I love days where you find out you have so much more free time than you planned on. I'm a very scheduled person (I know, who would have thought that, right?), so I like to know exactly what I'll be doing that day when I wake up. Spontaneity is not my friend. I'm working on it, but let's just say grad school is definitely sucking the little amount of spontaneous-ness that I have right out of me. I thought we were going to be assessed on skills in my Tuesday class, and the girls were talking about getting together to practice tonight (which is way fun, because we're ridiculous, but still something I have to be at, which stresses me out). Find out during class that it's been postponed until next week, so that means our practice session is postponed too. Long story short - yeah, right - I got my entire evening to myself. Did I get ahead on homework? No. Did I start grading the 120 papers I need to grade by October 22nd? No. But was I productive? Oh, yes. Not only did I go to Payless and find a pair of clearance shoes they were out of in Omaha, I went to the gas station to clean the bug graveyard off my windshield, I painted my nails, I balanced all 3 of my checkbooks, I filed away a bunch of paperwork, and I watched tons of trashy television (best stress reliever ever). Yes, I did do my reading for my morning class, so I feel slightly accomplished, but this was really a waste of a night. But it was a wonderful waste, and I still feel like I got shit done. And now I'm blogging. Another semi-productive waste of my time!
I got to go home this weekend for like 2 seconds, which was amazing. I loved being able to be in my house and not have to check for spiders any time I enter a room or pray that my upstairs neighbors will be considerate (which, update, they've been pretty good lately - knock on wood). I loved spending quality time with my mom and dad, and a couple of my friends. I loved not doing a single ounce of homework, spending an entire day in pajamas and laughing until I (almost) pee my pants with part of the basement club. I didn't like not being able to see very many people, because the 2 seconds I was home was jam packed already, and I didn't like that I felt like I was in the car almost as long as I went home. But it was incredible to be with family, and I can't wait until my next chance to be in the big O (probably Thanksgiving...lame.).
Stillwater is definitely improving. I have had some experiences that are making me rethink the people here, which makes me very happy. For instance, one guy at school, a middle-aged man, saw me almost get hit by a pickup truck in the close parking lot - and if you don't go to OSU, you really want a spot in the close lot, let me tell you - and he led me to where his car was parked, blocked all of the other people trying to get his spot, and let me have it. It was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. I would have KILLED for that to happen at Creighton in the McGloin lot in the morning....seriously. Such a beautiful parking moment. Thanks, old man, I appreciate it.
Another awesome moment: Thor was making noises, ones unusual for him to make. Like it was scaring me. Basically, I thought the engine was falling out or something. So I called the Honda dealership (which, by the way is run by some old OSU football player that everyone knows when I mention his name. Barry Sanders, if you're curious) and they wanted me to pay $45 just to have it looked at, so I called and cancelled that appointment. Well, one of the sales managers called me back to try to get me to keep the appointment, and I decided to take it in hoping that they could fix it. Well, they looked at it, fixed the little part that was messed up and didn't charge me anything. Incredible. So, the locals are growing on me, and helping me grow to love this little town. Driving is still terrifying half of the time, but I'm just going to chalk that up to college students. Score 1 for Stillwater.
Trying to be an OSU fan is hard. I'm all about school spirit (also, another surprise for anyone that knows me?), but it's hard when I'm really tied to my program but still don't know how I feel about OSU. I did stay up and watch the majority of the 9pm kickoff game that was delayed and didn't start until after midnight, but I had to quit at about 3am. But that makes me a fan, right? And I caught the last 2 minutes of the game this weekend on TV at home, so I'm getting there? AND I wore my OSU shirt in Omaha. So hopefully I'll start feeling the cowboy pride. Maybe I'll even get a sticker for my car....we'll see.
U of Oregon finally posted the cohort list for the MFT program, which I have been stalking since I decided to go to OSU. I just want to see who I would be in classes with and know what happened to the people I interviewed with, and they post pictures of the entire class. Well, last night they finally posted it, and I wasn't even that upset. It was really bizarre. I mean, everyone that I had talked to that day and really liked are in the program, but I didn't even feel like I was missing out on it anymore. It's kind of weird. Maybe I'm finally getting closure on that whole choice. I really love the program I'm in. It's hard as balls, don't get me wrong, and I'm pretty sure Oregon would have been easier, but I know I'm at one of the best MFT programs there is, and that makes me feel great. I LOVE my cohort...they really are some amazing women. I know I can get through this program and I know it's partially because of the relationships I'm already forming with them and the people in my program. I feel like I'm really benefitting from the smaller program, and I DEFINITELY would not have had the same experience at a program about twice to three times the size. So, someday I will move to the Pacific Northwest. But I think I made the right decision about grad school and my education, and that's pretty satisfying.
I get to spend the majority of my weekend grading papers, so there will likely be another blog post from me soon. For now, some songs that I am obsessed with: Keep Asking: Citizen Cope (Thanks, Kitzi!!) and Tennessee: Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons. Your ears will thank me. Just be glad it's not me jamming out to them in my car like I was this weekend!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Hi Ya'll
I've decided that my new goal in Oklahoma is to get a Southern accent. I've always loved them, and I will totally fit in if I get one. They are just so cute. Boys with southern accents are cuter. Girls with southern accents are cuter. I'm jealous. Maybe it'll be like Paris and they will think my "American" accent is cute? I doubt it, but until I can latch on to the southern drawl, it's all I've got to hope for! And it's now socially acceptable for me to say ya'll. I've been saying that for years anyway and I've been made fun of for just as long because no one in Omaha says ya'll, but everyone does down here! Maybe that means I'm heading in the right direction...
Also, I can't hate my upstairs neighbors any more (I say that and realize that I've probably just asked for it). I actually had to call on Friday night at 1am because they were playing LMFAO so loud that it was shaking my walls. I stepped outside and it sounded like they were playing it from a loudspeaker. And I understand it was a Friday, but really, be considerate. I don't know how none of the rest of the neighbors have said anything - well, I guess I don't know if they have or not - but nothing has happened. And it constantly sounds like they are moving furniture. I have a feeling it's something super lame, like they're playing their x-box all the time with the volume full blast. I may have to go to the landlord soon. It's literally all hours of the day and night. Kill me.
I'm getting really excited about the possibility of coming home soon....even for just a short time. I miss my family, and this whole being alone thing is harder than I anticipated. So fingers crossed that all works out and I don't have to change my plans (and that Thor doesn't break down...he's making some scary noises lately and I don't like it). I just want to be in Omaha. At least for a little bit.
I'm FINALLY almost done unpacking, like legitimately...no more throwing random shit in random boxes and shoving it in my closet. It feels good to have a floor again, and to have everything in its place. I really hate the mess, but I've been so busy doing dumb homework (that I should be doing right now) that being a normal human being has fallen by the wayside. Hopefully my next post can be pictures of my place!
I am currently obsessed with the song Please Don't Leave Quite Yet - Adam Agin....I should blare that so the losers upstairs can understand what I'm going through (except it's not really a blaring kind of song). I'll have to work on that :)
Also, I can't hate my upstairs neighbors any more (I say that and realize that I've probably just asked for it). I actually had to call on Friday night at 1am because they were playing LMFAO so loud that it was shaking my walls. I stepped outside and it sounded like they were playing it from a loudspeaker. And I understand it was a Friday, but really, be considerate. I don't know how none of the rest of the neighbors have said anything - well, I guess I don't know if they have or not - but nothing has happened. And it constantly sounds like they are moving furniture. I have a feeling it's something super lame, like they're playing their x-box all the time with the volume full blast. I may have to go to the landlord soon. It's literally all hours of the day and night. Kill me.
I'm getting really excited about the possibility of coming home soon....even for just a short time. I miss my family, and this whole being alone thing is harder than I anticipated. So fingers crossed that all works out and I don't have to change my plans (and that Thor doesn't break down...he's making some scary noises lately and I don't like it). I just want to be in Omaha. At least for a little bit.
I'm FINALLY almost done unpacking, like legitimately...no more throwing random shit in random boxes and shoving it in my closet. It feels good to have a floor again, and to have everything in its place. I really hate the mess, but I've been so busy doing dumb homework (that I should be doing right now) that being a normal human being has fallen by the wayside. Hopefully my next post can be pictures of my place!
I am currently obsessed with the song Please Don't Leave Quite Yet - Adam Agin....I should blare that so the losers upstairs can understand what I'm going through (except it's not really a blaring kind of song). I'll have to work on that :)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Homesick
I'm sitting alone in my living room, STILL trying to finish unpacking....so instead of doing that, I decided to start a blog. Makes total sense, no?
To get you up to speed, I moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma almost a month ago. I know approximately 12 people, all of whom are in my graduate program, which means that my world is pretty small at this point. It's definitely challenging to meet people you aren't in class with when you're reading 6 days a week, so I still don't think I've found my place in this city, which is weird. And Stillwater is a definite change of pace for me. It's a total small town, which is not what I'm used to. Everyone drives pickup trucks (my Civic looks slightly out of place), and everyone is terrible at driving (No offense). I'm still trying to get over my fear of turning left - Thanks, Dodge Street - and people aren't as friendly here as they are in Omaha. And my upstairs neighbor is extremely annoying. I don't know what they could be dropping ALL THE TIME, but I'm getting used to it. And worst of all, there is NO TARGET. I'm serious.
But Stillwater does have its good points, more of which I'm still hoping to find. There are about 7 Sonics; the first one ever is actually like 3 minutes from my apartment. Actually, basically everything is like 3 minutes from my apartment, which is a great perk that I wasn't expecting. And the Eskimo Joe's restaurant franchise. There's 3 different versions (regular, Italian, Mexican), but all of them let you keep your big plastic cups when you buy a soda. And if you understand my obsession with big plastic cups, you know how big of a score this is for me! Then there is the fact that everywhere I've been, they ask me if I want a soda to go. Like they will bring you a Styrofoam cup of soda for the road. Incredible.
My apartment is beginning to feel like home. It's starting to come together little by little, and it's definitely helping me relax knowing that there isn't much more to do. The only necessary things I feel that I still need are the top of my kitchen table (long story), some more artwork for the walls, and curtains. But other than that, everything is in place and (almost) organized. I can't wait until I start getting paid so I can begin to find the little knick-knacks to fill the empty spaces. I just bought a bookshelf to store all of the binders I had to buy to hold all of the readings I have to do, but two shelves are empty and screaming for cute things to fill them, so I'll have to work on that. Hopefully next month I can work on some of that stuff, which is the best part about moving to a new place: filling all the blank spaces!
Anyway, I'm starting to get really homesick. I just miss all my family and friends. Thank God for skype, it has literally saved me. I get to see my mom all the time, and see my house, it's almost like I'm still there. I get to talk to my dad a lot more than we would have talked on the phone. I get to see my best friends like they are right in my room. It's indescribable. But it just makes me wish they were here with me, and when we hang up, I'm back to my lonesome self. But, I'm so happy that I have good enough friends that want to chat with me even though I have nothing exciting to say, and such a supportive family. Honestly, though, I really can't wait to be in sweatpants, sitting on the couch in the basement with my mom, laughing our asses off because we're just that ridiculous. I can't wait to see my kitty and have her ignore me three minutes later. I can't wait to just feel that "home" feeling that I haven't gotten here yet. I still feel like a visitor. But hopefully soon, that will begin to change.
Tomorrow I get to go to OKC (the big city....) and visit my family! I couldn't be more excited to get this taste of home and family that I've been missing the past few weeks. It really is a blessing to have family about an hour away, so even though I'm stranded in the middle of nowhere, there is that feeling of comfort within arms reach. I don't know what I would have done in Oregon, being completely on my own....maybe someday, but I'm not totally ready for that yet. This is scary enough! Thank goodness for labor day weekend.
That's enough for my first blog post. I hope that at some point, I have more interesting things to write about, but I'll get there. And for your information, I tried to reduce the extreme amount of ellipses that I often use while writing. However, I found that to compensate, I used quite a few parenthises. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. To leave on a happier note, a song that I am obsessed with right now: Unfold - Jason Mraz. :) Happy listening!
To get you up to speed, I moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma almost a month ago. I know approximately 12 people, all of whom are in my graduate program, which means that my world is pretty small at this point. It's definitely challenging to meet people you aren't in class with when you're reading 6 days a week, so I still don't think I've found my place in this city, which is weird. And Stillwater is a definite change of pace for me. It's a total small town, which is not what I'm used to. Everyone drives pickup trucks (my Civic looks slightly out of place), and everyone is terrible at driving (No offense). I'm still trying to get over my fear of turning left - Thanks, Dodge Street - and people aren't as friendly here as they are in Omaha. And my upstairs neighbor is extremely annoying. I don't know what they could be dropping ALL THE TIME, but I'm getting used to it. And worst of all, there is NO TARGET. I'm serious.
But Stillwater does have its good points, more of which I'm still hoping to find. There are about 7 Sonics; the first one ever is actually like 3 minutes from my apartment. Actually, basically everything is like 3 minutes from my apartment, which is a great perk that I wasn't expecting. And the Eskimo Joe's restaurant franchise. There's 3 different versions (regular, Italian, Mexican), but all of them let you keep your big plastic cups when you buy a soda. And if you understand my obsession with big plastic cups, you know how big of a score this is for me! Then there is the fact that everywhere I've been, they ask me if I want a soda to go. Like they will bring you a Styrofoam cup of soda for the road. Incredible.
My apartment is beginning to feel like home. It's starting to come together little by little, and it's definitely helping me relax knowing that there isn't much more to do. The only necessary things I feel that I still need are the top of my kitchen table (long story), some more artwork for the walls, and curtains. But other than that, everything is in place and (almost) organized. I can't wait until I start getting paid so I can begin to find the little knick-knacks to fill the empty spaces. I just bought a bookshelf to store all of the binders I had to buy to hold all of the readings I have to do, but two shelves are empty and screaming for cute things to fill them, so I'll have to work on that. Hopefully next month I can work on some of that stuff, which is the best part about moving to a new place: filling all the blank spaces!
Anyway, I'm starting to get really homesick. I just miss all my family and friends. Thank God for skype, it has literally saved me. I get to see my mom all the time, and see my house, it's almost like I'm still there. I get to talk to my dad a lot more than we would have talked on the phone. I get to see my best friends like they are right in my room. It's indescribable. But it just makes me wish they were here with me, and when we hang up, I'm back to my lonesome self. But, I'm so happy that I have good enough friends that want to chat with me even though I have nothing exciting to say, and such a supportive family. Honestly, though, I really can't wait to be in sweatpants, sitting on the couch in the basement with my mom, laughing our asses off because we're just that ridiculous. I can't wait to see my kitty and have her ignore me three minutes later. I can't wait to just feel that "home" feeling that I haven't gotten here yet. I still feel like a visitor. But hopefully soon, that will begin to change.
Tomorrow I get to go to OKC (the big city....) and visit my family! I couldn't be more excited to get this taste of home and family that I've been missing the past few weeks. It really is a blessing to have family about an hour away, so even though I'm stranded in the middle of nowhere, there is that feeling of comfort within arms reach. I don't know what I would have done in Oregon, being completely on my own....maybe someday, but I'm not totally ready for that yet. This is scary enough! Thank goodness for labor day weekend.
That's enough for my first blog post. I hope that at some point, I have more interesting things to write about, but I'll get there. And for your information, I tried to reduce the extreme amount of ellipses that I often use while writing. However, I found that to compensate, I used quite a few parenthises. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. To leave on a happier note, a song that I am obsessed with right now: Unfold - Jason Mraz. :) Happy listening!
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