I AM A FREE BIRD

The time has finally come. Put away the backpack for good. No more tests, no more papers, no more drives downtown, no more trekking around school in the freezing cold. No more crabby teachers or shitty group projects. No more scheduling for classes, no more buying books.

I am free! Officially a college graduate. The day has finally come. It still doesn't feel like it but I'm sure it will one of these days. It was a struggle to get here I tell ya. This college business is stressful and not a good time. But I made it through 4 1/2 yrs of it with a degree and a pretty high GPA. I'm thankful I did it because I can't imagine not going straight from high school then going back later. At least for me anyway. I'm not a school lover. I was more motivated in college than I was in high school but you kinda have to be. College does make you realize your full bullshitting potential though. Not my proudest moments, just ask Lyd.

Let's reminisce... Lyd and I took a summer class and we had a paper where we had to write about a philosopher of our choosing. For some reason I just wasn't feeling this paper so I completely bullshit my way through it. Probably my least favorite moment of my college experience. Lyd on the other hand took it seriously and stayed up and worked hard on it. I ended up getting a better grade. That frosted her cookies.

So there have been the low times and the high times. Looking back I realize that I love our school and that this was just one of the stepping stones of my life. Off to the next adventure. Wish me luck.

Riz

The freeness awaits

Tomorrow is December! I can't believe it! So much is going to happen this month I can't even take it.


Moms bday.
Graduate.
My bday.
Christmas.

Crazy pants I tell you. Throw in there visits from friends and family. Should be a jolly time that's for sure! I can tell you that I will be a hell of alot happier once school is over. Then the fun begins.

As of today...

13 days.
4 finals.
3 classes.
2 forum postings.
1 quiz.
1 paper.
1 poster session.

...until I'm a free bird!

Today I finished research paper number 2 and tomorrow starts the last one. Which is the worst of all of course.

M and I were discussing today going to the movies solo. Thoughts? I'm thinking about going solo on December 14th as a solo celebration of my freeness. However, I have never been to a movie by myself but I think it would be kinda nice. Plus during the day the movie is more likely to be empty. Lyddy of course is against it but I think I might just do it! Hmm what else can I do on the marvelous day that will be December 14th... I hope its snowing so I have reason to cuddle up with the poochies, eat good food, watch movies, read, and do WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT.

Soon to be basking in my freeness,

Riz

School and other ramblings...

You know when you look forward to something for so long. You hype it up and you count it down. Then poof! It's over and you're on the other side. For the past almost 5 years this looking forward to has been the end of a semester. Once I get to the other side? Well more school... but not this time!

I'm tyring to psych myself up for finishing college. I feel like I should be over the moon right now. Unfortunately class stress is not allowing me to feel the excitement. I want to be excited but its just not happening. I wish I had one more extra week wiggled in there to get stuff done. O well, I just have to make it work. I foresee many sleepless nights and tears in my near future.

But can you believe it...

15 days
4 classes
3 exams
2 papers
2 forum postings
1 quiz
1 poster session

... until I'm a free bird.

I hope I feel the euphoria I have been looking forward to. But that's the problem you see. Once you finish one obstacle there's always another one to overcome. Maybe it's a matter of perspective. School was an obstacle there's no doubt about that, I keep forgetting to look at the future as an adventure. It can be hard sometimes as a 20 something graduate in this economy.

As I said to my sis, I just want a farm dammit!

As you can tell by my book selection lately, I'm trying to absorb all of the farm related info. I can gather. Specifically organic gardening, throw in some hens and a coop, with the possibility of 2 hives, some sheep, and some wabbits.

It's interesting because every author has a slightly different opinion and it clearly comes out in their writing. Specifically in terms of "farm" animals and what should be done with them. I just can't imagine butchering my hens and succumbing them to the seemingly torturous mating practices of roosters. Some authors say never to name your animals, only give them numbers so you don't get attached to them. I understand that in western culture we tend to humanize our animals but come on, if your hens are excited to see you and have distinct personalities how could you shove your unassuming hen into a crate, one that trusts you, and bring it to slaughter? I just can't imagine it. I think I'm off to a world of vegetarianism.

The authors do make good points in saying that all animals must die and with some circumstances on a farm you need to kill an animal in order to put it out of its misery. I am going to have to find a way to cope with these situations. I mean I know my dog won't live forever, but I can't ever imagine living without her.

So a post that was supposed to be about impending graduation turned into a post about organic gardening and farm animals, go figure. Well my end goal is to provide food for myself and hopefully fiber to wear and knit with. This leads into other goals of being completely self sufficient. How amazing would that be? Always something to strive for.

Riz

PS: I'm currently absorbed with (even though there are certainly other things I should be reading that pertain to ahem.. school!) The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C. Smith. AMAZING. I'll give a full review once I finish.

PSS: Continued frustration of not being a twin. I need my Lyddy to experience this end with me. It would just be so much better. I feel like I can't be excited because she still has a year to go! I don't know what it is. Maybe just the perpetual worry I have for my siblings and their well being. Hmph. Maybe she can find it in her to celebrate with me, that always makes me feel beter :)

And the Countdown begins...

5 more class days.
3 more research papers.
3 more quizzes.
3 more forum postings.
2 more tests
1 more poster session.

And after December 13th? NO MORE SCHOOL.

I will be a free bird. No more papers. No more tests. No more group projects. No more truckin around school in negative degree weather. No more 45 min. long morning commutes. No more door-opening-by-themselves bathroom stalls. No more grumpy teachers or annoying students. No more late night stress. No more ordering expensive books.

I can just go to work, come home and do whatever I want to do. Doesn't that sound like heaven?

It does to me, can't wait.

T-minus 25 days until I'm a free bird

Riz

School Shmool

Wowsers, this school stuff blows. And work on top of it? Explosive I'm tellin' ya.

Today it began at 7 am at work where it's stressful. Then I had a fight with a Redbox and subsequent fight with Redbox customer service. Then began the fight with my group members for tomorrows presentation. Followed up by writing a paper, accidently deleting it and having to start over. Submitting said paper then realizing that I didn't include the references section. And finalizing the 8 hours with the final fight with the group members. F M L

This semester might just be the death of me.

I'm happy to read that others are feeling the same pain. Well I'm not happy, you know what I mean.

But ya know what the worst part is? There's so much to do and not enough time to do it. And once you've finished a long day full of working you expect to be able to cross a bunch off your list. Nope, only a few items can be crossed off and the list is a mile long.

At least tomorrow's a new day,

Riz

(Almost) A Free Bird

6 weeks.
13 classes.
53 days until I am a FREE BIRD!

...and then my birthday...and then Christmas!

It's so close I can feel it! I know that time is going to fly by. Especially with the holidays and everything that's due between now and then.

Today was another productive day, I got a proposal and 2 quizzes accomplished. Always a nice feeling. No work but hey you win some you lose some.

I finished my HP marathon. Except I'm a few movies short. That's ok I feel like all I do is look at screens anyway. I can't wait for the day when all I have to take in is nature. Nothing artificial. It can't be good to look at screens day in and out. I feel like my eyes need a rest (as I continue to type).

Goodbye Folks! (the Wizard of Oz voice in my head)

Riz

PS: It makes me excited just thinking about writing the post saying "I'm done!"

Over The Weekend...

Man oh man people, if feel like all I do is talk about how busy I am, but holy moly I kinda feel like I can't breathe.  But, I did get Saturday off work for the first time in weeks which was really nice.  Kitty Daddy and I got up at our leisure and just enjoyed the day.

Kitty Daddy just finished The Green Mile by Stephen King and since I've never seen the movie we watched it over the weekend.  Um, waterworks much? The collar of my t shirt was soaked by the end of the movie, so sad.

Also this weekend we started watching some new TV shows.  First up, Terra Nova on Fox.

photo credit

We liked the first episode.  It's different, like Jurassic Park meets some kind of survival show with some action thrown in.  A keeper so far.

We also tuned into The X Factor last night after much protest on the part of Kitty Daddy.

photo credit

It's similar enough to Idol to be put into our line up but with enough differences to not be a total de ja vu situation.

And this is what I do with my already limited time instead of studying for my calculus midterm and doing my accounting homework.  Graduation cannot come soon enough!

M

Fall etc.

Can I get a hip hip hooray for Fall?!? The sisters here are psyched to see the end of summer and the beginning of fall. It's by far my favorite time of year. Unfortunately out here in the Midwest it doesn't last very long so we're soaking up what we can. We can't wait to go apple picking! One of our favorite family past times.

I started work and school again which is all consuming. Does anyone else loathe waking up in the morning as much as I do? I seriously whine and moan while my alarm clock goes off in the morning. I absolutely hate it. I need to prepare myself though because come January I am going to have to be at work at 8AM 5 days a week. F M L. One of the best things about college is that you can make your own schedule. I'm accustomed to this, I don't want to go back to high school days. Am I being a brat? Ya whatevs I'm bitter.

I've been (barely) working on these slipper socks. They suck. Just saying. And I'm not really happy with how they're coming out. Ugh.

Little bro is looking into college. So excited for him. It's crazy that I'm getting out when he's getting in. I don't feel that much older than him but apparently I am. He's looking into art school, how fun is that? Whatever he does I'll be happy for him! Lyddy is applying to get into her major now. How exciting for both of them! And Rizzy is almost done. I have to keep saying this. It gives me motivation.

Anyway, early morning tomorrow (ugh) so I guess I should catch some zzz's.

Adios,

Riz

PS: How cool is this?

Photo Credit

Suspended fireplace. Genius.

Here we go again

Ya ya this is my last semester and all but it's still another semester. I actually think I am over the school part (ask me that in a few weeks and I may have a different perspective) it's more the what to do after its over part. No insurance with no jobs and no way am I going to grad school.

Ya I have an internship now and ya it's a good oppotunity but what happens when you don't like it? Ya I know I should be grateful but after you bust your ass for 4 years you want to have a light at the end of the tunnel. And right now the light isn't looking too bright.

It's scary to be so unsure of what your future brings. I don't want to hate my job. I don't want to hate getting up every morning. Who knows what 2012 will bring but it's bound to stir things up a bit for better or for worse.

Time to put on the big girl pants now,

R

One down, One to go

My art class is done, now I just have to write another paper and study for my test, all due monday.

I do feel a tad better though. And I still have enough time to finish out my other class without being a total stress bag. However, that may happen anyway, who knows.

Off to eat tacos. Congrats Lyddy your done now!

XOXO

Riz

F Headaches and F School

Can I just say for a minute how difficult it is to do something with a headache? I have always kind of written off headaches. I kind of deemed them the "common cold" but after these past 2 weeks and what I experienced last semester I realize how debilitating they really are.

I have been tyring to get the rest of my school work done so I can just get my butt on that plane. But these headaches just have me at a stand still. Every time I try to write a paper or even look at my computer I get these headaches that are so bad they even hurt my teeth. Then I get this lower neck pain. It's horrible. Completely debilitating. You can't think, you can't focus and all you can think of is that I just want to close my eyes, shut off these lights, shut off the computer and rest.

But no, I have a draft of a paper that was really due Monday if we want to get technical. I have a paper and a test due in my other class by Monday. And I have another test on Monday. All of which are hard and time consuming. How am I going to get through this and still pass these classes decently?

Why did I go to college again? O ya because I really didn't have a choice if I want to do anything other than pump gas for the rest of my life. O ya but add in the fact that 40% of us graduating won't even have jobs? And that a masters is basically now mandatory. So not only are you telling me that all of this was for nothing and I'll still end up working at a tanning salon with a college education and that I will have to go to MORE school in order to amount to anything?

F my life.

Riz

School

WARNING: A bitch about school post again, beware.

I hate it. Actually I am liking my art class online, now wishing I had minored in art or something, or at least taken an art class sooner!

Anyway, I just hate school. You get to a point where you just don't care anymore. You don't care if you get an A or a B. You don't care if your paper isn't your best possible work. You don't care if your classmates in your class think your're a slacker. You just don't care.

However, with this not caring brings procrastination, which brings unnecessary stress. Ya I have plenty of time to get stuff done, but do I avoid it like the plague until the last possible minute? Yes. Do I hate myself for doing this? Yes. But if I could go back in time and do things differently, would I really have started earlier? No.

So here lies the dilemma. Thank goodness I am almost done. I really don't think I'd make it through to be honest.

Here's my life lesson for the day, don't go to school unless you absolutely want to!!! And absolutely know what you want to do! Otherwise you end up like us, miserable and hating it. Don't take this as arrogant, but thank goodness we are smart enough to pull off good grades with very little effort, or else we would have failed out a long time ago.

Honestly I will only go back if I really know I will enjoy it, really the misery and stress isn't worth it.

Riz