Thanksgiving Break is for...

So I've done a lot of thinking... actually not really, but I've decided what I will fill most of my time with during break at the end of this week.

• Jim and I may be doing a little bit of shopping the day after Thanksgiving
• Jim and I will probably be working out some more wedding details
• I will be renting the first two seasons of "House M.D." and catching up

There's probably a lot more that I will be doing, but, I'll figure that out when I get to that point.

:)

Signs

I'm taking about two minutes out of my studying tonight to write this. This past weekend, I have noticed some signs that I have become a slave to school. My fiance Jim would probably laugh right now if he were reading this but seriously, I could not go home with a clear conscious to see my Grandma in the hospital because I knew I had papers and an exam to study for. I could not even spare 45 minutes with Jim knowing that we won't see very much, if any, of each other at all this week before he flies down to Florida for his conference. I understand that school is why I am here, but I hate that it has began to run and dictate my life. Part of the issue is that I see the looks on my parent's faces and get their grumblings when I come home. I try to explain to them why I can't come home, or why I can only stay for a short while, but they have never experienced this sort of extreme classwork before. I feel like I'm dissapointing people all the time because of school stuff that I don't even care to do anymore. Part of it is, that already, I am feeling the burn out that is caused by nearing the end of the semester. Part of the problem is that I can't focus which is causing me to take longer on everything; for example, I haven't finished anything this entire weekend!!!!! Which means that I have three papers and a chem exam to do... plus a little bit of homework in every class left. I guess I just wish I could divote more time to things I love instead of school all of the time. School comes first... but it shouldn't be ahead of everything in my life.

Life is Good

Life is just good, that's all I can say right now. Even with all of life's little dips, it has been better in just these few shorts years than many years before. Pondering this, I have found a few reasons why this is. First, causing the most noticably possitive change in my life would be Jim. For the first time I am so excited for the life I will be having because Jim will be in it with me. He has truely given me a greater life by just being my friendly companion, and an even greater one by his love. Secondly, I have realized that my brothers and I are becoming closer than ever. Robby and I have always been pretty close but I realize that there has always been a sadness around me because I didn't have that sort of relationship with Matt. Now that Matt is gone, I miss him terribly and can't wait to hear from him. Thirdly, I'm almost done with chemistry. I know that does not seem like a life-changing factor but when one subject area tends to stand in the way of a degree five years into already, it does have an impact. This leads me to my next reason--school. For me, it took an exceptionally long time to see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's there, and it's growing. Assuming I have roughly three semesters left after this year, I will be earning my degree in 6.5 years. I'm throwing the bash of the century after this acheivement is earned!

Otherwise, there's some little tidbits to mention!

• The Packer's lost. They will probably be having a tough season but Jim has told me that they have a lot of young players that will most likely grow into great advantages for the team in a couple of years.
• I am tired. This is by far the buisiest semester I have had, but it's done in 5 weeks! Yay!
• I have about 19 assignments left for the semester including exams, papers, presentations, and lesson plans! Did I mention I have 5 weeks left to do all this??? I better get crackn'!
• The wedding is coming! The wedding is coming! This weekend I hope to contact a flourist, send out my brides maides' stuff, and contact Gian-Marco's mom, Wand (or Wandi). The family and family's friends guest list has been completed!
• Jim had a most excellent birthday bash at his place last Friday. I think that that has been the most fun I have had on campus in all my years here!
• Saturday Jim's parents took us out to the Porter House steak restaurant where I stuffed myself full of delicious steak and potato. I have never had a tastier steak and I recomend it to anyone who is a steak lover.
• I have decided to join the First United Methodist Church and will become a member in early December. I am excited about this for several reasons:
• I feel like I made a good decision about my faith
• I will belong to something that I care about and am committed to
• I feel as though this is the seal that I have definitely come to grips with my beliefs and am comfortable with sharing them
• I will be learning more and more about the Bible and foundations of my faith
• Jim will be picking up Guitar Hero II sometime today. I have been a very very bad sport about this game and am the first to admit that I hate the F* word but that I say it too much during this game. I can't understand how something I enjoy so much could lead to so much frustration?! Oh well, I will make a pact to be a better sport when I play and not get so crabby when I lose. lol
• I have 5 weeks before I begin putting in 3 hours for sax practice. I am soooo excited that I will be auditioning again; however, Chris is graduating in Dec. He will be missed, and I will have to find someone else to help secretly tune me (since I still can't)!

Anyway, that should cover it! If I missed something it will probably occur to me later and I will add it. Thanks for reading! :)