I love that I can rent my textbooks.

I am exhausted. The first day of class has come and gone, and it left me feeling like a shell of my former self. Between syllabi and bus rides that last an eternity (the red route appalcart is not your friend), I have decided that I want to either fast forward or rewind. I'm starting to remember why napping was so important.

Truth time: I did in fact wake up an hour earlier than I will for the rest of the semester. Lets face it, I'm ten kinds of paranoid. Random thoughts of my schedule being completely wrong and worrying that I'd go the wrong place had me glancing at my already abused schedule every couple minutes.

It wasn't all bad. My classes (although they seem challenging) are doable. I don't think I'll be seeing that string of A's as I did last semester, but I don't think I'll be fretting anything. I haven't gone to Chemistry yet so this is all subject to change.

I went to the school bookstore with the notion of buying something twice today. I succeeded both times unfortunately for my bank account. Buying a grand total of 135 dollars on just supplemental school supplies makes me extremely thankful that Appalachian State lets you rent your textbooks for no fee (as long as you return them on time) and will buy back your supplemental books at a reduced price. I never sell back my supplemental books, because so far they have all been rather interesting.

Yeah, I'm a paranoid nerd, who is early to everything almost to a fault.

The first day of class is steadily approaching. Between nervous excitement and paralyzing dread, I am completely unprepared. I am back in Boone, which I recently spent a week in Gastonia (my home town). Now, as I sit in my apartment across from my wonderful roommate, I can imagine how the rest of this semester will play out.

My schedule is fairly tedious. Tuesdays and Thursday are going to be long days. My first class begins at 9:30 in the morning and my last class ends at 5 in the afternoon. In those days, I will also be doing the lab for my Curriculum and Instructions class, where I must tutor some unexpecting students. It will be an experience to say the least.

Monday, I have a Chemistry lab that is scheduled to last three hours. It doesn't usually take that long (or rather it doesn't take that long for other people). I am not a science kind of girl. I will never be a science kind of girl. I don't care how things works...I really don't as long as they work.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I only have two lectures. So, Wednesday and Friday are going to be nice. Although the classes are Chemistry and Curriculum/Instruction.

I don't know if I'm going to have a good semester yet. I never do. Half way through the semester I can pretty much predict if things will go my way. My first semester of college did not go well for me at all. I was sick all the time. It was a new experience. My grades were seriously lacking. Although, last semester I made it onto the Chancellor's list with even more classes. So, it's really a flip of a coin.

Happy Birthday!

Today was my best friend's birthday (which she shares with her twin another one of my favorite people, but don't tell him that).

Every year I buy her a present within themes, because that makes it more fun for the both of us. She is truly an old soul in a young body, because one of her favorite past times is knitting. This was the theme of the year. So, my mother and I bought almost all the knitting products in Michael's you could think of. My mother loves KT like a daughter and buys her coordinating gifts with me. Did you know they have glow in the dark knitting needles? Well, you do now.

Every year is like a mini battle between the two of us, because she does not exploit her day of birth the way I think she should. It's always a small gathering of friends that go out to eat. This year we went to the movies which was a first for this particular occasion.

She chose the movie that came out today: Post Grad. She thought it would be fitting considering we will all be headed back to our educational institutions soon. Although, it is a little disheartening when one of the major points in the plot is the main character cannot find a job. What an inspiration, right?

The movie over all was decent. It wasn't great, but not awful. It was worth seeing. I being the Gilmore Girls fan that I am (don't judge me my mother and I actually talk that fast maybe with fewer cultural references and more swearing, but still), I love Alexis Bledel with almost a blind eye. The acting could have been better and so could the plot, but what it lacks it substances it makes up for in cute.

A totally ok pick if you want to watch something fluffy.

Well, my dog is pretty much begging for attention and considering he is an only child now I feel obligated to oblige. I think he is fluent in English, because I said "come on" and he bolted for the door.

Dear Jazz,

Thank you. You were my best friend when I didn't know how to talk to humans. You gave me something to love that wouldn't dare break my heart, until now. You stayed at home with me on Saturday nights when I had no where else to go. You loved me even when I was a child that was just a little too cruel.

It hardly seems fair that you are a memory before your death. Knowing that that event is coming soon is making me nostalgic. I love you, you know? I always have and always will even if it doesn't seem like it right now.

That's my fault. I can't help it. Looking into your eyes breaks my heart. Watching you struggle to do everything breaks my heart. Shatters the blood pumping organ.

You used to be able to climb fences. Do you remember that? Or when you would jump over them entirely? You were a hand full. I think you were too smart. You had to be smarter than some people.

I've called you an evil genius on multiple occasions. You always got to do just about everything you wanted with little to no regard of what we said.

I remember the snow. You were the funniest thing to watch on snowy days. We would go sledding (which you deemed too dangerous). You would grab us by the gloves and put a stop to that nonsense. Sometimes you would get skin. I bled once, but it was still more fun than painful.

You are a bit of a racist. Sexist too. I don't know how you kept that up with your failing vision or how you got the notion in the first place. To be fair you never liked anyone without our last name.

I'm sorry about my childish cruelty. I was young and didn't know how to be a good pet owner.

I remember when Dad could hold you in one hand yet you would monopolize both my arms. I remember calling you the world's biggest lap dog. Or how you would lick me right in the face despite my protests.

I hope I don't remember Friday for what it will mean to you. It is KT's birthday, and you like KT. I don't think you'd want me to remember it for that as well.

I'm going to miss you baby-dog, because you meant the world to me. <3

I live in the mountains. Everywhere you walk it is up hill. I have to take a bus to get to campus as an added little plus, but for some reason I feel compelled to buy heels. I know I won't wear them as often as I should. If there are some cute shoes on sale, I automatically buy them. It is a bad habit of old from living on flat land.

I've dedicated a lot of time (not to mention cash) to have an expansive shoe collection. The kicker being that I only wear about five pairs regularly. I guess it's ok to have one obsession that won't land you in jail. I'm not so sure about the poor house.

My mother would be proud.

I have in my life time cycled through all the possible career opportunities that would bore me to tears or make me a walking head case. I always fancied myself a bit of a writer even if that notion is a tad bit delusional.

I don't self motivate well. Thus, I need someone to expect me to get things done (and if that person could express some idea of what they want that would be great too). I've given a lot of thought to at least trying to write a novel.

If were to write a novel, this would be the beginning (and that is exactly how it is labeled on my computer):

It could have been the bitter taste of sweat as it snuck its way into my agape mouth. It could have been the increasingly horrible thoughts that raced their way behind my eyes as I tried to mask my surprise. No matter what contributing factors there was one fact that could not be overlooked: he was back and from the look of him he brought a vengeance.

Passionate

You could not call me a passionate person with a straight face. (If you can, you are much better at lying to yourself than I). I've done pretty much everything in my life half-assed as it should be done.

I have my future planned out in the vaguest sense. I don't want to be a rock star or a celebrity of any kind. I want all the simplest things most of which the average person just assumes will come their way. I want a family and a steady source of income. The only grand thing that is covered in cobwebs in the back of my mind is to travel the world.

I in true nerd fashion want to see all the foreign historical sights that I've only read about. I want to get lost in a foreign city. I want to wander around museums.

I doubt I'll ever go all the places I want before I die. This only allows dust to collect on my travel bug. Actually, doubt plagues just about all my endeavors. My unwillingness to fail has, admittedly, kept me from doing things that I did not think I would excel at. This effectively killed my passion for life.