Jen's Back

A good friend of mine who I started my grad program with broke her leg over winter break, and had to take the semester off. She wanted to come visit to see everyone before we graduated and spread out across the country. It has been a great week with her around. Now I just wonder when I am going to find the time to get all of my packing and moving stuff done now. Uh-oh. So here are a few photos to enjoy of our fun times out and about.
Kara and I

Kara, Abigail, Katie, and Jen

Katie, Amanda, Myself, Jen, and Kara down in front

Is it bad...

that I am pretty much counting down the hours until I am done with school, and done with being in Iowa. In less than two weeks I will be on my way back to Montana. Crazy. I know.

Torn

Ok I am actually not torn, but sort of. In about two weeks I get to go back to Montana,


after two years in Iowa.


I would love to say I have had alot of great times while living in Iowa, but in all reality I have been miserable here more than I have been happy. I do love the people that I have met while I have been here, but I miss Montana. I am a true Montana girl, but there are still parts of going back that I dread. I don't want to be that girl that is back home after getting a masters. I know something will come along sooner or later, but I just have very high hopes for myself. I want to get on with my life. Hmmmm.....

Depressed

So this girl was supposed to come visit me this weekend. (The one in the white sweater) It was actually her trip to get away, but it got me really really excited to see her. She is one of my best friends. So today she was about 6 hours away and then I got a phone call informing me that she ran into a snow storm in South Dakota. We then decided it was best for her safety to just head home, but she also really really missed her kids. I don't want to sound selfish. I know she needed to go back, but I got so worked up and excited for this, but then it didn't work out. I feel like that is how my two years here have felt. All of my friends have family and friends how live close enough to go visit, but I don't get to do that. And when I was going to get the chance to have my friends here meet my friends from home it falls through. Well, crap. Now I actually have to do work this weekend.

I don't get it

So I am pretty much obsessed with everything internet. First it was just email. Then came Facebook and MySpace. Now there is blogging. I think I probably spend about two hours a day on the internet. How sad is that? My 15 year old cousin is one of my friends on MySpace and Facebook, and I don't get how these crazy kids type today.


First of all, all the abbreviations drive me nuts. I don't get half of them. C U l8tr. LoL. What is wrong with just saying something like haha? Doesn't it convey the same message? I have noticed now that she types that way to me. I am worried about youth. How are they going to get jobs if they can't type a real sentence. Man I am starting to feel really old.
The second thing is all the cutsey hearts and symbols they type into things. How do they have time to figure these things out? I remember when I was her age, (well okay we didn't have a computer, but that's besides the point) I didn't have time to figure this type of stuff out. I had trouble enough just trying to figure out how to use messenger.
Lastly, what is it with typing in all caps, or even alternating letters. Do YoU kNoW hOw LoNg ThIs TaKeS? (That took me about 30 seconds). Why is it necessary?
This is my rant about kids these days. Why can't they be as perfect as me? I hate that I am starting to sound like my mother when I was in high school. UGH!

Layla

This past weekend I got to dog sit for my friends because they were out of town for a wedding. Layla is there dog and I absolutely love her, and I had so much fun pretending she was mine for a few days. Okay I didn't go that far, but it was fun to have a dog to cuddle with for a few days. I can't wait to have a job and know where I am going to live so I can get a dog. I really want to adopt a dog that is in need, and is already trained since I won't be home to potty train it. Here are a few pictures of Layla this weekend.
This is what I woke up to every morning. Her face right next to mine.

Sitting with Kara.

Waiting for Becky and Brian to come home. She really likes to sit there and look out the window.

Playing tug-of-war with the slobber toy.

Overall it was a great weekend. Kara came over to hang out and watch movies and we ate pizza and ice cream. A real live middle school sleepover. I kind of miss those.

Why do I love it?

Why do I love campy reality shows so much?




I like to think of this one as not as campy or trashy, but I love the drama!

Okay so this one is not really trashy, but it always gives me good chance for a few tears.

I can't tell if these shows give me a chance to feel better about my life or what. I mean some of these are really really bad, and quite frankly make me sort of uncomfortable, but I seem to watch more of these dumb reality shows than I do other shows. I mean don't get me wrong I LOVE the Office, Grey's, and Brothers and Sisters, but I seem to watch way way way to much reality tv. Or maybe I just watch too much tv altogether. It is tough living alone. TV shows are like my friends. They give me something to interact with. Hopefully I can find better, more productive ways to fill my time.

Dogs

So I really really really want a dog. Like really really. I am still too 'selfish' to be in a relationship, and definately not ready to start a family, but I really want a dog. (yeah this is my parent's dog) I mean I am 25; I think I'm ready for the responsibility. My friends Becky and Brian are going to a wedding this weekend and asked me to watch their dog this weekend and I am very excited. I love their golden Layla. Sometimes I pretend she is mine. Okay not really, but I love how she loves to play when I go over to visit and how she curls up with me on the couch.

Then the other day I got an email from a girl in our department who was trying to find some homes for boxer puppies. I just feel like God wants me to help a dog. But I guess maybe I need to know where I am moving so I can find a place to live where I can have a dog. Oh wait I should probably get a job too.

Okay so I want a dog, but I don't need a dog right now. Man I hate when other people are right. Someday I look forward to posting about my new dog.

Question

I've got a question that I have been pondering for some time now, so I am putting it out there. Is everyone familiar with the band 'Boys like girls?' I actually like their music but I am trying to figure out what the title of their band means. Are they boys that like girls. You know like like in the middle school crush kind of way. Like 'Hey I like you.' (P.S. Could I use the word like just a few more times?)

OR...are they boys that are kind of emoish so they kind of look like girls with the long hair, tight pants, and often times eye make-up? So they are boys that are like girls. This is my question, and if anyone has any answers please enlighten me. I am always up for an education.

What to do

So I have decided to join the wide world of blogging. I don't really know what I have to write or contribute but sometimes I feel like I just need to write. I used to love writing in a journal but now I feel like everything I do, my life, is on my computer. Since I live alone it is my friend, and I guess by having a blog it gives me a place to 'talk' to my friend. So these are my thoughts of the day, my hopes and dreams, and the fears I may have.

My life in Iowa City is rapidly dwindling. I have about 6 weeks left here. It is crazy how fast the last two years have gone. I just don't feel like I have enough time to do the things I want to do. I want to go to Chicago with my friends for a Cubs game. I want to go to as many Hawkeye games as possible. I want nights out with friends where we can laugh like we did on Monday. I just feel that between school and the things I need to get done around my place, like packing and cleaning, that I won't get to do the things I want to do. I know it sounds selfish, but Kara is moving to North Carolina and I don't know when I will see her again. I doubt I will be coming back to Iowa City anytime soon, seeing how it has been some rough times here, and I don't know when I will see these friends again. Heck, I don't even know where I will be living in 2 months. Probably in my parents house at the age of 25. Okay time for some positive thinking.

I graduate May 17th which is awesome. My mom will come out to help me move back to Montana for a few weeks until I know where I will be going to work. I am just going to enjoy these next few weeks for all they are worth.