Am I loosing it?

I feel like I am a pretty responsible student but somehow I've forgotten or just didn't do the journals. I feel like every week I posted a free response blog, obviously not or I wouldn't be writing this. Luckily, this is my last one, I think. I probably forgot weeks like spring break and other weeks like that. O well, I've kinda liked this whole blog thing. It's cool to just sit down and write whatever is on your mind or what you're feeling or how your day went, even if no one reads it. I hate to sound nerdy but my mom even reads my blog to see what's going on. I am grateful for this blog because it has allowed me to to just freestyle write. It's quite relaxing and we are getting credit for it. YaY

Weird Habits

Soooo.....I think I might be a little obsessive compulsive.....

Living alone with my dog I've been able to reflect on the many weird things that I do. Here is a little sneak peak into my life

1. In my cupboard I like all the labels on jars and cans to be facing the front. I also like to make sure that foods are grouped by their content i.e. grains, canned items, breads, chips, cookies.

2. When I'm grocery shopping I like to organize my food on the cashier conveyer belt. I do all the cold stuff first then grouped by vegetables, fruit, things in cans, things in bags, meats, toiletries...

3. I always like my toothbrush in the same spot in the holder facing the same way.

4. I HATE TOUCHING THE CART at a grocery store, probably because I picture tons of kids with boogies on their hands touching the handles.

5. I do the same routine in the shower every time, shampoo, face wash, conditioner, body wash. If for some reason I do something out of order I start all over again.

6. I wash my hands frequently

7. I don't really like kids, mostly because I picture them all with a million germs all over them. I hate it when kids touch you with their moist hands ewwww

8. I love having a plan. I'm very plan oriented and although I do enjoy surprises, I like to know what's going on

9. I have a weird thing with textures and foods. I don't like anything with a custard, jello, or smooshy texture.

10. Although I come from a country town, I do not like gravy. Totally out of character for growing up in the country where gravy is a staple

Maybe these are just weird quirks, feel free to comment with your weird quirks!

American Idol

Like many soccer moms, I am addicted to American Idol. I love it! I love watching from the beginning of the season when most of the people suck to the very end when the contestants are so great. At the beginning of this season I fell totally in love with Casey James or as I like to call him "Sexy cowboy man". His voice won me over. His voice was rough and raspy and he was nice to look at. I love a guy in cowboy boots.

As the season wore on contestants dropped off. I was happiest to see that young girl Katie Stevens. I really thought she was just a pretty girl not a good singer.

But my feelings toward Casey have changed, I still think he is the sexy cowboy man but I think that Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze and now the best. I hope that either one of these singers win. Crystal Bowersox is a hippie mom that just can't go wrong. I like her because she is so real, she is always humble about her compliments. Lee Dewyze is also super humble and his voice sounds pure and honest.

I feel like a judge right now haha. But anyways vote for CRYSTAL or LEE

Shout Out to my Mama

I am so blessed to have such a great mom. I think that everyone needs to be grateful for their mom because without them where would you be? No where!

When you are just a little guy/girl your mom is your comfort, she is the nice one when your dad tries to punish you and she is always compassionate. As you grow older your mom grows into a friend, someone you can trust to have your best interests in mind and someone that you can count on to give genuine honest advice. Some of my favorite memories with my mom are when we are just talking on the back porch eating english muffin sandwiches or taking our dogs for walks. Is there anything better than talking to your mom. I'm sure some can oppose this statement but when I talk to my mom it is usually in utter panic about school or telling her about the daily trials of my life but either way she is always calm and super logical about how to solve my issues.

Now don't think I don't love my dad too cause I totally do. And don't think that every now and then I don't get upset with my mom but seriously how many people do you know that deal with all the drama of your life and still continue loving you no matter what? Pretty much family. When I think about my mom's love for me I cannot not think about when I was a youngster, still in diapers. Mom's change diapers and they still love you. That is some intense love.

I love you mom you are the greatest.

Happy Mother's Day!

The Final Journal

Well this is it, the last journal, I am having joyous feelings about surviving my first year of college especially English. I came into the college writing program like a baby chick and now I am leaving a full fledged spring chicken. My writing style and analysis techniques have developed tremendously and I can finally go without flinching when I hear the words "5-7 pages." The first year of college English has taught me to find my own voice in writing instead of the cookie cutter style tone I was taught in high school. I am now able to incorporate my personal style of writing into a paper and be confident that my work is what I want it to be. I really struggled in high school with English. I don't want to make excuses for myself but I had a brutally traditional English teacher that was a huge fan of the 5 paragraph essay so the product of my high school English knowledge was a great 5 paragraph essay writer. Starting college English was like jumping into a pool of chilly water. You don't want to do it but once you do it's not that bad.

I learned many things in my first year of writing, the main component being confidence and depth of analysis. There are always more than one right answers in English so taking a bold stand on a topic is never wrong.

More things I learned in college:

1. Taking handwritten notes is better than taking notes on your laptop-less distraction and better hand-mind memory connection

2. Meet with your professors often-you will probably be 1 out of 10 that does in a class of 300 so they will remember you, ask any question you may have about the material or the class.

3. Procrastination sucks-waiting til the night before is never a good plan no matter how much caffeine is involved

4. Make use of the library- it is a study area that is for the most part quiet and free of distractions

5. Call your parents often- they like knowing that you haven't forgotten about them and that you're still alive

The end is near!

I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming...

IT'S ALMOST SUMMER!

I am so pumped. I pretty much had my life due this week but phew it's all over now. Just a nice easy ride through finals and then summer! It's been a long time coming. The monday after spring break I started my countdown and now it's within sight. Days filled with pool parties and working will soon occupy my time as opposed to projects and essays and group assignments. I am writing this blog from my couch and I am having trouble figuring out what to write. For the past semester my brain has been squished so that every ounce of thinking is now gone. Hopefully it returns before finals.

Encouragement

I have come to the conclusion that in college the teachers are much different than the teachers in high school. In high school teachers are there to help you along and encourage you all the way to graduation. In college the teachers are not careless but there is a lot more self responsibility. College teachers are not going to hunt you down and find a student that they think needs help but the student must come to them. And as opposed to high school, the college professors usually just want to help you and get on with their day.

I would just like to give a shout out to my Jesus class teacher Dr. Borek. She is awesome and I would recommend her to anyone wether they have the interest in religious studies or are just looking for a trad. I entered into her class not knowing that the 3 in 378 meant it was a junior level course. I was in for a surprise being that I am a freshman. Her class was the most challenging, thought wise, that I have ever taken. The class has challenged me to think about the things I believe, why I believe them, and what history tells us. When I would go and talk to Dr. Borek about how I was doing in her class she always had positive things to say to help me. We had a movie review assignment on a past Jesus movie and I turned mine in, a couple days later I received an email from Dr. Borek saying that I did a good job and that my thought process was spot on. This made me feel so good. A tiny little "good job" can make someone feel so good. This made me think, I need to encourage people more often.