Happy to Be Home

The bags are waiting to be unpacked.


The house sustained only minor damage.


And the boys survived being left alone for 9 days.


All is good.

Not dead, I swear.

Whoops, looks like it's been awhile since I posted an update. I'm sorry but it was midterms. And then the midterms recovery period (I'm still recovering). Whoosh, it was touch and go there for awhile (that CS exam nearly did me in) but I made it through. Hallelujah!

And I am extremely proud to say not only did I go out that last time but I had an amazing time and I now have a great core group of friends here in Denver. We have not stopped going out and I just have so much fun with them - it's a great way to get over the stresses of school, kick back, relax and laugh. I love it.

So that's my update. I am still loving Denver, I am making friends and ... Life is Good.

Life During Midterms

Are you seeing the time on this post? No? Well, it is 1:12AM. Waaay past my bedtime - except that I got home a little after 12AM and I just haven't fallen out yet.

This week has been I.N.S.A.N.E. I never really fully comprehended the idea of 'midterms' OR all the pressure that comes with them. This week I had 2 midterms: Spanish on Monday and Digital Media Studies (DMST) on Tuesday. The Spanish one I studied like crazy for ... but the DMST, I was fairly confident in so I didn't do too much. Now, just two days later, I have the results in for BOTH - 91% for the Spanish and 94% for DMST! How is that for irony? I did better on the one I didn't stress over (I think there's a message in there somewhere....)!

NEXT week my schedule looks something like the following:
Monday - Philosophy midterm 10AM / Spanish composition due
Tuesday - HUGE project due in Computer Science (my most challenging course). I'm lucky we're working with partners but seriously, this is the most work I've EVER done in my classes! And then right after, I have an oral presentation in DMST
Wednesday - study for Thursday
Thursday - Midterm 12p for Computer Science. Seriously, my partner and I are getting together almost every single day for at least 2 hours to go over the stuff in this class. It's a lot to take in (and remember!)

Doesn't that schedule just make you cringe? I mean, yikes! I will be so happy when it is all over. I like challenge, but wow, it's comin' all at once and it's like a freight train you just cannot outrun. I just hope I don't get run over!

Tomorrow though, I have been invited (by 2 people - which is better than 1 because it's a big group thing and it's better to have more than 1 contact in a group) to go to a party for one of the guys in my Orientation group. Apparently, we are going to dinner and then 'out'. I tried to pump some info on what 'out' meant but no 100% answer on that. Guaranteed fun, however, and right now, I am totally and completely ready to have some FUN.

Just so long as I can get out of bed Saturday and resume Life During Midterms.

Vandalized!

So as I was heading out this evening to go work on a school project, I noticed that it was starting to sprinkle. I didn't really think too much of it and I went on my merry way. 2 hours later, I was headed home and the rain had picked up. If there is one thing I really don't like, it's driving at night in the rain. But anyway, that's not the point.

The point is that I'd locked my bike up to the outside rail and I realized I'd better bring it in if I didn't want to show up to class tomorrow with my rear end soaking (the downside of having a fancy seat: It's well padded and therefore, holds water very well). So I went outside and unlocked the bike. It only took me about 2 seconds to realize something wasn't right. Sure enough, I look down and my front tire is flatter than a pancake.

Great. Griping to myself, I continued the trek through the rain to the door of the apartment (about 15 feet LOL) and got maybe another 5 steps before I realized that the front tire wasn't just flat - so was the back. I couldn't believe it! I stopped, right there with the rain coming nice and fast, and squatted down and immediately saw the problem.

Someone stole those little things that screw on to the air hole. I cannot believe it! Seriously, c'mon! And of course, I have a test tomorrow (my first midterm) and I've been putting off studying for it so I really needed to buckle down tonite and just do. it. Which means I am not going anywhere tonight and that tomorrow, I'm going to have to take the Light Rail to school and then afterwards, run to Walmart and try and find those little plug things.

Like I don't have other stuff to do. It's MIDTERMs the next two weeks - I don't have time for this stuff!

There goes the great idea of keeping my bike outside. I'd rather just take it up and down the stairs. Well, actually, I'd rather keep it outside but short of gluing those things down, I don't see anyway to make sure no one steals those little do-dads again!

So, grrr, those are my thoughts this late Sunday night.

Happy Hump Day.

Ahem, for those of you who do not know, when I say 'Happy Hump Day' I am referring to Wednesday. Just to clarify.

Anyway, have I said how gorgeous Denver is? I mean, when you think about it, cities aren't all that pretty. There are tall buildings and cars and noise and all the stuff that comes from lots of people in not all that big of a space...but Denver (or at least my corner of it) is probably the cleanest city I've ever seen.

I've gotten over the worst of my cold (now just to get rid of this annoying cough) and this week I'm back to riding my bike. Wow, I missed it. The cool mornings, the wind in my face, the flex and pull of my legs as I race to school. I even missed riding home (which I have gotten so very good at). Now it only takes me about 1/2 an hour to get home - and I found out that I don't have to carry my bike up to my apartment every day - there is a bike rack at the back of our building. Yippee!

Yesterday, one of the gals from my Orientation week showed me where the Light Rail (picture an above ground subway and you've got it) station is on campus. I had absolutely no idea that you (I) could take my bike on it! But it turns out you can and it is great! It also turns out that we live only a few short blocks from each other, so that was neat too. I can definitely see myself taking the Light Rail when the weather turns too cold to ride (I'm not crazy enough to ride through ice or snow...even with my trusty helmet). And the stop is only about 3 blocks from my apartment so its nice and close.

Other than that, my classes are already talking about midterms! Wow, I feel like I just started and now we're halfway done. Some are as early as next week, while others are the following so I guess I'll be doing a lot of prep work this weekend. Right now, my most challenging class is Spanish - and it's the only class that has 'real' tests because we've got vocabulary and such to memorize.

I think my favorite class is the Computer Science course that I am taking in lieu of Math (best choice I ever made). This semester we're using Java to design games and it is A LOT of fun and quite challenging as well. I think my background in CSS/HTML helps in understanding formatting and such but the actual code is quite different. I'm really enjoying it.

I also have decided on my minor (which I'll probably be declaring sometime this week - by that, I mean informing the school of my decision). I've chosen marketing because it's something that will come in handy at any of the bigger corps that I apply to. I haven't really done much research into what it all entails but I know I'm up for it so I'll probably grab some of those classes next semester.

Other than that, everyone is happy and healthy. Tobey managed to swallow something that he's been trying to clear from his throat but it doesn't seem to irritate him so I'm not worried (and no, it's not a hairball). Charlie is still the more rambunctious of the two (which is odd because he's older and I originally though that he would settle Tobey) but when he gets in his mood he's the one that'll headbutt you and demand attention.

Oh! and, good news, I have lost at least 1 jean size. Woot, woot!

Alrightie, well that concludes the break I have today. I'm supposed to meet with the Digital Media Studies counselor in about 15 minutes so I'd better start heading over there.

Enjoy the pictures of the kits!

Under the Weather.

Sorry for the silence but I seem to have caught the cold that is going through my morning Philosophy class. I swear, at least 70% of the people there have symptoms ranging from the sniffles to an an outright hack-up-a-lung cough - including the chick behind me. Of course, I also went and rode my bike to school on Monday with wet hair - AND on Saturday I kind of got caught in the rain without a jacket while we were at the German Festival (I got to spend the weekend with Vamp and her bros and we totally took in the sights of CO Springs).

So I'm sure that all of those things combined have brought me to where I am now - wallowing in Claritin-D and toilet paper (next time, I'm buying the tissue - my nose will thank me).

That said, I thought I'd post some pictures from our adventures this weekend.





And last but not least, I thought I'd introduce you to the babies.

This is Charlie.

And this is Tobey.

Bicycle Update

So the Walmart out here thinks I am a total flake. I brought in a bicycle on Sunday (the one I purchased the week school started) because the brakes had gone out. I traded it in for a Schwinn thinking, Hey, it's quadruple the price of the one that broke - that means it's better quality, right?

Wrong! First of all, I couldn't actually test the bike out until I got it home (which I did...after scratching up the rear end of my car trying to get it in the trunk..grr). So the lack of testing means that I missed the fact that the seat was not secure. As in, when you get on it, it immediately pitches forward (or backward, or to the left or right depending on which way you set your weight). So yeah...

And yet, I still tried it out. Monday was a disaster. The bike was heavy, the seat kept trying to eject me, and I barely made it to class. I ended up walking the bike home.

That night, I went out and bought myself a proper backpack (sooo in love with the backpack) and I took my 2nd bike back to Walmart. Of course, Glover Luck held and the same gal I'd returned the previous bike to took this return as well. I explained the problem and she looked at me like, "It's a Schwinn...there's nothing wrong with it," and recommended some bike place around the corner. Valiantly (read: stubbornly), I told her I was sure I could find something.

I am now on my 3rd bike. I rode it to school Tuesday and was so bruised on my behind, I walked it home BUT I liked it. It was just as light as the first bike and it rode well except I had forgotten just how hard that first seat was (one thing I will give to Schwinn - they make a comfy seat...if it would just hold still!). So, a new bicycle seat later and I can officially say, I really, really like this bike! The seat is SO comfy and I made it to school in great time. And best yet, I am not afraid of the ride home - even though it is considerably warmer today (that means it's probably in the low 80s). It's kind of funny because Monday there was a chill in the air and snow in the mountains. I was kind of hoping that trend would continue but alas, the sun is out and I guess I'll just have to deal with the lovely breeze that comes through the trees every few seconds.

Colorado is so gorgeous.

A quickie.

I'm sitting in Philosophy class (we're on break) and I am still taking some deep breaths over the ride here this morning. I don't know what/where I went wrong but this morning kicked my butt. To the point that I barely made it up the first block before I was heaving and huffing like it had been 10 years off a bike instead of 4 days.

I even had to stop at the store because I was about to pass out (those who have seen me work out at the gym - just picture me in our aerobic class with purple lips, etc). I gulped down some water but even that didn't help too much.

I made it to class with 2 minutes to spare instead of the normal 20 min early. Seriously, something went way wrong this morning.

And in a couple hours, I get to do it again but this time. Up hill.

Yay me.

Week One Recap

Day #2

The face's just keep getting better and better, don't they?

First Day

Orientation Week

My First Post.