This is my life...of course.

I'll start off with a few good things, and move onto the crappy. I'm finally completely finished with undergrad, unless something comes up in applying for Optometry school. It doesn't really feel real; I'm sure come September when I'm not taking classes, then it will finally sink in! Work is still work, except a little hotter since summer started. The A/C in our building doesn't operate too well since it's old. Luckily, the customers don't notice nearly as much as the staff does. I visited home this past week, which was fun and relaxing. I also visited my boyfriend's home which was also fun, albeit a bit less relaxing (we spent Sunday building a grill for his dad--fun times with 4 boys!).

So speaking of that trip (to Cincinnati), we drove back Sunday evening. Now, I knew that my A/C wasn't working, so we drove most of the way back with the windows open. About 20 miles from Columbus we shut the windows and turned on the A/C just to get some air flow in the van. As we got off the highway, we both realized that the van was making a horrible roaring noise. We shut off the A/C, which did nothing. We pulled into a gas station, quickly shut the van off and opened the hood (as if either of us would have SEEN anything). A passerby asked what was
wrong and I told him. He had me turn the van back on and upon hearing it, told me that the clutch on the A/C was stuck. That in turn would break the serpentine belt if allowed to continue, and then all chaos would break loose. So, I had to call AAA (thankfully we have it) and finally at 10:45pm Sunday night my van was towed to the nearest Tuffy Auto Service Center (and the tow truck guy drove us home!) Monday morning my boyfriend and I walked to Tuffy (the van is the only transportation for myself, my boyfriend and my brother) and let them know what was up. Meanwhile, my family came down and picked us up so we could still go home as planned.

So...my van needed a new compressor and the works for the A/C, a grand total of $917.50. OUCH. We're starting to think that maybe it's time to trade in the van and look at a new car for me. I'm scared of that process, because I love my little van a lot. It's only 8 years old, but it's slowly starting to go. Sam thinks the transmission will conk out next, which is uh, NOT GOOD. It's a situation I really don't want to be in :-( Especially because of looking at finances, I would be much better off with a car instead of a van or SUV. I want a bigger vehicle because that's what I've driven since I started with my temporary license. The only cars I've driven are a Ford Taurus (big) and a Buick Century (bigger). Ack. I'm not ready!!! But I also don't want to be stranded if my van finally bites a big one. Again, cars suck!

It's Taken Too Long to Get to Here...

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is my brother's trial. Please send every ounce of good thoughts that you can muster my brother's way.

In other news, I hate having to listen to other people's music because they're too incosiderate to play it at a normal level. Ack.

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?