Got Breasts?

I don't personally, but a whole lot of people I know do. Please support my cousin as she undertakes this extremely important cause!

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=4750084&fr_id=1470&pg=personal

Developments!

As of last friday, I have had cause for much excitement. University of Connecticut and Oregon State University both notified me that they were admitting. UConn's offer came with an assistantship placement. Regardless of the unknown that OSU is currently providing me, I can't see myself not going to Corvallis. I was far more content there and know that I could make everything work. Of course, once my decisions are official, i will scream from the mountaintop.

Argh

Yes, it's been a long long while since I've posted. I could say that I don't really lead an interesting life, but that's just plain inaccurate...especially in the last year.

Work
As far as this goes, it's pretty standard stuff. I had probably decided since my last post that the 09-10 school year would be my last. That's playing out to be true and I feel good about it. I feel like I'm going out on really good notes. My staff is remaining intact from fall-spring for the first time in my 3 years. Tower Trick or Treat brought in over 400 kids. I'm on top of my administrative duties. I feel like I'm going out in the right way.

Then what?
My work life has actually led me strongly into my future plans. I have submitted applications to 5 schools in order to pursue my Masters in Student Affairs and Higher Education. In NO particular order, University of Connecticut, University of Texas-Austin, Colorado State, Seattle University, and Oregon State are my hopeful schools. I honestly don't see how I wouldn't get into at least one. I've been in the field for almost 3 years. Honest to goodness, I'm excited at the prospect of moving to places that are very different from Moscow. Not that this town hasn't been great, it's just really time to move on.

You got served
Cheesy tie in. I've found a renewed love of service since I last posted. Most of this revolved around my 3-week trip to Romania. I now have basic Romanian language skills and a whole new set of friends overseas. Not only that, I have a set of domestic friends who I can say I shared a truly special experience. I followed this up with a 1-week trip to New Orleans. On the whole, a very different time than Romania, but powerful for me nonetheless.

Great friends
I've definitely developed a special relationship with the people I work with and others in the division. I think most of it comes down to the fact that no one really understands what it is I do. I'm not entirely sure that my parents even get it. This is one major piece of suck that I guess I signed up for. Depending on where I go to school, I will know as many as a handful or as few as zero people in my new location. Even with that major crap aspect, I think the move is still the best move for me. I've got great friends back in the midwest, but I have no schools in that area. I just am not ready to be back there long term.

Romance
Haha...no change here. :P

Anyways, I better leave this be for the time being. I hope to be able to post more since my stress levels are at their lowest in a long time. Maybe I'll actually use it for the random ramblings in my head.

Maybe inappropriate

You do not mess with my children. I will end you faster than you can turn on a light. This will be a name-free post as I believe it's already been bad enough. I'm also probably way too angry to write effectively. I simply can't believe that people are so fucking stupid that they need to prove their masculinity in a way that is so passive aggressive and just plain mean.

I also vehemently disagree with the institutional response that has been taken. If the main concern is PR, we are doing a poor job of serving our students. I see how what's best for the institution is good for the students, but I do not see immediate needs being met. Steven = pissed off.

More updates about life will come, but this is all I can muster right now.

Real Person

So, a full year has passed since I became a "real person" in the eyes of many. What's happened since then? Well, this blog for one. I must say, that I kind of impressed myself with how I've handled this year. It was full of a lot of challenges and a lot of learning how I respond to situations. I think most importantly, I learned that I am able to respond to situations well. The first few weeks of the job, I could definitely feel why experience as a Resident Assistant is desired. It wasn't long before I became very accustomed to what I was doing and had a beat on situations if I needed to go. The ring tone made, and still makes, me tweak out a little bit, but whatever. I also made some great connections this year. Coworkers being the highlight of these. They were always available if I needed help, a question answered, a good laugh, a youtube video, etc. It's strange to think that I'll be thrust into that role next year with only a year of professional experience under my belt.

Honest and true, I think I've found at least an area of the country that I could settle down in. If the culture of Moscow is any indication of the NW, I think I'll be quite content here. Again strange, anyone who knows me from outside this year would never have pegged me to end up in Idaho. Mostly because it's a red state. Rest assured, my end game does not lie in Idaho. However, I don't think I can fully express what a good start it's given me.

The year brought no romance and I'm still 100% OK with that. Like I've said for a while now, if I stumble upon it or it finds me, I'm not going to turn it down. I just am not concerned with finding any of it. I'm only 23 years old and still very much finding my lot and place in this world (now there was a blue comment for you). Erstwhile, many of my friends have found it and are taking large steps in their lives. I don't think I was previously mature enough to understand those friends as couples, but I do now. And very truly, all my love and support goes to them.

To that end, two of my friends were married last November. Another two are now engaged as of this spring. I'll make mention of two more getting married this coming October, although neither the marriage or engagement happened in my post graduation year.

I don't know whether to be proud or weirded out, but the BLC has found it's impact in this year with their mission and motto. I've actually used my zoology background in my work at UI. One was to defend the existence of homosexuality as evolutionarily advantageous. The other in a conduct meeting. It really is true: learning is everywhere.

Sadly, I'm running out of reasons to get back to Madison. There are still a few great reasons to go, but it's become harder and harder to justify popping for a plane ticket or even the tank of gas to go from MSP to Madtown.

I also ended up getting myself inked. You can see it in previous posts. I was very glad to have gotten it. It's already faded just a tad, but that was somewhat expected just due to placement and how often I go pantless. I wouldn't not get another one, I would just need a very concrete idea in mind.

This summer, I look forward to getting to Seattle for Father's Day. It should be a good time. I also look forward to getting home for a spell if I'm able to. If anything, the cats should provide decent entertainment. The high school reunion is coming up, but I don't think timing or desire will line up for me to go.

All in all, a good year and looking forward to more.

3 Weekends, 2 of them fun

Oh yes, it's true. There are 3 weeks to go to wrap up my first academic year at UI. Suffice it to say, it's been a learning year. Lots of ups and downs. So, this weekend, I'll be taking my opportunity to hang out with Lindsey as those chances will soon run out. I'll just kind of chill with her at the Apartment and Family Housing yard sale. I don't think I actually have anything to sell, but that's not the reason I'm going. I've been so thankful for the collegial relationship as well as friendship we formed over the last year. After that, I'm going to a concert with Sam and his older brother. It should be a very good time. Then on Sunday, we have the Res Life dessert banquet. I've still got to write my speech. I've got to keep it light hearted enough that I don't get teary. Yes, I've known these people for less than 9 months. I get attached to people very quickly and this year has been no different.

The weekend after this coming one, my brother comes to visit! He'll be here Thursday through Sunday and I can't wait to see him. It's been almost half a year since I saw him (Thanksgiving). I'm hoping to get some good things planned for when he's out here. Farmer's market starts that weekend, Ren Fair is that weekend, he wants to go to the winery, I hope to show him the grizzly bears. The point is, I get to reconnect in person with someone who I've fairly recently grown into an adult sibling relationship. Two words: can't wait.

The last weekend is closing weekend. I'm excited because it's closing and it means the year is done. I'm less excited because it's closing and that means lots of busy work. I'm also less than excited because it means that I don't really know when I'll see Kami and Mikey again.

I've recently come to feel a little bit devalued by the department I work for. To make a long story short and so as not to divulge a lot of detail, without the intention being so, I got a major slap in the face combined with a low blow. I'm getting over it slowly, but it still didn't feel great in the moment.

In other news, my staff for next year met. Without actually intending it to be so, most of them stuck around just to chat for over an hour. I like where that is going. I will need a period of adjustment to figure out where the boundaries are. It will automatically be harder because there are more of them. Still, I think with more people, it gives them that much more potential to be great. They can't take the place of Westers...I'm going to try my damnedest to make sure East for next year has a separate place in my head and heart. All in all, next year has the potential to be a great year.

That's pretty much it for now. I could probably say more, but I don't think it's really necessary nor would it really have validity for a lot of people. Ta ta for now!

Less than three!

One month to go...what?

Yep, there really isn't much more than one month left to go. That said, it's going to be a whirlwind few weeks. Candidates are going to be pouring into town. At the very least, it means that I've got to keep my apartment clean so it can be shown. Other than that, in fun news, it sounds like my brother is going to be visiting in the first weekend of May. It'll be a busy time, but probably better for him to see campus while people are here as opposed to when it's empty.

My heart goes out to people in Madison who are being affected by the recent homicide. It's an unfortunate turn of events. Souring that mood, I discovered that Westboro Baptist Church is hoping to picket the memorial service of that student. First Amendment rights aside, that groups seems to be composed mostly of wackos all within one family. If you want my full opinion of them, I'm willing to make it known for free.

I have some decently large decisions to be making in the near future. One of which is definitely going to be how long I'm going to be here. At this point, it's unlikely that I'll be here beyond another year. Some pretty major changes would have to occur to justify me staying for another 2. I strongly doubt I'll be leaving the area, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. The GREs would be important for me to do sometime. I'd like to not have to and there are some programs around that don't make me, but I have to keep my possibilities broader than that.

Not much else going on. Just gonna try to plow through the rest of this year and come out on the other side smelling decent. I'll be posting again soonish.