Goals

So I've been doing a lot of work lately and I feel like setting some goals would be a good idea. Here's what I've got so far:

• Run a 7 minute mile
• Make Dean's List
• Get into the Education program
• Get all A's and B's
• Keep doing well in karate (Orange belt, here I come!)

I know there are more that I have, I just can't quite recall them right now. I was sorta inspired by seeing someone say that they hate having someone tell them that they can't do something for a stupid reason and I totally agree. In a lot of cases that just makes me more determined to do it so I can prove them wrong. 

Anyone out there have goals? Let me know!

Song of the Day: Let The Rain by Sara Bareilles (Kaleidoscope Heart is out! Such a good album!)

<3 Erin

Hi Dad

So I suspect (Okay, let's all be honest, I don't suspect, I'm pretty positive) my parents are reading this.

Hi Mom and Dad! Love you! <3

It is far too hot for end of September. Stop that nature. Stop that right now.

I'm also starting to look at apartments, just in case this RA thing doesn't work out. You never know.

Being super productive makes me happy. In the past four days I wrote two papers, revised said papers, took my first test, did my poli sci homework on Monday when it's due Friday, knit an absurd amount of scarf, started working out after beating my cold to a pulp, cleaned my desk, did dishes, and generally rocked out.

Going home this weekend. Can't wait to get home and see the family and play some Reach. Woooo. But first, to completely decimate school work.

Battle plan for the rest of the day: Call my homie Michelle, meeting about looking at apartments at seven in the main lounge, wash my horribly disgusting gym clothes, then live in the education library for a few hours.

Because I'm just that awesome.

Song of the day: Hey Soul Sister by Train

<3 Erin

Ugh

So a week or two ago I had a cold. Nasty bugger. Took a ton of Nyquil and Dayquil, but I recovered and went on my merry way cursing allergies and generally being awesome.

The cold, not content with being defeated so easily, has returned for round two. And this time, it's personal.

But in all seriousness, I've been coming down with a cold for the past few days and now it's struck in full force. Which sucks, because tomorrow (today, I suppose. Problems of writing this at 1 AM...) I'm locking myself in the room and cranking out two papers so help me god. But in the meantime, UGH. This SUUUUUUUCKS. It feels like my brains are attempting escape through my nose.

In other news, I became the Governor of a small southern state today. Well, not really. In Poli. Sci. we're doing a simulation of the constitutional convention and we needed a governor for our 'state' so I volunteered. Who knew it was that easy? Otherwise the day was pretty lazy. I was going to work out but wasn't quite feeling up to it so I walked around campus taking pictures. Considering the size of U of I, that's quite a decent walk. I went all the way from the South Quad to Beckman (aka Ass End of Nowhere) and then to a study session for my first test before going to the floor cookout.

The coming two weeks are going to suck and rock at the same time. Monday is my first test this year in my bio class, so that's why I had the study session today. Thursday and Friday I have papers due before I head home to get a dress for my uncle's wedding and then Saturday is reserved for Halo Reach with Jim. Sunday I'll head back for a week of insanity. Two tests, two birthdays, and the RA application will come out. Excuse me while my brain explodes.

All that and I'm still not including homework and readings and other things I want to do. Lawd have mercy.

So I took advantage of tonight and chilled with Kathleen, Jenna, Ben, and Timmy. We watched Ghost Adventures, which is like Ghost Hunters but with about five hundred times more douchebags. And I swear to all things holy, if Valve does not ride their ass about using the sound effect for the Witch in L4D I will have issues. Seriously. Not cool. Then we watched Shawshank Redemption, which was cool since it has Morgan Freedman. Awesome. Also knitted a ton for the scarf I'm making. It isn't pretty since I accidentally added stitches and then had to bring it back (I went from 35 across to 42. How did that even happen?!) but now it looks pretty decent. Besides, it'll get folded so people can't tell anyways, right? I hope.

Ugh. Feel like I got hit with a bus. Time to take some Nyquil and continue the fight against this cold. Wish me luck and drop me a line. I love phone calls/texts....makes me feel less lonely and homesick.

Song of the Day: Overrated by Thriving Ivory

<3 Erin

Wait, WHAT?

So I woke up today and looked out my window....

ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT FALL IS A NINJA.

The maple tree a ways off has quite abruptly begun to turn the most spectacular shade of red, which is cool but it DEFINITELY was not that color yesterday. Or the day before.

Of course the more logical idea is that I just was too busy to notice but that would be silly. What with my two papers and three tests coming up I totally have time to sit around and watch the trees change colors.

And before ANYONE says ANYTHING about this not being productive, this is being written at 8:41 in the morning, so that is way before my first class and thus, outside the realm of procrastination. So take that.

But honestly, time seems to be going really fast and really slow at the same time. On one hand, it's been a while since I've last been home (which is how I usually judge time here) but then I realize that days are moving so slowly...

Aside from the tests and papers coming up, I've been keeping busy. Possibly getting a stage management job with the New Revel Players for A Few Good Men, gearing up for my tutoring hours, working out, swing dancing, and working on knitting. First project: A scarf. I figure that's pretty hard to mess up, right?

But the next few weeks are busy busy busy for me. I've got things to do and look forward to. I return home on the 24th to find a dress for my uncle's wedding, then on the 25th it's going to be a Halo Reach Marathon for Jim and I. He has been so incredibly awesome for waiting until I come home to play. If you're looking at this, you are the absolute best. Then the weekend after (first weekend in October) my friend Katy is coming to visit since she's hoping to attend in the spring! Yay! People are coming to see me!!

If you're curious about how/when you can visit me, you can just give me a call! I love phone calls. Yep yep yep I do.

In the mean time, I will amuse myself with work, knitting while watching season three of Dr. Who (David Tennant FTW. Sexy, sexy Time Lord...), writing, and drawing. If you have a request, let me know and I might just draw it for you!

Song of the day: Lucky by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat

<3 Erin

Growing Up

I think today, for the first time, I felt like a college student.

It was an odd feeling. It just came out of nowhere...I finished my bio class and had to take the bus to Wall-Mart so without a second thought I just hopped onto the bus. The one I jumped on wouldn't take me all the way, so I just transferred to a different one. I was just sitting there and I realized that had you asked me to do that a few years ago I would have flipped out. Funny how things change, I suppose.

As a kid you always think growing up is going to be this horrible scary experience that just sort of happens...like it all comes at once. It's not. Slowly, oh so slowly you move into a more mature role. Tonight at dinner I was talking with some friends about moving into an apartment like it was no big deal. So strange...it feels like just yesterday I was a freshman in high school. So much I've already done and seen and in the whole scheme I'm just getting started.

Not sure what really made me start thinking about this.

Also, if anyone can teach me how to knit, that'd be awesome.

Song of the day: Come What May from Moulin Rouge

<3 Erin

Sugar Sweet

So I don't know what's been going on around campus, but it feels like it's couples week. I've seen so many people holding hands or cuddling or kissing that it's insane. Part of me says "Aww, that's so cute" but another part is yelling "OH SURE RUB IT IN".

Okay, let's all be honest. Anyone who's been in a long distance relationship (if it worked or not doesn't matter) can attest to this fact: it SUUUUCKS. Majorly. Still, someone did say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I can't argue with that in the slightest. Distance and leaving suck, but when you get to see that person again it's so awesome.

My roommate this year has a boyfriend (who coincidentally lives a floor down from us. That's about how long distance they get. Lucky.) and they're adorable together. We often joke that they're trying to give us diabetes by being so sweet. Still, she's awesome enough to joke back that my boyfriend and I are giving them a run for their money. It makes me think...every relationship can be different.

For example, my roommate and her man have matching hoodies that they like to wear on occasion. It certainly has a certain 'awww' factor to it. My boyfriend and I play Halo together, which is kinda nerdy but cute in a nerd way. They have the same classes and similar majors. We don't even go to the same school (Yet. Hopefully.). They will on occasion plan to wear similar outfits (the hoodies). Us, not so much. Hell, an AC-130 flew over my head the other day and I told him that it made me think of him. That's sweet.

I guess it's different for everyone. And that's totally okay. ^_^

In other (Less mushy) news, I went to a bar for the first time last night. No, I did not get drunk. I only danced with some of my friends...It was okay. I'm not sure I enjoyed it too much and don't think I'll go again too soon, but it was a good thing to do once. Since it was a gay bar I got to see some interesting stuff...like my first Drag Queen. That was kinda fun. I also scared off a creepy guy just by giving him a glare. See, I can be scary!

Battle plan for today? Laundry, writing some letters, and maybe Tae Kwon Do with Adam later but I'm not counting on that. XP

Song of the day: Missing You (the new version by Orianthi. Youtube it.)

<3 Erin

The Truth

I cannot handle it.

But seriously. Auditions for A Few Good Men went as expected, meaning no part for me. I'm fairly certain this is a sign from the theatre gods that I'm meant to hang out backstage for the rest of eternity. I'm not sure if I'm upset or okay with this. On one hand, I'd love to be recognized for something (honestly, how many of you look for the Stage Manager in the program? Exactly.) but on the other hand I love love love being backstage. Oh well. That's quite a ways off.

Been in a bit of a funk lately. Getting over my cold and not being able to exercise has something to do with it (I freak out about my weight way too much) but I guess it's more a personal thing.

How often is it okay to want to talk to the same person? I don't want to be clingy, but I don't want to screw this up. I've had enough relationships that went down in flames and I'm determined not to let it happen to this one, but long distance is new to me. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if he'll just decide he wants something closer to home. Otherwise I worry that I'm the one always wanting to talk and that I'm too pushy. Augh. This is another one of those things I shouldn't freak out about but do anyways. Anyone have any sort of advice? Is this normal or bordering on creeptacular?

In other news I'm trying something new. I've decided that I'm going to try eating at least one salad a day. This way I get my veggies and stay healthy. But that raises an interesting conundrum for me. See, thing is, I love meat. Steak and chicken and fish and pork...awesome. Currently my meal schedule is such that I eat breakfast in the dining hall, do lunch in my room, and eat dinner in the dining hall again. Many of you fans of breakfast will acknowledge that meat is scarce on the ground that early in the morning (save breakfast sausage and bacon, both rare and or gross when it comes to the dining hall) so I go with fruit and a bagel or something like that. Lunch is usually something light (Let's be honest, I'm a college kid. It's probably pop tarts or granola or something) and dinner is the only time the salad bar is open for me, so there's my salad.

You will note the disturbing lack of meat in this scenario. Not that dining hall meat is any good to begin with (It's quite shifty. Steak is not supposed to be gray, rubbery, and swimming in it's own grease university! Pull it together!) but every now and then you get a winner. But my diet as of late has been increasingly vegetarian. I have nothing against vegetarians, but I love meat! Honestly I'm not quite sure what to do with myself right now. I'm not going to go full vegetarian, I know that, but I'm not exactly getting the option of decent meat. So what does that make me? Fake vegetarian? Sorta vegetarian? I don't know.

I'm also discovering that I might like the awkward transition seasons more than real seasons. Like this transition between summer and fall where it's cold enough to wear pants but not cold enough to warrant jackets just yet. Or going from fall to winter when you get the first snow. My favorite of these is of course going from spring to summer where it's cool enough to wear jeans but warm enough to pair it with flip flops and a t-shirt.

So many changes this year. It's good. I remember thinking on New Year's "This is going to be my year. I just know it." And so far it has been. Good and bad, it's been an awesome year so far. School, karate, family, Jim...everything.

Song for today: King of Anything by Sara Bareilles off her newest album Kaleidoscope Heart. It's not out in stores yet (that I know of) but check out the song on youtube. It's awesome.

<3 Erin

Wanderlust

So today was the Study Abroad Fair, which was kinda cool. I got to wander around and take a look at some of the different places I could go. To be honest I'd love to go to England or Ireland but I'm not so sure about studying abroad. First of all I'm not sure how it'd fit in my schedule if I want to graduate in four years (I might be pushing four and a half as is because I got into the program a little later. Oh well) and I'm not so sure how well I'd do away from home for six months. I normally go home every four or five weeks and being only 300 miles away is really handy since I CAN go home. Across an ocean? Yeah not so much.

I will keep the idea in mind. If it doesn't work out that's fine too. I can always save up and take a vacation there too.

So this is the third week of school and I'm finally settling into the daily routines of my classes and other things I can do. I've had a cold for the past few days so that's thrown me off but otherwise I'm happy to be back. Today is Thursday, so by 12:15 I'm all done with classes for the day! Plus tonight is usually Swing Dancing (Foellinger Patio tonight! Woo hoo!) but I'll be late because I've got my first audition for college theatre!

The other day I saw a poster for a stage version of A Few Good Men, which happens to be my sister's favorite movie and I thought why the hell not? If I don't land a part I'll see if they need a stage manager. It's been way too long since I was involved in theatre so it would be really awesome to get back to it.

So until then I will be attempting homework. I feel like I should be doing things, but I'm not. I know that there's stuff to do but I just haven't looked it up yet. I might be starting to get over my cold but that was a doozy and I'm still not feeling too motivated. Ugh. I hate being sick away from home. The first night I got back with this cold I wanted three things: Jim, my mom, and my bed. I got one of three. I felt kinda bad since I was asleep by ten (super early as far as college students go) and my roommate didn't know so she apparently walked in, turned on the lights and flipped thinking she'd woken me up. She didn't, but still. Thankfully my appetite's sorta returning and I'm feeling much better than usual. Yesterday was the 'let's hack up a lung' day, which I suppose means that it's getting better. Today my brains seem to be trying to escape through my nose.

And this just in: There is a huge bee buzzing around by my screen. I think he wants my plant. Too bad.

I wish I hadn't left my iPod at home. Then I could go work out and not listen to the awkward hum of machines.

<3 Erin

Blogging? What's That Taste Like?

Well, I suppose this is my first foray into the wild world of blogs. Not quite sure how to begin this... An introduction might be nice, but most of the people looking at this already know me.

Purpose, that's always good. The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my adventures here. Where is here, you might ask? Here is where I am. Where am I? In the wonderful land of corn, also known to most of the general public as the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana.

Why am I here? One of life's big mysteries, isn't it? Are we just some cosmic-oh, what? You mean why am I at the university? Be more specific fool! I'm here to study English Secondary Education, which means that I'll be hopefully teaching middle to high school students once I graduate. Right now I'm a sophomore but credit wise I think I'm closer to a second semester sophomore. Woooo. Big difference, I know, but it matters. I'm looking forward to next year when more people I know will hopefully be transferring out of MCC and into the same university as me, specifically my brother and boyfriend.

This blog is going to serve as a more public outlet for my adventures here. I have many friends scattered across the country as far as colleges go and I would kill several forests just trying to write to them all. This is honestly easier and more environmentally friendly. Not that I won't write to them, just that this is sometimes easier.

This will also serve as an outlet for my personal opinions on certain subjects like movies, music, video games, and general happenings. And trust me, there will be plenty for me to rant about.

If any of you are bored with this, might I reccomend reading my girl Emma's blog? It's a diary of someone living with POTS. What's POTS you ask? Aside from a cooking utensil? Head on over and check it out!

Stronger on the Other Side : http://emma-stronger.blogspot.com/


I actually should be going to eat something right now...I'm on lunch break from my hellish Wednesday schedule. Oh Wednesday...the worst day of the week.

<3 Erin