When will they get it?

Every year my school cancels classes for two days to put on the Symposium on Democracy. Every year there is a different focus and every year attendance is "required." The college wants the students to get a chance to listen to speakers they may never thought to listen to and gives information that we might never have experienced otherwise. Up until this year the "required" attendance was more of a trust thing. This year they are swiping ID cards and "counting absences" for students who don't attend certain sessions.
First off, forcing me to go to something I am not interested in is going to make me upset and when I go I'm not going to pay attention. I am going to be "that person" who is on their phone, not paying attention, and I am going to be itching to get out of there. Secondly, because I was forced to go to something I didn't want to go to, now I don't want to go to the thing I was interested in because I just wasted 2 hours on something I couldn't care less about.
Not every topic is going to be interesting to everyone. Expecting students to attend all sessions is ridiculous. They can't do anything with this "attendance policy." There are no consequences to not going and they can't force people to go. I am not going to any of the required sessions, 1 because none of them are of any interest to me, 2 There are non required sessions that I'd rather go to because they sound interesting to me, and 3 I am an adult paying to go to this school. You do not tell me what to do. I pay you...I do what I want to do. Really I am wanting to "stick it to the man." Also, it helps that the last two years I was much more interested in the topics and attended many more sessions. Not because my attendance was being taken but because I was interested.

Labor Day Weekend

As I return from Springfield I am of course sad because I returned alone while the great boy of mine stayed there. But I think back to what a great time we had. Friday we watched Shutter Island while enjoying a pizza. Saturday the wonderful boy planned a surprise all day date for us! It was exciting to not have to plan anything and to not know what we were going to do. So he picked me up (which was a nice touch) and took me to lunch across town (Chipotle) but drove up and down side streets so I could look at old charming houses, because I love doing that. After lunch we had fun at Fun Acre playing putt putt. Unfortunately we got stuck behind a group of 6 adults and 2 kids who weren't very nice and didn't let us play through, but we didn't let that get us down. We sat and enjoyed the beautiful outdoors. Though I did absolutely horrible, I won a free game by hitting my ball into the return ball cup! That was a nice touch. After that we went to the Dollar Show and saw Grown Ups and it was pretty funny! After that he made dinner all by himself. We had lemon chicken in some Alfredo pasta type stuff and garlic bread. It passed my expectations. Sunday we went to church and then out to lunch. He had about 2 hours of practice to do with the church band so I was studious and studied for my Praxis exam. I sure do love that boy. He is pretty much the best, most of the time :-).

Next time I'll be down there is for fall break, in about a month. I think I will try to not plan out the entire weekend, but maybe just one or two things. It seemed we had more fun that way. Any who back to school...now the real work starts. Thanks Bobby for a truly GREAT weekend. I love you!

Life...

So I have now attended all of my classes and I can surely say this semester is going to be full of a lot of important information. 5 out of my 6 classes have to do with teaching or management of a classroom while the other is an English Literature class. I am very excited to gain all this new information and put it to use next semester during my student teaching.

It seems that cooler weather is trying to make it's way in. I've had the window open today and just had to close it because my room was getting quite chilly! That is crazy and I hope we have a nice long beautiful fall. I also really want to go to a pumpkin patch this year. I haven't been in a LONG time and would really enjoy going. Also, random, but I just had a Starbucks Mocha Frappichino (in the bottle) but the 100 calorie one. Oh goodness 'twas TASTY!! It actually tasted just like a regular one.

In a little over a week I will be on my way to Springfield for Labor day and a visit with my man. He has set up a day long date for Saturday! I am so excited. He is planning everything and it will be a complete surprise to me, so that should be lots of fun. Tomorrow night a friend invited me over for dinner at her house, pretty excited about that too. Haven't gotten to see her this semester because she doesn't live across the hall anymore.
I guess that is all for now. I hope I have something a bit more interesting to update on next time.

Back to school, back to school, ...

So this evening I made dinner for my father and I (hamburger helper). It was nothing fancy, but I still actually enjoyed doing it. I guess it is just me being so ready to be out on my own, doing house-ish things makes me feel a little bit closer to being out on my own, maybe. About a week and a half until I am back at school. I am down to my final year. Exciting and horrifying as well. Teaching is scary especially as a rookie right out of school trying to heard a bunch of pubescent boys and girls through the hallways of middle school. But I am so excited (and terrified) to be a part of the middle school community. I really wish that The Boy was closer, but not happenin. This summer apart has really shown me how ready I am for the whole distance thing to be over with. I sure do miss him, especially right now. He is out with the youth group on a "Camp and Canoe" weekend.

Also, I am so tired of the 100 + degree weather (especially since my car's A/C crapped out back in May). Is fall on the horizon???? I need cool breezes and changing leaves. It is probably my favorite time of the year. It makes me happy all around and wish that it could be 50% of the year (and spring be the other half).
Again, I know I am probably talking to myself, but I like it. It's relaxing and I haven't done it in a looooong time. Peace out!

Hand Stamped Cards

My most recent set of stamped cards.... I really enjoy stamping these and being creative with what I have.

This first one is my favorite!!

It doesn't have a purpose just yet, But it will be a speical one!

This card was made for my boyfriends cousin who is going to take his ACT this December. He is striving for a certain score so he can get into Central Methodist University.

This is just an extra one I made. It will probably be sent at some point in time to my MAN!

Same, an extra card.



This card is for a couple that Bobby and I know from his school. As you can see, they are expecting!!!

So..that was about it. Over Christmas I will make some more and put them up too!

Long Distance Relationships

Probably the hardest thing I've ever done! Stressful, frustrating, annoying, rewarding, growing, learning, figuring out...all these things I have experienced in the last 3 semesters. It is such hard work to make a relationship work, now throw in the fact that the person is no where near you and it's going to be like that for awhile. I don't know why people would ever start a relationship at a distance..SO NOT FOR ME! I was lucky, I had 7 1/2 months of no distance before the loveliness started. Oh goodness, we both have web cams which is a BLESSING! We are able to chat and do our bible study and relationship books (a great way to ensure quality time with yer hunny). Not gunna lie, sometimes they are kinda weird, because it's like you are in their room with them. I have heard a few roommate conversations and sat in my room thinkin "I don't understand, nor do I want to. I don't live in this room for a reason." But then again, I've gotten to meet a few people through the cams too (also kinda weird). But if given the chance, I would do it again. We have grown so much in SO many areas. Especially our communication to each other..which is far from where is needs to be, but we have made great progress. Okay done with that. No one wants to hear all about my LDR...peace out!

Giving Gifts

I wish I had more money so I could buy more gifts for other people. I don't know why, but I get REALLY excited as Christmas time approaches because I get to buy/make special gifts for people I love. This year I have a really good feeling for some reason. I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head (that I'm not going to post because I don't know who reads this :~)) and I feel a lot of them will be big hits! That time of year is right around the corner. I can't belive it is almost November! This weekend I hope to get some Christmas shopping done so I can start working on putting everything together so I don't have much to do while I am home for Thanksgiving and for Christmas break.

I can't wait to wrap presents too!!! That has to be one of my favoirite holiday things to do!!! All the fun paper and cute name tags! Each year I seem to learn a new technique to wrap something odd-shaped or to spice it up. Oh Christmas...I see you way down the street. I'll be watching for you until you arrive!