North vs South. I'm all about the South. No not southern USA, but southside of campus up here at WSU. This school has three dining facilities, Southside, Northside and Hillside. Northside and Hillside are both in the north side of campus, obviously. The north side of campus is where one can find greek row, the jock dorms, and all the gyms. It's a different breed of people up there. Southside is basically everyone else, which in this case isn't a bad thing. I live in the southside of campus and I love it. Everyone down here (which really is quite far away from the north part) is chill and laid back. There are people from all stereotypes, even the jocks, and sorority sisters, etc. But we also got the regular partiers, the nerds, the sexy silent types, you know. It's all so diverse down here and everyone is very friendly.

However, after visiting the two dining locations on the other side of campus, Becky and I have come to the conclusion that we just don't like those Northsiders. The people at Hillside, were rather rude. The employees were just fine, but everyone else was giving us attitude. It was full of frat guys and sorority girls and jocks of both genders. Overhearing everyone's conversations, the girls were catty, and the guys were airheads as you could expect. Then the next day dining at Southside, we felt comfortable, everyone just doing their thing being real. The fakeness level at Hillside was off the charts.

Wow I love stereotyping an entire geographic area of my school. I do it because I can.

Today was very cold. I looked outside and I just knew. So fall has officially arrived in Pullman as of today. Yesterday was almost hot, but today, freezing.

This summer I have another potential expense to look forward to. Depending on my money situation, I hope to go to Wyoming with some friends to visit our friend Janie. She goes here, and she's awesome, and a few of us want to go visit her in her hometown since we plan on dragging her to the tri cities at some point. I'm looking at airline prices on expedia, and so far not so bad. She lives in south western Wyoming in a town only an hour and a half from salt lake, and since we can fly directly to salt lake from pasco, it all works out effortlessly. Right?

350 bucks for a roundtrip ticket, doesn't sound outrageous, and I can save that up pretty quickly with my job. However, I still have other things to save up for. Being in college has made me a somewhat frugal person and I think now more than ever I know how to survive off not spending money every single day. Considering the fact that we'll have a place to stay, (Janie's house), really all I could see myself needing to save up for this trip would be 500 at the most. 150 for spending money, which will most likely be used just for food. I think it would be a fun trip.

I have a research paper due tomorrow and I am severely underprepared. But I'm a master at whipping out papers so hopefully I can get this one done in time. I'm in the library but I'm confused by it, so I'm leaving and coming back in about an hour with Becky for some guidance.

I wrote an outline for this paper and I have some very good points, but can I stretch out to 4 pages while keeping focused and incorporating 4 outside sources? We'll see.

My bed.

So I bunked my bed again. It looks really quite impressive if I may be so bold.

Also because of the placement of my desk underneath, it makes it quite easy to up and down from it. Yesterday I went to shopko with my friend Janie and I bought some christmas lights. I bought some regular white ones and then some icicle ones. I put up the lights underneath my bed where my desk is and now I just love it.

Before any changes:

Then I lofted it

Then I added the lights:

I love my room now. It just never felt right. But I still have more plans to make it even better!

Things are getting better.

I have homework tonight... correction, I HAD homework. Yeah that's right, it's still only 6:30 and I've finished my homework. It's as if something clicked inside me and now doing homework isn't so tedious. I finally seem to have my act together and this is a good thing. Currently I'm sitting outside of the CUE waiting for Becky to be done with her midterm. The sun is setting and the temperature is nice and cool. Warm but cool.

Earlier I had to skip my pilates which is always a hard thing for me to do, but I'll make it up since Becky and I are planning on working out later tonight. I feel as though college isn't as hard as I was making it seem, I was just too lazy to take responsibility. But now, things are looking good, I'm doing my work and not being lazy. It feels good and I'm in good spirits now.

My only stress is money. I have two expensive things that I hope to do in my future and I can afford both of them if I'm smart. If I save up, and keep my grades up I'll retain my grants, maybe get more, and maybe get some new scholarships. If these things happen I should be able to accomplish the things I want to do. These things include the trip to Italy, and getting a one-bedroom apartment. This summer if I work my butt off and don't spend all my money, I'm looking at getting a few thousand dollars to add to the pool. Unfortunately, I still need money to help pay for my apartment. I'm not sure what kind of loan situation I'll be in next year, but chances are my loans won't cover the amount of my apartment. So I need to save up for Italy but I also need to save up for my apartment.

Here's my plan. I'll work real hard this summer and make lots of money. Then hopefully I will have saved up at least 3,000. I'll move up to Pullman in august, and try to get a job. If I can't get a job then my 3,000 will go towards paying the rest of my rent until I can get a job. If I do get a job then I'll just leave the 3,000 alone, and continue to save more money. Chances are I'll be broke again next year. My paychecks will mostly be going to probably covering the rest of my rent, gas, and savings for italy. At least I'll be living in an apartment.

Honestly, I have not a single clue how things are going to work financially next year, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Technically living in an apartment, even a one-bedroom at the end of 12 months will be over 5,000 cheaper than where I live now. But I don't know if the loans I get from the school can be used to pay for off-campus housing. If they can, then I should be fine. And also I'll be able to enjoy some of the money I make next year working up here.

I guess I should try to prioritize what means more to me. Living in a one-bedroom or going to Italy. Honestly if I had to choose one, I'd choose the Italy trip. I can always save up and live alone the next year. Problem is, I need to find people to live with. Ughhh, the stresses of college life!

This was probably the most whiney post I've ever written. I just kept rambling on and on. Apologies.

I'm baaaack!

Sorry for the absence. It's been stressful.

I realized something yesterday. I'm incredibly lazy. I thought it was just senioritis last year, but no, it's just who I am. I really need to crack down and get things done in my classes. I have horrible grades. Thank god I'm at a school on a semester system, which means I have more time to fix this. Anywho, I spend a great deal of my time up here with my friend Becky. Pretty much once we are done with classes we text each other and make plans. For the past two weeks its been a given that once I'm done with classes I head to Becky's dorm. My homework situation has been dismal. I haven't been doing everything. If it's not a huge paper, it won't get done. Could I blame this on the fact that I'm constantly hanging out with Becky? No, because Becky has been doing ALL of her homework and still is maintaining excellent grades, despite being in some very difficult classes.

So I'm cracking down on my homework situation. I'm getting stuff done before it's due, taking care of business and making sure I have a good percentage of my homework done before I hang out. Later I will probably be with Becky no doubt, but I'll bring any remaining homework just as I did last night.

Today I forgot my medicine and you would have thought I take tranquilizers or something like that. I thought my concerta was only for ADD but aparently it cures anxiety as well. I lost my mind in math. It was a bit complicated, and I reacted as though someone just broke up with me. I was so emotional and upset. We had a quiz that I couldn't do, which is always devastating. Afterwords I went to the library to work on the new math assignment and I forgot my laptop which just made me angry. I don't need my laptop for math but without it I am nothing and therefore couldn't tackle my math. I left, went to subway to discover that the line was outrageously long. I was hungry and discovered that my phone had died. I lose my mind when my phone is dead because I just keep thinking "I bet someone's trying to get ahold of me with a really great opportunity and I'll miss it because my phone is deadd!!!". These are the things I think about. Clearly concerta helps not only with my inability to focus, but also my many neuroses.

I had to skip my HBM class to recollect. I rested, which consisted of listening to some Jay-Z ("empire state of mind" thank you Janie!) and surfing the web. By the time I left for my next class, I was in better spirits and accomplished a great deal thereafter. Now I'm just sitting on my bed, about to start my GenEd homework. In a few hours I have an Eta Sigma Delta chapter meeting. No, I'm not in a fraternity, it's the HBM club here on campus. It's the strictest club I've ever been to. If you have to miss a meeting, you have to pre-arrange it and fill out an absence form. But It'll be great and will provide me with many opportunities in the future.

Okay time for that gened homework!

Economics. I slept through you.

Last night I thought, maybe I should skip econ tomorrow since there isn't anything to turn in and since he always posts the notes online... I decided no, because it's better to hear the information from him, it always makes more sense that way. Apparently my subconscious didn't hear my reasoning for wanting to go because I didn't wake up until 10:20. My econ class ends at 10:25 oops.

Well right now I'm just waiting on some laundry then I'm going to hit up the library with my econ book and econ study guide and look at what I missed. My professor puts his notes up on the class website so I should be fine, but damn I wish I hadn't have skipped.

Mom and Dad, to be nice, I'm going to pay for the gas home with my own money. Aren't I nice?

I'm going to miss my car dearly. But I understand that gas is expensive so I won't complain.

Yesterday I went to dissmores and bought some peach sorbet (no ice cream, Becky and I are on diets) and some raspberry flavored tea. I brewed some tea last night (it's caffeine free), and it was good at first but got bitter as it got colder. I think I should add some lemonade to it, or maybe some honey or sugar or milk? I don't know but I want to drink it AND enjoy it, but I'm not sure how at this point...

I am so stoked to go back to work this weekend. I miss my co-workers. Although sadly, some of them aren't still working there since I've left. It'll be interesting to see some new people. Aside from the people who I miss, I also really miss the chicken caesar salad from there. It has the best chicken you've ever tasted. Most chicken caesar salads at restaurants use cold chicken, well not at the cafe. We bake it and bread it and it's incredible. It tastes so much better to have hot chicken with caesar salad than cold chicken.

Wow, I'm too tired to write well. I'm going to go.

Oops, I guess it's been a while since my last post. So on friday I turned in THREE papers. Two of them were four pages long, and the other was just a short one. I am tired of writing stuff. I have homework to do today but I don't feel like it, I better get on that soon. I'm a little bit too tired to be typing but I need to update this!

Today I'm going to go to shopko to buy new underwear because I'm too lazy to do laundry. The machines here are super nice but it's always such a hassle. I swear every time I do laundry it seems my entire floor gets the same idea and then I can't do my laundry!

This weekend was eventful, I met lots of cool new people, and experienced some cool new things (no I'm not talking about hard drugs don't worry, I'm a good kid). And I'm starting to enjoy pullman more and more. Honestly for a while I was starting to ponder the idea of whether or not WSU-Pullman was the best idea for me, but after this weekend, I know for certain I made the best choice. I love it here! And by the way, mother and father, I WANT TO KEEP MY CAR UP HEERRREEEE!!! =] Little trips like this to shopko won't be so easy anymore!

College, I love hate you.

I love being in college, I love the independence. I love my HBM class.

But I hate all my other classes. Actually, I enjoy being in my classes, as most of my professors are interesting to listen to, I just hate the work. Nothing I've been assigned has been all that difficult, but I hate it and requires time. Three papers due on friday, and I'm only halfway through one of them. If I didn't have a stupid Econ homework assignment due tomorrow, I'd skip class to work on my essays, but that's just not an option for me right now. I can't wait until I feel interested, because until then I know I'll really be struggling.

Studying abroad.

I'm in such a quandary. Well I guess I'm not. I know for certain that I intend on going on the annual faculty led trip to Italy. At least I know for certain that IF I do end up studying abroad, this is what I'll do. My issue is that I really would love to study abroad in Denmark. It would be amazing to experience my heritage first hand, but on the other hand, I wouldn't know anyone there, plus it would be quite expensive. The trip to italy is only a month and a half and is during the summer, so it wouldn't interfere with my actual school year. The trip is dedicated to food and wine, in fact one of the classes I'd be taking is called "Wine Appreciation" How bomb does that sound? Basically, there is very little information on what one can expect whilst studying abroad in Denmark through WSU, so I don't really know what to expect. On this trip to Italy I'd be with fellow HBM students and I'd be with a WSU professor. It just sounds so amazing.

I actually think it would be a fun idea to just vacation to Denmark when I'm older, maybe spend a long period of time there, maybe even move there for a year. Who knows. My plans are constantly changing.

I am also excited for next year. Yesterday my friend Becky and I were looking at apartments online and just got us both so pumped for when we have our own apartments next year. No question, I fully intend on getting a one bedroom, so I can have complete privacy. I've wanted to live by myself for so long, and I don't think it'd be lonely. How can it be? I'll still be at WSU, where I have many friends. I love my privacy, and I wish I had it right now. Even though the apartments were like 530 a month for a one bedroom, at the end of the year it's still cheaper (about 6000), than what we pay for me to live in this new dorm (11,000). That's like 5000 in savings! No matter what I do, next year will be cheaper.

I'm sacrificing so much to live in this dorm, sometimes I question if it's worth it, then other times (usually when I'm enjoying the luxury of my own bathroom, or looking at my amazing view), I realize, I have it so good. Also visiting friends at other dorms, I realize how good I have it. This post has been pretty random, I guess I'm just letting out my feelings of today. How cheesy, I know.

I have three papers due by friday, I better get started.

I did it.

So this morning, I woke up at 6:40, then got dressed and walked to my car. My word, it's freezing. Apparently this morning it was 38 degrees outside. I know its september, but it's still technically summer until the 21st, and today did NOT feel like that. Anywho, I drove my car to the visitors center which opened right at 7 then bought my 2 week temporary parking permit which only cost 10 bucks! I thought I had to get a month long permit, but I guess you can get one for whatever duration of time you wish. I got mine to last until the 18th when I come home again.

I am really going to miss having my car, but we'll see. I think I should keep it until thanksgiving. Then take it back up after spring break. Great idea, no?

Well now I'm just going to hang out in my dorm for another 30 minutes or so then it's off to my Economics class. After economics, I'm going to go to the library and begin working on my math homework that's due tomorrow. Then I have THREE papers due on friday, two of them are a minimum of 4 pages. Clearly it's time to start working on those. Also I mustn't forget that I have an economics assignment due on thursday. Oh what a joy college is.

Tonight

Tonight I went to dissmores with Becky and Brenda, bought some poptarts and orange hi-C. Then we went to Becky's dorm, and in the basement they have this big lounge with a big screen tv and we watched Mean Girls. I love that movie, it's so hilarious, in so many ways. The bad thing about this evening is that I have to go to bed right now. Tomorrow I need to be up by 6:40 so I can go move my car and drive to the visitors center to purchase a parking permit. Parking in most places is free between 5 pm and 7 am, and since neither the visitors center or the parking offices were closed for labor day I couldn't buy a permit. Now I have to wake up extra early to get there as it opens, and to prevent my car from getting a ticket.

This was very poorly written, but I'm tired, and I have to pee. That's my reason.

I'm back in Pullman after a nice quick trip home for labor day weekend. I didn't even plan on going home, but when Becky suggested I catch a ride from our friend Alisha who was going home, I figured "why not?"

The best part of the trip was the fact that my parents let me take my car up to school until I come home again in two weeks. The way I see it, since now I've driving to pullman and know my way around, I might as well keep it the rest of the year, hint hint mother and father. I might just pay for the parking permit with my own money that I get from working when I come home next.

I'm a great driver and I could really use a car up here. I just really really could =]

Well I got my camera up here finally, and in a few minutes I might go around campus and take some photos. The lighting was best about an hour ago, but I don't car I can still take photos.

Today I visited the "Zen Staircase" with Becky. Strangely not many people up here know about it, and I'm kind of glad that's the case. Anywho, the Zen Staircase is this 7 story stairway in the Fine Arts parking garage with walls covered in years of graffiti paintings. It's hidden from view, so it's not an eye sore from the street or anything.

Honestly, it's one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. Some of the stuff is crude and offensive, other sweet and perhaps inspirational. I took photos. I'll be sure to take better photos with my real camera once I get it up here!

This first one is for Amy.

Since I have no real inspiration to write anything, I recorded a video. A task which I find to be much simpler. I can always speak my mind, but sometimes writing my thoughts doesn't interest me.

I will try to post more videos soon. Also once I get my real camera up here, I will post my photography quite frequently.