Monday, October 09, 2006

Happy Birthday to Me!

So yes. today is my 19th birthday! yah! I am going dancing tonight and trashing my ankle for physical therapy tomorrow. ;-) But I really have felt so loved here. I got sung to at Flock last night, a surprise birthday cake from my floor, and more people here have said happy birthday since I got up today than any did within a week of my birthday before this (well besides my parents/family) so yah. It has been good so far and I will put up pictures or something later after my birthday, which I will take my camera to! Tootles~

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Hey all!

So, hi all. I am doing okay, besides the fact that I found out on Tuesday that I have tendonitis in (at least) my left ankle and it is getting progressively worse due to all the dancing I have been doing over the past month and a half. I am still dancing and as of next week, I will be down graded to a few social dances and blues dancing. No jazz routines (at least not to Joe's speed of music), no arials (or at least not too many), and yah. so that's kinda a bummer, but I am glad that I can at least keep dancing.

Another positive thing is that I probably will be making Blam! I heard from a little birdie that auditions are more just a formality, which puts me at ease. I have been stressing about them for a while now . . .

And something else fun is I finally took the initiative and set up a birthday party for myself. It's really laid back. I was going to go dancing after audtitions on Monday, and so I just invited friends to come with us. I think it is going to be fun. I am going to enjoy just having so many of my friends together, doing something I love doing.

And, in closing, here is something that I did today because I was bored and wanted to share with you.


Create Your Own!

Hope it gives you a taste of life here. (and yes, I know there are lots of swing pictures, but those are the only ones that I have of life here. . . it's kinda become a big thing to me!) I need to take my camera out more!

Dobro Noc!
AJ

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Swing!


Hey, so I thought I would post some pictures here (round two with the Blogger to get pics in here correctly)

This is a picture from the Jack and Jill contest at our big dance on Friday. You dance with three different partners and you are judged (I think) on your technique and your stylizations. This was the last round when I was dancing with Travis. I was really excited to have him as my last round partner since we havce danced a lot for Blam practice and just in practice. He is a great partner and lead, as well as blues dancer.

More pics!


I have a few others, but I will wait for now. I have conquered the picture adder thingy!

Yah for me!

AJ

Friday, September 29, 2006

Hey

So, I haven't been updating this very much. Life here has been crazy. And for all of you who are reading this and thinking she has taken on too much, I have said no to certain things. But I have said yes to some things too! I am having fun with all that I am doing, don't worry bout that. Homecoming week is just going to be crazy because I am not going to have time that weekend to do homework . . . yah. You can see the problem in that. . . .

But yah. Life here has been changing me. I have been having to redefine what I believe, why I believe it, and how I share that. Don't worry, I am not going to start practicing eastern egyptian religion or something. I just am coming across different things here that I have to decide how I will react and everything.

I miss everyone at home. I feel disconnected from all that is going on, but most of the time I have so much going on that I don't think about it.

Lets see, I got a job! Very exciting. I am working at the front desk of my res hall for two hours every week. I could have picked up 2 more hours but they were on wednesday during the worst time for me so i was good and said that I wouldn't (aren't you so proud!) so yah. What else is new.

I am going out tomorrow to ARDEC (school farm) to work with my hieffer for little national western. That will be fun.

I got a really good back rub from one of the guys at swing on wednesday. the only problem is, it wasn't long enough to get rid of the knots, it was just enough to soften them up. And that means my back has no clue what to do. I don't think I have ever not had knots in my back . . . yah. so I am trying to figure out how to keep from putting more knots in my back while not hurting . . . . :)

I did get compliments on my back rubs . . . (its a tradition at Old C's to give back rubs) It was funny to see Shane's head lull when I found a knot. It was entertaining. Nina didn't like it so much because Shane was giving her a back rub, so when he was too relaxed, she didn't get a back rub . . . :-D

So yah. I should be getting down to a meeting for a biology thing . . . yah. Blah.

Tootles
AJ

Sunday, September 24, 2006

GOD IS AMAZING

(I do not have the words to say how amazing God is)


I have been struggling recently with different things, and dealing with actually spending time in the word and being just wholeheartedly involved in my walk. It is easier to just do what I want to do. But tonight, I just knew that God is in control of all that. We have been having missions month and so that has been really good. I really didn't think that I could find a small church that would be so passionately involved in Missions. And my parents told me not to hope for too much. I think that God had a plan. If you want the whole story bout that, you can read one of my other really long posts. Needless to say, God is amazing. Well, today, Jess informed me that I was comming to Flock tonight. Flocks are their Bible studies, growth group type things. so, we aranged a ride and I went. At first I felt really young and kinda out of place, but as we were worshiping and just getting to know each other, I had this feeling of peace that I was where I belong. I can't put it into words. All I can do is worship. And that is what I am doing. I cannot wait for heaven! And I think part of my struggle with keeping up reading is the fact I did not have a light to read by. But today, thanks to my neighbors, I went to home depot and got some rope lites for above my bed. I can read now without keeping up my roommate. Life is good. Buh je Dobre moc (I think that is it!)

Dobro Noc!
AJ

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Update

I am alive.

I am really sore from dancing for about 5 1/2 hours yesterday . . . Let's just say, I didn't strech out and I am hurting all over.

So yah. I am alive. Having a blast, but drowning in homework. I should have taking less credits.


Tootles

Monday, September 11, 2006

just a catch up!

So, I just noticed (well not just) that i haven't posted in a while. . . life has been a little more than crazy around here.

Monday - hung out around here. I went riding with Morine and had a blast. We rode for something like four or five hours up at Horsetooth Park. very beautiful. came back and walked over to Avo's but they decided that night not to put on any swing :-( so I came back and watched movies with friends. And ate the banana nut bread/cake that Morine brought me as extra from the one she made for Tim. it was really good. And gone within 24 hours!

Tuesday, did the class thing. Kinda forgot about a meeting that I had scheduled. I freaked a little. I had written it down but then it slipped my mind. I ended up going to Buffalo Exchange instead and finding out when I got home that I had forgotten the meeting. I did get a great pair of shoes that I am using for dancing. They look like ballet slippers, but they are black and shiny.
I also went to the block and bridle meeting and then to salsa dancing at the Rio. It was a trip. there were about half a dozen of us girls from campus that went. And we got hit on by old mexican guys. Not my idea of fun. I did enjoy dancing though, I am planning on sticking to swing.

Wednesday was one of the crazy days. Had class, then went to the Colligate 4H meeting. Until Shane showed up, it was slightly estrogen-ee. Went dancing and we were in the ballroom! Lots of fun. I was swing dancing!

Thursday was crappy though. I cried 4 different times. Yes. 4!!! I came back from my first class with the intention of working on a paper, but I had gotten an email from Josh. . . and it touched a nerve. And so I went through the rest of the day, not in the very best mood. And on top of it, I had to be in a lab that I really didn't want to be in. Went to MV's bible study which was more of a party because it was Beth's birthday, so we played games. I did call the Bedlions and found out, they possibly/probably/ maybe moving to Minisota over Thanksgiving. Translation. i would not get to see Kenny . . . yah. That really sucked. And I couldn't really do anything because I was at Beth's birthday party. I left my bike across campus, so on my way over to pick it up I called Lindy and we talked a while. And I cried. (2nd time) But it was what I needed. we spent over an hour just catching up. And I felt a lot better. . . . and then came back and was talking with my neighbors and my RA came by and made a comment about my "slightly depressed" status on facebook. Well, I ended up crying while I told her a short version of what had gone on. Later on, I was thinking about it and she was one of two people to that point that had hugged me that weren't in my family. so I went and thanked her for that. and ended up crying again. It was one of those bad days. But yah.

Friday was fun, got out of class kinda early, talked a little bit with some different people in my seminar class. Almost put my foot in my mouth about evolution being taught in public schools . . . also in my seminar class . . . Went swing dancing with Haley, a girl on my floor, at Club Tico. That was a blast. Live music and at least a dozen dances! I had fun. And I learned how to lead lindy. I am not that good, but I can do it at least a little.

Saturday I got up early and went "home" with Lynne and Laura. We went to the football game where COLORADO STATE BEAT CU!!! It was amazing! And lots of fun! then we came back and worked on homework and watched movies. We had gone down to paint a fence, but since it had sprinkled just a little the night before, the owners decided they didn't want us to do it.

So we headed back early. When we got back, I went on a "procrastinating-on-doing-homework" expidition. I went to the rec center for a little bit to see if there was blam practice. there wasn't. Then I decided to go try to find Goodwill. Which was more than I was bargining for, because on my way there, I almost got hit by a car, while I was on the sidewalk . . . fun times. But I did have fun exploring the store. I even found another swing skirt! Yah!! Came home and did lots of homework . . . and went to a worship night with some of the people from my dorm. Worked on more homework . . . and that was my sunday.

Today, got up went to class. Did homework and finished my laundry. I went to an Ag Teachers Association, which is basically the equivalent to Collegiate FFA here. Or the most involved, closest thing. Got plugged into that, but the down side is, I have to miss BFA. Went to blam practice. which was fun. Worked on couples dancing. And I am going to work my hardest to make the troope. Signed up and will be preforming on Saturday! I am doing the simplest possible thing but that's okay! I am getting my name out and showing I do want to do this. And there are girls from my floor already saying they are going to come watch me . . . I don't know how I feel about that, but I think I am going to let them come . . . After Blam and proformance stuff, I went to the library to study and avoid having to go to the floor meeting . . . yah. I was happy. Talked with Matthew a little while . . . and yah.

I really should be going to bed. it is already tomorrow!

AJ

Sunday, September 03, 2006

hmmm . . .

So, currently I am in the process of procrastinating on doing homework . . . yah. I am actually doing a very good job at it! But, I thought I would post a little about what's up.

It has been really quiet around here since most of my floor went home for Labor Day. That's fine by me. Means I don't have to deal with boyfriends over at odd times of the day and lots of estregen. I have been working on homework. . .

Friday I went to the Navs meeting, then was going to go argentinian tango dancing, but we missed the lesson and didn't have enough guys so a few of us played frisbee in the dark (with a glow in the dark frisbee) then we watched movies till really early in the morning (okay, so like 1:30 - 2ish)

Saturday, I went to the game (instead of doing homework like I should be doing right now) We won 30 to 6 against Weber State. And CU lost their game too! It was a good day except the drunk guys behind us at the game. Then I came back, and went to "practice" for Blam! It ended up Rebecca, Travis, Alex and I were the only ones who showed up, and we couldn't figure out the Dean Collins well enough to practice, so we just worked on couples dancing. I learned some fun stuff, more blues dancing, some fun dips, and some follow stuff. Then, we didn't really want to do anything around the dorms, but we were bored so we went and played pool for a while. I didn't do half bad. Then we wandered around Old Town until we saw Ben at Zydago's and Travix went and hung out with him for a while. The three of us basically went back to the dorms so Alex could go home . . and yah. That was Saturday.

Got up today and went to church . . . it was good. Tough but good. Had lunch, then I did homework until they picked me up for Concert of Prayer, which was where they did communion and worship. Very good. It really helped. (more to come after the wrapping up of the day) and we went to dinner afterward and I came home.

So, yah. Stuff has been just tough here trying to find the balence between having fun and experienceing college, and walking with Christ. I am so struggling with really hearing God and understanding what he wants me doing and how he wants me acting. There are days that it seems like things are going good, then there are days where I just feel so lost, or screwupish. And one of the things today, was really understanding that I CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO "KEEP" MY SALVATION. I don't know to really live with that. I really realized that I have become a little legalistic. okay, possibly more than a little. I just kinda check off my boxes, and go from there. it's hard to unprogram that way of thinking.

And, on top of it, I have been really considering where I am spending time. I like my church group, but I also love the swing society. They just are fun to be around. I just don't know if I am supposed to be giving as much time as I have to it, or how I should be a part of things. I don't know if I entered into it with the right reasons. I want to have fun and it's a place where I can have good, clean fun. I don't want to lose that, but I don't know how well it is going to work . . .

so yah. If you guys want to pray that I can really figure out how this works, and where God really wants me to be, I would be very thankful.

And, I need to be getting going. I am tired and I need to read about 20 more pages in ED stuff before I go to bed tonight so I can go riding tomorrow.

AJ

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

I'm Back!!

Hey all, after 6 days without having a working laptop, I am Back!! YAH!! It took me 6+ hours on the phone (really, on hold) with Dell Support, $55 for data recovery, and 5 hours of reinstalling the operating system, and it's back! I am really stoked, if you haven't noticed.

So, a quick update on my life . . . Went dancing last night for Blam! I think I mentioned it, but if I didn't, Blam! is the proformance troope within the Swing Dance Society.

And I am auditioning for it.

And I am crazy.

I am so sore from dancing yesterday. I don't really remember much past squishing bugs. But, I did find a lot of sites with mental jogs and two videos of the dance, which will be posted at the end of this, both for your enjoyment of what I am supposed to be learning and for my easy access to the movies. They actually are crazy enough to think that we (meaning all of the auditionees) will be able to learn at least the Dean Collins Shim Sham (featured) by the 16th of September. They are crazy. There are two preformances for different functions that they want us to take part in. I think it will be fun, but tough. It is a work out.

And I get to go social dancing tomorrow. Yah! And, not only do I get to do it at the dance, I also get to do it at Centertainment! Yah! It's the student involvement fair. So yah.

I got to visit Tim and Morine on Sunday. visited their horses, but didn't ride. They have such adorable horses. I will have to get pictures up here when I have some. (and I can learn how to get them on here)

so yah. I have some other things to do before bed, and I am getting up early - ish tomorrow.

Tootles!
AJ



Monday, August 28, 2006

I am alive . . .

So, to all of you that saw the drop in my posting, I haven't been doing very well with my computer. I am currently waiting for the second computer techie to come pick up my computer to try to fix it. I have spent over 6 hours on the phone with Dell, only to tell me that I can't really do much with it, well, besides wiping the entire harddrive and losing everything I have on there. I can't really go with that option, so I am trying to at least recover my My documents and the stuff in my shared files. It could be a virus that is locking my keyboard through windows, or an error in the coding for windows. Either way, I am going to have to re write my harddrive. And did I mention that My documents is password protected and its not my password? So, there is a few issues going on. When I mess things up, I do it very very well. so, yah. this has been going on since Thursday. I miss my computer. And, I have a paper due in like a week and a half, two weeks. Thank goodness that it isn't like a hard core research paper. I just have to tell about my public school experience. I can use the word I.

But besides that, I am doing okay. I have been hanging out with friends from Mountain View a lot. It's been fun. They remind me of back home so much. They are goofy and funloving. I have already been asked if I was related to one of the girls that is a part of the college group! Fun stuff.

Another positive thing is I got my betta fish today!! She is so cute! she won't be getting all of the really georgous fins, but she is really brightly colored. She has a blue body and red fins. Her name is Voda, which is Water in Czech.

So, yah. My roommate's back so I need to return her computer. Tootles!

AJ

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I really mean that. Today has been a day of ups and downs, of crazyness, tiredness, and gifts. some of my classes didn't go perfectly today, but that's okay. I got a box from home that had some of my favorite snacks that I couldn't find around here, tea, some small stuff I was needing or missing, and a letter that a friend sent me. It was so good to hear from him. I know I had heard from him through his letters to his family, but there is something different about getting a letter that is just for you. I really miss that boy. I think the ladies at the front desk were entertained because as soon as I saw which box it was, I was opening it up and digging for the letter. So, that made my day. I think that my day would have been good even with that, but no. God is amazing. When I got to my tech in ag class today, I was checking my email, and low and behold, I had an email addressed "you recieved a scholarship". Nancy Irlbeck, the associate dean helped me find $2000 for school this year. I know I won't have to take out a loan this term now. I may even be able to not have to take out a loan for the entire year, especially if I get a job next term. God is sooo Amazing. It is . . . wow.

And this has been just in his timing. At ramcamp on Saturday, I had been talking with an AgEd student from Oregon, and she was saying that OSU has an incredible AgEd program. I was starting to wonder if I was in the right place. Between church and the scholarships and the friends I have made here, I think I am where he wants me. And that is such a releasing feeling. I have such a uncomprehendable peace, it is amazing.

So, I will probably put more up here after I get back from dancing. I get to go swing dancing for like 3 hours tonight! Talk with you later!

AJ

Monday, August 21, 2006

*Warning* Really Long Update!

So, I am alive. I just haven't got around to posting here. Where did I leave off?

Had lots of fun at the carnival. Got up and did different stuff on Friday. My roommate and I cannot remember, so I just dug through our garbage to find the flyer that I had thrown away earlier. Friday, we met with our colleges and then with our individual majors. There are only three other freshmen majoring in Ag Ed this year. All of us are girls . . . But it sounds like fun. Then, I went to lunch with my family after playing volleyball with some crazy ag ambassadors. After that, I went to the street fair. Lots of free stuff. I won a beta fish! So, I am picking it up next monday.

Erica, my roommate, and I have already named it. It's name is Voda. That's water in CZ. hehehe. Can anyone tell I want to be in CZ? I have something very cool bout that, but I will tell things in order.

So, after the street fair, where I got lots of free stuff, checked out the summer reading that I didn't know about until last sunday. Started reading that. Very interesting book. It has been opening my eyes to the inequalities in the public school systems. I would recommend it to anyone.

Then, I had a great steak dinner for the freshman ag students. amazing pork and beef. Soo good. That was fun. then I went to Late Night. It was just all these fun things at the student center. I made a wax hand of the I love you sign.

I made stuft animals. And, I did some awesome swing dancing. I learned the Lindy Hop and the Charleston. And the guys there are great leaders. If anyone comes down here during the week, I have to take you dancing! So I did that for awhile, and I will be going back on Wednesday!! yah! I also won a $25 coffee card to a local coffee place. I am not going to be getting coffee but they have to have good non coffee drinks too.

So, on Saturday, I did Ram Camp, which is the Ag department freshman activity. They took us out the their land lab, called ARDEC, and we did games, and they fed us and learned about the different majors. I had a millipede crawling on my hand. It felt sooo wierd. Then, I went shopping at Walmart. I spent way too much, but I got a lot more things I needed, like a mesh bookshelf thingy, a folding chair, more food, etc.

On Sunday, Erica and myself and one other girl from our floor (Jenn) got up for church. Now this is where it gets way cool. so, the night before, I had talked to one of the other girls about going to church and she said there was a group that met on the south side at 10:15. Well, we got ready, and went out there, but no one was there. So then we walked around to the front where one of the other girls from our floor was meeting a ride. We didn't know what church we were invited to, so we just went with the idea that Mountain View Community Church was the one we were invited to. We got a ride and everything and the service was great. It was a smaller church, but it was simple and everything. And it was a younger feeling church. I really liked the teaching and from what I have heard, their doctrine is pretty close to mine.

Well, on top of feeling really comfortable with the preaching and community, after the service, they had a barbeque for the college students (that is just kinda freeky to think truely that I am a college student). And we were talking with all these people, and after I finished eating and I was just chatting, this gal by the name of Melissa came over and we got talking. For some reason, I expanded my major from Ag Ed to Ag Ed with a minor in English as a second language, with the possiblity of teaching overseas. We talked about what I would like to do and if there was anyplace I would really like to teach, and I said Czech. Her eyes got so wide. She had gone to, get this, Bohumin and knows everyone that I do. She is praying about becoming an intern next year for JV. So, that was just crazy. And to top it all off, one of the interns last year and again this year was a gal from Colorado. She had said outside of denver when I met her. Well, aparently, outside of denver means Ft. Collins and she attends Mountain View. Which is so totally God thing! And from different things, it sounds like the church is very supportive of students spending time overseas a missionaries. Which is way cool!

So, Sunday was a really God day! He made it so we didn't see the other group waiting, or we missed them. Erica didn't see them again when she checke for them. And he put us in just the right spot. It is so cool to see how God is working in my life to put me where I need to be. I mean, I know he loves me, but the really confermed how truely he has a plan for me. On the day of the barbeque so I could talk to people, and the day that they prayed for a guy moving to Equador for a year to work in missions. God is good!

I still think I am going to go to Timberline, the other church in town, just to see if that is a better fit, but right now, I am thinking that I am going to stay at Mountain View. And there are like at least three other people on my floor that would possibly be going with me. So yah. God has put me in the best place. There is like a third of my floor that is Christian. It is so awesome.

And, just for kicks, I thought I would add, my res hall director just walked by and started singing "Phantom of the Opera" in the emergency stair well. (I'm at the end of the hall)

So, today, I had classes. I am really not used to 50 minute classes. That threw me for a loop. But besides that, it looks like i will be writing a lot of papers. But I am going to have fun I think. All of my profs don't want to be called Dr. whatever so that's a cool thing. I only have one class tomorrow since one of my labs was canceled. I have this huge list of things to do, so hopefully it will get done.

And, now i am going to try to post pictures here. Hopefully it will work! Below are pictures of my room.


So, this is looking into our dorm room.


And this is my closet. I actually organized it and everything. It may not look like it, but I did!


This is the kitchen area. I am learning that I really took counter space for granted. And, we had our fridge on way too cold, and we had some cans of soda explode. That was fun cleaning up.


This is our beds. I have been living on my bed for the most part, with all my pillows. I brought like, half a dozen pillows.


And this is the desk area. I have the closer desk. My desk is actually clean in this picture. Yah! I love that chair. It is really comfy. The bookshelves are really nice too!

And that ends the tour. Have a great night!

(And Yes, I do know I am missing pictures. My computer doesn't like working with me right now!)

Thursday, August 17, 2006

uughh . . .

So Hi. I thought I would update this, but as it is pushing almost midnight and I am getting up in the morning, I need to be brief. Things have been going well here. I am really liking everything. Will definately be different to night as my roommate has moved in, though we have been getting along real well. Had a carnival tonight, free food, lots of fun stuff and rides. so yah. I will put pics up of Yellowstone, The grand tetons and school here soon. Life is crazy. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a chance to post stuff and do little things that need done. otherwise, I will do it this next week when I get a chance.

see you all later!

AJ

Saturday, August 12, 2006

the beauty of it all . . .

so, I have just spent about 10 hours in Yellowstone National Park. And all I can say is that it is completely beautiful. I suggest that everyone go at least once in your life. And bring either lots of batteries or film for your camera. It is just beautiful.

So, I said that I would put some pictures, and that is what I am going to do. Though I don't know which pictures I want to put up!

And, well, I am having some issues with the pictures. I will get those up here soon!

AJ

Friday, August 11, 2006

In Montana . .

Hey all. I have everything (I hope) packed in the car or shipped and I am staying in a hotel in Montana. Tomorrow we are going to Yellowstone. so yah. Hopefully I will have some pictures to update here. I will also may put some wedding pictures or pictures of me riding my baby up here. so yah. I am going to go because my dad wants to use my laptop!

Talk to you later and don't forget to write!

AJ

Thursday, August 10, 2006

less than 24 hours . . .

So right now, I am filling the space of time before the guys from UPS come for my boxes of stuff. I have 5 boxes totalling over 260 pounds of stuff for college. It's crazy. My linens and clothes weigh over 75 lbs. so yah. I should be cleaning my room, but i don't want to. I am not going to get much done. I will get it to the point of being able to move about. But besides that . . . My parents are having issues dealing with this I think. Tension has been running high here, the trigger being that I found out last night that a few friends came back from Maui early, and they weren't supposed to. and so, I had to attempt, at 11 pm, to straighten it all out. Turns out, I just handed that over to my friend Tim. He got a call at 8 this morning from me (I did apologize for waking him up) after working late last night. I handed over the handling of the "issue" to him. He's the best man for crying out loud. I am not supposed to deal with all this. I am just a lowly bridesmaid! So yah. Dealing with that while I should have been packing (something else I have to do) and now I have a lot of stuff to do now! blah.

talk to you all later!

AJ

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

An awaited day!

Hey everyone!

No, I haven't left, but I have done something that I have been waiting to do for over 4 years (if I counted correctly) I got to ride the colt that I have been training since he was born. He is about 3 and 1/2 right now. And I got to ride him today. And it was great. The "new training style" that made it so I couldn't ride was something I actually do know how to do and have been doing subconsciously for a while now. And, for all who are worried at this point. I don't have any broken bones or anything. He bronced (or is it bronked) when he was lunging, but besides that, he is pretty well mannered for his age and training (30 days) so yah. Just thought I would share that wonderful excitement with you. Hopefully soon I will have some pictures up here of him. Jane said we would take some pics before I leave, so I have wall art for school!

Tootles!

(Oh, and by the way, 10 full days left til I leave, 3 and 1/2 more days of work!!)

Monday, July 31, 2006

10 full days left

Hey all, just an update. Getting closer to the wire. Things are crazy around here, or at least it feels like it to me. I have to clean, pack, do a remote test for my math placement, be in a wedding, go to work, call school about a billion things that I can't even remember, and a bunch of other little things that need to be done as well, you know like breathing, and eating and sleeping and not going to blows with the little brother. so yah. life is grand!

but really, it has been a learning experience. I have been learning that there are people out there who don't understimate people, especially teens, and maybe even overestimate them. There are some times at work where it seems like everyone thinks I am stupid. I'm not. I was a 4.0 student while taking honors courses and being a student leader and state competing competitor. I know how to lift things and I can read people pretty well. But there are a few people that do really see me as a peer and treat me as such. Thank you to those people. And once they read this, they will know who they are!

And so, I have to do my devos here so I need to be getting going. I am going to be up late tonight trying a new form of devos and getting an idea for how long it will take me.

Tootles!
AJ

Sunday, July 30, 2006

12 and counting

Just thought i would add something here. Life is going good. I got my first bag thingy packed yesterday. it has most of my linens that are being shipped in it. and I am getting closer to being done with Josh and Sarah's present. I have like 2 1/3 panels to be done in a week. As well as joining them and putting fring on.

I just thought I would update this and I will probably post more when I get around to it later because I need to leave for church!

AJ

Monday, July 24, 2006

17 and counting

Hello.

Here is an update on the wonderful life of AJ and her progress towards attending Colorado State University. Currently there is 17 full days until I leave for school. In that time, I have to work, finish Sarah's present, decorate, clean my room and my closet, be in a wedding, pack, sleep, attend different mandantory functions, and possibly, if I am lucky, hang out with my friends. so I have a little bit on my plate.

but, on a positive note, I have gotten a lot of what I need for eating utensils and flatware. I need a few more bowls and mugs. I have some sweet speakers for music and my computer from Steve, I have towels and linens, I have pretty much all of my clothing that I will need, I have an iron, and i have a list of what I am going to need to buy once I get there. so yah. I even have driving directions to Yellowstone and then CSU. so yah. life is going, slightly crazy, but it's going.

oh, one positive from work is I got moved up to the main part of the sushi bar. I am now out of shipping's desks and into one of my own (or at least my own until I leave in two and a half weeks.) I out picked the gal that is near my experience and age. so that was kinda cool. I also worked over tonight so I will hopefully get out of some work on friday.

For anyone who cares, the picture discs are almost done for FFA. I have been working to get them done for so long and i will begin burning them tomorrow at lunch. Yah!

So that is where I stand right now in life. Hope everyone is having a great day!

AJ

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

just an update

So, I just thought I would update everyone on the status of AJ living all alone for a week. For those who don't know, I have been living alone since Saturday, because my parents are in Cancun and my brother is in Southern California. So, here I am. I have been just a few minutes late today and yesterday.

On Sunday, went to church and then joined the Bedlions to go to Promontory Park in Estacada to go fishing and try out their new boat engine. I got to go kayaking. Some of their friends brought it out and I ended up playing for about an hour, taking the girls around the river. I had a blast! Then, we went back to their house and I got invited to go play Rook (one of my favorite games now!) I ended up having to leave to get home. I wasn't winning so there was no harm.

On Monday went to work, then met up with the Bedlions again to send Kenny off. We went to the hotel and had dinner before we had to let him get to bed. I am definately going to miss him. So, came home and worked on some stuff at home.

Tuesday, I got up, arived at work a little late, worked, worked late, came home, picked up my makeup from Kim, Dev came over and we hung out. She snagged some of my music to update her iPod, I worked on my present for Sarah and Josh, and yah.

Today, got up, was slightly late to work again (going to remedy that tomorrow), worked, left early for the sample sale. And that was my fun for the day. I spent $12 and I got
~4 plastic dinner plates
~4 small plates (saladish plates)
~4 georgous ceramic dinner plates (hand painted too!)
~a clippy fan
~a small floor/hangy fan
~a desk lamp (blue)
~6 plastic glasses
~a ceramic bowl and mug
~a messenger bag (that I think I am going to see if a friend wants because it doesn't fit my laptop)
~4 full sets of silverware

and I think that's it. I think. so I am almost there with everything. Once I get back there I need to get a few more things, but I am very close.

And now I am hanging out, working on some different things around here. I need to finish up laundry, dishes, maybe picking up my room. And I need to go to bed early so I can get up early. I am going in to make up my 40 minutes I lost today going to the sale. so yah. I am going to get going. Just felt like i needed to update!

AJ

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Why?

Why does saying good bye have to hurt so much? He hasn't even left yet. All he said was if I don't see you before I leave . . .

I know I am going to cry when I go and see him off . . . I just know it. I don't want to be sappy, or set the girls off, but I am pretty sure I am. I am so stinking emotional. this sucks.

I am going to miss him. I mean, it's boot camp. Why am I freaking out?

Just another day in the office . . .

So, I have exactly 4 more weeks until I am done with work and 4 and a half more weeks until I leave. I have so much to do before then, I doubt that i will get all of it done . . . oh well. It will get done sooner or later.

But, yesterday, it was a very eventful day at work. Last week was a holiday week. I haven't worked enough to get my holiday pay yet (that is after 6 months of working), so I thought I could work some extra on the other days and move it over to the 4th and I won't have missed quite as much time. Well, I had told a lot of people that during the course of last week, including my co workers and my head supervisor. Well, yesterday at about 9 am, one of the gals that tries to be my supervisor comes in and starts lecturing (ish) myself and the other new girl that worked similar hours to me last week. She "clarified" that we are to work 8 am to 4:40 pm with a 40 minute lunch. (My supervisor doesn't care as long as I work something close to that) She started freaking out that I had 4 hours of overtime.

Now I have to remind all of you that on a regular week, we can move our time a little. So, I assumed (silly me to go with the regular habit without asking) that I could just move my hours to the day I am not getting paid for. Unfortunately, that's not how it works out. Someone forgot to tell me that on holiday weeks, you only work 32 hours, or 24 hours if it is Christmas week. They didn't think to tell me about that. So, I had both executive secrataries, my supervisor, my wanna be supervisor, my co worker, and whoever walked by telling me I should have asked if I had any questions. I didn't have an questions. No one told me. But, they didn't seem to hear me when I said that. ::shrug:: oh well. I made up 6 hours of pay. So, I am only going to be short about 20 bucks on my next pay check!

My supervisor did come back and tell me that she didn't even know about the who 32 hour thing and she would have told me if she had known. She said it was just a missunderstanding and that it was okay for the overtime. So that was the drama at work yesterday . . .


Another exciting thing is I have registered for my classes and I am in the process of getting a booklist togther. I am signed up for 18 credits and I think I am going to keep all of them. When I registered I was planning on dropping one of the classes or have the department waive the class since I have taken the class through LBCC. Well, I am not waiving the class. I think it will be an easy class, if I remember everything from the past 4 years. I talked with one of my profs today for the class I was considering dropping and I think it would be a hoot to take his class. We are going to work with all sorts of cool programing. I am excited for that class.

So, here is a list of my classes.

Animal Science 101-001 = Large animal science
Agriculture Science 107-001 = Agriculture in Technology (The class I am really excited about)
Chemistry 107-001 = It's chem, what can I say?
Honors College 192-014 = Honors seminar entitled "No child left behind, the truth behind the myth"
Psychology 110-220 = Honors Psych. Fun.

And that is it. I have an animal sci lab and an ag tech recitation and that is my class list. so, yah.



The following is some very funny video clips that I found on the internet that give a resoning why I want to become an ag teacher.

This is the 2004 commercial.




This is the 2005 commercial.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Chapter 1 . . .

Hey, so I decided to open up this blog as a safer means for keeping up a running update on my life. This is a way for all of my new friends and old friends have a means to keep in touch with all that I am doing leading up to and at college.

Welcome, look around, and enjoy being a part of the next chapter of my life!