First Day Madness

Yesterday was long, stressful, and my first day of being the official-school-year-GA.
Lots and lots of questions.
Lots of problems.
One really rude person.



However, it ended well with a nice floor meeting. My girls started out so quiet, but I got them talking by playing a couple of games. I think they were having fun. Of course I had to leave for staff meeting right when it was getting good. I left them with snacks and in good moods, so I hope they had fun after I left and didn't run back to their rooms. So far I am the only one who has my door open, but I'm hoping to get them out of their shells.

Today has been a bit quieter and without all the hecticness I've been able to get a good bit of work done.

I posted some pictures on my photoblog the other day - mostly from when dad was here, and a couple from this summer.

This past week and a half-two weeks has been so insane I had no idea there was a massive hurricane coming.... seriously.... how pathetic is that. I would go to breakfast at 7:30 and be in meetings/activities or working on my floor stuff until about 10-11pm when I'd finally crawl into bed and pass out. Even the weekend was crazy and of course starting classes. So I had no idea about the hurricane until Monday night. Apparently my cousins in Alabama are safe. I was watching the news footage last night and yikes..... unbelievable destruction. Unbelievable....

Speedy Posting

Dad came and went, with lots of fun in between.
We walked across mouth of the Mississippi, drove through the state park, went to 2 casinos, bird watched (osprey), went to our local animal park and fed the deer, bear, racoons, camels, and played for half an hour with two baby lions (8 weeks old)... saw a few of the osprey attack a male bald eagle-who did some awesome mid-air acrobatics right above us.
We did a lot of driving around and looking at the country side and I showed him my office and he helped me move some stuff into my dorm room... He even bought me a new tv when I smashed mine during move-in.

After dad left I concentrated on getting moved into my dorm room and doing my room inventories. I've also done my door decs and on-duty board. I only have my bulletin board to go. My original list said 4 residents, but it now I have at least 6, which is good. I've been insanely busy doing RA training (since last Friday) and we aren't done until Saturday at noon. Sunday I've got people moving in and a meeting and then Monday school starts! Eeep!

This is the longest I've sat still (when I wasn't in a meeting) and now I've got to go do some GA stuff!
Toodles.

Trips: Planned & Unexpected

Aya and I went to check out the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks on Tuesday. After an hour walking tour we agreed it is a beautiful campus (old brick buildings and a clock tower). Unfortunately, after asking lots of questions Aya found out they don't have what she needs for her PhD. So, she's back to searching for her perfect school.
After Grand Forks, we took an unscheduled detour to Fargo to see her grandpa. He had a triple-bipass on Wednesday morning. He's doing well and we're all hoping he'll feel much, much better once he's up and running again.

The new computers are in the lab, ready to go (minus one bad monitor which should be replaced soon). It was a painless process, but I'm greatly relieved to have it over and done with.

My dad is coming tomorrow and I've got lots of things for him to choose from.

I can't believe I'm moving into the dorms next Monday/Tuesday.
/boggle

My 3 Year Blogiversary!

I just realized this! July 26th was my 3 year Blogiversary!
(To use Berne's term)
Aya's was the 23rd and I was thinking mine was a few months later. Apparently she was much more persuasive than I thought, as she talked me into starting a blog in the first place.

Anywho....

Happy Blogiversary to me!

All's quiet

No big adventures, such as swimming in my jeans.
Though I have been swimming every day, in the pull, properly attired.

Trying to enjoy what is left of my summer.
New computers come in next Monday and Dad comes in next Friday. I've been rearranging the computer lab for the last week or so, trying to find places for the old computers and such. Monday will surely be an adventure.
I've also been making plans for when Dad comes up. We'll go on a tour of the Woollen Mills on Friday, after he comes in. Then we should go to Itasca State Park and walk accross the Headwaters of the Mississippi and maybe go horse-back riding at the stables nearby. I'd also like to give him a good tour of my town, better than the brief run-through we did last year at graduation. Other than these plans I think we'll just hang out - go where the wind blows and such.

I'm halfway through Lirael:

Although the series isn't as interesting to me as it was the first time I read it, I am enjoying rereading the books.

Mom & Dad hope to close on the house next Wednesday - a scary thought. It'll be official then, no turning back.

Just talked to S, my Hall Director, on the phone for about 20 minutes or so. It's funny, he's my boss, but when we're talking I feel like I'm talking to a friend and we can go on and on. It's worse when we're in person. Last time I stopped by for a meeting that I'd planned on being about an hour and two and a half hours later I had to say, "I really should be going." It's awesome. I'm so incredibly lucky.

Hummm

Emma is number 1 on the list of popular names for New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, and Scotland, number 2 for Northern Ireland, and it's Australia's number 10.
/ponder
Chloe shows up for Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England & Whales, and Australia.

/neener
My names more popular ;)

Yes... I am bored and living up to my nickname of "Vamp."
Sitting here with the lights off, the room lit only by the light pouring through a few windows and out of a dozen computer monitors. Summer classes ended last week, and as such there are NO students around and very few professors. I've done most everything I can to prepare for the incoming computers, which will be arriving on Monday. The few things I have left must wait until Friday.

Garage saled again last Friday. Aya's mom took it over on Saturday and Sunday. I was very glad for this. Two 3-day weekends in a row of running the rummage sale = /snore.
Saw Sky High and Must Love Dogs this past weekend, both were cute. Still want to see Wedding Crashers.

J left yesterday morning to go back to Texas for a few weeks, until school starts back up.

Mom and Dad should be closing on the new house this Friday and moving in... who knows when. They've got the Taos wool festival to prepare for in addition to the shop and trying to pack. I'm trying to talk them into waiting until Thanksgiving or after to move. I could come home then and help them pack/move. They haven't moved in almost 30 years and I'm not sure they remember what a headache it can be - thought they are dreading it... And though I've only ever moved dorm-sized amounts, I've moved almost a dozen times in the last 4 years and I can offiially say; Moving suxors.

Almost done with Sabriel - taking me way too long to get it read - too many distractions.

Went to a B-day party yesterday for H, Aya's cousin. She's 15 now! I can't believe it. When I first moved up here she was still in the little girl -not quite young lady - but I'll be there soon - stage. Now she's definitely at the Young Lady stage and zooming on up.