History Minor

Today I (finally) declared my history minor. I’ve been meaning to get this task completed since I registered last November. I need to apply for graduation by the 3rd of February and I need everything declared and in order before I do that officially. Because I don’t have class or work scheduled on Fridays again this semester so far I went to campus this afternoon specifically for the purpose of getting the paperwork filed. I went to the advisor’s office and all he did was hand me a piece of paper already filled out with my information and that was it! I did have to walk to another building on the other side of the river to turn it in to my CLA advisor’s office, but it didn’t involve much effort on my part. Now I officially have three separate advisors. One for the English major, one for the History minor, and one for the College of Liberal Arts. But in about 113 days, I will be done with my Undergraduate Studies and move on to bigger and better things. In theory. (And yes, I am already counting down the days until I graduate.)

My first week of classes went well. I’m taking five classes, but one is Gospel Choir and doesn’t include writing multiple papers and reading hundreds of pages of literature. I have two history classes, one class about Fyodor Dostoevsky’s works of literature, and one on the Reality Television phenomenon. So far my work load seems reasonable, but I am sure there will be long nights to come in writing papers. We did reduce our cable from standard to basic this week, so television won’t be a major distraction. It’s a lot cheaper and we really don’t use the higher channels enough to be paying almost 60 dollars a month for them. I will miss having the choice of watching baseball every night, however. But that’s what the radio is for, right?

It wasn’t too cold this week, but the temperatures were noticeably cooler today. Yesterday there were several puddles of water on the sidewalks, today large sheets of ice. Such is life in winter and spring in Minnesota. I’m not the biggest fan of hot weather, but I am looking forward to the (brief) spring to arrive.

Two Feet Plus

On Tuesday I arrived back at school. Classes don’t officially begin until next Tuesday, so I’ve been getting myself organized around here. I bought my books a couple days ago. It was mildly ridiculous. I have around 20 required books for the semester, so carrying the stack up to the register took quite the amount of effort. When it was all said and done, the stack was piled over two feet high. Again, good thing I like to read.

This week has been freezing. We had a three and a half day stretch in which the temperatures did not go above zero. Negative twenty-two was normal around here. Now, I grew up in Minnesota and know that the incessant complaining about the cold does absolutely nothing to increase the temperatures. Just bundle up and get used to it, or move away. This happens every year. There is no need to complain. Learn how to deal with it and quit whining about it. It’s January in Minnesota, what do you expect?

I spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with a blanket reading. I’m only on book two of the year and if I want to beat my record of 45 books last year, I need to get going. I know I’ll have at least 20 more by the middle of May, but I have several unread books that I have purchased for my own personal reading the past year sitting on my bookshelves.

Green Fingernails

It’s been nearly five months since I started getting into painting my fingernails again. I haven’t worn this much polish on my fingers since junior high! Currently, I am sporting an emerald green shade. At first I was into black, then I moved on to maroon and now I am going for the bright, odd colors. Next will be either blue or purple.

In other news, the moon has been particularly bright this week. It’s a full moon tonight and honest to Pete it almost looks like daylight outside. I don’t know what is more disconcerting–pitch black or bright moonlight?

I’ve been promising my parents that I would clean out my closet here at home ever since I went away to college three and a half years ago. It’s to the point where I can’t even walk in to the walk in closet. I’m convinced it isn’t entirely my fault. Some of the items on the floor do not belong to me, which is fine, but it is taking a lot for me to get the ambition to go through everything. I leave to go back to school on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I only have two good days to do it. I also blame the lack of space in my room on the new queen size bed that inhabits the space. I have a full size that I brought with me to school, so they replaced it with a bigger one. There is a signficant decrease in floor space. Ergo, I cannot clean out my closet as well as I used to. We’ll see how far I get tomorrow.

Two Weeks

A lot is going to happen two weeks from today. I will begin my eighth semester of college, otherwise known as the second half of my senior year, the final semester of my undergraduate years. I am taking five classes: History of the Holocaust, Modern History of France, Dostoevsky, a communications course on Reality Television and Gospel Choir. It’s strange to think that in 130 days I will walk in the commencement ceremony. I may or may not go back to pursue a Master’s Degree. But the plan right now is to not go back. It will likely change, depending on what type of career I choose to pursue. I don’t have any clear expectations or aspirations for specific jobs. There are areas that I am leaning toward, but the beauty of my English major is that I have a choice of where to go and what to do. It’s very likely that a Human Resources major will enter a Human Resources department. There aren’t English departments in offices from what I hear. (haha) Who knows what the state of the economy will be in five months. Hopefully the job outlook will be a little less daunting than it is currently. The other important event that will occur on the 20th is the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. I’m still hopeful. We’ll see how his first 100 days go. I don’t need to be impressed as much as others, but I do need to see that he really wasn’t too good to be true in my eyes. He still has to prove himself to the millions who voted for him as well as the millions who did not.

I hope the next two weeks will allow myself to prove that I can stick to a regular workout regimen. It’s so cliche at the beginning of January, but I’d like to believe I can get into shape again. I also want to read more, which is strange for a person of my literary tastes to admit, but I haven’t been reading the books on my shelves that are waiting to be read in a timely manner. I’ve been reading articles on the internet more than my copy of Wide Sargasso Sea right now. (Speaking of which, the book I just mentioned is good to read if you’ve read Jane Eyre because it is the story of Bertha Mason’s life. It shows how she became the way she was portrayed in Jane’s story. It’s written by Jean Rhys, who is obviously not Charlotte Bronte, but two of my English professors mentioned the book last semester as being a great one to read. It’s been englightening thus far and I feel far more sympathetic to Bertha Mason than I had previously.

I’m looking forward to getting back to my house at school. I miss the everyday interaction with the roommates and I want to get back into a regular routine, get my books, and get organized for the year before classes begin. At that time I’ll be all about homework. I vow to read ahead of time and actually finish the reading assignments in time for class. Also, I need to start papers at least a week ahead of the due date. It gets ridiculous when I’m in the rut of procrastination and pull all nighters at least once a week. This is also my last chance to get on the Dean’s List. I’ve come close many times, but I’m always a half a grade away from the 3.67 minimum GPA. I’ll try my best.

I’m about to begin the rest of my life. I’m partially terrified, but mostly excited.

Two Thousand Nine

A recap of the previous year, through my eyes:

-I worked at Anchor with my father for what looks like will be the last time. I learned a lot about accounting that I never thought I’d know, but I am grateful for the opportunities presented to be by him. And the priviledge to get to know him on a more personal level. I feel closer to my father now. We have a special bond.

-I experienced a year of being over the legal age to drink along with some good experiences and let’s just call them “learning experiences.” Thankfully I think I have the partying out of my system.

-I watched Brett Favre break my heart into several pieces starting with losing the NFC Championship Game, going on to retiring from the NFL, and the final dagger in the heart—his betrayal to the state of Wisconsin by acting like a fool and being a diva.

-I watched the entire 2008 election season on CNN starting with the January 3rd Iowa Caucuses. I saw Barack Obama speak at the Target Center in February and caucused for him on Super Tuesday in Minnesota, watched every speech on television and every interview, and finally voted for him in my first presidential election in November.

-I made a gigantic “rainbow cake” with my friends in February. This consisted of six 13×9 cakes, one in every color of the rainbow stacked six high. It was amazing. I have pictures to prove it.

-We had many visitors to our house at school during the spring semester and took many trips to visit friends in other places.

-I visited the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota in February and started a strange obsession that I share with Doug over “majestic eagles.”

-I watched the film “Beaches” for the first time and cried many times. Plus found a song with my pal Doug. “Wind Beneath My Wings” will be the song we dance together at both our weddings.

-I saw many, many plays and shows (mostly thanks to Doug’s comp tickets!)

-I fell in love with the Russian writer Anton Chekhov.

-I came to love the Jeune Lune theatre and mourned its final closing.

-I had my first green beer on St. Patrick’s Day with Angie.

-I volunteered to help out with the History Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Gala and schmoozed with some rich folks.

-I followed my second full season as a full-fledged baseball fan, this time with both the Twins and the Brewers.

-I hated, loved, and hated CC Sabathia. (Indians, Brewers, and Yankees.)

-I went to only five major league baseball games this year.

-I saw one of my former college instructors on Jeopardy.

-I attended UW Eau Claire’s Viennese Ball, and subsequently fell in love with polka music.

-I applied for and used my very first credit card.

-My little sister was confirmed into the Lutheran Faith.

-I went to my first toga party

-We saw the U.S. Postage Stamp’s price raise to 42 cents.

-My parents celebrated their 26th Wedding Anniversary.

-I moved home for the summer for the last time

-My family went camping up north for Memorial Day weekend.

-I attended the most perfect baseball game in Miller Park with my family at the end of May. The conditions were just right in every respect.

-I came to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to cheer against the Twins, even if it is the other team I root for, the Brewers.

-My grandparents celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary at Lambeau Field.

-I discovered who those “Jonas Brothers” were.

-I had dinner at the Landing with my family for the first time since my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary party.

-Justin Morneau won the All Star Game’s Home Run Derby. And scored (or did he hit) the winning run for the American League.

-My Grandma O’Brien was moved to the nursing home in Antigo.

-I heard Pastor Koch, who married my parents and baptized me and my brother Patrick preach at our church at home.

-I read the entire 4 volume Twilight series in one week. But didn’t care for it too much.

-I promised myself I would work on my closet…and never did.

-I saw the infamous Showboat. And LOVED it!

-I got my very first Waterfront wristband.

-I ate at Al Johnson’s in Sister Bay, Door County. Mmmm, swedish meatballs.

-My best friend studied abroad in Sweden. And called me for my birthday!

-I got a tetanus shot and forgot how much it makes your arm sore days after.

-I had dinner and shared a couple beers with my former ninth grade English teacher.

-I said goodbye to Emma, Doug’s cat whom I came to love during her time living with us on 8th Street.

-I saw my Grandma O’Brien for the last time on August 31st.

-I had my last first day of school.

-St. Paul hosted the Republican National Convention. But I barely remembered it was happening while I was there.

-I attended the GREATEST baseball game of my life at the Metrodome. It was the Twins and the White Sox. This game trumped the Brewers game I attended in May for being the best game ever. Not necessarily the best experience at a baseball game ever, but the way the game turned out in the end…definitely a life highlight!

-I watched all the Presidential and the VP debates.

-It was in the 70s temperature wise in Minnesota on Election Day.

-I turned 22. And feel really really old.

-I spent Thanksgiving in Illinois with my Mom’s side of the family.

-I said my final goodbye to Grandma O’Brien on December 4th and we had her funeral on the 6th. I gave the eulogy and grew closer to my aunts and uncles.

-I wrote my senior paper and passed the class and completed all of my English major credits.

-I pulled many all-nighters to finish papers.

-I went to the Neville Museum in Green Bay for the first time.

-We spent Christmas Day in Green Bay with Dad’s family.

-I read 45 books.

I know I did so much more than these few things I listed above, but this is a brief description of the year. Other than the whole “recession” thing, I liked 2008. I wasn’t enamored with any particular boy, and that was okay. Maybe in 2009 I’ll find someone special to spend some time with, but I’m not in any hurry. I have my final semester of college to worry about.  I’ll be graduating, finding my first real job, moving out on my own, buying a car, and living the life. I’ll still be here recapping as much as possible. Let’s see what happens to me next!