a bit of this and that.

First things first:

UPDATED!!

My To-Do's in 2010.

(everything accomplished will be bolded. )

1. get into the BScN at GMU for 2010.

N/A - 2. finish Cell Microbiology with a swell mark... final % to be determined. - now I'm in Nursing!

3. make a full dindin for the family

4. join a Young Adults group @ a church.

5. run a 10k race

6. run a 1/2 marathon

7. work at camp, hopefully for four months. but two is ok too.

8. move out.

9. create a long-term savings account/jar/money stash under my bed or in the bank.

10. buy the John Mayer album, Battle Studies

12. get +1 earpiercing. (it was my nose... again!)

13. get +1 tattoo

14. own a Magic Bullet, so I can feel magical when I attempt to make food.

15. see Avatar with Brooklynn.

16. take good pictures of good memories.

17. buy a teal ring.

N/A 18. go blonde. - it may actually be impossible for me to be blonde! Two bleach sessions hardly moved a shade.

19. finally resign from Starbucks.

20. find a PT job during schoool

And secondly, school has been fantastic lately. These past two weeks have flown by like stink - I can't believe that I'm heading into my 3rd week of this semester. I already have a midterm next week! Although it sounds incredibly cheezy/nerdy, my classes are often full of interesting things to learn, which I love, and some abstract idea or discussion often leave my gears turing into the next day. But this is why I love school! On an even brighter note, I find it much easier to grasp concepts from class, and to just sit and study. Before, in BC I struggled to keep my attention on track and was often scrambling to get things done. Not fun. With a load of pressure off my mind, I find myself sinking into my 'study mode' a lot easier. What a great change.

Life as a student living on campus is always interesting. Besides getting to know Mona, I try to meet new people too. Sometimes, reconnecting with friends is just as good. On Friday night I was invited to Vinyl, a bar downtown, to celebrate Jo's birthday (from camp). Knowing that a bar is the last place I want to be a Friday night, especially with a not-so-great-friendships between the birthday girl and I, I teamed up with a mutual guy friend to brave the drunks. Although I didn't know him well, just being a counselor at camp with him gave us a basic similarity to bond over. After spending an unexpected great hour over pre-bar Iced Caps discussing evolution and society, we finally ventured off to find Vinyl only to realize he didn't have his ID as he just finished upgrading his license. We decided to just head back, leaving the partying to those who wanted to, and just hang out in the comfort of slippers and sweaters. So, my night-out turned to be a night- in that was way, way better. Just chatting and watching movies with a like-minded guy was such a breath of fresh air after being immersed in the secular culture of dating, partying and sex. I'm not saying that all secular guys are all evil and wear horns, but to connect with someone, a guy, you can trust is pretty rare, and very cool. Especially in this day and age.

Currently I'm at home, just relaxing 'till I'm shipped off back to my apartment. I enjoy home so much more after I've been away! I appreciate the little things like a full pantry, a comfy couch, nice carpet, and nice smelling candles. Being with family is the most enjoyable part. It's so great to just come home for a weekend, reenergize, then get back to school., Often I look back on my time spent so far at Grant Mac and my time spent getting there - I can't help but realize how amazingly blessed I am. Thanks, God!

Love always,

Dani.