going to be unhappy because I'm not unhappy by nature and I really have been lately. I told myself I had to go because I signed up for this trip because I wanted to go and no one was going to stop me. Aunt Stacy was right... it does have a little bit to do with my pride. I'm afraid that if I didn't go everyone would just think it was because I couldn't be with Matt. And for the most part, that's why I wouldn't be going. So I knew that I had to because I wanted to and becasue I told myself last year that I was going this year. So yeah... I put my pride ahead of myself but I also put the fact that I am normally afraid to put myself out there and do something different. Going to New Orleans is something different for me and I am going!! After a bunch of crying, long, hot showers in the dark, and some discussion with close friends and relatives, I realized that I am better than unhappy, I am better than crying all the time, I am better than what I have been for the last 2 months. I am better than an emotional mess. And I've decided that I am going to find some way to make myself happy for the rest of this year.

As Josh Groban puts it in his new song "Smile,"

"Smile, what's the use in crying? You'll find that life's worth while if you just smile."

So there you go mom... it's all out there again...

I'll be in New Orleans next week. Why? Because I wanted to go last year and didn't. Becasue I still want to go. Because it will be an amazign opportunity. And because I have a lot of friends on the trip and I am excited to get to know them better.

the bloned

Life....

2007-02-10T00:17:00.000-06:00

Well... It's definitely been an interesting few months. Last semester ended alright. Finals kicked my ass but I survived. Had some interesting times that week. I ran around Wartburg and Waverly wearing a pair of cat ears a roommate of mine wore with her skanky cat costume for halloween. I called them my "thinkin' ears." They worked ok!! Had some rough times with Matt. He told me later that he came to my room one night in early December fully planning on breaking up with me. I know it's because I got all defensive and basically talked him out of it that he didn't. Thanks mom... I get that from you!! So we lasted a little while longer...

When I came home for Christmas break I was totally ready to be away for awhile. I was excited to see DeHamer and Kelsey and especially Steven. I hadn't spent much time with him in the past 4 months. It was a strange transition from seeing him every day to only talking to him once a day if I was lucky. Anyway... We spent a lot of time together. And he was different than he normally was. Found out later it was becasue he wanted to be with me. Now, there are few people out there who know the whole story. For those of you who don't, let's just say it took a lot of long, interesting conversations for me to realize this. Then I started putting it together. Steven never wanted to talk to me about Matt. And when I did talk to him about Matt, Steven always told me how bad the things were. But when I was so confused over break. He told me that Matt was where I was and he was who I needed to be with. I was so confused. So... I broke up with Matt. Not because I didn't want to be with him or becuase I didn't care about him anymore... but because I care about him way too much. I knew that he would invest way more in me than I in him and in the end I would end up hurting him. Why... because of Steven. I knew that I would always be attached to Steven in a way that was unexplainable. Kaitlin put it this way, I would always put Steven above anyone else... I would always care about him more than any other person outside of my family. I guess that should have told me soemthing. But I refused to listen to my heart because my head told me that Steven would never be interested in me like that. Little did I know... he had been for a long time. It made sence that he never wanted to talk to me about my problems with Matt and that he didn't like the idea of me being with anyone else.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am in fact dating my best friend. Tonight my mom called him my "Best Friend/Boyfriend." It's true... he is my boyfriend. So those of you out there trying to keep track of my life... Steven is a huge part of it. He will always be my best friend before anything else tho. As far as Matt goes... he knows that I am with Steven. It was really hard for him at first... but... I think we will be ok. I don't know exactly where we stand right now but life is better. As long as I have my family, my roommates, my friends, and Steven... I'll be alright.

Other than my immense boy drama... life has been pretty good. I'm currently at home. I found out I had shingles on Tuesday and life sucked. Thursday I spent the entire day in my bed. And every time I went to bed I'd cry. My mommy drove up to get me and brought me home. I'm glad I came home. I wouldn't have gotten the peace and quiet at school that I got here all day. I missed a test this morning. Owell... I'll make that up next week. Shingles sucks... in case any of you were wondering. I've got it on my back. It's gross... my roommates keep telling me I have herpes. We've named them "the Herps." Owell... it was good to make a mockery of it while I hated being at school. I felt so alone. I have felt so much better since I've been him with my family. Sometimes a girl just needs her mommy. Yes... I'm 20 years old and I just said that I needed my mommy. I'm ok with it.

For now... life is good... I'll try to keep you more posted. I don't like this new blogging sight I don't think. Perhaps I'll have to find a new outlet like KB Toys did. Until then...

the bloned

What I've been doing with my life

2006-10-19T01:35:00.000-05:00

So I'm assuming some of you have been wondering what I have been up to for the last 2-3 months. A lot actually! And for those of you who don't care... I don't really care that you don't care. We are at midterm in classes and I have some midterms next week before I come home for fall break. I'm so excited for four whole days of nothing! I'm not working this week because I've been working up here. Let me tell you, the Waverly HyVee is NOTHING like the Urbandale HyVee. They are super unorganized here and everything I have to go thru just to take a day off is rediculous!

Classes are going well. My religion class is odd. I sit in class every day learning about stories from the Old Testament. Um... busy work, but interesting none the less. Econ... well I'm pissed that I have my professor from last year, the bitch, for this week and my test next week. There goes my grade. The prof I'm supposed to have is out for surgery. SUCK! Spanish... well... Spanish is going... we are reading a novel about Puerto Ricans in America... blah blah blah. My IS class is sweet! I'm a huge dumbass in that class. Sport Sociology! Owell... I hang out with all the jocks and the future PE teachers of the world and am a complete idiot! Whatever... everything is in a group. Group papers, presentations and article reviews. SWEET!

Well... I know this isn't much a an update. But everything I want to say seems to escape me everytime I sit down to write. I know... I'm not the literary geniuses Tony and Sara are. BTW... definitely check out their Blogs. Sara's latest about hog confinements is well, interesting to say the least. And Tony, Tony may have a competitor! Well... I'm out!

Have a wonderful weekend!!
Alyssa

Summer 2006

2006-08-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

Well... it's definitely been awhile. It's hard to find time to do the things I want to do since I work so much. But, tonight, this beautiful Friday night I have nothing to do. So... I thought since 3 had been back at work on his blog, I might as well give everyone an update as well.

Summer has absolutely flown by. I can hardly believe it's August already. I can't say as tho I haven't had my share of fun this summer because I have, but I am ready to get back to school. I miss my friends, I miss the life, I miss the atmosphere, and I actually miss class. I think I have the terminal schooling gene that Sara K-B Toys has. I love to learn and as much as I bitch about going to class, I actually enjoy it. I've spent most of my time with Steven and DeHamer. They are my "men" as they would like to be called. I've become one of the boys this summer and have had the pleasure of them treating me just so. It's been nice tho... at least I have people here I can rely on and have fun with. I've spent some time with the Wife as well. She's been hanging out with the three of us randomly. I've also taken on a new friend. I've been having coffee with Bryan, a friend who is transferring from U Iowa to Wartburg this year. If I had a year I'd explain how we know each other but I don't so let's just say we met thru my psycho neighbor at school.

This summer, for me, has been a lot about figuring out what I did at school last year and who I became. I think I did some things last year that I don't necesarily want to repeat this year. I know I've also grown a lot this summer as a person. I've re-prioritized and I've been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish this year. I've thought a lot about my friends at school and who I do and do not want to spend a lot of time with. I think I'm starting over in a way. I'm living with 6 other girls only 1 of which I know well. I'm excited, nervous, scared, and ready. Last year I just didn't know what I wanted. I think after this summer, and some very long and deep conversations with Steven, I've got a better idea.

At the beginning of the summer Steven asked me to go to a church service called Immersion at the Lutheran Church of Hope out in WDM. It is more of a youth based service with music, a message, and communion. I didn't really know what to think and I didn't really know what to do. I knew that I'd never really been to church with a lot of other people before and I know that I hadn't ever been to a service like this before. I went the first night and was scared shitless. The first night I went because I was asked and I knew it was important to Steven and D. The second, third, fourth nights etc. I went because I wanted to. I look forward to Thursday nights because it is a time where I can be me. I can go and know that I'm being forgiven for everything I've done wrong in the last week. I also like the connection I have with Steven and D now that we've begun to share the faith in our lives. I know some of you are thinking that this is way too churchy and that I'm going to turn into a "bible thumper" but I assure you this is all about discovering where and with whom my faith lies. What it means to me and what it means to other people as I begin to open that part of my life and let others in. It's been a big step in my life and I know I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of D and especially Steven. He is there every day telling me that even if I hate myself and others hate me, God doesn't. God doesn't judge, he doesn't care how bad I screw up, he believes in me when no one else does, he respects me for the decisions I've made and continue to make and most importantly he loves me for who I am not for what I do. I was raised a Catholic, and while my values and beliefs stem from my upbringing, I think that I have a lot of discovering to do. I know I don't believe everything my church tells me. And I know I don't have to pray everynight and go to church every Sunday to be a good Christian. I'm working on it and as long as I remember where I came from and what I believe, my life will be good. That's a long way of saying my faith has grown tremendously and is mostly thanks to Steven. Thank you.

On a less religious note work is starting to wear me out. I'm tired of it. This summer just isn't the same. It isn't at all like it was last summer. I'm not getting the hours and things have changed a lot. David and I have actually become pretty good friends. We've been playing golf usually about once a week. That is way more golf than I played last summer. I have 2 and a half weeks left now. I move in on the 27th to do Orientation boot camp and then school starts the Tuesday after labor day. Sweet! I'm excited!

Like 3 and Sara we also received a new kittne. Spiderman Spiderman! He's super cute! Him and Neuman have been playing a lot. They are funny together. Neuman is actually nicer now. We are starting to think we should have gotten another cat a lot sooner!

Well... hopefully this is the beginning of regular posting. Hopefully I'll keep you more updated when I get back to school. Moreso than last year anyway!

Have a fantastic weekend!

the bloned

OLE!

2006-06-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Hello family and assorted friends who read this. I am just sitting down to watch a movie I've already seen with a friend who hasn't seen it. Garden State. If you haven't seen it, you should.

Anyway, I have some free time so I thought I would write you a little blog about my trip to Mexico. Holy crap! It was so much fun!!! I am not on my computer so I can't upload pictures at this point but I will try to later. I did so much, I saw so much, I met so many new people, I had a great time!!!!! While in Mexico we lived with a family in a city called Cuernavaca, meaning "eternal spring." Little did we know that normally it is about 75 degrees and sunny every day, except in May! Luckily, we hit their hottest month. This year it looks like I get to live thru July TWICE! Notice how this is just awesome! The best part was when I was told to dress more conservatively, no shorts, so I wore jeans... it was frickin' 100 degrees that day and we climbed down to the bottom of this revine... I just about died! Oh lord was it hot! Lets just say I wore shorts from the on. What we did was climb down this revine, 290 stairs to be exact, to see how the poorest of poor live. It was so sad. 70 percent of Mexico's population is poor and of those 70, 45 percent don't know where their next meal is coming from. (LOOK! I learned something!!) Anyway... super sad.

I also got the chance to eat my nasty ass lunch on top of not one, but TWO pyramids while in Mexico. It was amazing! The first one I had to climb a fricking mountain to get to and then the next one I just had to climb up the pyramid itself. It was so cool. As much asd we bitched about it while we were climbing... both were pretty cool. I have lots of pictures. Just let me know if you want to see them. I'd be MORE than happy to go thru them and remember all the good times we had in Mexico. Oh man... Mexico was a blast!

We also got to eat at two authentic Mexican restaurants that were awesome! However, the family we lived with had algo con queso (something with cheese) for every meal! They were sort of nazi like tho. Didn't really like us a whole lot I don't think. They really didn't like one of my roommates Michelle. They yelled at her all the time. And when we weren't eating... they weren't around at all! There were so many rooms in the house that we never saw. We also discovered that there was a whole other building to their house that we didn't know about til the last week we were there. They were odd! Everyone else had a kick ass house with awesome parents... we had a nice, old house with parents that hated us! ARGH! Owell... I wont ever see them again... hopefully!

The night life in Mexico is so much fun! All the little bars and cafes. Acutally had quite an interesting conversation with a professor from Texas A & M in one of the bars. We were talking about his family and his grown children and then my future in which he told me, "Oh don't worry, your beautiful and intelligent, you'll do fine." Hmm... sounds like a bad pick up line. Anyway... that was the night we went out for Kelan's birthday... let's just say he didn't remember much and when he got his camera back from me the next morning he was a little suprised! I took so many random pictures. Hehe! Mateo his roommate had a lot of fun with him that night and then again the next morning. Kelan was apparently in my econ class the whole semester and I didn't even know him when we got on the plane together in Chicago. I would say we are decent friends now. Mateo and I spent a lot of time together and had a blast. I knew him before we left and we were decent friends, but I would say we are good friends. now. He's going to be an RA on the second floor of Hebron next year. I told him I was going to come mess with his freshmen. HEHE! I totally would too! I am already planning ways to mess with their minds during orientation. I'm so excited I get to go back to the 'Burg in 2 weeks for a summer orientation thinger. AHH!!! I miss school so much!!!

Anyway, that is a brief overview of Mexico. Just let me know if you havge questions or want to hear more! I HEART MEXICO! Everything was so cool! I never thought I'd get to see and do all those things. Anyway...

Now that I am back, I've been working out at the course and at HyVee just like last summer. I also got called to Jury duty this week and wouldn't you know it... I got selected to a jury. It was an OWI case that the defendant was trying to get out of. As the foreperson, I was the one who got to sign the verdict making him guilty as charged. Sweet! I'm on record now! Hell yes!!! I guess it was a good way to serve my civic duty. The odd thing was that 8 of 12 jurrors were between the ages of 18 and 22. One of the kids graduated a year ahead of me from J-Town and another girl was a childhood friend. How odd! The only older woman was a substitute teacher in Ankeny and she knew my new friend Nate who I also spent a lot of time with in Mexico. Good times.

As I've started to get back into the swing of things here, I've realized that so much of my life is already in Wave-Town. I miss school so much! I miss all my friends and the easy access of having them live in the same building as me. So much easier than having to call them every time I want to talk. Went out for a girls dinner a week ago. That was fun... all of us have changed so much but yet we still have that one common bond, we spent so much time together growing up and in high school. Since I've been here... I've spent a lot of time with my friends Steven and DeHamer. Never talked to D in HS and now I talk to him all the time. Good kid... like him a lot. The three of us... we pretty much stay out of any form of trouble... they are good for me... keep me sane and make me crazy all at the same time. But, you know me, I get along so much better with boys... this is good for me! I miss the wife... seeing her every day... I've seen her once since I've been home. It was good. And we call eachother just about every day. But it still isn't the same without living by her. BUT... in less than 3 months we get to live together in the same room! HELL YES! So excited... but more on that later.

Well... this is the end... I will try to get some pictures on here later. Thanks kids!! And have a wonderful day!

the bloned

I was Inspired

2006-04-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

Hello all, I don't really have a whole lot to do tonight so I decided to put what I do have off just a little while longer and blog. As you know I have quit blogging on my other site. For the most part. Sometimes I post a funny joke or a dumm story, but nothing meaningful. I thought I had a lot to say and now it feels as tho I don't. Hmm... I'm crazy...

It's getting to be that time in the semester when I hate life. Yup, finals are just around the corner. There are lots of big tests this week and next and projects galore. Everyone is in high stress mode and no one has time for anything. It's amazing we are all able to stand each other. My roomie has a test tomorrow... she's stressed... I always know when it's test time because there is a plethora of bio students yelling words, phrases, and concepts foreign to me in my room, and... my roomie gets a little cranky. It is actually quite funny! Tomorrows test is on reproduction and whatnot. Basically, they know more about sex and babies and how it works biologically than parents of kids understand what happened to them. Apparently the other day the prof told them how to have better sex without actually saying much. And of course it was all biological and in big words. Monica said she just laughed because some people didn't really grasp what was going on. I know it all would have been over my head.

My classes suck this semester. I hope I'm doing ok. I don't think the GPA will be as high as it was last semester. Owell..... I have little patience for some people. It sucks becasue I'm short with them. (that was randomly placed... one just walked in) Anyway... we have a lucky shirt, me and my friend Emily. It is the Rod Stewart concert t-shirt she bought at a goodwill a few years ago. Thus far, it hasn't done me wrong. I wore it for my test yesterday and my quiz this morning. We'll see tomorrow how the test went.

People are annoying. There are just some I am not dealing well with right now. Driving me crazy! My neighnbors, for example, are blaring bad music. Did I mention I never uttered a word to either of them until January?? Yup, we live next door to each other and have never actually had a conversation. Crazy. Other people, well other people are driving me nuts in that again, they wont talk to me. I'm taking anothing sabatical from the internet. I logged back into AIM (my messenger) a few weeks ago. I'm not nearly as attached to it as I used to me. Which is way good. It did make keeping track of people easier, but there are some people I keep track of way too much and I need to stop. I don't know if I'll log off for sure but I'm taking a break from it for awhile. Maybe I'll set it to invisible so I can see other people but they can't see me. Ooo... that sounds stalker like! HAHA! My friend Josh talked to me last night, he said he was happy. I haven't heard him say that in months! I'm so happy for him. Makes me smile. And the beautiful weather we are having is making me smile! My other friend, is interesting again. This is why I'm going to unattach my phone from my hand and take away the temptation of AIM. We'll see how this goes! My wife, my wife is AMAZING! Kaitlin and I are married on Facebook and we now refer to each other as wife and wife. People always look at us strange when we say we are off to find our wife. Sometimes we just yell wife down the hall when we need to talk to each other. It's good times here at the BURG. Anyway, she is probably one of the best people I could have ever met. We are basically perfect for each other. Whch is AWESOME!

Hung out with Pooz last week when she was up here. It was fun! Got to see Dana a lot too and of course Aunt Stacy and Uncle Tony. Then we saw 3 and I ran into Sara KB-Toys at the mall. So random! Last weekend my friend Sara (Beans) came up here on Friday night and we hit the town. It was so much fun. Then on Saturday I went to Ames with her and we hit the town there too. I wish our friends would have been able to come out with us. One of them just complained how bad his weekend was because, per usual, he did NOTHING! We both told him to come out with us and I told him to go out last weekend. Not my problem any more. Got a ride back with Dana on Sunday. And of course Aric was there... punk!

Hmm... I think I should go take a shower now. I'm not clean and I'm all out of things to say. Yuck!

WORD OF THE DAY: (I thought I'd bring it back)
vete a carajo - Go to hell!

**no joke, I learned how to say most of your common swear words in class the other day. Including "retarded piece of shit!" (Cretino pedazo de meirda)

Apathetic Should Be My Middle Name

2006-03-21T10:58:00.000-06:00

Well... it's Tuesday... woot. I'm done wtih class and it's 11:00. Had a test this morning... bite me professor Yee! Cold hearted, mean spirited woman that one is! I sweat she writes the tests so we fail. I'm not making that up, ask anyone in or outside of that class, they will tell you the same thing. Anyway... I'm apathetic... this is bad... we'll see what happens for the rest of this week.

The Last Month

2006-03-10T18:35:00.000-06:00

Well... it's been a month so I thought I'd let you all know what I was up to. Currently sitting next to Neumy on the couch and watching the Hawks not rebound with the rents. Hmm... what a GREAT way to spend a Friday night! Sarcasm..... I do love the rents tho. Anyway... after I do this I think I'll head to Starbucks for some quality homework time. I am sooo interesting!

Anyway... school has been going ok. It was hard to get back into the swing of things after I got back to school after the funeral and everything. It was so strange. I'd been living this other life for almost a week and then it was back to reality. Reality sucks by the way. Spent a lot of time with Kaitlin and Symens just hanging out and watching movies. I was sick the next weekend which sucked. Went out on a very expensive date with Kaitlin and Todd. Todd is the chair of my subcommittee of senate and was Kaitlin's orientation leader. She has basically been in love with him since the beginning so when we found out he was up for grabs at the date auction, we picked him up! I'm not going to tell you what we paid for him because that is just embarrassing. The date was so fun. Included dinner at Red Lobster, I'd never been there before, a Movie, Glory Road (ehh...), and dance lessons, so much fun! It also included an extra but you will have to ask to hear about that one!

Otherwise it was back to classes and friends and dorm life... the usual. People that knew what had happened sort of shyed away from me at first. Didn't know what to say or how to act. I wanted to scream! It was so hard because I didn't have a place to go. There was no where to go where I could be alone and no one would ask questions or stare blankly. That is why I spent so much time in Symens' room. The guys there didn't ask questions and they didn't feel sorry for me and they left me alone. I was free to have fun and do whatever. Kaitlin and I just chilled really. I felt bad becasue I hadn't been spending as much time with the roommate and the other girls who spend a lot of time in my room. Didn't watch our scheduled shows and didn't eat with them either. It was sort of hard because I was really mad at J for awhile. She tried to be my mom and I just didn't need that. It's really hard to explain and I wont get into it here. I've been doing a lot of thinking and what not and I still don't know what to do about other people, but I know what I need to do for me. And right now, that is all that is important.

The last few weeks have pretty much been a blur at school. I'm at home for spring break, I know... super early, but it is because of our schedule. Friday and Saturday I pretty much just hung around the house. Saturday I did the JDRF Walk for the Cure with my friend Becca. She was diagnosed with juvenile (sp?) diabetes three years ago and since I was home I wanted to do the walk with her. Two other people we graduated with were there and it was good to see both of them. Then I had lunch with Joshua, went to Poozit's jazz band thing, which was AMAZING!, and then did a bunch of errands. I got home, took a shower, and put in a movie. I had gotten so tea at Starbucks so I made that and slowly sipped while I did my laundry and relaxed. My friend Steven came over late and hung out for awhile. It was good to see him. Sunday I woke up early and drove the the ginormous town of Delhi, Iowa. And when I say ginormous I mean the size of my high school! A few girls from school and I were going to leave for Chicago but weather didn't let us leave til Monday morning. Did I mention that I was going 35 mph for quite awhile when going down highway 20?! Yeah... stupid weather. And then on the way home it poured. God must not have wanted me to have good driving conditions.

Chicago was good. We stayed with Jessi's super rich uncle. His house was beautiful! He took us out for Thai food on Monday and then to a semi-formal french/American restaurant on Tuesday night. We drove his Jag with a beeping sensor that let him know when he was too close to something when reversing. Yeah... life of the rich and famous! While in Chi town we saw Michigan Ave., The aquarium,where I picked out Dad's new fish, the art museum, and Navy Pier. It was a lot of fun. We took the train everywhere and then walked from the stations. We had decent weather on Monday, wet and misty but not bad, and then Tuesday it was pretty nice and sunny. We stopped at an outlet mall on the way back and spent a lot of money at the Gap outlet... what can I say... I'm a fan of the Gap!

Wednesday Steven talked me into stopping in Ames on the way home to go to their Intramural championship basketball game. I had dinner with Sara and one of her friends and then we hung out with the guys for awhile before the game. They were behind in the beginning but came back and won. Apparently they had lost to this team previously in the season. So... Go Fighting Banana Slugs! Woot. After the game we went back to Martin and hung out. The guys celebrated like champions and decided they didn't need to do anything because... They were the champions! I ended up staying in Ames and watched Collateral with Steven. Good movie. Anyway... Got up early Thursday morning and drove hom to go to work at the golf course. Dave and Steve were working so it was good. Got to catch up with them. Had to learn the new touch screen cash register. Basically I've never been formally trained on the ones at the Vee and I get them so I played with the one at the course for awhile and I got it down I think. It is so much easier than the old register that sucked! So... whoo hoo for a pay check!

Tomorrow Monica said she might stay here on her way thru back from Baltimore. Haven't heard from her tho so I'm not sure. Anywho... Sunday it is back to school. Ehh... I'm hoping things will get better after break. Four weeks left of classes then Easter and then finals. I can't believe this year is almost over. It all went so fast! Rooming for next year is due the week after we get back. I hope there is someone working on that over break. I have a good idea of who is and my guess is she is perfecting it as I sit here and type. Well, I think this update is done. I'll try to keep you posted thru March and April. Then in May it is MEXICO! I'm so excited!!!!!

Later all....

This is for you...

2006-02-07T18:10:00.000-06:00

Incubus, "When It Comes," Make Yourself

To see you when I wake up
is a gift I didn't think could be real.
To know that you feel the same as I do
is a three-fold, utopian dream.
You do something to me that I can't explain.
So would I be out of line if I said,
I miss you.
I see your picture, I smell your skin on the empty pillow next to mine.
You have only been gone ten days, but already I'm wasting away.
I know I'll see you again
whether far or soon.
But I need you to know that I care
and I miss you.

Van Morrison

2006-02-07T01:26:00.000-06:00

So I'm listening to The Best of Van Morrison currently and I just got a flashback to the night of the wine party when my mom went crazy listening to this song on the aPod. I just remember the look on Neuman's face while this was taking place. So I just laughed out loud a little.

Anyway... the point to this was to tell you all that I applied to be an Orientation Leader and I got the job! Sweet! I'm really excited because Kaitlin is one too which means we get to move in together in August and then hang out together before everyone gets here. I'm so excited!

On different note, I had a huge Accounting test this morning. I'm pretty sure I made stuff up. Owell... I don't think I did well but I didn't do that poorly either. We'll see on Friday. Just Studied for 4 hours for the Macro test I have tomorrow. I swear, the material isn't that hard, it is just the way the test is written. The prof is cold-hearted and mean-spirited! When I tell people that they just look at me like I'm crazy but I read one of the questions to Spanky and she agreed with me on this one. I stopped studying for the night because I can't look at that any more! And there are voices in the hallway... what the heck... it's 1:30! So... we'll see how all this goes down next week.

Tomorrow I'm giving blood at 12:30... P.S. SCARED! AHHH!!! I hate needles. I'm so dumm for willingly signing up to do this. Owell... it's something for a good cause. I'm sure I can handle it! Then tomorrow night I'm off to DSM for the Iowa Legislative Conference or something like that. I'm just going to follow a friend around because she is a senior and way smarter than me. That way I wont look like a dummass! So... wish me luck!

My life is really not that bad when you consider who my family is...

2006-02-02T02:12:00.000-06:00

well... to my family... I miss you all... I'm sorry I haven't been posting... my life is full of meaningless things right now and those things are better left to be read by my friends. An update was necessary tho. It is currently almost 2 and as I sit here blogging I want to cry. I've have a pretty shitty last few weeks. I know... what is wrong with me. I'm in college, shouldn't I be living the life... I'm not. What it comes down to is that I like to surround myself with a multitude of different people because I like to have friends everywhere I go. Some people don't understand that. I have to be careful what I write because I've gotten in trouble twice now about things I have written. I should apologize for what I write and I don't. My blogs are a form of escape for me. They allow me to get out what I need to, while maintain composure.

I've been having issues with some of my friends. Not only friends at the BURG but friends at home as well. I miss a lot of them and it was bittersweet coming back in January. I had spent an amazing three weeks at home rebuilding friendships with different people. I loved that! I had a pretty crappy summer when it came to friends. I had a few that were always there for me no matter what but with everything tha twent down over graduation, I lost a lot too. One of those friends and I are not having the best of times right now. He is still in high school and I think our lives have finally gotten to the point where it is just too difficult to understand what the other is going through. I don't really get this as we have never had this problem until just recently. I miss him... a lot. He was there for me this summer when people I'd been close to for years were not. He was there for everything. Every moment, every laugh, every giggle we ever shared. He was there to hold my hand when I was scared to come to college. He was there when I just needed a shoulder to cry on. And now... now I stare at his face everyday and wonder why it is we haven't talked in almost a month.

Then there is my other friend. We have a different sort of relationship. This person is someone I am very honest and open with and likewise they are with me. This person has been having issues like mine and when I finally talked to them today after 5 days of silence, I was told they were having problems that just needed to be worked out and that no one could help. I belive the quote was, "it's everything and it's nothing." I just wish I could help. I know I can by listening, but they have to be willing to talk first. I've had some issues with this person for a few weeks. Just different things going on... like they said, things get misconstrued over the internet. Never did that hit home harder than today. But that is the reason the blogging is done on that site for awhile. If I can't write in peace then what is the point. Yeah, I like a little controversy, but not over a stupid blog for pete's sake. Anyway.... I care about this person a lot and it kills me that I can't do anything right now... I guess I'll just have to wait it out...

Life is terrible right now. I broke down and called home on my way to the library. Then I stood in the middle of campus and balled for awhile... that was cool. By the time I got to my homework help my hand was so numb I couldn't feel the keyboard. He didn't appreciate it when I put my hand on his face either. I got to talk to my daddy which was good. With everthing that is going on in all of our lives it hardly seems fair to burden other people with my problems. Especially my family... I miss you all terribly and I love you so much. Sometimes I just wish I wasn't a nice person. If I were a bitch life would be so much easier. Then people would really have a reason to be threatened by and scared of me. Here I go... I've wanted to cry for days now... and I finally got it. I cried more tonight than I have since graduation. And the tears at graduation were not happy either.

I know that I want to live with Kaitlin next year. I know this. We were practically made for eachother. We went to MovieKnight at 11:30 tonignt and discovered that we have the same taste in soda, sub, and boys. Yes... both of us went on our first real date with the one and only Matt Gardner. OH HELP US NOW! I love KD and I would love to live with her. The only problem is telling that to other people. But again, not going to get into that here because that will get me in trouble.

Thanks to my father for making my life just a little bit better tonight. And thank you to my good friends who stand by me no matter what. I love you all and miss you so much! I'm sorry this is depressing but I leave you with what my very wise father told me tonight:

Serenity Prayer
God,
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

CS 100

2006-01-12T15:10:00.000-06:00

So... just becuase this is HILARIOUS! I must share it with the world. Today I went to my last new class entitled CS 100 or Computer Science something something... a basic computer class teaching me how to use Word, Excel, Power Point, and about other software and hardware. Sweet... required for business majors. Anyway... the point is that it shouldn't be too terribly difficult. It is a half credit class that meets once a week for an hour and forty minutes. The prof is an ad-junct who is only here on Tuesdays and Thursdays because he has another job. He made his presentation including all these points and the facts that the class probably didn't mean much to any of us students and it really didn't mean much to him. He only teaches here because his wife is a social work prof here and he moved when she got the job. Anyway... the main point to this little anecdote is that my sweatshirt and jeans wearing ad-junct of a prof has a MULLET! NO JOKE!!! A MULLET! Complete with a little bald spot on the top of his head! HAHA!!!! Made me laugh right away. So... I leave all of you with that... other that the dealing with a techy prof who has a mullet, thinks he's funny and is smarter than God when it comes to computers therefore speaks a language I am just starting to understand, the class doesn't look like it will be that bad... I'll keep you posted tho... Ciao!

2006-01-11T12:15:00.000-06:00

Well hello there... I haven't updated this in awhile so I thought I shall. It's noon and I'm done with class! WHAT!!! That never happens to me. I had lunch and I think I'm going to get some homework done while I digest before I go for a run. Yes... I said run. I ran flat footed yesterday apparently because my shins hurt like no other today. Had to change my shoes to I could walk properly.

So classes started yesterday. I only have one class on Tuesdays so that was relatively painless. Getting back into a routine is hard. Mashing schedules together for meals and whatnot is also becoming an issue. Otherwise... it is going well. I have one class that only meets on Thursday so I haven't had that yet but the rest of my classes seem to be ok. There is NO ONE in my accounting class. My friend Alex decided he was going to sit by me this semester so he would pay attention. This morning I saw him waiting in the hall and I was like so what's the deal... is that our class or a different class. He said it was ours and he walked in with saying he was going to sit by me so he didn't end up next to someone he didn't know. He also told me yesterday that I was going to be his tutor again. Not that I mind however because he was pretty much my first crush here at the BURG. And that ended poorly and now I just like to do my accounting homework with him. So...

All my friends are back. Sounds like everyone enjoyed their break for the most part. Jenna took her big chair out of our room and Spanky put hers where the blue one was. It used to sit in the middle of the room and now that it is against the wall it feels like there is so much more room. I would really like to rearrange but I don't think that will happen any time soon. Out lofts are HUGE and with the back support beams it would just be funny. So... maybe someday soon we can figure it out. Ahh...

Well... going to get to that Econ homework so I can go for a run before my meeting later this afternoon.

Later Kids...

P.S. I highly recommend 3's new post... highly amusing...

Santa is My New Sugar Daddy

2005-12-28T18:26:00.000-06:00

Hello all... I hope everyone's Christmas(es) was good. Mine were wonderful! Christmas Eve I worked at the good ol' Vee for seven hours, I got off early, the day before was hell in the bakery but the store was PACKED on Saturday. When I got off work I came home and showered and then the fam went to church. I kept telling my mom during the homily I was getting knocked. I was joking. The homily was about vices and what people perceive to be their savior when the only savior is Jesus. He talked about a little girl who used the most expensive wrapping to wrap a gift for her father. The little girl wrapped an empty box and the dad was furious that she used expensive wrapping for nothing. When he expressed his anger the little girl cried and responded that she had blown kisses into the box for her father so it was not in fact empty. The dad felt horrible for this and until the day he died he slept with the box of kisses from his daughter next to his bed. It was cute and he made a good point.

After mass we came home and had bleu cheese soup. Now, this was an.... interesting... soup to say the least. It was good but it had a strange consistency. Sort of mushy and liquidy. Ehh... it was good. Mom and Dad can get you the recipe if it sounds like something you want. Then we got to open a present and after that I pretty much went to bed. I was TIRED! It was a good thing we went to bed early because Sarah kept saying, "8 hours and 12 minutes til we open gifts." She was referring to 5 AM! And sure enough the dork got up at 5 and so the rest of us followed suit. Mommy and Daddy got me a digital camera, a fleece jacket, a coffee mug that looks like a coffee cup(super cool), and spanish magnetic word poetry. I did pretty well! And poozit got me a cool ring and my AWESOME pink disco ball. It is sweet! The best was the look on Sarah's face when she opened her ORANGE sweatshirt which I told her was neither orange nor black. She was ticked until she opened it. And then of course there was the scavenger hunt I sent her on to get the keychain I bought for her. It is orange and black and says "Little Sis" on it. Super cute! She was pissed I made her hunt for it... the rest of us laughed!
This was Neumy in the big box from the TV my mom bought for daddy.

After Christmas at 5 AM we had breakfast, eggstuff again!, and then I went back to sleep. We then got dressed and went to the nursing home to see Grandma. She looked pretty good. Here are some of the pictures I took at the nursing home:

We call this the DRAGON LADY LOOK!

Anyway... After the nursing home we went to the Seamens and had a FANTASTIC dinner. SO GOOD! And the presents weren't bad either. My family is beginning to know me so well. I got coffee and underwear... what else do I need?! And a super cute HUGE pink bag! AHHHH... OOBER EXCITED! With all the Christmas money I got I was able to buy myself a pod. However... I am calling it my aPod and not my iPod. I got the white one so I could get a pink cover... how me! HeHe...

Anyway... the last two days I have been off work. Yesterday mom, poozit, and I went shopping and had lunch at HuHot... SO GOOD! And then I hung out with my friend Steven last night. Mom had her wine tasting party last night so I didn't really want to be around... so I left! From what I have heard it sounds like the party went pretty well. Glad to know they all had fun. Well... I'm going to try the picture thing one more time and if it doesn't work... the GRRRRR!!! Alright... here goes...

BTW.. I didn't take a bad picture of her ALL DAY! What is wrong here!!!

Christmas Mueller Style

2005-12-18T16:21:00.000-06:00

Well here we are. Not one day after and here I am blogging. Kicking Tony's ass for sure! Altho his will be way better as they always are. Anyway, We arrived in Cedar Rapids about 10, after getting yelled at for taking time to get good coffee when dad took 10 minutes to get crappy coffee. And suprisingly, it only took us 2 hours, not 2 and a half like it the scenic tour of NE Iowa took on the way to the Baranowski's for the fourth. So like every year, upon arrival there was egg stuff. YUM! I decided that since I only get egg stuff once a year that I would OD and eat til I was full. I also enjoyed a chocolate cherry cookie right away! YUMMI!!!

After the egg stuff there was cleaning up and then all hell broke loose. We started the mass open all your gifts at once thing. Megan and Jake were quick to help anyone and everyone open their presents. They opened theirs with great cheer and then abandoned them about as quickly as they got them open. Megan did spend the day with her wooden knife slicing fruit and other food that was velcroed together. Someone commented that everytime they turned they turned around Megan was playing with a carb... a girl after my own heart! Jacob seemed to be impressed with the large, furry Kong hands Aunt Stacy gave him. They made noises and Megan was slightly scared by them. Oh the knack Aunt Stacy has for giving gifts parents are sure to hate!

With all the commotion in the room, I really didn't get to see what everyone else got. In case you missed mine, I got a cute coin purse and cash from Aunt D; cash from Aunt C and Mike; an awesome pink ensamble and a cute cupcake ornament from Aunt S; oober sweet earings from Dana; fuzzy socks, much needed PJ pants, a cute purse, and an awesome pink scarf which matches half my wardrobe; I got two great looking books from the newlyweds and managed to keep Tony from calling me a tool too many times. The best gift, however, had to be The Stones tickets given to Uncle T. The expression on his face, even the tears in his eyes, which I'm sure he appreciates me sharing with everyone, were priceless. Something he is sure to never forget. And likewise, you all know that he got some pretty interesting gifts OTHER than his tickets and a trip to Nebraska Funiture Mart.

I'm trying to remember the highlights and I know there were so many things that should be recorded forever that I can't seem to remember at the time. There was of course Dana sitting on the couch realizing that perhaps Grandma had meant something by the "Expanding Donut Pants." After the mass Christmas cluster there was some down time where we all lounged and relaxed. I think I fell asleep for about 45 minutes, it was nice. Then we all sat around and enjoyed Orville. Sara KB-Toys seemed to get the most enjoyment out of the pig. She kept saying, "I hear he was a good bowler," and "Orville has a nice ass." (No filter when they are direct quotes mom!) Dana and I had a discussion about how there is no 'K' in the word "magic." Had to be there.... Another good gift giving technique was in the form of the picture Chad and Holli used as gift tags for everyone's present. Hmm... if I had my computer I could scan the pic in. If Tony doesn't do it I will do it when I get back to school. Let's just say that one would give even the toughest of men nightmares. (I'm gonna get shot for that)

The day ended after supper and we all sat around talking and enjoying eachothers company. All in all, it was a good day. Per usual and to be expected, there was lots of noice, ruckus, and movement all the time. And, lots of people in one tiny space. Owell... nothing major took place so I think we can call ourselves good. That's it for now. I think I'm gonna go read one of my new books and unpack all my stuff... Merry Christmas everyone! And thank for all the good stuff!

I'm done... for a few weeks anyway...

2005-12-16T00:04:00.000-06:00

Wow... first semester at the BURG has officially come and gone. So strange to think that at this time last year I was pissed because Christmas break wasn't going to be long enough. And now... I wondering what I am going to do for the next three weeks. Work, quite a bit. Enjoy my friends and family, sleep!, and take a break from books. Only free reading for the next few weeks. I never knew what it was like to appreciate a free reading book until I was forced to read so much for class. Reading for class is not always the most fun, therefore reading not for class is! Anyway...

I don't know about the rest of you but I feel as though I've changed. Not a lot and not for the worse, just changed. I always felt pretty independent but now that I actually live on my own I am independent. I'm free to decide what I am going to do, when I am going to do it, and the manner in which I will do something. Strange I know... Alyssa has the power of decision. The boys give me crap because they say I can't make a decision... I'll be the first in line to agree with them. However, I've been pretty good lately. And I've been able to make decisions faster and without the help of my mommy (sorry mommy). I still do call her every once in awhile when I need help tho.

As for my grades... hmm... I think my transcript will show that I put most of my effort into the classes for my major and minor. BTW... I love business... as much as I stressed and flipped out about Accounting I loved the class. And I listen to Angela and Monica study Bio and Chem and it makes me happy that I do numbers. The stuff they talk about makes my head hurt and I often remind them of that. On the plus side, I have learned some new vocabulary. One such word being "tetrapod," or something with 4 legs. When Monica told me what it meant I asked if I could call my cat a tetrapod and she said yes. Therefore... if you hear me refer to el gato as tetrapod, you will know why. Apparently whales are tetrapods too... explain that?!

My friends... they're cool. Some more than others... but I love them all. They have added so much to my life. Here is a little insert from the letter I wrote to all my friends before break:

Monica and Angela teach me about tetrapods and Shangri-la. Zach and Carl don’t always teach me but are always willing to point out the fact that I don’t come from a “real” city. Kate, Jessi, and Adam teach me about petting cows, going to school with less that 100 people in a graduating class, and about knowing everyone and their second-cousin’s-uncle’s dog. KD taught me about most of the girls on our floor and how to have a midnight chats in the bathroom. Jill taught me about being a republican in the most liberal city in Iowa and about hot-tubing outside when it is freezing. Kristine taught me about Manheim Steamroller and only she and Zach can truly understand what it means to take a class with Richard Schneider. And Jenna taught me about listening to musicals for enjoyment.

They all taught me way more than that, but that was what I could get into a light note about my life at the BURG thus far. Last night Centennial 2 and Hebron 2 got in a huge snowball fight. It was actually more like war. We has strategery and all. Kaitlin Doyle and I ended up on the boys side for awhile. Then it turned into every man for himself and the boys pack snow and throw it pretty hard... we were done after that! BTW... it is really sad when your shoulder is sore from throwing snow. So KD and I called it a night and sat down on the couches someone had built out of the snow earlier that day. Pretty funny if you ask me. I watched out my window and people got ambushed on their way out of the complex all day yesterday. I just laughed and went out the other door!

Alright kids... it is semi-late... and I have to get crap done tomorrow. So... it is off to Shangri-la for me. In otherwords a "utopia nearing perfection." I just call it my happy place...

Sweet Dreams

See most of you in a day or two!

Adventures in the Wartburg Desert

2005-12-12T16:07:00.000-06:00

Well hello again to all. It is Monday, December 12, 2005, and studying for finals is finally starting to get to me. I studdied about 10-12 hours for one test, one very large test might I add. We shall see how it turns out. For now, I will tell you about my adventures last night as we went out for midnight breakfast. (this might be a siewert/drug bust story)

The time approached for us to wander out into the snow covered campus that was Wartburg College. For some reason, Monica decided that she needed a ride to the Mensa. So... on she jumped and we trecked the whole 200 yards from Volmer to the student center. We traveled in a pack so as not to get lost. With Monica on my back, there was nothing to fear, I was actually quite warm and I was getting a decent work out. With the exception of Monica squirming every few seconds, the venture was relatively easy. There was snow on the ground, a crips breeze in the air, and the sound of laughter was in the air as we made our way, minding the crazy Wartburg squirrels, to the student senter. Once in the dillema was this: could I make it up the stairs with Monica on my back? Answer: yes, I could in fact carry Monica up the stairs on my back. The whole way Monica kept asking me what type of animal I would be. I told her in a past life I once was a llama and so, Monica elaborated on a largely false story involving her travels across the Wartburg desert with her faithful llama as her ride.

No point, I know, but something funny that made us laugh last night before we all went crazy studying! And, I think I am going to go crazy soon. Just talk to me on Thursday after 10. Then, I will be officially on break and have not a care in the world. Well... just two cares... the first being my baby, or my mother's granddaughter as she called it, and the second being my form of transportation. Unfortunately I don't have a llama to take me everywhere like Monica does.

Peace out!

I shall return to the books... or hit them as Monica does...

Study Break #2

2005-12-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

Study Break #2

Points to Ponder...

Angela: There's a wet spot on our floor? (Implying that someone had in fact taken a leak on our floor) Alyssa: Probably from where Jenna was just standing...

Monica: You know what... we have created a term, "Loftworthy." Meaning someone is worthy to go on the "bedframe of shame."

Monica: Did you blog about the time you almost fell out of your loft this week?
Alyssa: No

So here goes, I crawled into bed the other night about 11 because I was super tired and done with my paper. Monica had been laying on our floor since 6:30 with a large chemistry book in front of her. This book can only be compared to the Physicians Desk Reference, Aunt Candy and my mother are probably the only people out there who know how ginormous this book is. Anyway, I screamed a hair-raising scream which lead Monica to believe that she had almost just died, Angela started laughing, and Jenna wondered what the hell was going on over here. Anyway, this started a laughing fit for me which lasted about 5 minutes straight. My tummy hurt after. Monica then began to beat her head against the book on the floor. All I remember was hugging the wall for the rest of the night singing myself songs from RENT while trying to fall asleep.

Carl: So do I warrant a shower? Alyssa: mmm... maybe. I might just take a shower later for purely my own benefit. Carl: thanks, I feel important now... Alyssa: I know, I have a way of making people feel that way. Don't worry, I will shower for you.

Study Break

2005-12-10T15:41:00.000-06:00

Study Break #1:

Points to Ponder...

Apparently, the tingling sensation that you feel when you apply your Carmex comes from the burning of epidermal tissue caused by the camphor in the Carmex.

Did you know that if you travel to Eqypt to see the ancient pyramids you will first encounter a Super Walmart as there is one located in front of the pyramids. As Monica pointed out, they probably way over charge on water.

Fill in the blank: ______ with your eyes and your heart. (Listen)

A Semester Come and Gone....

2005-12-10T12:16:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am kids... I'm almost through my first semester as a college freshman. I have to admit, it was just as I expected it to be, yet it was nothing like I expected all at the same time. And there there were those things that I never could think of the expect. I don't like to live my life with expectations because then everything is always a let down. Same reason I don't like to get excited about things, always turns out to be a big let down.

Anyway, I am sitting here on Saturday morning, after spending two hours eating breakfast, waiting, and then shopping and standing in line some more in the bookstore. Twenty percent off everything Wartburg today only. Black Friday... Black Saturday at the BURG. I got some quality stuff... I'm excited. And Sarah, if you read this, don't worry, you will be hunting for your present. No one else has to hunt... just Sarah. So... some-odd amount of dollars and some cents later... Alyssa is done!

Last night was pretty lazy. After class I went to Lex Smith's house. He is the Dean of Students, or so I think, and his house is pretty nice. However, lots of people plus lots of Christmas stuff equals not enough space. Their house was beautiful anyway. However, I did not receive a secret senator gift. Hmm... not so good. Owell. My secret senator seemed to quite enjoy her travel light bright. I want one... five dollars... Wallmart... go! C Batteries... five dollars... Wallmart... go! Then I went out to eat with a bunch of my friends in Cedar Falls. We tried for Texas Roadhouse... didn't so much work out. So we settled for Applebees. We were seated in a third of the time, and we didn't have to split our group. I asked Mertz to go with us. He graduated with me and happens to live down the street from the Seamens. We had a good time and I'm glad I asked him to go. Looking forward to two hours in the car with him as he is taking me home. Stupid car....

When we got back to the BURG, Jessi and I went down to Hebron ground, the boys dorm, and played DDR with a cowboy. You may think cowboy huh...? I am telling you... cowboy. Tight black jeans, orange wartburg t shirt, boots, and hat! Gotta love it. However, I used to see him traveling campus all the time and because he is so distinct, I always said I wanted to meet him. Well... I met him. He is a pretty nice kid. Then I went over to the "trash can" aka Clinton Hall. Found my friend Pie and we wandered. We ended up back in my room where he ate my last package of easy-mac and then we listened to music and laid on my absolutely disgusting, in need of vaccuming floor. When he left I was so comfortable on the floor that I asked him for my blankies and my teddy bear. He covered me with my blanket and I curled up with the soft glow of my computer playing the sweet melodies of John Mayer. You may think sleeping on the floor was a bad thing, and yes, my back is a little stiff this morning, but it was good. I like sleeping on the floor every once in awhile. So...

And now... I'm sitting here because it is 11:30 and I am thinking about when and how I should start studying for my finals. The thing of it is, I only really have two. I know I know... Dana, Tony and Sara are probably yelling at their monitors as I write this, but I really do only have two finals. And my Spanish final, probably going to be easier than the one Sarah is going to take as a junior in high school. So... I am, however, slightly paranoid about the Accounting final. I have done pretty well on all of his tests. And I have studdied pretty hard for two of three of them. And... the kicker... I have an A. It is an A, but it isn't a solid A which means it isn't stable. Meaning I need at get at least an 85 percent or higher to keep this grade. Hmm... I've gotten above that on every test, but this is a final. The thing of it is... Magnall likes to add a bunch of crap into his multiple choice questions that you don't need. Thus, you get super confussed and start to second guess yourself. Argh... ratios, concets, journal entries, principles, and more ratios will be dancing through my head for the next few days. And on Monday... done!

I don't know, I don't think I really expected anything different from my classes. It isn't that they are harder, there is just more work. More reading, more homework that you don't have to do because you don't turn it in but you are stupid not to do it because it only benefits yourself, and more time. Owell... I'm not worried as of yet, when I move into my higher level business classes, then you can see me freaking out! Hmm... whatever, to be determined in the future!

As for my social life here at the BURG. I don't think I could have asked for a more perfect place for me. There is everything here and all types of people for me to mingle with. I have my friends who I like to hang out with and watch Nip/Tuck, movies, and just hang out with. Then I have my friends that I like to go out with. The "partiers" I suppose you could say. I have fun with both groups and I love all of them equally. I just wish they could get along better. But then again, it seems as tho all of my friends have other friends that the rest of us don't really care for. It isn't that we don't get along, which sometimes we don't, it is more like we just don't care for that type of person or that person in particular. Owell... I don't hate or strongly dislike anyone so I guess I'm doing alright. Lets just say I have friends from all walks of life. I love them all.... you all... if you read this.

And my friends from home... I love them too. I miss some of them. I can't wait to see them all over break. It seems so strange that we have all gone off and started new lives for ourselves. But then again, I think we needed a break from J-Town. It makes coming home that myuch sweeter. Altho I don't really have a whole lot of people to go home to. The ones that I do have are just that much more special to me and have a certain place in my heart. I don't know... I should really start doing something productive now tho... Wish me luck with my finals... I'm going to need it on Monday morning. And perhaps for the paper I have due by 1:30 on Wednesday... hmm.... peace out!

Super Random... Like Super Troopers

2005-12-01T01:27:00.000-06:00

Hello all... Writing because I have been scorned by my cousin who has apparently decided that since he is back he can start harrassing me about not posting even tho he didn't post for TWO MONTHS! Anyway... we needn't get picky here...

Not too much going on. Listening to random music on the computer. It all started out with a post by a friend entitled "Love... the kind you clean up with a mop" made me think of The Bad Touch but the Bloodhound Gang... oh... seventh grade! So that got me to thinking about how I don't have a recording of that since I lost my only one on a CD in Spain. So Steven sent me the file over AOL and I danced and sang all the words twice! whoo hooo!!! Yay for being stupid! Then I started listeing to other random good songs... we are at Hey Girl by OAR right now!

Gosh... I don't even know what to write about. Turkey Day was good. Got to see the fam of course and Grandma and I spent a quality drive in the car on I-80. It was fun. I'm actually pretty excited for Christmas this year. Probably because I haven't seen a lot of the fam since the wedding and becuase it will mean I get to be a college student without college homework for 3 weeks! You And Me... Lifehouse... good song! Anyway... excited to see the fam and the friends I didn't get to see while I was at home this time.

I swear... the water here at the BURG sucks! It is so hard and my skin is getting so DRY! When I go home it is like taking a shower in Aquafina! SOO GOOD! And I don't have to wear flip-flops! Another bonus to not sharing your shower with 33 other people! I wish I had heard a good joke recently. But I have not. Hmm... sucks to be me! Actually... right now... with the exception of my JAM PACKED day of meetings and homework tomorrow... it doesn't suck so much to be me. My Hump... Black Eyed Peas! Um.. what else. Life is pretty good... Carl offered to make out with me so what more do I need?! HAHA! It is his birthday on Friday so we will see what happens... JUST KIDDING! He is WAY too skinny for me! We Danced Anyway... Deena Carter!

So totally sitting backwards in my chair cross legged right now. And I'm not sure why... RANDOM! This is a random blog. Ok... so my legs fell asleep... that was interesting! Bless The Broken Road....Rascall Flatts! So good... I really should be asleep. I was tired two hours ago. What happened?! I Hope You Dance... LeAnn Womak! Oh... takes me back to volleyball and Wanda. HAHAHA!!! They totally lost AGAIN! And Dumbass got coach of the year... explain that to me! Tony... you are a sports person... maybe you understand it?!

I seriously have not a lot to write about. I only have 4 classes left in all of my classes! WHOO HOO!!! Then finals... BOO HOO!!!! OH... our floor won 30 dollars for our decorations! We are the shit! Actually... the hall isn't that great... I just think our idea was creative. Jenna thought it would be cool to put the lyrics of a Christmas song on the doors around the hall so we did the 12 Days of Wartburg... or something like that. It is funny... sort of... I wasn't there for most of it so I don't get it all but whatever. Colour My World... Chicago! The good Chicago... not the crap musical! Anyway... I think I'm going to peace out now. So... catch you all later!

The Weekend of All Weekends!

2005-11-07T23:42:00.000-06:00

O My GOSH! That is about all I can say about this weekend. It was AMAZING! I can't describe it to you! I am so happy I decided to go to Ames for the OAR concert on Saturday night. I had a blast. I got to see Josh...and Butter! And she is right...seeing Butter made the whole night even more worth it. I had a blast with her. And what better than to be with two of my closest friends on the same night...together!

Other than the immense amount of smoking ciggarettes and other plants, the concert was great! I smelled like the reefer when I got back to Steven and Mitch's room but whatev! I changed and played cards with the boys. Trevor and Messmaker were there...it was fun. I haven't spent a Saturday night like that in a long time and I loved every minute of it. Minus the going to bed at 4:30am part becuase Steven and Messy got in a minor tizzy...owell...witnessing Messy fall out of the loft and have an aesthma attack...was totally worth it. That makes me sound like a terrible person...but even he was laughing about it! Anywho...good times...

The rest of the weekend was dece. Got to talk to my mommy most of the way home which was good because I forgot how much I miss talking to her for hours on end. And then my daddy stopped to see me on his way home from the cabin. Minus him smelling like deer blood...I'm glad he stopped. I think he scared Jenna tho. When he got here I was around the corner and he asked Jenna if I always leave my door "wide ass open." And no, I usually don't but Jenna was standing in the hall not two feet from my door. She goes..."I think your dad is here...he swore at me..." I asked what he said and she told me. I told her that yes indeed that was my dad and he didn't swear at her...it was funny. I talked to poozie on Sunday too...sounds like she had a good time at Leadership. Ahh...leadership...weekend full of fake emotions...not fake...but emotions brought about by all the sentimental crap you have to do. Nonetheless...a good time!

Well...I should be off to bed...just a little note about my weekend...I have to do research ALL day tomorrow! Wish me luck...call me periodically to make sure I don't fall asleep in the library again!

peace out

I DON'T Suck at Life! (part 2)

2005-11-02T12:19:00.000-06:00

Whoo hoo! I don't suck at life again! I got a 93/100 on my spanish essay and 59/70 on my midterm! Whoo hooo! This was just an update...think of it as a public service announcement. O yeah...and why is it that I'm doing better in college than I did last year in high school? Mom...you can't answer that question because I don't want to fight! Kapeesh! That is so spelled wrong so it's probably a good thing numbers are my friends and not letters. Whoo Hoo...and I actually read for IS class today so I can contribute to discussion! Whoo Hoo!! Alright...peace out!

I DON'T Suck at Life!

2005-11-02T10:27:00.000-06:00

I so don't suck at life! Or accounting! It is official...I think I can handle this now. I got my second accounting test back today. I got 74 out of 84 or an 88 percent. This is pretty good considering 6 people failed out right and the average score was a 75 percent. I was so scared going into this test! So scared. I studied all day on Sunday despite not feeling well. It paid off too...granted I did make some stupid mistakes that were the difference between and A and a B but I will take a B over a C any day and I thought I was going to get a C. On the first test I studied for maybe half an hour and I got an 89.8 percent...so close to an A. But that stuff was easy and I understood it right away. So anyway...finally confirmation that business wasn't the wrong major for me. I actually like accounting, quite a bit. Once I understand it anyway. Next semester I'm in macro so that should be pretty intersting too. I had to talk with my advisor about my schedule for next semester. I was in Accounting II, Statistical Methods, Spanish III, and Macroeconomics. Whew...that's a lot! So I got it reduced to Accounting II, Spanish III, Macro, and a CS 100 class or intro to computer science which meets one day a week and is required to graduate. So...three computational courses but I should be ok as I'm no longer in STAT! AHH...I do however have to take Stat, just not next semester.

Moving on...in an hour we will find out if Spanish is the right minor for me. I get my midterm and composition back next class. Ahh...but I'm not really worried...sort of having a flashback to the semester test at the end of first semester last year. Let's just say it wasn't good...so yeah...not feeling so well but I thought it was semi-easy and I'm not too concerned about the grammar part as I learned all that stuff when I was a sophomore in high school. Anywho....OH! And another basketball player and a football player are going to Mexico with me in May...let's just say I'm pumped! I get to spend three weeks in Mexico with these boys...ok!

Let's see, what else...I don't really have a lot to write about. I can't get my pictures to work which is really pissing me off. Hmm...I had a great birthday. Thanks to all that sent cards and/or cupcakes. Those were quite popular! Oh...I got an A on my very first college paper last week! It was awesome...well...Jessi told me it was amazing....and mom never told me what she thought of it...if she read it. Owell... The weekend before fall break I went to Iowa City and stayed with my new cool friend Jill. We went to the Iowa/Michigan game. It was so good! I sat with mommy and daddy...we had fun...especially making fun of the princess in front of us! O dear lord...it was an Iowa game for Christ's sake and she was powdering her nose and applying her lipgloss in the stands! Hehe...the rest of the weekend we all chilled at Jills and met some more of her friends from home. One of my friends, Brad, calls his town Hometown...that way when him and the rest of his friends talk about it it is like they are all from the same place because they never refer to their towns by their real names. He explained it to me one day, apparently it makes them feel closer and like they have a connection to everyone on campus this way...whatever! I think he may have been slightly hungover that morning.

Alright...class calls...suck! I dislike going to class...but don't worry...I always do. Chat with you later...

The Perfect Day

2005-10-12T16:57:00.000-05:00

Well, as you all know, well most of you. Tony and Sara finally tied the knot on Saturday. First off, they could not have asked for a more perfect day. It was beautiful. Perfect, only a little chilly in the shade, but well worth it to see two of my favorite people in the world start their lives together officially. So...I'm going to try to do my best to give adequate justice to one of the best day's of my life, and most definitely of Tony and Sara's and every other member of the family.

The day started off sort of shaky. Had to drive to Cedar Rapids from Urbandale cause it was Homecoming at J-town on Friday night. Got to CR about 11 and met daddy in the parking lot. Got all our crap into the hotel and went upstairs to see Aunty Stacy before she became vital to the wedding events. She looked absolutely gorgeous! But she had a run in her hose and needed to get new ones. Only problem was that she was due at the park in 20 minutes. So I ran down the stairs, jumped in my car, and went to K-mart, Big Line if you will, to get her new hose. I actually got to the park and left again before the wedding party arrived for pictures. It was pretty funny cause Maggie was there and I looked terrible when I first got there. Then after I got all cleaned up she was like, "whoa...I think I met you, but you didn't look like that." So after the hose dilemma everything was pretty much ok.

Sarah and I finished getting ready and then us and mommy headed out for the park. We arived about 2:00 and stood around talking, taking pictures, and thank god, not crying yet. Sarah and I got sort of bored while all this was going on so we decided to mess around with the camera. Some of our work can be found below. Ok, so for some reason my pictures wont load!

Anyway, the ceremony started with Tony walking all the units and grandunits down to their seats. The best part was when he looked at me and and patted his lapel cause his flower was doing something strange. I had already begun the waterworks by this time so a momentary laugh was very much so needed and appreciated. The ceremony was beautiful. The vows... only the type that could be written by two writers. Breath taking...and of course made me cry along with the rest of the family members sitting in our row. Sarah just kept asking herself how she got into a family of "blubbering idiots." I think that is the phrase she coined anyway.

After the ceremony we all picked up our chairs and headed into the lodge for beverages and chat. Then there was the excellent dinner! I'm not just saying that because I wasn't eatting Mensa food, it really was awesome. And the cupcakes...besides the flowers on top that turned my tongue pink...they were good but not quite as good as Aunt Stacy's graduation cupcakes! Then the speaches started. Oh dear lord. I cried again, and then again some more. They were good, from the heart, and with the exception of Tony's three paged typed speech, relatively quick.

This isn't really doing justice to the wedding. Most of you were there, you know how great it was. The day was perfect, the couple was perfect, all the family that could be was there. It was all just so beautiful. And Carrie, sp?, with the exception of Dana of course, was my favorite bridesmade. HAHA. She cracked me up and of course I'm partial as she teaches my language. Anywho...

Everything was perfect and the bride and groom are I'm sure having the time of their life in Mexico right now. I'm sure Tony's retelling of the day will be way better than what I just threw together for you. And to the bride and groom...you should be so happy with everything. I'm so happy for you and you both looked gorgeous on Saturday. Sara, you were beautiful, everything about you was glowing. And Tony, you know you always looked good in a tux. My daddy and the rest of the groomsdudes did too! Alrighty...time for me to do something productive. I wish my pictures would load but they wont for some reason...hmm...

later all

The Run that Cleared My Head

2005-09-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

Good evening kids. This is a very strange blog to write as I really don't know what it is about. All I can say is thank god I have Jenna who lives across the hall from me. Last night I was in a particularly bad mood, not pissed off like I was on monday, just in a bad mood. One of those where I'm super bored and feel as though my life sucks. Upon returning from my SI, I walked into Jenna's room and began to tell her why I was so bored. The thing of it is, I don't know why I'm so bored, just bored in general, bored with my life I guess. Upon seeing a lot of people last weekend, it seemed as though everyone was having way more fun at college than I was. I can't believe I said this, but last night the only thing that sounded good was to get drunk and forget about my life for a few minutes. THIS IS BAD! If any of you know me, you know that I'm not a heavy drinker, in fact I wouldn't say I drank at all and I tell people I don't drink. Sure I've had a few sips here and there since I've been here, but never been to a party and I certainly have not been drunk. So I was talking to Jenna about what I should do about this. Becuase I had the means to get drunk last night, and it seemed like a good idea, but really it wasn't. I have always been a firm believer in the fact that you don't need to drink to have a good time. Even more so you don't need to drink to forget about life because that is the worst thing to do, forget about your life. It's stupid to drink solely because you have nothing else better to do. It is like eatting because you are bored, in the end, it really doesn't benefit you at all.

So anyway, Jenna started listing things to do and for some reason the one that sounded best was go for a run. My tummy kind of hurt so I was like ehh...not to mention the fact that I haven't actually run since basketball my junior year. Yeah, you could say I'm severly out of shape. So finally she was like, go change your clothes, we're going for a run. Dear lord! I told her that I would only be good for about 10 minutes and she said that she didn't think she could do that. OH DEAR GOD....I forgot that she ran cross country last year! We started running, ran for about half an hour, about two miles. Only walked a little, just to give ourselves a break. The dam was rushing becuase they had opened another section of it. Kind of made me sick to look at it.

Again, anyway, we talked about life, boys, drinking, sex, school, and roommates while we ran. It really did clear my head. I felt so much better after that, and I was so happy that I didn't get wasted just to forget about life. Not only did I feel better about my life, I was so energized. So we came back, popped some corn, turned on the notebook and watched it in my room. I took my laptop up to my loft so she could use my grounded line and we talked online, to eachother! and other people, and watched the movie. Then Adam and Steve came up. It was actually a lot of fun. I worked on my profile on facebook so those of you reading this who can access that, do. And if you want to be quoted let me know.

So I guess the moral of the story is, I still don't need to have a drink in my hand to have a good time. And I don't think I will have a drink in my hand for quite awhile. Thanks so much Jenna for all that you do for me. Like you said earlier, I don't know what I would do if you didn't live across the hall from me! To the rest of you out there reading this...this is really random, but it is how I feel. And to the adults reading this becaue I am going to post the same blog on myspace and blogger, this is me, this is what I have been up to, so here you go. Thanks for listening....

GRANDE

Procrastination at it's Finest

2005-09-27T23:01:00.000-05:00

Well, the time has come for me to write about how college life truly is. At first everything seemed good, and everything still is good, but jesus...it is so stressful. Granted, I do bring some of this stress on myself but it's hard to balance creating a new life and going to school. In high school stress was there, but it was different. In high school I already had a life, I wasn't trying to make friends or a name for myself, I had already established those things years before. Now I'm in this new place, a new world actually, and am being forced to make friends the hard way, I actually have to talk to people I don't know. Now, this really isn't much of an issue for me and I do have quite a bit of "friends" but I just met these people a few weeks ago.

I do primarily hang out with Kate and Jessi. And now Zach, but otherwise, I don't really know who I would consider a friend and who I would consider a classmate. I talk to so many people throughout the day, sometimes it is hard to keep all their stories straight. But you know me, I don't forget very easily and I am pretty good with names. Ha, last night I hung out with the most random people. Jon Smith, the kids true name, Brian, and AJ. I had met AJ at SOAR in June and Brian at playfair or something. Just met Jon last night. I was having a really crappy night, due of course because of a boy, and then I hung out with three pretty cool ones. We watched Legally Blonde and Nemo, then we walked to the Kwik Star at like 2:30 in the morning. And don't worry, this is completely safe as 1) I was with three boys and they shielded me everytime we passed someone else, 2) two were baseball players and one played soccer, and 3) It's WAVERY for Pete's sake. BTW, who is Pete?

Anyway, it was a pretty long night, nothing happened, if that is what you are thinking. But it cheered me up and I had so much fun! Getting back to my point, I am to the point of exhaustion. I'm so tired, and sick of homework. Everone asks each other if we are done with our homework and the popular response is, "I'm never done with my homework." And likewise, I don't think I'll be done with my homework until I graduate. And then I will be well-rounded and penniless. But nonetheless, educated. Sara Konrad I don't know how you could possibly love school so much. I got your thank you, it was awesome! Made me fell all warm and fuzzy inside. Speaking of warm and fuzzy...I'm going to kill the male species!

So I totally got played over the last three weeks. If my MSN name is any indication, I was slighly pissed off at the male gender last night. Funny that I ended up hanging out with three of them. But they were decent and I had just met them. Found out one of them uses Facebook to meet people by looking up their room numbers and then going over and making out with them. Hmm...interesting....then he looked at me and was like lets go watch a movie. OK! I did, it was fun, nice guy. Again, nothing happened. Damn....

This is sort of depressing, I'm not depressed or anything, kind of stressed, super excited about the student senate thing though. Should be fun. School is going really well. I do like my classes, and I have a few interests, mostly just guys I flirt with a lot though. But that is sort of become a common theme for me. I guess I like to flirt right now. But hey, I've made a few friends that way, so I don't think I'm going to stop any time soon. Unless of course I meet the guy that I want to flirt with. Which hasn't happened really, thought I was interested in Dumb ass but he had a girlfriend and didn't tell me, then whatever, lead me on for ever, player, smooth game, damn it! I felt like an idiot last night. I super big idiot because, I, ALYSSA, let someone get to me. And it wasn't like I let him get to me, I just wanted to believe that he was interested because everything I heard from him and other people told me that he was. Whatever, boys are dumm!

Today I had lunch with Cronin at UNI. Wow, what a shock it was to eat in their dining center. It was so big compared to ours. Oh, and dad, if you take the cable to Radio Shack, they simply point you in the direction of the end, they wont actually put it on for you. So that was an experience, I thought I was going to screw it up but it turned out fine. We now have a TV with TV channels to watch! Zach came over to watch Nip/Tuck, really strange show by the way, and he hooked it up for us. Now I just need to hang the cable so it isn't on the floor. Which I think I will go do. This blog is really just a random compilation of my thoughts. Basically I am procrastinating....sweet dreams all!

I Pet a COW!!!!!

2005-09-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I know all of you out there that read this blog avidly know that I am not much of a country girl. Upon arriving at college, my friends learned of this and knew just what needed to be done. So, they took me to Lamont, which Kate swore was a small town, and it was BIGGER than Washburn, the town in the 218 ditch as Tony puts it. Now, I know most of you have heard about my experiences, but for the rest of you, here is my first hand account of country life...PETTING A COW!!!

We call this step one.....Entering the barn

This is step two....scared shitless of the cow!

Step three...Kate calls this repulsion...

Step four...slowly pet the cow

And here she is ladies and gentlemen, my cow number 536, we named her Petunia!

I hope you all thouroughly enjoyed my tales of this encounter. I have to say, it was a first, and it was HILARIOUS!!! You are all just jealous you didn't pet a cow with me!

A few pictures from Orientation

2005-09-12T23:20:00.000-05:00

This is Jessica, Jessi, Myself, and Kate before heading off to the dance last Saturday night!

This is myself, Carl, Kate, and Adam after the Hypnotist whish was HILARIOUS.

This is Melissa and Kate. Melissa is our Orientation leader. She was pretty sweet!

Jessi, Myself, and Kate one day. Obviously after a meal because I have an apple. I also stole a set of silverware. GO ME!

Kate and our ADORABLY cute student body pres, he is scared of us!

COLLEGE

2005-09-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Just thought I would drop a blog, that sounds pretty funny, to let you all know how I was doing. I know that quite a few of you are anxious to learn all about my new life and I know my mom is nervous to know just exactly how well I am doing on my own. Well, for starters, these are my new friends Kate and Jessi. Kate is the short one in the middle. I think I may have found Tony's match. She is hilarious and she has a witty retort for everything! Jessi is the other girl. She is a lot like me in we both played a lot of sports in high school and we have a very similar sense of humor. Kate is the one who makes us laugh with what she says and Jessi and I just provide the blonde moments.

Move in went well. Not too many things went horribly. Thanks to Uncle Tony I will never, and I mean NEVER worry about my loft falling down on me. That and it was a pain in the ass to move it up, luckily I'm only on the second floor. I have decided that since the loft is white, I have some sharpies and whenever something funny happens, it will be written on the loft. I will apologize now for anything that may not be rated for the units. Thus far we have written two quotes, and I am sure there will be plenty more. Food is alright, it sort of sucks that we are on a regimened(is that a word??) eating schedule becuase I'm not really used to that. Like we at breakfast at 9:00 today and then lunch at noon and dinner starts at 5:oo. Owell, once classes start I will be able to make my own schedule. I mean, I haven't even broken the seal on any of the food I brought. With the exception of the peanut butter and I only did that because I wanted something sweet and I didn't have anything else. Which is a good thing becuase otherwise it would be gone by now. So, thats pretty much all I have about move in.

My roomie is pretty quiet. We don't have to same orientation group so I hardly see her. Only when we both happen to stop in to sleep or get something we forgot. I think we will see even less of each other once classes start as she has class every day and I only go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Otherwise, there really isn't much to tell. She is pretty nice, loves horses so there are cool pictures on her side of the room. I have pictures of my friends, sorry no family yet but I'm getting there.

Hmm, books, well what is there to tell you about my books. They were really freakin' expensive and I have a lot of them! I have four classes and I had to buy fourteen books! My english book is called Elements of Argument, something is telling me Tony may have read this more than one time, he seems to be so good at it. It is almost a craft to him. Anyway, orientation is alright, well, what I've gone to has been alright. Currently skipping the Security meeting. Don't worry mom, I talked to Tara Price in the office earlier and she told me that all I needed to know about the security meeting was where to put my parking tag and to register my bike. Well, I already did the parking tag thing and I don't have a bike! Looks like I'm set. Oh, we ran into Timmy, the kid who set up my internet, like 12 times yesterday and he hooked me up with wireless so I guess the ethernet cable we bought is null and void. Owell, I'm sure I'll need it sooner or later and he told me it wasn't a bad idea to keep it incase the wireless he tapped for me goes down. Just means I can sit anywhere in my room and be online. Which I really, REALLY like!

I have been trying to eat semi healthy since I have been here. I really don't want to gain wait after I lost a lot this summer. Thus far I have stolen two pieces of fruit from the caf, AKA Mensa. Kate did a wonderful job of announcing the fact that I "stole" from Mensa the last night in one of our group meeting things. They all just looked at me. And if you will notice please, the first article of evidence is actually located in my left hand in the above picture. There is another one of us from last night and I am holding the second piece, an apple. I have also met quite a few people. Saturday night after move in and dinner and floor meetings we did this thing called Playfair. It is really hard to describe but it was pretty fun. Basically we did a lot of random, crazy things and met a lot of random people. I only really remember a few orientation staff members and a kid names Steve, oh Steve, beautiful blue eyes and very pretty. Last night we, us girls, and a kid from our group Carl, hung out in Kates room because 1)she got a doctors note and she has air conditioning, and 2)her roomie is hardly ever there because her boyfriend of four years who is a senior football player has a house and thus far has not spent one night in their room. Owell, makes more room for us.

Well, I think that is all I have for now. Still have some organizational things to take care of but otherwise pretty much all moved in. We all went our separate ways right now because we had two hours to kill with nothing to do. I think both of them are sleeping but I decided to take this opportunity to inform all my faithful readers about what I have been up to the last few days. Look for more updates about classes after Wednesday because that is when they start! See you all later!

I Heart HOOBASTANK!!!!!

2005-08-31T20:26:00.000-05:00

Cool, so that was way easier than it used to be. Anyway, here is a pic from the concert! Ahhh, it was soo good. All pictures courtesy of Mitchell Cline. He is in Ames currently and Tom and himself came down for the concert the day before they started school up at ISU. All I really have for this post is the pics so ENJOY. I personally enjoy the incredibly hot Guitarist! The little Asian looking guy is the lead singer. Mitch informed me that night that the lead and the drummer write all the songs. That's pretty cool....I'll leave you to your staring now...!

My crazy week at work!

2005-08-28T21:22:00.000-05:00

This is me being crazy at work the other day. My boss was trying to land the plastic lid on my head and so I took a box cutter and made myself a hole for my hair, then I wore it for awhile. The other woman is the manager of the Pizza Shop, Mirsada, she is crazy too!

Stuck in J-Town

2005-08-28T21:06:00.000-05:00

Hello all, long time no blog. I have been reall busy this week. If this helps explain it, my paycheck at the Vee should be close to 400 and my check in Waukee should be close to 500. I think it equates to about 65 hours total this week. Leaving work was sort of strange. At the Vee, Shannon, one of the women I work with, sent me balloons and a really sweet card, and at the course we orderd pizza and blah blah. It's been interesting. It was strange to look at the schedule for next week and not see my name. I have poured so much of my life into the Vee and a lot of my summer into the course that it is strange that I am leaving them. I made a lot of friends at HyVee and it is strange to think I am not going to see them for a few months.

What I found, is that it was easier a lot of times to talk to the guys at the Vee than it was to talk to my friends. I decided it was because the guys at the Vee don't know me all that well, besides what I have told them. Then don't know my past, they don't know my friends, and they don't judge me. It was so nice to be able to talk to someone about anything. I was pretty close to some of them just because we spent so much time together with nothing to keep us entertained besides ourselves.

With that said, I have less than a week now before I leave. I am SO EXCITED! I got out the loft today, sorry Dana but all the shalacked Disney pictures are now gone and the remains are covered with primer. That SUCKED! And tomorrow I get to paint the loft and clean my car. Oh good times. Earlier this week I went out with Alicia. We saw 40 Year Old Virgin, funny movie. Mostly stupid humor but still pretty good. And we got in free because Alicia knew the kid working so it was even better. We got coffee afterwards and talked for awhile, it was fun. Friday I hung out with Josh. We went to the park by my house and hung out then we drove around and went to a park by his house for awhile. We had a good talk and the night was pretty good. I forgot to mention that last Sunday Josh and I went to the Hoobastank concert. What and AWESOME concert. I loved it. The Donnas played before Hoobastank and they kicked ass. Very good music to listen to when you are pissed off. Ahh...I heart Hoobastank!

Last night I went down to Drake to hang out with Butter. We were talking by some man made scenery there and this guy walked over and introduced himself and talked to us for awhile. Then the rest of the guys he was with came over and we all sat there and talked. It was pretty cool. I am supposed to meetthis guy she is sort of interested in but he wasn't there last night. I think I am going to go back later this week to see her before I leave. Hopefully he will be there so I can finally meet this guy she has been telling me so much about! Ahh!

Butter and I at our last Girls night out!

Well, I think that this is it for now. Nothing too interesting going on. Why, because I am still stuck in J-Town while the rest of the world is at college. But, I have lots to do to keep me busy this week so, I'll be writing when I'll be writing....may the force be with you.

My Baby!

2005-08-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

Just writing to let you all know that I got my baby the other night. My laptop that is. AND I LOVE IT! Yes, Tony, I love my HP so bite me! Oh, and I am currently at Panera because they have free wireless and the signal I picked up at home was too weak to do anything on. See you all later!

Who cares about St. Louis?

2005-08-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

Hello all, the week has been fairly eventful. Last Saturday I went out to Lauren's lake house when I got off work. Ashley and I rode up together. It was fine. Lauren had a big group of people out and it was pretty fun. We all just laid around in the lake on tubes and floaties. We went tubing a few times. That was sweet. The first time I went out with Becca. She was hilarious! Her little body just kept flopping and she would land on me every once in awhile. The second time I went with Liz. That was a little more interesting. Lauren's tube has like 10 handles and for some reason Liz wasn't content with the handles on her side so she kept moving and always seemed to want the handle I was already using. URGH! But it was fun.

Sunday morning mom, Sarah and I left for St. Louis. We drove almost all the way through just stopping for gas. As we were getting into the city, you know, like 45 miles out but mom insisted we were in the city, she told us to look for the arch. As we came around the corner we saw the arch and out of the blue Sarah shouts, "JESUS!" My mom thought it was because she was in awe of the arch or it just shocked her that much. The reality was that she was reading a billboard. It was funnier to those of us in the car than you the readers. One of those 'had to be there' moments that I had to write about because it was funny to us.

Mom and Sarah, she, Sarah, ruined every picture she was in by making some sort of face. Leave it to Sarah to cause a ruckous!

Upon ariving at the hotel, we noticed that quite a few people were double fisting beers or carrying around cases and coolers. We also noticed that everyone was wearing either St. Louis apparel or Cubs apparel. Put two and two together and the baseball retards that are the three of us figured out that the Cubs must be playing the Cards in St. Louis that night. Come later to find out that everything, I mean EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday in St. Louis. We never would have guessed this being as it is a large city but whatever. We saw the arch, which was cool, but I wish I would have been able to see a cross-section of the arch to see the tracks that the little cars are on that pull you to the top. Once at the top, you are crammed into this tiny space with about a million other people, who smell, and little kids who scream and run all over. But the view was pretty cool. Sunday night we ate appetizers and had AWESOME smoothies in the bar at the hotel.

Monday morning we woke up and drove to the park that the zoo and art museum were located in. After driving around for 20 minutes we finally get to the zoo where there was free admission yet you had to pay $9.00 to park. I guess we know why the zoo is free. The zoo was pretty cool with the exception of the 100 degree weather at 10:00. After the zoo we headed to the art museum only to find out that it was closed on Mondays so we headed back to the hotel to lounge by the pool. The pool was decent, on the roof so we were closer to the sun, but it was cool because the arch was in our back yard. The only bad part of getting to the pool was taking the elevator that had glass open to the outdoors all the way up to the 30th floor! Scary!

These are Somalian Asses. Yes, and Ass from Somalia.

Scratch that, the above picture is of a generic Zebra, nothing too exciting there. But yes, this was an actual sign at the zoo.

So because we couldn't go to the art museum on Monday we went on Tuesday and then to Union Station. The art museum was an art museum and nothing like El Prado. And Union Station, way unimpressed! It would have been fun if a) I was a Cards fan, b) I was 12, or c), hungry. Other than that, nothing. Did go to the Cards Clubhouse store and bought an offical St. Louis Cards hat. Red had with blue 'StL.' There is a better story about the hat that I shall tell when I am done with vacay, I believe that is a technical term. We went to Laclede's Landing one night and had an awesome dinner at Hannigans. It was like an applebees but nicer and a better atmosphere. And the waiter, survey says...do-able. Or at least in my case, he was worth 5 stars. We left St. Louie on Wednesday morning and as we drove home we hit the outlet malls. We all bought some new clothes and such. It was a good time. Over all, Vacation was great. It was nice to not have a structured day and to be able to lay around by the pool or in the room and not worry about ANYTHING!

The girls before our night out at Laclede's Landing. Did I mention our driver, James. He was cool.

Moving on, so I have decided to become a Cards afficionado. Thus far, I have been hit on twice while wearing my hat at work. And multiple people have asked me about it. And you know me, being baseball retarded, I just tell them I know jack about baseball when asked. On Friday night it actually did me some good. This kid was at the course with a few of his friends and I noticed him upon driving up to the clubhouse on my cart. I smiled and then noticed that hid friends went inside and he sort of hung outside. I wasn't paying attention and I hear someone say, "we played today right?" I was thinking, "is he talking to me....?" Then I realized he was refering to my hat. So then I had to explain to him that I just bought the hat because I went to St. Louis. We talked for a few minutes and I learned that he played baseball for Roosevelt and graduated last year. His name was Tyler. I felt pretty good by the time I left and had talked to him a few more times. Unfortunately, nothing came out of it. But it was a good story. All the guys in the clubhouse that night gave me so much crap, but it was fun.

I have been writing this post for awhile, so I am just going to keep writing about what has been going on. My friend Alicia had to go up to Rochester last week to have open heart surgery. She has had problems with her heart since she was born, I'm not really sure what but something. They replaced the valve when she was 9 and then again when she was 14 because she kept growing. And now that she is 19, they went back in and replaced it again with an adult valve. Sunday night we all got together and watched movies and had a salt fest because she can't eat high concentrations of salt for awhile now. It was pretty awkward at times but otherwise a good time.

This week nothing too interesting went on. I worked, A LOT!, and yesterday I had my physical to go to school. They shot me three times with needles. My finger prick for typical blood work, my PPD to test for TB, and my Menengitis shot. That one still hurts today. As for the others, I'm pretty sure the TB test will be negative, and they wont find anything too interesting in my blood work. Oh, and I must have slept with a spider because I have bites all over my legs. Kind of creepy but I guess it happens. I analpramed my legs last night before I went to bed, but I still itch. Oh, and today I bought my laptop. No Tony, I didn't get an Apple. Instead I got the HP dv4710us. It has a Centrino processor, 100GB hard drive, some odd amount of memory, CD/DVD player and burner, 4 USB ports, and all kinds of other stuff. It was decently expensive but the guy who helped me told me it was a good computer for a good price. So, now I just have to wait for it to come in.

Well, I think this is long enough. I hope my settings stay the same from the draft to the actual post. I have been having problems with that recently. So, that's all for now....

Tipless but Rollin' in Boys and Water

2005-07-19T15:21:00.000-05:00

Hello all, it has been, thus far, not such a bad week. I have a few interesting stories to chat about, but first, I must let it be known that I bought the 10th anniversary acoustic edition of Alanis Morrissette's "Jagged Little Pill." I saw it at Starbucks one day and went to Best Buy to get it only to find out that they only sell it at Starbucks. My two favorite things under the same roof, what a coincidence! The moral of the story is that the CD kicks butt! (note the censoring).

Moving on, Friday started out like any other day in that I was up at 6:00 to go to work. I was actually 45 minutes late that morning which was bad on my part but didn't actually make that much difference because there were three wrappers that day. Then I was off to the golf course to drive the beer cart for three hours. There was an outting for the Palmer Group that day, the Tony's, my father, and any other beer drinker out there will appreciate this, they had a running tab and the Palmer guy paid for it all at the end. I pulled up and they told me what they wanted. No money exchanged anywhere. The only sucky thing is that I never saw a tip out of it and they had 100 plus dollars in beer bought. Owell I guess.

The exciting part of it all was that I got to ride around with one of the most gorgeous men I have ever laid eyes on. Well, maybe not one of the most gorgeous, but definitely good looking. Tall, dark and handsome, it doesn't get better than that. I found him because one of the women playing in the outting asked if there was a guy in a cast sitting up at the clubhouse. I told her there was and asked who he was. She told me that he was with them and had broken his hand playing softball so he couldn't play. She asked if I would either go get him or get him a cart so he could drive around with them. I just decided that I would pick him up myself unaware of how cute he was. So I drove up to the clubhouse and picked him up. The rest is history. Before we left he bought his first beer and then once he figured out that there was a tab he put the remainder on the tab. A few background facts: his name is Rob, 24 years old, degree in History from ISU(only downfall besides his age), wanted to be a high school history teacher, works in the staffing dept at Palmer Group, grew up in small town Iowa near the Missouri border, and now qualified to do my job. As we were driving around, and after he had had a few, he began asking people if they needed anything and then he started actually getting the beer for them. It was quite hilarious. While together, one women took a picture of us on the cart, too bad I don't know her phone number!, and another women said, "Hey Rob, you got it made, sitting on a cart full of beer and riding around with a blonde." I was more than happy to oblige! All things good that day minus not getting tipped.

After the golf course, I left at 4:00 to head over to Laurens. Her, Meredith, and I were going up to spend the weekend at Lauren's house on Panorama. Friday we got there about 5:30 and laid around before her parent got there. Then we took the speed boat, because the pontoon didn't work, to pick up the pizza's at the Port and cruised the lake eatting good pizza. After dinner, us girls suited up and sat diper-style on life jackets in the lake until close to 11:00. It was a good time. Saurday we woke up and went tubing for awhile and returned to lounge in the lake again. Lauren just got a huge new tube and the three of us could lay comfortably on it. And we aren't talking little girls here. Not that any of us are huge but we aren't anorexic. Then we swam a little and went back out on the boat to tube. I had the ride of my life that day! It was a combination of things ranging from scary, painful, fun, hilarious, exhilerating, and(sorry) bitchin'! Let's just say I couldn't walk after I was done that night and I am still a little sore. All in all it was a good weekend.

Well, that is all I have for now. Going to St. Louis with mom and Sarah at the end of the week. Look for an update on that and pictures from this weekend whenever I get them developed!

See ya!

Just a handful of pictures

2005-07-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

A few pictures from the party and graduation I just found. Thought you might like to look at them.

The cupcake maker and the cupcake eater!

Grande and the grandparents after graduation

Grande and the units before graduation

Grande and her really cool quilt!

The Fourth

2005-07-07T23:43:00.000-05:00

The time has come for me to write a blog about the fourth. I've been thinking about what I was going to write and I still am not very sure how to put it. So I guess I will just start from the beginning....

Friday night I got off work and went out to Cottonwood, a park, because my friend Erik was having a party. What ended up taking place was that Lauren, Ashley, Alicia and myself sat in the shelter and talked. Then I took Lauren home and called Ashley to see if she wanted to hang out. We drove around and got a cream slush from Sonic, LemmonBerry is by far the best flav., it was alright, the driving around part. Anyway, Friday ended with me getting home around 11:15 to find an e-mail from Ashley talking about what was going on. I was confused because I had just spent the last hour with her alone and she hadn't said anything. I read and re-read her e-mail and then made the huge mistake of calling Eittreim. I talked to him for over an hour, while he was with his friends, stupid, and came out more upset than I had been about what Ashley had written. I laid awake in my bed until 2:00 and finally fell asleep somewhere shortly after.

I awoke on Saturday, early, to take my shower and leave for LPC. The story of the night prior was written all over my face and my parents knew something was up. I really didn't want to talk about it so we had our little yell-fest and then got in the car. There was a much needed stop at Starbucks where I got my all time favorite drink, the Caramel Latte, skinny of course! Then we headed out for the open road. For some reason my dad chose to take the scenic route putting my family in the car for 2.5 hours instead of the 2 is usually takes. It was fun though. We haven't been contained like that in a long time and it was fun to chil with the fam. After the scenic tour of Iowa, we arrived at the B's for a weekend of fun.

Saturday everyone sat around and talked and I passed out on the picnic table while the women-folk talked. It was fun. Then we had dinner and later smores by the fire. My favorite part of the whole night was when I went up front and laid in the hammoc. I watched the stars and the lightning bugs flying around in the corn field across the highway. It was so pretty. I was talking to Josh on my phone and he was very envious. I got lost in my surroundings, and sorry Josh, but sometimes forgot to listen to what he was saying. I got the jist but it was nice to be by myself for awhile in the dark and quiet. It was very peaceful. After that I sat by the fire for awhile and then went inside and went to sleep.

Sunday morning we all awoke and waited for the rest of the crew to get there before we had awesome toast from france and orange juice that was shaken. The only people we were missing were Aunt Candy and Mike and Dana. The atmosphere was definitley different without them and they were really missed. And I am sure everyone is in agreement that the pinwheels and whatever drink concoction(sp?) Dana would have brought were missed as much as the people themselves. We really did miss you guys!

The hard part is writing this. Uncle Dan came up with Chad and Holli, I know I spelled that wrong, on Sunday. It was really good to see him. He looked slightly different than I remembered but I haven't seen him in a few years so I am sure no one looked the same to him. Especially my sister and I. I was young and uninformed when everything took place a few years ago so I am not really sure of all the specifics and they really aren't my business. When I found out that Dan was going to be with us I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what he would be like or what I would say or how I should act. When they got there, I just walked out said hello like I would have before everything, and we went on with our day. At times it seemed a little awkward and there were some strange silences but I would say everyone was happy that he could be with us. It was nice to see him and good to talk to him as brief as it may have been.

In total, the fourth was nothing more and nothing less than I expected. (This brings me back to what Tony wrote last year and then what I responded.) Everyone was there that could be and those who weren't were missed. It pretty much was a weekend where the adults spent time catching up on eachothers lives and my sister and I slept inside. It didn't seem that is was because we were the only ones under 21 this year, I think my friend Abbie put it best. She was takling about how all she wanted growing up was for her much older siblings to see and respect her as someone mature and as a sister. But because she didn't share the same life they did, it was hard for them. It was hard for my sister and me because while everyone respects us and treats us like adults, for the most part, we still don't understand everything that goes on and we still aren't privy to certain information. I had a good time, don't get me wrong, but there is always that want to fit in, the want to be able to hold conversation with the adults and the ability just isn't there as much as it needs to be, especially not for Sarah. So yeah, we floated from conversation to conversation, pausing only long enough to find that no one was talking about anything sufficiently interesting enough, and then retreated to the living room whenever we just wanted to sleep.

It was a good weekend and I am glad that we all still make the effort to get to LPC every year to be with eachother. Thanks to Auntie S and Uncle T for opening their home to us once again. And thanks to everyone who brought food! It was all so good!

And moving on from the fam, I hung out with Josh on Monday night at the fireworks. It was strange because my phone hasn't rang more than once a day, if even, and everyone wanted me on Monday. Annie Schwartz had called Saturday to let me know she was having a bar-b-que and then going to the fireworks, Josh called me on Monday morning, and then Lauren called me Monday at work and asked me to go to Hyperion to watch those fireworks with her. I ended up taking Josh with me to watch the fireworks with Annie's little party. They had seated themselves behind a tree and we couldn't see anything so we moved about 20 feet away to get a better seat. Once the fireworks were over I expected Annie or at least someone to come over and tell us what they were doing. I shouldn't have though as no one did. When we got there there were some awkward conversations and for the most part no one really talked to me so I wasn't that upset about them not saying anything when they left. I just said screw it and Josh and I stayed and talked in the park until I took him home that night. Anywho....

This is Josh for all of you who don't know....

Happy skimming....

Ducks, Sarcasm, and Asher

2005-06-30T11:46:00.000-05:00

OK....so I must start out this blog with what can only be described as a comical joke. So here goes....are you ready....

Why are ducks so Stupid...?

To get answer you must read to end of blog! And I mean read not skim, or glance, READ! It's not like it will kill you! Maybe you will be enlightened....or not....

So, as it turns out, a lot of people run/walk at wee hours of the morning. I have been working the early shift, and when I say early I mean 6:00 AM PEOPLE!, at work and on my approx. One mile drive that takes five minutes, I have noticed a cornucopia, if you will, of people doing what appears to be something healthy. Now, I am not dissing the health nuts, well not all of them, of this great country, but good lord! 6:00 AM is sleepin' hours, not wakin' hours! Are these people on CRACK! And to top it all off, as I am "totally pausing" at the stop sign on Meredith, I look to my left to be sure there is no oncoming traffic before I proceed into traffic, like Iowa law states I must do, and see none other than my uncle Steve. Crack Uncle Steve...lay off!

On a happier note, ok I take that back, no happy note. Just thoughs of Z's in my head. 5:30 is early for my delicate self to wake up in the morning. It is like the literal "butt-crack" of dawn. Why you may ask? Because, it is after all the "crack" of dawn as the sun is just peaking over the houses and the obnoxious birds are starting their morning song. And, I feel like SHIT! And we all know where shit comes from. Well, I am not sure where Neuman's comes from as he has a ginormous amount of crap for such a little cat. And he smells so bad! Just when you think he isn't going to kick your ass rather curl up with you while you watch TV, he gives you the wrong end in your face and you can't breathe! Needless to say, there is no cute cuddling going on with the cat because he smells like your butt. Or his, whatever!

On a more intelligent note, or as intelligent as I get on five hours of sleep, 13 hours of work, and a summer thinking habit, I have finally finished Asher Lev. Wow, what a good book. I'm only sorry it took me two year to read it. I am sure that I didn't get the complete message as I was forced to start and stop with it over the last year or so. Stupid school! But, for those of you who haven't read it, YOU SHOULD. Or you can go on living the rest of your life wondering what you are missing. And because I am sure some of my readers haven't read it, I must censor my thoughts so as not to give away the ending. However dot dot dot I must say that I was outraged that there was Asher Lev, a boy who grew to a man and knew what he wanted to do with his life(THAT I am envious of), who was punished for doing something that he loved. As I read the descriptions of the crucifixions(sp?) I could see all the anger and pain he was portraying. And to think, he was ostracized(sp again?) for telling the truth. For making people see the facts and even though it may not have been what his parents wanted to see, it was something they needed to see.

It was like that one guys theory of the sublime and the beautiful. To Asher's parents, the painting was sublime, harsh, ugly, and something they didn't like. But, they feared it. They feared it because it inspired awe and they knew that as harsh as it was, it was the truth. To others, it was aesthetic. It was a beautifully painted portrayal of one womans hours spent waiting for her husband and son. It was a display of a life wasted waiting by a window, like she was chained to it. And if you read the book you know that her life wasn't a waste, that she did have a very useful life, but, she did spend a lot of time concerned about her boys and their whereabouts. It is whatever you think, to me it was a great book with a great message.

Currently, I am in the middle of Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris. While it doesn't have quite the same effect of Asher, it is a good book. I love it to the point of wanting to read the rest of his books. And I am sure I will have the chance to do so as I have all the time in the world to read now at the golf course. His sarcasm is just so funny. I think one of my favorite stories right now is "I Pledge Allegiance to the Bag." Ha! Anyway, I have become Tony's little prodigy. If only he would blog again so I would have to assume complete responsibilities of entertaining the readers we share. But, I do enjoy that he can use his knowledge of the english language to offer me sage advice on my selection of reading and in the emergency of needing technical help with papers and essays. Anyway....

If you can't tell by my change in writing style, the upper portion of this blog was written last night when I was in my sarcastic mood. It is a lot funnier, at least I hope someone will laugh, than what I am writng now. It probably would have been better last night, but I got busy talking to people and working on my other website. I'm just not in the same mood now. Probably because I haven't been awake for that long and I haven't been in contact with anyone else with the exception of my sister and she doesn't really provide me with much comic relief. So, now that I am done ranting, with no further ado, ducks are stupid because....

They smoke a lot of quack!

Ah yes, and I must give all credit for that joke to Butter. She is the one who told it to me first. I have more but those shall wait for future blogs. I'm sure there will be one next week following the Fourth of July bash this weekend. Happy blogging....

Same day, different....you get the picture....

2005-06-20T22:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I have decided it is time for me to write a "happy" blog. Meaning I will try my best not to talk about Ashley, Michael, or Sara unless it is in a positive way. I am however thinking that it will be hard to write about them in a positive way as I haven't spoken to Ashley or Michael in weeks....

So, it was an interesting day at the golf course today. I got a call from my boss, who is only 7 years older than me, this morning asking if I was available to work today. I had been planning on it so I said yes. Then he told me that they were short staffed in the club house so I would be in the building and not on the cart today. They told me Gary, one of the pros, had called in sick and Randy, the other pro, worked in the morning for Gary. Anyway, as the day went on Steve, the super, came in and said, "So you're going to be doing this a lot now, huh?" I responded with something to the effect of, "I don't think so, they just told me I was covering for Gary today." Steve then informed me that "Gary called in sick" translated to "Gary was canned." Yep, they fired him. I'm not really sure why, something about him never being there or being worthless or something. Anyway, now Matt, my boss, is scrambling around to find people to cover Gary's former 40 hours. I have his Monday shifts which means I will be in the clubhouse from 1:00 til roughly 9:00.

Anywho, other than that, there isn't much going on in my life. People at HyVee are driving me NUTS! Customers and other employees. I went to Targhetto the other night because I had nothing else to do, and bought a new CD. I played golf with Craig the other day and he played it for me. If there is one thing I listen to him about it is music. I remember the first time he gave me something to listen to. I had been at choreography rehersals all morning and then I had to go out to the range to re-seed the tees in the afternoon. That was a pain in my ginormous rear-end. It was so hot and a bunch of labor. After we had that task completed, I was to come back and work at night. So I remember going home, showering, picking up Sonic for Craig and I, and then returning to work. I had to pick and I also had the biggest headache in the world. I knew I wouldn't make it if I had to listen to the obnoxious picker. So I asked Craig to borrow his CD player and to put something mellow in it. And there it began, my love of John Mayer. Craig had allowed me to listen to John Mayer's first CD entitled, Room for Squares. And I have been hooked ever since.

So the other day on the way home when he asked if I had heard the new Jack Johnson, and I said no because I had no idea who it was, he played it for me. It was good, pretty mellow and just good driving music or something to listen to when you have a headache or just want to sing. So, on Saturday when I was grumpy I went to the Targhetto and bought the CD. I would give it "two very enthusiastic thumbs up, fine holiday fun." So, Jack Johnson for all of you out there in need of a new CD. If you are unsure go to CDNow.com and searh Jack Johnson, then find the CD and listen to some of the clips. It is the new CD, it is yellow and one of the songs is called "Banana Pancakes."

The point I was trying to make is that I buy music when I am pissed off or upset or sad or whatever other emoition I have that isn't content. I guess it could be worse, I could go off and binge drink, or buy expensive shoes and purses, but nope, I buy music. Usually something I have heard on the radio or TV, or something a friend has told me about. I need to get the Killers CD burned for me. And someone also told me I needed to listen to Guster. Ryan told me that since I listened to Trapt I should listen to System of a Down. It is a good thing I checked that out on CDNow because I only knew one song and I didn't really like most of the others. I think I will refrain from getting music advice from him.

Other than my new CD, and a semi-new job at the golf course, I don't think anything has changed for me. I made 65 dollars in tips the other day at the course though. It was the Waukee City Chamber of Commerce tourney. I think I may have already explained this though. It was a good time. Hopefully on Wednesday I will make some more money. No tourney but hopefully it will be a nice day and lots of people will want to play golf. Well, until we meet again....

Is Tony alive, I have posted three times in the last month and what has Tony got to show for it, NOTHING. I am getting tired of reading about Clearly Canadian and his bodily functions! Someone poke him, make sure he is still breathing....SOMETHING!

Ur Mom! ... it was what I was thinking!

2005-06-14T23:04:00.000-05:00

Hidy ho! Another week another blog. I feel collegiate now that I have returned from Orientation up at Wartburg. Everytime I am there I love the campus. Of course for orientation they kept us in the nice, upperclassmen dorms equipped with A/C. Next year I wont be so lucky. Anywho, a two day spree of meet and greet wore me out! So I am now sitting down to tell you of my dry trip to Waverly.

Sunday started out like anyother morning minus the fact that I got up at 8:00 and took a shower as opposed to getting up at 7:30 and going to work. Mom and I packed and got ready and then we were off. And being that they just put in a new Starbucks up the street, a carmel latte was in order. Made with skim milk of course. Since I have become somewhat of a connoisseur of expensive coffee drinks, I have also found that it is healthier for me to order my drinks made with skim milk. However, sometimes I get the drink made with skim milk and still put whipped cream on top. You might be thinking that adding the whip to a skinny drink pretty much cancels the skinny part, I think of it as it is better for me to get the skinny drink with whip rather than get the fat drink with whip. Therefore, it is just like getting the fat drink when I get skinny with whip. That doesn't make much sense, but I understand.

Upon arriving at Wartburg we signed in and got my room assignment for the weekend. No, I still don't know who I will be living with next year. I wont know that til mid-July, early August. URGH! Then they sat us in the Lyceum, which looked like an auditorium to me Bob, but at college they use the big words. For those interested the proper definition of a Lyceum is, "A hall in which public lectures, concerts, and similar programs are presented." Like I said, it was an auditorium. In the words of Mrs. White the crazy choir director, it was an "aud." So, boring presentations, a lesson on security in which I learned that college kids get locked out of their dorm rooms quite frequently. The guy said they unlocked close to 900 or so doors last year. The lyceum was roaring with laughter after that statistic. Speaking of statistics, I have to take stat in the winter term next year! I hate math, but taking calc last fall got me out of having to take it this fall and it is a required class for a business major. So yay! My english class didn't get me out of freshman english tho so I have to take that this fall. Owell, hopefully it will be like the class I already took.

I'm sort of sick of summer already. I've been pretty alone despite having long heart-to-hearts with Michael and Ashley. They still pretty much avoid me. I don't know why, and I don't understand, and maybe if I did, it wouldn't hurt as much. Somehow I don't think I will ever know. I don't think Ashley reads this anymore, maybe if she did she would understand how I feel. I've sort of been censoring the blog because of the fact that she reads it. Owell, Saturday I had some people over to bar-b-que while the parents were at a party of their own. I invited a bunch of people, I didn't really care who was there but I wasn't going to invite everyone. I didn't call Michael. I figured he would hear it through the grape-vine and show up anyway so it didn't matter. I don't owe him a personal invite. He hasn't done anything for me in the last two months. Anyway, I called Ashley and get nothing. She called me back while I was in the shower and her message said that she really wanted to do something with me that night. I called her back and told her the plan, she didn't get off work til 9:00 so she would be late. Fine, whatever.

Upon arrival here, she talked a little and then her and Michael and Mitch and Annie were outside together. I said something to Steven about the couples being on the deck and he said he was going to go break it up. Well, Mitch and Annie came in and Michael and Ashley proceeded to stay outside and chat while the rest of us played inside. She said all of 10 words to me that night.... So much for wanting to hang out with me I guess. Then I called her on Monday to find out what was up with her and to tell her about my orientation. We talked a little for about 20 minutes and then she hung up with me because she needed to find out what her cat was doing on the stairs. To me that seems like a pretty weak way to say you don't want to talk to someone anymore. People ask me what she is doing or what she is up to or anything else about her and I tell them to ask Michael. He seems to be the only one she talks to now so I really don't know what is going on. I should call him to find out what is going on with her...

Currently I am talking with Sara over AIM. Yes, I have resorted to AOL Instant Messaging because I have no life and it is the only form of entertainment to me. She asked me if I was still mad at her. Steffi told her about my little party and she asked why she wasn't invited. I told her, and it was truly legit, but then there was the part of me that didn't really want to see her that night. I knew if Michael was there she would be all over him. And with Ashley there, there just would be too much for me to handle. She went to Indianola that night to jump Brandon anyway so I guess no big deal. It was mostly choir kids anyway and she doesn't really hang out with them. Besides Michael now I guess.

I had called Steffi because I was flipping through the contact list in my phone and an impulse just told me to call her. I haven't talked to her in a while and we haven't hung out in forever so I just called her. I called Erin and Alicia too and I guess I could have called Sara but it just wasn't right. I know that by not inviting her I did a bad thing. My mom told me to call her. I just didn't want to. She is my friend, even though I don't agree with what she does, but it feels wrong to be with her. It feels like she put herself in the middle of Michael and Ashley and she is the reason neither of them can talk to me now. She told Ashley was had happened and that made it hard for Ashley, my best friend, to look me in the face. So I guess I want to blame her for what happened even though all three took part in the way I was treated. And I do blame all three for the roles they played in what happened, but she seems to be the cause of it all. I don't know. I have been avoiding all three of them, and they have been avoiding me. It is going to be a long summer.... I just hope things will change soon, for all of us!

For now, you can find me at the golf course Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday afternoons and at HyVee the other days. And this fall I have class on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, so call me on Tuesday and Thursday! Until we meet again.....

Gradjitation, in the words of Aunt Stacy

2005-06-04T01:17:00.000-05:00

Well, first I must add that I just changed my toothbrush today and my teeth are super clean and shiny! It makes my mouth feel good! And now I must move on to the more important stuff.

I finally did it. I graduated from high school. It was strange not being in school this last week and a half knowing that the other students were still suffering through the torture they call learning. It was all pretty surreal, nothing seemed to fit until last Friday when we were all in our caps and gowns for class day. That is when it hit me that I would never again sit in the JHS gym as a JHS student. Scary! I made it through the holiday weekend and then I finally made it offical by walking across the stage to receive my fake diploma on Tuesday night. They give you fake one until you turn in your gown, and in my case collar because I was a girl. They make such a big deal about those stupid robes. They have to be at least 10 years old! Anywho...Generally you would think that Graduation is a time of happiness and a time to spend with all your friends. As most of my readers know, graduation was anything but. It is really a long story that deals with very personal matters so I wont divuldge(is there a 'd'?) the entire story here. Let's just say it involved my best friend, my ex-boyfriend, and another friend. Imagine what you want but only a few people know the whole story, and I'm pretty sure I'm not one of them. Anyway, life pretty much sucked and it was all I could do to smile on Tuesday. Later that night I went to Bennigans with a few friends and then Ashley called me. She said that she was heading over to Colby's where there was a bonfire and a sleep-out. I was pretty confused so I called her back when I left the restaurant.

I arrived a Colby's and figured out that it was a group of seniors and they were going to have the bonfire at Colby's, he's a junior which is why I was confused because there was still school the next day, because he had a fire pit, and then we could sleep there if we wanted. They had two tents and some food so I decided to go home and get my stuff to return. It was pretty shaky because the ex and the best friend were there, together, and I had just had two very long discussions/arguments with both of them the night prior lasting til 3 AM. It took everything I had to go back.

As I was returning my friend Steven, whose party it truly was, was walking up to his house a few houses down to get some lighter fluid for the fire. Luckily Eittreim had called and asked me to bring some so he turned around and walked back with me. I asked him if it was ok if I was there because I hadn't techniquely been invited, rather just invited through Ashley, and he told me definitely. I gave him a brief background as to what was going on and why it was weird and he told me that it didn't matter if anyone else cared if I was there because he did. That was the nicest thing anyone had said to me, besides family, in a week so I felt much better about being there. To make a long story short we messed around and talked by the fire until about 4 when everyone who wasn't already in a tent decided to go up to them. It was pretty coupled off by the time I get to the tents so shortly after crawling into a 4-person tent that already had 6 people in it, I got out and Steven and I set up camp on the ground outside. A little background on Steven: I sat next to Steven in AP Calc last semester and we became pretty good friends. I hadn't talked to him in quite awhile so it was nice. We ended up talking til close to 7 AM. I'm not really sure as it was too buggy to check the phones for time so we pretty much suffocated ourselves under our sweatshirts and sleeping bags.

We talked all night about the most random things. Of course the occurances of the previous week, and he gave me his 2 cents, girls, boys, school, life after school, and by far the most interesting, the difficulty of peeing in the woods, at least the difficulty for chicks. He just didn't seem to grasp the fact that girls don't have the great ability to aim their stream. Nick had left to get coffee early that morning so we discussed turning the cup into a funnel and all sorts of strange things. I can't really talk about everything we discussed that night because some things just aren't meant to be shared. Let's just say we didn't really run out of things to talk about.

So Wednesday morning, after I had gotten maybe an hour of sleep, I awoke to everyone else leaving our "camp." I laid back down but in five minutes I knew I wasn't going to fall asleep. The bugs were so bad and I was so hot that I just gave up on sleep. I woke Steven and we set out to clean up. We had made a ginormous mess. Yes, ginormous is a word! I went home feeling so much better about the goings on and just happier to be myself. I finally had someone to talk to that wasn't Dana or my mom. And it isn't that I don't appreciate all that they do for me and how much they are willing to listen and help, but I needed to talk to someone who is close to the action all the time and understands the people involved like I do. I passed out on the couch for about two hours and then I went to work at the golf course.

This is Steven and I after graduation at the Knapp Center at Drake.

First of all, this job is going to kick ass! I get paid 8 dollars an hour, PLUS tips, to drive a golf cart all day. I get to be in the sun, I get to talk to all sorts of people, and I get to be close to a game I love. And I am pretty sure no one can top a first day of work story like I can. So a girl that did this job a few years back came out to train me. We drove around together til about 5:30 when she had to go. Then it was me all alone. I drove around and I sold over-priced beer, and a pop, to the golfers. I was starting the cart after a sell and realized that it wasn't going like it had been. It was making that putt-putt sound and I wasn't moving very fast at all. I kept going and ended up getting stuck on a bridge that had a sligh incline. Being as it was the only way around and there were groups behind me, I tried to keep going up, it didn't work, so then I put it in reverse and used the sligh hill to my advantage to get the cart off the bridge and out of the way. Luckily I had grabbed my cell to keep track of time but I didn't have to number to the clubhouse and no radio. I had to 411 the number and ask them to come get me. They brought out a truck and towed me in. What it came down to was the cart needed gas and the gas-gage doesn't work very well. Yeah, it was an exciting day. But, I just kept thinking of the night before and all the funny things that occured and I was all good.

Well, I guess this is good-bye. I'm not going to quite writing, but I am going to say good-bye to high school, the drama, and the stupid crap that comes with it. I desperately hope with all my heart I never have to go through that crap again. It is sad to say but I know there are people I have spent multiple years with, whom I will never again see or speak to. It saddens me to think I am leaving a class of people who have meant so much and so little to me all in just four short years. However, I am very excited for the future and am ready to embrace all the in has in store for me. Good-bye JHS class of 2005, see you in 10 years if our crap-ass student body president ever gets around to organizing a reunion. Hello future.....

Mother's Day

2005-05-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I know that this isn't going to be the most fun to write but I have to because it has been bothering me and it was just reiterated by a phone message. As most of you know my grandma isn't in the best of health. She's been living in the nursing home for a little over a year now I think. I can still remember the first time I went and saw her there. All I could do was cry. I thought it was so horrible to lock people in a place that reeked of urine and wasn't their home. I know that this decision was even harder for my mom. It sucks. I'll just flat out say it. It has been tough over the last year watching slowly as my grandmother's disease slowly kills her. I force myself to remember the good times and not dwell on the fact that everyone in my family is hurting. It kills me to think of how brave my mom has to be. Recently my sister and I went to the nursing home to see grandma on Mother's Day. She didn't even know we were there. She looked angry that we had moved her to get some privacy and I tried to talk to her, I really did, but knowing that she didn't know who I was killed me. As I was talking to her she sort of laughed. This was the grandma Alice that I knew. It reminded me of all the times she would make apple sauce or apple butter and sarah and I would sit in the kitched coloring or doing whatever. I remember she used to let us help her and we would always sneak apples out of the bowl where we were mixing them with cinamon and sugar. What I wouldn't give to have a taste of that apple sauce just once more. It also made me think of my mom and all the things I had taken for granted over the years. I sort of spaced mother's day this year and as bad as this is, she didn't get anything. Granted, we all have a lot of other things on my mind but she is my mom, and I love her. I don't think she knows how much but I really do. Without her I don't know what I would do. In writing this, and seeing my grandma, it hurts me more to know that she is hurting so much and there is nothing I can do to help it. Not saying that any of her other siblings haven't done their part, but it seems that my mom is the one who is always looking out for her mom, and always making sure that everything is going smoothly at the nursing home. Today the nursing home called and left a message regarding Grandma's health. It said that at the last doctors visit, the doctor suggested that we should rethink what our plans for her would be. At first I didn't know what it meant and then it got to the part where I understood. The doctor had suggested that we take her off "full-code," or whatever, and put her on "do not recesitate." I understand that. He said that because of her declining health he thought this would be the best thing. I don't know why this is doing this to me. I'm not even menstrual. I couild tell on Sunday that grandma's condition had gotten a lot worse since Easter, but I didn't want to tell myself that. Hearing it from a doctor didn't help much either. I really don't know where I'm going with this. I guess I just needed to blow off some steam.

Promelation

2005-04-27T21:55:00.000-05:00

The Prom hair. It doesn't look like much but I liked it!

Alright, the jig is up the news is out, promelation has finally commenced. I can't even tell you how much fun I had. I also describe to you the fun I am having typing with the nails I had put on to make my crappy hands look somewhat decent. I was a little disappointed in how my nails turned out, but, it was my senior prom, I had to go all out. But anyway, above is the hair. Dinner was good, we ate at Centro downtown, and the dance was good. They only played a few crappy songs and the dance floor wasn't very big but it was nice. I also have a few new songs to download including, "She think's my tractors sexy," "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," and "Redneck Woman." Oh my we had so much fun rocking out to these songs. I forgot to mention that Ashley drove her parent's Tahoe and we had so much fun "pimpin'" the Tahoe all the way to the prom. It was a good time. I don't remember a whole lot as I was awake for 24 hours straight, but I can tell you I got the best sleep of my life on Sunday morning. Everyone looked soo good, you can all see more pictures at the graduation party (MAY 29th)!

I think this is the first time in years that we have taken a good picture together. Check out her shirt, that was from my one year in select/honor choir in the 5th grade.

This is one of the best pictures of us. We weren't even trying and it looks as if we truly like each other. Don't get me wrong, ever since she hit high school, she has been a lot of fun to hang out with when she isn't threatening to beat me up or verbally abusing me. We have had some good times over the last two years, just hanging out or talking about things the units don't necessarily need to know.

The best friend. I think we had the best matching dresses out of the rest of the prom-goers.

This is the infamous Ashley. Her new nickname is "Karen." The Midget Bake decided she was much like Karen Walker, from the show Will and Grace. As Karen is quite the pill popper and alcoholic, we decided that Ashley portrays some of her more positive attributes such as her wit and ability to do crazy things all the time.

Michael and I.

This is one of the better pictures of Michael and I. The only hard thing to do is write about the fact that we broke up on Monday after Prom. We had been having some rough patches and things just weren't getting better. We were more of a chore to each other than an enjoyment. It wasn't that we didn't enjoy each other's company, it was that our company was more "friendly" than "relationshipy." Anyway, I wasn't very happy anymore and he wanted things of me that couldn't be done unless I changed who I was and he knew that wasn't going to happen. So on Monday after Inno practice, he pulled into my driveway, said we needed to talk, and proceeded to tell me that he thought we should go back the being "just friends."

About three weeks prior to the breaking-up conversation we had gotten into an argument about what was going on in the relationship and where we felt it was going. Out of that discussion came us both agreeing that when we left for school, it was over. Michael wanted to hang on to the relationship through the summer and I thought it was ridiculous to prolong something that was inevitable. We both knew how we felt and I knew that he felt a lot more for me than I did for him and I told him that our friendship was more important to me than him being my boyfriend. It was the game of "what if." I was scared to hold our relationship over the summer because I feared something happening that would harm our friendship and we would go to college hating each other. He told me the only way he could ever hate me was if I hit him with a closed fist in the head. (long story...) Even so, I knew there was a possibility that even if we didn't hate each other when we left, we could still be mad or upset. I also knew the longer we drew it out the harder it would be to say good-bye. I didn't want to go to college depressed about him, I know that I will be depressed and stressed about plenty without adding that to the stack next year.

Anyway...I walked in my house, sat on the couch and cried. I called Ashley to tell her so I didn't have to tell her in the morning, plus that is just one of those things you tell your best friend right away. Yesterday was quiz bowl so I wasn't at school to see him. Today was a little strange, we talked to each other like nothing was really wrong, but I know it will be difficult at first. I know that ending it now was the right thing to do. It was just hard at the moment to think of losing the last seven months. I know that our relationship wasn't a waste of time. We had a lot of fun together and I think now our friendship is even stronger because of it. We will both just have to get used to the single life and being good friends instead of together. It will take time, but hopefully we can still have a great summer together.

On a more happier note, Dan finally asked Ashley out. It was all exciting and everything and she is happy. She also got her first kiss so it was even better. Finally after 18 years of waiting, her goofy Dan Kurns finally expired her membership in the "never been kissed" club. And furthermore, might I add that I currently am looking at less than 20 days of high school left! I am excited and ready to get out, but I know that the end of the year show, graduation, and after my party I will be a mess. In choir we are singing a song entitled "For Good," from the musical WICKED, a pre-quel to the WIZARD OF OZ. The main lyrics are:

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

As I look back at all of my friends, all of them have helped change me. It wasn't that they actually changed me, but the relationships I had with them helped me to grow and become the person I am today. The person I think of most who had a major impact on my life in middle school and the beginning of high school was Becca. She was the one who made me believe the cup was half full instead of half empty. She was the one who told me to believe in myself when I had little faith. And she was the one who I know will always know me better than I sometimes know myself.

Erin of course had a large part in the way I grew up. I have been growing up with her since the Kindergarten. Almost 13 years now I have known her. Not many people can say they have known someone from the time they were in kindergarten to the time they were a senior in high school. I always remember the stage when Erin would beat me up whenever she was mad. It wasn't that she kicked my butt, but I remember the bruises. I also remember the time she made me laugh so hard grape juice shot out of my nose. She was the one who was always there for me as a kid. I regret now not being as close to her as I am with other people. But she will forever be my first best friend.

Ashley changed my life when I was first introduced to her in the 7th grade. She was Sara's friend and the two of them just happened to need two roomies for the DC trip. Steffi and I were all about it and that is where it all started. We weren't good friends until freshman year but we always had an acquaintance. We almost always agree and she is the person I can talk to about anything. We can talk about things that other's can't and we can have civil discussions about pertinant matters. That and she generally doesn't take any crap so we get a long pretty well.

Beans, she is the friend I go to when I am having troubles with boys. We always talk about boys and boy problems with each other. We are like counselors. Plus I still remember when she used to stay at my house at least once a summer for about 3 years. We would go on walks all the time, hang out at the park, sit in her room and listen to music. To think it all started with Miss Laden and the "Magic School Bus," AKA Mrs. Weltha.

There are so many people that have added to my life that it is hard to write about all of them here. Perhaps if I am feeling bored I will write some more. But for now...that is the end of my friend story. I shall go now, I have been on here way too long. Happy blogging....

Dancing Through Life

2005-04-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

The dress for all of you readers out there who didn't see it on birthday bash weekend. I sure hope this works!

BRING IT! I totally just figured out how to put a picture on this thing. Took my long enough. I was getting tired of admiring T3's pics and decided it was about time I figured out how to do it myself. Still not quite sure I got everything down but I will work on it. Anyhow, there it is, the glorious prom dress. Promelation has almost commenced as prom is NEXT WEEKEND! It seems like just yesterday I was telling myself it was silly to be out looking for a dress when prom was over two months away. Two months later....and here we are.

More important than prom, I have finally decided where I am going to school next year. After much consideration and talking with everyone from the units, the B's, assorted cousins and future cousin-in-law, various friends, family members, and people whom I respect, I decided, with no further ado, that I will be attending Wartburg in the fall. It just seemed right. I couldn't bear the thought of me lost in the thousands attending Minnesota. When it came down to it, Wartburg was where I felt the most comfortable, it was where the people seemed friendlier, the campus felt cozier, and I ultimately just liked it better.

Since I made my decision, a little less that two weeks ago, I have felt so much better. It was like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders and I am free to live my life again. Now, there is no turning back. I have signed my financial award letter, which was all of NOTHING!, and have registered for SOAR day, my day of registration and orientation. And listening to T3's advice, I opted for the two day orientation and to stay on campus as opposed to wussing out and only going for a day. I figure, the man has made a pretty nice life for himself and has thus far never lead me in the wrong direction, why not listen to what he has to say now...?

Anyway, although it may appear from the outside that I am not excited, I truly am. I finally made the decision that has been plaguing me for months. It is just that it is after all my last 20-some days of high school. Since spring break the weeks have flown by. I guess it was only 3 weeks ago but it seems like centuries ago. School it going fine, my grades were decent last quarter but recently my AP English class has been bogging me down. I conversed with my teacher, one whom I really admire and appreciate, about what it was that I was doing wrong. I told her that I was trying so hard and that nothing seemed to change. I worked my butt off last quarter in AP Spanish and I received a lower grade than I did the previous 2 quarters when I did nothing at all. My AP English grade is fine, a B, nothing more and nothing less. It never seems to fail that no matter how hard or how little I try, I always get a B. Sara, I got a B on the Flannery O'Connor paper I wrote. Just a prime example of a paper that I worked so hard on and received the same grade I did on a paper I put little effort in to. Ms. Wessling said, "maybe it isn't an issue of trying harder, but trying differently." I replied, "I have been doing the same thing for the last 3 years and it has been working pretty well for me until this year." she said, "doesn't that just prove my point." Whatever....

Right now that is what is scaring me the most. My usual work habits worked well for me the first three years of HS and now, my senior year, when I am taking AP, college level classes, I'm not doing as well as I would have liked. It isn't that I told myself I would get an A in any of the APs I have taken this year, but I expected to get an A on at least a few papers or tests. I have pretty much come to terms with the fact that I am no longer an A-student, rather a mediocre B-student. The rubrics I get back say that my ideas are too literal, that I need to look further into the figurative meaning of a work. That my topic sentences need to relate to my thesis and I need to create a strong opening that in the end pulls together a strong close. I never thought it would be so hard to write a topic sentence but believe me, I SUCK at it! And I have this problem where the end of my papers kick ass yet the beginning generally blows. Maybe I should take summer school from Sara and Tony, they seem to know what they are doing.

Speaking of trying and not receiving, it seems like the only scholarships I have received are the ones I don't apply for. The ones the school gives me because of my 'outstanding' transcript or the ones the state gives me for the same reason. Anything that I apply to, I don't get. I guess it is because I'm not needy enough, shows what they know. So I have basically given up on the whole thing because thus far, the effort put out by me has been returned with a "Dear Alyssa, we are sorry to inform you that the 'fill in the Blank' scholarship you applied for has gone to 'fill in the blank.' Thanks for your time, signed 'fill in the blank.'" You get the basic picture. They should really stop sending that crap, just tell me I'm not what you are looking for and send me on my way. I don't need your pitty, I need your cash!

With that said, I believe it is time for me to sign off. Thanks for listening to me rant, like Dana said, Tony's is the only blog worth reading, his has all the good stuff in it, mine is just my way of telling the world I'm pissed off. Have a wonderful day!

Word of the Day:

ENGLISH
Ameliorate: to make or become better; improve

SPANISH
Lazo: ribbon

The Pros and Cons of It

2005-03-24T21:51:00.000-06:00

Wow! Two posts in one week. That is fantastic for me. Thus far spring break has consisted of work, a trip to IC to visit cousin and fiance, which was very fun, and sleep. I think my phone has rang twice since last Thursday. Maybe a few on Saturday because that is when Michael left and that is about all. I am patiently awaiting the call from the golf store to tell me that my new sticks are in. I was hoping to have them by now so I could go go the bubble and use them when I get off work tomorrow. I was off at 8:00 tonight. Nothing too interesting to report on. The people I talk to haven't been working the same shifts I have so it has been hard to catch up with them. Most of the things we talk about you wouldn't want to know about anyway so I wont bore you. As I get told enough from Michael, he really doesn't care what happens at work. This is why I find it funny that every night he asks me how work was. Owell, his problem.

As for the trip to IC, it was fun. A good chance to get away from DSM for awhile. My sister and I left Tuesday afternoon after I got off work. I had to be at HyVee at 6:00 AM on Tuesday morning! The last time I was up that early I got right back on a bus headed for CR and slept once we got on 380. Needless to say, IT SUCKED! Tonight Dave, my boss, called about an hour after I got there and told asked me what they had left for me to do today. When I told him that the morning help had gone home early because there was nothing to do he promptly told me to go to the way back of the freezer and pull out some pies. This would be ok it it weren't the way back of the freezer and there weren't 15 metal bakery racks in the way. So I had to pull every rack out while freezing my hands off. After 15 minutes of digging and rearranging, I finally got the pies and went back to the bakery. As I approached, Carrie, the cake decorator, said, "Sure glad you're the one who looks cold and not me!" So I took my popcicle fingers and stuck them on her face. She wasn't so smug after that. And once I started pulling pies I realized that I hadn't gotten all the different types, I wasn't going back into the freezer though so I will just get them tomorrow.

I did do something for me at work however. I called Mikey about 3:00 and asked him when he was coming home. As he was talking to me he was filling up the van to come home. Which puts him in DSM about 1:00 - 2:00 tomorrow afternoon. I believe. As lame as this sounds, it is really hard to go a week without someone that you are used to either seeing, or talking to everyday. Sometimes when we are both busy or we have just seen each other we don't call, but most nights we at least exchange a "good night" before retiring to bed. So, I was very excited to hear that he will be home a day earlier than expected. I really want to hang out with him tomorrow night because I don't have to work til 8:00 but as my mom did point out his mother would probably like to see him first. As my dad said, "yeah, but who do you think he would rather see...?" Case and point. Although Michael did say that if we hung out tomorrow night we would be with his family. Which isn't bad. I have played cards with his dad and little brother and him plenty of times, it is fun.

But anywho, on to the subject that has been plaguing me since this summer. Where is GRANDE going to attend college next year. It is between Wartburg and the U of Minnesota. I think that since I really have nothing else better to do, I will hash out my pro/con list right here. That way all of you, when I finally decide, will know what I did what I did. It will save you lots of questions and it will save me from having to answer them.

WARTBURG:
+ Closer to home
+ Smaller, more of a community feel on the campus
+ lower cost of living
+ good study abroad, required for major or minor in Spanish
+ Wartburg West which would send me to CO.
- in a small town, BUT CF is right down the road
+ I get my car
- not as prestigious of a name
+ great education
+ promise of getting out in four years
+ Baranowski's and other assorted family
+ mention of great participation in intramural sports at visit
- older, but I guess more history
+ indoor walkways between buildings

MINNESOTA:
+ prestigious name, Carlson is very difficult to get in to
- NO CAR!!!
+ Close friends right down the road
- large, not as much of a community feel
+ great education
- no promise of getting out in four years
+ in a large metropolitan area with lots of internship opps.
- farther from home; NO CAR!
- no mention of intramural sports at visit
+ newer, more up to date business building and PEC
- sub-zero temps ALL THE TIME!
- campus that takes a 2 hours walking tour of
- cost of living

When it comes down to it I think I know where I want to go. I have about a month to decide where I am going to actually go. When I look at some of my friends I am envious because they already know where they want to go. They know what they want to do with their lives and I am stuck in this rut that has been stressing me out for months now. My head right now if full of "what ifs." What if I make the wrong decision? What if I still don't get a job after I graduate? What if I go and find out I really don't want to do business after all? What if....

It is late and I have to work early tomorrow. Please feel free to leave any comments about my list. I can use all the help I can get. However, I only need the constructive comments, please don't trash one school or another as I think highly of both and really just need to straighten out some things in my head. It would be good to hear some other thoughts though so don't be shy...

Spring Break..for lack of a better title

2005-03-20T15:03:00.000-06:00

Well, well, we have officially arrived at spring break of my senior year. Now, most of you would assume that I would be off traveling some foreign land(whether that be a foreign country or just foreign to me) but I'm not! I would be stuck in Iowa with nothing to do. All of my closest friends, and my boyfriend, have left for the week and I am currently looking forward to the 40 hours I will be spending at work this week. Granted, it will be a very nice looking paycheck, but not my idea of a "senior trip."

My boyfriend, however, is on what I would call a fairly decent senior trip. Him and four of his friends hopped in a van yesterday afternoon and took off for Florida. Now, to those of you who don't know these boys that would seem like a fairly good idea, but to me, I just laugh. First of all, they really didn't have a good plan until we all started harping on them about their lack of one. They were going to stay with Steven's uncle until Julie, Steven's mom, told them she didn't want them impoing on him for the entire week. Thus, they had no where to stay for 3 nights. Of course the boys made no other plan and when asked where they would find lodging in ORLANDO, FLORIDA during SPRING BREAK SEASON not TWO WEEKS before they were leaving, they said they would sleep in the van. HA! They finally found lodging with Sean's grandparents who live about an hour away from Orlando. Everything was then good and well. When asked what these boys were going to do in Florida for 5 days, the immediate response from all of them was, "GIRLS!" Again, HA! Three of the five boys are currently attached and all of them know they would be dead if they returned home boasting of girls. To make a long story short, they really don't have a very good plan, but I know that they will have fun if they can manage to not kill each other by the end of the week.

My best frind Ashley, however, went a different direction. She left for Mexico on Thursday morning and will be returning sometime next Saturday. She didn't go with friends, but rather her family and I know she will have a good time. Her plan was to sleep on the beach all day and then dress up and look "cute" at night when they went out to eat. One thing I know she is doing is swimming with dolphins today. This is a seemingly harmless activity unless you were my friends and I. Of course as she was telling us this one day at lunch, the boys thought that she was swimming naked with the dolphins. So for the last week and a half, we have been talking about how Ashley was going to swim naked with the dolphins. We told Nicole, one of our adult advisors to SADD, that she was doing this and Nicole told us her story about swimming with the Dolphins. She said that she had been swimming with the dolphins with another coulple and the dolphins kept swimming near the other womans tummy. The instructors asked the woman if she was pregnant and she said no. A few weeks later she called them back and told them that she indeed was pregnant. The dolphins have such ultrasonic hearing that they could sense the baby inside the woman. Thus, I of course had to call LJ, Ashley's mom, and warn her of this happening. Ashley was less than pleased but I am sure she is laughing about it right now. (In case you were wondering, there is NO reason for Ashley to be pregnant).

On another note, last weekend concluded my career in show choir. We participated at MoShow at Washington High School. We ended up placing 7th in the day show which didn't allow us to advance to the finals that night. Over all, the season wasn't bad. For those of you who have seen the show, you know that it really isn't your typical "show choir in a can" show this year. For starters, we took "Danny Boy," and Irish funeral song, and made it a rock song. I love the song, judges didn't. They thought we had distroyed the song and that it was a disgrace! Because of this, judges could not get past their personal tastes to judge us on our performance, what they were supposed to be doing. Therefore, we would get black-balled, and placed so low that there was no way we could win. Even though the judges with integrity knew that our show was fantastic and we deserved to win. We didn't do horribly because of this but it did keep us out of finals twice and it dropped us from grand champion twice as well. As the choir and I kept plugging away at the show and throughout the season, we did learn a lot about people, integrity, and ourselves. By the end we were performing for us and no one else. We contemplated changing the order of the show and decided that if judges didn't like us it was their fault. We were going to get on stage and perform our hearts out because that is what we love to do. And we did. We were happy with everything that we did and each show got noticibly better. With the competition season over, we now are looking forward to the end of the year show. For any of you interested, it is May 14th.

And the final thing I have to write about, PROM! Yes, I have the dress, and a few accesories, but no shoes. If any of you out there have anything dainty and shiny, please let me know. The dress is "sky blue," a reverse halter, meaning it comes to a point at the hollow of my neck and has straps that go down my back, has an a-semetrical line, and is sort of fluffy but not overdone. And for all of you who don't understand, I'll try to get a picture on this thing once I have the internet at my house. O yeah, I am currently at the library because the mother board on our computer is dead which isn't allowing us to use the internet. FANTASTIC!...not. Anyway, and I am sure that most of you will see it in two weeks when everyone is in town for the big birthday bash! But anywho, I have the dress, I have the boy, and I almost have a plan.

Dan, a friend of mine, asked Ashley so we are all planning on going together. He is a year younger but is in show choir with us and Ashley and him have been getting pretty comfortable with eachother on the long busrides to and from competitions. It has been fun and of course everyone, including Ashley, had an inkling of a feeling that he was going to ask her. He finally did once he realized that I was purposely leaving to give him a chance. It took him awhile to figure it out that I didn't spend all day last Saturday with the Midget Bake for nothing. He's a little dense and I guess needed a bigger hint. But nevertheless,spring is in the air and Prom is just around the corner. I am excited now. More to come when I have a plan and shoes!

Well, I leave you with that. That is pretty much the only thing going on in my life. Golf season just started and today I went out and bought myself a new set of clubs that are longer than the old and will last me a LONG time. They were reasonably priced, I believe, and they aren't bad clubs. And of course they aren't PING's or Calaway's or anything like that! I look forward to seeing all of you in two weeks. Happy blogging! And no college decision yet. That is way stressing my right now tho!

Word of the Day:

Embarazada: pregnant (no joke, on my last vocab quiz)

Arduously: demanding great effort or labor

The words could be getting interesting as we are reading Frankenstein in english right now. This book will be the death of me!

The Right Choice

2005-02-16T15:24:00.000-06:00

Well, it certainly has been awhile. I think the last few times I wrote were after significant events in my life. This time the significant event seems to take more precedence. For a long time I wanted to go to Wartburg. It seemed like the school for me. Of course I was accepted to the U of I and then it was a possibility. Once I was accepted to Wartburg, Iowa completely left the scene. It still really isn't in the scene but now I have been accepted to the University of Minnesota, more specificially the Carlson School of Management. I sort of applied there because I knew it was an excellent business school and to see if I could get in I guess. I applied but never really thought about it much after that, it was just a school I had seen and I really wanted to go to Wartburg.

Earlier in January I traveled to Wartburg to participate in the Regeants Scholarship Day. The trip was there was lets just say, eventful. It was particularly nice that highway 14 closed not 5 minutes before we got to it and it took us 3 and 1/2 hours to get there. Waverly is a little over 2 hours on a good day. Anyway, I wrote me essay and my hands sweat profusely as I endured the interview I had anticipated to be the hardest and turned out to be fun. It was a good experience and I think that I probably banked a little more after my of course outstanding answers.

The problem comes when people ask me why I want to go to Wartburg. The truth is I honestly don't know. Don't get me wrong, there are definitley things that I love about the school and there are things that set is apart from the other schools I visited, but truly, I haven't seen anything but a small, private college. This is why being accepted to MN made my life a big mess again. I started thinking about going to Wartburg and then if maybe I did want to go to a big school. Before this, I had overheard my mom and dad talking on our way home from Scholarship day, sorry mom and dad, they thought I was asleep. They were talking about the day and the school and the pros and cons and I heard my mom say that that day she truly felt like Wartburg was the place that I was supposed to be. She had been up there with me twice previously and everytime she asked me what I liked and why I wanted to go there and everytime I said the same thing. When I heard her say that she truly felt that Wartburg was the right place for me I was over joyed. I finally felt like I had done something right in the mass chaos that is chosing the right school.

Everyone told me that picking a school was up to me and that I had to do it by myself. Now, I usually consider myself a pretty independent person and I am sure most of you who know me would agree. But chosing a college is such an important decision that I didn't want to screw it up. I am ultimately deciding the rest of my future in the next 3 months and I wanted some help. When I heard my mom say that she thought I had made the right decision I felt like I actually had. Now that I have been accepted to the U of M I am confused again. Part of the problem is that MN gave me the highest scholarship they offer. I received 11,000 dollars to attend their university and the only way to get more was to live in MN. The package they mailed me was pretty impressive and when I told my parents they decided it was probably a good idea to get me up to the campus. So that is exactly what I am doing this weekend.

This weekend I am traveling to MN on Friday with my show choir. We are competing at Waconia HS on Saturday and then stopping by the Mall of America on the way home on Sunday. While everyone else loads the charter busses headed for J-Town, I will be getting in my mom's van and heading back to the hotel for one more night. Monday morning I have a campus visit at the biggest Big Ten(or eleven but whose counting) school in the conference. The U of M is like the 2nd biggest school in the nation or something as well. So, I was set on Wartburg and now I am starting to wonder if it is truly where I want to go. I know that of all the small schools I visited, it is the school I want to go to, I also know that the U of I, while still a very good school, isn't necessarily right for me, and after I visit the U of M, I am hoping to know that either Wartburg is the place for me, or maybe I want to go to MN. Either way, in case any of you decide to ask me where I want to go, I am undecided. However, it is between the U of M, and Wartburg. And Tony, you can give me your list of reasons why I should to go Iowa but my guess is I wont do it. Lo Siento....

Word of the Day:

Profanation: making something sacred common

Cochinillo Asado: roast-suckling pig

Family and Chaos

2005-01-02T16:38:00.000-06:00

Wow! It has been awhile. I know that volleyball is over and that I should be writing more often but my homework has been heavy and I don't have time. I used to write before games becuase I didn't want to do my homework which is why I wrote during volleyball season. And now that is is the new year it means show choir season is right around the corner. I am actually very excited about show choir. We don't have our costumes yet and we perform in two weeks but never the less, I am still excited. We also only have two monday night rehersals before we perform which could be bad as well. I think we will get our butts kicked at LinnMar and that will teach us to work and we will be a lot better after.

With that said, the more important part of my life is my family and the time I got to spend with the over the holidays. Christmas with my dad's side can only be described in one word, chaotic. There were people EVERYWHERE! Although we did miss Scottie the Hottie as he was sick, still, there were plenty of people. My cousin Chad and his wife Holli brought their two kids Megan and Jake. They are about the cutest things I have ever seen. Jake and I bonded a little more this year. He carried his new rubber shark around and "bit" peoples noses off. It was quite humerous. And then we got into a poke war and he called me a turkey. Definitely one of the better names I have been called. Megan and my dad bonded in the kitched where he had to prevent her from eating all the cookies. She looked so cute in her new Christmas outfit. It was really nice that Chad and Holli could spend more time with us because the kids are older now. And of course everyone was jealous of the loot the little kids brought in!

I did however get a barbie from Dana. She is a fairy and her wings light up. Only Dana would buy me a barbie for Christmas. She looks very lovely perched atop my CD case. I also got a talking puppy from Aunt Stacy. You press one ear and it records what you say and then you press the other ear to hear the dog repeat it. Needless to say, the dog has aready been used for evil purposes. I believe right now it says, "Don't have sex, it makes babies," my sister. Followed by, "especially with albinos, " Ashley. It used to tell me it loved me everynight before I went to bed and now I just don't listen to it! With the puppy came a really cool blue bracelet. Very shiny. I also got magnetic beads, a big, shiny, pink ring, money, a gift card to Dillars, and a cute little jewelry box. It was a good Christmas.

On the other side things were a little less populated. My aunt and uncle, Roberta and Steve, and their grandkids, Morgan and Shea, came down in the afternoon and we opened gifts. I got a new hair straightener, money, and a cool bracelet. It was really good. My grandpa gave all of the kids a large chunk of change. The little kids were to open a savings account with it and mine was to use for college. It was a very nice gift and perhaps the best one I received. We had prime rib for dinner that night and lets just say that no one left hungary. It was so good.

Earlier that morning we had our family Christmas. It was good as well. I got a few clothes, a robe and mini coffee maker for college, Mean Girls on DVD, the Ryan Cabrera CD, some lotion and bath stuff, and some others. I was suprised when we woke up at 6:45 and not an hour earlier. Normally my sister "can't sleep" and we get up at the butt-crack to open gifts. But this year it wasn't too outrageous. The day after Christmas I went with Michael to his family Christmas on Lake Panorama. It was fun. And no, I wasn't too freaked out because I went to his dad's suprise party and all the same people were there so I had already met them once. Then the following day Michael and I did our little Christmas. I got him a picture frame with a picture of us from Halloween in it and my senior pictures. Then I made him one of those fleece tie blankets and bought him a DVD. He got me tickets to Mamma Mia and I am so excited! We went out for dinner that night and then we went back to my house and ended up spending the night mostly talking.

New Years was good as well. I went to Michaels becuase he had a party and we hung out there til about 1:00. By the end there weren't too many people there but that is an entirely different story and I eally don't feel like sharing. I just think some of our friends are crap right now that's all. On New Years day Aunt Stacy, Uncle Tony, Tony and Sarah came down for the Iowa game. Which I must add, was an outstanding game and the only play I saw was the very last one where Drew Tate hit some unknown kid in motion who ran in the touchdown to win the game! And I was at work when this happened so right after I saw that I had to get back to the Bakery. That night Michael came down and we all played Apples to Apples for probably three to four hours. It was funny though. It didn't help that most of the adults were a little enebriated(sp?), some more than others. But, it was still fun regardless. And I don't think Michael is too scarred.

WORD OF THE DAY:

BACCHANALIA: Druken orgy

No spanish. I haven't been in that class for awhile!

FISH

2004-11-08T17:09:00.000-06:00

This weekend was the annual Leadership Retreat for my high school. The retreat is put on by SAIL, Students Active In Leadership, and anyone who signs up can go. The students in SAIL are the leaders and the other non-SAIL members just go as participants. This was my third year going and my second as a leader. The camp is held at the Boone YMCA Camp. The camp itself is beautiful. It is in the Des Moines River valley so you are really secluded when you are there. They have decent cabins, I stayed in a fairly new one with a potty, they have a good dining facility, and they just recently built Pioneer Hall which is this huge building with lots of conference type rooms and a large hall where we did most of our large group activities. The only bad thing about this building is that you have to take your shoes off before they let you into the big hall because it is carpeted.

We went into this weekend with the FISH philosophy in mind. Scannell, the man in charge of SAIL and the retreat, learned of it when they showed it to the entire high school staff during in-service one day. There are four parts that make up the whole Philosophy. Be There, Play, Choose Your Attitude, and Make Their Day. We focused on teaching these four things to participants in hopes that they would take them back to the high school to make it a better place for everyone to be. It actually isn't a bad philosophy and I think that a lot of people emjoyed what they learned and will try to incorporate those four things into their daily lives.

While at camp, everyone was broken down into small groups so we could have discussions over what we were trying to teach. We broke the participants down into groups and then Scannell and Rollison, the other person in charge of SAIL, broke the leaders down into groups and combined them. My small group was pretty good. I had a lot of fun with the leaders. One of them was Tom, we go way back. I was in love with the kid in the seventh and eighth grade and EVERYONE knew it. We pretty much held the group and I had a lot of fun hanging with him this weekend. Another leader was a participant in my group from last year and I have known her for a while so that was good. DePenning was another leader in my group. She is in Inno with me and she sings my part to me all the time. Without her I would be floundering. K-Ro was also in my group as a leader. We have had our differences in the past but they are so far behind us that it wasn't too bad having him in my group. Lindsey was our "adult" leader. She is a student at UNI and is going to be turning 21 in February. Everyone thought she was a high school student for the longest time. I also had Ness in my group again. Last year it took us a long time to crack him but this year he jumped right in. It was fun to see how he had grown over the year. I also met some new people and had a lot of fun with them.

Those are just the basics of camp. Candlelight is one of the activities that we do on the last night. They put all of us in the big hall with our pillows and blankies and turn off the lights. Then they set up a desk with a microphone and put a huge flashlight on the ground to illuminate the area. Anyone who wanted to go up and speak could and the rest of us just laid there and listened. It is basically a time for seniors to reflect on their years at high school, and for everyone to give advice or share a meaningful story that will have an influence on people in the crowd. Basically it was a major cry-fest. I don't think I have cried that much in a long time. Some things that people said really hit home and I agreed with a lot of things that were said.

Some friends Erik and Butter talked about how they wish they had spent more time with their family and encouraged everyone to do the same because once you leave for college, you don't get to see them as much. Some other people talked about their younger siblings and how they wish they had gotten to know them better. Becca and Erin talked about how their different diseases changed their life and how their friends were the greatest impact o n how they got through it. Allie stood up and said that a special group of senior girls taught her a valuable lesson this year. They taught her how to succeed even when no one thinks you can and to persue even when the world is against you. I balled when she said that. I gave my quote, "Columbus could have turned back and no one would have blamed him, however no one would have remembered him either." I regret the people I didn't meet and the things I didn't do so I encouraged everyone to get out there so they could be remembered for the things that they had done. I really do regret the things I didn't try in high school because I was scared to. I missed the opportunity to meet so many people because I prejudged them and never gave them a chance. I don't regret many things that I have done, it's the things I didn't do that I regret most. I wish I could have said it better that night but I had a little stage fright and I was close to crying anyway.

After the official candlelight was over, my friends and I all had our own little candlelight. We all stayed in the room and approached one another on a one to one basis. I would just look at some people and cry. I had a really good talk with Erik. We had been pretty good friends and because of all the stupid drama that comes with being in high school, we stopped hanging out. I have never seen him that way. I could just tell that he was truly sorry that we both let stupid things get between us. Erin jumped on me right away and told me that she didn't know what she would have done without me for the last 12 years. Peter didn't cry but he looked like it was close when I talked to him. For those of you who don't know, Peter's dad passed away this summer. It was mid-June and I had just gotten back from Spain and sprained my ankle. Peter has 2 little brothers and a mom that he takes care of now. I have never seen one person be so strong for everyone else. Peter was 16 at the time of his father's death. I remember sitting at the funeral, which was my first funeral to attend, and when the family got up to walk out with the procession, Peter looked at me and I knew that he wanted to cry so bad, but he didn't because he was trying to be strong for his family. Peter is one of my best friends and he is also one of the strongest people I know. When I talked to him at Candlelight, he had about the same look in his eyes, but he was strong, and just gave me a hug. I said so many things to so many people and many people I talked to had many things to say to me.

After candlelight, everyone dispersed throughout the circles, the cabins were in circles, and sat around the camp fires. About 1:00 Scannell sent everyone inside except the seniors and we just chilled as the senior class with Scannell and Rollison. I think I went in about 2:00 and was up writing my bag of good feelings until about 3:00. The next morning we cleaned and packed and after breakfast we went to Chase Lodge to do bag of good feelings. What you do is write little notes to people in your group and then to other people you care about at the camp. Then you put them into each persons bag and read your own notes from other people on the way home. That was another cry-fest. My friends and I sat on the bus crying almost all the way home. It was a good time. It was sort of like the beginning of the end. It was my last leadership camp and it made me realize that I only have months left with the people in my high school. It also made me realize that there are a lot more people out there that I am going to miss than I originally thought.

On a happier note, another activity that we do is Karaoke, sp?. Each small group gets a song and they have to choreograph it and perform in front of the entire camp and the adults judge it. My song was Walkin' on Sunshine. We dressed as "thugs" and taped papertowels to sticks to use as those ribbon-dancer things. We did "lyrical" dancing to Walkin'on Sunshine dressed as "thugs." It didn't come off as well as we had hoped but it was still funny to us. Two of the boys in our group had a dance off while another one sang. Then the other two boys we threw a yellow blanket over and called them the "sun." They just moved around randomly throughout the song. It was pretty funny. But, no one else got it so we didn't even get one vote to put us in the finals. Owell.

We also played sand volleyball on Friday during our "choice" time. Scannell says you can't say "free" time because then people think they have the liberty to do whatever they want. And that wasn't so much the case. We played boys vs. girls and believe it or not, the girls lost. Our team was mostly volleyball players too. I told Steffi it was because JV was under-represented on the court. Friday night was a dance which I didn't attend because I just wasn't in that mood. Instead Ashley, Michael and I went up to the ridge. To get there you have to climb about a million stairs and then we started walking down the trail which actually takes you farther up and into the woods. All we had was my little Hello Kitty flashlight that barely lit 5 feet in front of us. Taylor was with us and she started talking about people getting murdered and hobos coming out of the woods with barb-wire and strangling people. Need less to say Ashley and I decided we had had enough of the ridge and I grabed the flashlight from Michael and we headed back down the trail. Taylor came running at us and we both screamed. What made it better was when we were telling Rollison the story, she had heard us scream. After that we went up to our circle and laid on the ground to watch the stars. Michael and Ashley kept seeing falling stars and I never saw them. I was so mad! When I finally saw one I was really excited and they both just laughed at me. Then Ashley and I talked in our high-pitched talking-to-our-gato voice for over and hour. Michael was a little annoyed by the end of the night. But, I had fun!

Well, that was my final leadership retreat. That was most of it, there is some other stuff but it isn't as interesting or funny as the rest of it. I am going to miss leadership. It was so much fun. I am still mad at myself for not going freshman year. But at least I gave it a try sophomore year and ended up loving it.

Word of the Day:

Magnanimous: Courageously noble in mind and heart

Enredar: To tangle

Who really knows?

2004-10-25T15:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry that my blogs are so few and far between but I haven't any time to blog. And I don't have avid readers so I figure, I will blog when I have time nad you can read however often you would like. With that said, I have other important things to ponder.

I sent my application to the University of Iowa in a few weeks ago and now I am starting to wonder when I am going to recieve word from them. I am truly not worried about getting in because they let just about everyone into the U of I, but I got a letter the other day that gave me a sign in and password to allow me to see how the application process was going. I signed in last night just out of curiosity and they have received everything and next to Admitance, it says "in progress." So now I am nervous because I want to know if I am acceptd or not. I think it has been about 2 weeks now since I have sent everuthing it. Maybe almost two weeks.

My next pondering thought is how can I play JV all season, miss a practice before competition, and still dress varsity for tonight's regionals game against North. My first thought is that it is because they are playing North. But that wouldn't make sense because he wouldn't really need me because North is so easy. He is also dressing Allie, Mindy, Mallory, and Steph so who knows what he is doing. I was even late to practice on Friday because I had to tutor. I don't know, Mr. Brooks works in some screwed up ways sometimes.

With that said, Friday is also the end of the quarter. And speaking of Brooks, I have one math test left to hopefully bring up my grade. He hasn't put in attendance so perhaps that will also give me a boost. Right now I am at a solid C. I know this may come as a shock to most of you who believe that I am a perfect student, but yes, I really do have a C. I just don't understand derivatives. I am starting to get them, and I know how to find them now, but I don't always know what they are telling me. I don't know how to interpret them. But, math is boring.

Moving on to the part of my life that everyone wants to know about, the boyfriend. He is good. Still the same Michael that lives down the street. I find it sort of funny that earlier this summer I blogged about him and our history of never liking eachother at the same time, and now I am blogging about our relationship. Strange. We hung out on Friday at the game and then he went home early because he has All State choir try-outs on Saturday. He made it and we celebrated his acceptance and my birthday on Saturday night when I got off work. We watched the movie Seven. Very strange, in fact I think I am going to have to watch it again so I fully understand what went on. The plus side, Brad Pitt is in the movie so I will have no problem watching it again.

Yesterday I had to work and it was funny because I had to leave at 4 to go to a SAIL meeting. I called Kim, a floor manager, to ask her if there was someone that could cover the bakery from 4 until 8. She sent me to Kristi and she told me that she had someone who could do it but only until 6:30. So that meant that I had to come back to work when I was done with SAIL. To top that off, Mirsada, the manager of the Pizza Shop, hadn't scheduled anyone from 1-3. She got Ryan, the boy from the kitchen that Carrie, the cake decorator, tried to set me up with earlier this summer, to cover pizza from 1-3. He came into the bakery with a big smirk on his face and told me that he was going to find out what doing nothing was like. (he makes fun of me because he says I am never doing anything and that his job is so much harder than mine.) I told him it was crap that he could work pizza but not bakery because Dave, my manager, and I asked him to cover bakery while I was gone and his dad, the kitchen manager, said that he couldn't or something.

I walked into the pizza shop and the girl that was there was telling Ryan what he needed to do and the prices of everything. He was fine with everything except the fact that he doesn't know how to make the pizzas. I said that I knew and she asked me if I could help him if pizza needed to be made. I said fine whatever, it gets me out of standing in the bakery. Sheila, the pizza girl, said ok, well we do actually need some pizzas for the case. I had to make 4 pizzas because Ryan is a moron and doesn't know how. I wasn't technically able to put a pizza into the oven until last Tuesday and I know how! Anyway, I was making some pizza when David came back and told Ryan that he needed to run out to Camp Dodge and pick up some equipment at 2. Guess who was left to watch 2 departments, that's right, me! Ryan left at 2 and got back about 15 minutes before Steve, the guy working pizza at 3, got there. It was a beautiful time. But I did learn a lot more about pizza so now I can help over there when there is nothing to do in the bakery, which is always.

While Ryan and I were making a pizza, mainly me, Jim walked past the pizza shop and asked what he could get for a quarter. I told him my love and Ryan told him that it was way over priced. These are the kids that I work with, but I thought it was funny. I am actually starting to talk to Ryan which is strange because we are so different. Let me tell you, there are some quality people that work at Hy-Vee. But, I enjoy it most of the time and in a few weeks I should get a raise. That means my measly 7 bucks an hour will be bumped to 7.25 an hour. Sweet! But I do get an extra .50 cents on Sundays so that is sort of nice.

Well, I have nothing else really to blog about. My life is not very interesting. I have a lot of homework all the time and that is about it. So, I will leave the words and you can decide what to do with them.

Rapport: relationship; especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity

Caracoles!: Gee whiz!

Senior Night

2004-10-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

First off, sorry I haven't written in so long but I really have been busy. And Tony, trust me, I do know the meaning of busy. Last week I had three games, we started a novel in english, and we finished about the hardest chapter in math that I have ever lived through. This weekend I had show choir choreography from 9-5 on Saturday, and then 1-8 on Sunday. Sunday morning I had to do my homework that I didn't get done on Saturday. Monday I had school, then straight to practice, then from there I went to pasta to get dinner, then back to the school for 4 more hours of choreography. I didn't get home until 10:15 last night and I was up til 1:00 doing homework. So mom, that's why I was a little annoyed that you wanted me to get up at 7:00.

Secondly, tonight is senior night. Somehow I don't think I am getting the same experience most people think of when the term "senior night" is brought up. I play JV and as happy as I am playing JV, I think most people think of "senior night" being a varsity activity. Tonight is a little different though seeing as how most of the seniors play JV, or SV as we like to call it! I get to dress varsity tonight along with the rest of the seniors, but that doesn't mean I am going to get to play. The question on everyone's mind is who isn't dressing? You can only dress 15 people and the 9 permanent varsity players plus the 7 seniors on JV make 16. Hmm....Brooks is a math teacher, lets see how long it takes him to figure this one out.

When I was talking to Michael and he was telling me how last year for baseball the coach put all the seniors in the starting line up on senior night, I was wondering if Brooks would do something like that. I highly doubt it but, maybe something will click and allow him to be a decent coach for once in his life. It is sad to think that this is the last time that I am going to play volleyball on Johnston's home floor. I never got the experience of playing in front of the crowd like varsity, I didn't even get to dress varsity most of the year. Which, now I am thankful that I didn't have to sit through hours of agony on the bench watching them lose. And even though it is senior night, I still want them to lose. It is still the same team, just because Brooks put all the seniors on the bench means squat.

I heard that at the Ankeny game he yelled at the bench for not cheering. Now, I believe in cheering for the team but it is hard to cheer for a team that you don't support. I was comparing basketball last year and volleyball this year earlier. Last year the bench was thanked for all the support and cheering they gave to the varsity players. And I hated basketball last year. I felt the same way about basketball and that team as I do about volleyball and this team. I didn't feel like part of that team but I still cheered anyway. When I think about it, it is probably because I liked most of the people that played basketball last year. And I like the people that play volleyball but I think I don't support them because I feel as though I should be playing where as in basketball I knew the right people were playing. I don't know. I was sort of philosophical in that sense today but it ended there.

With that said, I must comment on the date I had on Friday night. I know my parents know as well as Auntie S, but for the others of you out there, yes, I went out on a date with a boy on Friday night. It was Michael, the same boy from Homecoming. He asked me out on Tuesday after I helped him pick up bottles after the game. I told him that he owed me for being such a good friend. He called me later and said since he owed me, how about he take me out to dinner on Friday and then we could go to Retep's. (Retep's birthday was yesterday so he had a party Friday night.) Anyway, I said sure and that is how it happened. He picked me up and we went out for dinner at Okaboji, then we watched a movie at his house to kill some time before we went to Peter's. He brought me home at 12:30 and that is all she wrote. We are pretty much oficially a "couple" so mom you don't have to make fun of me anymore or ask Pooz anymore tedious questions.

Other than that, I don't know what else to write about. I have been too busy to actually have a life so nothing interesting has been going on. The JV Dragons were doing super well for awhile and then we lost three games last week. I think we are 5 and 4 now. We only have two games left though so we better pick it up. I really hope that we win tonight. Coach switched the line up to "help out" the front row that I wasn't normally in. We pretty much had our three strongest hitters all in the front row together which made the other front row pretty weak. Now we are more staggered and now both front rows are mediocre with a strong hitter in each. I don't really like it because it means that I play with Emily now and she drives me nuts. Owell, only 2 games left. SEP is tonight and out favorite WDMDCHS, or West Des Moines Dowling Catholic High School, is next week.

And in case it is a week again before I write, exactly one week from today GRANDE will be 18!! That's right, I will be a legal adult and I can vote. I saw President Bush speak last week and it was pretty interesting. I still don't know who I am going to vote for though. Owell.

I haven't learned any new interesting english words but to make up for the non-blogging, I will do three spanish words.

En Cueros: In one's birthday suit; Naked (actual dictionary definition!)

Sazonada: Spicy

Coquetear: To Flirt

What Everyone Has Been Waiting For

2004-09-29T16:43:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, the long awaited Homecoming Blog is here! And just so you all know, I apologize in advance for the typos as I am having a sort of phalangial problem today. And for all of you that wonder how I spelled that one, I looked it up in what I can only assume is my mother college anatomy book. Using my resources to their finest.

The week's festivities that started on Monday with Rock Around the Clock were followed by a 'W', not as in our president, against Indianola on Tuesday. The parade where I pelted candy at unsuspecting kids and friends with candy, and probably consumed more candy than actually got eaten by parade watchers. Friday I left school and went to Ashley's to watch One Tree Hill, o yeah...it's back!, and from there we ran some errands and went tailgating around 6:15. We hung out with some friends in the parking lot drinking pop and eatting burgers until game time. Once we entered the game we found the stands packed and weaseled our way through to get a seat. The football game was horribly boring so a bunch of us left and went to Culvers for a little snack. We left Culvers and went to Brians house to watch the Exorcist. For my first time watching the movie, I was a little scared but found myself wondering why I had myself all worked up about it. It really wasn't that bad. After the movie Ashley and I came to my house because Ashley was staying with my while her parents road-tripped in the mo-ho to the Iowa/Michigan game.

Saturday morning we woke up and went to the mall to look around. We went to the shoe store and got bored and came home before we actually entered the mall. We went to Walgreens because I needed to drop off some film and we picked up so fake nails. When we got back we applied them and for being unprofessional, they looked pretty darn good. People didn't even know they were fake and some asked where we got them done. I got a pedicure while Ashley got her hair done and while I was waiting for the polish to dry my phone rang. It was Ashley saying that she didn't know about her hair and she was crying because she thought it was that bad. I told her I would be there as soon as I could. I paid and left and headed straight for Ashley's house. I opened the door and found her crying on the couch, and yes, it really was 'that bad.' I calmed her down and we grabbed some curling irons and headed for home. We decided we should probably just re-do her hair so we pulled it out and I put it in hot rollers for her.

Once that project was done I went downstairs to get my phone and saw that I had a missed call. It was from Michael, my date, so I called him back. He had gone to Illinois the previous night so he could take the ACT. I wasn't expecting him home til around 5:30. When I asked him were they were at 4:00 he told me they were 22 miles out. I essentially hung up the phone instantly and ran for the shower. We got clean and beautiful and put our dresses on about the time the dorrbell rang signifying the arrival of date number one. We freaked out and were running around rampantly putting on the final touches to our looks. Once ready we headed down the stairs and to the living room where we met our patiently waiting dates. We did the mandatory exchange of flowers and half a million pictures. We left my house and headed for Becca's for group pictures.

Becca's was another half a million pictures and by then end my face was permanently numb from smiling. Once pictures were over we went to the Tavern II for dinner. It was a little bit more than a Pizza Hut, but not by much. I wasn't very hungry and neither was Ashley but MIchael said he hated it when girls split a dish and wouldn't let us. So instead we both got heaping helpings of alfredo which neither of us ate. We gave it to John and that was the end of our eating. I forgot the mention that there were THIRTY THREE people in our dinner party. I didn't talk to half of them and frankly, I don't really care. I had fun with the people around me and that is all that matters. We left the Tavern and arrived at the dance around nine. We took pictures and headed in to "get the party started." We danced and were crazy for two hours and then we came home, changed, and went to Joes.

At Joes we watched TV, played cards, Sean kicked my ass at foosball, and I learned a lot more about poker and the game called Omaha. It was fun and I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been so tired. But it was a good time none the less. We left Joes about a quarter to 2:00 and Michael took me and Ashley home. Ashley and I came in, headed straight up the stairs, discussed a little, and hit the sack shortly after.

All in all, I had a good time. It was fun but nothing so spectacular sticks out in my mind about it. I am guessing that there are a few dissappointed readers. Owell, and no, I was not "slobbered" on, Aunt Stacy, groped, my friends who read this, and he didn't "stick with me all the way up to my room" mom! I must admit though, after looking at some pictures, Michale sure knows how to clean up! I will bring pictures the next time I see all of you and perhaps if I find time I will e-mail some. I had fun with my friends and I had fun with Michael, and that is how it will remain.

Archetype: original model or type after which other similar things are patterned

Exponerse: to expose oneself

I must add, Steven has this nifty hand-held electronic ditionary thing that we have been playing with in Calc so I have been learning a lot of new words. I have still been keeping up with my math though. I definitely kicked Steven's butt on the quiz we took today over derivatives. I tried to explain them to him before the quiz and he just looked at me. For once I finally understand what it is that I am doing!

Frocks and Clocks

2004-09-21T16:37:00.000-05:00

Well, the day that the female readers have been waiting for is here. I have time to blog about the dress, or the "frock" as Aunt Stacy puts it. I like it a lot and it is oober cute! As for the rest of you, I don't care if you don't like it, it is my dance! Anyway, it is a halter style dress that hangs to my knees. The top of the dress connects to a ring and then it ties from the ring around my neck. The ties are a little longer so it looks like a scarf, similar to the effect of my dress freshman year, going down to about my mid-back. The color is a little more difficult to describe. Picture magenta, purple, pink, red, a beigy/toupe color, and some blues. Then picture something that you would never expect to see on my body because that is what my dress looks like! The colors are all splashed on the dress at about a 45 degree angle. They all blend and unblend with eachother creating the perfect look. If you are having problems visualizing, let me know, I will send you a picture after Saturday.

The homecoming week festivities kicked off yesterday with the annual Rock Around the Clock. It is a silly homecoming tradition in which you create a team of 10 of your friends and compete in wacky events to essentially see how much pudding you can cover yourself with. My team, The Future Wives Club, consisted of Ashley, Butter, Beans, Jill, Hoov, Steffi, Erin, Alicia, Becca, Emily, and myself. For our nicknames we chose our future husbands, I, for instance, was Mrs. M. Phelps, as in the olympic swimmer. Others were Mrs. Pitt, Mrs. Damon, Mrs. Kutcher etc., and my mother, our sponsor, Mrs. Robinson.

Our first event was the pudding slip-and-slide relay where you have to slide across tarps what are covered with chocolate pudding. You put half your team on one side and the other half on the other and the next person can go when you slap hands. So needless to say, we had the messiest event first so we hugged every clean person in sight. Next we went to the cheeto throw where you put shaving cream on someone's face and the rest of the team threw cheeze balls to make them stick. We ended up with 5 cheeze balls stuck to Steffi's face. Other events included the egg and spoon race, pass the orange without using your hands or arms, WHICH WE FINALLY COMPLETED AND WON!, the bat race where you have to spin 10 times around and then run around a cone, look for Ashley's blog on that, it was hilarious, and other various assorted crazy events. I think we ended up winning 4 of 12 events which isn't bad for us.

At the conclusion of the event Ashley and I went to VI with a bunch of people from different teams. I bet 30 of us showed up there at about 10:30 when they closed at 11:00. Let's just say the ONE and ONLY waitress there was a little pissed that what looked like was going to be a typical Monday night, turned into a hoard of hyped-up teenagers covered in pudding. I had a cookies and cream shake, it was yummy!

With that said, I must go continue getting ready for my game tonight. We open conference with INDIANOLA! Maybe Manser will come...? Look for a Blog sometime after homecoming, I know all of you will be dying to know how it went. And o yes, does anyone know if Dana is reading this. I don't think I have her correct e-mail address so if someone wants to send her the link, that would be awesome! I leave you with the words.....

Histrionic: Over emotional or dramatic

Enloquecer: To drive crazy

Dancing Queen

2004-09-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

I am sort of excited to write tonight, why, I have no idea. We played North at North tonight. We won, of course, as did Varsity picking up their first 'W'. Then again, they played the same players that JV played. Anyway, it hasn't been a very exciting weekend. I had multiple hours of show choir this weekend which meant that I danced, and danced, and danced all day! Eight hours on Saturday, and seven hours on Sunday. We choreographed 2 full songs so I guess that is a plus. Our opener is Danny Boy, which is pretty rock and roll, and then the 4th song is called Mama Says, and it has more of a jazzy feel to it.

In Danny Boy, Matt Burch, this little red-haired sophomore is my partner. At first he didn't speak to me, but now we have a good relationship started. He is my favoirite sophomore. He is hilarious, he isn't the best dancer in the world and our choreographer was cleaning and every time it was Burchy, he would say something like "show-choir nazi" or "yeah I know I can't dance, do you have to point out EVERY mistake!" It was a good time. Then when we were working on our stage enterance, we were all shoved in back because we follow a soloist on to the stage, Burchy and some other guys were screwing around and I was loopy so it was a blast. Steven kept telling me there was a formula and he sits next to me in calc so he knows how good I am with formulas. Then John Miller kept calling me "mommy" because I told him were to go a few times so he decided I was like his mommy keeping him in line.

Saturday night I went to Colby's. There were so many people there and they ranged from freshman to seniors. I played some badmitton and got in on some kickball but then it was pointless to play because we couldn't even see the ball. So Ashley and I decided to sit and talk with some people. They were talking about people and events that we were clueless about so we walked down to the fire and talked. Then Steven and Jenna-Lee came down followed by some other random sopomores so me and Ash decided to go back up to the house. We entered a conversation about Homecoming which was sort of interesting because I hadn't talked to Michael about it since he asked me and no one really knew that we were going together so I got a lot of interesting looks as well as some interesting comments were said. The best part of the night was when Jenna walked up to Michael and told him what the plan was for him and me to go with her and Goers and a few other people. I looked at Michael as soon as she left and said, sorry, but I can't go with her. We do not get a long nor can I stand to be with her for extended periods of time. Luckily he agreed so we decided to go with the huge group that we sort of talked about going in earlier. That was an experience. The sad thing is that Jenna already had a date and decided that she was going to go with Goers and Goers just couldn't say no even though he really doesn't want to go with her. Long story.

The night ended with Ashley and I at Joe's with Brian, Erik, and Poop Shoot. We talked for awhile and then we all had to leave so Ashley took Brian and Erik to Brian's because Erik's car was there. As we started driving I noticed that there was a spider on the windshield and that it was on the inside. I said something and then Brian started screaming, Erik started laughing, I started to back away from it and the Erik touched Ashley's neck and she screamed and slammed on her breaks. It was hilarious. Once we got to Brian's, which is only around the corner from Joe's, Ashley and I jumped out of the car and got Erik and Brian to kill the spider for us. Meanwhile Brian's neighbor came outside to see what was going on and then once the spider was dead and gone I still sat in the backseat on the way home. That was funny for me but I am pretty sure that you had to be there to think the same way.

That was essentially my weekend. I have to go get a dress this weekend as well and finalize my plans with Michael. He is sort of busy that weekend which he just informed me of last night. Everything should work out fine though.

Innately: possessed as an essential characteristic

And here is one everyone will love;
Boracho: drunk

My True Learning Experience

2004-09-12T00:21:00.000-05:00

I don't have anything to say minus I had an awesome time tonight at Colby's. Too much to explain, too little time. But, I did realize that I left out a particularly important part of last night. I learned the Ocsar Mayer song! So I will leave you with the lyrics:

My bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R
My bologna has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R!
Now I could eat it every day, and if you asked me why I'll saaaaaaaaay......
'cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!

Homecoming and the Like

2004-09-11T01:04:00.000-05:00

The end of another week is here and I do actually have news to write about. I don't remember if I have already explained this but who cares, you will read it anyway. Anyway, I have a date to homecoming. Now, before you get all excited, you have to hear me out. I am going with my FRIEND Mike. This is the kid that lives down the street from me and I wrote about in a previous blog. He called me up on Wednesday night and asked me if he asked Ashley and one of his friends asked me to the dance, would it work. So, I talked to him for about half and hour and then I tried calling Ashley but she had gone to bed for the night. So I talked to her the next morning and we tried to figure out what we should do. I also knew that the chances of Jeronimo, the "friend," asking me during fifth period were pretty high.

Fifth period came and went and nothing happened so I forgot about it for the rest of the school day. I took Ashley home because her car was being fixed and we talked about it some more. We came to the conclusion that I needed to talk to Michel and that he obviously needed to talk to her if he wanted to ask her to the dance. So I called Michael on Thursday night when I got home from Ames, we lost but that is another story. We talked for about 40 minutes and we were trying to find an answer and he said, "Hey, let me throw a curve ball at you," so I said sure. He said, "Alyssa, would you like to go to Homecoming with me?" And I was like, "um, wait a second, what just happened?" He told me that a light had come on and that he didn't know why he hadn't asked me before asking me about the other plan. I asked him if he was sure and if this decision wasn't just based on something that I had said earlier in the conversation and he said it wasn't and that he had actually been thinking about it and talking with his mom about it for a few days or so. So we talked through it and we worked it out that we would go together.

I called Ashley when I got off the phone with Michael and I didn't exactly tell her the "whole" story. She was confused and we talked for a little while and then she got off the phone. She calls me back a few minutes later because she has gotten a phone call at home and on her cell from a number she doesn't recognize. She reads me the number and I know that it is Jeronimo. He was going to call her to see if she would go with him now. This was only complicated by the fact that Brian, a different friend of ours, had told us that Brandon wanted to ask Ashley. So she called him up and now Ashley and Brandon are going together, as are Michael and I, and poor Jeronimo has no one to go with. I don't know what he is going to do and I felt kind of bad, but then I realized that it wasn't my fault, and it wasn't Ashley's fault, it was Michaels fault so owell.

The moral of the story is, I have a date, he is my friend, he was a dumbass about some things last week, but, I don't really care. I think I am doing the right thing. I know that I will have a good time with him and I know that we both know this is a strictly plutonic date. (I just spelled that like plutonium, how do you spell it?) I am a little worried about what Butter is going to say to me. We had kind of talked about going together but that was because I never thought that I was going to have a date. We never set anything in stone so it isn't so much that that I am worrying about, but the fact that she hates Michael because of a homecoming situation from last year. But, Butter does tend to hold grudges longer than she should and she just hates him because he liked another girl shortly after taking her to the dance. Longer story, less interesting. I am looking forward to the dance, now all I have to do is find a dress!

On a less happy note, the JV Dragons lost to Ames last night. It wasn't a total blow-out though, we did put up a good fight. Even our coach said that she had never seen us play like that and that is was the best we had played so far this season. She also said that would be the best team we saw all season so I guess we lost, but it wasn't to a bad team, ah-hem...ROOSEVELT. Tonight Brooks sat the seniors down and wanted to discuss the "issues." He said that he received calls from parents and that he wanted to know what our issue was. We said nothing because that is what we were told to do. He talked himself in circles and came out of the conversation a bigger idiot than he was upon entering. I guess there is a meeting on Monday but I am not too concerned. I like where I am at and frankly, I am happy that Wanda is my coach and not him. She is such a better coach and she is way more fun than Brooks will ever be.

On a different note, the Dragon football season got underway tonight. We won in overtime. And we just barely missed it. We had scored but the other team got a chance to score because we went first. They scored too but they missed the field goal so we won by one point. I didn't really see much of the game, I was catching up with friends and talking. You know, the typical high school football game scene. I went to Brian's after the game with Ashley. It wasn't too bad a time. We just hung out and I taught Joe how to use his phone. We watched South Park, and as much as I hate that show, it was hilarious. It was the one where they think Kenny has a ticket that they won and need, so theybuild a ladder to heaven so they can get the ticket back and claim their prize. One of the guys mixes Kenny's ashes into milk because he thinks it is chocolate milk mix, and he has all the weird dreams and visions of Kenny. That part was sort of sick, but the rest was funny. All in all, the night wasn't too bad. But, I do have 7 hours of choreography tomorrow so I need to get some sleep. Later

WORD OF THE DAY:

Truncate: to shorten by or as if cutting off the end or top; to lop
(Brooks used it in math and I thought it was a funny word)

Mayordomo: butler

Patricia, Names, and the Usual

2004-09-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

Well, it is abnormally early for me to be writing but, since I have a break between school and practice I thought that I would blog. Last night there was a match between your good ol' Dragons and the Rough Riders of Roosevelt. It was a pretty good night for everyone, except varsity. Once again, they had a 2-0 lead going into the third game, and decided to get beat in the next three games. Point spread, Dragons-Riders, 1st game: 25-12; 2nd game: 25-14; 3rd game: 12-25; 4th game: 25-27; 5th game: 11-15. This was varsity. The scores of my games, 25-12 and 25-14. We even beat them in the 3rd game which didn't count because we had already won the match outright. Anyway, the varsity didn't do too horribly in 4 out of 5 games, I bet you can see which one wasn't so hot, but, I don't want to talk about volleyball for the rest of my life.

I have started to see that I am going to need to apply myself in my classes if I am going to get anywhere in them. And mom it isn't because I fall asleep doing my homework or with the lights on, I just haven't reached the full swing of things yet. What does still seem to amuse me is that Pat Freese, better known as Patricia to those of us who crossed the Atlantic this summer, is absolutely clueless about the goings on in Spain. I think deep down inside he knows that certain friend of mine was glued to his hip, but I don't think that he wants to admit it. Instead, everyone else on the trip, that cared anyway, knew what was going on and was a little disturbed. So everyday, little Patricia comes up to me and asks me if I am going to tell him "my story" today. And everyday it is the same response, "before I graduate, I will tell you," followed by whatever insult I can throw at him. I even bribed him the other day. I told him that if he bought a carnation from me and not Ashley, I would tell him. He said that he would buy one from both of us so I said that would work. I have yet to see that dollar and I still have 12 left to sell, so needless to say, he doesn't know "my story."

This just cracks me up because Patricia is about 5 foot 7 or so, and he is a wrestler. So his shoulders just take over the little frame of his body. He also has some funky, bleach-blonde hair that is getting too long and curls. He sort of looks like a girl. Because he sort of looks like a girl, isn't what I call him a girl name. While in Spain he thought it would be cute to argue with me. Little did he know that I get my sarcasm from my father and pretty much shut him up everytime he tried to annoy me. So, I started calling him Patricia because we were in Spain and it seemed to fit him better. Everyone started calling him Patricia, to include my mother and the rest of the adults. (you have to pronounce Patricia giving the 'i' more of an 'e' sound, to make it spanish for the english Patricia.) So that is how Patricia got his name. To this day, we all still refer to him as Patricia.

I am pretty good at giving people nicknames that stick. Lets just compile a list:

Gibosn: a friend of mine who I played basketball with freshman year, everyone calls her "gibby"

Sara: that started as a bunch of different names and changed from 7th grade on, she has been "Beans" or some variation of that word since about freshman year

Butter: not completely mine as her brother was called that, but that is the only thing that I call her anymore

Me: I am pretty sure that I looked up the words for "big" and "hair" in my spanish book in 8th grade, "Grande Pelo", and now I have been "GRANDE" forever

Me: I also was the one who misspelled 'blonde' and am now referred to as "the bloned"

Erin: I called her a lot of things when we were young, but every time, the prefix was "pee." There was "pee-body," "pee-brain," and a bunch more. Now she is just called "loo" for "erna loo"

Kevin: I started calling him "kevie" and now the people that talk about him call him that

I am sure that I have missed some because my memory is starting to go, but I have given quite a few people nicknames. They are just more fun than real names. I have about a thousand for Ashley, but I usually just call her Ashley unless she is being "cute" and we are just talking.

Well, I will once again leave you with the new words for today.

ENGLISH
Monotonous: Unvarying in vocal inflection or pitch
(heard the word before, never knew what it meant)

SPANISH
Hojas(silent H): Leaves, also can mean a piece of paper

Intelligence at its Finest

2004-09-05T23:40:00.000-05:00

I don't really have any inspiration for this blog. I did end up going to Cedar Rapids on Saturday. I shopped with my mom and per usual, didn't find the elusive pair of jeans that I am continually searching for. We left the mall and went back to Grandma's house. Aunt Stacy was there so we chatted awhile until she left and then dad started dinner. While dad was slaving away in the kitchen, mom and I went to Old Navy and to the good ol' Hy Vee to get some groceries for grandma. While at the courtesy counter, renting a movie, I had a conversation with the girl working behind the counter. She wondered why I was in CR because when I showed her my drivers license, it said Urbandale. She explained to us that she used to life in Waukee and then moved to Montana and back to CR to attend Coe.

It was also a marathon spanish day for me yesterday. I started my spanish homework in the car, then I did a little after dinner while everyone else was talking, and then I spent another 2 hours working on it while the family watched a movie. I did, however, learn a plethera of new spanish words. The book we have now is different from our old books, so the vocab is different. For instance, La Frontera, means "the frontier." Now, I asked myself, why on earth would I need to know the spanish word for "frontier." My mother said that I could talk about Thanksgiving in spanish now. That is all fine and well, but the spanish people don't even have a "thanksgiving" so to speak. I guess if someone ever asks me about our history, I can say that we moved on "la frontera." I have actually been learning quite a few new spanish words lately. Probably because my brain is finally leaving summer mode and entering the state where it knows it has to work. Which, sucks because I actually have to think now.

Speaking of thinking, I think that some of the people in my AP English class should have thought before they signed up. We read Oedipus, granted, it was Sopecles who wrote it, but, I heard some pretty bonehead things said in response to the text. This wasn't my first time reading it so I was a little advanced in my knowledge of the plot, but there were people that had no idea what was going on. The story is pretty sick and twisted. Oedipus was exiled to the country side because of a prophecy that said his fate was to kill his father and marry his mother. Since he was exiled at such a young age, he had no idea that the people he called "mom" and "dad" weren't his biological parents. So when he kills a random man on the road, he has no idea that is it his dad. Then he goes back to his home town and answers the riddle of the Sphynx. He is the hero and is crowned king. He then marries his mom and bears children with her. All of a sudded the city has this horrible plague and Oedipus sends Creon, his brother in law, to the gods to get the answer. The answer is that he must find the murderer of Leius, Oedipus' dad, whom Oedipus has killed but doesn't know it. When Oedipus finds out that he is in fact the murderer, and that the prophecy has come true, he gouges his eyes out with pins from his dead wife's/mother's clothing. Jocasta, Oedipus' mother and wife, killed herself after she found out the prophecy was true. So now we have a blind, murdering, king, his dead queen, and his children whom are full of incest. Sounds like a good time to me. Oedipus wants to be sent back to the mountain where he was left as a child because he says he must live out his fate. I don't remember if he does go back to the mountain or not, I didn't really read the end. But there you go, a brief summary of the classic Oedipus The King.

I also learned a lot of new vocabulary in Oedipus the King. I didn't look up any of the words I didn't know because it would have taken forever and I got the jist without the help of those words. However, I have decided to add my own little quirk to the end of my blogs. I am going to write a word and it's definition at the end of each blog. This word will be one that I have learned for the day. As they say, "you learn something new everyday," so I am going to enlighten you with a little high school learning.

ENGLISH
Word: Auspicious
Definition: Marked by success; fortunate; prosperous

SPANISH
Word: Bosillo
Definition: Pocket

Computer Bytes

2004-09-04T00:15:00.000-05:00

Coming into this weeking I was a little scared about what I was going to do for "entertainment." It was the big volleyball tournament for varsity in Cedar Rapids. Word on the street was after Tuesday night, Brooks was looking for a tenth to accompany him to Northeast Iowa. I had my hopes up because as we were getting on the bus to head out for Ottumwa on Tuesday, Brooks called three of us, myself included, into the office to get out varsity jerseys. He told us that he wanted us to dress. This was a little shocking as I was definitely not expecting it. At the end of the night, JV, my team!, was the only team to defeat the Bulldogs. VARSITY LOST! I am trying not trying to sound happy, but with all the crap that I have gone through this year, it was a little satifying to know that Brooks' "all-start" team, lost.

Anyway, Butter and Sara were going to CR and Ashley had to work. I have more than three friends, but over the course of the summer, they were the only ones I hung out with much. School is just starting so I haven't really found different/more people to do things with. Peter was haning out with the guys so I couldn't do anything with him either. So because I had nothing to do tonight, I went to Hy-Vee to get my paycheck. I spent about 45 minutes there conversing with other employees and finally returned home after a trip to the Super Targetto. I arrived home around 5 and decided to work on some CD's for volleyball. The computer was stupid and slow so I called comp-USA to ask how long they needed our computer for to fix it. I was told 3-7 days. I asked if there was anyway to get it back in a lesser amount of time and he said yeah, just make back-ups of what you need to keep, and put in the Operating Systems installation CD and follow the directions. So I did.

At first try, I did not succeed. So, like I am always told, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Upon retrying, it worked so I entered the setup wizard and spend an hour and a half trying to install and overwrite existing Windows XP files. After I finally got done putting the Operating systems onto the computer, I needed to re-install everything that I took off the computer so I started with the internet. I went through the motions as instructed by the CD. The wizard asked me if I used an Ethernet of USB connection. I chose ethernet because that is what we have. It said that our computer didn't have an ethernet card. I tried to use different installation disks to get this card that I knew was in the computer to be read. I even talked to K Hydes father, the owner of his own telecommunications service, and he wasn't sure what was wrong. So finally, I read in-depth, the owners manual for our Dell Dimmension 4600. It talked all kinds of crazy and finally I put in the Resource CD and tried to find the ethernet driver. I found the driver and unzipped the files. I put the ActionTec installation CD back into the drive E:/ to re-install the internet. IT WORKED! Only 7 tries and 2 hours later!

Once I had established the connection I had to re-setup all the accounts so everyone would be able to access their name. I finnally finished installing the Operating system and the interned around 11:30. I have yet to install our CD burning program, the printer, our Word Processor, and a few other minor details. All I care about is that our computer runs faster than it did when we first bought it. So in answer to my wonderment, my "entertainment" was found in the computer. I spent my friday night, my free night to go out with my friends, at home, with an appliance.

Tommorow I coud be heading off to Cedar Rapids myself. Dad is just itching to get to the Washington High School Gym to watch the "all-star" dragons play. For the chicas it could mean a day of shopping or just hanging out with grandma. Either way, I have multips assignments to catch up on, my sleeping sort of overtook my homework this week, and I have to work on Sunday. But it is Labor Day weekend, no school on Monday and late practice for me! It looks like I have a date with my Calculus book!

The Beginning of the End

2004-08-28T00:18:00.000-05:00

I started my senior year of high school yesterday. So far, it hasn't been too bad. The homework was laid on pretty thick for the next few days though. I sort of touched on this in my last blog, but I am hoping that this year will be a lot different than years past. My classes are pretty decent. The only people I see all day are Butter and Ashley. Some of my other friends are at Central and the rest just don't have a similar schedule. Ashley, Butter, and I have decided that we are going to go to Butter's for lunch. As seniors we have open campus for lunch and since Lauren lives close to the school, we can go there for a quick lunch that is cheeper and healthier than what we would be eatting at school.

Anyway, It is hard to imagine that at this time next year I am going to be settling in to the college life style. It is harder to believe that in less than three months, I am going to know where I am going to spend the next four years of my life. I have it narrowed to a few schools, but I am still not sure which school is going to be the "right choice." Family and friends that are older than me have all talked to me about their college life and what it entailed for them. I appreciate what they say to me, but I am me, and not them, so no matter what I do, it will be different for me. I am glad that I have a lot of people that I can turn to for questions and answers though.

On a different note, I found out today what my volleyball carreer is going to look like. There was an article in the paper about our team. It was just an introductory short story about how the team was shaping up and what people could expect for the season. In short, it is summed up by listing Sara as the only returning varsity letter winner, introducing all the juniors and sophomores that are playing instead of seniors, and saying that Butter would be the only other senior playing for the dragons this year. Now, there are NINE seniors and only TWO of them are playing varsity. Erin, another good friend of mine and participant of the JV volleyball team, made a great point today regarding this article. After reading it, she was pissed and wrote a letter to the coach, which she didn't give him because it was just a venting tool. In her letter it said how the coach had made his mind up about us last season. How he wasn't giving the rest of the seniors a chance because he knew was the starting line up for this year was at the end of last year. Which is entirely true. He hates our class for some reason. Last year we were to blame for all of varsity's losses. We were to blame when the drill wasn't working right because JV was killing Varsity. It wasn't our fault, however, that we were 10 and 2 last season, beating every team that Varsity lost to. We have been conference champs for the last three seasons. Not to mention that as a team and a class, we work so well with each other. It comes from spending all winter playing with eachother on Club teams. Erin also wrote how she didn't want to be recognized on senior night by coming out of the stands down to the floor. I personally don't want to have to walk from the crowd down to the floor so I can be recognized as a Senior. And I am going to letter this year. But this isn't because I played varsity, it is because I stuck it out and put up with Brooks' shit for four years. Yay, go me. I am so excited that the only varsity letter I am going to receive isn't going to be for playing varsity, but rather being a dummy for varsity to practice against.

My love of the game is what keeps me going. I feel empowered when I know I can block someone or I get and awesome kill. I truly love to play the game. I don't play because someone told me I was good. I play because my heart goes into it. I hurt when we lose and all I want to do is try, try again. In a sense, I learned today that I was never going to play varsity in my coachs' eyes. But just because he doesn't think I can do it, doesn't mean I can't.

The End of An Era

2004-08-25T13:19:00.000-05:00

As I sit down to write here, I realize that I have been thinking about a lot more than my sports life and haven't really been saying anything about it. This being the last day of summer before my final year of high school, I realized that my approach to things is going to be a tad different this year. For starters, I really don't care about the unimportant things in my life right now. These things being cleaning my car or my room, which I did last night and it did make me feel better to know I wasn't living like a pig anymore, or things like fighting with my friends. This summer I have become semi-aware of who my true friends are. I have also come head to head with some people and their changing personalities. It is hard to write about this without offending people, but seeing as no one knows I do this, owell. I have started to realize that some of my friends aren't turning out to be the people I thought they would be 6 years ago. I guess it just goes with the saying, with time comes change. Who knew change could have sucked this much.

My summer has been decent. Not as much fun as last, but hey, I went to Spain this summer so nothing could top that. In summation, my summer has been spent driving around with the same people, to the same spots, and talking about the same things. And while this wasn't all that bad, it sucks to be thrown into volleyball practice where everyone is talking about all the fun things they did and all the people they hung out with this summer. Don't get me wrong, I love the people I hung out with, I just wish that my group of friends wasn't divided so much. Freshman year I had all the friends in the world. There was something going on almost every weekend and everyone had a good time. Sophomore year, the group had changed a little and so had other things. By now, the "relationships" that had started freshman year, were over. And because of this, certain people had formed allies and little chunks of the group had started to become their own group and didn't function well with other people. My junior year, these little chunks that had formed groups, had separated, broken up, changed and now, have formed different groups. And while we function together as a whole, we function better as a single.

Ordinarily, I would be rolling in friends, and I do have a lot of friends, but I am not as close to most of them. If anyone ever reads this, they will be pissed to know that the person that I considder my "all season" friend, is Ashley. She is there for me no matter the situation and I can always confide in her the things that I wouldn't dream of telling other people. I am also very good friends with a few other people, but no one knows half as much about me, as Ashley. A few years ago that name was Becca. She still knows a lot about me then, and she can still read me like a book. But, the same goes for me. Our friendship will forever be preserved in time. I will know her as a person now, but I will indefinitely remember the friendship and the person that she was then. I will also always have my childhood memories with Erin. I have know Erin since Kindergarten. Which, by the way, Kinder means "children" in German. Together, Erin and I have grown up. Sometimes apart, but we always seem to find eachother again. We aren't the great friends that we were when we were younger, but we are still friends.

This year I am going into my Senior year with a positive attitude. I am not going to deal with all the drama and bullshit this year. It isn't worth it to me anymore. When I leave for college next fall, I will know who I will and who I wont keep in touch with. That sounds a little harsh, but I am not going to let my final year of high school go to crap. I am going to have fun and enjoy what is left of my adolesence. Because hey, I am almost a legal adult and I am almost to the "real world."

Picture Perfect

2004-08-24T01:36:00.000-05:00

Well, today was the day for team pictures. It was an awesome feeling to know that the coach had broken the team down into a JV and Varsity picture and then he had the 7 seniors, we refer to ourselves as "Everyone Else", in a list where we could choose which picture we wanted to be in. We all chose to be in the Varsity picture, of course, knowing full well that at the rate we were going, the only court time we would see would be with JV. This feeling is only bettered knowing that a girl my sisters age, and good friends with my sister, is on the Varsity list and is currently playing in my position over me. The trouble with that is that I love this girl and she is such an awesome person.

Last night a friend called me and wanted to know if I wanted to go to this girls house and sit in her hot tub with some other people. Ordinarily, I would have gone. But last night I really wasn't in the mood to be "chummy" with the girl that I was trying to beat. So I had to somehow explain to my friend that I wasn't that interested in going. So instead, he came to my house and we talked because that is what we always do. And I know that if Aunt Stacy were reading this she would get all excited because I talk to a boy. But this boy and I have been friends since the day I moved into my house. I still remember the little blonde boy that rang my doorbell and asked if I wanted to play kickball with the rest of the neighborhood kids. And sure, we had our moments when we liked eachother as more than "just friends," but unfortunately for us, it was never at the same time.

We also had our moments when we didn't so much speak to eachother. I remember wondering what had happened and trying to analyze nothing because there was nothing to anylyze. We sort of reconnected while at a party at my ex "boyfriends" house. We just layed there and talked. It was nice to be able to talk to someone other than Ashley. He could always give me a different perpective on things. Not that I don't love talking to Ashley, you just get a different point of view from a guy. This reconnection also started a connection between him and Ashley. All of a sudden he was asking for information about her and whether or not she would go to Prom with him. And yes, this sounds all so juvinile, but you forget, I am still in high school. So they went to prom together and had a good time. He really liked her and she just had a really good time. So he would come to me and ask if it was ever going to work. I was a nice as I could be in telling him that it wouldn't happen. Meanwhile, everyone knew that he liked her and that while she would give him the time of day, she would never go out or date him. It was a pretty funny situation but the three of us are still good friends, whether as a group of three, or separately as just two.

On a less happy note, school starts on Thursday which means that I must go to bed. I know that no one is reading this, at least no one I know, but at least I get to write what I feel instead of something directed to me by a teacher.

Concerning my LIfe

2004-08-20T23:57:00.000-05:00

So I gave in to Tony, author of Say Anything, and decided to create a blog so he would know it was me when I commented. He will probably be the only one who reads this, if even, and I wont post that often. My life is sort of busy. Right now, the only thing on my mind is sports. The two I am most focused on are basketball and volleyball. I recently "gave up" basketball. I didn't quit, at least that is what I tell myself. It was more of a self-realization thing for me. I have worked since the 6th grade to play varsity basketball. Whether or not I knew I wanted to play varsity in middle school is a different story. But as a freshmen in high school, I dreamed of one day being that person that people cheered for while I was on the floor. Not the person people yelled at the coach to be let in. My dreams were smashed this summer. I knew that I should have been at open gym every Sunday night, but I am a near college student and that shit is expensive. So I had a job to earn money. This job didn't allow me to be at Grady's beck and call, so I missed out on some "critical training." My parents paid for me to go to UNI for 2 days to play basketball at team camp. Before we left, Grady, the coach, told the team that if we thought it would be a waste of money because of lack of playing time, that he would understand and we could chose not to go. I never imagined that he was refering to me. Out of seven, forty minute games in those two days, I playeda combined total of maybe 15 minutes. So I asked to speak with the coach. We talked that Friday for an hour between games. He told me that he didn't think my window of opportunity for becoming a better athlete was very big. He also told me that I would play as much varsity basketball this year, as I had in the previous year. Which basically meant I was a defense bitch and "varsity" got to beat up on me. And sure I played a little. At the end of definite win or loss games. For example, Ankeny is the best team around, because of Niki Weiben, and last year we were losing 51 to 18. I went in for maybe a minute at the end of the game because the starters couldn't do anymore good, and I couldn't possibly screw anything up. If you have never been in the position, it is truly one of the most humiliating things I have ever done. It is a horrible feeling you get when you know everyone is looking at you like you are pathetic, they feel sorry for you because coach decided to give you a break. And at the same time, you are playing against the girls that are also feeling the same way because their coach felt sorry for them. To make a long story short, Mr. Gradoville was a good coach and a good teacher. I still respect him as a person even though he killed my dreams. So this winter, you can see me behind the bakery counter at your local Hy-Vee. And I look at the brightside of things, I could spend time with my friends my last year of high school, OR, I could be chained to the court and misserable for 5 months. I may miss it in November, but I will be a much happier person without it.