Experiments

Last night I tried making homemade chicken strips and they turned out pretty darn good!!! They were crispy and not burned at all, and the oil didn't smoke too much like I was worried it would.

I also cooked up some carrots with a little brown sugar and butter, and some pasta shells in a garlicky sauce(from a package) It was way good and I enjoyed trying out a new recipe.

Hit it up here if you want to try it out. I used panko bread crumbs instead of regular bread crumbs, but I'm sure it's good either way.

Yee!

Has anyone ever tried these before? They're called Frooties, and the strawberry lemonade flavor is delicious!!

One of my professors passed a bag around as we were editing papers in class on Monday. I must admit I took quite the handful. Seriously though, look for them.

I scoured the interwebs and almost considered paying the $7 shipping to get them to me. Maybe I will when my financial aid finally comes in.

If you see these though, buy them. They rock!

Working

I just pulled my first all-nighter of the semester, and it's what? barely the 3rd week of school. I have got to plan better. I be fading fast and I still have one more class to go.

My roommate Channing and I were talking last night, about how weird this semester feels. About how we just feel different, and not in a good way. Both of us admitted to feeling uncomfortable in out present situations. Not because people are doing bad things, but because it's not what we're used to. It seems to us like we'll never get used to all the changes going on.

We just have these attitudes. Dirty, no good, wallowing attitudes. We both decided last night that a change was in order. We're going to try and be more happy.

We don't really know what that entails. We don't know the precise method one utilizes on the quest for joy. We're just going to try some things, and hope that it works.

Starting soon, we'll have a series of activities to keep us occupied. On Mondays we're going to do Yoga, a class that is offered for free through the school. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we're going to go to zumba classes, which is like a fitness/dance class. it's also offered through the school. Wednesdays we're going to try and hit up a hip hop video at home.

We're also on some committees and stuff. so hopefully this will keep us busy and not thinking about our crappy attitudes. It's a goal we're working on, hopefully it works.

Shocker

Sometimes in life we become complacent. We accept the good things we are doing and play down the not so great ones. Complacent people are not bad people. I'm not a bad person, but I have settled for too long.

When one becomes complacent a shock to the system is needed. Something that will shake up your world, maybe cause you to question the way you've been living your life. Though that sounds painful, and it is, the reality of the situation is that it is a good thing.

We need to get shaken up. The shaking of our lives brings to the surface those less desirable qualities that we manage to keep smothered under the assurances that nothing is wrong.

We can all stand to be a little better. Be kinder, be a harder worker, a better listener. Forgive more, pray more, be grateful. Like I said, we're not bad people, it's just that we can be better.

I myself am a complacent person. I've been stuck in that mentality that everything is "good enough" for me. I'm doing "good enough" in school. I'm doing "good enough" in my family relationships. I'm doing "good enough' in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. But that's not "good enough".

I should be doing more, and intend on changing that mentality. Or trying to at least.

This semester, it is my desire to make some subtle changes, that will hopefully return big results.

Things to work on:

• Language- I kind of like the sound of "damn" and "hell". I'm a work in progress.
• Pray more- And not just for help or when I need something, but in gratitude and love as well.
• Read my scriptures- they're important and I don't give them enough respect.
• Be less judgmental of others- I don't know their situation, and even if I did, who am I to judge? I'm a screwed up person too.
• Be nice- not just to the people I like, but to those that drive me insane. Most especially, I want to be nice to myself. I can be a little mean sometimes.
  

It's unnerving and messy and complicated, but I know that these changes will be good ones. Maybe take the time to examine yourself and your habits. You might find a few things that can be improved.

I Shall Paint My Nails Red

By Carole Satyamurti

Because a bit of colour is a public service.

Because I am proud of my hands.

Because it will remind me I'm a woman.

Because I will look like a survivor.

Because I can admire them in traffic jams.

Because my daughter will say ugh.

Because my lover will be surprised.

Because it is quicker than dyeing my hair.

Because it is a ten-minute moratorium.

Because it is reversible.

Another Year

Today is Katie's birthday. She's 23 years old. She's my sister. Sometimes I love her. Sometimes I really, really, really don't like her. That's par for the course, I feel.

For the most part, she can be pretty cool.

I'm proud of her though. Today she is interviewing with Cisco in North Carolina. If all goes well, she may get a job for her birthday.

So, happy 23rd Katie. I hope you get everything you want this year. I love you!

Pretender

So I'm sitting in the library doing some homework before class, and it just feels weird.

There are still times when I walk into a classroom or building on campus and feel like I don't belong. Not in the sense that I'm not worthy or entitled to be there, but that I'm not at that stage in my life yet. Does that make sense?

I see everyone working towards a career and I sometimes forget that I'm supposed to be doing the same thing. The idea that end goal is a job, a big girl job that will allow me to provide for myself, is proving an ever elusive concept to grasp.

I've been a student for so long, that I've never lived any other way. This is the life I know. Going to class, doing homework, complaining about sucky teachers. It's comfortable. It's safe. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but I'm scared too. As with any big change the variables are many.

I know in the end everything will work out and that I'll have an amazing life, but sometimes I just find it all baffling that I'm a senior in college, and that soon I will have earned something as major as a college degree!

,,,

I'm back in school! Today marked the first day of my last year of college. Bizarro feeling to say the least. I only had one class today, which was nice, and it was flower arranging. I'm taking it with my roommate and good friend, Stacy.

We had a good time despite how hot the classroom was and how utterly weird our teacher turned out to be. He kept saying that the real Brother Romney was taking a break on a different planet and couldn't make it back in time to teach class today, so he was subbing.

That's weird right?

In other news, it's like the end of the world outside right now. It's raining and the wind is blustering like crazy! What a great first day, huh?

I still need to unpack my clothes and finish getting organized, but I'm starting to get back in the groove of school again.

Sigh...

It's that time again, folks! I head back to school for my final year of college on Monday, the 6th. Does that scare anyone else? My final year of college!? Craziness! Every time I'm home the back-to-school date seems to go faster and faster! I should be done in April.

So, I'm here getting everything ready to head back. Laundry will be commencing today, and I'm hitting up the grocery outlet from some grub before hitting the road.

Classes I Look Forward to:
Flower Arranging- it should be fun!!
C.S. Lewis Class

Classes I'm Dreading:
CIT 140- it's basically an Excel class... lame!

I'm looking forward to a fun semester!!