Have you ever ....

...been so tired you can't think straight?

...been so stressed out that despite being tired, you can't sleep?

...had your feet hurt so bad that, even though you really want to shower, the thought of standing for a minute longer almost hurts worse?

...been so busy that you haven't had time to wash your hair in 3 days?

...had a day long enough that it feels like an entire decade went by?

...almost been hysterical because you were so happy to be home?

...taken a long time to write even the shortest, simplest blog?

'Cause that all happened this weekend with Parents' Weekend.

It went well. I'm alive and now I don't know what to do because I'm so far behind in everything - school, church, friends and SLEEP!

I don't have any time. I'm only on the computer as I quickly scarf down food - rice, beans and salsa because it's the only food I have since I don't have time to go shopping. Then I need to finish studying and take a German test. Then I go straight to Salsa Club which goes until 10. Then I need to come home, do homework and try to catch up in Spanish, especially since I didn't go to class today in order to study for my German test.

Then tomorrow, my day is packed full, as well as Thursday. Then I don't even get a weekend because this weekend is Parents Weekend. I've been planning this for months and it's actually here! There is so much to do and so little time! I've been spending my days at work trying to prepare for it, but I keep getting interrupted with phone calls from stupid parents. Really, how hard is it to understand what's on the website. It's not confusing. Ok, not all of them are stupid, but a few of them are. And don't worry, I don't tell them they're stupid to their faces.

Today, while I was waiting for my friend to study, I got to people watch and it was interesting. I saw man boobs that were in need of a "bro." I watched 2 EMT's run into the Library, looking slightly like superheroes. One was putting on gloves as he was running. I watched boys flirting with a girl who was playing dumb blonde....or maybe she was just that dumb. I can't stand it when girls act dumb on purpose and I think it's worse when boys like it. I saw a lot of other things, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind.

I got the coolest assignment today. I'm going to write a magazine article for a children's magazine and then I'm going to submit it to try and get published. How cool is that? I could get published and get paid for it, for an assignment.

K, I need to go study even though I have so much more to write about.

Therapy Session

You know, I love writing and I love staying connected with people, but I just can't seem to get this blogging thing down. Throughout the day I think of great things I want to write down, but I never get around to actually writing it. I also think that blogging could potentially be a therapy session. Well Doc, I'm laying on the couch spilling out my guts to you.

Today was the International Fair that the Kennedy Center put on. I shouldn't have gone. I want to go everywhere. As my roommate put it, it's like a crack addict going into a drug house.

I'm an addict and traveling is my drug.

I picked up a couple of really good flyers and I talked to the professor going to Vienna next fall about going as a facilitator (I would help run and organize things as well as teach the prep class next semester). Man, so many places to see and so little money.

Here's the real plan though (I think). My professor is taking a group to Berlin in May. It would be 2 months of intensive German at the Goethe Institut (yes, that is spelled right). He is planning to end the program with a tour of Germany. Being shown Germany by a German himself - sign me up! Then I would stay in Europe and travel a little before September when I'd start the Vienna program. Oh, I left my heart in Vienna. It is one of the most beautiful, efficient, clean, and cultured cities and I am dying to go back. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how to pay for it. I'm going to take out a loan for it, try to get a grant or 2, but I'm still worried I'm going to fall short.

If you are willing to donate to my cause, I would really appreciate it. It's not just me gallavanting around Europe (ok, maybe just a little in between) but this is my education. I am a German major and I think the only way I'll truly learn is by being there.

Oh, so the International Fair was just one part of my day. Other things worth mentioning

We did a group assignment in class today and it went well. The girls I worked with were nice. Then at the end, the two of them started talking about Lord of the Rings. At first I tried talking to them, but it didn't really work out. They somehow sensed, before they got deep into their conversation, that I was not obsessed with Tolkien quite like they were. I wasn't even in the conversation when they started it, but then within a couple of minutes, I learned that was a good thing when they started talking about learning elfish. I walked with them, listening to there conversation and before I left them, I overheard the cherry on top - "Oh, I'm actually the sectretary of the Quill and the Sword."* I laughed....out loud, but don't worry, I was far enough away that they didn't see or hear it. I'm judgemental.

There was a pair of black panties in the huge square in front of the Joseph Fielding Smith building. I hate the word panties, but I feel the word adds the effect needed. Yes, I thought it was hilarious. I'm immature.

Recap: I'm an addict, give me money, I'm judgemental and I'm immature. That was a great realization today. Could we have another therapy session this time tomorrow?


*The Quill and the Sword is the Medieval Club on campus. It is frequently made fun of by Divine Comedy.

You see them on campus with their capes, funny dresses, swords and when it's warm, they're barefooted.

Quite often I will ask my roommate "Why I can't get a boyfriend when the Medieval Club is all married?" which is usually answered with "yeah, but they're all married to each other."

Maybe this is why I can't get a B-friend - I'm an addict, I'm judgemental and I'm immature.

This day just keeps getting better

This is great!


As if the snuggie wasn't bad enough, they had to make This too!

I rarely ever feel hopeless, but a few days ago I did. Camille and I could not seem to catch a break when it came to looking for an apartment. Every place we could find kept falling through. People would send application/contracts right before us. I was very discouraged.

Then today happened. We got an apartment. Not just an apartment, but an awesome apartment with vaulted ceilings. We will also be sharing this apartment with my friend Bekah and her friend. It worked out perfectly and I feel so lucky to have all those other places fall through. Now we're living with Bekah, we have an awesome manager, the apartment looks great for what we're paying, and supposedly the guy to girl ratio is 2:1. I'm looking forward to a fantastic school year.

Speaking of school...I'm trying to decide what classes to take. I have a couple of set ones, but I really want to take a second language course. What language do you think? Russian, Italian, French, Arabic? So far everyone says Italian, but the other ones might be more useful...but I want to take a romantic language because once you learn one, the other ones come pretty easy.

Somedays I feel inspired to be a better person.

Whether it be watching a movie, or talking with someone I look up to, I absolutely love hearing others' stories.

I feel so blessed to know some pretty great people.

I feel even luckier to be given the opportunity to serve them, even in the smallest ways.

Then it makes me feel like I was a part of their story.

Plans

I may be insane.

Do you think I could handle working full-time and school full-time?

I really need the extra money for my idea of what I want to do next year. My plans are...big. I mean BIG. In case you don't understand, they are BIG, HUGE, GINORMOUS! But, until I think about it more and find a second and possibly third job, I'm not telling what they are.