two weeks.

It has been two weeks since my last post on here. Seriously?? It feels like it was only yesterday. I don't have long for an extensive post right now since I am at work and about to go home and get a few hours of sleep before I have to go to a meeting, then teach, then go to class, but I thought I would comment on the fact that time has FLOWN BY.

I feel somewhat accomplished because I actually did get some work done on projects this weekend (which I almost never do), but I still have another 15-20 page paper to write, as well as grade papers for Wednesday, grade more things, and then grade some more things before the semester finally ends. I also have to present three times. But...the semester is almost over! I feel as though I have almost conquered the world!

That is, I've conquered the world until the day after I'm done with school, and then I just have to work, work, work my summer away, as well. It could definitely be worse. I just hope that I still get to graduate on time, as one of my classes might not make enough people to be taught. I can't take the other class that is offered that would fulfill my requirement. That means that I would potentially have to be in school through next fall, which doesn't really help. I say fall because if the class I need doesn't make this summer, who's to say it will next summer? In which case, that is totally not what I originally expected or wanted.

I still plan on enjoying myself, I just hope it all works out for this summer rather than taking me longer. Either way, I plan on graduating eventually. I would just rather have it be sooner than later.

Sean and I started organizing things for moving into our new apartment August 1st. We have to save up to buy some new furniture and other things we'll need for the apartment, but I'm really excited. I've only had apartments through school, and as much as I love my roommates, I'm really excited for us to have our own space. I'm especially excited that I'll have a quiet place to do my homework (where I can shut the door and be left completely alone). I need that. I'm way too easily distracted.

Well, I think that's enough for now. Kudos to you if you can understand any of that...I haven't been to sleep yet! Good night. :)

boom.

So, last night I went out with some people from school, made some new friends, and had a pretty awesome night in general. Today, however, I woke up and was rather sore. When I thought back to the events of the evening, I remembered that I ended my night by slipping down some stairs. Now my ankle is swollen and bruised, as well as my arm and butt. It sort of hurts to move! I haven't fallen down any stairs for a while... probably since high school when I slipped down the stairs because of my socks. I don't know what's better - taking a dive or sliding down some stairs on my butt. I think probably the latter because then you don't get face damage and I was able to catch myself on the railing. There was a rather horrified guy who asked and made sure I was okay, but I said I was fine and ran away. I had to keep my pride in tact somehow!

Other than that, I think that since I got a new car, it is determined to get ruined one way or another. Yesterday, on the way shopping, the windshield got hit by a golf ball. The golf ball managed to make it far enough away from the golf course to bounce off of the sidewalk and hit my car. Luckily it didn't break or anything. So between that and the car wash attacking my car and scratching the driver's side mirror, the car gods are not smiling down at me. And it's always got to be the new car, right? I mean, nothing ever happened to the 15 year-old car when it wouldn't really matter. Ah, well. At least nothing that bad has happened. Wish my car luck.

If anyone is reading this, please give me some suggestions for a new book to read so I can have inspiration to work out. This sounds weird, but if I get a good book to put on my Nook, I will most certainly go work out and read it. That way I don't waste the time on Netflix or Hulu while working out (which is certainly fun, as well, but I do that enough anyway).

updates... a long time coming

So, I didn't update this blog since February 1st... Whoops. I always think I'm going to start a blog and keep it going, but I fear that I don't really have anything interesting say most of the time (hence the title of ramblings).

There are lots and lots of new things in my life since the beginning of February. For instance, I have some paperwork to turn in, and as long as it's done correctly, I'll be set to graduate on time next May! I have to take two classes this summer, but that is only for the first half. The second half I will hopefully be teaching an online version of Women's Studies 201 (intro). For the whole summer, however, I will be working at DMACC in Ankeny as a part-time advisor/helping with orientation. I'm really looking forward to all of the new experiences I am going to get this coming summer! It will be stressful, however, since there is so much.

I have also been working part time at ACCESS as a night time shelter advocate (NSA) to earn a little extra money and help pay for my new car! I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to be able to keep on working there a whole lot over the summer, but I'll try to take as many extra shifts as I can to continue to make extra money. I really like the work there when the phone actually rings or when clients need help or want to talk. The thing with working overnight is that people are sleeping, which makes it difficult to interact with them (just a bit).

Not only will I be getting lots of new experiences this summer...I am doing lots of new things just this semester! I am teaching a section of a class called Gender Justice that serves as a 1-credit, half-semester course that introduces students to things like patriarchy and gender roles and gets them thinking about how to talk about differences in a way that means really listening and trying to understand other points of view. I'm not sure if any of them are truly getting anything out of it at this point, but it seems like they are from their papers. They seem to be seeing a lot of things that they didn't really see before in their daily lives, and that's what I went into the class hoping for--that they would have a little bit more awareness so they can talk about it with other people and help to make them more aware.

Another thing I am doing through my assistantship is team-teaching a section of a class called Psych 131 which is about academic skills like time-management, test-taking skills, study skills, and many other things to help give students tools to be successful in college. The only unfortunate thing about these classes is that, in general, students are taking them to continue to be full-time students rather than because they really want to take the class. It's disheartening to think about that at times. I only hope that they start to really enjoy the class and don't treat it as though it's not a real class just because it's only one credit. Many students take the credit and never show up because they are willing to get a failing grade to keep full-time status, scholarships, insurance, etc. (which is all important, of course). It is something I don't think I will ever fully understand, though. I know the reasoning behind it, but neither of the classes really requires a whole lot of work in general!

Life right now is pretty enjoyable. I just have to get my butt in gear to finish up the semester strong. I just have two papers (plus one smaller paper) and a couple of projects (one bigger, one small) and I'll be done for the semester. Luckily, this semester is much more spread out than then end of last semester, so I don't feel (right now) like I'll want to die. But we will see.

Until next time!