What Happened This Summer?

Welp, tomorrow is the beginning of September. Wait, what?! Goodness, when the heck did that happen?

For most of us, September means that summer is over. For K-12, school started around the beginning of September, so in my mind it's always been the end of summer. However, now it seems my school year starts at the end of September now that I'm in college. Which is weird. Another weird thought that comes to mind is that when I'm done with college, I will never have a summer break again. Unless I'm a teacher. That's just sad in my book. Where will I get all of that time to waste?

Despite still having a little less than a month left, I've been thinking about what I've actually accomplished this summer. Some big things were:

• Ran a 20 mile run, plus a lot of other runs
• Completed a full year of College Spanish

Only two big things, but they seemed pretty big. I did do a lot of other things this summer though. For instance, I did quite a bit of reading. At the beginning of summer, I said I would read all of the classic literature that everyone has to read in classes. That... did not happen, but I did get a lot of reading in. There was Chelsea Handler, Brave New World, random books from the library telling me helpful hints about life, just whatever looked interesting. Besides, isn't that what you should read anyway? Currently I'm reading a book called Hungry, and it's a memoir from this model who's a plus sized model now. I remember reading something about it in a magazine awhile ago, and it sounded interesting. She kind of goes off topic a lot though.

There were a lot of little things that happened this summer as well. Time with family and time with friends. Time spend outside in the wonderful sun.Time wasted. Time well spent. Time spent trying to cook, failing miserably.

Overall, it's been a pretty good summer. I'm not sure I'm ready to go back! On the other hand, I'm excited for what lies ahead this school year.

What big things happened in your life this summer?

New Shoes Test, Going Outside and Attack of the Hair

I tried out my new running shoes today. I wanted to really like them. But I didn't. I felt like a horse clopping along. What are the rules to returning shoes? I've got 90 days, but I ran quite a bit in them. I had to get my run in! Guh, I dunno.

The other day, something that seems very depressing to me happened. No, not like a death or something like that. Just... let me explain. I had past my dad who had just woken up from falling asleep in front of the television. As I passed by I heard him say, "Wow, it's pretty hot out there today, isn't it?"

I paused. He had just woken up from a nap, he hadn't been outside. "Dad," I asked. "Have you been outside at all today?"

"Hm. I guess not. I just saw it say something on the weather channel."

Pictured: What nature feels like from the comfort of your home.

That? That depresses me. I know my dad is kind of a vampire (he burns to a crisp), but to spend the entire day in front of a TV, dozing off every few hours? What kind of life is that? Sure, he's an old man but that's just sad. Life was meant to be lived! At least step outside for a couple of minutes.

From that point, I made a little resolution for myself. Never spend an entire day indoors during a beautiful day. Why waste what nature has to offer? If I have a book, I'll read it outside. Maybe it'll inspire me to actually do more activities while outside. I just don't want to spend my live inside forever, wishing I could have spend more time in the sun.

In other news, my hair is getting ridiculous. If I don't push it to the side, I'm blinded by a sea of golden brown strands.


Sadly, this is the picture that looked the least like the girl from The Ring.

 I suppose it's good for covering the ever-growing brows. I just need to make a hair appointment.

What personal maintenance have you put off? Made any mini resolutions recently?

Old Person Syndrome and Blackberries

Getting close to bedtime so I'll be fresh for tomorrow's run.... Good lord, I'm an old person. Other examples include:

• Getting ticked at teenagers. (In my defense, they were sitting in the middle of the freakin' road.
• Buying a single piece of fruit. I needed a snack for work!
• Waking up early on most days automatically.

I am what they call old people. Old people is an adjective now apparently.

Being a lovely summer day, I knew that today I needed to do something I've been anticipating all summer. Today was the day to go pick blackberries.

Every summer I look forward to picking blackberries. It's not just that they're delicious, but they feel like such a special treat. I think it's because of the hunt. It takes time, effort, and the willingness to get scraped up to collect them. The prize is making cobbler, and it just makes it that much sweeter knowing it took more effort to make it than usual.

It always feels like someone has gotten all of the blackberries before you wherever you go, doesn't it? Maybe that's just me. I suppose it is already the 19th, but shouldn't there still be quite a bit out there? I don't know. For me, it seemed like the only blackberries that were good were on the tall tall branches, or underneath prickle upon prickle. Truthfully, I always look like I've lost a fight with a cacti after I go venturing for blackberries.

I ended up not staying out for very long, and probably got about 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups worth. Can I make cobbler out of that? I guess it could be a small one, and it shall be made on Sunday.

I'm nervous but relaxed about tomorrow. I know I can reach my goal, but it's just scary.

What fruit or veggie do you love to go out and pick? What's your favorite thing to make from it?

The Ugly Side of Running and School is Out For the Summer

Today on my run, I felt something under my sports bra. I pulled my shirt and looked down to see a bug had somehow crawled into the space between my boobs. Remember when I said that running was sexy? Scratch that.

Well, it still is. Maybe. Maybe just marathon training is not sexy. Bugs sticking to me, coming to work covered in sweat, making sure I eat the right things before runs to make sure I don't have issues, effed up feet. These are all things that are not attractive. The feeling of strength is, but the rest? Not so much.

Half marathon training, you were cool with me. No disgusting issues there. Ah well.

School is out for the summer! Sounds weird, huh? I am all done though, and super excited. Today was my last day of Spanish, and now I never have to take it again. Unless... I want to. However, Spanish is a lot of busy work. I'm not sure I'm up to another year of it.

It's weird though, because now I'm going to have quite a bit of free time. Spanish took up a lot of time, especially with the commute. I'm not complaining.

Welp, that's all from me this evening, because I have to get up early tomorrow. On the day after I get done with school. Odd.

What part of working out grosses you out the most?

Spanish 203: Bring on the Homework

It's August? Did I miss something? No, that's just how time rolls ain't it? Yeah...

As I've mentioned many times before, today was the start of the last part of summer Spanish. It's a good thing for sure.
One of the changes that has happened is now there's a new professor. For the last two terms, I had a professor who was quite nice. She didn't really give us homework except for big projects, and it was very relaxed. This term? I'm a little worried. Mondays and Wednesdays are my more relaxed days because I don't have work.
I've been working on homework for most of the afternoon. I don't have that same time tomorrow. It's a little worrisome.
Three weeks though? Ah, I can make it.

I think that's one of the things that makes me the most excited about actual work though, you know? You don't get homework. Oh sure, there are jobs where you have to take work home with you, there's no denying that. However, you're getting paid to complete that work right? Probably would make homework more enjoyable if you were getting paid to do it.

What's something that makes work better than school to you? What's something that makes school better than work to you?

Trying Things A Second Time

Summer, you are so lovely. Just sayin'.

Today was going to be my recoup day. Cleaning everywhere, organizing my stuff, getting all of that situated. The day started out productive, then came to a halt when I was asked by my sister, "Do you want to go rafting down the river with us?"

Don't get me wrong, rafting down the river is lovely during the summer. The cool water, the warm sun. Heck, I've been rafting before with Chloe... and it was kind of disastrous.
We fought like crazy, we had fewer things prepared than necessary and we were out there for about four hours. I didn't know we were going to be out there for so long. Needless to say, I was a bit hesitant when offered the chance to go rafting again. Besides, I had a lot of things I still had to do!

But I went. I seriously was in need of some social interaction anyway. And you know what? It was fun.

This trip was only about an hour long, so it didn't matter that we still weren't that well prepared. Everyone was relaxed, and no fights occurred.

I guess it goes to show you that maybe you should try something more than once, even if the first time you try it's terrible. (Although sometimes you shouldn't. But you probably know those times.)

When was the last time you tried something again that you didn't like the first time? How did you like it the second time?

The Deal With The Television

So it's only Tuesday? Okay, sure.

The world today is filled with a ton of distractions. It's easy to say that you'll only spend a few minutes looking at something only to discover you've been observing whatever it is for almost an hour.

One of the biggest distractions of today? The T.V.

I know that I've admitted to enjoying a few shows, which I think is fine. However, there are times I think, "Why bother?"

I know that I've spent summers wasting my time watching reruns and all that jazz. It's a bit depressing really, but what's done is done. This summer, I've hardly spent time gazing at the tube. I watch my Glee Project on Sundays, Futurama on Thursdays, and occasionally watch E! news, but even that is looking less appealing lately.

I suppose that things clicked when my sister was flipping through channels one day. She proclaimed, "There's nothing on!", which instantly made me think, "Then why bother watching it?"

Seriously though. Why waste your time on something that you don't even find entertaining?

One of the other things that has made this summer so summer-y is the fact that I'm not wasting a bunch of time watching TV. Plus, I'm actually using the sunny times of the day to be out where it's actually, you know, sunny. The shows I like are on when it's dark and cold out, so it's not cutting into that.

Somehow, I'm not sure how though, I was taught that badmouthing the T.V. makes you pretentious. No, I wasn't actually told that, but you know how you get the vibe of something you should be doing? It kind of felt like that. Y'know, like those uppity people who sneer, "We don't own a television." It's not quite the same, but call me pretentious. I also happen to like spending time with *gasp!* quiet! Helps me think.

When my dad gets home from work, he almost instantly turns on the television. It stays on as he falls asleep on the couch, and finally gets turned off when he wanders up to bed in the middle of the night. I don't want that to be me.

So yeah, I like T.V., but more than an hour at a time isn't happening.
(But if I'm running on the treadmill at school, it's a pretty good distraction.)

As a last little bit since I'm on the subject of TV, does anyone out there watch The Glee Project? It's kind of my guilty pleasure. This week's episode featured Hannah getting annoyed at Samuel because he stole her "Skadoosh" line.
Sorry to break it to you, but that's from Kung Fu Panda. Get over yourself.

Are you a constant TV viewer, an occasional viewer, or someone who never watches TV?

Town Tours, Bakeries and Summer Days

The morning started with waking up about 8:15, and walking in town to a bakery I had heard about. I didn't know it when I first wanted to go there, but it's only open on Sundays. Today I would finally be able to venture into the bakery.
Well, it turns out that the bakery wasn't open until noon, but we managed to go to a bakery... right next door. I'd been to the one next store, which is cute but kind of eh. Still, it was fun to have bakery breakfast.

Later in the day, we once again decided to walk into town, this time my sister and mom joining for lunch. Walking along to lunch in the warm sun simply screamed summer. It was fantastic.

Before we headed back home, the bakery that I had hoped to visit was finally open, and it was spectacular. The bakery was simply a large room that had all of the ovens in it, making the room quite toasty. On the left wall there was a board with a time when each type of bread would be finished baking. Currently, he had French and Apricot Flax made, Blue Corn was next. I bought a loaf of the Apricot, but before heading out he threw in a baby loaf of the Blue Corn right out of the oven. Fantastic.



The blue corn bread? AMAZING.

I'm a sucker for bakeries. I know it's a "Stuff White People Like" thing, but I can't help myself! I would love to work in a bakery once in my life. I don't know why, I just would love to!
Y'know, despite working and taking summer classes, somehow this summer has felt... more summer-y than usual? Well, you know when you watch movies, and the kids seem to spend summer how everyone thinks you should spend summer? That's how I feel this summer has been.

How do you feel about bakeries? What random type of place do you adore?

Summer Days, Sitcom Sisters and Harry Potter Love

Ah, what a wonderful summery day. Fantastic.

Quite a few days have been overcast this summer, but today was one of the great days where you instantly think summer when you step outside.

Of course this led to laying out and reading in the sun. I finished Brave New World, the first of my English Class reading for the summer. Quite a good book, but very sad.

Later in the afternoon I was surprised when my sister walked in the door! The sister dearest has been at her school for summer classes, so she hasn't been around.

My sister and I? We play off each other like classic sitcom-y couples. Chloe is over the top, absurd, and likes to make herself known. I'm the more straight laced, stoic type when we get together. We play off each other, then creating hilarious situations (At least hilarious to us).

Case in point? The Harry Potter magazine cover.

As I've said before, I love Harry Potter. I grew up with HP, and obviously I have my ticket for the midnight showing already. With the undying love for HP plus the crazy fangirling I have for Entertainment Weekly, the fact that the newest issue was a special edition HP issue was fantastic. And it did not disappoint.
My sis is just as a crazy fan of HP and EW as I am, so she was just as excited to see the mag as I was at first. She gleamed with excitement, but she decided to take it just a step further.

"Hannah"
"What?"
"We should frame this."
"...What?"
So now, Harry is framed. We've also decided that it's going to one of those "Where's Harry Been?" things, in which we take picture of places with the pic. Well, we'll see if that turns out.

It's past midnight, but I started this post quite awhile ago... Bah. And long run is tomorrow! Scary.

Who brings out the goofiness in you?

Summer Plans List and High School Reading Materials

Does time just pass much more quickly during the summer? Because it sure feels like it.

I say this mainly because I feel like I didn''t have enough time to finish anything today, despite having as many hours in the day as usual. I guess that's a duh comment.

After almost a week of being home, I've finally made a list of things I would like to do this summer. Some of the goals are goofy, and are similar to goals that little kids make. Go to a drive in movie? It's on the list. Make up a song about a silly topic? Yes, that's there too. There are also a few goals that are "big kid" goals like getting accessories for my apartment next year and marathon training. Pretty much all of my goals involve less time with technology and more time... being a kid? I guess. Sure, I'm taking classes and working for my mom Monday through Friday, but I still need to make time for summer stuff. For the longest time, I wasted summers zoning out to the TV. Dang it, not this summer.

One of my goals that I personally think is the most interesting is my summer reading list. The list isn't full of easy reading, or the next big book. I've decided to fill my list with classic novels. The whole thing started earlier this school year, during my English classes. We'd always mention books that everyone should have read in English class. The Catcher in the Rye? The Lord of The Flies? Everyone read these books in high school, right? Apparently not in my high school. The only two classic high school reading books I remember reading were The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men. Hopefully the novels I read will be more like Mice than Gatsby. I hated The Great Gatsby because situations that did not need much detail were overly detailed. The part I remember the most? When one of the women is in a car accident and Fitzgerald goes way too much into detail about how she's been ripped apart. It's explained how her boob was ripped off her chest. That's what I remember.

I'm sure I'll think of other things to add to the list, but for now it's looking pretty good.
Tomorrow is a long run day! Ack. It's always scary when you have to run a distance you've never run before.

What are the High School Reading materials that you've never read? Do you have any suggestions?

The End of Freshmen Year and WOU

Today I finished my first year of college. I wore a sundress, but the weather was overcast. Two finals done, and I was off the campus by 4:00.

See you later, Ackerman

I'll see ya, Valsetz.

I'll miss you room 452



My landyard feels empty without you room keys.

Oh, favorite running path, will we ever meet again?

And my personal finisher's tunnel

It's weird that I'm done. One full year... really? I'll recap and see how I did on my goals tomorrow. For now... it's time to relax.

What were your thoughts as you finished freshman year?

Dealing With Money, Financial Aid, and School Situations

What an influence money has on our lives. Goodness.

The last few days I've been worrying about money. I know I think about it too much, but it's been on my mind even more lately. There are a few reasons for this.
First of all, running is starting to suck up my money. When I've looked at my past big purchases, they've been two things: School supplies and running things. Even with a discount from the running store, I still had a good chunk of money yanked away when I got my shoes. I've been wishing I could sign up for more little races during the summer, but then I think, "Oh wait. That costs money." Looking at Northwest running magazines filled with races has been like looking through a clothes magazine for me. (Seriously, it's the environment of runs! They're so fun and upbeat!)

My other piece of concern comes from my decision to take summer classes. It'll be good to take classes during the summer to get them done, but money is not fun to deal with. It turns out that I can't get financial aid, so I'm going to have to pay out of pocket. I know that my mom might want to help me, but I feel like I need to pay for it myself. The only other thing that causes concern with this is a smaller amount of hours of working to earn money back for the next year... hooray being a (sorta) adult!

Another thing that stands on the subject of school finances is how I'm figuring out my financial aid for next year. I don't think it's to the right school right now, and I've fixed what I can of it... but I think my parents need to do some things on the form. Gosh, I hate how dependent it makes me sound. Ha, it's funny because I am their dependent! Am I right? Yeah, maybe not.

Other big thing on my mind? Trying to figure out where I'm going to live next year. I'm not looking towards living in the dorms just because it's really pricey, and I don't want to. I'm hoping I can find someone to live with, but I also have ideas for worst case scenarios. I simply hope it just doesn't get to that.

In other news, I continue to have the appetite of a starved piranha. When I was training for my other run, I don't think I was this hungry all of the time! I haven't even run as far yet! Pish. I'm gonna gain twenty pounds.

Apparently I can't resist cookies either. Hence the comment above.

I'm quite tired... Time for rest.

What do you do to keep your finances in check? What do you do when you need to make big purchases?

Trying to Figure Out Live and Living in the Moment

It's Friday... Now what?

Lately I've just been thinking about stuff that need to get done. Not necessarily for the week, but in the future. I need to:

• Figure out my rooming situation for next year
• Figure out how I'm going to move everything out of my dorm in three hours on the last day of school
• Calculate all of my spending for the year
• Try to see if there are other job options for the summer
• Talk to professors about missing a day of class for orientation of another school

I know that there are other things that I need to do, but I'm having trouble thinking of what I need to do next. It's kind of weird that I don't know what's up for the future, and I feel like I should care more. I'm living in the moment I suppose? For the day I suppose.

I hope everyone has a lovely evening!

Car Troubles, Contradictions and Summer Classes

Well, today certainly had an interesting start to it!

I woke up at 7:25 AM, went to the bathroom, and when I returned to my room I saw that I had missed a call on my phone from my mother. Before I could even look at the text message that was also sent, the phone rang again. It turns out that my mom's car broke down in C-town and she needed me to drive down to pick her up so she could use the van. I was able to get it to her, but what a crazy way to start out the morning.

It stinks because she just got the car checked up, and the van was just fixed. "I guess we'll have to get a car sooner than later... even thought we don't have the money," she muttered. See? It's phrases like this that make me freak out about money. She'll try to comfort me in other situations when I start saying I should be concerned about money, and she tells me not to worry. Then she goes and says something like this. My mother is the queen of contradictions.

As for the rest of the day, I signed up for Financial Aid for summer classes. Yes, I'm taking Spanish to get it over with. This will clear up a huge chunk of time needed for the rest of my school years, because I'll need all of the room I can get the next few years.

15 hours of Spanish every week? Oh joy. The biggest downside to this is that it'll be hard figuring out a work situation, but I'm lucky enough to be able to work for my mom if needed. Which seems to be the case.

Welp, time for me to head off to bed. Night!

Have you ever taken summer classes? What were the classes?

Getting Back to the Grind, Things I Have Learned From Fictional Characters, and Upcoming Decisions

No holidays for quite some time now! That's probably a good thing, but I can't help getting excited for the next one. Well... maybe I can. Right now I'm in the mood to get to the grind. Makes me feel more centered, ya know? Let's see, the next holiday is... Mother's Day? Then Memorial Day, then the end of school!

Since it is indeed Monday, I have a little bit of knowledge that I have gained from fictional characters once again. This lesson I have learned from many shows and stories in the past, but the lesson came up again when I saw the show Wicked.
Spoiling a little bit of the story, there is a part in which Elphaba who is on the run goes to the home of her sister. Now, throughout the whole story we've seen Elphaba be a worried and doting sister. She cares for her sister a lot, but especially since her sister is in a wheelchair. In return, Nessarose, the sister, goes through angry teen rebellion and disregards any kindness her sister has bestowed upon her. Back to the present situation, Elphaba has been learning some pretty sweet sorcery, so she figures out a way make her sister walk. Does Nessarose shower her sister with love and affection? No! She's still a bitch, and blames her sister for actions that she causes 5 minutes in the future.

It may not seem like it, but there is a lesson in this whole scenario. That lesson is that truthfully, you can't change people. They are how they are, and most likely that's how they'll always be.

"But Hannah," you may ask, "Aren't there a bunch of fictional stories out there where a character has a change of heart? Like the Grinch?"

Yes, I suppose that's true. Also, I'd wonder why you couldn't think of another example. (That's all I could think of at the moment.) I realize that there are so many stories where a character gets a makeover, completely remakes themselves... Yet, I've also seen endings to many of these stories where the character goes back to the way they were before, or incorporates their new habits into their old lifestyle. Humans are stubborn on change.

Psychology has proven that point to me even more, as we've been learning about happiness. There are studies on people winning the lottery or getting in horrendous accidents. The studies show that despite the winnings, they aren't usually happier. Or, the people in the accidents are still quite positive.

It's good to make little habits of change, and it can be completely possible. These things tend to be over time. However, doing a total 180 on yourself or someone else isn't very likely. That's why they say people shouldn't go into a relationship thinking, "Despite the long history of violence, my loving heart can change them!" ...That doesn't always turn out for the best.

I'm very excited for summer being so close! Still... there are things that I'm having trouble deciding. I'm trying to get better with the over thinking, but it's so hard. Just go with it Hannah. Seriously.

Have you ever tried to change someone? How did it turn out?