almost there

I know I've been "saying" it for a while now, but really, I'm almost there...the end of the school year has finally arrived and there are just a few more hours until summer begins. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to my roommate for the last time. We've lived together for nearly 2 years and she's by far, the best roommate I've had. Ashley and I are very similar and just kind of walk to our own beat. We think alike, were into the same stuff as kids, had some of the same experiences as teenagers, are both only girls in large families of boys, and we were born just four days apart-she's basically the twin I didn't have. Losing her to the wide, wide world will be though, but she will go out and make something of herself. :)

As sad as I am to be bidding farewell to friends, I am also very much looking forward to home. I've said it before, but for me, being away from home has gotten harder rather than easier each time I've had to come back to school. This year has been the most trying. Maybe it's because I've not only had to be away from my family, but J. as well, or maybe I just crave the privacy and comfort of home, whatever it is, it will be nice to get back.

Anyway, the following is a verse that I like to keep in mind when things are stressful or trying...kind of fitting for these last few hours of stress before the summer,

"Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I wil be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Do not be afraid, for I am with you."-Isaiah 43:1b-3, and 5A.

papers, papers, papers

Pages written in the last week: 22
Papers finished: 3
Papers left to write: 5
Level of drive or desire to finish papers: 0

I need some lasting inspiration in a hurry.

sleepless, but not in seattle (or the pnw)

The semester is so close to being done that I feel it (you know, that lazy, "I have no reason to do this assignment" feeling)...but just far enough away that I can't give up yet. My roommate who is graduating this year (as I should be-changing majors will do that to a person), is dreading graduation. According to Ash, these are the last weeks of her youth and she is worried about the future and the increasing adult responsibilities. I get what she's feeling, but maybe because my graduation's a whole year away, I have this idea that graduating would be a huge weight gone off my back. Come to think of it, I've been in school every year since kindergarten, so I don't know anything else. No more school sounds fantastically freeing, but who knows, maybe I'll be feeling apprehensive at this time next year too. Unfortunately for me, even graduating won't get me away from academia. My degree in education will help ensure that I remain school-bound for a very long time...kind of humorous in a way.

Anyway, life has been business as usual with plenty of research, writing, and work happening. I wrote a 13 page paper in just a few hours the other night which was amazing for me because I'm about the slowest writer on the face of the planet. I so envy those people who can whip out a two-pager in a half hour. It can take me up to an hour a page (double spaced) to write something, which is incredibly frustrating. I like to blame my turtle-ish writing habits on perfectionist tendencies, but I don't really think that's truthful, I think I'm just a slow writer.

Changing the subject, along with a trip home coming into sight in the near future, I am now planning on taking a trip to Ohio to see relatives later in the summer. My family has been planning the trip for about a year, but I decided I was going to stay home and work, however, with the job market as it is at home (a 12.5 percent jobless rate and growing everyday due to several major store closings) and knowing how hard it was to find work last summer (50 applications, 2 call-backs and subsequently canceled interviews-I gardened for friends to stay afloat), I decided last week that I am going to go on the trip-job or no. I have never met my family in Ohio and this kind of seems like the last opportunity to meet them before I'm out of my parent's house. Also, my grandparents are celebrating their 50th anniversary back there, and I'm not too keen on missing that. Buckeyes here I come. Ash (my roommate) is coincidentally from Ohio, so there's a chance that I will be able to visit her while I'm there as well.

Well, it is now 4:45 am and I'm not getting a whole lot done sitting here on blogger, so I'm going to go try to do something productive (besides sleep-there is no time).

Goodmorning-

Me.

spring photos

It's been a long time since I've felt inspired enough to take my camera out and track down some nature shots, so today was a nice change of pace. The sun came out this afternoon and the temperature was just warm enough to walk around without a sweater. I had an enjoyable time trying to capture some unique shots of very ordinary subjects.

-Me.

not for me

My last two posts have had to do with the weather...today, I just want to express my dislike for "Fool's Day". Does anyone else dread this day as much as I do?