Ha!

O-ho! It appears that there are some new jobs potentially coming on the market. Spooner is possibly open, which would be a 5-12 position-- GAH!! That's what I want!! Cumberland is also possibly opening, and another one which I forget. How sweet would that be to end up living here? I know, I know... settling in the same town where you grew up.. lame... but I love it here, I really do. Sure, the nearest Target is an hour and a half away, and no one knows what Jimmy Johns is, but I LOVE it. I love the fact that I can walk down the street and everyone knows not only my name, but my parents, my extended family, who I'm dating, where I've been, and what I've been up to. I love it. It's that feeling that you can't get in a bigger city. Sure, it's nice to just casually talk to people and not worry about ever having to see them again. Being able to go to the store in your pjs and know that no one knows you. But I really value the feeling that a small town community brings. The school district here is great, too; our kids would be in a great place, and I wouldn't worry about the quality of their education, because I know that it is good. It was really nice to leave Shell Lake and live in a different place for a while, particularly Eau Claire. I love it there. But there's nothing like coming home. I get this warm feeling whenever I make that turn off of Lake Spur onto North Lake Drive, heading down the road toward Donovan Cove. Part of me really hopes that we end up here, or somewhere near here. Sigh. Yay.

The Never Ending Saga

Oh, grass. Why do you have to grow? Because of you, I have to get off my butt only to sit on it once again for 3 hours at a time, only this time on a bumpy vibrating uncomfortable mower. I love you grass, but seriously. Isn't it time to stop?

If I was grass, I would hope that I would have the Peter Pan complex, so that I would stop growing at a certain point. That way, no one would ever have to mow me.

The beginning of the end

Well, today was interesting. I had my very last flute lesson EVER with Dr. Lane. Needless to say, I was very sad! It was kind of nice because I nailed some really tough passages on the Bricchialdi (Carnival of Venice), and we sightread some fun duets. Got a little tough to play for a little bit because my lip was quivering, but it worked out. It's so weird to me to know that this is it, the end of my college career. I feel so young thinking all of these things, because I know that so many people I know have already gone through it, but it's just WEIRD.

Not long ago, I was finishing up my freshman year, and didn't think this day would ever come, the day that I leave campus forever to join the ranks of those in the "real world." Sure, I still have student teaching left, but I'm isolated up north, the only one in my class to be so far away from everybody. As I sit here now and think about this, it's becoming more and more apparent that college is a time that should not be wasted; it comes and goes so quickly that you suddenly find yourself standing at the bottom of this huge mountain with nowhere to go but up. How do you do it? Of course, there are many ways in which to climb this proverbial mountain, but you must choose your own path; there is no one to guide you this time. You may have written a 15 page paper on the many ways to climb a mountain, but it is now up to you to decide which will be the way you take.

It's weird how even though I am only 22, I feel like I have the entire world staring me in the face saying "Well???". What have I accomplished in the past four years? Who have I become? How did I get here? Should I have done something differently? These are all questions that go through the mind of a has-been. When you're in college, it seems like you can conquer anything. But now, on the exit ramp, I start to wonder.

Regardless of how sad I get about leaving, I'M GONNA BE A TEACHER!!! WOOHOO!!! Take that and smoke it!

What's your name spelled backwards?

yentib enna

What did you do last night?

Watched Juno with Max, Niki, and Mark

The last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
um... a flash player? no, it would be something for msn so we can have shared files

Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery?
No, should I have?

Last time you swam in a pool?
Oh dear... I don't remember.

What are you wearing?
pjs

How many cars have you owned?
1

Type of music you dislike most?

Not really sure... serialism confuses me, but so does some of the really lengthy violin crap.

Are you registered to vote?
yes

Do you have cable?
no

What kind of computer do you use?

a Dell Latitude D600
Ever made a prank phone call?
I think I tried once when I was little but dismally failed

You like anyone right now?
duh

Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
I have to pick? How about neither

Furthest place you ever traveled?
Paris, France

What's your favorite comic strip?
Good question. Probably... Peanuts or For Better or for Worse

Do u know all the words to the national anthem?
yes

Shower, morning or night?
morning

Best movie you've seen in the past month?
probably Juno, but the clips of Jeff Dunham were awesome

Favorite pizza toppings?
sausage, pinapple, onion. I also love bbq chicken

Chips or popcorn?
What kind?

Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
no... you can do that?? sick

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
no

Orange Juice or apple?
orange

Who were the last people you sat at lunch with?
Jan, Cory, Max

favorite chocolate bar?
kit kat or 3 musketeer

Who is your longest friend and how long?
my sisters, and also probably trish

Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
not that long ago

Have you ever won a trophy?

You betcha

Favorite arcade game?
say what?

Ever ordered from an infomercial?
no

Sprite or 7-UP?
7 up

Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?
only on sundays for the Center

Last thing you bought at Walgreens?
i think it was a brace for my tendonitis

Ever thrown up in public?
church basement in front of whole congregation and public

Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?
true love!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

i'd say so

SPONGEBOB OR JIMMY NEUTRON?
no idea, who is jimmy neutron

Did you have long hair as a young kid?
sometimes

What message is on your voicemail machine?
all deleted at the moment, but they were all from mom

Where would you like to go right now?

bed

Whats the name of your pet?
Goldfish: Stanley and Gus

Cats: Sweeite and Punkin, Mike and Sam

What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?
my backpack is red black and white, but i use my black messenger bag usually

What do you think about most?

getting married, duh. and graduating

A year later..

Funny how life works, isn't it? The last time I posted in here, I was just finishing my junior year of college, coping with Max leaving for basic training, and la-de-da-ing around life. Now, I am engaged to be married to the love of my life, Max, on August 9th of this year, and instead of coping with him leaving for basic, I am coping with him leaving for Iraq in January. Same situation, only bigger, plus marriage. Interesting how life changes so quickly, even in the span of a year. What used to seem like an unfathomable time period now flies by like those gross gnats when you go biking. Some of it gets caught in your teeth, but the rest zooms past as if it's last call.

I figured that I better start keeping this up to date, as I think it'll be a good outlet for me, especially once things get rolling with student teaching, the Arts Center, married life, and settling into the Army family. It's always really fun reading other people's blogs; I check into my cousin Carrie's page, and also Tim's wife Jill's on a semi-regular basis, so why not post my own deep thoughts? I heard that there's a circle of Army wives on this thing somewhere, so it'll be good to connect somehow.

Wedding planning is going really well; we have a big band coming from UWEC to play at the dance, a brass quintet for the ceremony, a flute for the ceremony, and my sister is singing. Food is taken care of, tents, dresses, tuxes... still need engagement pictures (whoops), but those should be happening next weekend. Invites are designed, just need Mom to print them as my own printer hates me and decided that crooked invites are the new thing. Max even is on the ball with the rehearsal dinner-- he's talking about doing it at Bona Casa, which is really nice. We've also talked about just doing a barbecue or something, so we have a few options. What else...

Max stopped by this weekend to visit, which was AWESOME. Even though I feel like our relationship is stronger than it has ever been, it is so nice to just spend time with him and feel that security of being together. Everything just feels right... does everyone feel like life is so... perfect? It is almost a tangible change that takes place when we're both suddenly near.

Wow, I'm lame. But you get the idea.