Morgan Clare's Most Excellent Adventure

where have I been!?!?!

2009-04-15T11:42:00.001-07:00

Well now that I have completely lost the attention of the few people who read my blog, I will start up again:)

Things have been a wee bit busy here, but lets not kid ourselves I should always have two seconds in my day to give you all an update.

So I apologize for being lazy.

So here goes... what has been happening
~Spring Break I went home for four days and had a wonderful time with the fam and Lake Joy fam! Then I flew down to Newport Beach and met up with about a dozen of my friends and got completely spoiled by my friend's mom. More about that when I have time...
~For my RLCA job (the event planning on campus one) I have been on the committee for hiring next year's group. This involved reading 32 applications, interviewing 32 people (at least once) and doing all the behind the scenes organization and planning.
~Two weekends ago the Swifts rescued me from campus and brought me to Carmel for the weekend. It was amazing! We had so much fun and the weather was perfect!
~I applied to be the president of psychology club next year and I got it! I have my first meeting today with the president from this year so she can pass all her wisdom down to me!
~I went from Semester at Sea planning to El Salvador planning to road trip across USA planning and I've landed on going to India for 5 weeks this summer! When I have more than two seconds I will for sure write more about this one because its actually happening! I've already been accepted into the program!
~I am applying to be an Ambassador on campus (one of the polo wearing, tour giving, hand gesturing students who try to convince students to come to this fabulous school!) I made it past round one and I find out at the end of the month.
~Classes are insaine this quarter! I have 5!!!!! and three are upper division psychology classes!!

This is going to be a CRAZY quarter!

ohhh my goodnesss

2009-03-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

what have I done in the past three weeks I haven't blogged?
1. planned and executed two campus wide events for my job
2. studied my butt off for midterms and finals
3. started running, I can run 1 1/2 miles now, for the first time in my whole life!!!!!
4. worked about 20 hours each week at my other job
5. written three papers
6. taken six quizzes, two midterms, and a final
7. applied to go on a fellowship this summer... got accepted to go to Nogales, Mexico. Google that city right now and you'll see why I'm not going.
8. got nominated to do my own research fellowship next year and get published!
9. applied for two jobs for next year, haven't heard back.
10. started planning the road trip of the century for this summer!

those are the highlights. if I find a few moments in my day to spare I'll elaborate on a few.

I'm done with class for this quarter and next week I just have to do my three last finals and I'm free!

AT&T

2009-02-22T20:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't written in a while.......
I got to go to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tourney last weekend! It was amazing! Here are some pics...
These are my next year roomies at Alex's beach house in Carmel. Our house is named Love house so we spell out Love wherever we go

This is the gang at the Pebble Beach Golf Tourney. It was a bit windy.

We were pumped!

I got to shake Bill Murrey's Hand!!!

This is me and my valentine Justin Timberlake!!!!

Baby Mama

2009-02-10T22:34:00.000-08:00

If a woman, who by all means seems to be a great mother wants to have seven children she can have seven children. If she has been able to afford to feed and take care of all six of her previous children and continue to go to school, she had every right to want to have a final child with the last remaining eggs she had frozen. If God blessed her by giving her eight babies for the six eggs (which is statistically impossible) than obviously He has a great plan and full faith in her abilities. For people to call this woman irresponsible for miraculously and accidentally getting pregnant with octuplets instead of just one child is ridiculous. All of her other children seem happy and safe and healthy and I wish her the best of luck with her eight new blessings.

Weekend with the fam

2009-02-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I got to hang out with Janet and my mom in Soquel (Grandma flew in Sunday afternoon). It was really relaxing and I made sure to take advantage of being off campus; appreciating the dead silence as a fell asleep (opposed to the obnoxious yelling and music in the dorms till three AM), the fresh fruit as a snack (versus cheeze-its), the private shower (versus public wear I have to wear my shoes), and the dinners out (opposed to at least two pbjs a day). Thanks for havin me Kiwi!

Tonight I will be going out to dinner again with the fam to celebrate my mother becoming elderly:) She turns 50 today!!!
Happy Bday Mom!

740 Locust Street

2009-01-28T15:09:00.001-08:00

I have a house next year!
I suggest google earthing it. It is precious:) It's two bedroom, two blocks from school, one block from safeway, right across the street from all my guy friends, and REALLY cheap! I will be rooming with Ali again and Kelsey and Alex will share the other room. We got a great deal because Kelsey's dad knows the property manager.
Check one off my year's goals!!!!

Awkward Transition

2009-01-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

From Semester at Sea; huge cruise liner, 9 countries and hawaii, elegant living, toooooooooooooo
El Salvador; huts, dirt, hard work, spanish.

i have to decide by tuesday if i want to go. Any thoughts? Call me!

RIP Semester at Sea

2009-01-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

Soooo... Santa Clara University, the private, $40,000 a year, Jesuit school in the silicon valley, is having a financial crisis. So, in order to keep our grasses green, our palm trees standing, our Jesuit professors massaged, and our resident's room filled to the brim with free crap like candy and mugs, they are no longer letting scholarships transfer to Semester at Sea. What does that mean for me? Well that means I can't afford to go. Good bye Morocco, good bye big shmancy boat, good bye worldly adventure, fun, education, experience of a life time.
The worst part about it is I was already approved to go, so I've already sent in my application (and $50 app fee), written all my essays, and worked my butt off to get credits and classes to be transferable. This means some day soon I will probably get an acceptance letter to the program I can no longer attend, only pushing the knife in a little deeper into my broken heart.

I should have thought about this new book idea two years ago so by now I wouldn't have to worry about petty things like $10,000.

sooooo....

2009-01-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

I think I'm going to write a book. I just wanted to blog that so that some day when I'm on Oprah's Book List I can look back on this moment and remember when it all began.

I'll keep everyone updated.

P.S. My book will be titled: My Ex Boyfriend, Jack Daniels.

Carmel!

2009-01-20T15:27:00.001-08:00

This is the House that we stayed at this past weekend in Carmel. Thank you Dom and Stacy!!!! (Alex's parents). This is the view from the beach. It was right on the water!
It was an amazing weekend, so hot we actually got in the water! Maybe more than we wanted to:)
Alex, Ali, and I went and played on the rocks and hung out in the tide pools.
At night we went bon fire hopping, meeting a bunch of airforce guys on leave. They didn't believe the red cup was coffee:)
At night we were put to bed by our man slaves Jeremy and Mike:) It was alright I guess:)
Each night had incredible sun sets and we really made the most of every moment.
This is a small glimpse of the epic rock climbing. My hands are all scabbed up now:(
On our last day we went to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium (my first time). Apparently I was excited:)

Swimming!!

2009-01-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

My roomie Ali and I bought bathing suits and goggles so we can swim laps and work out in the pool. We've gone four out of the past five days and I'm really pumped about it! My everything is sore today but we're planning on going again today at six.

Swimming=my new love

Week One

2009-01-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

So WOW. This first week back was absolutely insane. I feel academically hung over from all the homework, tests... yes two of them in the first week, and readings. But here is the recap of my classes this quarter:

Philosophy 12: About 30 people in the class. Prof seems really nice and interesting but there is sooo much reading each night and a essay quiz to prove that we've read.
Research Methods in Psychology: About 20 people in the class. So far its been pretty boring, but I feel like it will be pretty easy to balance out the other classes.
General Psychology 2: It is going to be reeaaaallly interesting, but the class is huge (like almost 40!) There is a quiz every week so the workload will be pretty heavy too.
Cultural Anthropology: Another bigger 30ish person class. And another class with a lot of reading and pop quizzes so it will be a lot of work. The prof is young and seems to really like the subject.

So looks like a busy, crazy, tiring, hard quarter. Hello winter.

I miss my bros already:(

2009-01-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

Final Grades

2009-01-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd brag a bit...

Sociology (Race, Class, and Gender in the US): A
Statistics: A
Physics: A
English (Literature in Religion): A

I'm pretty satisfied:)

Reasons I still don't drink

2009-01-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

I get asked why I don't drink A LOT. So here it is..
1. Every minute of my life is a gift from God and the least I can do to show my thankfulness is to live each moment fully aware and present.
2. I'm all about living up to your potential, and to do that at all times I need to be sober at all times.
3. There is no need. I don't want to escape nor do I need it to have fun.
4. I've only got one physical body and I want to keep it as healthy as I can.
5. The Buddha says that we learn and grow every moment, through every experience, I want to be aware at all times so that I can gain the most from life and continue down the path of enlightenment.
6. Drinking too much is dangerous and when I did drink those four years ago I was never good at not drinking too much.
7. Things like this happen:) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090101/ap_on_re_us/home_shooting

Is that enough?

New Year Resolutions

2009-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

1. Semester at Sea!!!!
2. Healthy body, healthy mind
3. Growth in my Spirituality
4. Stay in better contact with all my family
5. The Smith boys to college!!!!
6. Amazing Grades
7. Find great housing for next year
8. Keep financially stable
9. Stay organized
10. Learn a new skill

Break

2009-01-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

Well my Christmas break has been pretty fabulous so far. I spent a good deal of my time at home with my best friend Carrie and my "brothers" Dylan and Evan. I also got to see a few friends from Santa Clara who live in the area. I watched way too many movies and ate way too much pie. On new years eve I flew to Nebraska, which is where I am at now. I'm visiting family who I haven't seen since graduation and meeting family that was born since then(baby Molly is adorable). This break has been about being outside and getting my fix of all my small town girl desires because I probably won't be going home again for another six months! All in all very enjoyable break.

Home

2008-12-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, so Washington is cold. But its good to be back, I have nothing planned while I'm home and I LOVE it! If anything exciting happens I'll be sure to write about it, but until then, I'm putting big warm socks on and watching Law and Order.
MUCH LOVE!

What would Jesus Buy?

2008-12-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

I am reminded this holiday season, as I am every holiday season of what is most important, what I care for, and of course; what I want for Christmas. Every year I am the pain in the butt family member who refuses to make a list of cds and gift certificates and such that I want for Christmas. Its a struggle every year. As a Buddhist I don't need nor want material gifts from people. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate every gift that has ever been given to me. I don't look down on any one who gives or receives a gift because I understand the love behind it is what is actually important. So its difficult to make a list, of things when really I'd like to take out the middle man and just take the love you offer through the gifts. I always feel bad for my family and friends who feel obligated to buy me things despite my claims because they want to show their love, and since I don't make a list its always difficult to guess what I would want. But everyone needs to understand that the best way to show some stubborn, opinionated, college student, Buddhist that you love her is through the things that don't come in a box. Sit down and have a conversation with me, read my favorite book The Buddha and the Terrorist, Call me up unexpectedly just to chat, volunteer somewhere and tell me all about it, donate to a charity under my name, tell me something I don't know about you, introduce me to something new, ect. Of course, I can't deny that I too ask for things that I need like financial help for Semester at Sea or school in general. But i would honestly prefer anything from the prior list than a check any day. Just food for thought. Merry Christmas.

Smith Visit

2008-11-29T22:30:00.001-08:00

My fabulous neighbor family came to visit during Thanksgiving. It was a much needed and appreciated trip.

They got to check out my crib:

The boys and I went to Capitola so they could see the beach:

We went to Denny's and ordered one of each of the desserts. Before:

After

During:

We had a lot of fun shopping for Karen's Bday gifts:
The boys got to see a Christmas Palm Tree at the mall:
Thank you for coming Smiths! I had an amazing time! See you all soon!

Thankful

2008-11-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

1. My parents
2. My friends
3. My family, by blood, by marriage, and by love
4. Santa Clara University
5. Lake Joy
6. The direction of this country
7. My health
8. My faith
9. Life and Everything

Sac town

2008-11-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry i haven't written in a while. Last week was absolute madness. I am in Sacramento with my Uncle Joe and cousins Dylan (11) and Amy (8). I get to stay with them for five days, Amy is really excited but I told her by day for she'll be wanting me out of her house:) I'm really glad Joe is putting me up this week I'd be alone in my dorm if he hadn't. We're going on a mini road trip tomorrow to the redwoods and I'm sure the rest of the week will just be hanging out, which is honestly how I'd like it. I'll keep you all posted if something fantabulous happens.

Surprise!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T00:21:00.000-08:00

Wow. What a weekend. I surprised my mom, surprised Evan, worked in the yard, surprised Dylan, hung out with my bros, saw Carrie's new house, met Carrie's roommies I didn't know, surprised my dad, took him out for lunch, worked in the yard, surprised Ali, hung with the Swifts, slept in my mommy's bed with her:), worked in the yard, went to Janice's birthday party, studied for my test, and did my homework. Thats a lot to cram into one weekend. I am exhausted... just in time for the craziest week of the quarter!!

Carrie's Visit

2008-11-11T17:06:00.001-08:00

Well Carrie is leaving tonight and my life is going to get REALLY busy this week. I have a huge presentation in Lit on thursday that is going to kick my butt and I have a midterm in Stats on Friday that is sure to make me cry. Carrie's trip was relaxing, we got a lot done and had a lot of fun. Now its back to the real world.

Carrie's Here!

2008-11-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

So Carrie flew in Thursday night and she's here until Tuesday! So far we've had quite a crazy time we.....

1. Saw Highschool Musical
2. Saw Saw 5
3. Snuck into Madagascar
4. Went to Church
5. Math homework
6. Physics homework
7. Stats homework
8. Sociology homework
9. Other homework
10. We've slept and ate some too

Its been pretty nuts, maybe we'll settle down for the next couple days of her visit. Good call.

Oh laptop

2008-11-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

So my laptop cord is broken, no excuse for not blogging, just letting you all know.
Recap of life the past week:
I'm sick:(
Laptop cord broke:(
Camera broke:(
Obama is my new Hero!:) (see a year ago in my blog when I made phone calls for him:))
I have soooo much homework to do:(
I missed church on Sunday from being sick:(
While there's a lot of frowny faces up there, I'm actually in a really good mood. I feel like my body just can't handle my perkiness right now:)
ooo and as for classes....
Physics: A
Sociology: A
Statistics: ?!?!?! probably B something
English: A-?

Semester at Sea

2008-10-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

I am SO doing this. I will sell everything I own to be able to afford it, but it is happening! Canada, Turkey, Croatia, Egypt, Morocco, Japan, India, China, Vietnam and Hawaii... imagine how interesting my blog will be then!!!!!!! You can check out the website at semesteratsea.org. Nothing is official seeing that I still have to get accepted into the nation wide program and find out a way to pay but I couldn't afford Santa Clara and I made my way here so I've got luck on my side!

P.S. anyone wanna buy a waterbed:)?

A much needed beach night

2008-10-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

After a long day of laziness and nothingness we (the gang shown above) decided to spice things up with a midnight drive to the beach. We got there and there were five bon fires already going... but no people. Not a person in sight, just five huge bon fires in the fog. Probably the creepiest thing ever. But we stayed anyway... ya know like the smart wise decision making college students we are. Don't worry dad the Mace's safety was off and it was in my hand the whole night, despite paranoid comments from my friends:)

Thank You Mom

2008-10-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

for taking care of yourself
for my christmas present finally happening
for our beautiful home
for all the unconditional love
for the really nice blue water bottle that I stole from you before I left for cali that you didn't know about till just now....
for my stud earrings that I wear everyday
for letting me wear your spinny ring since mine was lost
for the pictures you sent in the mail
for talking to me on the phone even when your tired
for teaching me how to be a kind, generous person

o....and for my cushy rug and screen that were pictured in an earlier post:)

Update

2008-10-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

So blogspot hasn't been letting me publish anything which is the reason for the long break then overwhelming amount of posts. Here is a brief update of what I would have wrote about had it been working...
1. Classes have gotten harder... much harder.
2. Nov 4th could not come soon enough.
3. I love my new church!
4. I have no pants left without holes!
5. Going to bed at four AM is fun!
6. I bought some new pants!:)
7. Spider Solitaire consumes my life
8. Going to bed at one is a lot more fun.

L PARTY!!!!

2008-10-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

It was Laura and Laura's Birthday party and for once I actually decided to go out! It was an L party... everyone had to dress up as something that started with L. I contemplated Loser or Lazy but ended up getting into the spirit as a Librarian complete with book and glasses! I probably only stayed forty minutes tops but it counts as a social life right?

Lady in Red, Librarian, Life guard, Leprechaun, Leopard, and Lindsey Lohan (Lindsey Lohan's Lesbian Lover is not pictured but was at the party)

Lady in Red and the Librarian (who did impersonations of Sarah Palin the whole night)

Ali, my Roomie (who went as Love) and Sarah and me having a bathroom party at the party!

Jimmy Buffet Concert!

2008-10-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Who knew about this HUGE Jimmy Buffet Nation!?! Well I got a chance to find out on Tuesday when my friend Alex and her parents invited Kelsey, Mikey, and I to go to the concert at the outdoor ampitheater. It was absolutely AMAZING! So much fun, so many song I had no idea were Buffet's, so many pirates, and fins, and PARROTHEADS!

Here are some pirates we met... they were pretty nice...after they stole our booty of course

This is us girls rockin out to Cheeseburger in Paradise!

Yeah thats Mikey getting interviewed by a news station. He talked, he laughed... he SANG.

Look Jazz I'm sitting on your blanket! It doesn't smell like you anymore though... don't know whether to put a smiley face or a sad face there:)(

So we were a little far away. . . who cares man! I'm officially a Parrothead!

Family

2008-10-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Everyday I realize more and more how amazing my family is. How important they are in my life. How much they've supported me. How much they believe in me. To everyone who I'm related to, by blood, by marriage, by love; Thank you. I love you all so much.

ALBA

2008-10-14T12:05:00.001-07:00

This past weekend nine other people in my dorm and I went to ALBA, a farm where immigrants can learn how to organically farm. They are given half an acre and can buy more. They grow their own plants, sell them at markets, and eventually move up the ladder gaining more land and more skills until they are ready to go out and farm on their own. We got to go and spend the night in their class room and then wake up and help them during a U pick day. They needed help weeding, harvesting, and communicating with the families trying to buy things since most of the farmers only speak Spanish. It felt really good to work outside; it reminded me a lot of my mom and made me miss her bunches. After only half a row was weeded and the aftermath of hundreds of nettles burned on my arm we called it a day and went back to our warm dorms with comfy beds where we can access good food any time we want.

The fabulous ALBA girls rocking the COW gang sign. You can thank Carnation for that gem.

We slept on the floor in the classroom, this is Mike. He didn't snore.
This is me being safe at night time with a ginormous tractor.
This is me being REALLY safe.
This is the only shot Kristin got of the actual work we were there for. My nettle picking didn't make the cut. The strawberries were AMAZING though.

Camera Broke:(

2008-10-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

I have so many fabulous pictures to show you but my camera my mom just bought me before I went to school won't turn on:( Soooooo..... untill I hit a best buy, looks like my blog will be....wordy.

Town Hall?

2008-10-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've been to a Town Hall legislator meeting but I have. It doesn't look ANYTHING like what I just watched on NBC. The purpose of the town hall debates in my mind is to have a more open forum with the people. That's why there is no podium, just chairs. No dark, invisible audience, just people in the light sitting up close and personal surrounding the candidates. The candidates can look in the eye of the questioner, walk to them, talk directly to them. This is the idea, not the reality. The questions seemed scripted and could have easily been read by the moderator. It was not an open discussion like the town hall meeting I went to where if you asked a legislator a question and they danced around it, you could raise your hand again and hold them accountable asking them to clarify or I don't know actually answer it. I'm glad we made Senator McCain comfortable since this is his "style" but I wish we could have held true to the actual purpose of a town hall style debate.

Who knew I missed math!?

2008-10-01T19:48:00.001-07:00

So I haven't had math since Junior Year at Cedarcrest. I thought I was glad to be rid of such a nasty concept that everyone loves to hate so much. The fact that my math brain was so rusty gave me extra nerves coming into my statistics class which is extremely.... mathy. Turns out I LOVE math. I had forgotten all the reasons why, but now I remember! Math is learning at its very best. You learn how to do something and you are tested on the application and whether or not you can DO it. It's not memorizing facts, or comparing concepts, or even giving your own insight. The reason I chose a social science major is because I'd rather learn how to think than a bunch of facts I'll forget later about a specific subject, but I forgot how much fun both types of learning are. My stats class is challenging in a way I haven't experienced in a while. If your an avid Morgan Clare's Most Excellent Adventure reader you'll remember fall quarter last year when I had biotechnology. Same thing. Hard, but AMAZING.

P.S. got my first stats quiz back today. 100%:)

One week in....

2008-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

My classes after week one....
Stats: still really easy, just had my first quiz which I feel really good about, only 20 people left in the class
Physics: horribly boring and easy, today I sat through the same lecture on powers of ten as I did when I was in 7th grade, only 11 people left in this class
Race, Class, and Gender in the US: class is boring, but reading is REALLY interesting, 20 people in this class
Literature in Religion: Love it, want to take it forever, I would pay to take this class... oh wait:) only 14 people in this class.

As life slowly works its way into a routine, I'm finding I have a lot more time than I thought I would have partly because I get all my homework done when I am working at the RLCA or dorm desk and partly because I don't sleep at night. All good things:)

Presidential Debate

2008-09-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Things I liked about the debate:
1. The fact that McCain showed up
2. "In 16 months we should be able to REDUCE our troops" -Obama
3. "orgy of spending" -Obama
4. "I think we need MORE troops"(in Afghanistan) -Obama
5. McCain's s whistle
6. "I have not been elected Ms. Congeniality in the Senate" (he said this twice) -McCain
7. The random coughs from the pitch black audience

So let me get this straight in one corner we have Obama who will pull us out of Iraq eventually and put us in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And it's the other guy that's the war monger? And in the other corner we have McCain who wants to freeze spending on EVERYTHING except defense (war, killing people, having our own soldiers killed) and veteran health (but not health for the rest of the country). I'm honestly not sure how I feel about all this.

My new classes!

2008-09-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

So today is day two which means I have had all of my classes. I'm pretty pumped about them all.
First on Monday/Wednesday/Fridays I have Statistics at 10:30. As you can imagine I was pretty nervous for the class that is famous for tears shed and exams failed. But Professor Urdan who looks a little bit too much like Bob Saget made everyones nerves disappear. The man is amazing. He HATED stats and didn't take a single math class all through college. He hated his stats class so much that he wrote his own book "Statistics in Plain English" so that he could prevent some poor college sap (me) to hate stats as much as he did. A huge chunk of our grade is homework that he gives full credit for effort and couldn't care less if your answers are correct. There is also a TA in the class to help with homework or studying. This, I am still unclear about because there are only 22 people in the class so I'm not really sure why a TA in necessary. But whatever one more person to help! After that class I book it to Physics. This class I am far less excited about. Prof Daffer is no Mr. Moran my fabulous high school Physics class. The class in for non science majors so its pretty dumbed down and all the topics we'll be learning I learned my sophomore year of high school so I'm banking on it all coming back. The prof is pretty serious but there are only 13 people in the class and all girls so it'll be an interesting dynamic.
On Tuesdays/Thursdays I start at 9:55 with Race/Class/Gender in the US. The class sounded really interesting and still may be, but honestly after day one I don't have high hopes. It seems sociology is REALLY interesting the first time you take it, then every other class is like "ok I get it. Social Constructs are everywhere. cool." This is not a good mind set to have being that I'm still planning on majoring in Soc. We'll see. My last class is going to be my favorite by far! It is taught by Diane Dreher the same fabulous lady who taught me English one. But now the reigns are off and she is free to teach what she wants in an upper division. She is so chill and wants you to discover yourself. Her vocation is helping people find their vocations. Its pretty fabulous. So some ok classes some interesting classes and a fabulous class. Should be an interesting quarter.

Drinking

2008-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

At the end of last year I really started thinking about having a glass of wine. Not getting wasted. But being able to take a sip, I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. I didn't do it and when I went home for summer it was an easy thing to forget since Carrie doesn't drink. So, I thought coming back here i would have the urge. Boy was I wrong! College is where I remember how ridiculous drinking is. Its been two nights since my friends and everyone else moved back in. There have been transports to the hospital, couches thrown up on, sick girls in every stall, drunken hook ups, ect. Thank god! It reminds me I'd rather be listening to and witnessing the drunken madness than being apart of it.

Perspectives

2008-09-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

During formation, the senior staff train the student leaders about all sorts of things. We discuss everything from the paperwork to fill out if ordering food over $200 to sexual harassment. But the biggest point of discussion is definately diversity. This topic is important for CF's because they are the student leaders in the dorms that the freshman need to feel comfortable coming to with any kind of question or concern. So we've talked a lot about people from different groups and their different perspectives. Everyone is being asked to consider what its like to be different. One of the things in my life that I am most thankful for, but never realized until now is the diversity in my family. Different races, abilities, religeons, sexual orientations, political views, and personalities. I love that I feel a connection with so many groups. That not only do I sympathize for all different kinds of people, but I love them; as my family.

Formation!

2008-09-09T23:41:00.001-07:00

Formation is where I am, but that means little to everyone. Formation is the three week training and prep for my new job on RLCA (Residential Learning Community Association). Basically the six of us on RLCA plan events for all students living on-campus. Part of my personal job is being the liason for all the leadership teams in each dorm and picking out the movies for the on-campus movie channel! Both things very exciting. We share our formation with the 73 CFs (Community Facilitators) these are the RAs that plan programs for their floor or wing and write people up when theyre bad. So basically there are about 90 of us on campus right now living in the dorms. All very enthusiastic, semi responsible, involved, leadershipy, awesome people. I'm loving it! Since RLCA is special we get to do all the fun things and skip the boring meetings about paper work that don't apply to us. We get to have dinner with a different dorm group each night so we get to meet EVERYONE. It is a lot of fun and I've already met so many people that will be close friends for the rest of the year for sure.

Lets go to Newport!

2008-09-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

We drove seven hours to go visit some friends in Newport Beach!
Lounging in the best place a person can lounge.... the beach.
Me and my buddy Jeremy having a sweet moment on the board walk... it wasn't staged i swear;)
Wave catching is a lot more fun in So Cal.... where the water is warm.

The New Digs

2008-09-02T13:10:00.001-07:00

So this is my desk/table/kitchen area. Note the real plant, swivel chair, and curtains.
This is the new and improved bed. Its comfier, bluer, and has a special shelf thing.
This is the room from the door. I have lights, they just weren't on. You can't see the furry rug very well... but that is by far the best part of the room.
This is the sink area segregated by a fancy three fold room divider from Ross:) Complete with a shmancy rug from TJ Maxx.

You may be asking yourself, geez why did Morgan take pictures of her room without picking up first or making her bed? Well... I didn't want to feel like a fraud. That's why.

Back in the dorm

2008-08-31T23:56:00.000-07:00

Wow. After a 15 hour drive, here I am again... sitting in my dorm room. But tonight my roomie is my dad before he leaves tomorrow:) The dorm is completely empty because even all the people showing up early for formation don't show till tomorrow. I am absolutely exhausted but I can't go to sleep until the laundry is dry and I can put the sheets on my bed. I really have no stories to tell but I did want to write to keep a promise that I would be back at it as a dedicated blogger right when I return to school... so here I am. Once people move in and life begins I'll have much more entertaining things to write about:)

Going back

2008-08-26T20:13:00.001-07:00

Summer 2008 in a nut shell:
Tonsilectomy
Stick Shift
Boy drama
Montana
Carrie Franks
Tan
Swimming
Most fabulous job ever
More scary movies than I thought existed
Mariners
Heat Waves
Thunder Storms

Sophomore Year Goals:
1. Figure out how to graduate in three years
2. Kick butt at my new job
3. Make enough money to completely pay for next year without dipping into savings
4. Meet my soul mate:) small joke
5. Stay sober
6. Get in Shape
7. Stay on the Dean's List
8. Fix my neck and settle the claim
9. Find a house for next year
10. Go on tons and tons of adventures

Final Blog of the Year

2008-06-11T10:11:00.001-07:00

one more night in this back breaking bed, three more meals of that freakishly funky food, one more shower with shoes on, three more finals to freak out over, one more intense room clean up, one more bag stuffing session, then I leave. I leave the place I've called home for the past nine months. It was too fast, too hard, too fun, too exciting, too exhausting. My blogs this summer will be fewer and far less interesting. What will I say? "So it rained today." "I watched a good Tyra this morning." "I swam." "I sat." "I slept." "I ate." Hopefully to keep the attention of my devout readers I will do things that are worth writing about. I feel like I should be a lot more emotional then I am. I write like I'm upset, excited, something. But I'm not. I have no feelings. It was kind of like the anti climatic moment my dad drove away when he first dropped me off here last summer. I expected to cry... tears of joy of course:). Or be nervous, or excited, or a little scared. But I wasn't anything. I simply walked back to my dorm made a few funny comments at the floor meeting, made some friends, and went to bed. I feel the same way now. Kind of like a whatever feeling. Yeah its summer, yeah it will be fun. But I am neither sad to leave, or excited to be home. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a sad blog. I am quite content. I am happy here, I'll be happy at home. I just lack the emotional response of most of my crying girl friends upset to leave, or my ancy guy friends excited to get the heck out of here. I figure this is a good thing though; my contentedness. Until next time...

2008-06-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Sophomore Morgan,

Don't procrastinate as much, be more organized, eat more veggies, spend more time in that huge new library, leave half your wardrobe at home, keep studying spanish even without a class, communicate with your roommate, no more midnight pizza, call your family more, do not buy any more Santa Clara University merchandise, hang out with more people from the clean and sober club, laugh more (if thats possible:)), go to mass every sunday, do the dishes more than once a week, cook more, eat out less, sing in the shower even though everyone can hear you, don't have pizza the night before you go to college (thanks a lot Uncle Hose Nose), your bed's comfort should preceed all concerns about price of memory foam, start making friends with the psyc and soc department so you can get amazing internships in foreign countries, don't ever take a 9:15 class again in your life, listen to the radio more so when your at parties you can sing along to the music, plan at least six months before Beta Breakers, make your school reading a priority over the books your dad sends you, be healthy, be happy, love life.

Love,
Freshman Morgan

I give a whole new level to procrastination

2008-05-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have a page and a half done of my essay!!! But here's the thing... It needs to be ten pages, I still have research to do, and most unfortunately... it's due tomorrow. Here's the real kicker... I am writing a blog about it right now instead of working on it. I'll let you all know how it goes.

PS I got an A- my psyc midterm and i feel FABULOUS!

Stinson Beach!

2008-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Jimmy's fabulous mom rented us a beach house at Stinson Beach for Memorial Day weekend. It was AMAZING! The house was right on the lagoon and right accross the street from the beach. Here are some pics:
Me on our dock, loving life. Thats my happy dance.
Comforting Jimmy after an attack on the beach.

Thank you Paula Bennet for this INCREDIBLE place!
The gang... being awesome.
Katie being my kayak slave.
This was my tree. I probably spent the majority of the trip in it. I'm taking this picture (the sneaker is mine) looking down on everyone on lower branches.

the trip was needed. Now back to the real world........

Nietzche

2008-05-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't know. Nietzche thinks that philosophy is bad and that art is the only way we can really be happy and shelter ourselves from the horrible truth of life. So don't read him. He wouldn't want you to waste your time reading his philosophy books. Go listen to music. Lets do Nietzche a favor, give him what he wants, and burn all of his books. As long as we are dancing around the fire he'd be happy.

Bay to Breakers

2008-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Every year in San Francisco there is a huge race from the Bay to the Breakers. The event is pronounced Beta Breakers and it is populated by serious runners, semi serious joggers, walkers, nudists, drunk college students, high old people, and pretty much anyone in the bay area who owns a ridiculous outfit (or can put one together). We decided to attend the event to really soak in the culture.... now we are drench with culture.... among other things.

Our morning started at 1:00 am when we went to sleep. well i guess that's when our night ended.
Our morning really began three hours later when we woke up... AT 4:00!!!
Next we walked to the Cal Train station, so that we, like every other student at Santa Clara could ride to San Fran.

So the train was quite full.
And we rode in the bathroom. literally. stood in the bathroom. for the hour and half trip. and yes... people still used the bath room... the one we were in. (I have pictures of that but I might get sued)
We were all looking our best. Trying to fit in. We though we went all out. We were wrong.
You can't tell very well in this pic. But the multi colored blur all the way back between the trees... yeah thats hundreds.. thousands more people.
everyone had RIDICULOUS costumes on. Here we are with Tetris. Most pictures we took with the other walkers are too inappropriate, and I hear my grandma reads this every now and then. Lets just say there was a lot of drinking, drug use, and nudity. Complete, full, old people, nudity.

It was probably the most fun I've ever had in San Fran. And next year... we'll be prepared.

Mass

2008-05-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all you need is to go someplace where the incense smells good, the music is soothing, the architecture is beautiful, and God is thick like butter.

Unexpected lessons from College:

2008-05-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

1. How to sew up holes in jeans, shirts, jackets
2. How to get as much free food as possible by attending events based on catering
3. How to fix your lap top network over and over and over again
4. How to sweet talk a professor
5. How to give yourself a french manicure cause $30 bucks is WAY too much to spend
6. How to scrape unidentified mold from week old dishes
7. How to hide weird lingering dorm room smells
8. How to make your documents incompatible with other computers so professors can't open unfinished assignments you had to turn in through email
9. How to write an essay on a book you didn't read
10. How to appear awake in a small lecture class using only a pen and bangs
11. How to cook everything with just a microwave
12. How to swing a lanyard without hurting yourself
13. How to text, while reading your assignment, while walking to class, while talking with friends, while fixing your hair
14. How to get ready for your 9:15AM class in about five minutes
15. How to power nap
16. How to choose classes based on time, walking distance, ease, and the professors rating online
17. How to order something from in n out that's not on the menu
18. How to tell the difference between a cool professor and a cool professor who is going to flunk you anyway
19. How to determine which books you really need to buy for a class
20. How to use public transportation

sick of being sad

2008-05-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

so I'm not going to be anymore. ready.... GO!

oh yeah...

2008-04-30T11:21:00.001-07:00

Forgot to mention my new job. I just got hired onto the executive council of the residential learning community association (RLCA). Its a leadership position that I get paid for! They cover the cost to live in the dorms so now tuition and housing is covered. Now I just have to find a way for Santa Clara to pay for my food! Then I'll be coming here for scott free!!! The job is pretty tough though, I have to plan fun events.. kind of like what I do now on Xavier Leadership Council, and I have to attend meetings...kind of like what I do now for all the other groups I'm in, and I have to do two hours of desk time a week in the office... kind of like what I do now at my current job as a desk receptionist at my dorm. Sooooo... I think I'll be able to handle getting paid for what I already do now:)

So much for an easy spring quarter....

2008-04-30T10:36:00.001-07:00

Update:
Spanish: just got a B- on my first exam. In Morgan World that means I failed!
Philosophy: my first essay i haven't gotten back yet, but lets just say because of some stress I didn't even get together with my partner to understand what the prompt even meant until ten the night before it was due. So I'm not holding my breath.
English: I got an A- on my first essay but I have another essay due Friday comparing two works I haven't read.
Psychology: this is surprisingly my best class. I got an A- on the first test when the average is a C-. But then again, it only gets more difficult.
In summation: BUH.

Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all

2008-04-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

thats all for now about that.

SAN FRAN!

2008-04-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

SanFran Weekend:

Lots of pics...
clubbin
shoppin!
street modelin!
huggin!

Philosphy 13

2008-04-18T10:54:00.001-07:00

This is word for word the first paragraph of the notes my professor gave me about the reading he is asking us to do for the next two weeks:
Hegel is a very difficult philosopher to read-there is nothing that can be done about that. You cannot read him the way you read other philosophers - say, like Hume. Hume you can read line by line and not go on until you understand each point. If you try that with Hegel, you will never get anywhere. You have to understand the whole of Hegel's philosophy - his total vision - before you can understand the parts. you almost have to know ahead of time what he is saying in any paragraph before you can see that he is saying it. So what do you do? Well you have to read in a circle - and go through the circle many times before particular paragraphs become clear. However, some paragraphs just will never become clear.

Thanks for clearing that up Professor Kain. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to understand this jibber jabber. I am now reassured.

Forecast

2008-04-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

Santa Clara's actual forecast for tomorrow on weather.com:
Partly Cloudy. High 72. Precip 10%. Duvall's actual forecast for tomorrow on weather.com:
Showers. High 45. Precip 70%.

Question: Why am I flying to Washington tomorrow?
Answer: I am a disgrace.

TO DO

2008-04-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

So I watched the Biggest Loser Finale and got goose bumps over and over again. It was so powerful, a bunch of people who wanted to change, who did. Knowing that I have that power makes me feel so amazing. So I have a goal. I was in a car accident in August and my neck is really messed up. I tried to fix it myself doing daily exercises I got from a physical therapist but after so long it just wasn't working. I still can't run or jump with out severe soreness. My neck hurts in the morning and after a long day. If I get stressed or upset I can't even hold my head up my neck is so weak. I will not sit by and let this continue!! So I have battled with insurance companies and am starting physical therapy! I will do my exercises religiously and do everything that wonderful man tells me to do. Twice a week I will go visit him and be tortured with message and positioning. Most times I will want to just quit because a lot of the exercises and positioning hurts but now I have goals!!! By next year I want to be able to go to sky high with my friends, a place with lots of trampolines. I went once this year and almost died afterward. I couldn't move my neck for days. So that's goal number one. Goal number two: RUN. I can't run. For two reasons. one: I'm out of shape. two: the up and down motions KILLS my neck. So those are my goals. Once I can run and jump on a trampoline I'll be set. Wish me luck on my journey. It will probably take the rest of this school year and all summer but with hard work, dedication, and the inspiration of the finale of biggest loser I WILL SUCCEED!!!!! go neck!

You know what really grinds my gears...

2008-04-17T01:55:00.000-07:00

I feel as though my blog has become a place for me to vent. So I'm sorry. I can't promise it will stop. I can only promise I'll be remorseful about it.

Queen Latifa is allowed to be racist... if she's funny

2008-04-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Beauty Shop is a spin off of Barber Shop a movie about a family shop in a black neighborhood trying to survive while a commercialized mega hair salon moves in across the street. Barber Shop uses wit and satire to talk about real racism issues. The characters debate issues and put everything in context. Where Barber Shop succeeded, Beauty Shop crashes and burns. It is probably the most racist movie I have ever seen. Every single white character is a harsh stereotype; including a flamboyantly guy man, a southern white trash girl trying to act black, a naive uptown women who gives her keys to a random black man on the street thinking he is valet, and a racist uptown b-word. The white trash wannabe works in the beauty shop and is continuously ostracized because of her race. Every time the other girls are laughing and having fun this lone white girl tries to play along and is stopped because she obviously can't talk with the black girls. They even get upset with her for using Denzel Washington as an example as a good love scene actor. Like she doesn't have the right to bring up a black actor. Throughout the movie they shoot her harsh looks and say "funny" things about how she doesn't understand. Switch the races. There is a movie about a bunch of white girls leaving out a black girl cause of her race, making racist comments. Comedy? I think not. I read an article on the web about the movie and they sited the "funny reverse-racism." Like racism against white people isn't racism. I understand that all and all the minorities have dealt with A LOT more racism than your average middle aged white guy, but does that excuse it? Is that what Beauty Shop is trying to do? Even out the racism?

I life in Cali

2008-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

So its been 85 the past three days. And I kind of like it. Tan lines in April... works for me:) Just wanted to make some washingtonians jealous!

What the he!! should I do?

2008-04-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

So I'm bored... and procrastinating... and honestly just exited to be on the Internet since it happens rarely in my laptopless life (my precious computer comes back tomorrow!). So anyway... I stare at the screen not wanting to write an essay in Spanish and decide to play my favorite internet game... GOOGLE! I google random words and learn about them. So I'm pondering what to google and I think about the book I'm reading. It is the 8th book in the Left Behind series "The Desecration." Basically the serious is about what happens after Jesus comes back and takes all his believers and leaves the rest of us to deal with the Antichrist. So I google "hell." First on the list is images... yeah I'm sure. Second is dear old Wikipedia. If college has taught me anything its never trust Wikipedia. So I click on the next link "The Truth About Hell." Sounds compelling. After reading the warning to not take this site lightly I continue on down and read about the "true" hell. Mostly their proof is random texts from the Bible and a lot of lava and how the middle of the earth is the actual location of hell and that's why its really hot. I like when Christians tell me that hell is like heaven.. not a physical place we can travel to... sounds more believable that way. So I read on and they inform me what Jesus said about hell and at the end there is a smiley face with a disclaimer that says if this frightens me... I can simply say these words and mean them with all my heart and I will be saved. So yeah. Not the best site for proving hell but honestly I didn't think hell was a place that needed proof what with "faith" and all that. So I move on to the next website on google Hell.com. Don't go there. Pretty sure its a virus. Anyway I meander on down and find a good one and click on www.what-the-hell-is-hell.com/. Sounds informative. This website is different. Its proving that hell is a made up place and concept made by Roman Catholics to scare people into being good. The website doesn't deny Jesus, or Christianity as a whole but uses the Bible to prove that hell isn't real. And it's not our fault for reading that it is. The translation was wrong. Turns out the Hebrew word for "unseen" is translated into "hell" numerous times and so whenever anyone dies and becomes "unseen" they are going to hell! So this isn't as bad as some ridiculous anti bible things I've laughed at. This is real. And scholars are looking at the translations more and more and determining the one word that you really could translate to being "hell" is an actual place, a valley in the middle east. So now I'm really confused. If anyone has any light they would like to shed, or if you're as confused as I, pick up a bible and go to that website and see for yourself. If not, if the people that created that website are lying heretics, if they are going against the word of god, I bet they're going to hell.

SANTA CRUZ!!!!

2008-04-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know... I am a foot ball goddess!!!!! Look at my stance!
This is Ali, my future Roomie!!!!
This is a hole. Later Jimbo (white boy in back) will be burried in it against his will.

I Can't do Kant

2008-04-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings those who have knowledge through real a priori existence may refer to me based on their intuition of space and time as Emanuel Kant. Of my daily causal substantial hobbies my favorite according to my own perception and appearance of the things in themselves include applying new definitions to words and then using them subjunctively in sentences without neither informing the reader's psyche of the newly appointed definitions or writing in any sort of clear, precise manner to show that my false "selfhood" can reason and have understanding without phenomenon of what I am actually trying to convey.

Translation:
Hey. My name is Emanuel Kant. I really like to play with the definitions of words, mess with sentence structure, and use my own jargon to confuse those who are so naive to think they can actually understand my philosophy on life. I don't actually know what I am trying to say, but who cares.

This might be weird....

2008-04-02T22:23:00.001-07:00

We have something called Potty Talk. Potty Talk is a little flier that is put in every stall so we have something to do while in the bathroom. Anyway... the theme this month is sexual assault. Two things on the flier when taken separately are completely reasonable and seem obvious, but when put together are contradicting. On the top of the flier was the definition of consent, and how like we've all heard a million times, a drunk consent is not consent because the girl is too incapacitated to agree to anything. And, on the bottom was a few common misconceptions guys have about rape. The last one was "I was drunk too so its not my fault." The response was "Just like drinking and driving, you are 100% responsible for all of your actions while drunk." This is where things get fuzzy for me. I can't understand why when a guy is drunk he is still responsible for his actions, but when a girl is drunk she's not responsible at all, for her actions, behaviors, or words. So when two people are completely drunk and they have sex, even if the girl dressed provocatively, flirted all night, and finally consented, it is still rape. If it is ok to tell guys to watch their behavior when they're drunk, then why isn't ok to tell girls to not put themselves in those situations. I'm not saying that any girl who gets wasted at a crowded party without friends watching her and dressed in a way that leaves little to the imagination deserves to get raped. But I think she is not preventing it or protecting herself from it. People like to say girls should have the right to dress however, dance however, and act however, without fear of getting raped. But I disagree... I don't think it's smart to wear all black on a rainy foggy night walking along side of a busy highway just as much as I don't think it's smart to dress like a hussy and freak dance and get so drunk you cant think straight around a whole bunch of guys that are drinking also. Why can't girls hold some of the responsibility. We don't like to talk this way because its rude or mean or unjust to those who have been raped in a party situation like this... but sometimes hard things need to be said to protect girls that haven't yet learned how to protect themselves.

New quarter...less sleep

2008-04-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

This quarter I am dumb. Or perhaps I was dumb last quarter when I decided to sign up for these classes. I have to wake up at 8:30 every morning and some nights I work until 2!!!!! Make fun of me all you want for complaining about a 9:00 class but for a girl who didn't have to wake up until noon most days last quarter the transition has been rough. My classes are all pretty good though. I have Spanish, with a harder yet more effective teacher. I have philosophy where I have already discovered that the reading is incomprehensible so my plan of action is to just pay close attention to his lecture. I have English, with a kooky teacher and my best tall friend Mikey. Lastly I have Psychology with... six people... total. Should be interesting. No texting in that class!!! That is all for now. I'll give you an update when I'm more annoyed and therefore more entertaining.

TAXES

2008-03-27T22:43:00.000-07:00

Who knew it was so easy? Grab your W2 and bank statements... go to a free website... fill out a nice little survey... press go... mail the federal electronic filing form (seems redundant)... so anyway I am a tax goddess... untill the year I make more than measly part time salary. Then the real work begins... untill then... easy peasy

HOME!!!!!

2008-03-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

I will be home until the 30th so I will most likely drop the blog ball. Sorry in advance:)

Allow me to vent....

2008-03-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Dear average drunk college student,
I wanted to write to let you know how original and cool I think you are. You must feel like a real bad ass doing what every other college student at this whole school is doing. You must really hate your life and your own personality to be willing to throw it away for a few hours to take some funny pictures and do some funny things. I hope your trophies of beer cans will always be mounted in your home. I hope your excuse of just being young won't lead somewhere bad. I want to promise you something drunk college student; I want to promise you that this path you are on, this road your going down, it leads one place and one place only. Tears. Tears for you getting in trouble, tears for you getting hurt, tears for a friend getting in trouble or hurt, tears for the few who don't make it out, or possibly tears from your parents for you not making it out. I hope the stories are worth it, I hope you can look back and laugh it off, I hope that you don't become a statistic. I hope these things, but honestly I'm not holding my breath. I'm the "rule breaker" here. I'm breaking all the social norms of my peers. I'm the one that should be looked at and revered as a "bad ass" because I'm so cool I don't need to get wasted to prove it.

Thanks for not listening,
Girl that doesn't drink

Whats it like having all your friends jealous of you?

2008-03-13T23:27:00.000-07:00

Well lets first delve into the reason why. This is Dead Week. If your an avid Morgan Clare's Most Excellent Adventure reader you'll remember that last quarter during Dead Week I was... well... Dead. But lets go through my classes this quarter. First we have Drawing. I had the choice to turn in my final portrait and do my presentation today or next Tuesday. I chose today. So I'm done. Then theirs ethics. There is no final, just a final paper due next Thursday. I wrote it three days ago. Next, there is Spanish. Monday I have a huge workbook due, 8 cultural portfolios, and a final. I did the workbook and the portfolios so I just have to study. Finally Sociology, we did presentations today and since we couldn't finish all of them, we are doing them on Tuesday, instead of our final. Basically what I'm telling you is while some of my friends have four finals plus papers due next week. I have one final. In spanish. This is why my friends are jealous... and this is leading to some pretty dirty looks. For the record I'm quite hurt. Their aggressive glares and snide comments are really starting to wear at my inner self. Its not my fault MY LIFE ROCKS!

Its that time again

2008-03-12T12:17:00.001-07:00

FINALS! Woo! Sorry I haven't been blogging like I vowed I would. My computer's Internet is still dead so i can't download pictures or write whenever the mood strikes. Plus its that sticky season of finals so I've been a little busy. No bother, I'm working at it. Email or call sometime to wish me luck!

communication

2008-03-07T00:45:00.001-08:00

LDR... the 21st century term for "long distance relationships" are all about communication. What then, do you do, when his phone doesn't work, you left your charger in Washington, and your internet is still down. borrow borrow borrow. thanks to all of you who have kept my relationship going by letting me use your cell, letting him use your cell, and allowing me (like I am doing right now) to use your computer. What a giving bunch a folks! I thought you deserved recognition... so here you go!
THANK YOU!

HOME

2008-03-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

I just had a fabulous trip back home but I feel bad because when I make random trips home its usually to visit the boyfriend so I wanted to let everyone know when I'll be home for spring break so I can actually see other people too:) I'm home the night of March 18th until the night of March 30th. Its a pretty long time so if you are home while I am home.. we should hang out.

i have this wierd feeling

2008-02-26T20:11:00.000-08:00

that i waited so long to start blogging again... i lost all my fans... so heres to you internet...

Definition of Frat Party

2008-02-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

Keg+Red Cups+Gross Bathroom+Beer Pong hallway+Awkward circles of freshman+That one loud guy+Tunage+Sticky Floor+Paddle on the Wall

How to attend one:
1. get bored in your dorm room (If you don't drink I suggest you skip to number 16)
2. someone ("The Instigator") be acquaintances with someone in a frat ("The Hookup")
3. girls: get in as little clothing as you feel socially comfortable in
4. guys: say some snotty remark about the girls' outfits then continue to stare
5. leave dorm and walk toward frat houses
6. meander throughout neighborhood until someone ("The Brain") knows where they are in relation to the house
7. upon arrival to house "The Instigator" leads the way in trying to find "The Hookup" before the whole group looks like idiots
8. make sure to make a lot of happy "i know you" noise once "The Hookup" is found
9. tap the keg
10. stand in circle pretending to be having a good time
11. when boys walk by smile and laugh at nothing
12. in about 10 minutes hint that your feet are tired, or you have a headache, or the smoke smell is bothering you
13. in another 5 minutes someone in group "The Rescuer" get the courage to say "lets go"
14. others "reluctantly" but truly thankfully agree
15. leave party and make comments of how lame Frat Parties are
16. back at dorms have fun with your actual friends just goofing around then eventually go to bed

Carrie Franks

2008-02-24T16:10:00.000-08:00

Carrie Franks came to visit! For those of you who don't know her.. she's my best friend in the whole world. We saw a movie, went to San Fran in the rain, and took lots of cool pictures that I still can't share with you because I'm on a library computer:(. Any whoooo... that is what I have been doing and I thought the Internet should know. By the way... go see Vantage Point... not because Dennis Quad tries to be as bad ass as Bruce Willis, not because it has any deep or meaningful subplots, not even because its a particularly good movie at all. Go see it to be amazed by my skills of predicting movies. I predicted the WHOLE THING. Every bad guy every motive every everything. Go see it to try to predict it yourself, fail, and then subsequently be amazed by my skills. Thank you. I know my modesty exceeds my talents, you don't have to comment on it. More about Carrie: I miss that girl. I vow right now that if I win the lottery... which will be twelve times as amazing as the average Joe who wins the lottery because I don't even buy tickets, but if the miracle happens and someone buys me or I find a winning lotto ticket and I win 164 million dollars like the iron worker this week, I will pay for Carrie Anne Franks to attend Santa Clara University. This is my vow. Until then she'll have to continue to bleed purple and gold as a husky.

About those pictures

2008-02-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a funny story...
To go on the internet my computer needs some mandatory updates.
To get the updates my computer needs to go on the internet.

Soooo... no pictures for a little while more. Sorry fans:)

Parents Weekend

2008-02-16T19:14:00.001-08:00

The food is better
They laid down slabs of grass where mud was before
They opened the gates to the brand new library for the first time
They even paid off mother nature for sunshine
The panel on studying abroad talks about the rich culture not the under-aged bars
Boys that usually walk around drunk in their boxers are seen smiling holding their grandma's hand wearing polos and khakis
Girls who typically slur their words at 2:00am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning are telling their daddies "It's already 10:30! Gosh I'm tired perhaps we can call it a night."

Oh how wonderful and innocent life is here at Santa Clara during Parents Weekend

Life

2008-01-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

My computer isn't working.... so all of my cyber fans must wait to see my glorious pictures from our trip to Santa Cruz last night. Get excited!!!!!!

It Rains in California

2008-01-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

Just thought I should let you know. While its not freezing rain, it is rain nonetheless.

Pros and Cons of an Easy Class Schedule

2008-01-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

PROs:
1. Easy:)
2. Very little homework
3. Focus on interesting part of the curriculum, not the difficult parts you are trying to comprehend
4. More time to do fun things
5. No stress
6. Get to work a lot more and make more money
7. Always available for a good time with your friends
8. GPA
9. More time to read one of the twelve hundred books your dad has recommended

CONs:
1. Too easy... which leads to boredom in the class
2. Too much time... while friends are doing homework you are..?????
3. With nothing to do laziness is inevitable
4. Get too comfortable with your laid back life and be flabbergasted next quarter with real classes
5. Underestimate a test in an easy class... and then fail it
6. Pressure knowing that if you don't get A's in these classes its 100% your own laziness
7. Nothing to do during your really awesome homework friendly desk job but blog:)
8. Never get that amazing "wow that was hard but I did it anyway...I'm awesome" feeling
9. lots and lots of jealous friends

Social Stratification

2008-01-22T17:13:00.001-08:00

In my sociology class we talked about the "lower class" today. We sat in our class that we pay 45 grand a year to attend and we talked about the poor people who work minimum wage jobs. The people who live pay check to pay check and have little or nothing to save at the end of each month. We talked about trailer parks and public schools and manual labor. I sat back and thought about what this unit would be like at Cedarcrest High School. If there was a Sociology class in Carnation, Washington would there be a need to explain the difficulty of living in a small home, or having to work at a young age, or the difficulty of some families to send their kids to college? While I know CHS has many who are very fortunate and financially secure, I find it hard to imagine your average Valley teen having to be taught these things with so many of our friends and family in these exact positions. So, in a sense my Sociology class at the affluent private school of Santa Clara is geared toward a different "social class" than it would be in the Valley back home. The curriculum would be completely different, from a completely different perspective. Talking about the "lower class" in Carnation would be discussing inner city projects or homeless people. It's times like these that I really realize what a different culture I am surrounded by here in the Silicone Valley. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. I think its an important thing for people to talk about, but I never fail to be surprised by some people's blinders. The wall in front of their faces that doesn't allow them to see past their own "class." It was interesting how many people in the class hadn't really thought about how hard it is for some people. I'm glad they are taking a class to open expand their horizons. Don't worry, I'm learning too. Every day I learn more and more about my own perspective and how skewed some of the things I look at are. I'm glad I'm here too:)

Staying healthy when your room mate is sick....

2008-01-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

1. Airborne
2. Vitamin C tablets
3. Wash hands after each time leaving the room
4. Don't talk while in the room
5. Don't eat while in the room
6. Don't breath while in the room
7. Really just don't go in your own room at all
8. Shun room mate completely while he/she is out of the room

What College is all about.... according to someone who's been here a good four months:)

2008-01-16T11:16:00.001-08:00

College is all about having fun. Some would argue and say learning is what it should be all about. But I say to them that college is the place you learn about things you are interested in.... hence having fun. College is where you decide to drive to the beach at midnight just to be able to see the stars. College is where you play sports with your friends that you've never been that good at just for a good laugh. College is where you turn off the lights and dance with a stolen strobe light with a couple friends. College is where you draw pretty pictures, eat new foods, try new things, meet new kinds of people, surprise yourself, scare yourself, and really meet yourself. College is where you have fun.

My future home

2008-01-12T18:12:00.000-08:00

This is the Domicilio Apartment Building. It is a palace. It is my future home. Next year I plan on moving in with my five guys friends and one gal pal so we can share a three bedroom apartment. Its cheaper than living in the dorm and the rooms are PHENOMENAL! Feel free to check out the website and be jealous:)

I'm back!!

2008-01-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

So after a long break from school, california, and blogging... I'm back! With a new job, new classes, and new weather! My new job is amazing. I've already worked once and I'm getting about 9 hours a week at least to start out. I get to do my homework and just hang out! My new classes are amazing! My ethics class is going to be so much fun. I've already started rethinking my own morals:) My spanish class is full of my friends with my favorite teacher from last quarter so it will also be amazing. I also have my first of many sociology classes on tuesdays and thursdays. The syllabus looks really interesting, so I'm pretty excited. I am switching into a new drawing class but the new one sounds like a lot of fun. Basically its all the same here, the new library looks a lot more finished, its rains a lot more, and i brought a couple more pictures from home, but besides that santa clara is just the same as i left it.

Employed:)

2007-12-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

I just found out I was hired for a job that I interviewed for on Tuesday. I am a front desk receptionist in my dorm building. Basically I am going to get paid 8 bucks an hour to do my homework or watch movies on the tv behind the counter. My new boss told me the job is really easy and the all the duties I have to do each shift take about a half hour so I have 2 and a half hours to just hang out. It's Monday Wednesday Friday 9am-12pm and I can pick up other shifts as well. I'm pretty excited about the whole thing; it's pretty much the perfect college job!

bio shmio

2007-12-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

four straight days of looking at nothing but biotech. a week before that of studying a couple hours a day. a study session with others in the class that i ROCKED. how did the test go you ask?
o. about that...
sometimes things are easy. sometimes things are hard and you have to work for it. other times you try your best, you work your hardest, you do everything you can, and you still end up short.
nobody said college was going to be easy.

DEAD WEEK

2007-12-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

wow "dead week"... what a name. as a naive little freshman i assumed dead week was so named because it feels like you are going to die because of finals. Turns the week of finals with no class is referred to as "dead week" because you are dead. you do nothing. no noise is allowed. If a CF can hear you you get fined $50!!! People sit. People study. People sleep. People eat. We are all like zombies barely surviving the 50 page study guides, 10 page essays, 2, 3, even 4 finals! Its probably the most depressing atmosphere in the whole wide world. Well I must go... biotechnology calls.

Finals week

2007-11-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

Next week I don't have any class:)

Next week I have finals:(

I only have to take two:)

I have to stay till friday while others leave on tuesday and wednesday:(

I get to go home in a week:)

I have a lot of mixed emotions about next week. I will have to study really really hard for those two tests, especially bio tech. Plus I have a 10 page essay to write, but I'm half way down with it already so I'll be ok. I'm completely done with English and I turned in my portfolio with all my papers including the last two that she hasn't seen. I worked really hard on them, so we'll see. I'm really looking forward to break; my bday, christmas, new years, snow! it's all very exciting:)

Home...

2007-11-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my nine day trip home. It's weird to be back. I love both places so much so I'm trying to be positive and consider my situation a win win, like I'm always someplace I love to be... instead of thinking about how I'm always away from someplace I love to be. It's real hard to be excited to come back here (Cali) tho cause I know I'm just here to study, write three essays, take two tests, and finish a butt load of Spanish homework. It will be two weeks of intense studying. I'm sooooo excited:) I CAN wait to go home in two weeks. It will go too fast because of the tests. A lot of my friends are leaving early next week cause their last test is on Tuesday or Wednesday.. but Noooooo my last test is Friday afternoon! more time to study I guess:) I'll have the room to myself after Suze leaves on Tuesday so I can just focus on Espanol. Me amo espanol, es muy divertido:) Well hopefully something fantabulous will happen or I will do something glorious so I can write again on my blog something other than how sick I am of reading.

Vets Day

2007-11-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

A lot of my family and loved ones have or are currently fighting for our country. God bless you all. Thank you all. I love you all.

santa cruz

2007-11-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

in santa cruz we ate.
in santa cruz we laid on the sand.
in santa cruz we had the best breakfast burritos in the world.
in santa cruz we protected ourselves from harmful uv rays.
in santa cruz we lost a lot of fooz ball and were forced to jump in the ocean at 2 am.

Catholic?

2007-11-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Coming to this Catholic college I had a lot of preconcieved notions about what these "Jesuits" would think, believe, talk about. I have a few friends that are Catholic, I have Catholic relatives, I've read A LOT of the Bible, and I thought I knew enough to get by. Turns out I was wrong. I thought most, if not all Catholics were pretty conservative on a lot of issues. I thought most, if not all believed in the Bible pretty literally. My Christian Traditions class is taught by a Jesuit, Father Reites. He talks about evolution, the big bang, and how most of the bible has to be read with the context in mind. Not really the uber conservative hermenutics I was expecting, but I like it. This openess is what I have always believed in. I believe in God. I know God is real, proven by the fact that everyone, in different cultures, on different continents, they all have this hole they fill with some sort of religion or diety. I really believe all religions hold a bit of truth, they all point to the same great power. Surprisingly my Jesuit teacher talks about the same thing.

Happy day of the dead!

2007-11-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

you feel lucky... punk.

A pixie, a carnation local, and two nerf sharp shooters ready for a good time.
"The Dude" Sandwhich.
Life's funnier with your tongue out.
shoot out in the hall way. obviously I was victorious.