Wow, my second post THIS WEEK! I'm on a roll.
Today was a good day. I meant to work out this morning, but alas this did not happen. Note that I am not entirely surprised. It's so easy to be lazy, and so enjoyable. Luckily, having a class that involves running next semester (yay half-marathon class!) I will have no excuse to be lazy!
I went to La Crosse to meet one of my friends from Ripon, a sorority sister who happens to live in La Crosse! I think it's quite ironic that I met her at Ripon (3 hours away) when we live in the same area (within 25 minutes). Granted, La Crosse isn't THAT small, but it is nice to find these little connections. It's nice to have someone who knows what I'm talking about when I talk about home.
So, we went to Panera for lunch. I love Panera, and now I have a "My Panera" rewards card--it's wonderful. Everytime (2 out of 2 times) I have bought something, I have gotten something free. Last time it was a pastry. Now I have a free espresso/smoothie that I can redeem. Exciting! Panera was absolutely packed, making it *nearly* impossible to find a seat. Shelby and I sat on "comfy" chairs that, although quite cozy, were not easy to eat on. We both really enjoyed people watching...and the battles for tables. Every time a table was cleared, we gathered up our belongings only to find that somebody else sat down while we had looked away. There was an older couple that really bothered me. They seemed really nice, but when someone asked to sit at their table, they said no. And they really took their time eating, and then sat and laughed for a while when they were done. It looked like they were done eating when Shelby and I got there...and they were still there when Shelby and I left. It was kind of obnoxious. It was obvious that there was an extreme lack of seating availability, and common courtesy would dictate that perhaps they should make room for others. But they didn't choose to do so, and I thought it was very rude.
After lunch, Shelby and I spent hours at the mall and nearby stores. I'm loving all the clearance that is everywhere. I bought a couple long-sleeved shirts at Macy's ($2.99 a shirt, BEFORE using my employee discount, etc), a clutch at Wet Seal ($3.15), a ring at Kohl's (somewhere around $9), etc. It was a lot of fun to shop around.
Finally, once our shopping was finished (around 5) we went downtown to the Rotary Lights. I go to the lights several times each Christmas season. It's so much fun to walk around looking at the displays and fun animations. The weather was quite warm, which meant there was a lot of melted snow/puddles--and although the melting snow is not my favorite, I think it was a fair trade for some nice weather. Shelby and I spent about 30 minutes walking through the lights, taking pictures and talking--random topics, of course, as was the theme of the day. We talked about how we both ended up at Ripon, how neither of us really knew/cared about greek life before Ripon (yet we both ended up joining Alpha Delta Pi sorority and LOVING every second of it), how nice it was to grow up in the La Crosse area (but how nice it also was to get out), etc.
Although I've enjoyed relaxing, reading, and doing hardly anything, I think today has been my favorite day of this break. It's so much fun to just TALK to people (as well as listen to the things they have to say). I'm big on talking and personal relationships...I think there wouldn't be much meaning to life otherwise.
I suppose that's all for now...hopefully I'll blog at least once more this week (you know, ease back into the whole blogging regularly thing).
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Winter break!
Well, it's time for another long awaited update. Let's see...
The semester has ended. Surprisingly the end was not stressful...I had a fair amount of free time, which meant I watched Full House a few times a week, and actually hung out with friends. It was nice, but I'm so glad to be home. I finished my paper(s) and rocked my last test--I actually did the best on that test out of all the tests, which is good because although I studied more, I felt like I wasn't retaining anything.
More good news--I have been invited to interview at UW-Madison as well! I'll be at ISU on the 12th and 13th, and then at Madison on the 13th and 14th. It's a lot to pack in, really, but I'm kind of excited. Well, I'm really excited but also a little nervous. Interviewing days? How can they possibly have that many questions for me? There's no way I'll know all the answers. But, on the bright side, I really love talking to people therefore interviews usually go well. I'll just prepare (starting now, most likely) and check out what kinds of questions I might be asked. I can think of answers. Bah, this is like studying for a test. But wayyyy more important. I mean, these interviews are crucial...and they'll make a big difference on the REST of my LIFE. Getting in, or not getting in, determines where I will go and what I will do. While looking through potential questions, I stumbled upon this one, "What will you do if you don't get in?" and it's one I've been thinking of a lot. I've been telling people that the plan is to be a bum in Spain, but somehow I don't think that's an acceptable answer while interviewing. But what WILL I do?
Well, having been home, I've been doing a lot of relaxing that doesn't feel relaxing. I've been reading a lot of books, which I never have time for at Ripon. It feels like I haven't been doing anything (which, in reality, is mostly true). I've also been working at Macy's. I'm grateful for the hours, because I still need the money. Plus I get out of the house, which is nice. Instead of working the 4-5 hours shifts we worked this summer, we've been working 8-10 hour shifts (which is nuts!). We worked from 2 am on Sunday to 11:30 am. Most days, I am scheduled to work until 10 but am there until 1. 1:00! Today we were actually done EARLY, at 9, which made my day. I came home and napped (because I didn't go to bed Saturday night, and it's killing me).
Good news: Liss and Luke are home! That means we are celebrating family Christmas today!! Eric and I each opened three small presents on Christmas Eve, but we saved all the rest for when Liss and Luke were home--it just doesn't feel like Christmas without them.
I got (so far) new gloves, earmuffs, AND a new camera!! I was going to save up money and buy one after graduation, so my parents bought one for me. I love love love it, and cannot WAIT to use it.
Ok...that's enough for one update. I really, really want to get into the habit of blogging again. I just get busy and tired...but let's hope that I actually keep up with it!
The semester has ended. Surprisingly the end was not stressful...I had a fair amount of free time, which meant I watched Full House a few times a week, and actually hung out with friends. It was nice, but I'm so glad to be home. I finished my paper(s) and rocked my last test--I actually did the best on that test out of all the tests, which is good because although I studied more, I felt like I wasn't retaining anything.
More good news--I have been invited to interview at UW-Madison as well! I'll be at ISU on the 12th and 13th, and then at Madison on the 13th and 14th. It's a lot to pack in, really, but I'm kind of excited. Well, I'm really excited but also a little nervous. Interviewing days? How can they possibly have that many questions for me? There's no way I'll know all the answers. But, on the bright side, I really love talking to people therefore interviews usually go well. I'll just prepare (starting now, most likely) and check out what kinds of questions I might be asked. I can think of answers. Bah, this is like studying for a test. But wayyyy more important. I mean, these interviews are crucial...and they'll make a big difference on the REST of my LIFE. Getting in, or not getting in, determines where I will go and what I will do. While looking through potential questions, I stumbled upon this one, "What will you do if you don't get in?" and it's one I've been thinking of a lot. I've been telling people that the plan is to be a bum in Spain, but somehow I don't think that's an acceptable answer while interviewing. But what WILL I do?
Well, having been home, I've been doing a lot of relaxing that doesn't feel relaxing. I've been reading a lot of books, which I never have time for at Ripon. It feels like I haven't been doing anything (which, in reality, is mostly true). I've also been working at Macy's. I'm grateful for the hours, because I still need the money. Plus I get out of the house, which is nice. Instead of working the 4-5 hours shifts we worked this summer, we've been working 8-10 hour shifts (which is nuts!). We worked from 2 am on Sunday to 11:30 am. Most days, I am scheduled to work until 10 but am there until 1. 1:00! Today we were actually done EARLY, at 9, which made my day. I came home and napped (because I didn't go to bed Saturday night, and it's killing me).
Good news: Liss and Luke are home! That means we are celebrating family Christmas today!! Eric and I each opened three small presents on Christmas Eve, but we saved all the rest for when Liss and Luke were home--it just doesn't feel like Christmas without them.
I got (so far) new gloves, earmuffs, AND a new camera!! I was going to save up money and buy one after graduation, so my parents bought one for me. I love love love it, and cannot WAIT to use it.
Ok...that's enough for one update. I really, really want to get into the habit of blogging again. I just get busy and tired...but let's hope that I actually keep up with it!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Long-awaited updates!
Well, I meant to blog...probably a month ago. Now, it's almost finals week and things are winding down.
Sem = done. Ran my project (almost 90 participants). Wrote my paper. Presented.
D.O.N.E.
Ridiculous. This semester has been a lot of work. Sem took over my life, in addition to working on my child development class, my self and society class, and my independent study on scene memory in infancy. Overwhelming. Add that to work 24 hours a week--8 of which were in the lab, which counted for my independent study (plus the paper I had to write). I was really hoping for a nice easy semester. Maybe next semester? Except I'm already signed up for 17 credits--but I plan to audit 5 of those. I just want to learn stuff from psychopathology...I don't want to do the work. And I want to take the half marathon class, but I hurt my knee this summer and don't want to fail the class if I can't run. Either way, that equals a lot more class time...so I'll still probably be busy from 8 am to 5 pm. Bah.
For the rest of this semester (ie finals) I have one test--not cumulative--on Thursday from 10-11. I also have one paper, 6-12 pages, for my soc class. It's already 5 pages...I just need to write the method section. I don't really want to work on it, but I do want it to be done. Clearly it's not just going to magically finish itself...so that's my plan for tomorrow. I'm also supposed to head to Oshkosh or Fondy with my sister when she's done working. But we're also supposed to get roughly a FOOT of snow. I'm beyond excited for the snow...but it wouldn't make driving fun.
Today was a wonderful day. I got a Christmas gift from my boss in Financial Aid (candy, some card games, a mug and hot chocolate); a gift from my boss in the Dean of Students Office (candy in the cutest little penguin); a care package from my family (fruit, snacks, and candy); AND I got an e-mail...from a grad school! Illinois State University would like me to interview for their Doctoral program in school psychology!!! It's the first I've heard back from a grad school...and it's good news :) It doesn't guarantee anything...but it's much better than the rejection letter that I COULD have gotten!
So, to celebrate...we went to Dos Gringos after sem today! Happy Hour is from 3-6 pm, which means that margaritas were buy one, get one free. You can't have just one. The best past was that there were 5 people there from my sem, a few other random friends, and my psych professor/advisor. Only in Ripon would you go to Happy Hour with your professor. I do love it here.
Since then, I have been watching Criminal Minds nonstop...back-to-back episodes...I can't look away. I should probably go back to watching that, and hanging out with my friends. I promise to return to regular blogging...it's definitely therapeutic to write everything out. Hopefully I'll have lots of exciting stuff to blog about--like maybe eventually getting into graduate school?!?
Sem = done. Ran my project (almost 90 participants). Wrote my paper. Presented.
D.O.N.E.
Ridiculous. This semester has been a lot of work. Sem took over my life, in addition to working on my child development class, my self and society class, and my independent study on scene memory in infancy. Overwhelming. Add that to work 24 hours a week--8 of which were in the lab, which counted for my independent study (plus the paper I had to write). I was really hoping for a nice easy semester. Maybe next semester? Except I'm already signed up for 17 credits--but I plan to audit 5 of those. I just want to learn stuff from psychopathology...I don't want to do the work. And I want to take the half marathon class, but I hurt my knee this summer and don't want to fail the class if I can't run. Either way, that equals a lot more class time...so I'll still probably be busy from 8 am to 5 pm. Bah.
For the rest of this semester (ie finals) I have one test--not cumulative--on Thursday from 10-11. I also have one paper, 6-12 pages, for my soc class. It's already 5 pages...I just need to write the method section. I don't really want to work on it, but I do want it to be done. Clearly it's not just going to magically finish itself...so that's my plan for tomorrow. I'm also supposed to head to Oshkosh or Fondy with my sister when she's done working. But we're also supposed to get roughly a FOOT of snow. I'm beyond excited for the snow...but it wouldn't make driving fun.
Today was a wonderful day. I got a Christmas gift from my boss in Financial Aid (candy, some card games, a mug and hot chocolate); a gift from my boss in the Dean of Students Office (candy in the cutest little penguin); a care package from my family (fruit, snacks, and candy); AND I got an e-mail...from a grad school! Illinois State University would like me to interview for their Doctoral program in school psychology!!! It's the first I've heard back from a grad school...and it's good news :) It doesn't guarantee anything...but it's much better than the rejection letter that I COULD have gotten!
So, to celebrate...we went to Dos Gringos after sem today! Happy Hour is from 3-6 pm, which means that margaritas were buy one, get one free. You can't have just one. The best past was that there were 5 people there from my sem, a few other random friends, and my psych professor/advisor. Only in Ripon would you go to Happy Hour with your professor. I do love it here.
Since then, I have been watching Criminal Minds nonstop...back-to-back episodes...I can't look away. I should probably go back to watching that, and hanging out with my friends. I promise to return to regular blogging...it's definitely therapeutic to write everything out. Hopefully I'll have lots of exciting stuff to blog about--like maybe eventually getting into graduate school?!?
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