My final finals week

Have any of you readers out there been to college?  If so, you have my condolences and my congratulations---even if you didn't make it all the way to a commencement ceremony.  In our country, a college education is certainly not something that is simply handed to you.  And it's never just college when you're in college.  It's work and relationships and roommates and grownup responsibilities and time and money and effort and stress.  Sometimes it's multiple jobs and commuting to another town over an hour away to get to those multiple jobs.  It's remembering to check the mail because you have actual bills to pay and credit to build.  It's balancing your sometimes seemingly nonexistent social life with your ever-burdening academic life.  It's remembering to go to the gym so you can shake off those last ten pounds you gained when you first got to college.

For me, this being my last year of undergraduate classes, it has been all of those elements listed above, and more.  On top of this, I added both family obligations and celebrations back home; TWO part-time jobs on the weekends back in my hometown (about 90 minutes away); weddingplansweddingplansweddingplans!; an upturned apartment when the water heaters had to be replaced, and again when the upstairs neighbor's kitchen sink leaked into our kitchen, thus creating layer upon layer of black mold in our cupboards and my roommate's closet; an emergency surgery for my dog's dislocated hip and subsequent vet bills for her recovery as well as her and my other dog's mysterious acquisition of lice; group projects (the dreaded college words!!!) all due within days of each other for multiple classes, and so. much. more!

But it hasn't all been bad.  There have been wine nights with the roomie, adventures here and back home with my man, walks around the neighborhood with my two wonderful doggies, lunch dates and phone conversations with my amazing mother, baking fests and teaching myself to preserve jelly and other canned goods, antique stores, scenic drives, Cabela's openings, bar hopping, Valentine's Day bowling, movie marathons, yard sales, camping trips, crafty projects, 4-H meetings, a 6-week trip to Ireland, and SO MUCH MORE!!

So as my final week before my final finals week winds down (is it Friday yet?), I can safely say that although I really did enjoy the ride, I am ready for the next phase of my life.  Maybe I'll get a Master's degree, and maybe I won't.  Maybe I'll retreat into the country with my soon-to-be hubby and never return (I can dream....right?).  Regardless, I have a pile of homework waiting for me to dive into it, so tonight's ramblings have come to an end.  Inspiring, no?

Good morning, fellow late-night internet surfers!

Yes, I said good morning, as it's now 29 minutes into a brand new day here in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm new to the world of blogging, but certainly not new to the world of social media.  In fact, I began my life as an undergrad student by studying Communication Studies (subsequently discovering I hated it and moving on to Sociology and Nutrition, but that's another post or two or three in itself), so I am well-versed in the ideas of marketing oneself on the internet.  But I am not naive enough to think this blog will reach very many people or become as popular as those two little girls who always seem to be singing and dancing on the Ellen show (at least the video of them doing so sure does circulate cyberspace quite frequently).

However, I am a student of agriculture at heart, and as such, I know that a single seed planted into the soil can grow up to do great things.  A heart that feels submerged in darkness is only being prepared to emerge into the light as something bigger, greater, and more spectacular than anything it was before.  With 18 days left of my college undergraduate career, sometimes I feel like I'm still in the darkness.  But in reality, I left the darkness behind a long time ago and am about to be in full bloom.

On a different note, have you ever felt like you have so many brilliant thoughts that you just need to share with the masses, even if no one is actually actively listening?  Thank God we live in an age where we can feel validated by how many "likes" a photo of our lunch receives or how many updates we have when we log onto Facebook.  It's kind of nice knowing that people we haven't seen since elementary school think it's cool that we got a new tattoo or finally mastered the art of driving a clutch.  On the other hand, it can be frustrating getting sucked into a cyber vortex *cough Pinterest* and realizing every original idea you thought you had has already been exploited by someone else (seriously, is EVERYONE using mason jars to decorate their wedding this year???).  Regardless, I think a blog will be fun, so here goes my best effort.