Alright, so I've resigned myself. I always knew that school would be a major part of my life since I've wanted to be a teacher since I can remember, but after looking over some things today, well it seems as though this educational hole I've dug for myself is about to get a little bit deeper.
I always thought that I would be in and out of college in four years, no problem. I even remember sitting in an orientation for Humboldt University (wanted to go. Glad I didn't.) where there was a student talking about how he was in his fifth year and I remember scoffing at the thought and thinking how he's probably just some lazy cheeto-fingered stoner. WRONG!! It's me!! I'm the cheeto-fingered stoner!! (sort of, not really.) But it's my fifth year and I'm nowhere close to done. This isn't for my lack of trying, but rather because of the chaos the university system is in right now. I'm currently an Engish major, one of hundreds at my university. Most of the upper division courses I need have one measly section offered that holds 40 seats max, not to mention they're mosty morning classes. These classes are usually a no-go for me because 1) I work regular hours like many many other adults! and 2) The chances of me getting into these coveted classes is nill because of the limited availability of seats. And forget waitlists, these days many professors are told by their department NOT to accept any waitlisted students, that they can't afford it.
Excuse me, wait. They can't afford it?? What about my peers and me who are paying thousands to be a full-time student and can only snag a few classes?
I'm not going to get into the money aspect of this..thats reserved for a later post. *Spoiler alert* Federal student loans are BULLSHIT!! After a year of fighting for my student loan in a process that I'm still losing sleep over, I'm relatively sure I'll do whatever I can to NOT have to deal with this everrrrrrrrrr again.
Alright, stepping off my political soapbox here. Basically here is what's happening. I'm absolutely off my rocker and am making a decision that I'll probaby kick myself for during the next few years. The people around me will probably kick me too, they have permission, because they'll have to suffer just being around me. Yea, there will be suffering. But *hopefully* in the long run this will be the best decision I could have made.
Remember how I said I thought I'd be out of college in 4 years? Well that also means I never thought I'd be switching my major during my FIFTH year. yep. Former English major, meet new Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Exceptional Children and Youth...with a possible additional concentration in English.
Crazy? Yea, I know.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Flying Around With the Seat of My Pants Cut Off
That's a quote from me that I said earlier this week. After I said it I realized that I had combined the phrases "flying by the seat of my pants" and "running around like a chicken with its head cut off." Yep. That means I've been busy enough to not even have time to untangle cliches about being so crazybusy!! BUT it just so happens that the confusion of two cliches about crazybusymadnessinduction completely works to summarize just whats been going on over here... so I rolled with it.
I spent the beginning of my week completely stressed about assignments and work and student loans and working out and what I was going to pack for lunch the next day and when I would do my laundry and whether it was going to rain and "oh please car I know you're way past empty but please please make it to the bank so I can get there and back before my lunch break is over! I'll be your best friend!" and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop... and then! Tuesday morning I played indoor hockey with the kids at work.
For 90 minutes. It was complete fun madness and it took me away from all of these stresses for our ungodly long PE session that sunny Tuesday morning. I love times like this where I get to bond with these kids. Times that make me so thankful for my job and my future and remind me not to sweat the small stuff. After it was over I wiped my face down with some baby wipes, shrugged off the fact that my makeup was ruined from this point, and was ready to let the adreneline push me through the rest of my day. But what I didn't realize was how much of a workout I was getting while simultaneously trying not to accidently smack a kid in the shins with my plastic hockey stick, and using it as a shield from my Troublemaker kid who gets a kick out of holding his in the air over his head and wacking it on the ground as hard as possible....
Until the next morning. Boy was Miss Amanda sore. For 3 days. I'm talking sore all over too. Back, legs, arms, HANDS. So I spent the rest of my week like that pantsless flying chicken, who this time had aged approximately 40 years. No big.
I got through my week and was thankful for the hockey sesh. I had a pretty darn good weekend too. :)
I spent the beginning of my week completely stressed about assignments and work and student loans and working out and what I was going to pack for lunch the next day and when I would do my laundry and whether it was going to rain and "oh please car I know you're way past empty but please please make it to the bank so I can get there and back before my lunch break is over! I'll be your best friend!" and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop... and then! Tuesday morning I played indoor hockey with the kids at work.
For 90 minutes. It was complete fun madness and it took me away from all of these stresses for our ungodly long PE session that sunny Tuesday morning. I love times like this where I get to bond with these kids. Times that make me so thankful for my job and my future and remind me not to sweat the small stuff. After it was over I wiped my face down with some baby wipes, shrugged off the fact that my makeup was ruined from this point, and was ready to let the adreneline push me through the rest of my day. But what I didn't realize was how much of a workout I was getting while simultaneously trying not to accidently smack a kid in the shins with my plastic hockey stick, and using it as a shield from my Troublemaker kid who gets a kick out of holding his in the air over his head and wacking it on the ground as hard as possible....
Until the next morning. Boy was Miss Amanda sore. For 3 days. I'm talking sore all over too. Back, legs, arms, HANDS. So I spent the rest of my week like that pantsless flying chicken, who this time had aged approximately 40 years. No big.
I got through my week and was thankful for the hockey sesh. I had a pretty darn good weekend too. :)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
So I've been hovering over the 'New Post' button for like a month now with a few vague post ideas and even more of what I've coined 'what-the-hell-am-I-going-to-write-on-this-thing-itis'. I've been reading so many awesome blogs out there that my little baby blog aspires to be!!..but I haven't been writing. I think maybe (maybe??) this is because I haven't given myself much of a starting point. Most of the blogs I love give me some sort of chapter-Esq info on the author... they've established a background..and in each post they can write about things in their life that I, the reader, am familiar with. So maybe that's where I'm stuck. Nothing to roll off of. You smell what I'm steppin in? Good. Now here's my attempt at executing said starting point...
My name is Amanda. I was born and raised in central California where I currently reside, and my day-to-day frenzy is something I hope to never take for granted. By frenzy, I mean I'm busy. In a rather major way. And I'm always somehow wanting to take on more. (Like this blog perchance?)
I'm a college student at a local University. Can't wait to be a certified teacher in the next few years!! I work at a middle school in a Special Handicap class. If I could just come home and write about everything that happens there I'm certain I would not only have a massive fan base but I will have endeared the hearts of many to the amazing kids I work with. Unfortunately I just can't do this because names and details would make things rather sticky... All you need to know is that I love those kids, and the occasional feeling of ohmygodIamgoingtopullmyhairoutrightnowthissecond!! is worth it x10000009 for what I get out of those kids.
I've always wanted to be a part of a big family but my small tight-knit family is more love and entertainment than I sometimes know what to deal with. One of my best friends ever is my brother Nick. Nick has Down Syndrome. I only mention this because it's what led me to my passion at work, and probably my passion for teaching in general. I never think of Nick as 'different', he's my brother and he was made the only way I know him. In fact most nights I think of him as "the crazy guy in the next room banging on his drums and singing Johnny Cash at 11pm...WHY IS HE STILL DRUMMING AT 11PM!?" And I friggin love him.
I also friggin love my boyfriend. He shares my love of reality television, making up a song for every situation, and laughter at inappropriate situations.
Phew!! I think that'll just have to do for now.. now grow baby blog, grow!
My name is Amanda. I was born and raised in central California where I currently reside, and my day-to-day frenzy is something I hope to never take for granted. By frenzy, I mean I'm busy. In a rather major way. And I'm always somehow wanting to take on more. (Like this blog perchance?)
I'm a college student at a local University. Can't wait to be a certified teacher in the next few years!! I work at a middle school in a Special Handicap class. If I could just come home and write about everything that happens there I'm certain I would not only have a massive fan base but I will have endeared the hearts of many to the amazing kids I work with. Unfortunately I just can't do this because names and details would make things rather sticky... All you need to know is that I love those kids, and the occasional feeling of ohmygodIamgoingtopullmyhairoutrightnowthissecond!! is worth it x10000009 for what I get out of those kids.
I've always wanted to be a part of a big family but my small tight-knit family is more love and entertainment than I sometimes know what to deal with. One of my best friends ever is my brother Nick. Nick has Down Syndrome. I only mention this because it's what led me to my passion at work, and probably my passion for teaching in general. I never think of Nick as 'different', he's my brother and he was made the only way I know him. In fact most nights I think of him as "the crazy guy in the next room banging on his drums and singing Johnny Cash at 11pm...WHY IS HE STILL DRUMMING AT 11PM!?" And I friggin love him.
I also friggin love my boyfriend. He shares my love of reality television, making up a song for every situation, and laughter at inappropriate situations.
Phew!! I think that'll just have to do for now.. now grow baby blog, grow!
Monday, January 24, 2011
MMMMMMMM!!!
My food weakness? SUGAR! Sometimes it's a problem. For real. If I could I would top off every meal with a dessert, and shamefully at times I have. But Shakira was right when she said your "hips don't lie" and I was hit in the face with the reality that along with running, I needed to start dieting too. *shudder*
So far it's been pretty simple... except for the lack of sugar intake that was making me grumpy and just plain ole sad. I began to think that there had to be a way for me to make something light that wouldn't ruin my diet but would also satisfy that sweet craving. (And also because I like to pretend I'm the cake boss.) So, I took a recipe from my AMAZING Taste of Home: Cookies cookbook and lightened it up a bit! I was a little bit nervous while making them but they turned out GOOD!! So I thought I would share!!
Oh and for Weight Watchers people I calculated these to be worth 1 point each!! Your WELCOME!
Amanda's Light Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup Sugar
1 large banana, mashed.
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup applesauce
2 egg whites
1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
I use my Kitchen Aid mixer to blend everything together in no particular order. As a rule of thumb I always throw the eggs in there first so I'm sure not to get any shells. Then I spooned it by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets and baked for 7-8 minutes at 350.
I realized quick that you have to watch these because while they may not look all the way done THEY ARE! And they seemed to stick to the pan (even though it was greased) if I left them in for any longer than what cooked them through.
The consistency is like a cookie/muffin hybrid. Maybe I'll play with them some more to perfect them, but you weren't expecting Mrs. Fields, were you? They were SO good warm and dunked in my morning coffee! It was hard to only eat a few! But I stuck to it! (Begrudgingly)
So far it's been pretty simple... except for the lack of sugar intake that was making me grumpy and just plain ole sad. I began to think that there had to be a way for me to make something light that wouldn't ruin my diet but would also satisfy that sweet craving. (And also because I like to pretend I'm the cake boss.) So, I took a recipe from my AMAZING Taste of Home: Cookies cookbook and lightened it up a bit! I was a little bit nervous while making them but they turned out GOOD!! So I thought I would share!!
Oh and for Weight Watchers people I calculated these to be worth 1 point each!! Your WELCOME!
Amanda's Light Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup Sugar
1 large banana, mashed.
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup applesauce
2 egg whites
1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
I use my Kitchen Aid mixer to blend everything together in no particular order. As a rule of thumb I always throw the eggs in there first so I'm sure not to get any shells. Then I spooned it by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets and baked for 7-8 minutes at 350.
I realized quick that you have to watch these because while they may not look all the way done THEY ARE! And they seemed to stick to the pan (even though it was greased) if I left them in for any longer than what cooked them through.
The consistency is like a cookie/muffin hybrid. Maybe I'll play with them some more to perfect them, but you weren't expecting Mrs. Fields, were you? They were SO good warm and dunked in my morning coffee! It was hard to only eat a few! But I stuck to it! (Begrudgingly)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Is it just me? or...
My brother loves LOVES the show iCarly on Nickelodeon. It's a cute show about a spunky tweenage girl and her friends. So I'm in the kitchen peeling an orange the other day when I glance at the TV and see sweet Carly wearing this...
Parole Baby?? UUhhhh... is there a twist I was unaware of? Did I miss the episode "i Get Convicted And Then Released on Good Behavior"? Just wondering...
Parole Baby?? UUhhhh... is there a twist I was unaware of? Did I miss the episode "i Get Convicted And Then Released on Good Behavior"? Just wondering...
Monday, December 13, 2010
About Friends..
It seems that over the past few years the topic of friendship has been on my mind a lot..
Having friends should be easy, right? I mean throughout our years in school we have tons of friends, but upon entering adulthood they wisp away. And yes, this is normal because we're all coming into ourselves and creating our own lives and Lord knows I have many days where after work and school I really just don't want to be around anyone but what I'm wondering is...
Exactly how long do you go between spending time with someone before you and that person "used to be" friends?
I have handfuls of friends who I was close with in High School and the first few years preceding it who I now don't speak to at all. Many of these friends I would be glad to run into, but then there are many who I would probably groan at having to stop and chat with if we ran into each other in Target.
Then I have those friends who I can go for months, maybe even a year without seeing and when I'm reunited with them it's like no time has passed.
Then there are the friends I thought I was really close with. One whom I grew up with and get choked up about remembering how we spent years in sleepovers talking till morning about boys and how our life would be when we grew up. She and I were close from 2nd grade till we graduated high school, and I feel we have maintained our friendship since then, going to lunch..seeing each other at bbqs and whatnot.. She got married a few months ago, I think it was a big wedding. I wasn't invited. Of course I'm happy for her but all I can think about is how this summer she relayed the story of how he asked her in vivid detail.. So why wasn't I invited? This just makes me wonder..what kind of friends are we?
I lost one friend this year to family circumstance and one to "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me". Sometimes it's best to let people go..
And of the people you have to let go.. what about those you would love to be friends with but who never call? How fun is it to be in a friendship when you're always the ones making plans, and organizing. Shouldn't friends make the effort to spend time with you too?
Like the handful of close girlfriends I used to have who still get together... I have a lingering suspicion I'm not invited to their parties or nights out because I don't really drink and they all do. But isn't that a silly reason? And if that's what they value then should I really sweat it?
I have many valuable relationships in my life that I would not trade for ANYTHING. But the fact is I do not have close friends who I spend valuable time with, and this makes me sad sometimes. Is it just growing up? Am I not fun unless I'm drinking? Do I need to just continue being the perpetual planner? I don't really have a conclusion on this one...
Having friends should be easy, right? I mean throughout our years in school we have tons of friends, but upon entering adulthood they wisp away. And yes, this is normal because we're all coming into ourselves and creating our own lives and Lord knows I have many days where after work and school I really just don't want to be around anyone but what I'm wondering is...
Exactly how long do you go between spending time with someone before you and that person "used to be" friends?
I have handfuls of friends who I was close with in High School and the first few years preceding it who I now don't speak to at all. Many of these friends I would be glad to run into, but then there are many who I would probably groan at having to stop and chat with if we ran into each other in Target.
Then I have those friends who I can go for months, maybe even a year without seeing and when I'm reunited with them it's like no time has passed.
Then there are the friends I thought I was really close with. One whom I grew up with and get choked up about remembering how we spent years in sleepovers talking till morning about boys and how our life would be when we grew up. She and I were close from 2nd grade till we graduated high school, and I feel we have maintained our friendship since then, going to lunch..seeing each other at bbqs and whatnot.. She got married a few months ago, I think it was a big wedding. I wasn't invited. Of course I'm happy for her but all I can think about is how this summer she relayed the story of how he asked her in vivid detail.. So why wasn't I invited? This just makes me wonder..what kind of friends are we?
I lost one friend this year to family circumstance and one to "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me". Sometimes it's best to let people go..
And of the people you have to let go.. what about those you would love to be friends with but who never call? How fun is it to be in a friendship when you're always the ones making plans, and organizing. Shouldn't friends make the effort to spend time with you too?
Like the handful of close girlfriends I used to have who still get together... I have a lingering suspicion I'm not invited to their parties or nights out because I don't really drink and they all do. But isn't that a silly reason? And if that's what they value then should I really sweat it?
I have many valuable relationships in my life that I would not trade for ANYTHING. But the fact is I do not have close friends who I spend valuable time with, and this makes me sad sometimes. Is it just growing up? Am I not fun unless I'm drinking? Do I need to just continue being the perpetual planner? I don't really have a conclusion on this one...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The flouncy-bouncy Running Goddess who got my butt moving!
Never have I been a runner...
I mean really...in school I would dread the "mile" days... days in advance!!
(**Relevant middle school mile-running memory-- Once we had to run a group mile. Four or five people to a group, everyone holding on to an outstretched jump rope. Little ole Amanda was at the end of the rope. This meant 4 of my 90lb. friends pulling me around the track and softball fields like a truck stuck in the snow. It was my fastest mile run ever... )
So sometime last spring I started walking around my college campus in an attempt to lose some lb's, and every day this light and fit ponytail bouncing CREATURE would run past me every day.
She looked something like this:
mmmm hhmmm... go ahead and add your comments..I felt the same way!! Just looking at her made my thighs feel like they were rubbing together more than usual.
But instead of getting down on myself...I set a goal. I was going to start running. And little by little I started!
The first few days were torture. My feet and calves were sore, and I felt like I was being dragged at the end of that jump rope again. But every day that skinny running chick flounced past me and it made me want to keep at it even MORE! I was so surprised at my progress within the course of only two weeks. I could run for 15-20 minutes at a time..something I honestly thought I would never be able to accomplish!!
And while I've spent the last year going through stages of running every day for a few weeks or so and then dropping it for a few weeks... I haven't exactly seen the steady process that I was hoping for BUT when I am in a running stage I DO see and feel changes. And they're good ones! Another benefit is that even after I haven't ran for 3 weeks I can step out my door and run for 20 minutes without feeling the tug of that dreaded jump rope!
Each time I run I think of that bounding runner babe who I switched from wanting to slap to wanting to run after!! (Seriously..If I ran directly behind her and used her firm booty to motivate mine maybe I could run longer...but it may also creep her out so..) Shes a complete stranger but she was my motivation and it's because of her that I've been able to get up off my jiggly ass!
I ran for 3 weeks in November..took two weeks off..and ran for 22 minutes today. I'm proud of myself! :) And although I could do a MUCH better of keeping up with my new regime, I'm farther ahead that I ever thought I could be..and all because I glimpsed someone just doing their thing. I hope somebody somewhere has seen me and been inspired to try something new too!
I mean really...in school I would dread the "mile" days... days in advance!!
(**Relevant middle school mile-running memory-- Once we had to run a group mile. Four or five people to a group, everyone holding on to an outstretched jump rope. Little ole Amanda was at the end of the rope. This meant 4 of my 90lb. friends pulling me around the track and softball fields like a truck stuck in the snow. It was my fastest mile run ever... )
So sometime last spring I started walking around my college campus in an attempt to lose some lb's, and every day this light and fit ponytail bouncing CREATURE would run past me every day.
She looked something like this:
mmmm hhmmm... go ahead and add your comments..I felt the same way!! Just looking at her made my thighs feel like they were rubbing together more than usual.
But instead of getting down on myself...I set a goal. I was going to start running. And little by little I started!
The first few days were torture. My feet and calves were sore, and I felt like I was being dragged at the end of that jump rope again. But every day that skinny running chick flounced past me and it made me want to keep at it even MORE! I was so surprised at my progress within the course of only two weeks. I could run for 15-20 minutes at a time..something I honestly thought I would never be able to accomplish!!
And while I've spent the last year going through stages of running every day for a few weeks or so and then dropping it for a few weeks... I haven't exactly seen the steady process that I was hoping for BUT when I am in a running stage I DO see and feel changes. And they're good ones! Another benefit is that even after I haven't ran for 3 weeks I can step out my door and run for 20 minutes without feeling the tug of that dreaded jump rope!
Each time I run I think of that bounding runner babe who I switched from wanting to slap to wanting to run after!! (Seriously..If I ran directly behind her and used her firm booty to motivate mine maybe I could run longer...but it may also creep her out so..) Shes a complete stranger but she was my motivation and it's because of her that I've been able to get up off my jiggly ass!
I ran for 3 weeks in November..took two weeks off..and ran for 22 minutes today. I'm proud of myself! :) And although I could do a MUCH better of keeping up with my new regime, I'm farther ahead that I ever thought I could be..and all because I glimpsed someone just doing their thing. I hope somebody somewhere has seen me and been inspired to try something new too!
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