Two Hundredth Post

Two Hundred Amazing Things

For my two hundredth post, I've decided I'm going to
1. Write about one hundred amazing things I appreciate- monumental or not. Some of them may be geeky or silly, others are extremely monumental. Some may be related to each other, others may be out there.
2. Write 25 things about me, some of them you may know, some of them you may not
3. Write about 25 things I want to happen in the future (big or small)
4. Write about 25 things I've done this month
5. Write about 25 things I want to happen this month (or will make myself do)

I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, but let's get started.

100 Things I appreciate
1. I graduated from college
2. I got my college class ring/ will be receiving at the end of the month
3. I got a pillowtop mattress (OMG it's so amazing...)
4. I've almost reached 150k miles on my car
5. I'm starting to get my sleep closer to a regular schedule

6. Internet on a phone. Need I say more?
7. Foursquare Awards. I don't know why they feel great, but they do.
8. Klout. I haz it. It's amazing.
9. One of my high school teachers still keeps up with me.
10. I'll be seeing this high school teacher on Friday, and he's going to help me with job interview stuff

11. Walking across the stage...I'll be doing it again in December.
12. It was amazingly cool today. We got a break from the heat of summer!!
13. I've made some really awesome friends through blogging!
14. My brother is getting married
15. My sister is in high school

16. I've come so far with my blog & blogging
17. I've learnt so much about the internet in my ventures
18. I've lost a little weight
19. Waking up on the mornings I don't have headaches.
20. Winning at video games

21. Winning at Sudoku (how can you lose at Sudoku, anyway?)
22. Going home after a really, really long day
23. The feeling you get after I've done something that helps someone
24. A solid high-five
25. Being able to french braid my hair without looking in the mirror (seriously!)

26. Finding an old cassette tape my best friend gave me in middle school and remembering how Corky taped over part of it, and how mad I was at the time, and how I now have the whole mP3 file, and all the needless yelling I did at the time (memories made :) how sweet)
27. Remembering the one time that Texas had a White Christmas and record-breaking snowfall in February.
28. Finding something I had lost all hope on finding
29. Perfect length nails that won't break (thank you genetics!!)
30. Getting new colorful socks without asking for them

31. Saying something just before the radio or TV says it
32. The smell of freshly cleaned sheets
33. The perfect gift that I decided not to ask for because I didn't think I'd get it...and you got it anyway!
34. Realizing the cop going down the road isn't going after you (sometimes they make you paranoid...)
35. Eating cookie dough, brownie batter, or cake batter, even though the packages all say not to

36. Catching gas prices just before they go up
37. Swimming pools on a hot summer day (really, it's amazing)
38. Reading a book I love, even if I've already read it a million times
39. Snuggling under my blanket with my sock monkey
40. Going through some of my old things and remembering the events that went with them...nostalgia!

41. The scent of Vicks
42. Seeing an envelope for me in the mail...unless it's a credit card offer.
43. My medal board
44. Painting things, and writing things, and drawing things
45. My pillows, all of them, and the fact that they matched my comforter when I didn't plan that

46. Getting a lot of points on Words with Friends when I wasn't planning a word that would get a lot of points
47. Knowing something that I didn't think I knew
48. Laughing so hard that I can't even hear a sound
49. Going all the way through growing-small-town without hitting a red light (this almost never happens)
50. Singing very loudly in my car on the freeway, and having someone look at me like I'm nuts, which just inspires me to sing more loudly

51. Finally getting that huge knot out of my hair...granted, I probably ripped the hair out in the process...but it's a huge victory getting that knot out!! You have no idea!!
52. Finding my favorite TV shows just as they're coming on, or better yet, coming home and finding out my dad has them all on the DVR and turns them on during dinner for me.
53. Taking the perfect picture at the perfect time
54. Plugging in my phone or computer just before it dies
55. Reaching a landmark (post 100, post 200, blogoversary, 100 followers, etc.)

56. Finding that nice, empty, comfortable space in traffic, where I'm not being tailgated, and I don't have to tailgate the person in front of me to prevent being tailgated
57. Ordering food special so that I know it's fresh when the person serves it to me
58. Two words: Batteries included.
59. Riding my bike really fast down a steep hill (given that I don't have to ride my bike up the hill to get there, or back up the hill later...lol)
60. Roller coasters...especially when the lights come on at night! It's really awesome...And when the wind is blowing? Ahh. It was really great when my hair was long and I'd take it down on the coaster and the person behind me would get a face full of hair...I mean...oops. I would never do that. I'm too nice. *whistle*

61. The appearance of everything underwater...how everything is all distorted and funky looking
62. Making it out of somewhere just before all the crowds amass...I really don't like crowds, so knowing that I made it out before the crowds is really comforting.
63. That shocked face people make when they see how fast I can type, and then when they ask me how fast I type and I *honestly and sincerely* tell them I don't know...because I honestly and sincerely don't. But it's pretty fast.
64. Seeing someone drive by me really fast on the highway, telling them "go get those cops"....and seeing them pulled over 2 miles later.
65. A clean room (not that I've seen one in a while *sigh*)

66. Taking my hair down at the end of the day and just brushing it
67. Doing math with the numbers in the time...like 12:36 (12 x 3 = 36....I overthink things, I know)
68. Knowing where everything is when I go somewhere, while other people are searching and looking lost...so I can get in and out, while others are still looking for someone to help them....
69. Putting a spam account on certain things where I know I'll be getting spam emails and never checking the spam account because I know I don't want to check the spam...
70. Seeing someone I haven't seen in a long time unexpectedly and catching up with them

71. Learning a new keyboard shortcut (it seems I learn new ones almost every day, but I can never remember them on command, just when I need them)
72. Holding and playing with my baby cousin...she's so cute!! I love babies, I just don't think I'm prepared for one of my own....or ever will be.
73. Being the weird one that keeps my food separate- I may be different, but it makes for...if not interesting, at least *some* dinner conversation.
74. When the dog comes and visits me in my room, which he hardly ever does (which is what makes it so special)
75. Having the whole morning to stretch and wake up, and not having to worry about being somewhere at a certain time (although having something to do with my life would be nice)

76. Having a meaning to life, rather than just waking up every day to the monotony that is after-college jobless without-a-license whatever I'm in right now (I once had it...so I can add it to this list)
77. I found the license plate that was pressed right after mine- identical except it ends in 072, mine ends in 071. Yesssss I paid attention enough to notice that...I'm weird like that.
78. Perfectly. Parallel. Parking. So perfect that I took pictures. My dad claims I photoshopped them, but I didn't, I actually did the perfect parallel park, and I've never done it before. Ever. I take that back, I tried once, but it was an epic fail, making this much more of an EPIC WIN.
79. Being late, but realizing I'm actually the first one there, so nobody will know that I'm late anyway, bahaha
80. Taking shoes off without untying them. Who unties their shoes anymore? Didn't think so...

81. Other accents than my own. Admittedly, my own accent sucks. Australian accents are my favorite.
82. Blog hops...wait, let me finish...that are communicative, and on blogs that actually type something up other than giveaways or coupons. I mean, I really dislike the necessary follow on a blog that only does giveaways and coupons, and the giveaways are on stuff I don't need (Diapers? Childrens clothing? No thank you). I still participate in hopes of finding other blogs I do like, because there are some out there that also participate in these hops. I visit the linkys, and I leave more than a "HI, I'm Ashley, visit my website and follow back!"...ok, I must move on.
83. Good comments. They make me melt. I've had some make me cry in public. One at the dentist.
84. Sock monkey. I love my sock monkey.
85. My little sister. I love my little sister so much, and I don't think she realizes how much. I don't think she ever will, no matter how much I say it.

86. Being able to breathe through my nose (it's really amazing when I haven't been able to breathe through my nose for a while)
87. Typing by lamplight (it's much more epic than typing by regular light)
88. Boxes. I don't know what it is about boxes, but I love boxes.
89. Putting stickers on things. I love putting stickers on things, and tape too. Duct tape especially, it's my favorite.
90. Making things of your own...being creative. Artsy. I'm not real artsy, but I love creating my own things.

91. QT drinks. One who has not been to QT can not understand the epic greatness of QT and their fountain drinks, especially when you mix and create your own great flavors like I have (blue raspberry vanilla Diet Pepsi anyone? It sounds disgusting, but it actually tastes great)
92. Mousse. It's so puffy and fluffy and doesn't make my hair sticky and gross like hairspray, and doesn't make it as stiff as gel does.
93. Being almost done with something
94. Having more than one idea in the same night
95. Figuring something out that I haven't been able to figure out for a while

96. Planning posts
97. Having a ton of tabs open and being able to keep track of all of them & knowing that I'm using them all (none of them are going to waste!)
98. Having the nerve to call people out on something when they need to be called out on, and being able to do it without being nervous or upset
99. Knowing that even though I had a lot of obstacles, I was able to accomplish more than I ever thought I would accomplish because I persevered, even when I was told I would fail, even when I went through some really rough times and had everything standing against me.
100. Having my whole future ahead of me, and not knowing what it holds, because it could hold anything for me, which means it could be something great

25 Things About Me
1. I'm a freak of nature- I was born without tonsils. Then again, I'm thankful, because I never have to have a tonsillectomy. =)
2. Everyone else believes in me more than I do. A rock believes in me more than I do. That's how much I believe in myself. Nevertheless, I carry on as though I believe in myself.
3. I actually liked my job at Big Circle Box Retailer. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough that I would go back if given the opportunity and I had nowhere else to go. I've applied to go back.
4. I don't really like lollipops or hard candy that much, except blueberry dum-dum pops.
5. I've never been kissed...willingly. Unwillingly, yes; willingly, no.

6. I hate seafood, but I love Red Lobster.
7. I sleep with my sock monkey every night. It's probably the only thing I'll ever sleep with.
8. I have an obsession with the color blue.
9. I didn't really want to go to UTA. I wanted to go to Baylor. I was accepted at Baylor. I had a scholarship at Baylor, but I still couldn't afford it. UTA was my second choice. I only went there because we didn't have the money for me to move out.
10. I liked Killeen, until we moved away. When I went back, I didn't like it. I still don't like where I live now. This leaves me with inner conflict because I don't know where I like.

11. It's medication that made me gain all my weight.
12. I do guest blogs but I don't post them on my blog.
13. I like that I can still wear children's sized shoes, because they're much cheaper usually
14. I have a board full of medals that I will one day share- here's an idea of what's on there-

• Class of 2005 Salutatorian
• 2005 UIL State Social Studies Team Champions
• 2005 UIL Regional Spelling Team Runners-Up
• 2005 UIL Regional Spelling Individual 5th Place
• 2005 UIL Regional Social Studies Team Champions
• 2005 UIL District Social Studies Team Champions
• 2005 UIL District Spelling Team Champions
• 2005 UIL District Spelling Individual 3rd Place
• 2005 UIL Choir Solo/Ensemble Division I Solo- District
• 2005 UIL Choir Solo/Ensemble Division II Solo- State
• 2004 North Texas Colorguard Association State Champions Division AA
• Academic Medals awarded by teacher for AP Calculus, Pre-AP Spanish II, Pre-AP World History, AP Chemistry
• Texas Scholar- i.e. I graduated. Seems dim after the others....

15. 2005 was a really good year for me (see statement 14) and I spent most of the months of April and May away from home, which was refreshing. 

16. I love Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I don't know why. I even love the stories in the ones not relevant to me. For example, Chicken Soup for the Working Mother. Completely not for me, but I'd probably love it. 

17. I have a strange fascination with numbers and facts, and often get called names for it...such as Wikipedia or Webster. 

18. I literally stapled my finger today. Stapled the staple directly into my finger. Not thinking, pulled it directly out. I hope nothing is wrong.

19. I duct taped a box purple tonight. No lie. Purple from top to bottom. Using my time wisely. 

20. I talked to someone about getting a job at a place I discovered was hiring. They told me I was overqualified and needed to find something that more suited my needs and degree. >.>

21. I was in colorguard for 2 years, co-captain for 1 year, yet I can't even spin a rifle now. I can do drop spins with a flag, and that's about it.

22. I'm addicted to Cherry 7Up, and I don't know why. At least it's caffeine free, so I can drink it at night too.

23. I don't get along very well with my parents. 

24. I'm not registered to vote. In a county like mine, if I'm not gonna vote Republican, there's no point in registering. I can shout any other party until the cows come home, but the GOP will still win in this city/county/etc. My voice means nothing here. So why register? To spend my time at the voting booths casting a vote that will be one of the few non-Republican? I'm not a Dem, but I'm not a GOP either. Face it, there's no point in an area that's so strongly GOP. 

25. I love denim. Denim jackets, denim skirts (this may be the one way to get me to wear a skirt), denim tops, denim vests, denim shorts, denim pants, I love denim.

25 Things I want to happen in the future

1. I want to get my license (of course!)

2. I want someone to love me for who I am

3. I want someone to finally believe that this is not something that I created myself, that what I'm saying is real.

4. I want my expenses taken care of

5. I want to live comfortably- but not necessarily in luxury

6. I want to see my sister get married

7. I want my sister to go to college and be successful in a career

8. I want to get my own place, somewhere near the city, but not in the city

9. I want the stuff that's been plaguing my life and negatively impacting me to go away (if you know me, you know what I mean by this)

10. I want to be self-sufficient

11. I want people to care about what I have to say

12. I want to see my brother be successful in a career/graduate from college

13. I want to narrow my stuff down to the things I really need, instead of everything I think I'm emotionally attached to

14. I want to go to graduate school

15. I want to find a way to set up or participate in the kind of business that I've been thinking about, with the hours and whatnot, because I know what life can be like for certain populations, and there are certain things I want to address

16. I want to visit Australia

17. I want to meet all my bloggy and Twitter friends, and explore more of the world

18. I want to do a lot of things, without worrying what my parents might think (including writing stuff like this)

19. I want to learn German and become fluent in the language.

20. I want to make an entire blog of awesome and inspiring quotes that are compiled from other places

21. I want to wake up in the morning and look forward to the day, rather than dreading it

22. I want to have a purpose

23. I want to have a social life, outside of the computer, and yes, I know that requires going out---and

24. I want to feel more comfortable going out, but most importantly:

25. I want to help as many people as I can to reach their full potential, because I know there is plenty opportunity out there, I just have to find it.

25 Things I've Done This Month

I had to challenge myself with this one....

1. I moved all the stuff out of my room so that the floor guys could recarpet

2. I moved all the stuff back into my room after the carpet was installed

3. I visited with my brother some on a few of his lunch breaks from work, when he came to the house to eat

4. I finished my undergraduate degree

5. I aced my final paper and my psychology final

6. I wrapped up all my appointments at the university and settled all my debts

7. I picked up medications at the pharmacy

8. I taped a shoebox purple

9. I stapled a finger

10. I went to a high school football game--the home team...EPIC FAIL

11. I had a shelf fall on my arm and I had a bruise for a bit

12. I had my blogoversary and wrote a blog/came up with a blog hop in celebration of my blogoversary

13. I went swimming

14. I talked on twitter....a lot

15. I created my facebook page and acquired a lot of fans

16. I participated in a 30 day challenge

17. I slept in...a lot. 

18. I stayed in bed a few days when feeling under the weather, because when I stood up or sat up, I felt dizzy.

19. I found my salutatorian speech from high school...and thought about posting it here...but decided against it.

20. I rearranged my room

21. I visited with a former teacher of mine, who also happens to be my sister's current teacher...poor Corky

22. I traumatized the dog by calling him onto my bed knowing that it was higher than the old one...

23. I faceplanted in the parking lot on one of my last few days of class

24. I bought headphones, after waiting a few months to get some

25. I decided to be proactive about losing weight, and I've lost a lot.

25 Things Which I Want to Happen This Month

1. I want to get a job, whether it requires a license or not

2. I want my ring to arrive in the mail

3. I want my mom to have a happy birthday

4. I want my blog hop to go over well

5. I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job

6. I want to finish a few books

7. I want to finish clearing the "stuff" that is left from moving everything out to the garage for the carpet guys

8. I want to continue growing as a blogger

9. I want this sinus crap to go away

10. I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job

11. I want my meeting with Dr. B to go well on Friday

12. I want to lose a little more weight...a little at a time

13. I want to apply for graduate school, to see what else it is I need to do to get in

14. If I don't get a job, I want to volunteer at the Mental Health Association again

15 I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job

16. I want to find a doctor that will work with me

17. I want to find a way to fill my calendar...it's kind of blank right now.

18. I want Texas to get some rain somehow...it's way too dry. I also want the fires to go away...related, so it goes under this category.

19. I want to adjust my sleeping schedule so that it's more normal

20. I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job I want a job

21. I want to write about RUOK Day in Australia (in fact, I plan to, later this week)

22. I want to listen to a lot of music....and find some new songs. I've been having trouble getting Adele's "Someone Like You" and it's frustrating me. Argh. 

23. I want to limit my spending...significantly. I don't really want to be spending at all, I have no reason to spend. 

24. I want to be open and honest

25. Most of all.....I WANT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if you got this far, I commend you, because a lot of people will stop reading about halfway through, I bet. I doubt anyone will make it this far. *whistle*. If you do, let me know in my comments down there ↓↓ where it usually is! 

I've made it to 200 posts....holy cow. 

Flags and Fireworks

This is going to be more of a story type blog- I've had a busy time, and not much time to think of anything creative!

As the majority of you know, I'm sure (and if you don't, you probably have never heard of the US), yesterday (as of the minute I am typing this) was Independence Day in America. Of course, for the ladies that means dressing up in a lot of red, white, and blue and talking with other ladies, and for the guys, it means barbecuing and blowing a lot of things up (I have this confirmed with several sources). We, of course, forget the true meaning, the founding of our country. Ironic, though, that the Declaration of Independence wasn't fully signed on July 4th- some of you might not know this- just some of the signatures went on paper that day. I'm not sure of the exact date without looking it up, but signatures stretched beyond at least September that year, 1776 (how many knew the year?), and the date July 4th was chosen because this was the day that Congress is said to have approved the adoption of the Declaration.

Well, we have been in the St. Louis area this week visiting relatives, and we had a fireworks show of our own- low maintenance, probably expensive; my uncle bought the fireworks, neighbors of his bought some too. We all went into the cul-de-sac and shot off the fireworks, and it was nice. The kids lit the smaller stuff in the early evening (dare I say twilight, or the Twilight fans might start creeping my blog), and all the larger fireworks started when darkness finally fell.

The street was littered with cones and boxes of various fireworks that had been used, and my brother, sister, cousin, and cousin's neighbors had shot off some Roman candles, which were off in a bucket. Every direction you turned, you could see fireworks lighting up the night sky, almost like lightning, but much more exciting (and less scary). By the time we were done, the weather reports read that it was foggy (I think, in fact, it was smoky), and all the grand finales were showing. When we got back to my grandparents' house, we watched the coverage of the show at the Gateway Arch over the Mississippi, in Downtown St. Louis. I was proud of myself for lighting off Roman candles (and not being afraid of singeing off the ends of my hair....), but a little disappointed, because my sparklers when I was little were never that pretty! Mine were little metal sticks with sparkly grey matter at the end that sparked when you lit it. No shiny pretty wrappers!! Oh well.

I came to the house last night and finished my paper. It was rough, but I finally finished it. I'm still concerned about my internship, but I'm trying to keep my mind off it right now, because there's not much I can do from here, right?

So we went to Six Flags today. Funny that the origin of Six Flags is in Texas, and has to do with the six flags that have governed Texas, one of them being Texas' own independent flag! (The others being France, Spain, Mexico, Confederate States of America, and United States of America, in no particular order...yea, it interests me lol).

Six Flags was fun. I go there for the coasters, of course. We rode every one there....as well as the Ferris wheel. My brother was going to try to scare the crap out of me by getting me to do the bungee jump thing, but didn't (thank goodness). It was a good way to take my mind off things for a while and just wander around in the sun. It's funny, though, all the rides in Texas seem bigger. Oh yea, everything is bigger in Texas!!!

No, really.

Their wooden coaster could use some improvements, and ain't got crap on the Texas Giant, especially since they built the Giant to be smoother with the metal tracking and all. I can't compare the Tony Hawk because it had some weird, un-epic name here. The Batman? The decor outside sucked, and the guy behind the ride was an asshole. At least the people in Texas are friendly. The Batman also seems longer in Texas, and that's probably because they take you through the ride again....backwards. The Mr. Freeze? Too short. They were only running one side. In comparison, though, they were about the same. Tower of Power? They only have one tower here, and they only drop you once. Texas gives you much more suspense.

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS!!
Except the fireworks shows.....sorry Texan readers. I saw some great fireworks. The burn bans are bigger, I guess you could say?

Well, that's all I got to say. Nothing insightful today. Well, I do have something insightful, come to think of it, but I'll save it for its own blog.

Deuces!

Change of Pace

I know my mom will read this, it is only a matter of time. She called out a mistake on a blog, but I haven't been able to find it, so I'll leave it be until she tells me which one it is.

Today, we went to Six Flags. We rode lots of rides, and, of course, got lots of hot, bright, Texas sun. Of course, I took the day off from my internship to do so, so some of my duties have been neglected, so I must decide whether to go in tomorrow and put in some hours, since I must put in 240 hours in the next 2 months, or if I should take the day off, since both my knees are achy, I look like I have had a lot of sun (which is true), I wouldn't be able to stand long, and I'm a tad irritable.

Did you know: Six Flags, the theme park, originated in Texas? The original park is actually in Texas. The name of the park comes from the six flags that have flown over Texas, and I'm going to see if I can do this without looking them up (they may be out of order, though)....France, Spain, Mexico, The Confederate States of America, The Republic of Texas (when they were their own country), and The United States of America (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, BINGO!). Just checked wiki for the flags over Texas, just to be sure I was correct, and, in fact, I am. If you want, you can check out the wiki. That is, if you're a geek like me and must know all the little facts about everything.

Here are some of the things we did today:

Batman, the ride. This is the roller coaster where your feet are suspended. Totally awesome.

Mr. Freeze. Abso-frikken-lutely fast ride. Blink and you'll miss the entire ride. Great for a head rush

My sister and I waiting in line for Mr. Freeze. She's the cuter one holding the camera, I'm the one leaning over the rail.

This one I sat by and watched. I found out the weight limit and was embarrassed by the fact that I was too fat for a ride.

Superman Tower of Power. Better than the one in Missouri (St Louis). We like to brag when we go there. I can see my school from the top. It's awesome. Usually I go on it twice, but this time I didn't

Shock Wave. You can't see the coaster from here. Best experienced at night, when they turn the lights on the track on. Totally awesome.

The train. I tried to catch the beginning but someone stepped in the way. It's ok, it's not a real big attraction. Mostly it gets in the way when you're trying to walk across the park.

Observation tower. Often closed for wind. Today was closed for wind. Not surprising.

New Texas Giant. Same as the old one, the wooden coaster, but with metal tracking added, making it a much smoother ride. Was closed for renovations for two years, and reopened this year. It's completely amazing. The only down side is that I hate tunnels, and it has three.

The Chicken Coop on the Texas Giant. Yes, they embarrass you if you chicken out. Yes, they even make noises, chicken noises. It's hilarious, unless you're really freaking out because of anxiety purposes. Then, I feel bad.

Texas pride at the Texas Giant. (Taken from the 2nd seat from the front of the coaster)

Even the trash can has Texas pride

Truly Texan- The instructions in English on the left, in Spanish on the right, and on every ride, they are read in both languages. *smh*

After the day is done- my shoulders/chest are not sunburnt- they are merely blushing. Camera attention, you know. Plus, I'm tired.

So, that is my day at Six Flags. I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm a tiny bit red, and I have hours that I need to make up, but can't decide whether I should do that next week and squeeze a lot of homework into tomorrow, or spread homework out and put the hours in tomorrow.

Season passes. I'm gonna use the heck out of my season pass. I love Six Flags. I just have to find the time to use the heck out of it. Probably when the boys are doing something off campus and I can't tag along *aw shucks. Guess I'll have to go to Six Flags instead* *disappointment*. Maybe I'll shed a tear for dramatic emphasis. No really, I do plan on going to my internship if they don't have anything else planned that I can't go to. If they're going on a field trip or something, I'm gonna be hitting up those coasters, though. I didn't even see half the park today.

By the way, today is my Aunt's Birthday. Happy Birthday Aunt Cindy!!!!

SWEET!!

2010 Rundown

Now that it's almost the end of 2010, I just want to look back at some of the things that have happened this year...even though not a lot has happened lol.

January- I got officially admitted to the school of social work, allowing me to begin my upper level courses; I went to the hospital because of an issue I was having and missed the first week of Spanish class....!! That alone brought my grade down significantly. I got pulled over because a cop suspected a DUI, when I was on the way to the doctor, but didn't give me a ticket. Another time, I took a spill at the end of the driveway, when I was trying to exercise more. Ended up skinning my knee and, oddly enough, my chin. Yes, my chin. And not the bottom of the chin either!! I don't claim to be the most graceful person ever.....

February- School, and I cut off a friendship gone south at a time that I felt was best for both me and the other person. We also had the record snowfall in the written history of Texas, and it was a blast! We'll probably never see another snowfall like that in my lifetime. *knock on wood*

March- Car wreck that still rings in my memory all the time. My car was declared totaled, but my dad had the tow truck drop it at his office, and he and my mother made repairs to it, replacing half of what was the front end. I spent spring break at home because I didn't have transportation. My Spanish professor kind of threatened to kick me out of class, and I couldn't understand her reasoning, just because I asked questions that made her think I guess, I don't know.

April- I was forced by the state of Texas to take a driving exam to prove that I was, in fact, capable of driving, because the cop that initially arrived at the scene of the accident was also the one that pulled me over for a DUI. Sucks living in a small town, right? I hit a downward spiral, but I couldn't let anyone know at the time. I got my car back toward the middle of the month.

May- I finished my spring classes relatively easily, scoring an A in all of my classes except Spanish. The rundown? This is my first semester with only one grade that was lower than a B. TCC- Microsoft Office- Word 2007: A, Business Law: A, UTA- Human Behavior and the Social Environment: A, Intermediate Spanish III: C. I tripped in the middle of the street during finals week, ruining another pair of jeans and skinning the same knee as before. Luckily, the light was red long enough for me to run to the sidewalk and try to get it to stop bleeding before hobbling to my car.

June- For the first time, I take summer courses. Relatively uneventful month. Went to Six Flags with my little sister a couple times, because we get season passes every year. Well, for the past couple years anyway.

July- We take our shortest ever vacation to St. Louis, because I have finals the week after the holiday. In our time there, we went to the casino, spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house, went to a 4th of July celebration at my aunt's house, then left. It was short & sweet. Hate that we had to drive so far & back for such a short visit. Courses run smoothly- I ace both my midterms. I apply for a job at the new HEB that's opening in town, the only one in the Ft Worth area. I make it through 3 levels of interviews, just to get a rejection email 2-3 weeks later. Bummer.

August- I complete my first summer semester with an A in both classes, my first 4.0 semester. Social Work Practice II and Social Statistics (I'd failed stats once before, so I was so psyched about this!!). Fair amount of space in between semesters, then I start the fall. The Wednesday before the classes begin, I am at my aunt's house, and I fall down ONE stair, and sprain my ankle. I bounce back quickly, though, and I'm off crutches soon after.

September- I begin this blog!! September 1 :) & in its first month I get more than 100 viewers. WOW. The guy that's been kind of laying low, but sending me messages for the past year returns, and I'm eventually forced to call the police on him after he shows up at the university (he's a non-student), finds my car, parks, enters the building to find me, and traces me down. I've been sent numerous messages online and had passively told him to leave me alone, but ended up having to bring the UTA police AND the city police into it. He stops contacting me after an officer calls and warns him to leave me alone.

October- It's becoming obvious that my research professor has taken a strong dislike toward me. There's not much I can do about it except work harder on my assignments, but I still fall face first on the midterm ending up with a 60-something on the exam, 76 average overall at the midterm. Crappy! I apply for my field placement, and get an interview set up. I sprained my knee....come to find out, I had been overcompensating from when I sprained my ankle....this time I was on crutches for like a month. I still have knee pain. I really screw up the lab midterm in bio, but I don't really care because so far, my lecture marks have been great.

November- My 23rd birthday. I write so many papers that I feel like I'm churning out a book, seriously. I have a ton of presentations too, all right before Thanksgiving, and, unfortunately all in the same day. Surprisingly, I get great feedback (as far as my portion goes) on all the presentations. Score! Unfortunately, my research prof still doesn't like me, and gives me a 55 on a paper that, had I had 1 more hour, would have been 100x better. I asked for one hour. She denied it. #$%^&. I find out that I've received my internship at MHMR Tarrant County, which makes me ecstatic....it's the closest thing I've had to a job in nearly a year!!

December- Somehow, I don't know if hell froze over, or if the cat did the grading, or perhaps she was just drunk, but I get a B in Research. Statistically, in my head, it doesn't add up, but I'm not gonna complain! I got As in both my other UTA classes, which I feel like I deserved because I really worked my ass off. This was the roughest semester of my undergraduate career, and I took 2 classes together that I shouldn't have, for scheduling purposes. I get a B in biology at TCC, which is fine because it transfers as credit hours, and my TCC GPA is still in the green. I start & finish training for my internship. I'm CPR certified, I've learnt about client rights and confidentiality and seizures and self-defense. I have a party where I drink so much (and take so much klonopin), that after smoking, I have an asthma attack and pass out-whether from the attack or from the alcohol & meds, I don't know. First party in years. I still had a blast. I think. I get back some feedback on the papers that I mostly wrote while my group members stood by idly and added a little bit, and I pretty much outwrote all of them. Hey hey!!

Stellar grades (3rd straight semester with nothing less than a C, 2nd with nothing less than a B!), a year now that I've not been in the hospital (even though I had some incidents....lol), a great party, a stalker, a car wreck that has wrecked me (I still have nightmares where I cross Hillside on 731 into a red Escalade), many many injuries (I never claimed to be graceful), the beginning of a blog that's nearing 500 views, and several friends added up and lost along the way. I think I can do better, though. Here's to the end of 2010, and the beginning of the year 2011, the year I graduate college (and consider grad school). Cheers!