I'm sure everyone has heard how the olfactory sense is probably the most memory-invoking of all our five senses. Which makes sense; I can assume we've all had the experience when we catch a whiff of something and it takes us back to a time and place, and possibly a feeling. I know quite frequently I catch a whiff of some time of incense or perfume (I never know what it is) and it takes me back to standing in my great-grandma's bedroom with other family members and relatives, as she neared her final day. I can't put my finger on what the smell actually comes from, but every time I experience it I associate the scent with death. One time I was in one of those weird oriental-type shops and sniffed a stick of incense; I immediately had to leave the store because of that memory.
My intention of this post is not to depress anyone or myself, but I was thinking about this type of thing because of a CD I was listening to a while ago. I know I just mentioned that the olfactory sense gives us the ability to draw up memories probably more than any other sense, but I feel that our auditory sense is a close second, maybe just as capable of transporting an individual back to a time and place, particularly specific tones and music. I initially pondered this recently when I switched my alert tone for text messages on my phone to a different tone. Not really aware of this at the time, it was the same tone that I was using for texts on my phone in the time surrounding when Jake and I got engaged. I had gotten my cell phone not long before it happened, and had this tone as the default for texts. So the other day when I changed it back to that tone, the first time somebody sent me a text after switching it, I immediately felt this happy, excited, walking-on-clouds feeling, and this was before I noticed the memory. In the microseconds after these emotions, I wondered why I felt that way then traced the reasoning back to when we got engaged and concluded it worked just like the olfactory sense.
Now tonight, I decided to listen to an album I had not heard in a while, Snow Patrol's "Eyes Open". This whole album transports me to a time and so many different emotions, and I recall that the same album has always had this effect on me, because of the synthesis of the music and the time period during which I frequently listened to this music. However, tonight I wasn't thinking about that when I pressed "shuffle" and as soon as the first song, "Open Your Eyes", started playing, I was whisked back to the first semester of college, to when I had my heart broken for the first time, by my first love, and the hazy, obscure time period that followed as I desperately held on to that love. Hearing even just the first few seconds of the song was so compelling that my breath was taken away briefly and I felt that empty, lost feeling once again. It's like for a moment I forgot that I am currently 22 years old, a graduate student, and engaged to be married. It's as though I was 18 again, sitting on my bedroom floor after that phone call. Don't get me wrong; I have so much joy about where I am and where I am headed, personally and as part of another relationship, but it is only human to feel these powerful emotions even long after you've moved on. It's only human to feel hurt and confused and to question "why?", even if you are in a better place.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Viva Chile!
As I watch the last of the 33 Chilean miners emerge from the rescue capsule on live TV, I am filled with so much joy that it is overwhelming. The world has experienced so much pain and sadness and too many events such as this have come to a tragic end. This wonderful story fills my heart with happiness because the world needed something like this to boost its spirit. The hope and faith that kept the miners alive and from giving up has been apparent in the family members camping out at the site, holding hands with and hugging each other, praying, and the large portion of the world that watched and waited as the rescue workers courageously went down the chute and helped bring these brave, strong men to safety and into the arms of wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, who, for some amount of time, likely believed they would never see their beloveds again. I am fairly certain that I would start losing my sanity after being trapped merely for a few days; however, these men encouraged and supported each other throughout what was most likely the greatest trial of their lives, living in a cave with no light, limited entertainment, and eating 200 calories a day. That strength, along with hope and faith, brought them back to the world after nearly 70 days underground.
I think we can all learn a little something from these men.
I think we can all learn a little something from these men.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Happy Friday the 1st!
October is here! I like this month a lot. I'd like it more if it actually felt like October should. That's the problem with Las Cruces. But I'm not here to complain about how much I miss Los Alamos this time of year. I'm actually here to complain about pop culture; specifically a few names in Hollywood. One of the things I can't stand the most in pop culture is that the media pays WAY too much attention on people that just bring drama wherever they go and don't really do anything good for anyone. I'm not saying they should never have existed, just that they shouldn't exist in Hollywood :) By keeping them in the spotlight and in front of cameras, we are just fueling their annoyingness. Here are just a few of the characters that I wish would just drop off the face of Hollywood and the media:
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag...seriously, get a life. One that isn't whining about each other in your pseudo-divorce and screeching and passing it off as a music career.
Paris Hilton...grow up and stop hoarding innocent animals. And all the other stuff you do.
Snookie...I don't even watch Jersey Shore, never have, never will, and I can't stand the girl just from seeing her face all over the place and hearing about why she was most recently a public nuisance.
Lindsay Lohan...the girl has issues. I get it. Move along.
Jon and Kate Gosselin...Time to focus on your kids, folks.
Levi Johnston...wait, why is he famous anyway? Because he said some nasty stuff about the Palin family? Ah yes, a legitimate path to stardom...???
Lady Gaga...Must I explain?
And I apologize if I've hurt anyone's feelings; if any of you are fans of these people. It's nothing personal toward you, just my opinion.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag...seriously, get a life. One that isn't whining about each other in your pseudo-divorce and screeching and passing it off as a music career.
Paris Hilton...grow up and stop hoarding innocent animals. And all the other stuff you do.
Snookie...I don't even watch Jersey Shore, never have, never will, and I can't stand the girl just from seeing her face all over the place and hearing about why she was most recently a public nuisance.
Lindsay Lohan...the girl has issues. I get it. Move along.
Jon and Kate Gosselin...Time to focus on your kids, folks.
Levi Johnston...wait, why is he famous anyway? Because he said some nasty stuff about the Palin family? Ah yes, a legitimate path to stardom...???
Lady Gaga...Must I explain?
And I apologize if I've hurt anyone's feelings; if any of you are fans of these people. It's nothing personal toward you, just my opinion.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ok. I lied.
One minute later and I'm posting something else. The author of another blog I follow does this post every week called "Truthful Tuesday", in which she lists random statements of "truth". Even though it's not Tuesday now, I feel like doing the same.
Truthful Friday!
1. I should be grading outlines and speeches right now.
2. On that note, I really need to get with it and be a motivated, on-top-of-it grad student. No more of this undergraduate procrastination, bs-ing work anymore. However, I'm still trying to get into a groove of this new career. Perhaps making a very detailed schedule for myself for the next few weeks will get me going.
3. I know I need to break out of my comfort zone. Grad school and being a TA has already helped a lot, but I still need work. I'm just naturally introverted.
4. I had a "must break out of comfort zone" moment today. I was at the first Communication Studies Graduate Student Association (CSGSA) meeting today, and we were to elect officials. How it worked was that people just shouted out nominations for those that they thought would be good in the positions. Once we got to Secretary, someone nominated me, and other people seconded it. At first I freaked out a bit on the inside, thinking "I do not want to do this, not my thing! I can't!", because of the comfort zone thing. But then I got to thinking "This would be good for me. It will force me to make connections with people and organize something big and just overall break out of my shell a bit". So then I was hoping to be voted for. However, someone else won the election (and she will be great), but I was a bit let down. It was strange, I went from being very hesitant and considering declining the nomination one minute, to being sad that I didn't get it the next. Oh well, I still plan on being involved in the CSGSA as it will be good for me nonetheless.
5. I feel like a total loser right now. Thankfully it's Jake's last 3-11:30 PM shift for a while (maybe forever), because the past few weeks, when I'm not at school or work I've been alone in my apartment until he gets off. It's not as bad during the week, but Friday night, really?
6. Drawing from #5, another reason I need to break through my comfort zone is because I am one of those people who waits for things to happen, or for other people to ask me to do something, rather than making something happen. I whine and use the excuse that I have very few friends here. Yes, most friends are elsewhere now, but I'm starting to really enjoy the company of my colleagues so I can't use that excuse anymore.
7. I crave hamburgers A LOT. I like a lot of healthy food too, but burgers are the things I crave most often. Like right now. And two nights ago. And Monday after backpacking. I don't always give in to it, but I just might tonight...
8. I am very very eagerly awaiting my first paycheck from this job. I have a few big things to pay off right now, including part of tuition, and pay my dad back for my TV and rent (he enrolled his Chase rewards card for automatic payment at my apartment, because he really wants the points for a vacation for my mom and him). I probably won't have a lot leftover after my first paycheck.
9. I have a good relationship with my future mother-in-law right now, but I'm so scared of it worsening either during the wedding planning process or after Jake and I are married! I've heard that it happens often! Probably because there is conflict of opinions during wedding planning or something else.
'
10. I was a hypochondriac for about a year, starting summer 08. It started with a really dumb mistake when I was cleaning the old house for the family I babysat for so that they could put it on the market, and I cleaned up an insanely disgusting amount of mouse droppings from their pantry area (they were a very dirty family), and I was not careful about it at all. In fact, I shouldn't have cleaned it myself. For the next few weeks, I was so terrified that I had caught hantavirus and from then on, for about year, I always thought my headaches were something serious, or that a flutter in my chest meant I had arrythmia, or because I didn't feel good I had caught some terrible disease. I think eventually I just started telling myself to not think that way, that I was fine, and I gradually got over it. No counseling necessary :)
So now I've let you in on some deep dark secrets (not really)! This can be fun, if you care to join :)
PS Please don't use my truths against me :P
Truthful Friday!
1. I should be grading outlines and speeches right now.
2. On that note, I really need to get with it and be a motivated, on-top-of-it grad student. No more of this undergraduate procrastination, bs-ing work anymore. However, I'm still trying to get into a groove of this new career. Perhaps making a very detailed schedule for myself for the next few weeks will get me going.
3. I know I need to break out of my comfort zone. Grad school and being a TA has already helped a lot, but I still need work. I'm just naturally introverted.
4. I had a "must break out of comfort zone" moment today. I was at the first Communication Studies Graduate Student Association (CSGSA) meeting today, and we were to elect officials. How it worked was that people just shouted out nominations for those that they thought would be good in the positions. Once we got to Secretary, someone nominated me, and other people seconded it. At first I freaked out a bit on the inside, thinking "I do not want to do this, not my thing! I can't!", because of the comfort zone thing. But then I got to thinking "This would be good for me. It will force me to make connections with people and organize something big and just overall break out of my shell a bit". So then I was hoping to be voted for. However, someone else won the election (and she will be great), but I was a bit let down. It was strange, I went from being very hesitant and considering declining the nomination one minute, to being sad that I didn't get it the next. Oh well, I still plan on being involved in the CSGSA as it will be good for me nonetheless.
5. I feel like a total loser right now. Thankfully it's Jake's last 3-11:30 PM shift for a while (maybe forever), because the past few weeks, when I'm not at school or work I've been alone in my apartment until he gets off. It's not as bad during the week, but Friday night, really?
6. Drawing from #5, another reason I need to break through my comfort zone is because I am one of those people who waits for things to happen, or for other people to ask me to do something, rather than making something happen. I whine and use the excuse that I have very few friends here. Yes, most friends are elsewhere now, but I'm starting to really enjoy the company of my colleagues so I can't use that excuse anymore.
7. I crave hamburgers A LOT. I like a lot of healthy food too, but burgers are the things I crave most often. Like right now. And two nights ago. And Monday after backpacking. I don't always give in to it, but I just might tonight...
8. I am very very eagerly awaiting my first paycheck from this job. I have a few big things to pay off right now, including part of tuition, and pay my dad back for my TV and rent (he enrolled his Chase rewards card for automatic payment at my apartment, because he really wants the points for a vacation for my mom and him). I probably won't have a lot leftover after my first paycheck.
9. I have a good relationship with my future mother-in-law right now, but I'm so scared of it worsening either during the wedding planning process or after Jake and I are married! I've heard that it happens often! Probably because there is conflict of opinions during wedding planning or something else.
'
10. I was a hypochondriac for about a year, starting summer 08. It started with a really dumb mistake when I was cleaning the old house for the family I babysat for so that they could put it on the market, and I cleaned up an insanely disgusting amount of mouse droppings from their pantry area (they were a very dirty family), and I was not careful about it at all. In fact, I shouldn't have cleaned it myself. For the next few weeks, I was so terrified that I had caught hantavirus and from then on, for about year, I always thought my headaches were something serious, or that a flutter in my chest meant I had arrythmia, or because I didn't feel good I had caught some terrible disease. I think eventually I just started telling myself to not think that way, that I was fine, and I gradually got over it. No counseling necessary :)
So now I've let you in on some deep dark secrets (not really)! This can be fun, if you care to join :)
PS Please don't use my truths against me :P
New design!
Like it? I had been pretty sick of the last one I had for quite a while, but when I initially tried to change it I had to know something about HTML coding to keep my widgets, which I definitely do NOT! hahaha. But thanks to Alayna, I learned that it's way easier than it used to be!
I've had a thing for birds lately, hence the new design. Actually, I've always loved birds but I recently have been all about bird-themed designs. I bought a planner at Barnes and Noble at the start of the semester that is sort of Asian/bird theme, with branches and leaves, and I designed my own tote/purse with a somewhat similar style. My mom hosted a "Too Cute Totes" party at our house in late July, and we all got to design our own purses and totes! The business was started by someone who graduated from Los Alamos (a long time ago), and it's really starting to thrive. The idea is that you pick one of many styles of totes, purses, wallets, even diaper bags. Then you pick your main fabric out of hundreds that will be the outside of the bag. Next you pick the fabric to go on the inside, usually one that coordinates with the outside. And finally you pick a color and type of leather for the bottom and the straps. You can also add things like a zipper closure instead of clasp and extra pockets, then once you place your order, it gets handmade in Nevada (where the owner and store are from). So my mom threw this party, and if you know me well, you know that I'm not a huge bag/tote/purse person. I do carry a purse, but I rarely buy new ones. So I figured I would just watch people design theirs at the party, but before I knew it, I was designing my own small tote and having lots of fun doing it! I'm really excited for it to finally come in, and it should be here soon, I think.
I went backpacking over Labor Day weekend for the second time ever, and this time, I didn't almost break my nose! I went with Jake, Jeff and Mike. We started on Saturday around noon at the Catwalk trail head in the Gila Wilderness. After some break and about 6 1/2 hours later, we finally found a decent spot to pitch our tents and make dinner. It was a rough first night, because it was nearly dark when we were cooking and trying to set things up, and this spot wasn't very ideal for camping (i.e. trees were too close together, it was damp and muggy, etc.). A couple on their way back to their campsite that we had passed earlier told us that there was another good spot about 1/4 mile up the trail. So the next day we took a walk to find it, and as soon as we saw how much better this site was, we turned around, packed up our stuff, and moved. After we set up camp again, we took a day hike and just went up the trail for about two hours, stopping and goofing off occasionally. That night was much more comfortable and the next day we hiked back out. I got some monster blisters on my heels, due to various causes. My boots refuse to break in, I made the dumb mistake of wearing cotton liners under the wool socks, and my feet are just not used to this kind of abuse. So yes, monster blisters and really sore toes from the downhill parts, and oh lord, I woke up Tuesday morning with the sorest calves I've ever had, BUT it was all worth it and I definitely want to pursue this more! I hope eventually I will be able to have all my own gear.
Now onto my job. This week all the COMM265 students started giving their informative speeches, and in all honesty, I am so far quite disappointed and frustrated with how the majority turned out. You'd have thought that I didn't tell them what to do AT ALL and that there was no assignment information on Blackboard and handouts! There were a few good speeches, but it seemed as if the majority did not listen to a thing I said (and the really important stuff, I repeated in class several times, but did they get it? Noooo) and didn't read the assignment at all. So at first, I was wondering, What did I do wrong to make them so unprepared and do so poorly? But after talking to other TAs, I found out that they are having the same problems, so it wasn't just me. So I know that it isn't my fault, but this does give me the opportunity to figure out where the students did poorly and try to figure out a better way to pound it into their heads next semester. I may be a bad teacher for writing about this and not being encouraging, but I just needed to vent a little. It's so weird to refer to myself as a "teacher" still!! Who'da thunk it?
Welp, I suppose I've caught you up on the past couple week well enough, and hope for more interesting stuff to blog about soon!
I've had a thing for birds lately, hence the new design. Actually, I've always loved birds but I recently have been all about bird-themed designs. I bought a planner at Barnes and Noble at the start of the semester that is sort of Asian/bird theme, with branches and leaves, and I designed my own tote/purse with a somewhat similar style. My mom hosted a "Too Cute Totes" party at our house in late July, and we all got to design our own purses and totes! The business was started by someone who graduated from Los Alamos (a long time ago), and it's really starting to thrive. The idea is that you pick one of many styles of totes, purses, wallets, even diaper bags. Then you pick your main fabric out of hundreds that will be the outside of the bag. Next you pick the fabric to go on the inside, usually one that coordinates with the outside. And finally you pick a color and type of leather for the bottom and the straps. You can also add things like a zipper closure instead of clasp and extra pockets, then once you place your order, it gets handmade in Nevada (where the owner and store are from). So my mom threw this party, and if you know me well, you know that I'm not a huge bag/tote/purse person. I do carry a purse, but I rarely buy new ones. So I figured I would just watch people design theirs at the party, but before I knew it, I was designing my own small tote and having lots of fun doing it! I'm really excited for it to finally come in, and it should be here soon, I think.
I went backpacking over Labor Day weekend for the second time ever, and this time, I didn't almost break my nose! I went with Jake, Jeff and Mike. We started on Saturday around noon at the Catwalk trail head in the Gila Wilderness. After some break and about 6 1/2 hours later, we finally found a decent spot to pitch our tents and make dinner. It was a rough first night, because it was nearly dark when we were cooking and trying to set things up, and this spot wasn't very ideal for camping (i.e. trees were too close together, it was damp and muggy, etc.). A couple on their way back to their campsite that we had passed earlier told us that there was another good spot about 1/4 mile up the trail. So the next day we took a walk to find it, and as soon as we saw how much better this site was, we turned around, packed up our stuff, and moved. After we set up camp again, we took a day hike and just went up the trail for about two hours, stopping and goofing off occasionally. That night was much more comfortable and the next day we hiked back out. I got some monster blisters on my heels, due to various causes. My boots refuse to break in, I made the dumb mistake of wearing cotton liners under the wool socks, and my feet are just not used to this kind of abuse. So yes, monster blisters and really sore toes from the downhill parts, and oh lord, I woke up Tuesday morning with the sorest calves I've ever had, BUT it was all worth it and I definitely want to pursue this more! I hope eventually I will be able to have all my own gear.
Now onto my job. This week all the COMM265 students started giving their informative speeches, and in all honesty, I am so far quite disappointed and frustrated with how the majority turned out. You'd have thought that I didn't tell them what to do AT ALL and that there was no assignment information on Blackboard and handouts! There were a few good speeches, but it seemed as if the majority did not listen to a thing I said (and the really important stuff, I repeated in class several times, but did they get it? Noooo) and didn't read the assignment at all. So at first, I was wondering, What did I do wrong to make them so unprepared and do so poorly? But after talking to other TAs, I found out that they are having the same problems, so it wasn't just me. So I know that it isn't my fault, but this does give me the opportunity to figure out where the students did poorly and try to figure out a better way to pound it into their heads next semester. I may be a bad teacher for writing about this and not being encouraging, but I just needed to vent a little. It's so weird to refer to myself as a "teacher" still!! Who'da thunk it?
Welp, I suppose I've caught you up on the past couple week well enough, and hope for more interesting stuff to blog about soon!
Monday, August 23, 2010
She liiiiivvvees!
After a month and a half or so of not posting anything of new interest, I have quite a lot to catch you all up with. In July, my parents took Jake and I on a two-week trip to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Estes Park/Rocky Mountains. It was such an amazing trip, I absolutely fell in love with Yellowstone. During the trip we saw two black bears, two grizzly bears, a TON of buffalo, elk, deer, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, and two moose. We got lots of fishing in, and one day in Yellowstone my dad and Jake and I hiked to Bunsen Peak. It was a challenge, and I felt so good afterward for the accomplishment. I think everyone should visit Yellowstone at least once in their life :)
The day we got home from the trip, Shanda and Brian came by, and once we were unpacked and visiting in the living room, Shanda pulled out her phone and said she wanted to take a picture of the three of us (my parents and I). So we put on our smiles and she said "Ok now on the count of three, say 'Shanda and Brian are having a baby'". !!!!!!!! Our mouths dropped open and my dad just collapsed backward on the couch. She was actually recording us and the video is hilarious. So yeah, I'm going to be an aunt!! The baby's due March 18, about two months before our wedding. I'm super duper excited about that!
July also marked the end of YMCA summer camp, and I decided to work an extra week at what is called iCare Camp, and environmentally-geared day camp for kids before school started for them. We did some hiking, went to a wildlife park, and helped a teenage group at the Y with maintaining some trails in Los Alamos. It was fun, and I worked 40 hours that week in 4 days...10 hour days with no break. The time went fast, but boy was I tired at the end of each day. My last day at this camp also marked the end of my time with the YMCA. Perhaps I will work a week or two here and there when I'm home for Christmas break and such, but after we're married, Jake and I will live in Las Cruces at least until I'm done with school and I will hopefully find a job that is more related to my field of study. I'm okay with this; while I enjoyed my time with the YMCA (I've been there since my senior year of high school), I'm ready to move on to something else. I'm also SO over riding on buses for hours with noisy 6-year-olds while suffering a headache.
Now to catch you up on wedding details. Jake and I have officially set the date for May 28, 2011. We finally found a reception place that is friendly toward our budget (you know-the budget of two recent graduates and one grad student whose salary mostly goes toward tuition). It's at the Delancey Street Foundation sites in Espanola, and the property where we would have it is just beautiful. We will be having a wedding mass at the IHM church in Los Alamos. Even more exciting, I BOUGHT MY DRESS!!!! I have been looking for "the one" since May. I found one here in Las Cruces at a boutique that I really loved at the time, but there were some things about it that I was a bit wishy-washy with. Then recently I went to a David's Bridal in Santa Fe, and after many dresses, found one that was very similar style to the one in Cruces, only much cheaper. But as with the first one, I would love it one minute, then the next I would be uncertain about it. So when I moved back to Cruces last week, my mom and I went to the boutique here so I could try on the first one again along with another that I had tried on in May, and the consultant pulled out another dress that was similar style to both of them, so I thought "sure, why not." The dress she suggested was the first I tried on that day, and it was love at first sight. I walked out of the dressing room, and as soon as I saw myself in the mirror (even though the dress was many sizes too big), a smile instantaneously plastered itself on my face and didn't leave for a long time. My mom could tell that I was in love with it as well, and she loved it too. So I called up my dad, gave him the "I love you daddy, and I love this dress" persuasion mechanism (because my parents told me they'd buy my dress), and he said, "Ok. Have mom use the Southwest card." I am so so so happy about it, and cannot wait until it comes in. It was reasonably priced compared to the designer gowns you might see on "Say yes to the dress", and within our budget :)
Ok, last spiel. I started grad school last week. It began with grad student orientation on Monday (all day), then the Communication Studies department Grad assistant orientation on Tuesday. I attended the lecture of COMM 265 on Friday (the class for which I am teaching supplementary lab classes) where all the TAs were introduced. Today, I had my first day as a teacher! I taught three classes back-to-back, and I think they went fairly well. I was nervous, and it will definitely be a learning process, something I won't get perfect hang of right away. But I got more relaxed with each class. Today we just did introductions/ice breakers and went over the syllabus, and Wednesday we will start activities for public speaking. Then I had my first class as a student, Seminar in Communication Theories, with Dr. Morgan. I am both excited and nervous for the semester, and as my graduate student career in general. It will require a lot of perseverance, drive, decision-making, and discipline, but I think I can :)
Peace!
The day we got home from the trip, Shanda and Brian came by, and once we were unpacked and visiting in the living room, Shanda pulled out her phone and said she wanted to take a picture of the three of us (my parents and I). So we put on our smiles and she said "Ok now on the count of three, say 'Shanda and Brian are having a baby'". !!!!!!!! Our mouths dropped open and my dad just collapsed backward on the couch. She was actually recording us and the video is hilarious. So yeah, I'm going to be an aunt!! The baby's due March 18, about two months before our wedding. I'm super duper excited about that!
July also marked the end of YMCA summer camp, and I decided to work an extra week at what is called iCare Camp, and environmentally-geared day camp for kids before school started for them. We did some hiking, went to a wildlife park, and helped a teenage group at the Y with maintaining some trails in Los Alamos. It was fun, and I worked 40 hours that week in 4 days...10 hour days with no break. The time went fast, but boy was I tired at the end of each day. My last day at this camp also marked the end of my time with the YMCA. Perhaps I will work a week or two here and there when I'm home for Christmas break and such, but after we're married, Jake and I will live in Las Cruces at least until I'm done with school and I will hopefully find a job that is more related to my field of study. I'm okay with this; while I enjoyed my time with the YMCA (I've been there since my senior year of high school), I'm ready to move on to something else. I'm also SO over riding on buses for hours with noisy 6-year-olds while suffering a headache.
Now to catch you up on wedding details. Jake and I have officially set the date for May 28, 2011. We finally found a reception place that is friendly toward our budget (you know-the budget of two recent graduates and one grad student whose salary mostly goes toward tuition). It's at the Delancey Street Foundation sites in Espanola, and the property where we would have it is just beautiful. We will be having a wedding mass at the IHM church in Los Alamos. Even more exciting, I BOUGHT MY DRESS!!!! I have been looking for "the one" since May. I found one here in Las Cruces at a boutique that I really loved at the time, but there were some things about it that I was a bit wishy-washy with. Then recently I went to a David's Bridal in Santa Fe, and after many dresses, found one that was very similar style to the one in Cruces, only much cheaper. But as with the first one, I would love it one minute, then the next I would be uncertain about it. So when I moved back to Cruces last week, my mom and I went to the boutique here so I could try on the first one again along with another that I had tried on in May, and the consultant pulled out another dress that was similar style to both of them, so I thought "sure, why not." The dress she suggested was the first I tried on that day, and it was love at first sight. I walked out of the dressing room, and as soon as I saw myself in the mirror (even though the dress was many sizes too big), a smile instantaneously plastered itself on my face and didn't leave for a long time. My mom could tell that I was in love with it as well, and she loved it too. So I called up my dad, gave him the "I love you daddy, and I love this dress" persuasion mechanism (because my parents told me they'd buy my dress), and he said, "Ok. Have mom use the Southwest card." I am so so so happy about it, and cannot wait until it comes in. It was reasonably priced compared to the designer gowns you might see on "Say yes to the dress", and within our budget :)
Ok, last spiel. I started grad school last week. It began with grad student orientation on Monday (all day), then the Communication Studies department Grad assistant orientation on Tuesday. I attended the lecture of COMM 265 on Friday (the class for which I am teaching supplementary lab classes) where all the TAs were introduced. Today, I had my first day as a teacher! I taught three classes back-to-back, and I think they went fairly well. I was nervous, and it will definitely be a learning process, something I won't get perfect hang of right away. But I got more relaxed with each class. Today we just did introductions/ice breakers and went over the syllabus, and Wednesday we will start activities for public speaking. Then I had my first class as a student, Seminar in Communication Theories, with Dr. Morgan. I am both excited and nervous for the semester, and as my graduate student career in general. It will require a lot of perseverance, drive, decision-making, and discipline, but I think I can :)
Peace!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Celebrate!
The reason to celebrate: Jake got a job in Las Cruces!!!! We were getting a bit worried because he wasn't having much luck finding one. The job is not exactly what he was looking for, but it something that he would be really good at. He'll be working at an AT&T call center, taking calls from customers who have questions about the software and technology, and I think troubleshooting. He's really good with people and really good with technology. It's a full-time, 40-hour per week job, with many opportunities for raises and overtime work, and he gets benefits after 60 days of working there, which was a big concern for us since we are getting married. He did a phone interview last Monday and they offered him the job right away. I am so happy and proud of him :) This job means a) he will be with me in Las Cruces when I go to grad school, and b) we can get married May 21, 2011!!! He's going to start on August 9, where he will begin his 7 weeks of training (lot of training, huh?).
More good news, I got an apartment again in the place I lived last school year. I am really happy because I loved those apartments, plus it's on the second floor again, plus it's carpeted. Having a second floor or higher is important to me, especially since I live alone, because I like to leave the windows open sometimes at night and I definitely wouldn't want to if I was on a ground floor. Plus you get more bugs on the ground floor...
Two weekends ago Jake and I went to Santa Fe where we got our engagement pictures taken. They turned out really well, we just need to order the CD. Then we spent a large portion of the day hopping from one reception site to the other, mostly to be disappointed because they were either to small for the number of guests we want, or too expensive. However, we fell in love with one place that I've been eyeing on the Internet for a while and correspondent with a woman from called Sunrise Springs. It's in the outskirts of Santa Fe and it's a tranquil spa/inn that has a reception room that can hold up to 150 people, I think. That's our number one choice so far, we just have to correspond with the sales director more and make sure that aren't too many hidden fees that will knock it out of our budget. Later that evening our friends Danielle and Alayna threw us an engagement party at a place on the plaza called Dinner For Two. It was a lot of fun, and several friends and my sister joined us.
Work has been a lot of fun. It has its stressful moments, but I can't complain too much when I get paid to go ice skating, roller skating, swimming, to the zoo, and bowling :) Yesterday I went home halfway through the day because I've been somewhat sick and I was losing my voice, then stayed home today as well because I'm feeling even worse. I was bummed about missing it today, because I'm going to be gone for two weeks and I could really use the hours. Oh well. I just hope I'm doing better by the time we leave on our big camping trip on Monday. Tomorrow's my dad's birthday so we're taking him to Outback in Santa Fe, then having a barbecue at our house for the 4th of July.
God's blessings are coming our way! :) Hope everyone is having a lovely day and week.
More good news, I got an apartment again in the place I lived last school year. I am really happy because I loved those apartments, plus it's on the second floor again, plus it's carpeted. Having a second floor or higher is important to me, especially since I live alone, because I like to leave the windows open sometimes at night and I definitely wouldn't want to if I was on a ground floor. Plus you get more bugs on the ground floor...
Two weekends ago Jake and I went to Santa Fe where we got our engagement pictures taken. They turned out really well, we just need to order the CD. Then we spent a large portion of the day hopping from one reception site to the other, mostly to be disappointed because they were either to small for the number of guests we want, or too expensive. However, we fell in love with one place that I've been eyeing on the Internet for a while and correspondent with a woman from called Sunrise Springs. It's in the outskirts of Santa Fe and it's a tranquil spa/inn that has a reception room that can hold up to 150 people, I think. That's our number one choice so far, we just have to correspond with the sales director more and make sure that aren't too many hidden fees that will knock it out of our budget. Later that evening our friends Danielle and Alayna threw us an engagement party at a place on the plaza called Dinner For Two. It was a lot of fun, and several friends and my sister joined us.
Work has been a lot of fun. It has its stressful moments, but I can't complain too much when I get paid to go ice skating, roller skating, swimming, to the zoo, and bowling :) Yesterday I went home halfway through the day because I've been somewhat sick and I was losing my voice, then stayed home today as well because I'm feeling even worse. I was bummed about missing it today, because I'm going to be gone for two weeks and I could really use the hours. Oh well. I just hope I'm doing better by the time we leave on our big camping trip on Monday. Tomorrow's my dad's birthday so we're taking him to Outback in Santa Fe, then having a barbecue at our house for the 4th of July.
God's blessings are coming our way! :) Hope everyone is having a lovely day and week.
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