This I Believe Tuesday

This I Believe Tuesday - I believe that sometimes you are just too old to go out.

This past weekend was a GREAT weekend full of reuniting with old friends and having fun with more recent friends.  But one thing I learned is that sometimes, you just need to face the fact that you might possibly be too old to go out. 

As we heading downtown, my friends and I began a list of signs you are too old for this.  And the list went a little something like this...

• You are one of very few women wearing a jacket - despite the fact that it's 30 degrees outside.
• You show your actual passport instead of your Hokie Passport as your second form of identification.
• You are seriously considering tying your jacket around your waist because it's so hot and crowded in the bar.
• When you're at the bar, you're looking for others who might possibly be older than you.
• When you're leaving the bar, you hold on tight to the railing when going down the stairs.

And drum roll please... The biggest sign that you are too old to go out is....

When you need a full day to recover.

What do YOU believe?

Y3W: Fall, Friends, Fun

Jenni from the Blog challenges bloggers to sum up their week in three words.  Here's mine for this week...

Fall.  Friends.  Fun.

Let's start with the first word - Fall.  This is by far my favorite time of year in Virginia.  The air is crisp cold, there is a nice breeze gust of wind, and the leaves are full of beautiful colors.  I just love it.  I love walking outside, breathing in the autumn air, and taking in the beautiful landscape.  Seriously, only a picture can show you what I mean (and this was taken a few weeks ago - the trees are even more vibrant now).

And the last two words - Friends and Fun - are really geared toward this upcoming weekend.  It's homecoming at Virginia Tech, which means a lot of friends are coming into town.  And what happens when lots of friends get together?  FUN!  It's going to be a great weekend, hopefully one filled with remembering many fun times in the past and making memories for the future. 

How would you sum up your week in three words?

Y3W: Poo, Vom, Pee

Yes, I said it. 

Poo.  Vom.  Pee.

Ridiculous I know, but that's what I've been dealing with over the last week and a half.  Living in a residence hall of over 1,000 students means that our number of incidents are up.  However, we have had a lot of shit crap issues in the building.  And it's not just pooping, vomiting, and peeing... it's also just general issues with alcohol and drugs.

What the heck is wrong with these students?  I do not remember any of this happening in my residence hall when I was a freshman.  Or was I just oblivious?  That very well could be.

Either way, my week can be summed up in the above three words.  Let's hope these issues stop soon.

How would you sum up your week in three words? 

Don't forget to check out Jenni from the Blog's Y3W challenge.

This I Believe (Thursday)

It's been one heck of a week, and the world is reminding me that it's not quite over yet and so there is more to come.  So I'm sorry I missed posting on Tuesday for my This I Believe.  But I'm making up for it now...

This I Believe Tuesday Thursday - I believe that decisions are not easy.

My colleague and I have had to make many decisions this week, and none of them were easy.  There are other people that have had to make difficult decisions this week as well, and I know they were not easy for those individuals.

I came home from work last night at midnight and looked in the mirror and what did I see?  My shoulders were practically touching my ears!  The tension in my shoulders and back was building up to the point of me *scrunching* my shoulders without even noticing it.

Suffice it to say that decisions are not easy.  They affect the individual, they affect others, and they have an effect on dynamics.  But each decision one makes, they learn from it.  One's decision may bring about respect, or it may bring about hate.  And you know what?... it's your decision to determine how you feel about another person's decisions.  I challenge me (and you) to think about how you decide to react to certain things.  Let's show some more respect for the person making the decision, knowing that decisions are not easy.

What do YOU believe?

Being sick sucks...

I haven't showered in two days.  Yes, that's probably TMI, but it's the truth. 

My head is pounding like I drank 3 bottles of tequila... not that I've ever done that, it's just how I imagine it would feel.

I can count how many hours I haven't been sleeping easier than I can count how many hours I have slept.  (I have been awake 4.5 hours out of the last 36...) 

My migraine has also decided to have a little friend join it, a fever.  And what comes with a fever??  Chills!  Lots and lots of chills.  I keep putting on and taking off my favorite sweatshirt, given to me by The Speedbumps (a pretty awesome band from Ohio).  I can't get to a comfortable temperature in my apartment. 

In my late twenties and all I want is my mommy.  Yea I said it.  And she's not even the most sympathetic person, but she makes me feel better. 

I have taken two days off of work, and can't stop thinking about all of the things that need to get done.  Yet I still sit here, one leg under the blanket and one leg over, sleeping.  I guess I just need to get over it and accept that my body needs this rest to recover from whatever is going on. 

I get put back into perspective, though, when I think about how much worse things can be.  One of my mentors was hit by a car while crossing the streets of NYC a few days ago.  He is in ICU.  I know someone who is facing cancer (and this ain't her first rodeo) and the battle is tough.  A family friend just recently had a serious heart attack, with recovery still a long ways away. 

And I'm sitting here complaining to the four or five of you that read this blog.  I need to be thankful for the health that I do have, because it could be worse.

But whether it's a migraine, fever, major accident, heart attack, or cancer...

Being sick SUCKS! 

So I'm going to go continue to get my rest so that I can be back to 100%, and be thankful because many people out there in the world may never get back to their 100%. 

This I Believe Tuesday

This I Believe started out as a radio show, then moved into books, and now has moved onto the internet.  It is a movement to get people to express what they believe in, their core values, and the stories behind them.

Our Common Book at Virginia Tech this year is This I Believe II.  I absolutely love this book!  It is a collection of short essays, giving you a glimpse into 75 individuals' lives and personal philosophies.  We are finding ways to integrate the book into our daily work at the university, which I have been finding very rewarding.

So I have decided to try and do a This I Believe Tuesday... putting out there what I believe for the current time and situations that I have encountered in my recent history.

So to start this first one off...

This I Believe - I believe that everyone has a story, a story worth knowing.  

Recently in my class, I assigned a paper in which the students had to write their story.  It was as simple as that.  They could choose what they wrote about, how they wrote it, and what they expressed about themselves in their story.  I was fascinated by what my students had to say.  Had I not had them complete this assignment, my knowledge of these individuals would have been just barely scratching the surface.  These are people who have experienced difficult childhoods, poverty, health conditions, loss of family members, living in different cultures, and so on.  They each had a very unique story... a unique story that is worth knowing.  I am honored that they were willing to share their stories, and now I hope to find ways to share my story with them.

What's YOUR story?  What do YOU believe??

Y3W: Just keep swimming...

The point of Y3W (aka Your Three Words) is to sum up your week in just three words.

I first saw it on a fellow blogger's site and I've now been inspired to do it.

So my three words for this week are {drum roll please}...

Just keep swimming

I've been dealing with a lot of crap -- yes I said it... CRAP -- this week and I've had to tell myself multiple times to just keep swimming.  Sometimes things can get you down but if you keep treading that water, you will eventually get to the other side.  (You may just be doggie paddling it all of the way.)

If you would like to start participating in the Y3W challenge, click on the button below.

It's been a long time

Wow.  Where has all the time gone?  Oh yea...

• Moving
• Training
• More training
• Even more training
• Moving some more
• Opening
• Teaching
• Supervising
• Advising
• Creating
• Planning
• Mediating
• Learning
• Playing
• Sleeping (a little)
• Responding

As you can see, it has been a very busy time since I last wrote... which was back in July... sorry blog friends (all 4 of you). 

Although it has been hectic and stressful and exhausting, the time has also been reaffirming, exhilarating, and AWESOME.  I have learned a lot about myself, Virginia Tech, and what I want for my future.

I am really enjoying the relationships that are growing with my RAs and with my fellow RLC.  I already feel like I have a solid group of friends here that I can count on.  Seeing the community I'm living in go through its growing pains is a rewarding experience.  There is no doubt in my mind that this was and is the right move for me.

However I am finding it difficult to have time to sit and talk with friends.  I barely even call home anymore, which I guess is a good sign because that means I must be happy.  The great thing is that I get to see some of the people I love the most more frequently.  I've already seen my parents three times since I moved here.  And Liz and Adam came through for the first home football game.

Ahhhh football... It has been way too long since I've had a constant dose of live VT Hokies football, and boy does it feel good!  I spent too much money on getting the season tickets, but I consider it a strong investment.  Fall is here my friends... fall is here.

I have even almost survived my first week of duty.  I say almost because the week isn't over yet.  But you bet your bottom that on Thursday night, after I have handed off the phone to the next lucky person at noon, I will be enjoying a nice cold adult beverage.  CHEERS to that!

It's good to be back in the world of blogging! 

Back where I belong...

I am officially back where I belong... back in Black(sburg), and it feels great!  I haven't had a lot of time since getting here to post, and to be honest I don't have a lot of time right now.  But nonetheless, I will give a quick and dirty update.  Hopefully I will have more time for a more in-depth post later - hopefully.

I moved to Blacksburg on July 8th.  The move included unloading furniture and all of the big ticket items into the building that I will live in permanently, moving my essentials into my temporary place, and moving the unnecessary stuff into my storage unit.  All of this in one day!  Thank goodness for strong arms and kind people!

Last week was my first week at Virginia Tech, and it was FILLED with training!  A lot of discussions around the philosophy and theory of why we do what we do.  I love talking theory, but was also hoping to get some more concrete answers to my questions.  I will say that it is good to work in a place where we really have a reasoning as to why we do what we do.  And I do what?  Just kidding!  But really, I still have A LOT to learn about my new position - and I have no doubt that this is going to be something that truly challenges me in ways to push me out of my comfort zone.

I had a very nice, low-key weekend.  Did absolutely nothing on Saturday except sleep and hang out with Addy watching movies.  Sunday I went to church with my aunt and uncle and then had lunch at their house.  It is a blessing to be so close to family now... and the added perk of being able to do laundry doesn't hurt, no shame here!

Overall it's been an adventure, full of excitement and a little frustration.  Every day when I walk Addy around campus, I have to pinch myself that I really am living and working here now.  I made a promise to this campus when I left my senior year that I would come back, just never thought it would be so soon.  This is just awesome!

It's the little things...

Today marks the closing of a door and the opening of a window.  In less than an hour, I will sit down to have my exit interview at LaGrange College.  With this transition, as with any other transition, comes a time for reflection.  There are so many little things that I'm going to miss about LaGrange and about the College.  And on the flip side, there are so many little things that I'm looking forward to about this transition...

What I'm going to miss...

• The Porter family, especially that beautiful baby (who's really not a baby anymore)
• My house (I hope it sells soon!)
• The LC Student Life staff (they were like family to me)
• The students (well most of them, at least... I kid!)
• Callaway Gardens
• Some of my favorite restaurants
• My friends
• The easy winters (what the heck is snow?!?)

What I'm most looking forward to...

• Ripping off that huge LC parking decal (I've got my Goo Gone ready)
• Turning in the crackberry... ahem, I mean Blackberry
• Crossing that state line... for good!
• Getting a Virginia license
• Personalizing my Virginia plates (you have no idea how excited I am about this... yep, I'm a nerd)
• Going to church with my aunt and uncle
• Being able to drive home for a weekend if I want
• Seeing my friends when they come back to Blacksburg for football games and such (Go Hokies!)
• Learning new things and meeting new people
• Oh yea... living and working at VIRGINIA TECH!!!!!

Exciting stuff ahead!  But it's not without its goodbyes and probably tears.  This is going to be a great step for me, I just know it.

I leave for Boston to see Alicia for a few days and absolutely cannot wait!  There's no better way to celebrate this transition that with my pookie in an amazing city!

Change is coming...

There is a lot going on at the present moment.  About a week and a half ago, I turned in my two-weeks notice at LaGrange College informing them that I have accepted a new position.  My last day at the College is this Wednesday.  I will be moving from LaGrange and to Blacksburg, VA on July 7.  I will begin my new job as Residential Learning Coordinator for Virginia Tech on July 11.  Oh yea, and I have an exciting trip to Boston to see one of my best friends, Alicia, right in the middle of all of this! 

I am SO excited to start this new chapter of my life.  As many of you know, the last year and a half has proven to be quite a challenge.  Although it is hard to see it right now, I know that I have learned a lot from this difficult time.  I am grateful for the people I have met and students I've gotten to work with while at LaGrange College, but I am very much ready to take this next step.  Although I have to admit, I'm also scared out of my mind!  I'm going into a field in which I do not have direct previous experience.  There is a lot of unknown that is coming with this move, and that's always a scary thing (especially for a planner like myself).

But you know what, despite the fear and unknown and all of the questions, I absolutely cannot wait!  I've always dreamed of being able to go back to my alma mater and give back to the institution that had such an impact on my life.  There is a lot that needs to be figured out between now and then, but who cares?!?  I'm going back to the land of the Hokies!!! 

Pictures taken by Kermiet's Kandids Photography

What if things were different...

We had our Student Life staff retreat yesterday, the first one we've had since I have worked at LaGrange College.  It was a great day full of planning and goal setting, as well as bonding and laughing.  I really like our group, we all get along really well and we are great at challenging and supporting each other (and we all know my favorite student development theory is Challenge & Support).

One of our "assignments" for the retreat was to bring an item that had meaning to us, something that our co-workers may not know about us.  I had a very hard time picking something, mainly because I'm a pretty open book.  But as I was searching for my item, I found two VHS tapes - one was of my VTTV shows that I did as a student reporter while in college and one was of my first special report I recorded, edited, and produced at Virginia Tech. 

I have kept these two tapes mostly as a reminder to myself that dreams can and will change (and also for a good laugh every now and then).  For the longest time, I wanted to be a news anchor or work for a radio station.  That's why I majored in Communication at Virginia Tech, why I got involved with VTTV, and why I spent a summer getting up at 3:00 a.m. everyday to work at a radio station.  The summer before my senior year at Tech was when I realized that although I did enjoy everything that I was doing through my major, I did not feel a sense of fulfillment.  After having an early quarterlife crisis, I made the decision to further my education at the University of South Carolina and pursue a Master of Education in Higher Education Student Affairs.  Although my professional career has had its bumps in the road these past 3 years, I can't really imagine doing anything else.

Pulling out these tapes got me to thinking what my life would be like if things were different and I hadn't decided to pursue a career in student affairs.  Who knows where I would be.  As I think about if things were different, I have realized that I'm glad I chose the path that I did.  I'm also glad to have made that difficult decision to change directions because it is proof that your dreams can and will change, and that is okay.  That is part of the excitement of life, fulfilling your dreams and coming up with new ones.

After all, we are not really in control.  We like to think so, but God is really the one who knows what He's doing.  I have a story that goes to show that we need to let things be and God will take care of us, but that is for another day and time.

As for my future, who knows what's in store.  All I can say is that I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.  I know there will be bumps in the road, maybe even some potholes, but that's what AAA is for... and God is my AAA.

My reason for this blog...

I've been an on-and-off blogger for the last 3 years - inconsistent, random, sporadic, and lazy.  After the recent hacking of my Gmail account, I had to delete all of my previous blogs, which included a personal blog, an online dating blog, a fitness/exercise blog (with two other friends) and my freelance photography blog.  So we're back at the beginning.  A new Gmail account, a new blog...

I would really like to start utilizing this medium as a way for me to just speak my mind about whatever it is that is going on in my life.  So, here I am, attempt #1,256,345 at blogging.  (Yes, the number is exaggerated, but probably a close estimate).

A Brand New Day (from "The Wiz")

Everybody look around
'Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let's commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we've been waiting for

Everybody's glad
Because our silent fear and dread is gone
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness

Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty

It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness
Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty

It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

Today is a brand new day.  A day filled with optisim and hope.  A day filled with the future.  And with this brand new day, I am starting a brand new blog (and maybe even a brand new me).

I hope you join me on this journey, wherever it may take me/us...

(And I will be recreating my photography blog, it just may take a little while.)