Getting Lost in Time...

So it has been a while since I posted last (seeing as I've only posted twice in this blog and it's been 2 1/2 months...)

Summer II was finished at the end of July and I did well (obtained a 4.0), but it was very project extensive, so as long as it was completed, you did well. I learned a lot about curriculum planning and management, as well as the Virginia Department of Education. Yes, I survived a whole month without going to NY, seeing my fiance, or my family (shocking, I know!).

I had 2-3 weeks off before Fall semester started, which I spent at Mark's apartment in Baldwinsville. We did travel to his parents' place in Western NY for a short visit which was fun. We visited Darien Lake and got to spend time with his family. I also worked a few days at Fairmount Animal Hospital prior to returning to Cburg for the Fall Semester.

I had to return a few days early because of the VCLA that I had to take, and because it stand for Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment, they don't offer it in NY. I'm going to be honest, I never studied it and didn't even look at the format until the night before the test. Luckily I passed so I never need to go through that 3 1/2 hour test again.

So far, fall semester has been going fairly well with the massive amounts of work that come with grad school. Papers, Lesson Plans, and constant reading for classes consume my time. For the most part, I am surviving well and have gone home once (8/25-8/29) for observation at the NYSF working with the FFA.

Mark came and surprised me last weekend! He showed up Thursday morning at 5 AM unannounced and woke me out of a very sound sleep. He's incredibly lucky that I didn't not punch him in the face. My parents came down to visit on Friday night and stayed until Sunday morning. We got to do all sorts of fun things! Mark got to stay here until Monday afternoon. I was very happy and we all had a great time, although I wasn't very productive with my massive amounts of work.

I am going home again this weekend, but will be making a 2 day stop in Western NY for observations with my actual cooperating teacher, which I am very excited about!! Then I will be heading to Baldwinsville to visit with Mark (most likely), and then heading back down here Sunday.

The Virginia State fair is in a few weeks which will be exciting and will be keeping us all busy with catching up on homework and assignments!

4 weeks down, 12 more to go!!

Second Week Of Classes Down

So this week has flown by. I'm missing home a little bit more everyday but I have been enjoying my time down here. My roommates are making it much easier for me to adjust. I honestly don't know what I would do if I was here by myself; probably spend as much time as I can with Mark on Skype, I guess =P This picture was the day that he left =(


So this week we learned a lot of stuff, it's a little overwhelming but luckily I have all of my assignments turned in for this week and the only thing I have to work on this weekend is my technology standards. We had two quizzes this week (1 for each class). The first one was a little challenging but I did well, the second one was today and it was a group quiz.

So my car has had some terrifying time... I think it's used up 2 of its 9 lives (oh wait, that's a cat) but oh well. On Monday, on the way home I was on the highway and there was a 'gator' (for those of you that don't know what they are, they are not in fact the animal... but pieces of a tractor trailer tire) in the middle of the lane I was in. Like literally, all over the place. Luckily I was paying attention and have amazing reflexes. For those of you familiar with them, as my dad always said, they will 'Jump up and bite you" and do serious damage to your car.

The second time was on Tuesday (I think) and Mary Katherine and I were on our way to class, and we were in the left lane (luckily) on the highway and there was a truck that had a wheelbarrow in the bed in the right lane. I saw the wheelbarrow slowly lift up and go back down and then 3 seconds later it lifted right off the truck and started rolling on the highway. Again, my awesome reflexes helped my car (and us) stay alive.

Also, I don't think Jasper likes this whole being in isolation thing because Wednesday night (I think) he kept me up all night by pawing me for attention, meowing annoyingly loud, running and jumping around, and then getting caught up in the blinds and making one hell of a ruckus. So now, I keep my door open, the dogs do a pretty good job of staying out and Jasper is starting to tolerate them. Him and the puppy Ruger (MKs dog, he's a German shorthaired pointer) are getting along alright. He doesn't want too much contact but doesn't hiss hardly at all and when he takes swipes at him his claws are retracted, so we're making progress! It is adorable to see Ruger try to play with him though. He'll sit, stare, and then out of nowhere do a play bow, which then startles Jasper and he runs. Ruger looks on like 'what the heck did I do wrong?' Ruger also likes to play with Jaspers kitty toys such as the little mice and his bouncy cord, which aren't meant for him and the mice usually end up half smooshed, which is pretty funny. Jasper doesn't like the boxer Sam (Molly's dog). I don't think Sam cares much for cats because he will stand and stare down Jasper, who will then run into my room most of the time.

Overall, I think we are doing well. Almost 2 weeks until I am home again for a short period of time. I'm halfway there!!

Ahh It's So Hot Down Here!

So I have been down here for over a week now... Here is my week in a nutshell as I remember it:

Friday morning (7/1) we left at the butt crack of dawn... Actually the butt crack wasn't even showing. We left Mark's apartment in Baldwinsville at ~3:30 AM. Right along Southern NY some Canadians tried to kill us by their lack of ability to drive. They suck. Anyway. Stopped a bit because I wasn't feeling the best and made it to my apartment in Christiansburg, VA by ~1:30 PM. (Might I add JasperCat was very well behaved and slept in the passenger seat in his harness for the majority of the ride!) Met one of my roommates name Molly and her mom, and moved into my new room. The house is very nice but old; though, probably NOT as old as my parents' house at home. Mark and I went shopping for some essentials for the new place. I felt pretty crappy all day- probably a combination of heat and stress. It's amazing what having no internet will do though! Mark and I talked about a lot of stuff that night before we finally passed out.

Saturday... I don't really remember. I know I unpacked, we went out and bought a desk and a bookcase. Oh and returned the air mattress to Target because we woke up and were flat on the ground. We watched some movies, met MK, my other roommate. Oh yeah! And a chihuahua showed up out of nowhere, we think it was frightened by the fireworks some people were shooting off down the street.

Sunday I don't think anything eventful happened except Mark and I spent some QT time together. We slept on the hardwood floor Saturday night so I was determined to get a bed by Sunday night, which I did. And then Mark and I had our last date-night before he headed home- we went to see the new Transformers movie! =) It was ok, but I think I like the first two better... It just isn't the same without Megan Fox.

Monday was a sad day... Mark left around 4:30 or 5. Not much eventful happened except we went to the Olive Garden.

Other than that life has been filled with class and not much else. I play some video games occasionally to pass the time. I just wish that I knew somebody that lived on a farm so I could go help with hay. I'm really itching to throw some bales around. Oh well...

Class is going well. I'm kind of getting confused between the Virginia DOE and NY DOE standards... It's so weird in Virginia, but I guess I should say that because all I have ever known was the NY standards for Education.

Jasper is held up in isolation because he can't get along with dogs, but that's ok because then he wants more attention from me. We're supposed to get internet tomorrow night which is exciting because this whole library thing is getting old. Maybe I'll post some pics of the house tomorrow night if I get a chance, or you can just check my FB.