Limitless Aspirations

The Physical Effects of College

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:47:00 +0000

I have become a stranger to my own blog this semester. Soon after my last post, I started to have migraine attacks each day. Normally when I get a headache, I take some ibuprofen, take a nap, and I am fine when I wake up. Soon, it wasn't working anymore. When I woke up, the headache would be worse. One weekend, I couldn't take the pain anymore and a friend took me to the emergency room. They got the migraine to calm down and put me on muscle relaxers because my neck was tense from reading and being on the computer constantly for school. The muscle relaxers helped keep the migraines down, but I felt quite loopy sitting in class. One day my literature professor seemed more interesting than normal. The next day, I went to bed and woke up at 3 a.m. with a splitting migraine. I had to go back to the hospital and this time they gave me a strong narcotic. I did not drive home and after emailing my professor I couldn't take the exam, I went to bed.

I did a checkup later in the week with the student clinic on campus and the doctor officially diagnosed me as a sufferer of migraines. She gave me a prescription to try for migraines; a month's supply (9 pills). I followed the instructions on the box, but I went through them in a week. I was then referred to a Neurologist. Ever since then, I have done blood work about four times, a MRI, and taking a different prescription. This past week I have been feeling like myself than I ever have since October. I had two weeks of break and the first week I spent most of my time taking two to three showers a day with a cloth over my head to stop my head from throbbing. My parents became extremely worried when they would find me in the shower. I became extremely frustrated. I just wanted to feel normal again, but I know the main cause of them: stress.

I have had 3 years of stress toppled on me. This past semester was the roughest I have ever experienced. Not only did I have 17 books to read between 5 classes, but I fought with the university about graduation requirements to graduate after next semester, the GRE test for graduate school, graduate school applications, a 20 page paper for my Charles Dickens Independent Study, two jobs (one of which had a project deadline looming), two scholarship protocols, and all the other assignments for my courses. My body finally had enough and decided to tell me so with migraines. I wasn't even finished with the semester like most of the students. Tracy and I worked on my 20 pager the week after finals, two of my applications were due, and I had that project for my job deadline too.

I am glad I am starting to feel like myself and can recognize when I am about to get a migraine. I have also been drinking more water, and did some research about migraines. Some food and drinks can be triggers: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, aspartame, aged cheese, nuts, etc... Caffeine, such as in chocolate, coffee, or soda is a double edged sword. While it is a trigger, it also helps to relieve migraines. That's why in each Excedrin Migraine pill there is an equivalent of one cup of coffee. There are also environmental factors like the weather. When the barometric pressure is low, headaches and migraines are more likely. Another factor is extreme weather changes like being warm and then it being cold in a short amount of time. This has been the case for Mount Pleasant all fall and winter. Also, I should have mentioned migraines are especially different from headaches. While headaches can be very painful, migraines usually have specific symptoms and are much more painful. For me, the light, whether from the sun, lamp, or technological device, makes them more painful. This is also true for noise and things that make me stressed, like reading or writing for class.

Anyways, I am feeling much better and doing whatever I can to figure out my triggers. After all the pain, I didn't realize it nor was I working towards it, but I made the Dean's List this semester with a 3.8. My parents said I seemed stressed about my grades, but I was actually stressed about finishing everything with the little amount of time I had. The Dean's List is not worth all those migraines, but I am pretty proud.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Being a Responsible Student a Negative?

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

This week I had to make a decision whether to go to a performance with friends or stay home and work on the million things I have to do for college. It was a difficult decision for me. This performance only happens every year near Halloween and in remote places. It was difficult because I only see my friend when we have dinner on Tuesdays every so often, and I have wanted to see the performance all my years at Central. This is my last chance to see it while at Central. I had a few ideas how my friend would respond when I told him the truth. I contemplated not telling him the truth, which is awful, but I felt guilty letting him down. He's a go with the flow type of person, so I knew he wasn't going to peer pressure me. I decided to tell him the truth and told myself that he has his priorities and I have mine. I don't think any less of him because his are different than mine, and that I don't necessarily agree with them all. I try really hard not to judge people because it's not my place to do so. However, his response after I told I wasn't going to the performance was a catalyst to all these awful feelings. I felt like I needed to defend myself more or do something in order to make me feel better. I guess that's why I am writing this post.

I think a lot of people's priorities have to do with their personality and the way they were raised. My parents pushed me to my limit when I was in high school. Ever since then, school always comes first. I was never an all A student, but I worked my butt off. I am a different type of student; one that I don't see very often, which is frustrating. Over the years, I have noticed that people perceive me as a super smart student, which isn't exactly wrong, but they then conclude I have all A's and a really high GPA, which is wrong. I think I do well with my GPA, but it will never match my intelligence. I am the type of student that never misses class unless I am deathly ill, takes a lot of notes and participates in class, reads almost everything the professor assigns, goes to office hours, spends hours studying and writing, but I still receive a B. I have always struggled through school, that's just my nature. I know I have to work extremely hard to get that B. I do get A's occasionally, but there seems to be some sort of disconnection to what the professor wants and what I create. I say this because I see people who work just as hard as me, but have no problem getting A's on all their assignments. With one person I know in particular, it doesn't even matter which professor she takes, she gets perfect scores on everything, and I know I work just as hard as she does.

The other part of this is my personality. I am an introvert; less than I was before college, but still very much a home body. It's not necessarily that I enjoy doing homework, I would rather be doing other things than homework, but it gives me an excuse to be at home. Most people would find it weird that I enjoy being alone. Some would say they would be lonely, but I'm not like that. I enjoy time by myself, there's a difference from being alone and being lonely.

I guess in all of this I wish my friend understood me more as a student, or rather everyone. I'm seen as a "weird" or "wrong" college student because I don't party and spend most of my weekends doing homework. I can't help it. I struggle, and the fact that I am carrying two jobs and two scholarship protocols to meet ends meet means that when I have two hours of free time, it goes towards homework. The weekends are what keep me afloat. So when my friend says, "have fun being responsible," it gives me mixed feelings. Most people don't "have fun" being responsible. They wish they were still a kid and didn't have to deal with all these adult responsibilities. I don't regret my decision, I just wish it was easier to have a social life along with work and school. I guess when I heard about going to college is picking two out of the three(social life, school, work) they were right.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Time is Inevitably Strange

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:52:00 +0000

I have been trying to work on a post to introduce the beginning of my last fall semester at Central Michigan University, but it's already the end of week 6 of the semester tomorrow. This means I am about two weeks away from the half way point of the semester. I guess when I titled this post awhile back, it still fits.

All the realizations and things I have had to do as a senior are weird. I keep thinking how in about a month, it will be my last time registering for CMU classes. I had to actually apply for graduation a few weeks ago. You have to apply to get in, and apply to get out. My apartment complex emailed everyone about resigning for next year, and I deleted it because I won't be here. That was a real shocker. My French Revolution professor told us today in class that in 2013 they will be offering a field trip to go to France. I was so excited, then I realized, I won't be here.

My closure with CMU and my life here will be very difficult for me to go through. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic for graduate school and leaving Michigan, but CMU has been my home for almost four years now. I have gotten comfortable with finding everything on campus, know who to go to on certain things because of past experiences, and have made so many connections. I always knew I would have to continue onto graduate school since I was a freshman, but I can't believe it's already here. I am already applying to schools(the places are listed on the right side) and so nervous about getting accepted or not. Just last week I took the GRE, which I am not good with standardized tests, but I studied hard and hoped that Indiana University will accept me. I love their program, campus, and community of Bloomington. I know I will be heartbroken beyond belief if I am not accepted there. Every time I think about it, I get nauseous. I am nauseous because my time here at CMU is ending, I have no idea where I will end up, and I want Indiana more than any of the other schools. I am going to be uprooted again, and moving to a foreign place. One of the biggest factors that is helping me is I won't be alone. My boyfriend is going with me, and that's the greatest comfort I could have asked. However, I wish I could just email the Directors of the two Masters programs I am going to pursue and let them know, I promise if you accept me, you won't regret it.

I know I am ready for graduate school, and no, the GRE definitely is not the test to tell me that. I know I am ready because of the education the faculty of CMU have given me, and the experiences with my scholarships, work, and volunteerism. I guess I have to keep telling myself that if I don't get accepted, I will handle it as I have handled everything else; I will take the next steps forward to get what I want. If that means getting accepted to one program at IU and applying for the other one again, I will. It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman getting to know my way around Mount Pleasant and CMU, and now I am a senior graduating in May 2012 with my Bachelor of Arts degree with a major of English and concentration of World Literature and minors of History and Leadership. I keep trying to imagine myself in commencement gowns again and a tassel on my cap, but this time graduating with a college degree and my parents taking my picture in front of the CMU Seal. It still seems surreal, but I know, as the semester and my entire years here have shown, it will be here before I know it.

Restless Thoughts(no kidding here),
Andreah

Blood Chilling Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:51:00 +0000

My independent study with Tracy has really made me question what's going on with the United States. Tracy and I started with A Tale of Two Cities. I read an excerpt in the first class I had with Tracy and it captivated me. When I wrote the purpose of our study to be accepted by the university, it was difficult to answer why I am interested in Dickens. I resorted to asking the internet why should I study Dickens. I'm not much for television, but Oprah's episode about reading TTC and Great Expectations hit the nail on the head. The website stated that Dickens' writing is very honest about the times in which the novel took place and what Dickens lived through. This reminded me of the chapter in TTC when the people of Paris storm the Bastille, and cut off the governor's head. Dickens didn't sugarcoat any of the violence of the French Revolution and lived up to the famous line, "the streets ran with blood."

What does this have to do with the United States? As I read some short novels about the French Revolution, everything erupted based on the wealthy being in power and having no restraints to that power. The peasants and bourgeoisie finally had enough of suffering, and watching the nobility bask in all the luxury, they came together to remind the wealthy who truly had power. As I struggle to survive as a college student and lower-class member, I feel their pain. Now as the United States is crumbling, I have felt the eve of a revolution upon us. The middle-class is becoming less of an existence every day as the wealthy keep pushing to the top; the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer . Even though we have no French king, the wealthy are in power of our government. The French nobility were free from taxes, and worked towards a silver platter life. As our Republican and Democrat parties act like children and put the rest of the country on edge, it's about where we are going to cut to survive. Republicans don't want taxes because the wealthy(most of the Republican party) will have to give up some of the luxuries they have been enjoying for years. Democrats want to raise taxes to try and even out the playing field. I'm not saying either one is the correct path because I don't know, and neither does anyone else really know what will happen.

Tracy also provided me with some tough questions that connect with the current times that makes my blood chill. They make my blood chill because I get a weird feeling the no one will like the answers, and they will answer what's really going on. Tracy is famous for pushing and challenging me to these type of questions. It's what I like about her; she makes me better as a writer, thinker, and person.

What does TTC say about "History?"
Who makes "History?"
Who controls "History?"
Who writes "History?"
Who are the historians in the novel proper?
What is Dickens' view of history?

These are the questions as they are written by Tracy's dissertation advisor(a Dickens scholar). The only real hint Tracy gave me was about who writes history. She told me to think about Madame Defarge knitting. She's keeping a registry of all that come into contact with them, and are believed to be against the revolution. I was staring at them yesterday and noticed her advisor put History in quotations. As a history minor, I love history for its multiple perspectives. There is no clean, cut way something happened. A lot of people think history is all about memorizing facts and not repeating the past, but I disagree. There could be two people in that mob to the Bastille who view what happened in very different ways. One could view it as the only way to survive was to be a part of the mob, even though they wanted nothing to do with it. If people read something from that person's perspective, they could form that into most people just being followers. Whereas the other person had struggled so much, they truly believed in the cause and was blood thirsty. History is very much about perspective, and I think Tracy's advisor is trying to tell me that with the quotations.

I hope once I finish TTC and read up more about France and the revolution, I will be able to provide some analysis for Tracy the next time we meet. I think because Dickens' writing is raw, it's a great source to history that might have been overlooked(being fiction and all). I encourage anyone to take up this book as America seems to be having a tale of its own.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Winds of Change

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:20:00 +0000

I don't even know how I should start this post. So much has happened and put my life on the fast lane that it's difficult to get all my thoughts together. I was wrong to think this summer wasn't going to be busy. I should know by now that last summer, when I wasn't taking a class and graduating soon, was the only nice, easy-going summer I would have.

About a week ago my fate was answered when the Director of the Clarke informed me the president approved the grant for my project! It was hitting me all at once; my three years at Documents on Demand is going to end soon. He contacted my department, but because another girl is leaving for a better, summer job, they might ask me to come back for a few hours, if they need help. I am thrilled to work for the CMU Clarke Historical Library! The Director, Frank, is great to me and his staff. He treats others like individuals and doesn't think he is better than anyone. He is open to all opinions, no matter what the person's title. He's also friendly and extremely talkative. I will probably get to set my own hours and work as many as 40 hours per week, if I want. My research is most likely to also get published in the 125th anniversary book in a few years. My name will go into the acknowledgments. I am ecstatic to have this opportunity and to work with a staff that truly respects their students. They treat the students' work environment as a learning environment too. The reference assistant and I both agree that it's too bad I am graduating next Spring, because the Clarke would have been a great fit for me all along.

UGH, graduation. Through much research, calculating, and serious thought, I have set my heart on a graduate school; Indiana University at Bloomington. There were only two options for me in Michigan, and they both failed my research and comparison to IU. Wayne State? Their library program is falling apart, not very well known on the scale of library science, and I would rather not live in Detroit. University of Michigan? Ok, ok, so I know it's like a bitch to afford, but they have a great digitization and technology program(what I am interested in), but here's the crazy calculation. IU has the most dual-program options with the Master's in Library Science. The one I am interested in is the MLS and Master's of Arts in History. To get both degrees is 50 credits with out of state tuition $17,000 per year. At U of M, just the MLS degree is 48 credits and in state tuition is $16,000. If I stay in Michigan because in state tuition is so much "cheaper," it's going to take me twice the money and time to get the two degrees I want. In 12 months, I can become an Indiana resident and it will be cheaper than in state tuition at U of M.

There was another factor in my decision for IU. My boyfriend is having the roughest time finding a job in his field in Michigan. He went to trade school to become an electrician. He got his diploma, came back to Michigan, and Michigan changed the law about getting a license. He is one class away from being able to get his Michigan electrician's license, but he has to have a 40 hour/week steady job while he takes the class. Indiana can offer him more job opportunities and he won't have to take that class to work towards his license. After six months, he can become an Indiana resident, and start logging his hours towards his license. I feel guilty not having my degree done yet. He's in our hometown, looking for any job he can right now. We both can't afford to live alone, so he has to wait. I know he doesn't blame me, especially since I am getting out in four years, but it still makes me antsy. I want to start our life together and be done with this long distance crap.

With all my emotions of guilt, excitement, and anxiety, I have to start working hard to get into IU's History Program. The Library of Science program isn't as difficult to get accepted. The History Program also requires the GRE and a paper maximum of 30 pages. I ordered a bunch of GRE books from Documents on Demand (haha). I want to look at them before I buy a bunch of books. My awesome professor, Tracy, offered to do independent study with me to produce a winning, 20 page paper. We are going to study Charles Dickens and his relation to Victorian History. So now reader, I hope all these things have given the realization that I am finishing my summer course, working two "jobs" until I start working for the Clarke, studying for the GRE, and getting an independent study course around, which I also have to get approval to substitute for another English class to count towards my major. Did I lose you yet? Because I think I am lost, haha. I have been working 9-11 hour days between the Clarke and the main library. I can't wait for July 11th when I can just work in the Clarke and get paid. However, I am grateful for this great opportunity at the Clarke.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Fate Is Mysterious

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 01:09:00 +0000

My intuition is a bit funny with situations. I didn't predict it down to detail, but fate has finally revealed itself. I wrote a few weeks ago about how my project at the CMU Clarke Historical Library must mean something if I didn't get the Library of Congress internship. Well, I think I got my answer. The Director has gone forth and asked the president for funding and furthering my project. He wants to pay me and a researcher/writer to really fulfill this project. It isn't set in stone yet, but I am excited to see what the president has to say. However, this means he is trying to buy my time from my current department in the library. The other dilemma is the project will end in December and I would be out of a job. The Director has assured me that if my department says they cannot assure me a job in the Spring semester, the Clarke will gladly hire me.

This is the second time I have considered switching departments, mostly for the good of my future career as a librarian. The Director informed me it would be 20 hours a week, which is what I am doing now. That's way more than what my department can offer me during the semester. I also assumed that would mean I could schedule my own hours, which is also what I am currently doing.

But, the project isn't all about possibly getting a job. I have learned a lot about CMU the past two weeks of my research. In 1891, Central Michigan Normal School was privately owned, and in 1892 the state accepted it as a normal school. Normal school refers to it being a school for teachers. In December 1925, the burning of Old Main(administration building) occurred. Shortly after that, the building of what is now Warriner Hall started over the Old Main's rubble. Warriner was the administration building, library, and provided classrooms. After the school started to thrive again, wildcats was proposed as the mascot for sports. In the next issue, Harry Gover, the owner of the campus store proposed the bearcat instead, saying it "has the same fighting qualities of a wildcat, but more, because no one has ever seen one." The discussion was about having an animal of Michigan woods. There wasn't anything official in writing, at least that CM-Life documented, but the newspaper seems to run with it after that.

Just this week, I discovered something home hitting to me. I was scanning through a Central Michigan University history book that was published in 2007. I was in the beginning, reading about a woman named Lucy A. Sloan. She struck me when it said her obituary stated she "was the heart and soul of the suffrage movement." I read further and discovered she was a self-made woman through education. I instantly asked the reference lady if they had anymore information about Sloan. She brought out a memorial bulletin to her death. I knew there wouldn't be any mention of her work for the movement. It was unladylike to be involved with politics around 1918. I was right. There was a piece from President Warriner and other professors, but nothing mentioned her work for suffrage. It was ironic, however, that Warriner commended her intelligence, loyalty, and work ethic as a woman. He wrote an article before her death about women can get a teaching degree, but should focus 1/4 of their time in home economics to eventually support a man and children. Anyways, I am rambling. The last piece I came across was a small biography about Sloan. The first sentence was my home hitting moment. She was "born and reared in Hillsdale County." I was instantly astounded! This woman was the first Head of the English Department for Central, worked for suffrage, was a self-made woman, known for changing the lives of her students, and she was from my area of Michigan! And currently, the Hall named after her still stands today. I couldn't believe it. She is practically a founder of Central and originated from my area!

The sad ending to this story is that Sloan died with the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918 and never saw women get the vote. However, I am planning on writing a piece for the Clarke's blog. The staff keeps telling me they would love to have me as a guest writer. They knew I would find interesting things besides pivotal changes. I also hope to find something more on Sloan and her work for the suffrage movement.

Well, I am looking forward to a non-work weekend. I might work on my two, one-paged papers for my class and the blog piece, but other than that I am going to do what I want. It was a rough week with losing Monday for a research and work day because I ended up having 9-11hour days between both libraries. I had to meet the 20 hours at the Clarke and work in Park to pay bills. I am so happy to be in my apartment tonight and sleeping in a little tomorrow. There's much fun reading and writing to do!

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

P.S. I am still here Harold Camping!

Last Blog Post Due to Destruction of the Earth and My Banishment to Hell

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 21 May 2011 04:25:00 +0000

According to Harold Camping, I have less than ten hours to live. This was also predicted by Camping in the 1990s, ironically 1990 was the year I was born. This wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to predict the Earth's end. The first recorded was 634 B.C. in Rome. According to prophecy, the Roman Empire was only going to last 120 years. When the 120th year rolled around, of course everyone freaked out, and the year passed without incident. I learned about this and more predicted apocalypses, that obviously never happened because we are all still here, from the History Channel's facebook: Apocalypses That Weren't

The cynic in me thinks a lot of these predictions, especially the one in 1914 that has an abundance of predictions following, that people are just doing it for fame. Harold Camping riled up a bunch of people and has won the attention of the media, despite his previous, failed prediction. It also makes me further think if such an end would happen along with the ascension of believers, the person who hits the nail on the head gets bragging rights through those pearly white gates. If they make it. Or perhaps it is the ultimate strategy to gather up some converts. Just like Saint Augustine, he may be the first guy to write down his unanswerable questions to God and reflect on his conversion experience, but that doesn't mean he is the first one to have these thoughts. Why would God let one human being become informed of the date of doomsday? If God is so merciful, wouldn't he let us go on with our lives without fear?

Personally, this isn't the first time I have been told I am going to Hell. I linger between Atheist and Agnostic most of the time. With these beliefs, I am considered a minority, and reiterating my fate to the fiery flames of doom is nothing unusual. When it gets warm out and the students are still here, we have religious people come and protest. For some reason, which I still don't understand, they inform students we are going to Hell because we are in college instead of doing God's work. Being a junior, I know just to ignore their yelling and keep walking. This year, one of the people handing out flyers spoke to me about believing in Christ before I go to Hell. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'm Atheist. I have been doomed since the beginning." He said nothing to me and I kept walking.

If you've read my past post, "Freedom is Slavery," you will remember by church experience with my grandmother. If you haven't, the basic idea is I believe is that the religion, at least the ones that have a belief in some sort of higher power, is a way out from free thinking. If a book or script tells you everything you should and shouldn't do, there's no need for critical thinking. Don't get me wrong, stealing, adultery, murdering, etc.. are wrong, but I would like to see someone take the challenge of a decision without the base of religion.

Sometimes I wonder how I would be different if I grew up in a religious household. Would I believe everything I previously stated? Either way, I agree with my father about Hell. If you did Satan's bidding, why would he punish you? But that's another rant. Well, if I do go to Hell tomorrow, it's nothing new. I will go to Hell knowing I respected others' religions, but barely scraped up any for my own. There's really no hope for me as an Atheist/Agnostic bisexual. At least I can stop complaining about being cold all the time.

Step by Step

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Wow, I haven't blogged in over two months. My new year's resolution has flown out the door. About two weeks has passed since the semester ended. It's interesting how it ends so abruptly; everyone keeps going, going, going for four months, and then the final task just ends within seconds. This semester has been the highest GPA thus far at CMU. I did feel like I worked harder this semester. It also helped that I had decent professors all across the board. Ancient Literature was my most enjoyable class this semester. The professor was great and some of my fellow writing consultants took the class too. Anyways, I had about a week from school and then it's back again with my summer course.

It's the capstone class to my Leadership minor. I have to do a 120 hour service project bringing all my leadership skills, theories, and knowledge together. As I haven't announced on here, I did not receive the Library of Congress Internship. Yes, I was upset at first, but I believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason. Although, it was very disheartening when I went to the public library and they also turned me away. However, I don't think it was because I was incompetent, they have interns and the spaces are all filled. I was unaware by the fact that they offered internships or I would have applied. I was feeling anxious, and that night after the public library rejected me, my leadership advisor emailed the class on due dates. The next day I entered CMU's Clarke Historical Library with determination and hope. The Director, whom I had spoken to earlier about my career, was more than excited to have me. It might have been the fact they could get free labor, I mean volunteering, but either way I was grateful. The next day the Director informed me of my project. CMU's President, George Ross, has asked the Clarke to research pivotal changes the university has taken that has shaped its character today. The Clarke needs someone to start the research with one of the most important newspapers to document the university's happenings; CM-Life.

I was instantly excited when the Director announced this project. I am excited to learn about my university and document the pivotal changes. Maybe it will help me understand why CMU is the way it is today. I have kept analyzing the project and I think it's a great way to complement all my studies and future endeavors. With my English major, I get to write summaries of each article and then reports as a whole. As for my History minor, that's an easy one with just researching the university's past. And speaking of research, this will develop my skills and further my goal of becoming a librarian. Right now I am working on my goals for the project, and once they are approved by my leadership advisor, I can start the project.

In other news, my garden plot has been planned out. However, this year I am a little nervous because in order to get a plot, I had to agree to grow organic. I am nervous because I have never done this before. I also am nervous about the time because I am going to be working and doing my project. I will be looking up some literature for help in my new endeavor of organic gardening.

I also have rode my motorcycle a few times in the last couple of weeks. Sheba is not up in Mt Pleasant yet, but I went home for my Dad's birthday and Mother's Day, so I took her out for a spin. It will be nice when she is finally here in Mt Pleasant and I will be saving money.

Overall, I am eager for my project to start, but I have so much I want to do this summer, like usual, that I am also apprehensive. My reading list has become so monstrous since I have been in college the past three years. My ideas for writing are annoyingly trying to burst forth, even if I just write them down for later. I also have other projects that would be really nice to finish; digitizing my dream journal and past literature notes. As for now, I am just taking it step by step.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Woman Motorcyclist Doesn't Belong Just in the Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:41:00 +0000

So here I am in between classes and using the restroom. Sometimes people or organizations will put flyers on the back of the stall doors so it's the first thing you see when using the john. So there it was, in pink, gray, and white colors; a flyer titled "Women's Expo." And three bold statements, "Be You," 'Spoil You," and "Explore You." In smaller font there were activities listed: jewelry, makeup, scrap booking, cooking, etc... At that point I wasn't convinced. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having a good time with all those activities, but I think the sorority who sponsored this Expo needs to be more careful about the message they are sending.

"Be You" means to me that those stereotyped female activities is how you get into touch with your inner woman. I love to cook, crochet, and other crafts, but I also love to ride my motorcycle, play video games, and even help my dad work on the farm. Even with those activities, why must they be masculine? I would like to think "Explore You" goes beyond those activities. I don't want to be limited to female "related" activities. I am not trying to find my inner woman, but my inner self. The sorority is just deterring those women who aren't interested in those typical "feminine" activities (yes, me included). I understand wanting to celebrate women, especially because March is Women's Month, but isn't the whole point to look past those stereotypes and live as women of the 21st century? I don't think we are even accomplishing that. Sometimes it seems like we are still stuck in the 50s or 60s. I'm sorry, society, but I am not going to college to get my MRS. degree (especially in this economy).

In other news, everything is set for the Library of Congress internship. The deadline for application was last Friday. I'm very please on how hard I worked on the cover letter and looked at the instructions to apply about 12 times until I was satisfied I did everything. My family, friends, professors, and my librarian mentors are excited for me and are all hoping I receive it. I thought the application process was going to be tough, but the waiting is much worse. I know it's only Wednesday, but I am antsy. I am sure they have many applications to sift through, I just hope mine makes it.

This past weekend my extended family and I celebrated my birthday. I made my maternal, traditional birthday cake; a four layered red velvet cake with butter whipped frosting. It's my favorite and I never tire of it. The frosting is more fluffy and light than sugary. I'm not much on a lot of sugar anymore. After all these years of my mom making the cake, I definitely have more respect for her. The cake and frosting is a lot of work. There are so many steps and important parts to remember it gets a little crazy.

My parents got me a new motorcycle helmet and leather jacket for my birthday. It was great when they took me to Hudson Leather in Pioneer, OH and I saw all the gear available. My mom says it takes time to add to a motorcyclist collection and gear. I'm hoping for chaps next, ha ha. Dad took a picture of me on Sheba in the basement:

I'm ready for spring, mother nature! And possibly saving money on gas by getting 40-50 miles per gallon!

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

I'm Not Supposed to Do Anything

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:50:00 +0000

I was born in the dead of winter. I may be biased, but February is the roughest month of winter. Since the end of November, beginning of December, Michigan has gone through at least two months of winter. March is almost here, brining the possibility of Spring. I hear more complaining about the freezing wonderland once February hits. There's also a study that babies born in winter are less likely to succeed in life. Not that I agree, but I guess I was one of the tough ones.

My 21st went pretty well. I think one of the best gifts was getting on webcam with Franzi and all her friends were right there, ready to sing for me. Most of them are international, so after the song, they said, "Happy Birthday from China...and Taiwan....and Poland....and Italy!" It was a pleasant surprise. I received things I needed and wanted from friends and family. Of course most people assumed I went crazy now that I am legal to drink. Nope. I am not supposed to do anything, it's my birthday. It's my decision if I want to conform to society or lead my own life. This is why I got myself a new toy, which most of my techy, nerd friends aren't too fond of, but it will help me with school.

Yes, it's a netbook my netbook hating nerd, friends. It's Acer's new Aspire One with eight hour battery life! Perfect for my crazy life on campus! I thought about it, and I am very frustrated when I have a few hours between class, no point in going home, so I pack my lunch. I like to check my email and browse the web for a bit and to eat at the same time, the Extended Hours Study allows food, but it's always packed. My phone will not have internet for awhile. I'm on my parent's plan and I don't expect them to buy me the most up to date technology. So this handy netbook will be conveniently going to campus along with my school things and packed lunch. I also figure once I go to graduate school, I want to get a desktop and get rid of this Acer Aspire laptop. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I basically use it as a desktop and I have to have extra fans for overheating. Let's just say it has seen better days. Once I have a desktop, this netbook will be great for whatever graduate campus. I went with Acer because my laptop has been great to me. Acers are an "off" brand and don't require the rip roaring price of a Mac. I am not that fond of Macs anyways. I think the hardest part will be to keep both machines up to date with my files. However, I am excited for it to arrive in the mail and I get to start utilizing hopefully before Spring Break starts the week after next.

My girlfriends are heading out on a cruise while I stay in frosty Mount Pleasant, working 40 hours at the library. I might be making overtime by watching a professor's house and cat. That would be nice, but I am such a home body and introvert, I love my own place. I don't think I will pass up the extra money, however. After I pay for this netbook, I promised myself to save away any penny possible. Whether D.C. happens or not, I will still need a place in the summer; a university dorm in D.C. or an apartment in Mount Pleasant.

Restless Thoughts,

Andreah

"Churning Butter to the Whole-Grain Bread of a Bright Future"

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:44:00 +0000

No, I am not really churning butter. It's not a skill I possess. I didn't keep up with my weekly blog writing lately and it's disappointing. Not only school, but new implementations for Michigan have been causing more stress. It's as if fate thinks I need more. Now I am looking for anything to keep my mind occupied by other things. I am not putting my blinders on, as some Americans do. In fact, I wrote to my representatives and the man changing things that will effect my life as a student, but of course they don't agree with me. I would rather not going into the extremities of how I feel about the state of Michigan slashing cuts here in there in higher education. Just get ready to say goodbye to the future of Michigan, because many others and I will not stay in Michigan. Once I graduate from CMU, "Adios!" Anyways, I said I wouldn't go further and I won't.

The Library of Congress Internship has been a great mind occupier because it is now available! I am nervous beyond belief, but ecstatic to apply. I have about everything in order except a few minor details. I have also cleared counting it for the last class I need for my Leadership minor. This class is all about doing your own leadership project, at least 120 hours. I cleared it with the leadership advisor and he's excited for me to gain this new experience. The CMU Dean of Libraries sent me my letter of recommendation a few days ago and it really made me feel appreciated at the library, more so than I have in the last six months. Wish me luck!

As for this Michigan teasing weather, it's been getting to me as much as everyone else. No, I am not crazy and wearing shorts like some of the students on campus, but it is nice to finally wear my sneakers instead of hiking boots. No, as you probably guessed, I have motorcycle fever. It's so "warm" I want to hop on Sheba despite the 10 degrees rule (whatever the real temperature is, minus ten degrees when riding a motorcycle). My mom didn't help the other day when she hinted that a birthday present came in the mail via UPS; my new motorcycle helmet. Another type of fever was caused by another. A girl walked past me on campus and said, "I really want to play catch today, but I don't think I will have time." It hit me like wildfire: Softball. I have been drooling over my mits in my locker trunk ever since.Although it's difficult to find someone to be on the other end of my wicked throw, ha ha.

As for other mind occupiers, I am still working on rereading the last three Harry Potter books. I am a quarter into Half-Blood Prince. Other than that, school has done quite well to keep me loaded up on work and stress. However, a friend of mine gave me a compliment that helped me get through this week, "I have sincerely applauded your motivation ever since your first semester. You've got a literal ransom of responsibilities that would tax even the most forthright and yet here you are, churning away...like making butter, butter to apply to the whole-grain bread of your bright future." It's nice for someone to notice my hard work and sleepless nights every once in awhile. As another said to me today, "it's a wonder college hasn't killed us." It hasn't killed me yet and I am still set on going to graduate school. So here I go, churning away, it seems never ending but I don't know about you, but I love real butter and it's worth it.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Oh and Happy Birthday to my blog! It was created a year ago yesterday!

Merciful Mother Nature in Times of Woe

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:24:00 +0000

I guess going to school isn't so bad at times. Central canceled class for tomorrow due to our lovely blizzard massacring Mount Pleasant. This is my first snow day since high school and CMU never has snow days. They canceled one time when my sister also went here and I was still in high school. I am glad not to be waking up early and fighting snow to get to work. It seems Mother Nature picked the perfect day for my schedule to have a snow day. I would have had work early in the morning and four classes throughout the day. Plus I have an exam on Thursday. Tonight after being on campus from 9am-9pm, I was going to have to work on my Shakespeare and Ancient Literature homework. Nope!

Instead, I am working on my dream journal. I've been keeping a paper copy since September 2005. Although I had an epic fail in 2010; only one dream was recorded. Now I am working to put it on a software called Liquid Dream III. I am pretty picky about dream journal software, but this met about all of my needs, especially the free aspect. It's strange going back six years and recording my dreams when I was 15. The first night I worked on it a lot, I went to bed and all the thoughts about past dreams collided into a nightmare about the death of my parents and I. It was so vivid, I was pretty shaken at five in the morning. I called my boyfriend, he calmed me down, I wrote it down and then I went back to sleep. Unfortunately, I entered back into my realm of chaos and had another dream, but thankfully not another nightmare. I called my mother later in the afternoon to hear her upset voice say hello (she hit something with her car) and I jumped in glee. She was freaked by my weird reaction too, but not so much after I told her I didn't care, she was alive and well! Luckily my imagination gave me a break last night and I don't remember much. It's also enlightening that I read the dreams and remember them exactly just from the images of my writing. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to put 160 dreams in there from the past and keep up with the current ones.

So I know it's kinda late, but besides writing on my blog about once a week, I have thought of another new year's resolution. After I get done rereading the last three Harry Potter books, I want to finally finish The Wheel of Time Series. I think in order to really finish it, I will have to start at the very beginning again. I mean, I can't really finish it since the last book has yet to come out, but I figure reading 13 books of about 800 pages or more each, I am sure the last one will be out before I know it. I banded The Towers of Midnight (the latest one) to go out for MelCat at work and felt guilty not finishing the series yet. I have nothing stopping me now. I am sure they will be especially nice if I go to D.C. Those will be plentiful to read. Even though I own the whole series up to Knife of Dreams, I might get them on my kindle to go to D.C. to save space.

Anyways, back to my vast imagination and vivid dreams. Thanks for giving me a day off Mother Nature!

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

The Vast Void of the Information World

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:27:00 +0000

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my future. More often than normal. Which considering my personality, it sometimes seems crazy. Ever since the CMU Dean of Libraries mentioned me to the Historian in our Clarke Historical Library, the Information world is a large void to which I have to find my niche. This void seems so vast that it scares me back into my hole of my undergraduate degree. I am not really one to procrastinate about my future, but these are monumental decisions.

Most people throw out all these stereotypes that being a Librarian means being limited and sitting on your ass reading books. Of course I am sure Librarians and future Librarians like me would love that as our job description, but the thing is, people really don't know about what can be done with a Master's of Library Science and Information degree.

I could never set foot in a library and have a great job within the publishing world with my Master's. Following the road of the Historian, I could be an Archivist and work with rare documents to digitize them. I could work in special collection or a special library just dealing with a certain subject. Entering the business world, I could write grants and manage budgets for libraries. Almost everyday The Chronicle of Higher Education posts a new job, mostly in the United States, asking for someone with a Master's degree in Library Science and Information. See for yourself: http://chronicle.com/jobCategory/Library-information-sciences/58/ This is great considering someone told me I wouldn't be employable when I am done. It's ironic how small of a world people stereotype my future job to be considering it revolves around information and research. That void is a black hole! The real question is, which field will I enter?

I thought I had it all figured out when a fellow Librarian at CMU suggested Digital Archives. I thought it would be the perfect match; my love for computers, literature, and history all bundled into one. I spoke with the Historian and I am now feeling a little uneasy about it. He didn't deter me from archives, but put a lot of things into perspective. The only real advice anyone can give me right now is to go to Library school. The first few classes should get me started where I want to go. But here's the thing, certain graduate schools have certain specialization programs for library science. I don't want to be that student who has to transfer. Although, I guess if I look at it in a more positive light, transferring would mean finally figuring out what I want to do and making myself happy.

My personality is just used to having everything planned out, it keeps me sane. I like to have a clear, cut path and follow it. Now that I have an idea about the Information world, there are so many choices, where do I begin? Picking a graduate school makes me even more uneasy. As I have said before, CMU always seemed right to me plus the scholarship money I have earned here is nice. Well, a job can never be perfect, especially the first one. I know I will go through many with my library degree until I find the right one.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Maybe Somethings Can Happen All in One Night

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:41:00 +0000

School has never been easy for me, especially Spanish classes. Lately I have been listening to songs in Spanish while doing Spanish homework. The younger Spanish professors will find a song that is popular and go with our grammar lessons. I have bought two so far. One of them, "Ella" by Bebe has a cool beat and rhythm, so I decided to really look at the words. I couldn't translate it that well, so I researched on the internet and found a good translation: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/ella-she-ella.html After I read the English translation, it meant a lot more to me. I could tell why Bebe really throws emotion through her voice in certain places. Now it's been a challenge learning it by heart in Spanish. But it does help me put my brain in Spanish mode for homework and studying.

When my brain went into sleep mode last night, my imagination really took over. I have vivid dreams a lot. Most of which make no sense at all and I would probably be thrown into a white squishy room if I was studied. However last night was different. I dreamed a vivid story about a beautiful woman who is just as much a spitfire as her red hair. I won't go into too much detail about the dream, but as soon as I woke up I grabbed pen and paper. With sleep still crusted around the rim of my eyes, I got back into bed, and closed my eyes. The images would flood back to me and I wrote frantically. I didn't actually write full sentences, just scattered thoughts and anything I could remember or perceived while sleeping. I ended up writing three full pages of bullet points. I then just sat in bed and all these questions loomed inside my mind. I wrote those down too, but I wanted to go back to sleep and meet her again to ask all these questions. I feel like Harry Potter looking for the door to the Department of Mysteries; wanting to go back to bed, ignore Occlumency classes, and yell at Ron for snoring. But I know I probably will have to figure out all those questions on my own. I mean, I did create her, the answers are all there. I just have to find them. It was just hard knowing my imagination did that all in one night. Why can't I do that in the daytime? I know this character is bound to keep me thinking about her.

Later today I skyped with Franzi for two hours. It was great. We hadn't talked in a month because of my final exams, trip to Florida, working 80 hours, and her schooling and events as well. She finally got my package in the mail, but I haven't received her's yet. Sometimes it seems like going to Germany was all a dream and it never happened. It feels like a long time ago. And of course, I would love to relive it. Franzi and I also got into a bashing discussion about the American college system. Although it seems like we do have better professors here. I know, hard to believe, but she says all of her professors don't care and aren't friendly at all. At least we have a select few at Central. Franzi really made me think about all the money I am spending here and what I could do with it instead. It was frightening. We both were surprised that no one has gotten angry enough, revolted, and made a change. We decided to talk about something happier. It was a nice conversation and I miss her a lot. She made me laugh a lot and told me that the next time she will probably visit America is when I get married. I better start dropping hints to my boyfriend, ha ha. Just kidding.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Living the Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:52:00 +0000

Tomorrow embarks another semester at Central Michigan University. I get nervous every time a new semester starts despite the countless times I have done it. I get antsy because I know everything that hangs over my head.

Being a Leadership Advancement Scholar entails being in two clubs on campus and one holding a leadership position. Plus volunteering at least once, serving on a university committee, and being an active member of one of the Lead Teams. I decided to be a leader of a Lead Team. Multicultural Advancement Scholar entails going to two events for each heritage month, attending monthly all scholar meetings, and volunteering at the Big Brother Big Sister Silent Auction in the Spring. In the Fall a scholar has to volunteer 10 hours of service. All of this on top of my two jobs and of course the most important thing in my life: my education. Through all this I have to find time for homework. Sleep comes last in my life. I pay for everything here at school and hardly ever ask my parents for money. So I can't always take off work for school either. It's a vicious cycle and a battle I will continue to fight until I get my Master's degree. I know it will be worth it in the end; to really start my life in the Library Science and Information World. Even though my stubbornness and ambition has gotten me this far, so has my family and friends. Thanks for being there for me. I am sure you know what you're getting to each time I start afresh with another semester of school. This time next year, I will be completing my final semester at Central Michigan University. Then it will be on to graduate school.

Even though I am reminded constantly that I have plenty of time to seek out the graduate school that's for me, I know it's not true. Time flies so fast during the school year. It will creep up on me without conviction. I will be uprooted again, pushing my comfort zone, and starting all over again in a new place, hopefully not in Michigan. I will have to make a difficult decision again. Central was so easy for me to choose. All the scholarships I was awarded, the togetherness of campus, the friendly staff...it felt right to me. Will I get the same for a graduate school? Sometimes I get so nervous about that decision I wish someone would/could make it for me. But, I can't get too ahead of myself.

This Spring semester I am taking the next level of Spanish (202), Masterpieces of Ancient Literature, Shakespeare, Math: A Modeling Approach, and Women in America. I have a heavy load of reading classes and Spanish is always a heavy workload. Tomorrow I have four classes plus work at the library in the morning. It should be a busy day. The month off went by so fast. A week of working 40 hours, about a week in Florida, a week at home, and another week of 40 hours. And I didn't even make any new year's resolutions. Besides to ride Sheba as much as possible, ha ha.

Speaking of riding time with Sheba, I have everything around to apply to the internship at Library of Congress. I had my meeting with the CMU Dean of Libraries this past week and he is going to write it as soon as the internship website updates. I hope it's soon so I can get it out of they way before the semester grasps a hold of my life. I just have to remind the Director of the Writing Center to write my other one, update my resume so it's in a Federal Government Resume form and write my cover letter. Hopefully I will have more of an update soon. Maybe I will even make a new year's resolution to blog once a week. It does keep my mind and life sane sometimes. Even if my reader count is down, it's more for me anyways.

Well, my backpack, bedroom, and computer are ready for the semester. I hope I am too or will be soon. Here's to another semester of college life. Don't forget to buffalo dance for me tomorrow mom and grandma!

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Green Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Wow, what a semester and month! Unfortunately, as you can see from the word counter, I failed miserably with NaNoWriMo. I won't make excuses, but let's just say school is more important and my health fell twice. However, I would like to congratulate my friend Amanda, who made it to the 50,000 mark way before time was up! Way to go girl!

Mount Pleasant was nice last week. I stayed an extra week for extra hours at the library. About 90% of the students have gone home for Holiday Break. The town is about empty, so no more fighting for a parking spot at the library or the flash raves during final exam week. The students who work at the library are most annoyed during finals week. The entire library was filled desk to desk and whenever I went to collect books and periodicals, I would receive nasty looks from students from the noise of the book cart. I can't help that I am doing my job.

I finally received all of my grades for the semester. I was flabbergasted by the A- I received in Mythological Literature. It was a really tough class with only three grades: a midterm, paper, and final exam. I didn't do so well on the midterm, so I must have blown him away with my paper and final exam. I am not complaining though, I will take an A-. I loved the professor, he's really entertaining for a three hour night class. Plus he is my advisor and I am sure I will be seeing him more. I fell short to keep one of my scholarships that I appealed this semester. I needed a 3.25 and I have a 3.21. I'm not that upset. I stress about it every semester to the point where I use the GPA calculator on Central's site all the time. I don't need a scholarship to push me to work towards good grades. I have been an honorary academic student all my life and college is different. Employers look at the experiences and things potential employees have done rather than grades. Most upperclassmen will tell you out of the three in college, you have to pick two: social life, campus involvement, and grades. It's hard balancing them all. I should be a pro at this by the time I head off to graduate school.

Currently my mom and I have been in Florida with my sister and her boyfriend since Monday night. It's hard to believe it's December with 70 degree weather, green grass, palm trees, and the sun shining everyday. This will be my first green Christmas and it's weird, but kind of nice.We visited some of my mom's relatives in Fort Myers that we haven't seen in years. My great Aunt El is 88 now and I am so glad she hasn't lost her spunk or spit fire personality. I forgot how tan most people are here and Aunt El commented on how pale I am, but that I have beautiful skin. I am just thankful I haven't burned yet. I think tomorrow we are going to the beach. I won't be swimming in the ocean, but I will be happy to lay on the beach and read on my Amazon Kindle. Mom and I are flying back to Michigan Christmas day since it's so cheap. Plus I don't think we can stay much longer, my dad really misses us back home. He decided to stay behind since our rottweiler has been really sick. We didn't want one of our family friend's to feel responsible if something happened to her while we are gone.

I don't miss the snow and cold too much in Michigan. It's nice walking in just my jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers around Florida. Although some experiences haven't been the greatest. The other day we went to a Natural Grocery Store and my mom noticed a rash developing on my face. It wasn't too bad, just red. It made me wonder what I am allergic to because I don't know of anything. The last two mornings my eyes have been bloodshot after taking a shower. I brought the travel shampoo I had in Germany and it never did that to me before. My wrist was also covered in a weird looking hive this morning. I must be allergic to Florida, ha ha. I doubt it's my sister's cat, Neville, I have my own cat on the farm. Neville is a real character. He's about 6 months old and a gray tiger cat. He's just as playful as he is loving. The last couple of days he has laid in my lap throughout the day and fallen asleep. We also play throughout the day with his catnip stuffed mouse and he loves corks from wine bottles. Although he doesn't realize how much his claws can hurt someone. My mom and I have scratches to remember him when we go back to Michigan. It's been nice spending time with my sister and her boyfriend. I will miss them when we leave, but I will also be looking forward to going home.

Vacation is good for me, but my ambition gets antsy and I think of all the things I want to get done before the dreaded Spring semester gets here. I'm looking forward to a fresh new start in 2011. 2010 has been a rough year for me besides the highlights of getting my own apartment, motorcycle and license, seeing my best friend in Germany, and traveling to Florida. I know, how can that be a rough year? Well it was and I learned a lot; not only about others, but myself too. I will have to think of some new year's revolutions soon. I hope everyone has a nice Christmas and New Year's.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

WARNING

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:10:00 +0000

WARNING: THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG WILL NOT BE UPDATING THIS MONTH. NANOWRIMO, COLLEGE, AND WORK HAS TAKEN OVER HER LIFE. THE ONLY POSTS AFTER THIS WILL BE EXCERPTS FROM HER NANOWRIMO 2010 NOVEL.

Haha, so true! So how do I get ready for NaNoWriMo as a college student?

College Student Preparation:
1. Long papers and projects that are due during NaNo and after to be pretty much done or at least outlined
2. Load up with coffee, creamer, and sugar(You should see my apartment's coffee/tea stash)
3. Unplug the Xbox 360. TV isn't a huge problem for me because I don't watch a lot. In fact, my two favorite shows have already had there season finales, so all good to go!
4. Sheba(my motorcycle) was stored for winter today.
5. Cleaned my glass top desk
6. Made a playlist just for writing
7. I carry a small notebook around when I am on campus to write down ideas
8. I incorporate what I am studying into my novel, should be easy as Rae Adler is a college student
9. Peer pressure my friends(especially consultants at the writing center) to join the craziness
10. Put word count widgets on my blog and facebook, I also have a facebook support group!

NaNoWriMo Novel Preparation:
1. External Hard Drive ready to backup all my work
2. Create my character/problem
3. Name my character-personality develops from this
4. Outline my novel (usually in my head)
5. Develop some minor characters
6. Specifically this year used google maps to outline Rae's trip(this hasn't happened yet, oops)
7. Research all I can about motorcycles, even rode my own for NaNoWriMo purpose of course, ha
8. Ask my friends where my character should go and see in America
9. Work out all the little, nit picky things: where does she get the money to travel? where is she going to stay on the way? how will her parents react? What's on her iPod for the trip?
10. Check out all the cool stuff, pep talks, and write my synopsis at http://www.nanowrimo.org
11. Nov 1: I write more than the 1700 word goal to get a nice head start to help in the future!

HERE I GO! Oh and here is the pictures of Sheba and I's last ride for 2010:

Now, time to be serious and badass:

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

NaNoWriMo Synopsis!

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:47:00 +0000

Here's my synopsis I wrote up for my 2010 novel:

Frustrated and worn out from the American education system, cynical Rae Adler drops her summer classes and embarks on a journey with her one steady friend; Lola. Lola is Rae's 1981 650 Honda Custom Motorcycle. Together, they break out of the small world of Michigan and set out to discover the rest of America. In the span of three months, Rae deals with breakdowns from Lola, riding through piercing wind and rain, heavy traffic, and meeting the most strange, but unique people. Rae hopes the adventure will help her find herself in a way that sitting in a college classroom never could.

Plus there will be a specific playlist on Rae's iPod for her journey. And soon there will be an excerpt! When NaNo begins, I will also be putting up a word count widget so all of you can see how I am doing and get after me when I get behind(the daily word goal is 1667).

This is going to be a super short post, but I will be heading home tomorrow. Which means I get to be reunited with Sheba and possibly ride! I am in dire need of some motorcycle therapy due to some extreme stress. I will be posting pics soon of Sheba and I.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Sweet Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:44:00 +0000

Dresden from the view of the top of a church.

Flor, Me, Julia, and Franzi in Erfurt. Erfurt is the capital of Thuriginia, the state Franzi lives in. Behind us is the oldest houses on top of the river in Europe!

Me at the highest point in Gera, with Gera behind me.

Me in Jena, Franzi's college town. This is all that's left of the wall, it used to go around the whole city!

Franzi and I 800m below the Earth. To the right of us is the deepest bar in the Earth. Go figure the Germans would have that!

Neuschwanstein Castle! Such real inspiration for a Fantasy writer like me!

A better picture of the Alps and I!

I saw this tree and felt adventurous, so climbed up there. Franzi's dad took my picture and imitated the tree in English, "My rock!"

Franzi's favorite flower growing on the largest lake in Germany.

Probably my favorite place because of it's history. This is Wartburg, the castle where Martin Luther was given sanctuary after being arrested by the Catholic Church. He proclaimed the bible should not be just in the Latin for only the priests to read. That the people should know what it says too in order to know the truth. He was arrested and so while in captivaty here, he translated the Bible to German.

Here is another picture.

This is Weimar, Franzi took me here because here was the center of the German Englightenment, where famous writers Goethe and Schiller started the Weimar Theater. (Franzi knows me too well, lol)

This house was built in the 1900s. The lady rents out the rooms cheap to keep up the house. Franzi and I stayed here while visitng Wartburg and then going to her Grandpa's 80th birthday. Everything in the house was set back in the 1900s. I loved the library, except all the titles were in German lol.

Franzi and I going out the last night before I head back to America. It was fun dancing the night away with my best friend!

The last picture taken on my camera. I didn't see it until I was back in America. I laughed so much!

Even though I am back in America, I have noticed the bond between Franzi and I has strengthened. I am extremely thankful to have her in my life and as my best friend. As you can see, she makes life interesting and fun. She knows me down to my soul and I wouldn't change anything about her or our friendship.

Restless Thoughts,

Andreah

Motorcycle Road Trip!

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:27:00 +0000

Well, I survived mid-term week(s). The past three weeks I have had four exams. Tonight was my last one until I have another in two weeks. I can't believe the semester is half over. Plus registration for Spring 2011 starts on Monday! Wow! Tonight I watched one of my favorite shows, "Mad Men," and planned out my classes for next semester. The semester is really picking up with homework, papers, and exams. I am hanging on tight and hoping the semester will end soon. It seems like it since I will be registering for Spring classes soon.

By now you're probably wondering what's up with my post title. In the month of November, I will be taking a trip on my motorcycle all across America. However, I will be sitting at my computer the whole time. I know your exact thoughts, "huh?" Keep reading, I will explain! Next month is National Novel Writing Month. And even though classes, work, and the cold month of November will be keeping me from riding, my NaNoWriMo novel will be my escape. My character is going to travel all across America on her motorcycle! I will be riding through her experiences. Of course this novel is going to be very autobiographical, but I am going to change a few factors. I can't live through my characters as much as I would like to. However, I will always write what I know.

I know what some of you might be thinking; "what about Gwendolyn?" I haven't forgotten her at all. To be honest, I am not ready to write Gwendonlyn's story. With my age and skill level, I am not ready to make the theme concise to the reader. It's hard for me to explain, but she is going to have to be put on the back burner. I hate doing that because my voice will change when I come back to it, but it is what I feel that I must do.

As for news about my motorcycle, my parents sealed the deal yesterday! I got home from Sault Ste Marie last night at 9pm. I presented at the Michigan Writing Center Conference and had been up since 4am. I called my mom to tell her I had finally made it home in Mt Pleasant. She immediately said, "we brought your baby home." If I had more energy I would have been ecstatic. All I could manage was a wide grin. I went to bed at 10pm and woke up at 10:30am. As my mind finally woke up, I was ecstatic throughout the day about the motorcycle. I called my mom to talk to her more about the conference since I was practically brain dead the night before.

I won't be able to ride until I come home October 28th. I am hoping for decent weather. Even if it's in the 60s and not raining I will be pleased! Everyone has been asking for pictures, so my mom graciously took some and emailed me them so I could post them here and on facebook. And since it's official, I can finally put my motorcycle's name out there. When I first rode the Honda to find out if it was for me, the name "Sheba" popped up in my head. And here's the picture of her:

When I get home Sheba is going to get a nice wash and loads of chrome cleaner! But I am happy I already have a sissy bar and a luggage rack on the back. When you buy a new motorcycle, there is usually no sissy bar, saddle bags, or luggage racks. However, I am going to need a new helmet because my mom's old one doesn't fit tight enough. I am also going to need a decent jacket and chaps in case of an accident. My parents plan on taking me to a place in Indiana called "Hudson Leather." Although, this probably won't be until Memorial Day Weekend because that's when they have their big sales. We'll see how Christmas and my birthday goes as well. Both of them are before that weekend.

This last paragraph is for my mom and dad. I don't know if you have the link to my blog yet, but I want to thank you. I am glad you made me take the safety course to see if this was really for me. It was definitely hard at first, but with stubbornness and confidence I did it, had fun, and received my license. Also words cannot describe how thankful I am for buying me a motorcycle and so soon! I know the deal was to take the class, graduate from Central, and then comes the bike, but I really appreciate you willing to buy a bike early. I promise to take good care of the bike and be safe at all times. And to my father, I hope you will teach me all you know about motorcycles. You know how independent I am. I want to be able to change the oil and whatever else on my own. I can't wait until I get to ride with you both and our family friends. Thanks again for all that you do. I am very lucky to have awesome parents.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

More info about the NaNoWriMo Novel to come!

Feverous Old Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:17:00 +0000

Where do I begin? It's been too long since I blogged. School, two jobs, running a committee, etc...has been kicking my ass all month. Today was not a normal Friday either. I worked a four hour shift for a coworker at the writing center and then hopped aboard a committee who decided to have a meeting today too. I hadn't seen my apartment since 8am this morning. My roommate went home for the weekend, so I turned my stereo on and unwinding at the moment. Which blogging came to mind instantly.

Last weekend has been the highlight for me all week. I decided to go home and visit my parents. At first it started at a low because my car had to be fixed; $400 worth on Friday. So I got a late start going home. Instead of being home at noon like I planned, I got home around 6pm. But the suspension spring in the front was about to break, so it was good that I got it fixed before I journeyed two and a half hours home. My dad had been getting his combine around to harvest soybeans when I got home. My mom was helping, so both were exhausted and we decided to go out to eat.

Earlier last week my dad hit a deer with his motorcycle. He goes to work very early in the morning and was riding his motorcycle to save money and gas. A doe jumped out and he slammed on the rear and front brakes, trying to keep control. The motorcycle slowed down to 15-20mph and the doe hit the windshield. My dad was knocked off and skidded down the road on his butt. He had all his gear on; leather chaps, leather jacket, gloves, and helmet. He got back up with adrenaline coursing through his body. He got back to the motorcycle and lifted it up off its side. In a normal circumstance, he can't lift that motorcycle off from its side, it's 400-500 pounds. But the adrenaline made him like The Hulk, he lifted it up, and went on to work. Anyways, he wanted to go see a guy to fix a few things on the motorcycle. I was starving, but didn't complain and we all went.

When we got there, they were talking about the repairs and I was bored. I was dying to have a motorcycle of my own. Then a smirk crossed my dad's face towards me as he said to Doug, "You still have that 650 for sale?" My attention shifted and my mood changed instantly. Doug said he did and my dad told him he would be interested in it for me. I was grinning from ear to ear by now and my heart leapt up into my chest.

Doug opened up his other garage and there it was. There is rust on it, the handle bars are tight, and my eyes gleamed over the emblem "Honda Custom." A sissy bar is on the back along with a case for luggage on the back. My mind flew across images in my head of the motorcycle and I traveling free into the summer. The wind would be whipping past my jacket and scenery passing behind me. Doug let me lift it up for me to feel the weight. I rode 250's in class, but this was a 650. It actually felt light. He started it right up with the choke since it's a 1981. My dad informed me Hondas are cold blooded, so a cold start would take a little while for it to warm up. We went to dinner after my dad told him we would be back tomorrow for me to ride.

I was ecstatic on the ride to the restaurant. Would this be my first motorycle at 20 years old? How well would I ride tomorrow since I haven't rode since class? Dad also told me the bike would not be in my name nor would I be on the insurance. I told him I understood, but knew it would be my motorycle. My mom said she noticed it is a four cyclinder, so it will go fast quickly because it's lightweight. That night I couldn't sleep. More images flooded my mind of riding as well as nerves about how rusty I would be riding tomorrow.

After only getting a small dent in my homework and running errands for my parents, it was time to ride. My dad was running soybeans, so my mom and I went together. Doug had it in the shop running. He had changed the oil, looked everything over, and at the moment was checking air in the tires. I was amped. I instantly pulled on my helmet and gloves. Even if we didn't buy it, I would get to ride today. The itch and passion of riding was gushing through me. He had me back up in neutral to see if I could handle the weight. This is the best test for a motorcycle because speed gives a motorcycle stability. If I could handle it in neutral just backing it up myself, I would be fine. I did great. Soon I was edging up to the end of the drveway. I pulled in the clutch, my nerves racking inside, but my fever of riding pushing me forward. My left foot tapped down the gear shift into first. The fingers of my left hand slowly opened of the clutch as my right hand rolled nice on the throttle. The Honda and I took off. I made a nice turn and shifted her into second.

Everything was coming back to me. I rolled down on the throttle, pulled up the gear shift as I eased up on the throttle and we were off! The cold wind licked any openings of skin I had, but I ignored it and pushed the Honda faster. We got into fifth gear and I noticed the speedometer wasn't working. I had no idea how fast I was going. I shrugged and egged the Honda faster. A wide grin erupted on my face and I thought, "there is nothing like riding a motorcycle; the freedom and being one with the bike." I turned off to a side road into a driveway. I sat there trying to find neutral. Neutral has always been trouble for me. It's in between first and second. I had this problem in class. Doug showed up on his other bike and helped me out. He also adjusted the speedometer and I was off again!

I was rolling nice and easy into the driveway; clutch pulled in, shifting down, more rear brake than front, and thinking "left leg out first." My mom began to yell, "clutch, clutch, clutch!" I was like why is she yelling? I have the clutch pulled in and I am braking. I came to a stop and gave her a weird look. She said, "I'm sorry, it's the mother in me and I haven't seen you ride in class." She rode it too to test out everything and came back content. But then she saw some oil. Doug said he would look into it and my mom informed him that my dad would be out sometime next week to ride it too.

Apparently the oil was from a head gasket about to blow so Doug called my dad this week. He told him and was glad he didn't sell it like that to us. "I would feel horrible if she was riding it like that." He ordered the parts for this weekend and going to fix it. My dad will be giving it the test next week, but it's about a 95% chance he will buy it for me! Doug asked $900 for it, which is a great price for it. So I might be riding sooner than I thought.

As some of the days are warmer in Mt Pleasant, I think of nothing but riding on the Honda. In the apartment I can differentiate when a motorcycle goes by. I see motorcycles everywhere too. I am fevering inside to get some riding in before my dad stores it for winter. If my dad buys it next week I will probably try to head home and hop on her! This week I thought about how the motorcycle was made in 1981 and how we are a perfect match. Two old souls living in youthful bodies. Doug restored the bike, so she is older than she looks. A 20 and 29 year old traveling together as one. But most of the time I don't feel 20 because my soul is so much older. I think it will be a nice match! Watch out Coldwater/Quincy there is a new biker in town! I have the fever to ride and it will never extinguish.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Here is a picture of the original, but it's not this shiny.

Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Wow, it's been awhile since I last posted. At least, a real post besides poetry. Going back to college has made my life insanely busy. But that's okay, time flies by that way.

This is week three for me at Central Michigan. My schedule is finally permanent for the rest of the semester. As I walk around campus, Germany seems like a dream. Yesterday Franzi and I skyped for the first time since I got back. It was late for her, so we didn't chat for very long, but we scheduled to skype every weekend I have off. When I noticed what room she was in, it was a nice feeling knowing I had been there just a few weeks ago. Plus it was easier for her to tell me what she was going to do for the rest of the week. Whenever she speaks of a place or friend, I know exactly what she is talking about now. She is going to have coffee with Julia and then go to Leipzig. Images of Julia and only the way to Leipzig flashed through my head and Franzi smiled in acknowledgment.

But school, work, and scholarship stuff have been keeping me on my toes. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I go 8am-9m until I am finally finished on campus. I will have to do all my homework for the week on the weekends. Which has worked out nicely so far. Only a few times I have forgotten about something, but still managed to get to bed around 11. Which is my max goal when I have to get up at 6:45 to go to work at 8am on Tues/Thurs. I will be working 22 hours per week between both jobs at the library and writing center. Every third weekend I have to work 9 hours at the library. However, I am so lucky and have nothing on Fridays! My first semester with no classes or work on Friday!

Speaking of the writing center, I see a bright future there for me. Everyone is very friendly and I am learning a lot about consulting. This week is my first week for sessions with writers. I was a little nervous today when I began, but I know consulting is a process and only time and repetition will help me improve. Tomorrow is my crazy schedule. I have work at the writing center in Anspach in the morning and then the one at the library for two more hours, with two classes in between those. Then I have to work the night shift at the library. Tomorrow is 7 hours of work, two classes, with two one hour breaks. Wow! I am going to hate Wednesdays. But at least I will actually be able to eat at lunch unlike Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Another note to my crazy semester, I have decided the focus for my Lead Team Community Service committee. We are going to be focusing on the environment. My plan at the moment is to get more involved with Campus Grow. I emailed Chris about it and see where it goes from there. I also want to do another event in the Spring with Earth Day in April. But one thing at a time, since I haven't received my committee yet, nor a reply from Chris.

Labor Day weekend was nice for me. I went home on Friday and stayed until Monday. My cousin's daughter's birthday was this weekend and she turned two. Bella is really obsessed with baby dolls. Her aunt gave her a baby doll that swims in the bath tub with her. When she opened that present she had a high pitched voice and said, "BABY!" It was so cute and funny. Bella also has a brother Ethan, who is almost 4 now, I think. Their cousin, Lilly, is also two as well. When my parents and I left Lilly gave us "knuckles" instead of a hug. This is very typical of my cousin to teach her daughter something like that. I won't see them for a long time, not even Christmas as we are going to Florida, to visit my sister. The rest of the weekend I worked on homework and spent time with my parents. Yesterday I helped my dad move the grain head for the combine and then headed back to Mt Pleasant.

I also realized that this week won't be so bad because for me it's only a three day week. When I did notice this last night, I didn't feel so bad about going back to school and work today. Plus with work, I could use the money. I have gone twice without a paycheck because I was in Germany at the time. Although, I wouldn't change it for the world. Germany was a great life experience and I hope to travel more with Franzi when we have the money to do so. Every penny I saved towards my trip was well worth it.

As for my writing, I don't know how it will go. Since I have been on top of myself with getting everything done for the week on the weekends, I seem to have more free time at the moment. However, I know I will become busier as time progresses. So everyone, NaNoWriMo this year or not?

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

What's the furthest you've ever traveled?

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:38:00 +0000

Germany! Love it!

Ask me anything

Wedding Poem

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:04:00 +0000

So I just realized that I haven't posted my cousin's wedding poem for you all to read. Oops! Well, here it is. I will be posting soon about the first two weeks of school and how the writing center is going for me.

Ode to theGleesons

We quiver to uncharted islands,

A strong wind dodging trees

And gliding along the horizon.

Our hearts sprout a Lilly,

Filaments like baby fingers

Swaddled with love ear to ear,

Our dwelling cherishes three.

The helm spins wild, we cling starboard,

And meadows appear at the mountain’s edge.

Virtuous life transfixed our eyes

When we committed to evermore.

Sunrise woke us from chiming bells,

And in the night, we hear our souls ache

In hope of shooting stars.

Moons elapse in breaths,

Spurring fevers to the cockcrow.

Mirrors shine me white,

Lace and silk flutter like doves.

But caged I am, the tide

Washing slippers to blue feet.

My heart quiets the fretting mind

Of the divine man only but a room away.

I am the armor to my angel.

Lords comfort with brimming beer,

But I decline, a clear day unburdened by fog.

A blossom passes from the hand of father,

To a hand bearing comfort.

Paper declares us united,

Our bosoms breathe a single note.

Two to love or shatter, but as one to last.

Nights filled with wine through joy and despair,

Until our sweat washes away icebergs.

Now our hearth inhabits two,

So we savor the silent stillness,

And stars gleam our ease in one another.

For two beats of one heart fill our void; life.

Andreah Grove 7/24/2010

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah

Sketchy Homeland

noreply@blogger.com (Andreah) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:36:00 +0000

Well, here I am, back in America again. My parents were waiting for me at the Ft. Wayne, IN airport. As soon as I came through security I was crushed into their arms. It was 7pm in Michigan which means it was 1am in Germany. I was super tired from the jet lag. They took me to a Mexican Restaurant for "dinner." I was excited for authentic Mexican food. However I was so tired when the waiter brought me my drink I almost said "danke" instead of "gracias," or just "thank you." I laughed and explained I had been in Germany for three weeks.

The week has just blurred together like a incomprehensible painting. I asked my mom three times what day it was on Wednesday. I didn't even know the date either. Actually, Tuesday morning I forced myself out of bed early to go shopping with my Aunt and Mom to a flea market. It's called Shipschwena. It is antique and Amish galore. My Aunt is really into antiques. I just wanted to spend time with them and fight my body's weird time. Walking around wasn't so bad, and I picked up a few items (books of course). It wasn't until we sat down for lunch that I had my first realization.

My mom and Aunt went to get food while I waited on the black, metal table to save our seats. Like, my father I began to people watch, but this time was different. Germany had opened my eyes a lot. Instead of my normal eye shift of people watching, all I could see was heavy people. I couldn't believe it. America is pretty obese. For three weeks I had lingered among porportionatly sized Germans. In all that time I only saw 4-5 heavy people. I couldn't even finish my lunch because of the small porportions I had eaten for almost a month. Not that I starved in Germany, but my stomach adapted to my food intake.

As the week progressed, Germany made my vision clear, especially about America. I had lived in a socialist country for a good amount of time. Franzi goes to college for $200 per year while I go to school for $16,000 per year(this includes textbooks for her). A close-minded American would say, well they have high taxes. Franzi's parents are both teachers. They aren't rich, but they aren't poor, probably middle class. They go on vacation frequently. I discovered a world map circled in red of all the places her parents have visited. It's pretty widespread and they are still traveling today. They have a decent amount of money.

Germany has wind turbines everywhere. On Sunday they don't spin because businesses are closed. And even with all the wind, they don't turn that fast because of the weight, so no worries for birds either. They have also been looking into solar energy as well. They are the leading country for wind power, giving 90,000 jobs to people because of it. They are still adding more wind turbines as you are reading my post.

For my fellow environmentalists, when Germany builds roads (especially the autoban) they always consider harming nature. One part of the autoban has been in construction for 3 years to turn off into a different way and into a tunnel to not disturb nature. Their forests are gorgeous and I think it's great they want to preserve it. This is probably why most of their houses are made out of stone cement instead of wood. I actually only saw one log cabin.

Speaking of the autoban, a lot of my friends have asked me crazy questions about it. One asked me if there were cops in every lane to help traffic. My face was probably expressing "thunderstruck." No, of course not. You can go as fast as you want, there are three lanes. Of course there are parts where you can only go so fast because a lot of traffic will merge. We went about 110mph at the most. I didn't really notice it until I saw how fast the landscape was passing me by. In the parts where you have to go a certain speed there are cameras that take your picture and license plate number to send you a bill if you broke the law. Not many police actually stop people on the autoban. However the difference is when someone gets stopped in America most of the time they are let off on a warning and in Germany there are no warnings. You broke the law, so you have to pay the consequences. That's what keeps drivers in tact. As well as the $1500 it costs to get your license. They don't want just anyone driving in Germany. Now don't get too down, Germany has great public transportation.

There are small trains even within Franzi's city, Gera. Of course it's easier when your nation is the size of Montana, and not so widespread like America. Franzi can take the 25min train ride home for free because she is a student. Must be nice, I drive two hours and pay for my own gas. Plus the $175 to park on campus for one school year. But you don't have to go to college to have a good life or get a good job. Some people will start working for a business and they will teach you everything you need to know. It's not frowned upon if you don't go to college as long as you work hard and get a job.

All these concepts were very interesting to me. Most of the German people were doing well despite being a socialist country. I had a feeling before I left for Germany I was going to learn/experience a lot. These concepts were continunaly making sense the more I thought about them. I have even thought about settling in Europe someday. Probably not Germany because German is pretty hard. The shocked faces of Franzi's friends keep running like a screen in my head when I told them I pay $16,000 for school. Then the image of me laughing shows up next.They assumed my parents are rich to afford college. No, I work hard for scholarships and borrow money from the goverment. My two jobs pay for my apartment, food, bills, etc...not my loans. Even though their tongue was very different from mine, I read their faces; why and how could a country put so many young, striving individuals in debt? The country with the American Dream concept would do this to there citizens? Because some Americans have to have it all. Like a new medical school or event center. It has to have beautiful brick so more students will be attracted to the school and then that means more money. Like always, they get the money from the poor people. I was surprised that CMU had the most freshmen it's ever had this year. The dorms are so full the suites that normally hold 4, will hold 5 students this year. So glad I am in my apartment.

As the small tea cups, wind turbines, and dark clothed Germans filled my head, I thought "Americans don't like change, but socialism isn't so bad, is it?" I don't mean to say socialism or the German people are perfect. I just wish beyond all feeling, that Americans could just open their minds to the point of saying, "hey maybe we should observe how they do things, we could learn something. Maybe they are doing the same things in a better way." There's nothing wrong with admiting someone is doing something better and you adapt to it. We do this everyday. Someone shows you a quicker way to work or the grocery store. Maybe your neighbor knows the solution to a small problem. We go to a mechanic because they know cars. We go to the Librarian because they know research tools. Opening my eyes and mind to another culture is a life experience I will never forget. Yeah, so I didn't really like the purple cabbage. And German is a pretty hard language. Some Americans act as though other nationalities are actually from Mars. Come on, they're human. Just because I say "thank you" when someone passes the salt and they say "danke" doesn't mean they're weird or wrong in their ways. It's only words, but it's the same. The German and I both want to express our gratefulness to someone's kindness.

I believe America has gone too long on it's ways and settling on figure things out on their own instead of opening up to the world's gifts. I mean, a skimmer from Thailand was waiting to help BP, but they refused. Why? I am sure we could have used another skimmer. There is nothing wrong with accepting help. Isn't that what life is mostly about? Getting through life with the help of others? Why does America believe it must/can solve the world's problems? Why such the high pedestal? Are we afraid of the country we are beneath the surface? Just some of my thoughts as I have gained a significant life experience.

On the other side of things, Germany has given me plenty of writing inspiration. It was ironic, but the inspiration didn't hit me until we stayed in this house that was built in 1900. The land-lady has too many rooms so rents them out pretty cheap. When I stepped inside I felt like I went into a time machine back to old Germany. The furniture, trinkets, banisters, doors...everything was set back in time. The chairs had lush, red velvet cushions with small strings hanging from the arm rests. There was a spiral stair case to our room with a detailed figure on the second floor banister. In the morning we had breakfast in the library. Which I proceeded to scan the titles and of course they were all German except the German/English dictionary. Franzi and I were mesmerized back in time.

But now it feels weird to be back in my apartment and school starts Monday. This weekend is Welcome Weekend. I hate it probably as much as our 6 police stations. Everyone is practically wasted all weekend and I don't paticularly like leaving the apartment unless it's early morning because people act like morons. Last night I visited some friends on campus and everyone was out and about it. There were crowds constantly walking around campus. I wish I could shut up the apartment and ignore it all, but it's pretty hot and they are loud when the windows are closed too. I am just glad I am not in the big apartment complexes that is one massive party. One of my friends had to call an ambulance for a guy that was passed out in a parking lot last night. Oh, and here comes thoughts of Germany again; being at the club and no one is that drunk. I was legal to drink and never took it too far. Being caught drinking and driving only once there means giving up your license. I missed people being responsible because of the laws. Mostly I am going to miss the vacation and doing things with Franzi. In two days my life goes back to hell for 4 months again. In Germany they care more about your studies and less about work. I would fit in so well as a European. I am pale, skinny, and I drive a stick shift. I will never forget Christina's(Franzi's sister) comment, "you are the first American I have met that can drive one and owns one." I laughed and told her my heritage is Dutch, German, English, and French. I definitely could be a European. She laughed.

So, as my two days wind down, the blog is going to look sparce for the next 4 months. With the new leadership role and another job again, my time is going to be super limited. But my mind won't be too bad until the end of the semester, so I am sure I will come up with more cynical topics as usual. As well as NaNoWriMo in November. Another debate in my mind, will I start another novel with two not being done and going to college? We will see.

Restless Thoughts,
Andreah