Yes, that little noise means that I have caught H1N1. It sucks. Boy, does it suck. But I'm getting over it (finally) and I look forward to returning to the daily grind.

Honestly, I know this flu is bad, but really it's just like any other flu that I've ever had. I'm just happy to have gotten through it because I do understand that it can get much worse if you don't take care of yourself. My mom came up from MP to help me out around the apartment. I don't know what I would have done without her... I don't think I would have gotten better this quickly. My doctor told me to stay out for the week... I think I'm going to get back to things tomorrow, maybe thursday. I have to be better by thursday night because it is our final run before opening night on Friday. Yes, this was the worst week to get sick. EVER.

On the bright side, I will be in Chicago next week to perform at the National Communication Association 95th annual conference. I'm so super excited because 1)I'll be in effin' Chicago 2)this means I get to see Cye!! and 3)I get to perform! Yay! Of course I'll update from around town... much fun will be had for sure!

I guess I should probably try to get to bed. I can't get back to being healthy if I don't try to get better.

Gabby

Holy. Crap. I’m sitting at a local coffee shop right now and I’m listening to the most ridiculous couple have the most ridiculous conversation ever. EVER. Gems from this conversation include:

“If I went to an outdoor concert, I’d be like… outdoors listening to music. And there is nothing more spiritual than that.”

“I like movies, but I don’t look at them like the rest of the world. I like… watch the movies and then go, whoa, that could totally be my life. But it never is.”

“I only pay $3 dollars for laundry… but I do all of the work in our house.” “Oh… well… so does my mom. You are so amazing!”

I can’t tell if he is trying to get in her pants… or if they are an established couple. God help us if they are… their children will be SO intelligent. And if he is trying to get in her pants… God still help us. Bad choice, buddy, bad choice.

So, it's been a week since my job has ended and already there have been a lot of changes!

Sometime this week I will move into my new apartment! Very exciting, especially because it is something like... 20 steps up from my last place and a hell of a lot safer! I'm really looking forward to moving in. I'll post pictures once I'm settled.

Steve and I bought a new car! It's a 2009 Kia Rondo, special edition. It's a beauty! Having lots of fun driving around in it... god, I love life!

Everything is going really well right now. I miss being so busy (go figure, right?)but it's also nice to have some down time before school starts again. Although I cannot wait to be busy. I want to get this last year of school done and over with so that I can move on to bigger and better things. I don't know what those things are yet, but I know that they will be fantastic!

Anywho, I guess I should go enjoy my coffee. I'm going to surf the net a bit and yeah. *happy sigh*

Gabby

It's the last Friday of classes for my job and I cannot help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Their hands are raised, they are shouting out answers and I get a kick out of the fact that they actually learned something. After all of their complaining, they know the material.

And are having fun with it.

I will miss this job when it's over next week. I will miss the loud laughing, the constant being on the move, helping and tutoring and learning. I will miss being a role model, hoping that I am doing my best to present an image of a good student, a good adult.

I was so nervous about this job when I started. Now it seems like second nature. And I have seen some fascinating things in the last 6 weeks. As a matter of fact, if I don't end up going to Northwestern for performance studies, I would love to go to Eastern and do a dissertation on the social effects of programs like this, because it really is an interesting communicative phenomenon.

Oh, I'm a nerd...

But anyway... sitting here in class I'm feeling a little sad that it's coming to an end. But I'm excited because that means that in just a few short weeks I'll be starting my last year of college. I guess when one chapter ends, another one begins!

Gabby

So, we've been at classes for three days now and everyday seems like it is only getting worse. BUT... there are signs of hope still on the horizon, peaking out from breaking waves every so often. I take comfort in those.

Right now I am the T/C for two classes: humanities (a strong point for me) and algebra I (my weakest point). And today, the math teacher for the program quit, leaving me to teach my worst subject. High point... I succeeded (and had fun doing it). So, while attitudes are sometimes hard to deal with (seriously,kids, you're going to give ME attitude?!) and it is SO incredibly hot in Brady hall, this week is shaping up to be a good one. And I'm so proud of my girls for the improvements they have made.

Right now we're sitting in the library and they are all being super good and QUIET. Yes, this is an important note, as the first time we tried to do group time, the girls were loud, obnoxious and whined non-stop. But today they have actually listened to the rules, are respecting them, respecting us and are still having a good time. For that I am thankful. It's nice to have a break from all of this angsty teenage sass.

But anyway, I'm going to use the rest of the time to get some grading done. I've found that this program is teaching me how to stay on top of my work, so it'd be nice not to loose that lesson so soon into it. Talk to you later!

Gabby

So, today didn't go half bad.

I got up at ten (yay for sleeping in!). Once all the TC's got here we proceeded to run around like chicken's with our heads cut off in order to put on the finishing touches. With everything done the kids finally started to arrive... and that was probably the most nerve racking moment of my life. Because before then, it was just us TCs, doing our thing, having evenings off, not having to be responsible for anyone but ourselves. But now... there are kids running around the halls, making noises, breaking rules.

And it is totally awesome!

I'm still nervous and we still have more kids on there way, but still. This is already a really rewarding experience. My girls are really nice and they don't talk back (yet). I'm just going to stay positive and I know that everything will be just fine.

So, I'm working night shift until one. Our usual night guy won't be here until tomorrow. But this is going to be fun... so wish us all the best.

Gabby

Well, today was the last day of "training." It is amazing how exhausted I am, and really we didn't even do anything. While training has left me feeling a little bit better about the next six weeks, I still feel like I have a long ways to go.

So, the kids will be here Saturday (or at least the newbies) and I am scared half to death and excited at the same time. Though one thing that comforts me is that I am working with some pretty fantastic people. I'd be more worried, but this group of people are fun, smart and helpful. I don't think I'm going to have any problems.

So, I'll be around if anyone wants to call or hang. But just keep us in your thoughts... we still have a lot of work to do!

Gabby

Today being the first day of training, I was understandably nervous.

Now that the day has passed and it is time for bed I'm still nervous.

But that's okay. Yes, there is WAY more to this job than I thought, but it's all good things. It is nothing that I don't think I can handle, and I really look forward to the challenge that lies ahead. Will this job be the most fun I've ever had? No, but it will be the most rewarding. It is definitely different from any I've ever had and I look forward to learning more about it and experiencing it more tomorrow.

But I'm all moved in now. The biggest thing today was killing the brown recluse spider that was on the inside of my window. Yes, a brown recluse. I think we got it, but I'm not entirely sure yet. It's kinda... curled up in a corner, but I guess we'll see tomorrow.

Anyway, I'm going to pop a movie in and call it a night. I have to be up and going by nine am! I know, I know, that's nothing... unless you've spent the last month sleeping in!

Goodnight!

Gabby

So, I haven't written about this yet because, well... I didn't know how to. And honestly, it happened so fast and didn't really have time to either. I mean, it's nothing really life changing, not really too surprising, definitely not something that affects too many people. I mean, it's just the job that uprooted me and planted me firmly back in the Soo.

In less than 24 hours.

Needless to say, the job offer was... unexpected. But when Tory said that my name had been brought up by several people to be what basically boils down to a tutor and that I'd be making a decent amount of money in six weeks and not have to worry about paying for a thing I HAD to say sure. Because until then I was jobless and very poor and yeah... the thought of actually MAKING money appealed to me. Not to mention the job sounded fun. Not my usual thing, but fun. And Steve, who was staring at me from over his frappacino, loved the idea. He thinks it'll "turn me on to teaching." That makes me laugh.

So, I said my goodbyes and did my laundry and the next morning I was leaving behind friends, family and animals to go back to Sault Ste. Marie. Which, honestly... I couldn't love more.

Am I nervous? Yes, incredibly. I don't claim to be a teacher in any way, shape, or form. But I'm going into this thing knowing that I do have the power to make a difference in someone's life, and I have the knowledge that I need to help people when they get stuck. I guess we'll just find out what happens tomorrow when I start training, and I'll be sure to keep this thing up to date about how everything is going. I'm just glad to have gotten this opportunity. I really am excited to see where it's going to take me!

Gabby

It's so early and yet... here I am.

Being up this late (early?) reminded me of the months that followed me dropping out of school. I'd be up all night on the computer, staring at the flickering screen, wondering if anyone would be around for me to talk to. I used to get so depressed about those nights, because inevitably I'd end up alone.

But then there was the sun rise.

And suddenly it was like the light that filtered in over the horizon lifted away the darkness that night had let settle. I was torn away from that black place and suddenly my spirit was free to just... smile again. And nothing felt better than curling up under my blankets and sleeping the morning away.

I was always reminded of the road as I watched the sunrise. I think I even mentioned it several times in this journal. "This morning's sunrise reminded me of watching it come up over the tops of the mountains that surrounded Vegas," or, "The light was the same shade of pale orange that followed us as we drove through the plains of Wyoming." It was in those quiet moments of solitude as day shifted that I always was reminded of what home to me was; not some roof over your head, or the daily routines that were comfortably familiar, but the places that took your breath away, the places that kept you guessing. And for me, home has always been morning, where day spills over from night, where suddenly the world opens up into a brand new place, constantly changing, never the same boring story. It's in these places that we find clarity and can truly find out who we are because it is then that we stop focusing on the harshness of reality and just take the time to live in the cleansing rays of the dawning sun.

I guess tonight I was just thinking about how life moves so quickly. Anymore it feels like I don't get to enjoy the tiniest luxuries. Since going back to school I have taken for granted the little hidden gems that living has to offer. Maybe that is why - at four in the morning - I am still awake. My soul is hungry for the simplicity that it has been missing. Maybe I want to see the sunrise again. And maybe then I will fall asleep, curled up under my blankets just to sleep the morning away.

Gabby

he came home.

More specifically, a neighbor found him and brought him home.

Thank God. :D

Gabby

I've posted this on Facebook and now I'm posting it here, because I want as much positive thought going towards it as possible.

My fiance Steve brought Noah the cat home 4 years ago when Noah was just a kitten. This cat... is like a kid to him. He is the sweetest cat and... today he went missing.

Steve, as all of you probably know, lives 9 hours away from here. not being able to help try and find him is really hurting him right now. I've done all that I can and the search continues but... it's really hard.

I know he's just a cat, but if all of you could please just think good thoughts. Say a prayer, picture him coming home... anything. This cat is really part of the family and we would be devastated if he didn't come home. We'd do anything to have him back... so please just keep him in your thoughts.

Gabby

So, I've decided to spend my entire summer writing a 20,000 word X-Files story. You know, for funsies. But seriously, anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to write and fandom has always been a big part of that, so... yeah. Check it out. join. Cheer on. Or leave a comment here telling me how messed up/crazy/awesome I am!


xf_bigbang

So, being home is fun.

For about five minutes.

Honestly, I like being here, but when it's your senior year and you've only got thirty credits left to finish before you can graduate... you want to get it the eff' done.

Highlights so far? Well, I've been hanging out a lot with Ashley and Amy and Shari. It's really nice to be hanging with the girls again. I've seen Jeff Dunham LIVE! Freakin' amazing, that's what that is. Steve stopped by for a visit. The days have been hot, the nights have been cool.

And I can't wait to be back up north.

No, seriously. You don't understand... well... maybe you do. 30 freakin' credit hours left. And I'm DONE.

Longest. Summer. Ever.

Gabby

Well, I suppose I should update, considering that it's summer break and I have all the time in the world to do this now...

This week (though it is not over) has had it's ups and downs. For starters, I moved away from the Soo, a place that I've called home for so many years, to live in MP for the summer. Yes, just the summer, but this was a move that I didn't necessarily want to make. Due to money situations, though, I opted to come home and find a job, not worry about rent and save up some dough. The only bill I'll have to worry about is the cell phone, and maybe a few other things here and there.

This leads me to the next thing: Job. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon for a job working at Family Video. Not your average job, but it'll be fun and different and yeah. So keep your fingers crossed guys 'cause this would be great to start working soon.

I've been hanging out with a lot of people since I got home. I've seen Michael and Amy and Ashley and soon I'll see Shari. I'm going out with Michael this weekend to celebrate his graduating, so that should be fun...

Speaking of graduating, my BEST FRIEND Stacy graduated this past weekend. I cried, because now my best friend will be up and leaving for some place far away. She doesn't know exactly where yet, but wouldn't you leave Michigan if you had the chance? Yeah, me too.

I found out my final grades this week. I passed, which is seriously a MIRACLE. I am not even exaggerating. I should have failed but alas, I did not. So I'm devoting myself to studying hard this next semester and retaking a few of the courses I didn't do so hot in to up my GPA. And then... next spring...

I graduate.

So this summer will kind of be a final hurrah. So here's to making the best of it! Cheers!

Gabby

When I got home a few days ago, I found out that a guy I went to high school with and was in the marching band with had died in a hunting accident. At first it didn't sink in, and while I do not hurt nearly as bad as his family must be right now, it still does hurt. So, to feel more at ease with my feelings, this is the story about what happened when my friend and I went to the memorial today. *shrugs*


( Therapeutic writing )

and I love it...

(  From Neil Gaiman's American Gods )