fit in a nap everyday.

This evening I have to start my workstudy job and I'm not very excited. I'm in Advancement Calling, which means I have to call random strangers and beg them for money. This is not my idea of a good time. I'm also nervous because I can't pronounce names very well, especially the ones around here. So basically I have to spend an hour of my night making myself look stupid and making people hang up on me. Thankfully its only an hour for today. On Thursday, I'll have to spend three hours there.

survive the heat.

I did my laundry. None of my shirts shrunk, none of my socks fell apart, and none of my whites turned pink. I've never felt such accomplishment. Actually it kinda feels like the first time my mac'n'cheese didn't turn out soupy. Maybe I'll make a succesful housewife after all...uh...probably not.
So I figured out that weekends without a car are slightly disappointing. We went to the campus center to bowl and play ping pong, foosball and jenga, and those of you who know me very well know that I really hate bowling. The weekend ended better, thankfully, because we went to Pizza Hut for about $2 each. We all got little coupon books that never run out, its wonderful!
Although it would be more wonderful if there were even a slightly larger selection of resteraunts in the tiny town. But who am I to complain? And if your wondering, Wal Mart does in fact close on Sundays here, I didn't believe it until I tried to go on Sunday. Good thing we don't live here huh, mom? We'd probably never have milk for dinner on Sundays. Just kidding, you're a wonderful mother.

do my laundry.

Its the weekend! I've made it through my first week of classes. Actually I've only had three days of classes, but oh well. Today I had my first Western Civ. class, which I'm really thankful I got into. The prof. seems nice, but he has a strong English accent so it reminds me of the old documentaries we had to watch in jr high (the ones that I always fell asleep in). Thankfully he had his lecture for us at the end of class, because I didn't pay any attention (he was talking about cake or something, so do you blame me?). It probably would be better if he didn't write out his lecture for us because than I would have to listen. I'm just really not a good listener. Oh by the way, my email box isn't very full...

figure out how to make my curtains less ugly.

I've survived a full two days of classes. And although the first one was a bit overwhelming I actually enjoyed a one or two of the others. I'm not used to being in such big classes, but I'm getting to know more people so its not quite so intimidating. Plus, I don't have any classes until 10 o'clock or later so I can sleep in! And I went to Wal-Mart yesterday (its really not big enough to be a real walmart, but oh well) and got stackable bins and a whiteboard for my door! So other than that I've just been trying to figure out what's edible in the cafeteria and keep from getting lost on my way to class. Basically, I feel like I have a bright neon sign hanging around my neck that blinks "freshman, freshman." Hopefully I'll blend in more soon. :)

keep from falling off my bunk.

You cannot possibly imagine my excitement at this moment. I finally, after what has seemed like endless hours, figured out my internet problem and can now check my email, look at my schedule and many more things that I wouldn't even think about unless I was in such a desperate situation. So I can gladly recieve emails from anyone...hint, hint.
I also start classes this week...hopefully. My schedule is up in the air at the moment. But if all goes well I will be able to sleep-in tomorrow because I don't have class until 10! I love my roomate, and I'm even getting used to eating in the cafeteria. And I am so glad freshman orientation is almost over. And I bought a plant.

be patient

This post is for those who are waiting to hear if I've survived my first few days in the midwest. However, nothing has really happened yet, I can't move in until Friday or Saturday and so far I've just spent some time catching up with some cousins. I have met some more college bound kids in my grandparents town although not many freshman. Everywhere we go someone seems to have a grandson or a daughter or somebody I should hook up with when I move in. But amazingly I fit everything in just six suitcases, one carry-on, one backpack, and a box that will be shipped next week. The man who checked us in at the airport was pretty suprised when my sister and I wheeled in a cart with nine suitcases on it. "Only three people?" he kept asking, and, "are you sure you didn't stick a boyfriend in there somewhere?" Everyone of them made it safely and the only casualty was one strap that was holding together a big plastic tub full of towels and blankets.

justify stuffing 20 pairs of shoes in a suitcase.

"...the countdown's getting lower every day..." I have 6 days left and I almost wish I was back in Sunday School singing that song with my mom as my teacher and my closest friends beside me.
However, I think I'm going to survive because...they have a Wal-Mart! I'm not going to be living in the middle of a cornfield! I thought I would have to drive an hour to get to the nearest Wal-Mart, but there's one just a few minutes away. And so, if I get too homesick, I'll just go walk through the aisles of Wal-Mart and feel right at home. I now know, without a doubt, that I'm going to make it on my own.

keep my head above water.

I finally got a camera! So my adorable little sister decided that she needed to have some glamour shots. Although some of them don't exactly show her best side :)

Last night my class threw a going away party for me and some of my friends who are also traveling to far away places like Texas and Germany. And for the first time I actually had an opportunity to make people take pictures with me. First we floated down the river for a few hours. Emily and I took a few detours in which we thought we saw the head of a crocodile sticking out of the water (it was just a rock), and I lost my sunglasses in a very dark and deep area. But we finally made it back to the main part of the river and quietly floated in way behind the rest of our group (who didn't even no we were behind). Unfortunately, the river float took a bit longer than expected and we showed up a fashionable hour late for our own party. Thankfully none of the non-floaters had left before we came.

not get bogged down in the details.

I'm going to miss my room! Its the most beautiful tropical room that I've seen :) It has wonderful flowing curtains and sand colored paint. And I'm trading it for a tiny white brick dorm room with ugly carpet. But don't worry, I'll definately bring along at least one of my palm tree picture frames.

stay away from bees!

So I have 13 days until I fly out! Scary! Yesterday, I dug thru my closet and found a family of pound puppies, two boxes of my littlest pet shop, five or six polly pockets, a few beanie babies, and a bunch of dolls and stuffed animals. I can hardly get rid of them all now, because I've already saved them for so long. Especially since one of my friends was so excited to play with what were some of her fav toys and kept saying, I wish I had kept all of mine. So I guess they'll stay in the attic for a few more years, along with boxes of books and picture frames and painted pottery. Why is it that when you try to clean something, it always has to get much worse before it gets any better? My bedroom (or should I say brenna's bedroom?) is definately at the much worse stage at this point.

But, on a brighter note, I went to Enchanted Forest yesterday for the first time since I was 11. The poor guy at the front was pretty embarrased after asking us, is it only you? and glancing down to look for toddlers at our feet. And then I think I suprised him even more after he regretfully told me that I would need a stamp on my hand and I smiled and said, oh good!! My friend and I recieved quite a few looks as we happily slid down the witch's tongue and ran thru Sleeping Beauty's castle. We even watched a play of Jack and the Beanstock. The only thing that could have made it a better afternooon would have been a snow cone or maybe a visit to the swingset at the park.