SO. I finally have a bit of time to rest and catch all of you up on what's been going on. All freshmen moved in today, and it seems like a good portion of my floor is freshmen. I like it that way, I think, because they seem to listen to/respect me more. My residents seem really cool and I hope they get involved with floor stuff!
I'm on duty, so the rest of the CAs took the freshmen to the pep rally tonight. We have a full weekend of events for the freshmen and then classes start Monday! The author of the book freshmen had to read, Shackleton's Way (about the explorer Ernest Shackleton), will be speaking tomorrow, and then there's a whole bunch of activites planned. I feel confident that this will be a good year. I may be speaking too soon...but.... great staff? Cool residents? Hm...let's hope for the best!
"Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all." - Sir Ernest Shackleton
-E
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
We finally officially ended training! Tomorrow we're volunteering, but all the lecturing is over...and I'm so glad.
Everything's great here...I still love my staff and more residents are moving in.
I miss a certain someone a lot, but we'll see each other soon enough. This waiting time in between is not so fun, though!
It's almost two in the morning...I'm really out of it and should get to sleep, but I'll update again soon.
"When you feel alone, just look at the spaces between your fingers, and remember that in those spaces you can see my fingers locked with yours forever." - Anonymous
-E
Everything's great here...I still love my staff and more residents are moving in.
I miss a certain someone a lot, but we'll see each other soon enough. This waiting time in between is not so fun, though!
It's almost two in the morning...I'm really out of it and should get to sleep, but I'll update again soon.
"When you feel alone, just look at the spaces between your fingers, and remember that in those spaces you can see my fingers locked with yours forever." - Anonymous
-E
Sunday, August 19, 2007
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." - Ryunosuke Satoro
Sorry I haven't updated since I've been back; I've been so busy! I am so happy up here... and it's good to be back. Training has been taking up most of my time, of course (9-5 every day... eek!), but I've been able to enjoy myself as well.
I LOVE my staff. Steve, Travis, and LeShay are just such awesome people and so genuine. Unfortunately, LeShay was only here for one day of training because she had to get her wisdom teeth out, but Steve, Travis, and I have spent lots of time together and I know LeShay will fit right in when she comes back! I can tell we're going to be like family (aka the teasing from the guys has already started!). Melissa is going to be a great coordinator as well. She's sweet and easy to talk to. I think it's great we're already tight as a staff... it will really make this year go smoothly.
Perry came up to visit two nights ago and surprised me with roses! We had such a good time... and I can't wait to see him again. I think it's safe to say we're dating... and we're taking things one day at a time. He makes me really happy and I hope things work out. He's in Pittsburgh, so it's feasible. It's just that these next couple of weeks are so busy. It stinks, but I'm hopeful that things will work as they should.
I like my room in Rhoads and I've started working on doortags and bulletin boards. I've already had five residents move in (out of 54!) because of band and sports. Still quiet though, and that's always a good thing! Everyone else will move in next weekend.
Overall, things are great here. I miss my family, but we're so busy that it's hard to think of much else other than CA stuff. It's cool being a returning CA - I like being there to help the first years! I'll update more in the next couple of days.
"Our Rhoads staff might be small
But our spirit overrides it all
We know we'll do well with our mascot - the car
Who will lead us on the path to success
It won't be too far!" - Travis, Steve, LeShay, and myself (during CA training... our cheer!)
-E
I LOVE my staff. Steve, Travis, and LeShay are just such awesome people and so genuine. Unfortunately, LeShay was only here for one day of training because she had to get her wisdom teeth out, but Steve, Travis, and I have spent lots of time together and I know LeShay will fit right in when she comes back! I can tell we're going to be like family (aka the teasing from the guys has already started!). Melissa is going to be a great coordinator as well. She's sweet and easy to talk to. I think it's great we're already tight as a staff... it will really make this year go smoothly.
Perry came up to visit two nights ago and surprised me with roses! We had such a good time... and I can't wait to see him again. I think it's safe to say we're dating... and we're taking things one day at a time. He makes me really happy and I hope things work out. He's in Pittsburgh, so it's feasible. It's just that these next couple of weeks are so busy. It stinks, but I'm hopeful that things will work as they should.
I like my room in Rhoads and I've started working on doortags and bulletin boards. I've already had five residents move in (out of 54!) because of band and sports. Still quiet though, and that's always a good thing! Everyone else will move in next weekend.
Overall, things are great here. I miss my family, but we're so busy that it's hard to think of much else other than CA stuff. It's cool being a returning CA - I like being there to help the first years! I'll update more in the next couple of days.
"Our Rhoads staff might be small
But our spirit overrides it all
We know we'll do well with our mascot - the car
Who will lead us on the path to success
It won't be too far!" - Travis, Steve, LeShay, and myself (during CA training... our cheer!)
-E
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
"Live as long as you may. The first twenty years are the longest half of your life." - Robert Southey
Happy 20th birthday to me!
VERY exciting.
Well, it WOULD be more exciting if I wasn't heading back up to school in about 9 hours....and if I didn't start CA training at night.... ah, well. It's okay. I had a great dinner with my family, went to the movies with Perry (!!), and finished the night off with Elysa, Becky, and Laura. SO. Even though tomorrow will be a hectic day, tonight was a fine birthday celebration!
I feel lucky to be where I am in life, and that in itself is the best birthday present I could have!
Next post will be from good ol' Slippery Rock.
"One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them." - Virginia Woolf
-E
VERY exciting.
Well, it WOULD be more exciting if I wasn't heading back up to school in about 9 hours....and if I didn't start CA training at night.... ah, well. It's okay. I had a great dinner with my family, went to the movies with Perry (!!), and finished the night off with Elysa, Becky, and Laura. SO. Even though tomorrow will be a hectic day, tonight was a fine birthday celebration!
I feel lucky to be where I am in life, and that in itself is the best birthday present I could have!
Next post will be from good ol' Slippery Rock.
"One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them." - Virginia Woolf
-E
Saturday, August 11, 2007
"Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway." - Mary Kay Ash
So. Four days until two big things happen.
1. I go back to SRU for a fun ten days of CA training. I know intentions are good, but some of those sessions were tough to sit through the first time around. I can't even imagine what training will be like now that I've already done the job!
2. My 20th birthday. Not that I'll get to celebrate. Well, that's not true. There's a big dinner for all CAs on the 15th.... so I guess THAT will be my birthday dinner! Not bad, not bad...
Am I packed at all? Nope...so I should probably get on that. I'm going out tonight...and then it's down to business for real!
"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright
-E
1. I go back to SRU for a fun ten days of CA training. I know intentions are good, but some of those sessions were tough to sit through the first time around. I can't even imagine what training will be like now that I've already done the job!
2. My 20th birthday. Not that I'll get to celebrate. Well, that's not true. There's a big dinner for all CAs on the 15th.... so I guess THAT will be my birthday dinner! Not bad, not bad...
Am I packed at all? Nope...so I should probably get on that. I'm going out tonight...and then it's down to business for real!
"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright
-E
Friday, August 10, 2007
"I've got to admit it's getting better / It's a little better all the time" - Paul McCartney
So, it's 4:50 am, and I need to be getting to sleep...but today was awesome. And it could have been a disaster, but it wasn't...and that makes me SO happy.
I had a picnic to put on today. Mother Nature, however, had other plans. She provided a tremendous torrential downpour. I freaked out and thought I would need to cancel. But thanks to my family's generosity of letting me use our house for 20 people, it turned out to be a success. People came right at five, and stayed long past 11 pm. I believe the last of my guests left around two thirty. TWO THIRTY! That's incredible. I worried that there was going to be a lull of activity that would send people home, but as these picnics promise: there are so many people meeting others for the first time that there are always stories to share and talents to show off! Catchphrase, Charades, and Mao ruled a lot of the night, and it was just perfect. No drama, no worries...just fun.
People who said they would bring things did, and that made things so much easier. There was so much food and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. And you know, the majority of us (minus my little sister and her best friend! haha) were between 19 and 25 and not once was alcohol or any drugs mentioned (as in: "Hm...anyone have some vodka?"). It makes me really, really happy when we all can remember to have fun without the use of either of those. In a weird way, it gives me hope. That's odd, isn't it? But that's the only way I can describe how I feel. I guess the whole night was refreshing. I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time...and it makes me remember that I really need to keep in touch more. I had forgotten how much fun we used to have together, and tonight was a nice reminder of all the good times.
Anyway, I'm on this "natural high" where I'm just so thrilled that something that could have turned out disasterous didn't (and in fact exceeded my expectations), and maybe that storm was just a blessing in disguise. I've had a few of those, I think, recently...and tonight was when I recognized one almost right away. That's awesome.
Thank you to everyone who came & made the picnic fabulous, and many, many thanks to my family. You all really saved the day.
"Only you could turn a picnic inside and still have it be awesome." - Jim H. (a guest as he was leaving)
-E
I had a picnic to put on today. Mother Nature, however, had other plans. She provided a tremendous torrential downpour. I freaked out and thought I would need to cancel. But thanks to my family's generosity of letting me use our house for 20 people, it turned out to be a success. People came right at five, and stayed long past 11 pm. I believe the last of my guests left around two thirty. TWO THIRTY! That's incredible. I worried that there was going to be a lull of activity that would send people home, but as these picnics promise: there are so many people meeting others for the first time that there are always stories to share and talents to show off! Catchphrase, Charades, and Mao ruled a lot of the night, and it was just perfect. No drama, no worries...just fun.
People who said they would bring things did, and that made things so much easier. There was so much food and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. And you know, the majority of us (minus my little sister and her best friend! haha) were between 19 and 25 and not once was alcohol or any drugs mentioned (as in: "Hm...anyone have some vodka?"). It makes me really, really happy when we all can remember to have fun without the use of either of those. In a weird way, it gives me hope. That's odd, isn't it? But that's the only way I can describe how I feel. I guess the whole night was refreshing. I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time...and it makes me remember that I really need to keep in touch more. I had forgotten how much fun we used to have together, and tonight was a nice reminder of all the good times.
Anyway, I'm on this "natural high" where I'm just so thrilled that something that could have turned out disasterous didn't (and in fact exceeded my expectations), and maybe that storm was just a blessing in disguise. I've had a few of those, I think, recently...and tonight was when I recognized one almost right away. That's awesome.
Thank you to everyone who came & made the picnic fabulous, and many, many thanks to my family. You all really saved the day.
"Only you could turn a picnic inside and still have it be awesome." - Jim H. (a guest as he was leaving)
-E
Thursday, August 9, 2007
"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." - Guillaume Apollinaire
New Mexico was fabulous.
Just incredible.
The atmosphere is very laidback and it's one of those places where moments happen that you know you'll never forget.
My aunt = a great hostess. Enough said!
Oh, and the green chile there? Amazing.
The trip did what I thought it would for me. I'm relaxed, happy, and at a complete peace of mind. I went salsa dancing a few times, met some very nice people, listened to great music, and just had a fantastic experience. I know my aunt would love if I came back for grad school, but I'm going to have to see if UNM has a public health program (Pitt is still my number one choice so far!).
I just can't believe the trip is over...it went by so quickly, and each day we were so busy. I'm glad to be back only because I know I have so much to do in the next week before I go back to school!
I leave you now with a poem that I saw in the Indian Arts Museum:
I am the earth at my feet
and the rain that softens it
and I am thankful
I am the clay in my hands
and the shapes they craft
and I am respectful
I am the story in my mind
and the prayer in my heart
and I am wiser
We are one moment
in a tradition everlasting
and we are honored
-E
Just incredible.
The atmosphere is very laidback and it's one of those places where moments happen that you know you'll never forget.
My aunt = a great hostess. Enough said!
Oh, and the green chile there? Amazing.
The trip did what I thought it would for me. I'm relaxed, happy, and at a complete peace of mind. I went salsa dancing a few times, met some very nice people, listened to great music, and just had a fantastic experience. I know my aunt would love if I came back for grad school, but I'm going to have to see if UNM has a public health program (Pitt is still my number one choice so far!).
I just can't believe the trip is over...it went by so quickly, and each day we were so busy. I'm glad to be back only because I know I have so much to do in the next week before I go back to school!
I leave you now with a poem that I saw in the Indian Arts Museum:
I am the earth at my feet
and the rain that softens it
and I am thankful
I am the clay in my hands
and the shapes they craft
and I am respectful
I am the story in my mind
and the prayer in my heart
and I am wiser
We are one moment
in a tradition everlasting
and we are honored
-E
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
"Time tells the truth." - Fortune Cookie
North and South Carolina turned out to be a blast... and exactly what I needed. I've been back home since Saturday, but I leave this morning (literally, my dad will be waking up in about two and a half hours to take me to the airport) for Santa Fe. I'm so excited (and I just can't hide it? Haha, I couldn't help myself...). My mom is there already, but when she leaves on the 4th, it will be just Aunt Harriet and myself.
I feel like this will be a cleansing period for me. Aunt Harriet is really into yoga/exercising and healthy eating. Those are the two things I'm deficient in. I will hopefully pick up some of her habits and bring them back here. I can't believe I go back to school in just fifteen days. What happened to my summer? Of course, I'm not feeling negative about it at all; I'm glad it's almost over. It just flew by...seem like yesterday that I was loading all my stuff in the car to go home!
I'll have a lot of work to do when I get home, but it's okay. I can't wait to get organized and just be back up at Slippery Rock.
If I'm able to update from Santa Fe, I will. Otherwise, you'll hear from me in a week!
"The only thing you can carry with you on your travels is your heart. Fill your heart with good things and good things will follow you for the rest of your life." - Scott Murray
-E
I feel like this will be a cleansing period for me. Aunt Harriet is really into yoga/exercising and healthy eating. Those are the two things I'm deficient in. I will hopefully pick up some of her habits and bring them back here. I can't believe I go back to school in just fifteen days. What happened to my summer? Of course, I'm not feeling negative about it at all; I'm glad it's almost over. It just flew by...seem like yesterday that I was loading all my stuff in the car to go home!
I'll have a lot of work to do when I get home, but it's okay. I can't wait to get organized and just be back up at Slippery Rock.
If I'm able to update from Santa Fe, I will. Otherwise, you'll hear from me in a week!
"The only thing you can carry with you on your travels is your heart. Fill your heart with good things and good things will follow you for the rest of your life." - Scott Murray
-E
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