Bad Ass

Let's hope my professors don't read this blog.

Because here I am, admitting I cheated on my quiz today!! :0

See, it was for my Special Education class. Which I'm confused as to why I need to take it in the first place...since I won't be teaching special ed. kids in highschool.

Me or any of my other History Secondary Ed. friends take this class seriously. It's worth 1 credit hour and frankly should be a joke of a class. Yet my professor insits on making this as time-consuming and difficult as possible. Bull shit.

It's quite funny because all of the history kids sit in the farthest possible corner of the class, make fun of the Math (nerds!), Science (icky nerds!), and English (Weird, with a few decent ones) classmates. We also talk the entire class period, laugh loudly, and just show a general lack of respect. It's horrible. But so much fun. We've already been shushed numerous times. Living proof that "shushing" still happens in college.

We really can't help it though. History secondary ed.'s are by far the coolest of all the Secondary Ed. students. We are like an inseparable gang. We're the most sociable, funniest, and have the fewest creeps. We organize bar crawls, happy hours, and scheme on ways to get out of work. We're told this is to be expected of the history students, we're becoming "Social Studies teachers for a reason" because we, more than any of the others, "know how to be sociable". True, very true.

Back to today. A quiz for my Special Ed. class has been in the works for the past couple of weeks. We history students didn't study. Then realized when entering class, that this might be a bit more difficult than we first suspected.

So we came up with a plan. Called "since-we-all-sit-in-the-back-lets-put-our-notebooks-on-the-floor-to-copy-off-of-and-also-copy-off-of-each other." It worked brilliantly. We all giggled the entire time and I'm pretty sure we all got A's.

Genius. We are amazing.

So yes I am a cheater. Yes I know my future students will cheat one day. But let's be honest. Is cheating on one little quiz going to make a big difference in life?

No. Or let's hope not.

Growing Up

Some possibly good news:

I'm not crazy (no, that's not the good news) but I think I'm getting taller.

Yep, I'm pretty sure I'm finally hitting the growth spurt I was meant to hit 5 years ago. Yea, yea, yea! Maybe I will make it to my dream height of 5'8!! Or not. But I really do think I'm growing.

I noticed it first over Christmas break when I was standing next to my dad. (And actually standing up straight since I tend to sllouch quite often). Then tongight when I was standing next to MJ and Kelli I felt like I was looking down on them more than usual. And they agreed!

These circumstances are really feeding me the fuel to belive I'm growing. Apparently the Cummins side had late growth spurts so this could just be the case for me.

Fingers crossed!!!

Hopefully this bit of good news will stop my jaw clenching for tonight.

Grindhouse

I've been clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth at night for about the past month.

My mom says it could be stress.

I say, I don't care what's causing it...I just want to stop. I'm tired of having sore morning jaw, headaches all day, and the creepy noise of grinding teeth when I wake up in the middle of the night.

This needs to stop. ASAP

Thiiiiiis close

Dude

I am so sick of dealing with University folks its ridiculous. I am thiiiis close to beating some major ass.

It all has to do with some stupid book for my History of Black Masculinities class. I have to write a paper on it due this Monday; Problem is, none of the bookstores have gotten the book in yet.

So this issue is raised in class, and my professor informs us he's put a copy on reserve at the undergrad and will put another one on reserve at the undergrad library Thursday. So yesterday I go to the library to borrow the book for a couple of hours and read the section I need to.

But when I get there, I'm informed one copy has been checked out and the copy just put on reserve won't be available for a week. Greatttt

Then I email my professor, tell him what's up. So he sends an email to the class and says he's putting another copy on reserve this time at the Main Library. And that it should be available today by noon.

So I leave for my only Friday class about one hour early so i can read this stupid book. I get to the library, find out the book has been put on reserve but of course, it wont be available till late this afternoon.

Of course.

Now, I'm sitting at the library, have to waste the next hour, then have to come back here after my class, see if the book is available then. And if it's not?

Then I'm going to be pissed. Because then I'm going to have to walk allll the way to the library in the cold, on my weekend.

Mother fucker I do hate these University folks

Dear Past Whitney,

Please, stop stressing.

There is no need to worry so much. You'll see, things will work out just fine.

Your wonderful parents will help you out financially. Classes will remain difficult (but it is your Junior year..what do you expect?) however your attitude will improve and you'll see there is hope for a decent semester.

You just need to chill out. Things aren't that bad. You'll have a really great time Sunday at your "Min" Christmas Party, drinking lots of Tequila with your friend Luz. You'll receive a great gift set of a Big bottle of Disaronno, two fancy glasses, and two fancy shot glasses. You'll also be compared to Hannah Montana in the annual employee roast (good girl with a hidden bad streak).

That Tuesday you've been dreading? Don't worry, it will go quickly AND you'll have a blast going out to dinner with all your friends at Olive Garden.

So sit back, relax, thank your mom and dad for being the best parents a girl could ask for, and freakin stop stressing already!

Love,
Future Whitney

Double the Trouble, Double the Fun

Happy Birthday Brady!!!!!

Happy Birthday Dave!!!!!

Wishing you two a great next year!!!!

Mental Breakdown

I managed to go all of last semester with not one emotional breakdown.

On my third day of class this semester, I had one. Is it just me, or is this not a good thing?

The sad thing is is that I enjoy my classes this semester. (Well, all but one). However, combined it is just too much work, too much reading, too expensive to buy books, and will cause me too much stress.

Oh dear God what I have I gotten myself into? I can't drop any classes. They are all essential to me graduating on time. I can't buy my books, because I don't have any money. I'm falling behind after three days because I don't have all of my books to do my readings. But what does it matter anyway since I don't have any free time to do any homework?

I go straight from waking up at 8am Monday morning to Wednesday night whenever I get home from work (Tonight being after 10:30pm) with no time for rest. No joke. I have no breaks in between classes, Or what break I do have I'm rushing back and forth across campus. Then I work Monday and Wednesday evenings. And Tuesday I go from 7am until 6pm. And the rest of that night will be solely devoted to homework.

I've never had such a course load before. I've never had so many readings to do. I've never had so much pressure. It also doesn't help that in one of my history classes (which happens to be a Philosophy class about science by the way...???) I am completely lost in after two class periods. I'm having awful flashbacks to my Econ class which I nearly failed. I am SO lost in EVERYTHING my professor is talking about. Good God I'm in trouble.

And the teaching program at U of I isn't helping either. Oh no. I think I literally hate the teaching program. It is horribly disorganized, requires ridiculous things, and puts more stress ("if you don't do THIS you WONT graduate and you WONT be student teaching!") on me than I can handle.

My "mental breakdown" may not have happened today had it not been for work. Granted, I was physically and mentally exhausted by the time I entered "Min's" doors. And overwhelmed by everything life is throwing at me right now. But if it would have been a relaxing, laid back evening I may have been fine. But no, oh no. We were busy. Very busy. And then dead. Very dead. But low and behold at 8:15 Bill and Be (those pesky regulars) walked in. I was so excited! They were early. Butttt guess what? They decided to stay until 10:30. On a school night. On this school night. Oh, and when they left I was given a WHOLE $5 bill for staying so late. Gee, thanks. Do I sound bitter?

Well, these past few days just don't bode well for me. I have more work than I can possibly handle, am trying to complete every last teaching program requirement, working in excess at "Min" trying to make money, broke and trying to find a way to buy textbooks (which I've already spend $250 on yet still owe about $340), stressed about rent and utilities, and exhausted from all of this running around! Needless to say, I reached my end. And cried and cried on the phone to Kyle. Whom I'm possibly missing more than ever.

I don't mean to complain. I know it could be worse. So many people are more stressed than I, and have a harder time dealing with it. Take for example this very sad event: One girl I was supposed to work with tonight was unable to come in because earlier today her boyfriend found one of their friends dead, hanging from a rope in his room. He committed suicide and it is a horrible tragedy. Not only for Charlotte and her boyfriend, but for the kid who didn't see any other option.

So I have problems. But it could be so much worse. I don't mean to complain, I just am having trouble at the moment seeing the light. Seeing a time where I won't feel so unbelievably stressed out. I just have to remember the positives, and thank God for all the good in my life.

To things going better!

U of I, oo lala

Dear University of Illinois,

Please, don't take this personally. It's not that I don't love you. Because I do. You are beautiful, full of intelligence, quite fun, a little rowdy, and the most special university I have ever met.

But University. Sometimes you frustrate me. Sometimes I think your price is a bit steep. And well, after this month long break we've just taken...I'm not quite sure I want you back.

Now please, don't let this get you down. Its not that I don't ever want to see you again. Maybe we could just live in the same area and I'll casually hang out with you every once in a while?

Ah, well. Who am I kidding? I'm afraid that no matter how I may wish for our break to continue, I'm deeply committed to you University. And I'll be seeing you tomorrow.

Love,
Whitney

I'm a Do-Gooder

Last night at "Min", much to my embarrassment, I received a letter from the Salvation Army.

As soon as Joe gave it to me I knew what it was about. He must have too, because he made me read it in front of everyone else.

See, before I left for Christmas break, the salvation army put one of their Coin Things in our restaurant. At the end of every night I would put all the change I made that evening into their collection bucket. Then the Friday before I left for break, I brought in all of my change I'd been collecting since last Spring and gave it to the Collection. I don't know how much exactly I gave away, but I know it was a shit-ton because it was filled with quarters and took forever to fill.

But I did this at the end of the night and haven't told anyone about it, because I didn't want to make it a big deal and I certainly wasn't doing it for any recognition. I just hate having change.

But of course upon seeing that I filled the coin collection to the brim, making it about 20lbs. heavy, Joe and Pete made a big deal about it.

And supposedly when the man from the Salvation Army came to pick up the collection, he was shocked at how heavy the thing was. So Joe "told him a little story" about the "waitress who gave away her money". Well apparently the dude was impressed.

And then sent me a letter. Which Joe forced me to open and read in front of everyone. It was quite a nice letter. (I tried to upload it but it wouldn't work). It basically thanked me for giving away so much money while I'm working as a waitress, how much they appreciate it and people like me, and what they'll do with it. It was then signed by the Salvation Army director from our area.

So my cover was blown, and everyone working last night found out about the thing I didn't want everyone to know. I don't like making a big deal out of nice things I do. I didn't do it for recognition or a letter.

But how nice! It was a good surprise.

****

Also, I need some help. Lately my Enter key on my laptop has been sticking. A couple of days ago I spilled a little juice on my computer and thought I wiped it all off. Could this be why? None of my other keys are sticking. But I'm getting frustrated because my Enter key is frequently used. Any idea on how to fix this? Please tell me it won't always be this way!

I'm an Idiot

What. The. Fuck.

I'm an idiot. A complete idiot.

Since my trip back to Champaign after Thanksgiving break and already dreading the return to school following Christmas break, I continued to persuade myself that it wouldn't be that bad since the Monday after Xmas break always meant No School. For it was always Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

So imagine; I've been telling myself for quite some time how great it will be, to have a three day weekend. And how excited I was that the new semester didn't start until Tuesday!!

And then I checked the calender. And then I learned that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is in fact, not this Monday. Nope, not quite.

Yes, that's right. Not the 14th as thought but rather the 21st.

I am horribly, utterly, insanely disappointed. And even more embarrassed that I was so excited for something that's not happening.

What the Hell. I'm an idiot. Damn. Being stupid sucks!

At least next weekend will be a three day one. Which I suppose will be nice since Jan 20th is "Min's" annual Christmas party which involves much drinking.

Ah well, someone as smart as me has to have brain farts every once in awhile. ; )

Some good news:
Happy 100th Blog post to me!!!

Pretty Please?

Can I just go back 4 weeks?

I swear, I'd even re-do my finals just so I can re-start my Christmas Break.

It went to fast, and now I'm sad and salty.

Return

Well, I'm back in Champaign.
And feeling so-so about it.

This Christmas break went so incredibly fast, I don't even know where the time went! And now, I'm trying to just enjoy these next few days where all I have to do is work and play. But I can't stop dreading the return of classes. Ugh, I hate being stressed. And I have this horrible feeling this is going to be one hell of a stressful semester.


However, I have two things to distract myself. One, is that I'm going to try and drop a few pounds. Something about the months of December and January always, always makes me pack on a few to many. Could it be the endless trips out to eat with the family? The Christmas cookies? Eating with my 6'4 close to 300 pound boyfriend too often? Probably a combination of all these things and more. So I just want to get back to where I was. This may be difficult since I never have time to work out but I'll do my best.


The other thing to distract myself is that it's election year!! I've been waiting for this since 2004 which is when I really began to start loving politics and the entire election process. And this is going to be one hell of a year for it! I'm very excited!


Plus, I found the cutest ever background for my computer, which makes me laugh every time I see it.

And now, I should get back to doing nothing. Hey, it's my last Spring semester ever! Hallelujah!

Whoooop (here it is)

Jeeeeze

I don't blog for a little over 2 weeks and I get chewed by multiple people. Not like I'm trying to take a little break guys!! It is only Christmas BREAK.

Just Kidding. I'm a lazy piece of Shit. I capitalized Shit because it's really that bad.

SOOOOOOOOOO

I'm not even going to try and break down these past two weeks. It would be impossible and pretty damn boring.

So here's the most important things that have happened thus far:

- Got to spend LOTS of time with Kyle and his family and animals!! (yea!)
- Got to spend LOTS of time with my parents, Brady and Kenna, and Kim and Nate (yea!)
- GOT STRAIGHT A'S FALL SEMESTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Haven't done jack shit really
- Ate tons of food and gave and received bomb ass Christmas presents
- Heard the phrase "Bout it' Bout it' " for the first time in years (a la Nate)
- Watched Illini play in the Rose Bowl...then watched them throw the game away. Fuck it.

For the most part, I've been having a good time.
And for the most part, I'm only blogging right now to put something on the page so I don't die from guilt. Well I wouldn't die from it. But I'm tired of feeling guilty.

So I will make no promises about blogs to come in the next week. It could be sparse again. But I will soon be back at school, will soon start a new semester, and will soon need something to do when I want to procrastinate.

Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
I can't wait for 2008!!