Thursday, March 31, 2005

Crazy Week

This week has been nuts...my stress level has been pretty high...it always seems to rachet up a notch about this time of year, for a variety of reasons, and I feel more thankful than ever to be surrounded by people who support me and help me put everything in perspective.

Conference this weekend. It will be long, but I am optimistic. Hopefully there won't be too much dissent on the Article changes. I guess we shall see.

Time to pack....

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Posting Slowing Down?

It occurs to me that I only update this thing a couple times a week. Maybe I'm finally beyond the compulsion...the feeling that I absolutely NEED to blog every day, and that's a good thing.

Had a good rest of the week. As usual, the logistics for the conference have proven more interesting than I thought they'd be. Just when we thought everything was settled, there's more to work out. I'm not surprised, why would I be...it happens every time. Thank goodness for Jake, who's help allows me to maintain my sanity. He tells me not to worry...I like to think I don't worry as much as he says I do, but I know he's right. It really does take the trio...myself, Julie and Jake to pull things together each month, and we always do.

Easter today. Went to dinner with Sadie, her mother and grandparents...very nice of them to invite me along. Mom called to say hello this afternoon...guess she and Dad skipped the candy this year.

Tonight, the usual: TV and homework.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Quick Turnaround/ Making it Official

Hard to believe, but we just got back from DC and it's already time for Delegate Assembly. For some reason the MSUSA schedule for March and April is sort of crunched...April conference is just 3 weeks after Delegates. Kinda crazy. We figured out who's going tonight at the meeting very quickly, which was good. Tomorrow comes the fun part...figuring out vehicle and travel requests, and doing the expense report from DC. Sounds exciting, huh?

I also made my announcement tonight...stating for the record that I intend to seek the Senate Presidency. Anyone who's been around already knew about my plans, but it was time to make things public...we haven't set election dates, but I'm pretty sure it has to be within the next 3 or 4 weeks. Julie and Jake are leaving big shoes to fill...they truly are the best overall team that I have worked with in the 4 years (including high school) I've been doing student government stuff. It's a tough job, but Nolan and I are committed to serving the students and University to the best of our ability and to ensuring a strong future for the Student Association. I look forward to the possibiliity.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Absolutely Stunned

Well, it's been 11 days since I last blogged. I had intended to write a lengthy post today about my trip to DC and the rest of spring break, but something far more important is on my mind tonight.

I returned to Maple this afternoon and signed into Messenger as usual. Sadie asked if I had seen the news, which prompted me to turn on the TV and discover that there had been a shooting at Red Lake High School. This, the second high school shooting in recent years in Minnesota hits far too close to home for reasons that extend beyond the geographic closeness of Bemidji and Red Lake...

Someone I know works inside that school. Amy, a friend from Writing Methods class who is one of the most passionate future teachers I've ever seen, is currently doing her student teaching internship there. She is known and loved not only by the English Ed majors but also by some of my other friends, Julie in particular. As of yet, there's been no word from her.

I've sat here for the last couple of hours, watching TV, checking websites, and chatting on Messenger, just stunned...trying to make sense of something out of which very little sense can possibly be made. And all the while, I think of Amy...her passion and dedication to those kids, in that rough and tough school, and how much she should be admired for it.

And now this senseless violence befalls the place and students she cares about so much. It's just horrible. All we can do now is hope and pray that she's safe, and that they can find some answers to this unfathomable tragedy.

Thursday, March 10, 2005

DC, Here We Come

That's right, the day is finally here. It's been a crazy week getting ready, and now it's just about 6 am and we leave for the cities in half an hour. Then, a 24 hour bus ride. Long, but it surely will be well worth it. It will definitely be an interesting week.

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Shopping Spree

I went shopping today...that's right...shopping. Those who know me probably know that it's not something I do much of. But, I figured I'd get a few items of new clothing in advance of the DC Summit. After all, you need to look good if you're going to be meeting people from all over the country, not to mention people on Capitol Hill.

Nicole was nice enough to offer to take me around, so we headed to Target, Kmart, Herberger's and JC Penney. I went nuts, and ended up buying way too much, but most of it was on sale. Here's what I ended up with:

  • Four pairs of pants, two of them Dockers (on sale), and another pair that was only $10 (needed new pants anyway)
  • Dress socks
  • A very nice pair of black shoes
  • New shoelaces
  • Two new dress shirts
  • A new tie
  • T-shirts
  • A rolling suitcase ($25, marked down from $100)
  • 2 12 packs of pop
  • Ream of printer paper

All that for about $170, not bad huh? It really pays to shop the sales...and I guess going shopping with Nicole helped...I would never have found half the stuff she did. Had I been left to my own devices, I likely would have paid much more. She certainly has an eye for good deals.

How Many College Students...

Does it take to screw in a light bulb? Find out here...it's pretty funny. Notice Bemidji...I knew we were in the sticks, but no electricity? Ha!

Friday, March 04, 2005

Give it a Couple Years...

Apparently, 76 percent of Americans still do not know what blogs are. Somehow, I have a feeling that number is going to decrease dramatically in the next couple of years. So many people are using them now, it'd be hard for people not to run across one somewhere.

"Baby Got Book"

Someone found this during break in class last night, and I find it quite funny. I also saw it linked on another blog today.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Busy Week

It's been a busy week. Lots to do, little time or motivtion. I haven't blogged forever, which is crazy.

I feel like I am getting the cold that's been going around, which really sucks. I have a midterm tomorrow which I still need to study for. I have lots of work to do, and a trip to prepare for. I need to get a haircut and go shopping.

I can't afford to get sick!!