So I really suck at this...2011 Resolutions

So I made it through my first semester of graduate school at ASU! 4.0 GPA...holla! A lot of things have happened both good and bad. Things and people come and go--and that's life. On a positive note we bought a house and I'm so excited to move into it in January!! Anyways I thought I'd make a list of the things I want 2011 to bring, and things I want to change.

1. Run my half marathon in Feb...and stay in shape afterwards to possibly run a full marathon.
2. Graduate from ASU with my 4.0 in December and find a job.
3. Be more serious about saving money and not wasting money on stupid things.
4. Save money and go on at least 2 trips in 2011.
5. Take dating a little more seriously.
6. Don't go out so much--it's a waste of money.

Let's be serious...goal 6 will never happen :)

Day 1 of Graduate School...

So my first day at ASU as a graduate student went fantastically! It feels so surreal to actually be going to school here...a place where I wanted to go for my undergrad but didn't apply knowing that the out-of-state tuition wasn't worth it. Alas, here I am paying the out-of-state tuition for graduate school but it's worth it because it's something that I really wanted to do. The campus is so pretty...it's full of palms, cacti, and eucalyptus trees...it really does remind me of the U's campus but without feeling quite as old as the U's campus, as ASU isn't as old as the U of MN...considering the actual state of Arizona isn't even 100 years old yet! (it will be in 2012)

I get to take the light rail to campus and I think it's so fun...I love public transportation...it's great people watching time, not to mention better for the environment, and I don't have to pay the outrageous parking rates that ASU charges!

My first class was an Educational Technology course....which isn't going to be all that hard, or all that interesting sadly. Our first day we learned about Wiki's and Google Doc's...both of which any computer literate student these days can easily use. Alas, it was nice to start class and meet my cohort! Unbelievably I sat next to a girl from Milwaukee, WI...like myself! It's such a small world...well actually Arizona is just a Midwestern Magnet, hellloooooo perfect weather. We all know how much midwesterners love to talk about the weather :)

My cohort seems to be a motley crew, there are about 30 of us...from incredibly diverse backgrounds with the desire to become a great elementary teacher in common! My next class is on Tuesday and I'm a bit more apprehensive about this one because it sounds more intense...it's "Inclusive Classroom Management Training"....so we'll see how that goes!

Until then...take it easy and know I miss everyone back in MN!!

So clearly I'm failing at the blogging thing....

So it's funny how life works--it seems as if it's been one curve ball after the next for me lately! I'm really enjoying Phoenix, the weather and the sun are so fantastic. I wouldn't give that up for anything, and trust me when I say I've been soaking as much of it up poolside as possible!

It's just interesting how things pan out...I start graduate school today and have to admit I'm excitedly nervous. I'm very excited to meet some new people, and start my journey down the path to becoming an actual licensed teacher. I can't wait to have my own classroom.

I've met some really great people down here so far, and learned a little about myself and others. Turns out things and people aren't always as great as they seem, but life happens and it all works out in the end.

I'm currently reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert...I'm sure you've all heard of it--and it's been really inspirational. I'm envious of her ability to just drop her life and spend a year abroad in three different countries learning about different aspects of herself. I'd like to do that someday...but I'm not holding my breath. One of the best lines from the book so far has been this quote in Italian.."l'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle.." or the love that moves the sun and the stars. This is so true, because when you meet someone that is perfect this is what it should feel like. You should see fireworks, your heart should skip a beat, and you should feel breathless and never satisfied. When all feels right, this feeling of contentment comes over you, and you can't help but smile and feel something--well for lack of a better word--magical. Well this is how I feel right now, and I couldn't be happier.

So I'll leave you with that, and I REALLY promise I'll try harder to keep this updated! Life happens, and I'll soon be busy with school and work...as I finally got a job as an Instructional Assistant at an Elementary School in Mesa working with K-6 in Reading & English. I couldn't be more excited. :)

One Week And Counting!

So here's my second attempt at blogging...I started the first time when I was abroad and sucked at it, so I thought I'd try again when I make my big move Southwest to Arizona! So in exactly a week from today I'll be leaving on a monumental road trip from Wisconsin to Arizona. Google Maps claims that it's going to take 29 hours...and I fully expect it to take that long...if not longer as I'm pulling a trailer with all of my crap! Lord knows I have enough stuff...and I know it's not all going to fit in the trailer...so my parents get to drive down with the rest of the stuff that doesn't fit at a later date.

This whole process of moving to Arizona has been stressful! It all started on a whim when I applied to Arizona State University one COLD February afternoon, because I was unhappy in Minnesota. As much as I loved it there for the four years I was there, I'm just not meant for that awful climate. The winter's are horrendous...and you don't see the sun for ages...so why not move to Arizona?!

See the problem with moving, is this whole starting over thing. I'm leaving behind some of the most amazing people I've ever known in my life! I sometimes wonder if it's the right idea to move away, but I really feel like it's something that I have to do at this point in my life. If I hadn't left the Twin Cities when I did, I'd never have left them at all. So now I'm living at home in Burlington, WI at my parents house. WHICH...is nice...but pretty awful at the same time. It feels like I've taken 20 major steps backwards in my life by moving back home, even if it IS just a temporary situation. It's nice to be here and all, but I'm ready to be on my own again. I'm too independent for this...I need to be on my own again. THANKFULLY...I have an apartment waiting for me down in Arizona.

Not going to lie...I'm pretty excited by the thought of having beautiful weather year round...being able to wear flip flops in the middle of January. Can't wait. Long story short...I'm very excited for this new journey and adventure in my life. I'm ready to go down and meet some new people while never losing touch with those from MN. It'll be nice to have family down in the area and to know some people when I get there!

Anyways I'll try my very hardest to be better at blogging this time around!! :)