Wow...where has the time gone?

Folks, I am a busy man. Therefore, cut me some slack...I started this post last Sunday night, so just bare with me...Thanks!

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Ok, it's Sunday night, 9:45pm, and I have a lot to do. But what seems to be the most fulfilling thing to do? I know! Catch all y'all up on my crazy life! Let me take you through some of the more...interesting...moments that I have had the past few weeks...but where to begin?!?!

I know! I will break it down into a few categories:

- School Today (things that happen through academics),
- School Tomorrow (things that happen through my search for a new school (if you didn't know that was coming, please read older posts)
- That would only happen to Teddy (seriously...)
- A New Dish (you know I have a lot of spare time, so I usually fill that void in the kitchen creating some new dishes)
- Are You Kidding Me!?! (seriously, you will ask yourself the same question)

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School Today:

-So, it's a Saturday morning, quarter to ten, what do you wanna do? Sleep? Maybe go for a run? Some breakfast? Not this past weekend! I know! Let's go to a 2 hour history lecture!!! Sounds like fun! That's right, from ten until noon on a Saturday my entire history class had to sit through lecture. You see, my professor was actually at a conference for the majority of the week, and since we have a test coming up (see 'School Tomorrow' for more detail), we had to reschedule in lieu of canceling class all together. This did mean that for Wednesday and Friday, instead of waking up at 7am for my 8:30am class, I got to sleep in until 9:30. Gotta love those silver linings!

School Tomorrow:

- The only thing that's keeping me out of the "let's consider him" part of any transfer right now is my GPA. "And why?" you might ask...welcome to my history class. I am doing horrible in that class. It's sub-par grade is bringing me down (side note: the grades in the rest of my classes aren't really helping out too much either, but this one...oy). The way to bring up my GPA before sending on the applications? A little process:
1) Set goal grades for each class that, when averaged, brings you to your desired (or even above) GPA. I have set the following goals for me for the rest of the semester:
English: A-
Seminar: A
Spanish: A-
Economics: B
History: C+
2) Start the studying process. The only way to achieve success is hard work (or amazing luck, but I have seemed to run out...sad). For me, that means it's back in the books...or internet...whatever.
3) To facilitate the studying, get a study coach - someone who has been in your position, is highly positive, and very motivating. Mine is Rachel - she fits the bill AND helped me make 99 flashcards for my upcoming history test. History test...BRING IT ON!!!
4) Get sleep...Best way to stay focused is to actually be coherent while in class. No sleeping in there...only at home. This is the step that I apparently am struggling at. Seriously...bad...

Hopefully this process will work...it's still in the testing stage, and I just so happen to be its first guinea pig...wish me luck!!!

That Would Only Happen to Teddy:

-For Kristen's birthday (November 3), I cooked dinner (see A New Dish for more details). It was her, her sister, Chelsea, Kadie and I. Afterward, since it was her birthday, we all went Ice Skating (I am sure many of you can already guess where this one it heading). I am, in plain terms, a novice. Seriously, I am sure my niece Cadee will be more stable on that ice, but I still decided that I would go. For some odd reason, in my head, I was picturing myself getting out on that ice and skating like an average human being. I was thinking it would be like riding a bike. But this time, I had never learned to ride that bike. I looked ridiculous, using these walker-esque apparatus to help me maintain my vertical position. Finally, I broke free of that, and, though stumbling a bit, did actually make my way around the rink. There were only like 3 minutes left on the clock before leaving, and this song came on (what it was, I cannot remember) which made me begin to dance (upper body motion only, recognizing my flimsiness on the ice). Well, thanks to my impeccable talents, I fell. It wasn't like a graceful fall - it was one of those that would make it in the movies. I was flailing for a good 5 seconds, and then people around me were making those concerned moaning noises...you know, the ones that are all "oh my goodness, you are about to a fall, let me attempt to skate quickly over to you and catch you!" covered up by "Ahhhh..." with an extended hand about 15 feet away. It was no use...I fell, landing on my hand and me knee. I was alright, and wasn't too embarrassed since there were only like 6 people skating, but it will stick with me for a while (at least until the bruises go away...I’m just kidding...honestly...no bruises!).

-So a few days ago, my friend Kristen came over. When she left, it was really dark, so I walked her part was up the hill. It was all going fine until, out of nowhere, this giant (ok, some people over exaggerate this, but I am not kidding) raccoon came barreling down the hill at us. It was seriously darting right at us. Kristen shrieked a bit, I ran, and that thing just kept running. It finally ran into the trees, but Kristen and I, now out of breath, kept running up the hill.

A New Dish:

-So I have this philosophy when it comes to cooking. At the store (my top choice here is Megros - just a stones throw and a block away) I literally walk the aisles and buy the cheapest things that I can find. It's a fun plan, especially when you are pressed for time, because it kind of turns into a 'Supermarket Sweeps' game (remember that one? one of my favs!). Not only is it a fun time, but also challenging. Even though I will come back here with only a bag of potatoes, milk, bread, some fruit and a bag of pasta, I somehow find a way to make some pretty delicious meals (don't mean to toot my own horn...).

-Tonight, I decided to make a new twist on an old family favorite: Pork Chops and Potatoes. With my limited pantry, I was able to squeeze out a delicious pork chop with some salt/pepper/Italian seasoning/lemon juice and thinly sliced potatoes with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt. And to top them off, I fried some onions (they tasted just like those Frenches ones that you eat out of the can...I LOVE those!!!). It was pretty great...

-For Kristen's birthday, I promised to make a homemade meal (a promise up for grabs for anyone's birthday! if I'm in town, just ask!). What did I decide to make? How about a little Fettuccini Alfredo, bread, and salad (with homemade dressing to boot...really, it's because I'm cheap).


Are You Kidding Me?:

-So how about a trip down Irony Lane, shall we? Last weekend I decided to browse the College of Charleston website for some transfer information. I came across a page dedicated to AP standings. I wanted to see roughly how many credits I could get from my AP scores. Here at Franklin, I was only given 6 (all from my AP Statistics 4). My to my shock and You see, this year, for some reason, I am doing very...sub-par in World History. It is that grade that is bringing my GPA down. And yet, to get into the College of Charleston, I need a much higher GPA.

- So this one could have gone into the "That Would Only Happen to Teddy" category, but this one was kind of lacking, and I think it fits the bill. Where to begin...ok...Most of you have lived in a college setting with a roommate (many people see this will not bode well already). And always, no matter how nice this person may seem to be, there is always one hang-up that sends you to sputter the ill-fated words, "Are you kidding me?" Well, one of these moments happened to me recently...this is kinda just...wrong! Ok, so it was a Saturday morning, and the roomie and I woke up at roughly the same time, and since it was a Saturday, I didn't really have anywhere to be, so I let him take the first shower. La la la...I was probably doing something on the computer when he finished, and then he just laid back on his bed and fell asleep fast. I didn't really think much of it at all. So, I went into the bathroom to take my shower, and went to grab my towel (keeping in mind it's Saturday, so I have dried off with this towel all week) and I notice that it's a little damp. Thoughts processing...and then I noticed that there was no other towel around...HE USED MY TOWEL!!! I mean...WHO DOES THAT?!?!? I was just kinda stunned, scared, and took the towel and threw it out of the bathroom, muttering the phrase. Thank God that I had another clean towel in the cabinet...wow. From then on, I leave my towel in my closet hanging up out of his reach. I mean honestly...wow.