The meaning behind my blog name...

This one isn't too hard. Despite the fact I started this blog back in my Junior year of high school its purpose has always been exactly what it says: it's where my brain relieves whatever it's been holding inside of it, in no particular order. It's where my thoughts can flow freely from my fingers. Some people have art and crafts blogs or travel blogs or school blogs, but mine has never really had a theme, hence the word "random" in there.

As I've moved away from home it's become a tool to let my family and friends back home know exactly what I'm up to and why I'm so ridiculously hard to get a hold of sometimes. It's also nice because I don't have to call all my family and friends individually to tell them the same stories - they can just read them on here.

That being said, now that I've done the challenge for the day, I would like to say that I am very tired and have to write a midterm right now. However, I really do love being a TA.

I also fell down the stairs yesterday and it hurt more than normal. How do I have that comparison to normal, you may ask? Probably because I fall down the stairs to my bedroom once or twice a month. You'd think I'd be more careful by now, but I think the carpet's just out to get me. But last night I sliced open my toe, hyper-extended my elbow a little bit and fell on my butt, which is making it a little difficult to walk today.

In other news, it is February 1. If I can make it through this month I will be very, very pleased as things are looking up in March and April. Then I have a month and a half of spring classes before

COSTA RICA!!!

I am so excited for this. Like, SO excited!

Toodles!

-Jillian

Day 1 - A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts

This is literally the most recent picture of myself. It was taken Saturday night at Macaroni Grill. I had brought a bag of Pixie Sticks into work for all the servers and pretty much anyone who walked past the table in the back and Jorge was by far the most excited member of the team. He probably ate at least 15 himself. This picture was taken around stick #13. I thought the awesomeness that was our blue tongues deserved to be chronicled for posterity, so I whipped out my cell phone (making sure my manager didn't see and confiscate it) and snapped a picture.

15 interesting facts:

1. During the last 4 years I haven't spent more than 8 months in one place. The average time in one living location is 4 months.

2. I've switched my major about 6 times

3. I love puppies. Like, LOVE them.

4. I've spent an entire year in my life doing summer stock theater

5. I have a tendency to forget when my birthday is coming. I've spent the last month reminding myself it's getting closer.

6. I love painting my fingernails sapphire blue

7. Reading the New York Times makes me feel smart and sophisticated

8. Watching the State of the Union address was almost as exciting as Christmas.

9. If all goes well, this time next year I will be in Washington D.C.

10. If all goes well, in 4 months I will be in Costa Rica

11. I love brown sugar cinnamon pop-tarts and pop-corn. They are what keep me alive.

12. I sing opera at work, at least to the guests. Usually I sing pop music otherwise in an attempt to get the songs stuck in other servers heads.

13. I really, really enjoy being a TA.

14. Sleep. Is. Happiness. Especially when falling asleep next to or thinking about a person you love.

15. I have the most awesome stuffed animal EVER. Which I do still sleep with on a nightly basis. It's okay, I'm almost 23...

An attempt at actually sticking to something

I have this problem where I start something and then end up not finishing it. I know most people have this problem, but with me it's less of a problem and more like a pandemic. I resolve to do things in myself - whether it be homework or running - and then fail to follow through. So in an effort to change that, I'm starting small: with a blog. It's fairly simple, more likely than not you've seen these things on others blogs, and I'm going to attempt to do it. Here is the list:

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
day 2- the meaning behind your blog name
day 3- a picture of you as a child
day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been
day 6- favorite super hero and why
day 7- a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you
day 8- short term goals for this month and why
day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days
day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- write a bucket list of things you want to do before you die
day 12- 3 things that people are always shocked to learn about you
day 13- your 5 favorite books and why
day 14- a picture of you and your family
day 15- what do you consider your biggest success so far in life
day 16- a picture of yourself
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- write about a sweet memory from your past
day 20- write a letter to someone
day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
day 23- name something you love about each season of the year and which is your favorite
day 24- post your favorite quote or verse of scripture and why
day 25- what I would find in your purse
day 26- list 10 things that you are thankful for
day 27- my day job verses my passion
day 28- what kind of books you read
day 29 - favorite tv shows and why you like them
day 30 - movies you can watch again and again.

I like this one because it's personal without being awkwardly revealing. Plus, it'll be fun :)

So watch out blog-o-sphere. It officially starts tomorrow!

State of the Union 2011

You can rag on Obama however much you'd like, but that was an amazing speech. Yes, there were obvious holes and it will be interesting to see what he's going to have to stretch to deliver on his promises, but I'm proud to be American after that speech and what's more, I have hope for America's future.

But you wanna know the best part of that entire things was?

State of the Union 2012 - I'm going to be there!!

I just have to keep working for it. After all, "the future isn't a gift, it's an achievement."

Toodles!

-Jillian

Probably should've stayed in bed...

You know those days when you get out of bed, only to realize you probably should have stayed there?

Yeah....toooooootally my day today.

Snapshot of my life

Alrighty folks, I've gotta make this fast as I've got to be out of here and coding in fifteen minutes.

This is a week in my life:

I am taking 16 credits.

I'm working roughly 40 hours a week: 9 at a TA job, 11 at a job coding research, and somewhere around 20 at the Macaroni Grill.

I am in class on MWF from 8-11 and then 12-3. On TTh I have class from 9-10 and a class I'm TA-ing for from 1:30-3

I spend 5 and a half hours a week in an office waiting for students to come to see me while doing homework and writing quizzes to pass the time.

I wake up between 6:30 and 7 every morning and shoot for going to bed around midnight. I usually fail at this and turn in closer to 1, giving me somewhere between 6 and 7 hours of sleep a night.

I try to go running for a half hour two to three times a week.

I'm dating a kid who lives 45 minutes away and has been a complete gem during all this, driving down to see me more often than I drive up to see him. We've been making it about every other day, which I feel is amazing, considering the circumstances. A considerable amount of time is also spent talking to him throughout the day. It keeps me sane.

I spend roughly 11 hours a week pouring over government documents referring to practices about women and picking out facts and trying to fit them into one or more of the 300 some odd variables that we're supposed to be chronicling.

I find myself zoning out in class thinking about all the other things I need to accomplish.

I have my first test on Monday. It's in Geology.

I'm currently saving to go teach English in Costa Rica this summer.

I've begun looking at graduate schools and am feeling really, really intimidated at the prospect of applying.

Scholarship applications are due in a few weeks and I haven't started them yet.

I get to apply for Washington Seminar in less than 3 months! This is another thing I zone out over - thinking about the possible internship opportunites.

I'm already behind in my homework and we're only halfway through the 3 week. I think I have some catch-up to do.

I won't be able to do much of it this weekend as I'll be hanging out with my family or working, because Jess and the babes are down for the weekend!

And I managed to spew all of that out in less than 10 minutes. Which is why I win.

Toodles!

-Jillian

Does not play well with others

I've realized I'm a front row person. I prefer to sit in the front row of classes. I'm not sure if this is my need for attention from authority figures or if it's because I feel like I'll be less likely to text, surf the net, and sleep.

But you know what's annoying? Religion classes. Because it puts me with the elementary education majors and the marriage and family science majors who just giggle, so lovingly at fully at every little titter the professor says, like their laughter is freaking wind chimes, floating through the classroom.

I hate those people. There's one about two chairs down and she's just glowing with enthusiasm for this class and this professor and her life and everyone in this class. I want to punch her in the face. She's almost as annoying as the awkward kid sitting next to me earlier who laughed by inhaling, which resulted in him sounding like a complete ass (in the biblical way, of course. I am in New Testament after all).

I don't think it would be half as annoying if I didn't get the distinct impression that her wide-eyed sweet disposition is completely false. And I know what you're thinking, "Jillian, why are you labeling her this way?" and the answer is very simple. She was completely passive aggressive with the seating. I had my bag on a seat next to me, so she sat on the other side of my bag and a few minutes later one of her friends came in. Instead of being like "Hey, is it okay if you move your bag so my friend can sit here?" She made some offhanded comment to her friend (who had already found a chair a row behind her, so they were still able to talk and flirt or whatever the heck they were doing) about how she wished he could sit next to her, and then when another person comes by and asks me to move my bag - which I do - she makes another passive aggressive comment to the extent of "wow...I wish that had happened for you so you didn't have to sit so far away."

And now she's volunteering to pray and read all the scriptures out loud. And giggling obnoxiously. I mean, really?

I do not play well with others.

Quick update!

So. The facts are these:

I have finished 1 of my 6 finals, meaning I have turned in 1 of my 3 12-page papers. Huzzah!

Tomorrow I have one written final and another paper to turn in. The paper is struggling, the final for that same class is still undecided as to what it's about or what format it's in, and I left the book I need to read for the final at Stanley's grandmothers house. Whoops.

Tuesday I work, edit/finish writing the final 12 page paper and study for the last final.

Wednesday, I turn that in, take the test and am DONE. Completely. I will have conquered this semester!

And, this time next week I will be back home in La Grande!

Oh, we also went to the symphony last night, which was hysterical and entertaining for several different reasons.

Alright now, back to work...

Junior Year, take 7

There are many reasons I like my boyfriend. Today, I am grateful for one (well...two) of them in particular.

First and foremost, he edits my papers and makes them better. I have this problem with my academic papers, see, in that I know all the information required to form a good argument and when I describe my arguments to people it's obvious I know what I'm talking about. However, when it comes to expressing them in written form I fail a little bit. So Stanley, being the wonderful, patient, supportive human being he is, will sit down with me and tediously edit my papers, asking "Okay, what do you mean by this?" and "Why are you changing persons here?" or "You see how this weakens your argument?" and making notes for me to go back and fix.

So it's wonderful because he's not just telling me what I'm doing wrong, he's helping me fix it and be more aware of it for later. And due largely to his wonderful (and last minute) editing abilities, I managed to get an A on my first big international relations paper. It made me rather happy, especially as the Junior and Senior dudes behind me who got their papers back at the same time started complaining about how hard this teacher grades papers.

So yes, that is reason one. The second reason is related in that when I sent him an essay to edit while he was still in Spain (Viva Espana!) he realized I didn't have Microsoft 7 and was, in fact, working on the very outdated Microsoft Works which made references such as footnotes and other formatting really difficult.

So what does he do? He find Microsoft Office for me to download to my computer. So now I am able to write papers without having to do things manually and can actually add endnotes and footnotes to my papers without having to haul myself (and all my reference books for that matter) up to campus so I can finish my papers. Which proved particularly helpful this last week with my Women's History paper where I ended up adding a page and a half of endnotes to a 7 page paper (it was supposed to be a 4-5 page paper...oops...).

Which reminds me. I should probably start in on my next paper so I can get it over and done with so I can enjoy myself and not think about all the homework I need to get done when I get to see him next.

Have a great day!

Toodles!

-Jillian

p.s. ONLY 2.5 WEEKS UNTIL THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!

Junior year, take 6

Qualitative Research Design - done

Women's History Midterm Essay - check

Weekly History Reading Paper - done-zo

Critique for Women's History Midterm Essay - dominated

Midterm for Tuesday - moved to Thursday

Midterm for next Tuesday - moved to 2 weeks from now

Historiographical Essay due Tuesday - cancelled entirely

Practice Assignment due Friday - moved to Monday

Sometimes...life is good. :)

Junior year, take 5

This is my 250th post, people. That's right. We're going on over 6 years with this blog

So...what's new in my life? Midterms. The return of the boy. That's pretty much it.

I know, my life is ridiculously exciting and you're all insanely jealous. But don't worry, I'm going to tell you about why you SHOULDN'T be jealous of my life right now. Namely what I have to accomplish in the next 9 days:

3 written midterms and 5 term papers. Now, granted, 3 of those terms papers are just rough

draft term papers, but they're supposed to be GOOD rough drafts. As for the midterms, 1 is multiple choice, 1 is essay, and 1 is a mix of both. So this could be an interesting week.

However, here are things you SHOULD be jealous about. For instance, I get to see HER:

That's right folks! Tuesday night Stanley and I get to head up to the Venue in Salt Lake and listen to Ms. Ingrid Michaelson bust it out. I'm seriously so excited I might pee myself.

Also, Thursday night we get to go see my friend Brock in the Scarlet Pimpernel at the Hale, which should be exciting. And then, to round things off, this Sunday is my sisters birthday so we're heading up to West Valley to make dinner for her and her husband and to have an evening filled with good food and lively conversation.

That and for Halloween I'm probably going to dress up as one of the managers from work WHILE I'm at work. I know, I'm stinking hilarious.

But, that being said, it's going to be a long, hard, tiresome week and a half for me. The light at the end of the tunnel is that after it's over I have a nice, fairly relaxed 3 weeks until things pick back up again for finals.

Now to just get to that point. :)

Toodles!

-Jillian

Junior year, take 4

This is me currently going insane...

...

...I'm a quiet crazy, because all the screaming goes on inside my head.

I had a dream last night that I forgot to do one of my papers that was assigned this week. It wasn't a real paper, as I'm not in a science class, but it definitely brought to light one of the major fears I've been harboring - that I'm going to miss an assignment and fail a class (and by fail I mean getting anything lower than a B-) and flunk out of school and become a worthless human being who can't achieve anything. Seriously. I woke up panicked and with a headache.

That being said, I have to finish up a book today so I can write a paper to turn in on Wednesday, I have to write (and research) a 3 page prospectus for IR which is due tomorrow, and then I have to do a 50 point article analysis for my PLSC 200 class due Wednesday as well. After that I have another prospectus due next week - this time for Hist 200 - a IR midterm, and a 300 page book to read during that period of time, as well as doing a practice assignment for Friday.

Oh yeah baby, this'll be fun.

All that pales, however, to the fact that Stanley is returning to the state of Utah on Thursday. That makes me go like this...



I'm not sure why, but I felt the need to refrain from writing screaming sounds as I'm in a quiet computer lab. Because that would disturb the other people?

Yeah...as I said, I'm tired. And my brain's a little fried.

Anyway, off to do reading!

Toodles!

-Jillian

Junior year, take 3

Sometimes I wonder how I lucked out in life. Honestly, I have a good job, a good family, good friends, a car that works ($700 later...) and the opportunity to go to school and further my education in a way that will enrich my life and the lives of those around me. I have (more than) enough food to keep me full, shoes for any occasion, and at least one amazing pair of ridiculously comfortable pants that I come home to every evening. I wake up to an e-mail from my best friend each morning and fall asleep each night with the best stuffed animal ever.

I am also currently eating an incredibly scrumptious turkey sandwich.

Could life get any better? Of course it could. But that doesn't mean that the here and now is all that bad, either.

Toodles!

-Jillian

Junior year, take 2

Dear Professors,

What is the point of saying "well...it's labor day weekend, I can assign extra readings, they have an extra day to do them" if you ALL do that?! I refuse to read 50 pages of small print for Women's history, 4 chapters in a grammar book as well as 60 pages in a writers handbook for political science WHILE reading and analyzing an article to write a paper on 2 days later. I refuse to read 200 pages in freaking Herodotus while reading a 200 page book on Romans and Christians in the 1st century CE. I'm sorry. I don't know where you think I'm going to procure this extra time from to read your ridiculous extra pages. I'm sorry your class is the only one you're focused on, because it's not that way for me. So you can take your 300 pages of extra reading I'm somehow supposed to fit into one day off - that, surprise surprise, I didn't actually have off, thank you Macaroni Grill - and shove it.

Thank you

-A student.

Junior year, take 1

So. Here's my life in a nutshell.

I'm working roughly 25 hours a week. Which is good. A girls gotta pay her rent, you know?

I'm taking 16 credit hours. But wait...these are not typical credit hours mind. This is not your "Introduction to Geology" or other uninteresting gen-eds you can slough your way through, possibly not even really needing to attend. Oh no. Here are my classes along with a brief description of what they are and what they require:

Let's start with the minor.

Polisci 170, Intro to International Politics: This is possibly my easiest class. You take 2 mid-terms and a final that include questions from the assigned reading, including the M-F editions of the NYT, questions over current events, and lecture notes. Also included in each test is a blank map you identify random countries on. We're not talking France or Australia, here. The last portion of the grade is a 10-12 page research paper describing a foreign policy we'd like to change, and why. This paper counts for 34% of our grade. However, you can attend extra-credit lectures every Thursday...which I plan on doing.

Polisci 200, Political Inquiry: I have this class labelled as "Death" on my notebook We meet for 3 lecture hours a week and then 1 lab hour on Friday, making this a 4 credit class. for each class period we meet I have about 20-50 pages of reading to do. We have sporadic quizzes during lectures and are required to do one in lab assignment a week, along with an in-lab quiz. Also, there are 12 larger assignments due throughout the 15 week course, including 2 research plans. This class also involves Statistics - which I'm sure you all know I love with every fiber of my being. We conduct our own political survey at the end of this class, as well as take a midterm and a final.

Now for my major requirements.

Hist 200, Historian's Craft: For every reading I do in this class (and don't worry, it's about 30-40 pages a class period) I get to write a 2 page journal about what it made me think about in the realm of historiography. Other than that, the class is fairly laid back. There are pop-quizzes in class that deal with the reading, a writing mid-term, a writing final, and a 10-12 page paper on a historical subject of our choosing. We are to turn in a mid-term draft of this paper as well as critiques of our peers papers.

Hist 385, U.S. Women's History: This class is quite nice, despite the fact it freaks me out not to know what, exactly, I have to do for this class. Basically you do the readings (again, roughly 50 pages a class period) and you come to class with thoughts and ideas and we discuss it. It looks as though the only things I have to "look forward to" in this class are a mid-term paper, roughly 10 pages on what looks to be Early American women as well as an overview of women in general throughout History (again, not really clear on that), and a final paper - which details are apparently forthcoming.

Hist 495, Topical Readings Seminar: This class scares me a little bit, just because of the fact it's so independently motivated. We meet once a week on Wednesdays, but during that week we are supposed to read a book, on average around 200 pages, and write a 2 page response to it as well as present a chapter in that book to the class. As this is a seminar class it involves lots and lots of discussion. Also, at the end of the term, we are to read at least 2 additional books and write a 15 page paper comparing and interpreting the historiography of those books. Once again, I'm graded on having a draft as well as turning in the final paper.

So yes...that's my class load. And it's not the classes themselves that scare me, it's the fact that, for the first time in my academic career, I'm actually going to do real work outside of class. I mean, I've done the late night google research required to write papers before, I might have even spent an hour or two studying or reading. But this? No...this is going to be my entire life for the next few months. I've pretty much already decided my social life will be limited to Stanley and a jam session every week, just because those things are necessary for my sanity. Everything else is just fun and makes me happy.

Happiness can occur when I'm done with this semester.

So, you may ask, why am I blogging when I should be doing homework? Well, I suppose it's because I just did 2 hours of reading (yay women's history!) and needed a break and since my focus was already broken from taking my van to the shop I figured now would be a good time. That way I could alert you all the to hiatus from blogging that will inevitably come with school starting.

Anyway, hope life is wonderful for all!

Toodles!

-Jillian

Time together isn't ever quite enough

I am not the most logical person at times. I am fully aware that I have this problem with following through with my thoughts all the way.

For instance...

Last Friday I thought my wallet had been stolen. Having gone through this before, I knew the drill and immediately went to Wells Fargo and had them cancel my debit card and close my account, as my account number had been in my wallet too. So they set up a new account for me, ordered me a new card, new checks, everything. I cancelled my other debit card too, and in the end I was glad I had gotten that part sorted out.

But lo and behold, what did I find the very next day? My wallet, sitting on my chest of drawers where I swear it had not been when I looked there the day previous. Not that I was horribly upset, I was glad I didn't have to contact the SSA to get that sorted out or have to get another license or BYU ID, not to mention the library and grocery store cards I had in there. And I have a strong affinity for the actual wallet as well. :)

Well, I worked my butt off this weekend and made enough money that I didn't feel comfortable walking around with it in my newly rediscovered wallet, so I go to the bank this morning to get the two accounts sorted out (yeah...telling the guy I'd found it was embarrassing, don't even worry about it) and deposited all my cash into my checking account.

This is where my lack of fully developed thought comes in.

I completely forgot the fact that, oh wait, I have almost no food at my house. I have rice. I have eggs. I have instant stuffing. That's pretty much it. No eggs, no milk, nothing. So I get back from the bank this morning feeling rather ravenous as I hadn't eaten for 20 hours, realize I have nothing to eat in my house and think "Oh, I needed to go grocery shopping anyway, might as well go now."

One problem though. I'd cancelled my debit card and I, being the genius I am, had just deposited all of my cash.

So what did I, the prideful, stubborn, independent yet resourceful college student do? I scrounged through my work apron and discovered $3.20 in coins and went to the store to buy a loaf of bread.

Since then I have had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and fried eggs on toast. Both were delightful and very filling and I feel like I can get on with my day now.

I'm moving right now. I'm actually quite excited about it. I love going to a new place, someplace that's fresh and blank, and making it my own. I have all of Wednesday and Thursday off, so I'm going to spend at least one of those days unpacking and organizing everything as well as decorating it and putting my mark on it so it feels more like home and less like a bed I'm just filling temporarily. Hopefully I'll spend the other day hiking, but we'll see what kind of progress I make as I want everything to be settled and set before school starts on Monday.

I am waxing a little nostalgic though. This house has seen some fun memories and I'm a little sad to leave the place behind, though I'm sure there will be many more made in the apartment next store.

And a post wouldn't be a post without at least one list.

Things that make me smile:

-Owl City, most specifically The Saltwater Room, Hello Seattle, If My Heart Was a House, and the Bird and the Worm

-Knowing I have tickets to go see Ingrid Michaelson

-E-mails from and talking to my best friend

-Going through my pictures and deciding which ones to print off to hang around my room

-Finding out I don't have to have all my stuff moved out and deep-cleaned for another 30 hours

-Thinking I might be pinpointing what's wrong with my car so I can get it fixed sometime in the future

-Knowing I'm working tonight so I'll actually be able to buy cleaning supplies

-The anticipation of shopping for school supplies

Who died and made you king of everything?

I don't like airports. Or maybe it's just that I don't like waiting in airports. I think that's probably the thing. I enjoy when I'm walking through airports, searching for and suceeding in finding my gate, realizing that all these planes are going to various and diverse places. Of course, then the fantisizing begins and I start to try and figure out how I can smuggle my person on one of those planes that's not heading to Boise, Portland, or Salt Lake.

But then there's the waiting. They say you should get here 2 hours early for a domestic flight, 3 for international. I'm not sure why this is, if it's the fear that going through the security checkpoints is just going to take so dang long that you're going to miss your flight, or if the fast food places have entered into a conspiracy to make you wait around the airport, bored out of your mind, for as long as possible to entice you to buy one of their incredibly overpriced and low-quality items. Which, come to think of it, I'll probably do here in about 45 minutes when my laptop no longer entertains me.

I just don't like it. And it's not that I don't like doing relaxing activities such as reading or surfing the net. It's just that I like to do them in the comfort of my own home and not when I have camera's watching me and my luggage like a hawk. I hate that I have to carry all of my bags with me whenever I go to the bathroom and then struggle to figure out where to put them while I'm in there. I hate that these waiting chairs are so gosh-darned uncomfortable and that sitting on them for too long makes my tailbone ache.

I think if I traveled with someone it might be more enjoyable. Then we could lovingly judge the people around us by playing games like "spot the ugliest pants" or "who has the ugliest shoes" and my personal favorite "what's up with THAT couple?" Or we could do a scavenger hunt through the stores for the ugliest souvenir. Those are fun games to play, but just aren't quite the same by yourself.

That being said, I am currently watching "Lost" in an airport, right before I'm going to board my plane. That seems masochistic, even to me, but hey, as I said, I'm bored. The 20 minutes it took me to check in and go through security went by way too fast. But it's either watch "Lost" or organize my I-tunes library, as I'm saving reading my book for the actual plane ride. And while I do enjoy organizing my I-tunes I'm not quite in the mood for it, as it tends to constipate my computer.

That being said, I want a candy bar. Or possibly gelato. But mostly a candy-bar. Probably a Milky Way. Or Milky Way gelato. That would easily solve my indecision. However, as this is the Boise airport, I don't think they have gelato here. Sad face.

The flight's delayed, so I'm looking at not loading for another hour or so. Oh well...I've still got 20 minutes left in this episode, plus enough time to hunt down something to conquer this sweet craving I'm having.

Another observation about this airport? The music they play is so odd! It's like they put someone's I-pod on shuffle and just let it go. Now, granted, the music they're playing isn't bad music, it's just a unique juxtapositioning of songs.

I have very little else to say at the moment. One can only muse so long about airports unless said airport is a hustling and bustling one, and the Boise airport on a Thursday evening in mid-August is not horribly bustling. Just a random assortment of businessmen and a few families.

I'll be posting pictures of the blessing and other assorted shenanigans pretty soon. Until then, have a great day!

Toodles!

-Jillian

IMPORTANT ADDENDUM!!!

I have searched this airport, and have found hide nor hair of gelato OR Milky Ways! Oh, of course they have the Caramel Milky Ways, but the origional? Nope! They don't even have the original Mamba's which I would have been happy settling for. What kind of establishment are they running here?! No Mamba's OR Milky Ways?

What is this world coming to?

Blurgh...

Here are my thoughts at the moment.

In my mind, it's pretty much already September and I'm about to start school. I'm actually really upset by this for some reason. I was really excited for fall semester ever since I registered for classes, but for some reason when I looked at my schedule today and realized school was so soon, I dreaded it. I dreaded going at another semester, working my butt off at work, sacrificing my schooling to try and maintain relationships with friends that never seem to work out quite the way I'd like them too and to keep my head above water financially; not being able to truly develop certain skills I'd like to because I'm so busy with everything else.

That being said, I love my friends. I love the people I work with and enjoy my job. I'm sure I'm going to love the classes I'm taking. So I really don't know where this loathing and dread came from, but man, it was overwhelming for a little while.

So I've been watching Lost, and can I just say I'm soooo over the flash forwards? Come on and explain it already! You've been doing this for way too long and now it's just frustrating, and I want to know what's going on, so instead of making things so dramatic, just tell me, okay?

Because of this frustration, I may or may not have finished all of season 4 in 48 hours.

I swear I'm not as pathetic as I sound.

Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile...

Things that make me happy today:

My Rainbows

My Chaco's

Summer afternoon rain showers

Netflix streaming

Homemade soup with Macaroni Grill bread

I'm going to have a bunch of awesome historical books within the next month - even if it does cost an arm and a leg

Organizing my laundry

Knowing I'll be going home within the next 2 weeks

Only having one more class and one final before I'm done with Stats FOREVER!!

Getting the go-ahead to paint my bedroom when I get back from Oregon

Knowing that, despite some of my best friends being gone, they shall return within the month!

I've discovered a new solace. It's writing in my journal. Well, not necessarily in my journal so much as it's writing on whatever scrap of paper I have lying about. It's a great way to try and organize my thoughts and just get them out of my head for a bit so I can understand them better. Now if only I could organize those random scraps of paper into one spot...

Toodles!

-Jillian

Make your own kind of music!

I want the Harry Potter books.

I used to have all of them, back when I was living at home. My parents bought most of them for me, but then Jess fell in love with them and took most of them off with her when she moved out to become a real person. So I am left with no Harry Potter books.

So here's the deal, folks. I can the entire collection of paperbacks for$50 on Amazon, but that exceeds the budget I have set out for myself by $25 AND leaves with me no money in that category for the rest of the month. So...I'm debating what to do. Do I buy it now and just tighten my belt in other areas? Or should I wait until next month and see if I can work it into my budget?

P.s. I just heard the most awkward thing ever. One of my girlfriends asked one of our other friends how her honeymoon was. The newlywed responds with: "It was wonderful! The only way it would have been better is if you had been there!"

Sooooooooo awkward...

And in another vein entirely, I've decided Lost is what happens when lots of people with major issues get together. And I thought I had trust issues..