Richmond Marathon Stats

For some reason, my Nike + was off by 1.2 miles, which I guess is a good thing, cause that means I over-trained rather than under-trained. Still, this should give a decent idea of my mile splits. My last mile was my fastest, I ran a 8:14 mile apparently, although I improved my time by 12% over the last 3 miles.


Overall, the marathon was great! I set a PR of 3:50:37, which is an improvement of about 15 minutes from my Marine Corp Marathon time. It was a nice surprise to be able to finish that well, seeing as I had taken many days off because of knee injuries. 

This was my favorite picture from the day. Eric took it, about an hour after I finished my race (hence why I don't look totally disgusting). Christine did awesome!! Super proud of my marathon buddy for finishing at 4:50:55. 

For my Dearest who can't be Near...est

School has been going on for three weeks, and I've been here for five because of my job as an RA, so I have pretty much established my room. I wanted to post pictures sooner, but I have been SUPER busy  with class, my job, my new internship, training for a marathon, ecology club, and of course, my friends.

This is my Resident Assistant map that I made- it's right outside of my door, so residents know where I am, and if I'm available to help them. Basically, it's my proudest achievement ever in life. I thought I was particularly clever for making Mordor class and Mikwood sleeping. 

Julie-Frodo gets moved around on a little clothespin, and stuck into the pockets around the map.  

here's a view of 1/2 my room. I made my curtains/window pendents over the summer, which makes my room super preppy looking, but it makes me happy. Also, my friend Phil gave me his lamp, which is super *mood lighting* at night. I my bookcase is filled with Dickens books, as I'm reading Oliver Twist, David Copperfield (which I'm on now), Our Mutual Friend, Bleak House, Hard Times, and Great Expectations. I also have a photo of this Mike, which my friend Elizabeth gave me for Christmas my freshman year of high school. It just cracks me up every time I see it... Also, CAT BOOKENDS  which I bought myself my freshman year for my birthday. 

My "couch", aka where I read. I hung some pictures of Pippin. Ideally, I'll hang some more art here, as it looks kind of silly with just the two little pictures. 

On top is my sleeping bed, and below is a desk that more or less just has equipment and stuff on it. I'm not too happy with how this area is laid out, but I don't really know how to change it.  Also, notice the Sefan picture on the right. 

My shamrock, which is doing really well in its sunny window. The first few weeks I was here, it bloomed constantly. Now it only has four blooms. 

This is where I do most of my work. That huge red book is my Shakespeare collection. People think I'm super hard-core when I carry it around campus. I tell them I have to read all of it by Monday, and then they think I'm a genius.

The End! Maybe I'll post again in the next two months.... maybe.

First Chance I've had for an update!

I've been kept SUPER BUSY since I got back at UMW. Yesterday, I had less than an hour to myself (which I spent running and talking to friends). The rest of the time, I have been in training sessions and group meetings. My room is still a mess with furniture everywhere, but I have a layout in mind- I just need the work order people to come and loft my bed (which I would have done myself, but they hid the pins to keep kids from crushing themselves with trying to fix their own beds). One of my beds got lowered though, which means I don't have to jump to get into bed.

My window is all decked out. My curtains/pendants look really nice and out of place along everything else that has been thrown around. Also, my pull-up bar doesn't fit on any door in my room, which really stinks. But everyone thinks I'm super hard core cause its propped up in the corner.

My group for the dorms I'm in charge of, which I will be referring to as Tri-Mo, is fantastic. I think I got the nicest, most friendly people for my group, and I'm so pleased to already be making good friends. I went for my first round of duty last night (even through there are only a handful of students back on campus), and it was pretty uneventful. Hopefully it will stay that way all year.

What I've been up to

Family Reunion, Aunt Margret Alice's Funeral, Writing, Running, Reading. 

Also, this article is hilarious. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/cats-imitating-art

This post will be 100% nerdy

So, I haven't posted in a long time. I've been VERY busy what with reading entire books in one day and whatnot. Classes ended on the 21st, and since then I hadn't turned on my computer once. It always happens that I turn on my computer and then feel kinda in a drag for the rest of the day, probs because the majority of the time I spend on the computer is staring at other people's fabulous tumblrs, writing, and listening to music.

I've been having a great month. I love Fredericksburg- especially in the summer. There's hardly anyone on campus, and all the people here are so friendly. I've made so many friends in the past month-  Last Saturday I went to a party at my friend's house and got to hang out in a pool, which was so brilliant after spending the whole day outside. We were talking about music, and I admitted that I listen mostly to my LOTR pandora station, and, like, half the other people there were like, I LOVE THE EPIC SOUNDTRACK STATION TOO!! I feel like I have found my people... Then I went out for ice cream at Carl's and got to spend time with my two new friends who are both named Sam.

Last week, I ran into my Soil Science teacher. It was really funny how excited I was after we talked. He wants me to think about doing research with him, which would be amazing. Also, he was super enthusiastic about my book, which has a lot of environmental background to it. Basically, it makes me sad, because he would be the most awesome adviser, but I can't have him be my adviser because minors don't have a choice, they are stuck with Schcheski, who teaches the basic environmental science stuff (also, the only teacher to give me an A- last semester... grrrrr). UMW produced a new advertisement video with summer science students from the Biology department, which was really fun to watch. Mike lab aided for most of them, so that was pretty cool too.

I've also been running a lot, and have been seeing some crazy wildlife. Two days in a row I saw huge turtles that were trying to cross the path, then just kinda gave up and walked off. And huge ratsnakes, which manage to freak me out every time, even though I know they're harmless. The other day, I was running on the path and passed within wingspan of a heron, which took off right next to me, simultaneously scaring the crap out of me and also being flipping awesome.

I'm reading George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire which I LOVE beyond words. Right now, I'm on a  Storm of Swords, which is the third book in the series, and it's only getting better.

Daenerys is simultaneously my favorite and least favorite character in the series. First off, I love this fan art. But her character is so problematic- she was sold by her brother to be a wife for a Khal so that her brother could get the army and ships he needed to reclaim the throne, however, he gets gold dumped on him and she gets the army, but only after she falls in love with Khal (Stockholm syndrome, anyone?), and then climbs onto his funeral pyre after his anti-climatic death with the dragon eggs that were supposedly turned to stone with age....  

George R.R. Martin is just a problematic writer when it comes to his female characters. Sansa, who is the eldest Stark daughter, is pretty dim-witted and really only thinks about her own safety and marrying hot knights and ending up in famous songs. Arya is pretty much just out there... Catherine is constantly like, "Oh man, I'm a mom, better be all anal about where my kids are ALL THE TIME even though my husband just got beheaded! and then there's Cersei, whose all like, "My son is evil, but don't you dare try and stop him, cause hes my son and I wont have him disappointed for a second!"

Other than that, it's a good series. Hahahaa, just kidding, those parts are interesting too... just make me kind of angry sometimes. Oh yes, and I suppose that had some SPOILERS if you were planning on reading the books/watching Game of Thrones on HBO (which is equally problematic, in a whole other way).

After this, I have to finish Mike's dads book, which I'm pretty excited about. Yesterday, Mike and his parents took me out for dinner/ice cream. They're so awesome!!

So yes. I hope this is readable. I don't know what's going on with this blog, but if it's still giving people problems then I can play around with the settings. The new view features are pretty confusing, but they're sweet once you play around with them enough.

100th Post!!

So, this is the 100th post.
Yep.

Go out and celebrate accordingly. I suggest dressing as your favorite LOTR character and going to pet some cats. Then maybe you could go geek out at the library or something, idk.

Little bit of a reminder about how awesome life is.

So, my FAVORITE ACTORS EVER will be in The Hobbit!!!!!!!!

Every time, I swear.....Martin Freeman just makes me want to pinch his cheeks. FOREVER. 

And Benedict Cumberbatch... as Smaug. 

And then everyone's all like, yeah Julie this is super old news, move on with life, and I'm all like NEVER MY LIFE HAS JUST COME FULL CIRCLE DON'T YOU GUYS SEE HOW COMPLETE THE WORLD HAS BECOME. 

I also only got about 4 hours of sleep last night. So I'm a little loopy. 

Also....

Apparently, Cumberotters are a thing now. 

A Brief Recap

I'm back in Fredericksburg! And I'm super excited to be here.

In the past two weeks, quite a few things have taken place.

First, I went to Grandma's house, just in time to see all the beautiful azelas in bloom! 

(You can click on the pictures to make them bigger if you so desire)

More pictures of Grandmas! It was so beautiful, I took lots of flower pictures. My Grandfather left a wonderful legacy in his gardens. 

Then I got to spend a day at Pittsburgh with my favorite brother. We walked around, went in some stores, heard some horrible Steeler chants, ate loads of carbs at the Spaghetti Warehouse.... 

Then, the next day, Eric ran in the Pittsburgh Marathon! His time was sub 4 hours -- SO FAST! I'm so proud of him.  

I made this applesauce cake while I was home. I read this good book (only good, cause the plot was terrible, but the writing was fantastic, which is all I really care about in the end), and I worked on some stuff, including doing the weeding in the gardens and helping my mom build the wall to surround our vegetable gardens. I haven't gotten to plant anything except some basil and tomatoes my Uncle grew from seeds yet though, because we've been so busy with construction! 

Then I got packed... (yup, looks like I got everything I'll be needing in one suitcase there....)

I also made a strawberry and rhubarb pie to take with me for my new housemates! I made one for home too, which disappeared in under 2 days. This one kind of came out ugly looking, but everyone knows its not the looks that people eat pie for.

And I've moved in! My room is pretty tiny, but I'm used to that. I think it's the same size as my room at home in Vienna, so I feel right at home! 

What a good day!

I got my grades back today, my best friend comes home, and Pippins eye has some movement back!!

I'm so glad its summer break,  even though its almost over for me. I start class on the 21st of May, so I have a little over a week before I go back to Fredericksburg to live with friends.

Also, I'm really glad I don't have a phone. I realize how often I checked it for the time, so now I'm constantly wondering what time it is, but it doesn't even matter... because I'm on break.

Writing

Me: I think I'm going to write a book and try and get it published. I just want it to be really good.
Mike: No one's a really good writer on their first book.
Me: Thats not true- some authors get famous right away, like J.K.Rowling.. or Stephanie Meyer.
Mike: ... like I said.....

Pandora and I are bros.

So Pandora just played two of my favorite songs back to back. Life right now is so brilliant.
Its the little things.

Two favorite study songs:
1. Ebla by E.S. Posthumus
2. Fortune Days by Glitch Mob

I only have two exams left, and I feel good about both of them. Tomorrow, I'm going to spend a majority of the day reviewing for my soil's exam, and then I'm going to try to go for a nice long walk. Hopefully, my legs and hip will behave properly and allow me to walk like a normal person.

My legs have been hilarious lately. It's like they don't know what to do with themselves when I don't take them on runs. Its like I have two hyperactive dogs attached to my legs. Anyway I end up sitting they are like, nope don't want to sit that way, why don't we go all over the place? I'll be in the middle of studying and realize that I'm half standing with my legs in some weirdo yoga pose.

I'm excited to see Eric run this weekend! Go brother go! You run faster than Oprah!!!!

Future Julie's House

Stairs AND a bookcase???? How cool is that. 

Normal kids watch tv and stuff to procrastinate... I look at interior design blogs.

An Itty-Bitty Freak Out

So, this is the last week of classes before we start exams. Luckily, today I finished with all the prep work I needed to do for my Soil Science presentation, which is this Thursday. I know some people in the class haven't even begun their research, so I feel good about that. I haven't started studying really, but I don't have class tomorrow morning, so I'll probably do some of it then. I'm also not so sure about how I'm going to present my topic- I'll be going over that a few times tomorrow too.

 My Environmental Regulations teacher has suddenly decided to make plenty of things due, on top of our final poster presentation, which is, of course, a group project. I hate group projects, have I ever mentioned that?

 My Linguistics professor is off in the cosmos or something, who knows what's actually going on there.

 And then my Global Cities literature professor gave us our take home portion of the exam today in class to finish next Friday, which I'm going to start on soon.

 To top it all off, my Moder British Literature professor proclaimed that she has graded everything, however, she has only graded 8 of the 10 response papers I turned in, so I don't know whats going on there. Also, she gave me a B on my midterm paper, saying she would have liked to see something that wasn't even in my thesis, so I don't know how she could have taken off points for that, but she did.

 Also, I have no meals left, only about $150 left in flex. If each meal is about $7-10, then I only get to eat once a day, unless I steal food from Seaco/make Mike feed me.

 On the plus side, last weekend was SO MUCH FUN. And I'm all caught up on Game Of Thrones, so life is good.

Phew, it all makes sense now

So, I still havent decided if I want to dress up as a dwarf, or if I want to be a Hobbit. Perks of being a dwarf: I get to go "its true you dont see many dwarf women. But were so alike in voice and appearance, that we are often mistaken for dwarf men!", at which Christine can follow me around, and say, "Its the beards" or...

But, if I go as a Hobbit, then I have an excuse to go around Barefoot!! EITHER ONE IS SO BRILLIANT. I woke up this Morning with THIS in my head... I had such a hard time at breakfast trying to explain to Mike what I was talking about..... Time to write an essay!!!!!!!!!!!! Good times.

So, this is what I've been doing instead of work...

So, yesterday I got a POTTERMORE account, which is basically just an interactive Harry Potter site, where you get to see scenes from the books, and collect stuff, and you can make potions and things. The best part is that you unlock little side notes by J.K.Rowling that never made it into the book, so you find out all these little details of things as Rowling wanted it to be. It's basically like fanfiction, where the fan is the real legit author. Awesome.

Anyway, my name is BludgerBronze26046, if you get an account and want me for a friend. I have a pet siamese cat, and I'm a hufflepuff, which pretty much justifies all the time I've spent on this site.

My favorite line of this confusing book

"He turned to me with the directness that compelled me to meet his eyes by means of imbuing them with the most supernatural intensity" - At Swim Two Birds, Flann O'Brien

hahahahhahahahhaaaa, all I could think about

My Semi-Finished Poster!!

Mind you, the poster is 50x42 inches, so it's a good thing you can't actually read the words, or else you would need to stand a mile back, and only really read a sentence (all the text is about cats anyway (not really)).

it's also a lot more impressive when you can see the graphs and SCIENCE that it has.
Also, the red squiggly lines wont be there, obviously. And they're peoples names, not spelling errors. Funny fact, it took me about three tries to just spell errors correctly. silly brain, it's too hot for it to properly work.

Some things that make me happy (and some things that don't)

So, yesterday, that music I was ranting about prior to First World Kittah? Yeha, they were there speaking till about 10:30 about how they could feel the Holy Spirit over the campus, and about how Christians are being discriminated against.. or something. It's not that I have a real problem with religious groups coming on our campus, but I DO have a problem with them setting up loudspeakers and singing/preaching for five hours to the entire campus and not allowing you to possibly block it out, also while I need to work on my powerpoint poster cause I really need to get it done!!!

However, today is the multicultural festival (yay!), which means I wasted my morning/afternoon, and now that I want to get down to business, the library is closing. Go figure.

But I saw the CUTEST greyhound puppy today!! He jumped at me like a little spring.
so. cute.
Also, I looked at cat pictures for about an hour this morning. Win.
And I got excellent Earl Grey tea at Blackstone, and did some of the reading I need to do.
And I got to hang out with Mike, which is always grand.
And I went to the Video Game Olympics, which was pretty hilarious. I kind of left Mike there so I could get some more work done, but I don't think he's going to place because him playing dance dance revolution was just embarrassing (in an adorable, awww you don't know what your'e doing, kind of way).

Anyway, I just need to find some good images for my poster and then I'm done with the draft! EXCITING.

The crappy thing about living next to ball circle

They randomly decide to blast loud music/get live bands, and no matter if you blast you own music, slam the windows shut, or put in headphones, you will hear the music and you will be distracted from your work.
And of course, the library closed at 5.
HATE THIS CAMPUS SOMETIMES.




I just realized how ridiculous this is.... I want to work but there's live music outside.
MY LIFE IS SO HARD.

I think I'm almost done with my paper!!!!!

SO EXCITEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Now I just need to start on the powerpoint poster, start working on my presentations, and study for the final... just for my soils class.
Happy Fun times!!

My fall classes

1. Charles Dickens Novels (Bicentennial edition!!!)
2. Jane Austen
3. Environmental Regulations Compliance
4. Creative Writing: Fiction
5. Accounting 1 (pass/fail, just so I can learn a thing or two that I should probs know anyway)
6. Shakespeare early plays


Should be fun!!!

I sign up for classes today!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO EXCITED. FALL SEMESTER SHOULD BE AWESOME.

that is, i can sign up if the internet doesn't explode again. School internet isn't supposed to be slow!!
Ironic: it works just fine when i want to be wasting time and am on facebook/pandora, ect. But as soon as i need to use it for work, IT DIES. I think the school just wants me to fail.

Also, I really want ot re-read the Harry Potter series RIGHT NOW. Like, so badly. I can't explain it.

They used to be so cute!!!!! ahhhhhhhhh the good ol' days

Swamped with stuff to do

super busy, like always, and I feel super gross. I think its from drinking about 20 cups of coffee on Sunday. I was home, it was my day off, and lets just say I waited an hour or so between shaking spells before I got another cup. Also, that whole not doing things in moderation thing.

Anyway, I'm at the library. Just finished a take home exam, now onto a paper for soil science. I got my last one back, and I got a 90!! one of the highest grades in the class again!! I also have about 100 pages of assigned reading to do for an English class, and I'm just going to leave Mrs. Dalloway for sparknotes, because I'll finish it over the summer when I have time anyway.

I hate my Linguistics class. Today, my teacher was discussing how our textbook is full of applicable texts that apply to our everyday life, like the section on pay-per-minute-phone sex.
"So, if any of you guys do that sort of thing, Im sure youll relate really well to that study.." Like, I looked around the room and only a few people were really concerned, so either the teacher assuming were all having sex over the phone is normal, or they were totally not paying any attention at all. Also, I'm just going to add that my teacher was being super serious when she said all of this. She also enjoys mentioning random studies that have NOTHING to do with what we are tlaking about, or name dropping some famous linguists as if we knew who she was talking about or like it was impressive .. or something. Also, my teacher looks like Trelawney.

"Labov, Holmes, Abrasoma, Goddard, Warf, theiwjebnw, akjsd, ihlag, asjdbkajbgjagsdhsjafblajsdkgn"

These needed to go somewhere..

So, over winter break, like, three months ago, I celebrated Tolkien's birthday!! Cause thats not a nerdy thing to do AT ALL.
Anyway, pictures were taken that have just been sitting on my computer for exaggerated ages, so here they are for everyone's amusement:

Dwarf blue-beard Christine (Dwarf ladies do exist, Mr. Beans), Elven Kyle, Robin of Bag-End, Elven Danny, Gandlaf Christian.
The cupcakes spelled out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOLKIEN". It was great. We had themed food (like lembas bread (and look! more lembas bread), berries, and trailmix foods. Fun fun fun fun.

I too wore a beard, which matched my furry-armor.


I can not wait for the Hobbit release!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate not training for a marathon

Last year at this time, I was so pumped for the Marine Corps Marathon, but I had time before my training would officially start, so I just ran what I liked, which was a 5 mile out-and-back almost every day. This was before I became hard core and found all the awesome paths that are currently covered in beautiful wildflowers (including the breath-taking bluebells). And now that the marathon has been over and I really have any marathons I'm signed up for, I really miss running for a purpose. Also, I'm afraid of burning out.

I went for a nine mile run yesterday, and had to reign myself back to campus or else I would have just kept going. The weather is so perfect, the trail is at its peak beauty, and I really need a break form work, so I just want to run and run and run. But I don't want to have to replace my knees at age 40.

So, I'm looking for a new running schedule, but all the "off season" schedules are too short (I wouldn't even make it to the path!)So I don't know what to do. Maybe it's time I get a new hobby.

I guess once you do distance running you cant go back.

I've been told that I never do anything in moderation.

I start drinking coffee, and I'm drinking 10 cups a day. I start drawing, and I sit in my room for two years and draw crappy manga. I drink tea, and I go through a box a week. I start a project, and I do nothing else for days. I hear a song that I like and I just play it on repeat for days and days. And then I get sick of all these things and move on to something else.

And that's one of the reasons that I do run-- because I've been running since I was in sixth grade, and I do it almost every single day, and I'm good at it and it keeps me sane. So that's why its so hard for me to try to accept that I need time off before my legs fall apart.

Anyways, I know this isnt as upbeat as a post as normal, it's just that I've come to an important realization about myself and I wonder how it affects other aspects of my life.

Not good for a Monday.

Epic Cake

So, instead of posting to Facebook, I'm going to just post my pictures on this blog so that I have the power to delete them if I want. Sorry if you don't care to see random pictures.

But here's the epic cake I made!!!

I got no pictures on my digital camera of the full thing (because It was too tasty to wait!!), but heres an ugly slice:

And it was so pink! It had maraschino cherry juice mixed into the base, along with cherry bits. I made the entire cake from scratch, which was very satisfying and not all that time consuming (surprisingly). The icing was cream cheese, but then I dyed it turquoise to compliment the pink. Altogether, I think it was one of the most attractive things I have ever baked!!!

Here's the original recipe and pictures (which really put mine to shame).

Alpaca Farm!!

Over break I went to an alpaca farm in Pennsylvania!! You can click on the pictures to make them bigger if you want.

Family times!!

They're so fluffy!!

Mom feeding some of them. They really ticked!! Also, the farm owner, who was super friendly.

Uncle Van feeding alpacas and one alpaca who is sure that behind Uncle Jon's camera is a handful of food...

This once's name is Lacey! She was pretty adorable. She kept walking up to me thinking I had food.

Fun fact

So, because my Nike + needed charging, and when it gets plugged into the computer the webpage pops up, I always get distracted and look at my stats which is what I'm doing now. Anyway, cool news:

In October of last year, I ran 162.65 miles. In one month. Thats the distance between Levittown, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.

Not that I know where Levittown is... but it's in Pennsylvania, so you know thats pretty far.

Guess I'm awesome, huh? <--- (that wasn't serious)

Cool things of this week

Heres some nifty stuff I've been doing:
1. Spring breaking, which was amazing. The best time I've had at home since back in the days when I played in the creek all day....
2. Saw Christine and got to hear all about her epic trip to Equator!
3. Started school again. Got back some excellent grades and now I'm all pumped to be that one kid in class who sets the grading bar high (except everyone hates that kid when the teacher grades on a curve).
4. Signed up for my summer classes! I'm taking oceanography and fairy tale literature. Quite the combination, I know. I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!! (my excitement is exponentially equated to the amount of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
5. Its been sunny and in the summer-time ranges of weather, so of course I've been lounging on ball circle with my best friends all week, which has been great for my social life, not so much for my productivity. However, my arms are a bit darker now (which helps to enunciate the fact that I have no arm muscle).
6. Yesterday, I went to a cook-out with some friends. We grilled some veggie ka-bobs ( I hace no idea how that is spelled) and discussed gardening and summer plans. Once again, CANNOT WAIT FOR SUMMER!!!

Expect pictures of my break soon!!

Pippin Posts! ALL WEEK. feel free to stop reading... now.

Pippin loves to snoop.
I was unloading the dishwasher and he was SO FASCINATED by the space behind the drawers that I actually had to pull him back form climbing in three times. Silly kitty, there's nothing back there... or is there?

So, great idea for a mystery novel: There is a mystery (death??!!?) and the only one who solves it is the cat, because he's a snoop and he likes to get stuck in closets and cabinets and is also super nosy (literally rubbing his nose all over the place) and hes also super adorable so in the end the criminals all like, d'awwww fine I did it you cute kitty you, and then he purrs and its all over.
wow, what a great idea.

Only one class! Then I'm FREE

I have a lot of work I want to get done of the break, not to mention projects and gardening and cat-playing. I'm really glad I have so much time off though. It is a much needed break from the craziness that is school life.

What I'm most looking forward to: eating appealing food.

I don't have anything interesting to say.

I picked up some mothballs some idiot had scattered around the street and in his yard (although I didn't go in his yard, cause I might have pissed off more of the town, which apparently has some serious issues with UMW students (cause they've been peeing in their yards?)) Mothballs are carcinogens, more specifically neurotoxins, which means that it causes nerve damages that can lead to cancer. And this idiot left them hanging around, for them to be eaten by whatever poor dog or child thinks they look particularly tasty. Sigh.

Also, yesterday Mike and I had been dating for 6 months. We watched Up, the cutest movie ever. I always forget how adorable that movie is.

RIP Miley Cyrus Jeans

My favorite pants just got a hole in the knee!!!!!!!!!! Guess I have to go to class naked now...

Speaking of being naked (never a good way to start a thought..).. i actually have nothing more to say about being naked, I just wanted to say that.

NEW ANDREW BIRD!!! Here's the link to listen: CLICKY-CLICKY

I'm listening to it right now- so far, Lusitania is my favorite off this album. It's one of his less intense albums, that isn't nearly enough whistling or violin solos, but all-in-all, I have to say I still really enjoy listening to him. I'm still in love with Noble Beast, it's perfect morning music.

In other fun news, Spring Break is in two days! I can't wait to get out of here and get into the garden.

So this dream really happened...

I was walking along this park (random park with a canal going through it? I think it was a section of Great Falls, only in my dream it had water going through it), and there were a bunch of people standing around like people do in parks (right guys?) and one of these people was J.R.R. TOLKIEN.

OMG. OMG. OMG. I am dreaming about AUTHORS guys. I am SO COOL.

Anyway, I walk over and I'm all like, "Hello, do you come here often (not in a pick-up sort of way, although that would have been hilarious too) and he was like, why yes, let me give you a tour! So I walk around a park with Tolkien, and this dude walks up and is like, I love your books! and Tolkiens all like grumble grumble, I hate it when people only love me for my books, and I'm thinking, well, good thing I didn't start by asking him about his books then.
So, Tolkien and I are walking about, and my friend walks up and is all like, hey Julie, are you dating Tolkien? And I was like, in my head, NO DON'T SAY THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT I KNEW HE WAS A WRITER AND SO HE LIKED ME FOR LIKING HIM AS A PERSON INSTEAD but then Tolkien is all like, "You've read my books?", and obnoxious friend is like, "she loves your books" and I'm glaring at her but she doesn't get a hint, and then Tolkien walks away all disappointed.

TOLKIEN, I ONLY EVER WANTED TO BE YOUR FRIEND.



And then I had another dream that I got changed into a fluffy plush toy and someone put me in a dog yard and I was going to get all chewed up, but then I woke up.

Why is my subconscious SO WEIRD?!?!??



Also, had my soils test this morning. I feel fairly confident in my answers, I just didn't have enough time to be eloquent in my speech/go as in depth as I wanted, so I might have lost points for that. My teacher laughed at me cause I came into his office with a question on problem one about 45 minutes into the period, and then I had to explain that I was working backwards, and he said English kids are weird. Bet he's never had an awesome dream about Tolkien though.

keepin an eye on the world goin by my window

TOMORROW IS MY MIDTERM OMG IM NOT READY YET

and yet I feel like there is NOTHING ELSE for me to study/i's so sure he'll take off points for dumb things anyway. Oh, and he wasn't in his office hours this morning. THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST. WHO DOES THAT.

So, to clam my nerves, I went for a lovely 10.5 mile run around the Rappahannock. I listened to the Beatles the whole time, it was fantastic. Everytime I hear "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" I think about when Xtine and I were little and we had this whole dance set up for it for karaoke at slumber parties... everyone else was like, whatever, britney spears, and we were like BAM good music.

Also, literally RIGHT NEXT TO THE PATH this giant heron was chillin on this stick. Like, I probs could have touched him. He was just kinda standing there with his mouth half open like he was all drugged up or something. Silly stoner bird.


Also, this person is, like, my #1 hero : click here

Tis' a good day

Yesterday I went to a 40s swing dance with Erin! It pretty fun. We were the only ones not dressed up, and the only ones who really didn't know how to swing dance, but we got lessons (on dancing, not dressing), and danced for a few hours. They had a live band there and everything, they did one of the same songs my Dad plays too!

Today, I had the sunbeam on me and my desk at the library... then I fell asleep for an hour instead of studying soils! Time well spent, I'd say. I felt so good afterwards.

Then, I had dinner with Mike and his parents. We went to Bistro Bethem in downtown Fredericksburg. It was SO. GOOD. SO. GOOD. SO. GOOD. I got this grilled Romaine lettuce salad, which was really just an entire head of romaine, not cut or anything, stuck on a grill with onions, feta cheese, and some fancy dressing. I'm so excited to try and recreate it at home this summer. I also had this fancy pasta dish with little potato-stuffed pillows in cheese. It was also delicious. Oh, and chocolate ice cream...

Anyways, I'm stuffed and tired, so I don't think I'm going to do any more studying tonight. I can just go to bed early and dream about potato-filled pillows of food, while my romaine heart beats with joy.

blah blah blaaah

Today has been rather dull. Met Mike at Blackstone this morning for some tea. I'm giving up coffee for lent!!!! Just as well, I'm getting sick of coffee anyway...

Also, I made muffins!!! Banana walnut and Orange cranberry, both to take to the Eco club Potluck brunch tomorrow morning! So fun. Maybe I'll take pictures (but probably not).

Basically, from here to Tuesday I'm going to spend 70% of my time studying for my Soil Science midterm (which counts for 35% of my grade?!?!?!?!??!!!!) so don't be expecting anything too interesting to happen to me. In fact, why don't you spend the time you could spend reading/pondering my blog entries to going outside and enjoying the mysterious weather we've been having? Seriously, it was 72 degrees yesterday, then it thunder stormed like crazy and the temperature dropped to fifty... but still, for February, I'm impressed.

Guys, I am SO cool

So, I am going to get in contact with our grounds supervisor and ask that the campus eradicate all exotic invasive species from the woods near Seacobeck. Then, I am proposing the creation of a contract that would keep the school from purchasing any non-native plants for our school grounds.

This is all getting done. After spring break, I will propose the idea to the school, and Ecology club is backing it.

Making a mark, oh yeah.

In other fun news, I saw a flock of what I believe to be four loons (black and white with red beaks, and then a brown one following them around), and the eagle yesterday on my "run". I put up quotation marks because I took a half-hour walk in between 3 mile sets to prance around nature and watch the loons and turtles.

I've also added Everglade National Park to the list of place that I would like to travel to, and maybe study, some day. There is a Spring Break trip there with the science department every year, and of course I found out about it really late this year, so maybe next year!

Fancy Valentines Dinner!

.. A week and a day late!

Mike and I are going to Foode. I looked at the menu (just now) and I am SO EXCITED. Before I left I wanted to describe my epic day:

My alarm went off at 7:30. BAM. I was awake, but stayed in bed for 10 minutes because I wasn't sure if I was going to fall back asleep or what...

Read some Lawrence, had a lovely breakfast with Erin in which we discussed how female villains aren't frightening in children movies, then back to work! Wrote my Soil Science project proposal, made an outline, and looked through research on carbon sinks. Then wrote a paper for my English class, which was dismissed after 5 minutes because the projector wasn't working. So, I went to Blackstone to have a muffin and read with Mike while he did his fancy pants programming homework.

Then I got to dumpster dive! Except not really, It was more like dig through nasty trash and pull out the recycling with the Ecology club on campus. It was alarming. People were throwing away nearly full bags of flour and stuff. I mean, seriously people. We pulled out a lot of recycling- most of it bottles and cans. Some kid had made a bong out of a plastic bottle and a straw hahahaa. Oh Mary Washington...

Then more class, a run with Liz, and now off to a wonderful dinner!!

Failcake

SO, yesterday I was in such a state of anger that, had I blogged, I would have just ranted on and on about how my Linguistics class is a waste of my time and my parents money. She spent 25 minutes yesterday going around the room and asking everyone if they agreed to email their group-mates if they couldn't make their meeting. By what time is it acceptable to email? What if they don't check their email? Will everyone message back? Is texting appropriate? What if you get in a fight?


THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WE ARE TWENTY YEARS OLD. WE KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER.


this was my face:

not amused, guys. seriously. hate. that. class.

Today will be better. Woke up early and read some of D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Its probably the most entertaining book I've had to read this semester. Its about a coal-mining father whose abusive, so his wife and all his kids hate him, only it takes that and makes it oddly... hilarious. Like, the father break his leg in the mine, and everyone's like, Yay! Now the house will be peaceful!! and the wife is all like, go figure, he would break his leg just so I would have to take care of him and give him a bit of attention.

See, people did love to poke fun at dysfunctional families before t.v. shows like Modern family.

Yesterday was a sick day.

In case you were wondering.

Today is not, mostly thanks to the power of staying in bed ALL DAY. Today is an, 'oh-crap-I-have-a-lot-of-reading-but-i'll-just-skim-and-not-really-work' kind of day. Now I need to look over my SOIL SCIENCE stuff, because I have a midterm next Tuesday.

Saturday was fun. Went home, hung out with Mom and Pippin. Saturday night, we went to the drag show. That was also fun (not as good as last years..?)

Might as well upload it here too......

Frydai

I went to go see FUN the other night. They were pretty awesome. I had never really listened to them before, but my mate Steph kinda loves them, so we went and stood in line for two hours so we could get good spots (second row back from the stage!). Their music was really entertaining, they were great live, and it was an overall nice night. Except for the screaming big man in the row behind me who kept jumping up and down, it was wonderful.

Home now, enjoying all the pleasures of a nice dinner out, chasing the cat, and catching up.

What a fantastic week

So, Valentine's day was wonderful. I made the best tasting fish ever (lemon, salt and pepper- but it was really, really good. Probably cause all I've eaten recently has been dining hall foods), asparagus, and steamed potatoes. It was SO GOOD. Mike gave me the most adorable handmade card, and we finally took some pictures together (they're pretty goofy..).

Then, Mike and I watched some Downton Abby, and Erin and I finished the first season minutes ago. That show is so good- I love the character development, although not all of them really seem human. One of the reasons I loved Desperate Housewives so much was because the characters all had backgrounds that influenced their way of thought and their actions. I feel like I could better relate to them because of it, whereas Downton, with its fifty member cast, doesn't really give background or reason for the actions of the characters. Nonetheless, I really suggest that show.

Nothing particularly exciting happened in class. I took a test yesterday for one of my English courses. I think I got a high grade, maybe a B or an A, we shall see. I got back my soil science test- I got one of the highest grades in the class (which really isn't saying much). He ended up giving us a 15% curve (!!!!SO BAD!!!!), and I still only got a C+. Still, upper level Science course with notorious teacher- I expected a D, at best, so I am happy. Still haven't gotten my Linguistics test back, but I'll be pleased if she misplaced them or something (which actually wouldn't be surprising...).

I can't wait to go home to Vienna tomorrow. I went on a walk yesterday, the objective to see cats, and I didn't see any! Go figure. It will be nice to hang out with Pippin again. And, of course, the rest on the family.


I've noticed the time stamps are off on my blog posts- I didn't actually post yesterday at 6:00 am, if you were wondering.

One Free Wish Day!

I told my Dad about this comic a few weeks ago... just found it again!

http://nedroid.com/2010/02/the-waffliest-wish/

What time is it? It's Valentimes!

Not only is it Valentines day, its also Julie's awkward -conversation-with-EVERYONE-day!!

With random guy from class:
Me: HEY
Him: uh, hi?
Me: You ready for our test tomorrow?
Him: Yep
Me: Cool! Did you do the essays yet?
Him: Not yet
Me: Alright.
Him:...
Me: okay, see you tomorrow!!

With cashier at bookstore:
Her: I like your purse
Me: Thanks! My Mom got it for me! i dont know where its from, but I got it for Christmas, (keeps going, and going...)
Her: Ok.
Me: I wish I knew where it was from though!
Her: Thanks ok... bye

Also, I feel like high-fiving EVERYONE. I don't know, man. its just one of those days I guess...

I'm making dinner with Mike tonight. We're going to have salmon, steamed potatoes and brocolli. I am so excited to eat good food.
On a completely unrelated note, my feet look like they belong on a corpse. Idk, bro.

Also, I kind of fail at Valentines day. I made everyone a card, and then people give me more extravagant cards and suddenly I feel like my card, with "Happy Valentines day, Love Julie" is not personal enough and then.. sigh. Downwards spiral of Valentines day.

Also, I think I saw an eagle today. I'm fairly certain it was an eagle. Either that, or I looked like an idiot in front of a lot of people when I stopped and stared at a buzzard.

Posting before evening! How exciting!

So, my British Literature class was cancelled today, which means I get to put off writing my response paper to "The Dead". Which really just means that I can work on other essays for another English class. This is good, because they have more weight on my grade than my response paper, but I am really incapable of not putting a lot of thought into all my work equally. Normally, it just boils down to when I get to my work.

So, class was cancelled, so I'm at Blackstone with Mike! Writing my essays, but I'm a bit stuck because, when I met with my teacher this morning, she told me my essays were good but to describe. And I had thought I had described my points to their fullest extent... now I just feel like I'm restating myself in other words. I hate writing/reading essays that do that. Blackstone is great. Write now, their playing Jump Jive, or whatever this song is named, I just know that my Dad plays/listens to it a lot.

Back to workzors.

Nothing Particularly Interesting Happened Today..

Just watched more Downton, then Christine got all her clothes and we had her try them all on (one handed cause she broke the other one). It was a rather girly day, all in all.

I found out that I can still fit into the same clothes; that I haven't grown at all. Sigh. I've been exactly the same since sixth grade. Today, I wore pants that Christine Bernat and I bought when we were in elementary school (we both both the same style of HUGE legged pants. I look like such a hippie, and I'm so out of style, but I don't really care because it's Sunday and my teachers wont be judging me. Plus, Aniene had once told me that they "enunciated the upper portion of my lower back", so I have to wear them and laugh at her complimenting my butt).

Also, I finished Dubliners. Now, I need to sit and think. I kind of hate books that you have to think about. I just want to know if James Joyce meant for me to have any hope for humanity or not ("The Dead", as I read in literary criticism after the story, can be read either way, depending on if you look at the story individually, or in the context of the whole set of short stories.) Thanks a lot, Joyce. Now I have to stay up, cause I wont be able to fall asleep not knowing where I stand on his story.
Life is so hard.


(That was sarcasm.)

Also, I've just dug through the trash can in the kitchen. DOES NO ONE ELSE CARE ABOUT OUR PLANET? AM I REALLY THE ONLY ONE WHO RECYCLES AROUND HERE? ALSO, WHO THREW AWAY PERFECTLY GOOD COOKIES? Life Is such a mystery. Indeed Joyce, it is.

Day Two, And I Almost Forgot

I almost forgot to write today. I see a massive failure in my future.
Today was mostly spent watch Downton Abbey with Christine and Erin. I'm kind of in love with that show.
Speaking of shows, I haven't seen the few most recent Desperate Housewives, which shocks me. I think its my way of dealing with the denial that the show is ending at the end of this season. Its comforting to think that they'll be a few episodes left for when the season is over. I think I'll finish watching that show Spring break or maybe even wait till summer (unlikely).
Last night was good fun. Erin and I had some friends over to make Valentines. We watching Notting Hill, which also has Hugh Bonneville in it, he's the lord in Downton Abbey, CAN'T ESCAPE IT. I made quite a few, used a lot of buttons, and am really rather pleased with the whole thing.
I'm actually looking forward to Valentines day this year!

History of Valentines Day:
Freshman Year- Conrad asked me to be his Valentine over facebook, but I didn't see it till the next week (fail).
Sophmore Year- I actually broke up with Conrad the day before Valentines day. Then we got back together the day after, or something. Epic timing, I know.
Junior Year- My good friend Bennett took pity on me and made me a chocolate pie, which was DELICIOUS. So I suppose that Valentine's day wasn't so bad, but...
Senior year- I'm finally in a relationship for Valentines day, but of course I GET MONO. ULTIMATE FAIL.
Last year- Another good Valentines. Just kind of hung out with my friends, eating chocolate...
This years plans- Well, since i have an amazing boyfriend, we are planning on going to Bistro Bethem, a restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg that I have never been to! I'm so excited. (Only, we're not doing that on Valentines day because we are but humble college students who can't afford their Valentines special... we're probs going next week or Thursday night).
I also now have fancy, homemade Valentines to give all my friends!! YAY FOR FEBRUARY 14TH.

Until then, I have a lot of work to do. Tonight, I'm planning on finishing this FASCINATING chapter on Soil Waters characteristics and Behavior. Yeppi. (that was all sarcasm. i feel like one of these days, people will figure I'm so nerdy that I actually enjoy reading about water gradients and water vapor distribution or something).

Also noteworthy, today we had an EPIC WHITEOUT of snow, which I was caught outside for. It wasn't like nice, gentle, friendly snowing. This was like being attacked-with-a-frigid-vengeance snow. It was actually painful.
Also, yesterday some idiot college kid decided to drive way to fast down this tiny strip by the Eagle Village and flipped his car over the median. Of course, he's fine, or else I wouldn't have referred to him as "some idiot college kid" (I have respect for the dead, guys). But still- Why would you EVER think that speeding down a tiny driveway is a good idea? This is Fredericksburg. There is no where to go, especially not in a hurry.

Kind of like a fresh start?

Hey team,
So, I've decided to continue to update my blog.
Every day.
Not that I have anything to really blog about (did I ever?), so expect silly little blog posts in which nothing interesting AT ALL is stated. YAY!

Yesterday I had my first soil science test. It was just 7 essay questions that I had an hour and a fifteen minutes to complete. Basically, I just wrote down everything I knew about soils, which is still probably not what he was looking for. Fortunately, my teacher things I'm adorable or something because I went to him and told him that I loved his class but I'm an English major, so unless were looking for religious symbolism and feminist perspectives of soils, I wasn't going to get an A.

Also, my Environmental sustainability teacher knows my name! We're doing a class blog for the semester, and the theme of my posts is cats. I think she's secretly a cat person, but she's too shy to comment on my cat comics. Heres the blog, you can check it out for yourself.

Speaking of cats, there's this adorable grey cat that lives in downtown Fredericksburg. He's like a Pippin without the white on his face. He likes to follow me after I pet him, then run in front of me so that I cant leave. He's even obnoxious like Pippin. D'awwwww.

I have a lot of work to do this weekend. But, tonight I'm making Valentines with my friends!!

I lol'd so hard

hahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhaaaaaa

this girl's art is so brilliant.
this is her blog: http://gingerhaze.tumblr.com/

AND THIS IS... THE BROSHIP OF THE RING.



expect a real blog update soon!!!