Dead Week

For a lot of folks this week last week or next week is dead week: the week before finals where nothing happens. No club meetings, no sporting events. Just stress. That's this week for me. There isn't that much going on, but it is super stressful.

A few months ago I applied to a really great dental assisting program at a local school. They have one of the best technical programs in the state. After leaving there, you don't have a certificate, you have your Associates degree in Dental Assisting Technology AND a certificate [and a few other certificates!] I applied a few months ago and have been waiting a few months to find out if I got in. They denied me! I instantly gave up. Luckily my mom has a friend at the school who works in enrollment. She gave her a call and found out what I could do. It turns out that when they evaluated my transcripts, they missed several classes. So they let me in. [Thank you Lord]

My sister's kids being CRAZY!

One would think that this is a blessing. It is. But NOT a load off my chest. In my glee, I took the time to look in depth at my course load for the next year. It will be insanely full. Some quarters, I take seven classes and have to work in a clinic. I got instantly stressed out! I'm struggling now with my THREE classes and part time job! OI! Thinking about this really freaked me out! I've had to tell myself "STOP! BREATHE!" so many times this week. I'm a smart lady. I can do this.

On top of the stress of finals coming up, feeling overwhelmed by what I just committed to and being as poor as a church mouse, my sister's nanny has unexpectedly taken the week off. I've been watching her kids all week, which means waking up around 5 AM rather than my usual 9 and being busy 100% of the time. My homework has suffered.

They found a snake!

A few little things have added to the stress this week too. Our foster kids have been having really bad attitudes lately. They've also stolen a ton of our stuff this week. It's frustrating when people make themselves welcome to things you'd rather then not invite themselves to. It also started raining again and I haven't seen any friends yet this week either.

On the upside, today is Champagne Thursday. It is ALWAYS the best day!

Tell Tommy its Friday

Recently, the lead singer of my favorite band [Against Me!] came out as transgender and is going to begin living as a woman. It has been on my mind because I've had such a crush on him for a few years. Well, cheers to him, I suppose, my first letter this Friday is to you!

Dear Tom Gabel, I always wanted to be a female version of you. I guess you do too. This is probably the most punk thing you could ever do. Party on, Wayne.

Dear Friends, Please stop tagging me in Facebook photos that I'm not in. I know that this is petty. But I HATE it! Why can't you just tag me in a comment?

Dear School, THANK YOU for letting me into that program! I'm so excited I could nearly cry!

Dear Max, I miss you dearly! Wish you were around this week!

Dear James, Happy Birthday, little nephew! I remember when you were born just seven years ago. You were not a cute baby- you looked a lot like an alien. You are very cute now! Hope its a magical day for you!

Dear Sunshine, Wanna go steady?

It's Called Clean Eating

This is my lunch!

I am normally opposed to taking pictures of food. It just reminds me of washed-out photos on Instagram. However, this meal was really delicious. I had such a good day after I ate this meal.  I'm completely convinced that "clean eating" is one of the best things you can do for your body. Its not completely "clean"- note the cheese and craisins. Regardless It was such a satisfying day! It was some of the best cantaloupe I've had in my life. I'm all about melons these days.

I read an article in the New York Times about the Edible School Yard and Agrarian society and I just loved it. Here is the link if you want it =] It's a little different writing style. That might be part of why I like it so much. Go ahead and give it a read.

The photo to the right is a picture of my lunch. The photo below is a photo from the NY Times article that reminds me of my lunch!

This is not my photo! http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/back-to-the-land/

Its a rainy Wednesday afternoon and I'm struggling to find the motivation to do all my homework: I have a test on Friday, a test on Monday, a paper due tomorrow and a paper due on Wednesday. Oh, and eight chapters in two separate books to read today. I suppose I shouldn't spend my whole afternoon on the internet, checking facepage and blogging my little heart out.

It's Been Too Long

These books live on my desk.

The last few weeks have been  crazy! I've been working a ton, I started school, we got two new foster kids. It has been on the stressful side of life, but I'm quite pleased.

I'm getting all A's in my classes, but the rest of my life has been suffering! I hardly ever have time to see friends and I'm not quite sure what color my bedroom carpet it.... Most of the books in this photo aren't actually even text books- they're books I read just for fun. Sadly they've been left to the way side in favor of MGMT 13th Edition and my math textbook. Soon! They will be picked up again within weeks [months...] and I will finally finish them!

Life during the school year is just so tiring! One of my goals for 2012 was to start swimming and rock climbing. I've accomplished neither. Mind you, I've secured gainful employment and I'm making a 4.0, but I haven't done the things I wanted to do. I suppose that's why we call them goals and not "things I can easily achieve".

On the bright side, spring has showed up! The Daffodil Parade has come and gone, sowing season has happened and all the little sprouts are up and growing. I took a picture of the first flowers I saw this year. I was stopped at a stop light. It was so lovely to see flowers after seeing clouds for six months!

Ooooh! Flowers!! My favorite!