"Can we pretend like airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?"

And again, here I am on the plane – flying back from Portland to Spokane. I guess it’s only fair to write a post-Thanksgiving break entry.  This was a great 9 days. I really hoped that it would go by slowly, and it has. Not in a boring way, just in a relaxed way. All of my new found free time helped the days go by slowly. I had lots of time at home, and still got to spend several days with friends. J  It was really good… and I’m a little sad at having to kick back into study mode tomorrow. This plane is about 90% college students – all in their school sweatshirts, backpacks and textbooks in hand. I was waiting for my turn to board, watching them, and thinking “Do I really look that old??” How can I be nineteen already? This is like, the point in my life that I used to imagine when I was little. Going to a large, well-known university, with a plan for what I want to do, grown-up but not too grown up. .. and here it is. I just can’t believe it.

It was awesome to get to see everyone again. The party on Friday was so fun – even though it turned into a very movie-less movie night.  Lol. Basically we just talked and once a few people left, then the Apples to Apples broke out.  It felt so normal. I loved getting to just hear everyone’s voice and remember the random quirks that  made me so happy to be friends. A lot of things have happened since we all were together, but we can still have a blast like no time has gone by. Myriah’s friend from college was there too, and she was commenting on how close we seemed. Yeah…. It’s pretty true.  I mean, I didn’t just get to see my class. I hung out with a lot of other people too, and crashed school on Monday, which was fun.  J  Definitely different, being on the other side now. It’s a good different though, because I don’t really have any major regrets about high school, believe it or not.

On the downside, I did catch whatever bug was going around. I’d been doing really well, taking my vitamins and stuff, sleeping a lot, and then I got home feeling healthy and … BAM. About 24 hours later, well, I’m sick now. Peachy keen. :P

Back in the dorm! Unpacked and moved back in. My suitcase barely fits in the cupboard above my closet, so getting it down in a few weeks is gonna be entertaining. And I hung these super cool snowflakes on our window that Heidi and I made on Wednesday! So the room is officially Christmasy-ed up. Plus the foot of snow outside, it really looks like winter! I’ve got so much I should do, but I’m just too tired to mess with it right now.  So here I am…updating the blogosphere and debating what I want to do with the rest of the night. It’s weird being back! It’s like the first week all over again, where I’ve been in the routine of being home and living the west-side life, and now I have to re-adjust to all of this again for 3 more weeks.  * shakes head * It’s confusing! I’m happy to be back because this is “right”, but I already wish I could go back to the low-stress home life.  

Anyhow, not much else new to say.

*Airplanes, B.o.B 

"I'm goin home...to the place where I belong..." (Written 11/19)

Alright. I’m pretty much sitting in the back of an airplane right now. And when I say the back, I mean the VERY back. Like…almost falling out of the tail. Lol. It’s 12:08 pm on November the 19^th. Also known as – Go Home Day! :D  I finished packing last night, and all Alma and I had to do this morning was just get dressed and head down to the car, pretty  much. Stopped at Starbucks for a fabulous Caramel Brulee Latte and a muffin, and then drove to Colfax to drop off my car before the ride to the airport.

It’s so weird to think that we’re going home. Like….it’s not a bad thing at all, because I’m excited. But as my roomie so wisely put it, “It’s like leaving home … to go home.” I’ve gotten used to thinking of our dorm room as home, which it kind of is because all of my life the last 3 months has revolved around Pullman. Last night I was done with all my school stuff by nine, and it was weird! Just sitting there packing and realizing that I don’t have anything I HAVE to do for over a week? The concept is foreign, seeing as every hour, every spare minute, in college can be used for something either social or school related. Time moves soo fast, and yet so slow. But life in general is a breakneck pace, always moving, always progressing. I don’t really know if I can switch my brain over into “chill” mode this week or not. And even if I could, I don’t think it’s such a good idea, seeing as I have to fly back and kick into intense study mode very soon anyhow. I know that people are going to comment on how “busy” I am… and it’s not even intentional anymore. But if my days aren’t filled with things to achieve or get done, I feel lazy! I can’t even help it! It’s also going to be interesting trying to adjust back to sharing an entire house with people, and like, having to explain where I’m going and when I’ll be back. Alma and I are pretty good about keeping each other updated on what’s going on in our days, but it’s not like we tell one another we “can’t” do something. It’s just more of a safety issue.  We were talking this morning, and both kind of thought, “Hmm, it’s going to be weird not sharing a room for nine days!” I’ve never shared a room before this year, and I thought I’d hate it. But I really don’t. We each have our own space, and it’s great to know that somebody’s going to notice if you’re gone or if you need to talk.  Plus, she’s just awesome. J  We’re really getting along great, and I’m already feeling a little sad about the fact that our year together is almost halfway over.  Crazy stuff man!

I guess that was kind of a digression, but one that I haven’t really addressed yet, so it was time.  We’re crossing the Cascade mountains now! Supposed to be arriving a little bit early into Portland, and then I’ll pick up my (giant) suitcase from the baggage claim and go find my mom. J  I don’t know if I’ll even get a chance to eat my airline peanuts or not. Haha.

Gosh, I’m going to be home in like…2 hours! I’m still going back and forth from super excited to almost nervous, just because I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve never done this before! Well, “all electronic devices need to be stowed”.

See you on the west side!

*Home, Daughtry

"Happy Birthday tooo you...."

Well, it's been over 2 weeks since I posted last! I guess seeing as I leave TOMORROW for thanksgiving break.... probably should update. :)

Let's see....as predicted, the time has flown by. I'm really looking forward to being home, but this has been a great last couple of weeks. I even got a chance to drive to Yakima last week and support my TRCS volleyball team in the state tournament! :) Weird to be on the other side? Yes, it was. But at the same time, I know my time there is over. It's not like I quit partway through and missed stuff. Do I have regrets? Sure. But did I stick with it? Yes. It was great getting to go back and see them though, and encourage them (hopefully). Plus, the "alone time" to just rock out to my music in the car ride there and back was very fun.

Yesterday was my BIRTHDAY! :) I'm old. Lol. That was also a blast. I honestly didn't really care if anything happened or not, just because I've been so ready for thanksgiving that my birthday has sort of... been forgotten. By me. *shrug* But it was great! Everyone is just awesome, and even my brand-new friends did their best to make it special. :) I don't feel at all like I missed out on the celebration - even though I know my family is gonna want to party once I get back, I could be okay either way. I'm just not that materialistic! Well....I don't like OTHER people to be materialistic on my behalf. I still like stuff. Lol.

Anyhow, between now and when I'm done, I have a class, a mid-term, and a band concert. Back-to-back. So I'm wearing my concert clothes and looking like a geek. :) But whatevs. Then I get to come back here and finish packing! Alma and I are leaving here at (hopefully) about 7:30 tomorrow. She wanted to treat me to breakfast for my birthday, so we'll grab some coffee and a pastry or something and hit the road! Then dropping off my car at Nana and Bubba's house and they'll drive us up to Spokane to catch the plane!

Well, I've got a class in a half hour. :)  Catch ya later, cyber world!

*Happy Birthday, Public domain

"Millions of peaches...peaches for me.... "

IT'S NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!! (yes, that's a lot of exclamation points :D ) It really doesn't feel like November though. I mean, it's still 50+ degrees and sunny, and today I didn't even need a jacket walking back from class. I'm not complaining one bit. I know that the snow will hit soon enough, because everyone keeps saying how cold of a winter this is supposed to be. Plus, I also know that in Longview, it'd be wet AND cold. So bonus points for college! Lol. It's also really weird to think that there are really only 4 more weeks of classes between now and the end of the semester. Have I seriously been here that long?? Time sure flies, and yet creeps by. Crazy stuff man.... but it's good. It's very good.

I figured it was time to dedicate a blog to a more "practical" side of college life. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, this focuses on... that's right... food. Ahh, campus dining.... :P
Now, I'm not being critical. Northside (the dining center that receives 85% of my business) is excellent. There's always a wide selection, both of things you can count on always being there, and things that change daily. It's good food, and generally pretty healthy. But after 10 weeks of eating there, I've officially hit the "sick of dorm food" point. It was bound to happen eventually, I suppose. This week I've "cooked" more than I have since being here, and so between using a kitchen and several trips to the grocery store... let's just say that the fruit and veggies from a can are not looking quite as tasty anymore. I participated in a "focus group" for Freshens, our on-campus smoothie shop, yesterday, and we spent about an hour and a half talking about campus dining. And seriously, one girl mentioned peaches, and my mouth just started watering. We have peaches here, but they're the "covered in sugary syrup" kind that you get at a salad bar. No, I'm thinking fresh, just boiled and skinned, served warm over vanilla ice cream peaches. Wow.... how amazing do THOSE sound? Same with vegetables. I've been pretty much ruined to "out of a bag" veggies, seeing as we very rarely eat them at home, with the exception of peas. But you can taste the difference - produce section cook it yourself corn, carrots, and beans versus the frozen or canned stuff. Idk man....once you've eaten them fresh once it's pretty hard to go back. Which is one of the reasons that I am so ready for Thanksgiving!
 Even when I was eating at home all the time, Thanksgiving is better than Christmas in my opinion as far as the food goes. (Okay, the christmas desserts are better, but I'm talking main meal) I'm going to make myself impatient just talking about it - the turkey with cranberry sauce, real mashed potatoes and gravy, or those cheesy ones that my grandma makes sometimes, green bean casserole (NOT from a bag), yams with raisins and marshmallows, jello-salad, the finger-friendly veggies, homemade rolls (*sighs happily*), and of course, two or three different kinds of pie with "real" whipped cream....  :D Yes, I plan to eat myself into a food coma. And drink milk. With dinner. Every night! Haha!
In all honesty, though, I probably will eat less than I usually do. I've gotten used to not taking seconds of anything, and snacking in limited amounts, so as much as I want to eat everything all at once, I doubt my stomach will be okay with that plan. In that way, I'm really grateful for the way WSU does their dining plan. Since you pay for everything you eat individually, it's harder to just gorge yourself unless you are doing it intentionally, or you don't have a limit to your dining plan. I'm eating plenty, I'm just not as worried about the whole freshman 15 thing. All my pants still fit, so I think I'm pretty stable. Lol.
I guess that's about all I have to say on the food topic for right now. I've just been thinking about peaches all day long and needed to rant about food for just a little while. Home in 16 days! :)

*Peaches, The Presidents of the United States of America