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
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
For my sister...
Today was my last day of college and I just can't help but think about how thankful I am for my sister. She is always there for me no matter what to lighten my spirits or just to listen. She is seriously such an amazing person inside and out and I appreciate her more than I can express. She is such a kind funny person and by just being herself completely lights up a room. She's also always a voice of clarity. I feel like after I talk to her my head is always clearer. She is so smart, so pretty, so funny, and the best friend anyone could ever have. She frequently wonders why people she barely knows confide in her. I think it's a direct reflection of her character. You could trust my sister with your life and she wouldn't tell a soul and people sense that about her. She's always a neutral kind ground to voice whatever is troubling you or to just get something off your chest. That's why people always love my sister. Over the years people either like me or they don't, but my lil sis? Everyone always loves her. I am SO lucky to have her in my life and I wouldn't know what I would do without her. She is my complete other half and I love her so much. Lucky for me I'm her big sis so she really can't get rid of me. Friends come and go but I'll always have my true best friend and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world for that.
Love you M. I couldn't have finished this journey without you. From the catepillar funerals to graduating college, you've always been by my side.
Your big sis loves you lots and lots,
Riz
Love you M. I couldn't have finished this journey without you. From the catepillar funerals to graduating college, you've always been by my side.
Your big sis loves you lots and lots,
Riz
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
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
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
Monday, November 28, 2011
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 :)
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 :)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Banana Saturday
Let me start off by thanking Gwen Stefani for being able to spell banana with no hesitation.
Moving on... I bought some bananas at the store the other day with the intention of baking something that I can bring for breakfast in the morning as I am running out the door.
Lo and behold, I made two somethings. First up is Baked Oatmeal off of the lovely food blog A Cozy Kitchen. I must admit, try as I might, I can't get myself to love oatmeal. It's the texture that gets me, just too slimy. But oatmeal just seems like the perfect warm wholesome breakfast for when it's chilly out, so I am hoping that this oatmeal will finally be one that I like. I haven't tried it yet though, so I will have to update you on that. The only alterations I made to the recipe was leaving out the nutmeg cause I didn't have any, I only used 1 banana, I used steel cut oats instead of rolled (I won't pretend like I know the difference between the two), and I did not include the raspberries or almonds (I like my food plain).
I also baked some banana bread to polish off my last two bananas. I used this recipe off of allrecipes.com. I didn't change anything with this recipe.
And ta-da, two baked goods that I can bring with me to school or work in the morning!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, bring on Christmas!
M
Moving on... I bought some bananas at the store the other day with the intention of baking something that I can bring for breakfast in the morning as I am running out the door.
Lo and behold, I made two somethings. First up is Baked Oatmeal off of the lovely food blog A Cozy Kitchen. I must admit, try as I might, I can't get myself to love oatmeal. It's the texture that gets me, just too slimy. But oatmeal just seems like the perfect warm wholesome breakfast for when it's chilly out, so I am hoping that this oatmeal will finally be one that I like. I haven't tried it yet though, so I will have to update you on that. The only alterations I made to the recipe was leaving out the nutmeg cause I didn't have any, I only used 1 banana, I used steel cut oats instead of rolled (I won't pretend like I know the difference between the two), and I did not include the raspberries or almonds (I like my food plain).
I also baked some banana bread to polish off my last two bananas. I used this recipe off of allrecipes.com. I didn't change anything with this recipe.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, bring on Christmas!
M
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Made from Scratch
Made from Scratch is a wonderful book by Jenna Woginrich that documents her journey to a homemade life. This book was AMAZING. Seriously. It was hilarious first of all which I didn't expect. It was chock full of good info. without being too much plus it gave information while documenting her story. This book was suggested by Ashley English on her blog where she regularly talks about Jenna and references Jenna's blog. Jenna talks about going from her corporate job back to her rented farm tending her chickens, dogs (which she mushes!), and angora rabbits. Amazing. I'm right behind you Jenna!
On another note it's Thanksgiving. So, Happy Thanksgiving. But it just doesn't feel right. We celebrate a time when the Native Americans helped the pilgrims and taught them how to farm and survive. If the Native Americans had not done this then they all would have perished and the majority of us would not be alive today. So how did we repay them? Mass genocide. I find it ironic that we take a day out of the year to give thanks when we're celebrating one of the bloodiest and heinous parts of American history. I feel great pain for what we put Native Americans through. Being direct descendants of pilgrims, literally our family came over on the mayflower, we have the same last name and can trace our lineage straight back to them, I am not proud in any way of how we treated these people. Apart from the horror of our past, look at how many turkeys are slaughtered for this holiday? I'm just saying, it doesn't seem right.
Apart from this, I do love the thought behind everyone in America carefully considering what they are thankful for.
I am thankful for:
My Dad who has taken money out of his retirement fund to pay for my education. I will forever be grateful.
For my sister who is always there for me.
For my Lucy dog who provides me with constant comfort and love.
Riz
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