Wasting Time

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!