Marchee Poo

March is going by SO FAST. It's a little ridiculous. But it's fine... =]
Racing season is here.
Things with the boyfriend are great.
School is going well.
I'm working hard and playing harder.
LIFE
IS
GOOD.

The end.

HAHAHA. Driving to School (freshman year)

NEGLECTED

Sorry, blog. You know how I am about commitments… I… I can explain.

It’s just been a whirlwind since Christmas, I can’t even believe it’s almost February! So, a few updates: I’m still dating that boy–we survived being apart for winter break. It was nice not to have someone complimenting you and giving you hugs and kisses and snuggling with you every day. Okay, so I missed that part, but honestly, boys have cooties, we girls still need our breaks to regain our health =P

Apart from that, winter break was GREAT. We adopted a new puppy; her name is Roxy and she’s an angel.

Roxy the Innocent

Until you leave her alone. Then she’s a bulldozer. We need new plants in the backyard. Dad’s gonna build her a fenced in area for when we go to the store, or when she’s alone for a bit, just so she doesn’t destroy everything. Well, whatever’s left at least… Haha.

I got to do Spinning classes for my last two weeks I was home. Chloe came with me a few times and Dad came once… it was GREAT. I actually really loved it, and this summer I’m gonna join a gym that has spinning classes, so I’m pretty excited about that. I came back early to school to do some re-training stuff for RA stuff. So that went well. Then classes started: MWF 8am, 10 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. So a few awkward gaps of time, but I get Tues and Thurs off, so that’s been helpful. They’ve turned into intense homework days, and it’s only the third week!!! Waaaah. Oh well. Haha. I’m taking a Science, Tech. and Society course, a class on rhetorical theory, a family communications class, and developmental psychology (prenatal to adolescent) and so far so good. I’m really enjoying them, and I’m staying up on my reading!
So.
Much.
Reading.

Speaking of homework–I’m neglecting a 5 page paper (with a speech component) and I still have another reading assignment… THE NIGHT IS YOUNG. And I’m on-call, which means, up til 12 at least, but 1 am is hopefully the bedtime.

OH. More about this after the show, probably, but I’m doing the opening scene of the Vagina Monologues on campus. Woohoo! It’s gonna be vag-tacular, so stay alert if you’re in the Tacoma area.

Anywho.. I’ll get back into the swing of keeping this baby updated. So, as they say in LA, hasta la bye bye.

Sincerely,
RA girl-in-like

Into the New Year

2010. Wow. It’s been great–it really has.
Celebrated my New Year’s with Los Angeles.
Rowed my way to an NCAA National’s appearance.
Wrote my way to good grades.
Dawdled my days of summer away.
Drove my way to Oregon to see Uncle Tom, then to Washington to get to school.
Started my semester training to be an RA.
Made new friends.
Made time for a relationship with a very special guy.
Cleared clutter from my desk.
And then made it messy again.

It’s a normal year… but it has had amazing and unique parts to it.
Even just looking at Christmas this year, I could feel the difference.

Coming home this year was very different. Aggie didn’t greet me at the door. I didn’t feel the sense of urgency to see all of my friends every single day. And I had texted home and asked for a financial donation to my bank account instead of lots of little presents this year. We celebrated on the Eve because Mom and Dad worked Christmas Day, and Lauren doesn’t do anticipation; she barely made it through the 24th. She opened her presents (all in a row) and then left the room with one of them (a DC Comics “Year by Year” graphic compilation book) leaving the rest of them in a funky pile near the wrappings. Needless to say, that gift was a hit. The others have since received attention, but there was a clear favorite. My popcorn machine I bought her now has the Orville Redenbacher popping corn kernels ready to be popped thanks to a necessary trip to the store for “milk and popcorn, Binzit!” before Dad came home the other night. Milk for dad, popcorn for Lauren. You can’t say she’s entirely selfish… =]

Mom, Dad, and I sat on the couch that night watching “Playing for Change” (which you should all look into), and we were all almost in tears (I’ll save mentioning any specifics so that we can all walk away dignity intact). It was very moving and definitely a (crowd) favorite.

Kevin and Karina came over on Christmas night and we gave them their presents, and they gave us ours. I got Ugg boots.
All I have to say is.. well two things:
1) My brother is the best
and
2) I stuck my nose up at girls who folded their Ugg boots down so they have their fluff exposed… that is, until I had my own pair of which to fold down and expose the fluff… and I LOVE THEM. And I’m glad I live in a place where it’s actually chilly enough to casually wear them… none of this LA shorts and Ugg boots non-sense.

Anywho… I miss the boy.
This is the only thing that is missing from making this special time of year even more special. That’s a cool thing in its own way, though. It’s pretty perfect just being here with the family. They mention him enough for me to not make it even a few hours without him crossing my mind. *Barf* Sometimes we’re too cute for even ME to handle. (I sent him and his family a Christmas card, and I’m positive he wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and cry– but obviously, he would never admit to such a thing, and he’s not here for me to prove such an assumption, so I am left to my imagination…)

SO that’s that. I’m sure there’s a lot more to say: like how I had a Christmas party with my girls–a group of my college age friends and then a group of my wiser older friends (that my mom has introduced me to)– and it was AMAZING. I love being around strong, beautiful, positive women. Makes me get all giddy and happy inside.

Well, I hope everyone’s holiday season (and year) have been as eventful and rewarding as mine has.

Most sincerely,
Rejoicing Girl-in-Like

Tis the Season

Well, well, well… if it isn’t the Holiday season! Hello again, friends, family, Christmas trees, and Egg Nog Lattes. I’ve missed you all. WordPress.com set their screen so that it looks like snowflakes are falling on my laptop. It’s pretty cute.
Anywho– the boyfriend and I traded Christmas gifts last night. I didn’t want to scare him away, so I had a cute card with a hint of sentimentality but mostly full of puns. His card to me was the cutest EVER. I forgot that sometimes boyfriends remember that girlfriends like sweet nothings whispered in their ears… or written on cards.

and the inside

I got him a hand/mouth blown glass tea pot for brewing loose leaf tea =] (he’s been talking about getting one for months) and he got me a 10×10 sleek, black scrapbook, 3 border stamps, rock candy, and a collage-y black picture frame (with 12 spots for photos). I guess he wants me to remember him– well, don’t worry, mister, you’re a little too good to forget. *wink*

Enough of the gushy.

Lauren turns 29 today. WOW. Just wow. I set my alarm for 8 am so that I could call her and wish her a happy birthday. She’s going to Yankee Doodle’s to celebrate with her day program, and she’ll open presents from mom and dad later today. Apparently she woke up and almost forgot! I’m glad I called! =P

On another happy note, only one more final and a residence hall to close before I can come home! I’ll be back in LA before the stroke of midnight on Saturday. TOO EXCITED. My Statistics exam suddenly is just a speed bump in the way. I haven’t started on my studying for the day, yet, but I did do dishes, clean the sink, organize the kitchen cabinets, and even got an hour erg/core session in with Emily to kick start our days.

I finished a 10 page Spanish literature paper. It was my final required assignment for my Spanish Minor Degree. Woot woot! More than halfway through college, officially! Okay, well, assuming I pass this Stats exam… which I will…!

Well, I know a lot has happened this month, but I’m kind of on overload from Finals anxiety and stress… I’m sure I’ll have an update within the next two weeks. A few holiday parties, some fun baking, and some gift exchanging to be had.

p.s. Boy and Girl date night at the crew formal was SO much fun. He cleans up so nicely =]

Love to all,
Girl in Like con el fin del semestre (with the end of the semester)

November and the Leaves!

So, one of the things I love most about where I’ve chosen to go to school is the seasons. Real seasons. I never really grasped the concept of why “Autumn” was also called “Fall” until I came up here and the leaves actually “fall” off of the trees. But not before they turn beautiful shades of reds, browns, oranges, yellows, and create this amazing collage of everything that this in-between season embodies.

The jackets have come out of hiding, and the wool coats are abundant. Knit beanies and hand woven scarves, caps, and sweaters are all around. And I must be in denial again, for I keep making the mistake of seeing blue skies and thinking it means warmth. Nope. Blue skies are just the canvas behind the colors of fall and the blustery gusts of wind, and then finally, the gray comes and wipes away the blue. But it’s not gloomy. I actually love it. I get rather studious, and after the craziness of midterms (after which all I want to do is curl up in bed and wait until next semester) I need the extra boost of “Well I can’t go outside, because it’s cold, wet, and torrential, so I’ll just stay in and study.” The fact that there is a boy with whom I can cuddle after (and only after) we finish our homework for the day is another motivator to get my work done.

Well, not much has happened lately; not unless you count surviving midterm season, solidifying my Thanksgiving plans for Oregon with the boy and the fam… which are both awesome things. I guess the other things would be succumbing to the daunting task of making something FBO (or FaceBook Official for those of us with lives), signing up for my Junior year spring semester classes (Rhetorical Theory, Family Communication, Developmental Psychology: prenatal to childhood, and a Science, Technology, and Society class), and calling home every day to gush about how great things are this year.

I feel like the only times I ever update my blog are when I’m supposed to be doing homework… well off I go… decoding the mysteries of Spanish poetry.

Sincerely,
Fall-Girl in Like

Fall-Break to-do List

#1, check. Good thing I've got 2 more days...