Dentist

Dentist over. 25 years + candy addiction + brushing + irregular flossing = still 0 cavities.

My hygentist (who looked younger than me)asked if my hometown put floride in the drinking water. I told her that my hometown was actually the first town ever to put floride in the drinking water. She paused and asked if I was perhaps from Grand Rapids Michigan. She had to learn about us in school.

Gets Me Every Time

Is it Thursday night yet? Love it!

The Early (Book) Worm

Another week down. I can already feel my first semester in grad school slipping silently by. Seriously its almost October? In less than two weeks I'll be in Grand Rapids for a wedding (accompanied by Brian which might be the best part). I seem to be planning out my semester by when we'll see each other next. This makes the weeks go by even faster.

I feel like it's almost X-mas. I already started shopping for gifts. A big thing for me lately is planning ahead. I don't have much of a social life so my weekend have been spent getting homework done for the rest of the week (aside from Mad Men marathons). An assignment was finished a record six days early (ridiculous)this week. My workload is heavy enough that I think of this as smart, not pathetic (its probably pathetic).

My beloved four-year old blue fleece has been needing some serious backup. Going into the state's huge educational building I cannot be the girl in a bright blue fleece and its def not as warm as it used to be. Even though my funds are tight, I went to the mall on Saturday to see what I could do. I was on a mission to find the best deal on a fall coat. Of course I started in the Gap, like I always do, I always have a coupon. But I told myself I needed to see what else was out there. After an ill-fitted corduroy jacket, a cheap cotton one, and several military looking ones, I was right back at the Gap buying the jacket I really wanted all along. Why do I fight it?

What it's all about

The lack of updates is due to all of these things happening in the span of one week:
-Starting grad school (with five classes)
-Starting new hours at work
-attending a wedding in Boston (Brian was best man)
-Moving into my new apartment
-Brian moving to Wisconsin

Then after that week we had another wedding. Needless to say after having this past weekend off I finally feel like I can breath a little. Although both weddings were a pleasure to attend and beautiful, I was stressed out.

My classes are a lot of work. Five during the first semester might have been a mistake. I believe that I can muddle though the semester and get all the work done, there just might be some new grey hairs in the process. I really can't complain too much. For a long time I've wanted to go to grad school. I'm so glad to be there and am really interested in most of what I am studying. My young adult literature class is a particular joy to be in; a relief since I think I want to be a high school media specialist.

Now I'm just left adjusting to a new apartment. The place is huge, for much less than Brian and I were paying before. The weird thing is that my roommates never seem to be there. They go home to parents or to boyfriends places. I am alone much of the time. Going from living with your bf in a one-bedroom to being alone in a three-bedroom is a big difference. But again I can't complain. Both of the girls I live with are really nice when I see them.

Ch-ch-changes

This has been a very busy time. Our weekends are packed and in between the weekends we have to work and try to pack up the apartment.

I went to my first Phish concert with Brian. I have to say I enjoyed the music much more than I expected to. Thankfully I missed the one long jam when I went to the bathroom. I get bored when those go on too long. I loved all the glow stick throwing and the energy. That was the positives. And overall it was a positive experience.

The negative: It poured hard right before the concert started. All the males proceeded to take their wet shirts off (not as attractive as you might imagine). We had a blanket on the ground that we ended up leaving there since no one noticed it and stepped on it, covering it with mud and some gum (nice). I was worrying about the blanket and our backpack the whole time since no one seemed to care what they stepped on with their muddy feet. Most of the people barreling though the crowd were boys, who were larger than me (normal), unfortunately this meant that when they barreled into me, I got knocked over. I also was stepped on several times and punched in the back. I am not used to that many people in a concert space (obv).

This past weekend we went down to Long Island to visit Brian's grandma and to attend a lovely engagement party. As soon as we got to Long Island we headed to Jones Beach. I was excited to try swimming in the Atlantic Ocean (a first). Because of Hurricane Bill the wind was incredibly strong and the waves were intense. The waves were super fun for about 20 minutes. Then I got hit with a huge one that sucked me right down which was followed quickly by a second wave knocking me again and giving me a mouthful of gross saltwater. I was scooped right up by my lifeguard bf Brian who is now my unofficial hero. I knew I kept him around for a reason. I also decided Lake Michigan is much better for playing in. The salt water tastes awful and stings my contacts.

Again I hate moving. Although I enjoy throwing dirty shaggy pillows that no one wants out of my new place.

What? No milk song?

Brian and I were at camp last week and loved it. After all of the changes that have been thrust upon us so quickly neither of us was super excited to go up to camp (normally we're pumped) last week. But once it came time to leave we were both really sad to go. I love spending time with friends from Fowler, I feel like I laugh so much there.

We were both volunteer cabin counselors for the middle-school aged week. I had a great cabin of girls who were neither too annoying or too naughty. Sadly the same cannot be said for Brian's cabin who had an extra dose of crazy.

Now we are back and can't ignore the fact that we have to move out of our cozy apartment. I have no idea where to find boxes here to pack things. And I really don't know if I have room in my new place for all the stuff I brought from Michigan almost two years ago.

The next few weekends are going to be jammed full with friends before Brian leaves and I start school. This weekend we have Thuan and Rachel visiting, obviously awesome. Next weekend we have an engagement party and staying with Mema on Long Island. Then the last weekend of August we are hosting a goodbye party for Brian which is also (for me at least) a goodby party for our apartment together. Hopefully I don't lose my marbles in between all the plans.

Hand to Page Combat

It really is crazy to think that I will be walking into my first day of classes in two years. I am expecting grad school to be very challenging. Brian never studied harder in his life than in his first year of grad school and I should expect the same. As a planner at heart I hate the fact that I don't really understand what my classes are going to be about. I was a Communications major in undergrad and the classes were pretty much obvious in their name. Public Relations Writing was obviously going to be lots of press releases. But The Information Environment, Information Knowledge and Organization? I have no clue.

My Young Adult Literature class is a little easier to approach. Like the dork that I am (and since I have plenty of free time), I have already pushed through much of the reading list for the class. This includes almost twenty books written for the teenagers. So far most of them have been very nice reads. The stories are fast paced and the reading is quick. Right now I am reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Summary below:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I would never have picked this book up on my own, but I'm so glad I picked it off of the Sci-fi list for my class. I can't put it down.