Swing of Things

Holy cow. I don't even remember when the last time I was on here was.

I think I'm finally getting into the swing of things at school. Now that the first weekend of the show is done with I actually have time to sit, breath, and do homework! I'm ahead on quite a few papers which makes me feel pretty good. I am having a bit of trouble with one of my classes in particular. People get what they give and if all they give is disrespect and the rude treatment of others, well, I guess you can't expect a cheery disposition in return. Deal.

The first weekend of the show went very well. We sold out at least two of the three shows (forgot to ask about the third) and I know we're very quickly running out of seats for the rest of the run. Our review was very positive overall. I was "also quite good" which is nice since I'm usually a lackluster adjective like "fine".

I haven't gotten to see Kirk lately which makes me very sad. Between work, school, homework and sleep I just don't seem to have any time left. I want to enjoy fall! Hopefully after the run is over I'll get to a little bit. I'm looking forward to lots of cider, trips to the apple orchard and maybe a little reading of things I'm actually interested in.

Not really a ton to report but what can you do?

Brrrrrrrrrrring!

School has started! I've been very pleased with how everything has been going. I've now attended all of my classes at least once and I think I'm going to make it! :) LOTS of reading but, of course, that's to be expected. If I can continue to be as on top of things as I have been so far, this should be no problem. I'm already starting to figure out some of the things I can do papers on and I'm hoping to get ahead with some of my reading in the coming weekends.

This weekend however, was not filled with homework but with CAMPING! Kirk, Chris, Erin, Ophelia and I all went to Starved Rock this weekend and stayed over Friday and Saturday nights. It was so beautiful there and apart from being completely sleep deprived for most of it, I had an amazing time. I love camping. If it didn't require so much laundry and packing I would probably camp my way through the whole summer. It's just so relaxing to not have to be anywhere at any given time. You just hang out and cook and eat and hike and read. Aaaaah.....

I also tried to get off book for Escanaba in Love. It's the show I'm doing out at Pec Playhouse and I'm loving it so far. The director is new to me but I'm finding him refreshing and enjoying getting his perspective on things, both show related and not. I've never actually worked with any of the actors in the show either, although I did know some of them before starting this process. Since I'm the only girl in the show I was a little worried about jiving with the rest of the people but it's been such a smooth and friendly process it might end up being one of my favorite shows that I've been fortunate enough to be a part of. PLUS my mom is stagemanaging, so that's just awesome.

I don't really feel like this is the most comprehensive overview of the last fantastic week but it will have to do for now as I have more homework to complete before tomorrow.

Getting ready.

I've just finished The Timetraveler's Wife. It was amazing.

I've been trying to mentally prepare myself to start school. It seems silly but I don't really like to be put in social situations where I don't know anyone so I'm having a little anxiety. I do have all of my books but I still need to scrounge around and find the supplies that I know I have lying around the house.

It's really crazy and hard to believe that the summer is almost done. That the last 8 months have passed SO quickly when during them they seemed like they'd never end. I'll miss not having the freedom I've had but I know that I need the routine and that will be good too.

I'm still waiting to hear back from ANYONE concerning a student worker job on campus. I think most just wait until right before school starts but that doesn't really work for me.

I've thought about taking some photography courses lately. I'd probably just go to RVC but I know that won't be in the cards for quite a while since I'd have to go to Stenstrom. Not to mention I don't think I can handle being enrolled at two different colleges at once! Eeks!

I've been feeling very crafty lately. I think I might take a trip to the store later to buy some stuff to play with.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Things have been floating along lately. I've purchased all my books for school. I finally have a firm appointment set with my adviser. My mom and I took in a double feature at the drive in. It's been pretty swell.

A few days ago the college hosted its first National Night Out. It's kind of a fun fair for law enforcement that's held nationwide to promote a bond between law enforcement and their community. Stand united against crime, that kind of thing. I was the "official" photographer and had a really good time. For their first year attendance was amazing. Lots of great feedback!

Yesterday was my birthday. Woohoo! I'm not 24. 24. Wow. My mom and I started out the day with delicious breakfast at Cracker Barrel followed by a road trip to Lake Geneva, WI. Despite what my mother says, I have never been there so I was very excited. Lots of quaint shops and people wandering around downtown. We took in what there was to see and ate a lovely lunch at Egg Harbor. Very tasty indeed! Then we wandered down by the lake and decided we would come back in the fall to take a boat around and look at all the beautiful trees that will have changed color by then. Very excited about that! We then went back to town to purchase some treats. Ever heard of cheesecake in a jar? Fan-freakin-tastic! And then a leisurely drive home so we could take in the massive homes in and around the area.

Spent time with the whole family (mom, Kirk and Nick) when we got back and watched some Dead Like Me. Good times to be had fo' sho'. Calzones for dinner and off to bed after a very exciting day. I got some lovely things including lots of new products, a few DVDs and gear for my bike! So excited! I'll have to go riding now...

Today is catch up. I need to clean in the worst way. Definitely some reading. I'm reading The Timetravelers Wife. I do NOT want to put it down for any length of time so I'll make a huge dent in that. Some laundry.

But right now I'm off to reheat my leftover blueberry pancake!

Visit from the Veggie Fairy

This morning I opened the front door and I found FOUR bags of veggies on the front porch! I'd been home all morning but somehow my Uncle Gary had snuck them up to the house and left them. I'm very excited about eating it all and must look up many recipes this afternoon.

School is quickly approaching and although I've committed I can't say that I'm very pleased with the continued lack of information. I continue to email my adviser to no avail. I won't get any account access until about a week before school. To top it all off, the requirements of my degree are still a complete mystery to me! I emailed a friend who said even it I'm not in shows, I must audition for them all. Fine, no problem. But then she said that since I'm in a "production" aka slave labor class, that the department can require me to do crew for the shows. What?! So if I don't want to do a musical, because, say I'm not a musical theater major, than I am banned from going elsewhere to perform because they can require me to work backstage. Wow. I have loved the crews I've worked with but it's not something I'm good at and not something I have any interest in. Peeved.

Tonight I'll go see The Producers at RVC. Should be pretty lovely.

Next week is National Night Out at RVC and then exploring in Lake Geneva. I'd gone when I was little but nothing recently enough for me to remember. We drove through a few weeks ago but didn't have time to explore. Finally, I'll wrap up the week on Saturday with some mud volleyball. Love it :)

Off to recipe search!

I've committed

I bought a tshirt. Now I know this might not seem like a big deal to most. It cost around $13. Big honkin' deal. BUT, it means that I've committed to Rockford College. I went in yesterday to check on some things (updates to my schedule and bill) and headed over to the bookstore to see if they had my books in. They did, all 16 of them, so I got the ISBNs and prepared to head home but got distracted by the rest of the store on my way out. I really do love going to school. I like like learning. I like reading. It's just all of the other stuff that goes with it that bums me out. So, I made the decision to commit. Tadah!

I picked my first zucchini this morning. It's gigantic! I don't know what I'll make with it but I'm pretty stoked it exists!

The last few days have been lovely. I couldn't have asked for a better week to have right after I'd become "funemployed" last week.

I was kept busy through the week with little things. I went to a Mary Kay facial fiesta at the Hilton on Monday and then followed up to help out a friend with tea at Megs on Tuesday. On Wednesday I went in to RVC and chatted with most of the people I miss and hunted for my paycheck. I also had lunch with mom which is always nice :) Thursday I watched Jenzie for Jaime so she could go to a family garage sale. The garage sale didn't go very well but babysitting was great. She's SUCH a cutie! Finally, Friday Kirk was a doll and fixed my brakes and Nick's bumper. He's lovely :)

On Saturday we had a Harry Potter marathon! We missed movie 2 because of time but it was so much fun! I made TONS of food! Bruschetta, zucchini bread, butterbeer, licorice wands, good vs. evil cookies... ugh. I'm still full! Luckily we got a small break in the form of going to Chris and Erin's to say Happy Birthday to my future brother-in-law. Delicious cupcakes to be had by all and a lovely visit.

Then came Sunday which just happened to be MY brother's birthday! We woke up and I made peanut butter/chocolate chip pancakes (per request) which were much tastier than I thought they would be. We followed up with a trip to US Cellular to get new phones (Nick's, of course, is the fanciest). Then we headed back to finish up the marathon as we simply could stay up no longer the day before. After, we went to Showplace 14 to view the new HP. I really, really liked it although I'd heard some complaints. Who knows. Maybe I'm just too easy to please. We finally finished up with a meal at Chilis.

All in all a very lovely time was had by all. I got Nick a hot banana pepper plant. It's a bit of a "different" kind of gift but I knew he'd like it since he'd seen one at the beginning on the season and thought about buying it. Mom and I also got him, and Kirk, tickets to see the Mythbusters chat that's coming to town on Kirk's birthday in October. They were both super excited, which is how we know we did an awesome job! No myths will be busted but Keri Byron will be there and you can just imagine how both boys feel about her!

Today we're heading north to Kenosha in search of cheese and sausage. Fairly random but it should prove to be an entertaining day!

Summer - Take 2

So I finally finished my absolutely last teaching assignment on Friday and boy, did it feel good! I didn't get to pass all of my students which was slightly upsetting but I know I did my best and did everything I could so I just have to let it go. Now I just sit back and wait for my last two checks to come. This assignment was really such a blessing. I know I've made a difference, which is something I feel like I need to do when I'm working, and I'll be able to make it through the rest of the summer on what I got paid. Life. Is. Good.

So my 'second summer' officially started at 3:00 on Friday and so far it's amazing. On Friday night I was with Kirk. We had a delicious dinner at Olive Garden followed by a viewing of The Taking of Pelham 123. Then we finished up with dessert at Chili's. Who doesn't love chocolate molten cake? Saturday morning we continued the fun with breakfast at Chris and Erin's. The Apple Puff pancakes were so good! Then the girls, including Miss Ophelia, went to the farmer's market and coffee shop down the road a bit while the boys put together the newly arrived bunk beds. I stopped at home for a bit after that and then Kirk, Nick and I were off to the Paramore/No Doubt concert. I love Gwen Stefani. She's just crazy talented and I'm SO happy the band is getting back together. Yay! So the show was amazing. If it keeps going this way, I think my head might explode from pure awesomeness.

I'm just feeling truly blessed and taken care of right now. I have an amazing family and group of friends and I'm feeling secure at the moment, which is not always something I have the luxury of feeling. I know that I'm being watched and guided and helped from a certain somewhere upstairs and I just hope that I can continue to be as grateful as I am right now, even if things change. I have a habit of falling into a slump when things aren't going my way and that's something I'd like to change because I do recognize how fortunate I am in a lot of ways.

Anyway, off to enjoy some family time and possibly more sleep!

I love Betty White

I was watching My Life on the D List last night and Kathy Griffin made her mom write a bucket list and then proceeded to fulfill her wishes. It was so sweet. And it really made me appreciate the women in my life. Her mom, Maggie, wanted to meet Betty White so that was part of it. That woman is fantastic. She reminded me so much of my Grandma. And it made me very thankful that I have the mother that I do. She's fantastic and I so hope that I can do something like that for her in the future.

I'm within my last teaching week. This class is younger than it's supposed to be and very rambunctious. I already feel tired. BUT it's the last week and I just need to get them through. Hopefully the internet will be up today so we can catch up on what we're supposed to be working on!

I went to pickup tickets for The Producer's at RVC last week and talked to Tom a little about the upcoming Studio season. If Noel has correctly relayed that I have no actual requirements to do theater at RC then I just might audition at RVC through the year. There's just not a whole lot they can offer me there. I'm feeling like any excitement about starting school there has died which is very sad, especially because it feels like I'm postponing a huge part of my life in order to attend school and get my degree. I think nothing would make me happier than to win the lottery just so I didn't have to go and I could figure out another way to do all this. Sad.

Here we go again

This morning I'm getting ready to complete my first/last nine day class. Well, complete it at the end of the week. Thank goodness! I'm just finding that these kids are not nearly as committed to the course as the older students are. They have nothing riding on the outcome. They go back to school in the fall. Big deal! After that I will be doing one more five day class and then I get to have and love my summer again.

I've been reading a lot lately but I really feel like I need to get out more. I'm not very good at being a friend, which I really want to work on. I'm not extroverted enough. I like staying in my house or with my family/Kirk. It's comfortable and easy. But I know that I need to start pushing myself to get out and do things.

I want to start cooking again. I was doing really well when I first came back from school but then the reality of dishes and cash kicked in and that went right out the window. But now I'm all inspired by the fresh produce and farmer's market finds. Plus, when I have had some time to myself, I've been watching food network. Mmmmmmm...

Now I am off to get prepared for this class. Four more days. ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS!...

Beginnings and Endings

So lots of things have begun and ended for me lately.

At the beginning of the year I threw my whole life off by leaving school and coming home. It was absolutely the right decision for me but it was really hard to make at the time. Since then I've worried about my future a lot. How I was going to have money to live on and where I'd go from there. I figured it out for the most part but I hate transitions.

I've never been good at them. Leaving high school was really hard. Deciding where to go to college and then not to go and to work instead was hard. This was just another transition I was destined to make. I'm going to Rockford College in the fall but I have to say, I'm not so sure how I feel about it. Hopeful, I guess. Concerned. The upcoming season has one comedy, two musicals and a Shakespeare... only one of which I would ever dream about auditioning for... and I'm a theater major. Bummer.

I've been teaching job skills classes for the last two weeks. I start my last class tomorrow and that will last for nine days. It's been great and extremely taxing at the same time. I know that I need to do something with my life that will help others or make a difference, that's how I stay motivated. This has let me do that but when I get home after working for 6.5 hours, I'm completely exhausted. It's just a hard balance to figure out. I'm extremely thankful for being blessed with this opportunity to make a difference (along with the money I was in need of) but I'm pretty okay with saying goodbye after the next two weeks are over.

Gardening has been great for me. I love planting seeds or small plants and watching them grow. Unfortunately the rabbits and little bugs that hang out in the neighborhood don't really care about the satisfaction that I get from the plants staying alive and hole-less. I just like knowing that when I put the work in, I'll see the results. It's very gratifying.

So now I'll just wrap up the next two weeks and hang out until school starts. I'm hoping to buy a bike and that will give me something to do and help me get into shape. I'll keep gardening and hopefully solve my pest problem. I'll read some great books. Hopefully get to see my friends and spend some time with them. We'll see what else.