Happy New Year!!

Hello all!

I have a few minutes of "free" time before heading to bed so I thought I would check in here. So since we last spoke, Christmas break has come and gone, I have had a birthday, and classes started back! Whew that is a lot!

First with Christmas break. I was able to go home for all of break and it was lovely to have some time away from classes! Mom and I went to FL again this year as usual to spend about a week with Nanny, Pa, Aunt Jill, and Uncle Duane. Dad wasn't able to come due to work projects but he did take off when we got home. I was actually really excited to have time to spend just the three of us! I went on a couple campus visits for Nursing School in the middle TN area so we will have to see where that goes. Oh yea, everyone except Aunt Jill ended up sick at some point around Christmas/ New Year's but we all survived.

This year ETSU gave me the BEST birthday present EVER!!! Classes started on it :( Oh well, I guess the last semester of my (first) BS degree is enough of a gift. Speaking of classes, they have been INTENSE!! I feel like I am back in High School. I go in around 8:15 and leave between 3:30 and 4:30 most days. It is interesting to get used to that is for sure. I should survive alright I just need to have my books actually arrive which is a WHOLE different story!

Last thing I have time for tonight, my birthday! I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!! This year Jesse was able to come down on my birthday which was the first time I was able to see him since BEFORE break! We went by the train club where one of the guys had gotten me a cupcake so they all sang to me. They are just too cute! Then we went out to dinner at O'Charley's which was fantastic! Since the weekend after my bday just happened to be MLK weekend I had my friends party Sunday night. I made a crock pot full of chili and a cake and cupcakes! Before you go asking "now why would you work so hard for your own birthday party?" let me just say I had a blast making everything! I actually had several friends over Saturday to "help" make cake...and icing (which turned into a HUGE deal). We'll just leave it at there was LOTS OF ICING! Sunday after we ate we just played games. I had SUCH a great time and I am glad everyone was able to come!

So I think that about wraps up the update for tonight. I am going to try to play with the background and such since it is still Christmas but no promises it will be how I want it by bed time.

Until next post,

E

Update...Sort Of.

Hey everyone!

I sort of got a little busy and havent updated in a while...obviously! So I've been studying and running around like a chicken with my head cut off so I really dont feel like doing much of an update at this point. BUT

....

IT

SNOWED

THIS

MORNING!!!!!

I would say we had almost an inch on the cars and a pretty good covering on most of the grass. The much was more covered. But it is all mostly melted now. The sun came out. I think we may be supposed to get some more here the rest of the weekend off and on.

It was SOOO PRETTY!! Huge flakes! (sorry the pics arent that great, I had to take them out the kitchen window while a friend was asleep on the couch in the living room.)

YAY SNOW!!

Until next time,
E

Week 3 Check!

Hello again,

Since I got some feedback last week, I guess I should keep going with these updates!

I am thinking I should actually work on these posts as they happen. I feel like I had a lot to say daily and had great plans for this blog but instead I am just tired at this point and have little to say...That and it is now TUESDAY of week 4!

Anyway I have a little energy left and people are making strange noises outside my window so I am going to attempt a post!

Last week I spent A LOT of time in the library. I thought I would take a picture while I was there so you could see how spread out I was but I always forgot while I was there. But I was and I was productive...I promise! If you don't believe me just look at the blanket I worked on while reading! I started it last Sunday and have this much done!

I have mainly been working on it while reading for class since that seems to keep me a little more focused and a little before classes start.

Anywho I spent almost 2.5 hours studying with a friend for our A&P 1 test on Friday and I did take pictures of our drawings and notes. This is Mary's picture of a neuron...Much prettier than mine but both still fit the need. Sorry it is sideways, but you get the picture...

Warren will be happy to hear that I now have a pet. He is a beta fish named Frank. (Warren was a little upset back in July when he found out I didn't even have a fish for a pet.) It was time for a new beta. It has been several months since Eugene went to fishy heaven and I am glad to have something to talk to at any time again... yes I am one of those crazy folks who talk to their fish. I think he likes it. He doesn't like to have his picture taken though. He gets all upset...which makes for a good picture when he is all fanned out. But that is beside the point. Alright, enough about Frank. I may give you updates about him periodically we'll see.

The most exciting thing that happend this past week was my training at Small Miracles Theraputic Equestrian Center, Inc. It was so neat to hear some of the stories about children who have and continue to be in the program. There are children who take their first steps and say their first words after being on a horse! These are children who are AT LEAST 4 years old! I can't imagine being there to experience one of these "firsts" but I am so excited about getting to be a part of the program. I will start October 18th going every Monday to be a side walker for one of the lessons! This means that depending on the student I may have a hand on the saddle or just walk along side of the horse while the instructor tells the student to do certain tasks such as turning the horse, tossing a ball, etc. I am excited to be a part of their Holiday session which lasts for 8 weeks! If you can't tell I am looking forward to starting my "service learning" and I will for sure post updates as I actually start going to help with lessons!

I think that is about it for last week. Sorry I didn't get anything up sooner. It was a long busy week last week just like every week has been!

Until next time!

E

Week 2

Study break time!

So maybe I will try to update here weekly. But for me to do that I need to know people are reading so leave me some comments folks!

Monday I cooked. A LOT! I made 4 different hamburger meat dishes in about an hour! I now have nearly a month's worth of frozen meals! Tuesday night I cooked up some chicken marinated in terioki sauce and froze another 5 meals! All I have to do is boil the food and cook noodles or get out something for a side dish and dinner is done! And I have found some of my portions have been more than one meal's worth so that has been fun and exciting too! If you can't tell I am totally in love with the idea of not having to actually cook which you will see why in the following paragraph.

This week I have basically determined I am going to be a recluse for the semester! Basically I go to class and then to the library between class then home to read. I have done really well so far keeping up with the reading for classes and may actually get to start some of my papers this week since I am about to start reading some more to get ahead for the week!

Thursday I met Jesse and the train club guys for dinner but didnt go to the club for work night. I was really overwhelmed with everything on Wednesday so I took an extra couple hours to study instead of going to the club. But dinner was a nice break. Friday afternoon I went to the local Animal Shelter to play with the puppies with Abby for a little study break. Then I came back home and worked on some assignments for my online class. Around 6 I went to listen to my friend Emily talk about her month in China this summer teaching English. The host home was BEAUTIFUL! There were about 6 of our close friends and it was great to do a little exploring arond the grounds and in the house also. There was a little room built into the house specifically as a little doll house for thier daughter off the bonus room! So cute! Anyhow it was amazing to spend some time just enjoying being around friends and learning more and more about each other.

Jesse came down yesterday and we ran around on some errands when he first got here. He actually wanted to go back to the train club after it was closed to the public to get some more work done on the major bridge to nowhere that has been the bain of n-scale folk's existance. So I went with him and studied while he was working. It was actually a really nice place to go and study.

Today I have been studying most of the day but it hasn't been too bad. I'm about to get back to it YAY!

This coming weekend I am actually excited to go do training at a theraputic horse riding place so I can do some service learning for one of my classes. I am sure I will have some interesting things to tell you all next week!

So you all need to comment if you want this to keep up. I mean I am a psych major still and reinforcement is a good motivation for behavior :)

So until next week,
E

Hike

So I'm BACK!! 3 day weekend means I have a little bit of time so here I am.

Quick school update: It is CRAZY!

Moving on, Friday was Jesse's birthday so I went to his house for the afternoon. I got to meet his new nephew...SO CUTE!! I was reminded I am a baby hog...but really how could I be in my family and not hog a really cute 3 week old baby? Jesse's mom made beef Strogonoff (sp?) which was AMAZING!! And we had chocolate cake with chocolate icing for dessert.

Then yesterday Jesse and I went hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Temperatures were in the 70s and sunny blue skies everywhere!! OMG It was the perfect day! We hiked about 6 miles and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! The path was picture perfect.

Absolutely 100% perfect day! Including the left over strogonoff post hike!

Jesse didn't know I was taking random pictures. I have several that are very similar to this one.
For some reason I really like this one. I was fake running like a dork but it turned out pretty good I think.

So if you cant tell this has been a perfect weekend from birthday dinners to hiking to even studying in the afternoon sunlight. One more day of this weekend is left. I have some more sunlight studying calling my name :)

Until I post again,

E

Summer Wrap

Well I got a little behind on my posting since I quite frankly just got tired of writing. Since it is the second day of classes and I happen to have a bit of time I thought I would write something real fast.

Summer was pretty good beyond all the trips I took. I watched the boy I watched last year and he was a challenge as usual but we both survived :) I also worked with a woman who works in the housing market which was interesting. I helped with marketing homes and rentals she has for sale or rent.

Since it is the second day of my "senior" year of college I think it is about time I mention that I decided over the summer to persue a nursing degree. My plan is to graduate in May with a BS in Child Psychology and then begin a nursing program in the fall. I only have 3 classes to add to be able to apply to a nursing program in the spring.

So that was my summer. There was another quick trip to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood this weekend which was really fun. And then to Knoxville for Jesse's sister's wedding reception which was also lovely. And then back to the life of a college student.

I am planning to stay on top of things this semester so maybe I'll find time to chat here and maybe not...I'll try to pop in when I can.

Until then,
E

Mom and Dad Come to Visit

Recently Mom and Dad came for a weekend visit. It was great to have them here. We had such a great time!

They were actually able to come up on Thursday so we were able to spend an extra day together. That turned out to be a good thing since we all slept till NOON on Friday! We ended up getting some Mexican for lunch around 2PM and the just laid around the house for the rest of the day.

Saturday Jesse came down early and we all headed to the Train Museum on campus. Mom and Dad LOVED it! I mean how could you not! It really is a really neat place! Lots of work goes into everything from the layouts to the display cases. It really is something to see!

After the Train Museum we ate lunch and headed out to go shooting! Yet again it was HOT! There were a lot of guns and we had a GREAT time!

Once back to my apartment we had some dinner and watched most of The Perfect Storm before Jesse had to go home. We soon went to bed. Sunday morning we were able to spend some more time together before it was time for Mom and Dad to head back home.

Overall it was a FANTASTIC weekend and I hope they can come back soon!

One more post coming on Friday so be sure to check back!

Until then,
E