The new routine...

A quickie post just so you know I'm alive. Classes are going to be interesting this quarter. Physiology will be the easiest (I've already taken an intro course, so this class will be a more in-depth look at it). My MSE classes could be interesting. One of them has me completely scared already (I'd likely be less scared if I hadn't missed the first two lectures...long story) but the grades are really spread out among different areas (quizzes, exams, projects). The other one is taught by a professor I've had before so I know his format which goes a long way in studying for an exam! Biochemistry could be hard, I'm not sure yet. I missed the first day of that class, another long story, but I didn't miss much.

I took pictures of our apartment, but my SD card reader was/is acting up. Bah. I think it means that the reader is somehow broken...on my new computer. I'm hoping that if I ignore it, it'll fix itself. It's worked in the past! More likely I'll spend time next week calling HP to see what the problem might be.

I'm working toward a healthier me. I've been watching what I eat, and the portions I'm eating. I've stopped drinking soda (I'll only drink it when I drink alcohol since my favorite drink at home is Wild Cherry Pepsi and Bacardi Limon). I've mostly been drinking milk and water, along with Ocean Spray cranberry juices. We have had "sweets" nearly constantly since moving in, including a cake (which I only had a tiny square of), cookies (the type I can't resist, but I really limited myself) and homemade banana bread which I'm just going to consider healthy :-) I've also ridden my bike a few times, done a LOT of walking, and worked out on the elliptical and tread(dread)mill in our complex.

Finally.

We have finally finally finally moved into the new apartment. While it had grown to be much bigger in my head, I'm very happy here so far. I think that my room is the only room that is completely set up so far. I couldn't deal with a mess lying around in such a small room. Sometime this week I'll throw some pictures of the place up. I love my room! The complex hasn't been to bad either. It seems pretty soundproof. So much so that we can't really holler down the hall at each other unless it's REALLY loud. I haven't heard much in the way of neighbors, so that's a blessing. We live on the top floor, so there's no upstairs neighbor noises.

At any rate, classes start today and already my first class was canceled. Totally neat. I need to get books, but I have a feeling it won't do too much damage to my wallet this year.

These are my last days in undergrad. Two more quarters--20 weeks of class and 2 weeks of finals. It's been a long ride!

Cold toes!

The weather is a-changin'. I like fall, but I also know that it means that dreaded season is just around the corner. Luckily, it's not that bad in Columbus (certainly not as bad as NE Ohio).

I'm so anxious to move in! I want everything to go smoothly--I have a plan in my head for exactly how I want to move my stuff in. Only a few more days.

I observed (or shadowed, whichever you prefer) my optometrist on Monday as part of being able to apply to Optometry school. I enjoyed it! I talked with both my doctor and one of the other doctors in the practice and they were very enlightening. I'm nearly certain that this will be a good career path for me, so that's refreshing.

My brother is a very strange kid. From where my computer is, I can see him at his computer. And he is very good at performing for me. What a goof. I'm almost excited that he'll be in Columbus and we can hang out away from home. I'm almost not excited because it means my kid brother is almost grown up. Which makes me super grown up. I'm not an adult! I don't think of myself as a woman! (Really, what woman asks her mommy if she can go to a sleepover? This one!)

Speaking of old, my boyfriend is turning 23 on Friday. Thinking about that makes my brain hurt, then I realize I'm 22, and my brain nearly melts. WHEN DID I GROW UP?

Various Topics

I just felt the need to post tonight, but on nothing in particular. So here's bulleted list of some things I'm thinking about now...

• My bike has been repaired (again). In June, you may recall that I had it repaired. No, I didn't get into an accident or anything of the sort. The bike shop I originally went to utterly screwed up. Either there was a crappy guy working the maintenance shop or my bike got lost in the shuffle. At any rate, I think the only thing that was done was to replace the brake pads. At the time I noticed that the brakes were really tight, but not knowing ANYTHING about bikes, I figured that they needed time to loosen up. Duh. Turned out the brake was constantly riding against the tire. No good. I brought it home hoping to Google some self-repair bike tips. (loosen up the brake line or something). When I put the tire back on and was looking at it with my brother, I realized the brake was entirely messed up beyond what I could fix--the brake was riding on the tire rather than the metal rim of the wheel. We then took it to a different shop and explained what happened. They got it repaired in ONE DAY (compared to a week with the first shop). It certainly seems more repaired than before, so I'll ride it around here over the next few days to make sure. What really sucks is that now over $100 has been spent on a 12-year old bike (though it was in very good shape to begin with). Live and learn.
• I really wish that we could move into our apartment even a day sooner. I want to be able to have ample time to settle in before classes start. Unfortunately, even if you move in one day early you have to take the apartment in "as-is" condition, and folks, I'm not dealing with that. So wait till move-in day it is.
• I've finished watching Season 1 of Ugly Betty. I really liked the show during the season, but never got a chance to watch it (at first, my beloved OC was on at the same time, then I just didn't have time). I really liked the season finale as it had a different, more dramatic tone than the rest of the season. I like tear-jerkers! Hopefully I'll be able to watch it this season (or at least faux-Tivo it to watch).
• My mom doesn't have a "real" job yet. She's currently in a 9-week long term sub position for a teacher on maternity leave, but that's not really satisfying. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for enrollment numbers increasing so that a new classroom is needed or that the lady she's substituting for decides she just can't leave her cute little baby at home. Or that a job application that she put in today goes somewhere. *crosses fingers*
• On Monday I'm going to observe my optometrist (I need 10 hours to apply to school). And I need to ask for a letter of recommendation. Or at least, warn him. (I think there's a special form he'll need to fill out. I should get on that.)
• Speaking of that, I need personal and professor evaluations as well.
• And I need to fill out "minimum wage" job applications in the meantime. I want to waitress somewhere because I really did like it when I did it a few summers ago. I should be able to get something--there are a LOT of restaurants in Columbus.
• My tailbone hurts. Not in the "I must've broken it way", because I've done that before and it feels different. I'm not sure what this is. Except that it is hurt.

That's enough. It's pretty long, now that I look at it!

An Enlightening Article!

I had previously decided to nix the "traditional" wedding when I got married because of the outrageous cost of weddings these days ($26,000 is the average today, and only threatening to go up when I get married). I get that you can do it on a budget, yadda yadda, but I'll be in professional school which will be netting me enough loans to kill an elephant. I'm settled and satisfied with my choice.

What I didn't realize was that I may not ever WANT to be a bridesmaid either. According to this article from my local paper, bridesmaids can expect to spend $1000 to $1400 to be in a wedding! I can understand paying for a dress and the accouterments, and buying a wedding gift. But multiple bachelorette parties?! Get-away weekends for the bridal party?! I'm astounded. I'm glad I read the article, because while I don't think I have any "bridezilla" friends, I now know what I need to ask before I get roped into spending money I don't have (and yes, I would be able to say "no" to a good friend's request--if they're really a friend they would understand!) And not only that, but I'll make sure that I don't become an assistant wedding planner either. IT'S YOUR WEDDING.

I'm just so nasty, huh?