What moves me.

I n s p i r a t i o n shall be the name of the game this week.

I feel like I'm so easily inspired. I feel like I can get a great idea from the slightest thing. & I am darn happy about it. Over the past 2 years or so, I have really relied on YouTube. What for? To draw inspiration of course.

When I longed to go back to skating about three years ago, I felt so lost. Here I was, after a seven year break of perhaps stepping on the ice just a few times, wanting to go back to do what the big dogs of skating do. The first time going back on the ice was so shaky. I had to learn how to glide correctly again and relearn the easiest of jumps. I could not even do a backspin. I was disappointed. I was officially a "washed up" skater, as my mom would call them.

I turned to YouTube. Here I would type in skaters I had admired for the years I had not been skating. I had never been a Michelle Kwan fan, she was too safe, and although she held consistency in her power, I didn't enjoy her skating overall. The name found in the YouTube search box would always be that of Sasha Cohen. The fierce, flexible, skater who was all over the board when it came to jumps, but when she was on she was ON. Her style is to be admired. Her skating literally has INSPIRED me to be better and work harder. After watching clip after clip and program after program, I feel like some of her power can be found in my skating. Although you will not find the technicality in my possession. Sometimes I like to think form, expression, speed, and grace override the ability to do jumps. I am forever grateful for YouTube.

I could not be more excited that she is going for the 2010 games. I want her to get a gold medal.

After I started skating and getting more and more into it again, the desire to do ballet starting tapping on my shoulder. This was a hoot. When I was a young girl, I HATED ballet. So boring. But it was the way they moved, the control they had over their bodies, ballerinas had the flexibility that I longed for.

I was never flexible, but always thought it to be a cool ability. After watching rhythmic gymnastics and ballet on YouTube, I was able to see form and flexibility at it's finest and it did nothing else but inspire me to be better. I feel like I am one of those people (like most others I'm sure) that if I watch something enough I can do it myself. I stretched 2 times a day, starting practicing the ballet that I would see in the videos and pushed myself to get better. I would watch these videos of both ballet and skating over and over until I was able to perhaps transcend what they were doing onto the ice or behind the ballet bar. It seems lame, but it has worked for me.

Two sports I thought I would never touch again have grown to be some of my biggest passions in life. Although, most times I feel like I am WAY too late to pursue anything with these sports. But I lately have been feeling like my desires to succeed an perhaps override my age blunder. A 21 year old ballerina just learning the real tricks of the trade? Sure! Why not. I perhaps should learn not to harbor so much pessimism in the sports, yes THE SPORTS, that I LOVE. After all, IDID get a fortune in a cookie the other day that said "Participation in sports may lead you to a lucrative career". I shall take that as a good sign.

Some videos that helped me get to where I am today. Enjoy!

FIGURE SKATING:

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TznIauD1_UU&feature=related -makes me want to go for it all.

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqvkip9S1VA -yeah, it's a guy, but his skating is amazing.

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGE6aMtfw9E

4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFerA2QZX8 -a GREAT program.

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh3iW4I39DI -although not consistent, a beautiful, emotional program.

BALLET/RHYTHMIC

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMJorfZpAiE !!! a FAVOURITE!

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncAJTxiMSfk&feature=related

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUrJuSh0evE&videos=h6H9dRuK1Cs&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1

4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a26-42k2LhY&feature=related
5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xjoPIZem0&feature=related YAY! Perfect :)

Its a bit of a link overload, but hopefully you checked out atleast one from each group. They are all amazing dancers, gymnasts, and skaters.

Where do YOU get YOUR inspiration?!

challengers.

After another great weekend comes one productive Monday.

A good way to spend the fifth day of October;

-Classes (Geography, Math, History, Ethics) 9-1.

-Stopped at the grocery store to pick up items for my mother

-Came home and conquered some math homework

-Did a load of laundry

-Transfered my bath products to my newly redone bathroom. For years and years I have always showered in the downstairs main bathroom. Growing up, my two older brothers shared the upstairs one while my parents have one in the master. An even distribution that I got used to for 18 years of my life or since I have been showering on my own. Even for years after my brothers moved out I didn't find the upstairs bathroom appealing (It had been run down with teenage boys for quite awhile.) Thanks, but no thanks. Recently my parents stripped the awful wallpaper that was in there and gave it a nice light face lift. Ah! Appeal in the upstairs bathroom! Who would have thunk it! It was nice to get all settled in.

-Cleaned out my room. I get in patterns where I clean my room and love it and try my best to keep it up. After a few months, it starts to slowly get more cluttered and messy. Each time I vow to keep it up. It gets hard, especially when I'm not here on weekends anymore and here for substantial time only two days a week. I must have gotten the vibes from my mom who cleaned and re-organized the house yesterday. She cleaned out all her old workout clothes (really nice workout clothes!) and I inherited them. This will be perfect because Eric just added me on his membership at Lifetime so they will be put to good use. I cleaned out my closet, drawers (to make room for all those new sweat soaking ensembles), my desk, and bookshelf. The room has a new organized appeal to it & I'm happy with that.

So today I was watching, as usual, The Weather Channel, and there is a documentary featured often called "It could happen tomorrow." This program pinpoints different areas in the U.S. and pairs it with a disaster that is most likely to hit that area due to research or simply just because it's been so long since it has last happened. Examples have included: what would happen if a huge hurricane hit New Orleans (this aired two years before Katrina hit), A Tampa hurricane that would wipe the town out as well as a Hilton Head hurricane that would do the same thing, a huge earthquake through Memphis, and the eruption of Mt St. Helen's in Washington. The thing that shocks me the most is that they tell you what will happen, how it's going to happen, and features the destruction that would likely be probable and these predicted things DO happen and do exactly as predicted, yet it prevents no one from leaving and it beings no new ideas to the table of what to do to prepare for potential disaster. Of course, you can never stop a natural disaster from happening, but you can stop some of the damage that occurs. It's just bewildering to me how accurate they are.

So this weekend, starting on Thursday I got this song/melody in my head. I only knew one part of the song but didn't know lyrics, just the tune. It was driving me crazy, I had no idea where I heard it except that I DID hear it more than once. I figured it was something new Eric had given me or something we heard on one of our playlists. After telling him this, relaying the melody, and telling him who I thought it could be, we went through some songs and thought of who the artist could be. After a weekend of curiosity, he figured out the song! He sent me it last night and I am so relieved! Here it is! I love it!

Ahead for the week is the usual showdown. Skating and work tomorrow and Thursday, classes and ballet on Wednesday, and Friday is filled with classes, followed by work, and a great weekend! Eric's cousin and her husband are coming up and hopefully we'll get some fun things in! Have a great week! Enjoy yourselves!

-Tessabee

Vogue. Absolutely Positively.

The other day my friend Meredith and I were hanging out.

She said to me "You need to update your blog more!"

Meredith; this one is for you.

Things have been great since the last time I posted;

Work has been going well. I feel really lucky that the environment is so great. I feel that that the people that I work with have just the right personalities to all mesh together to compliment. I love how it's not all customer interaction so there is time for silliness between the decorating. The things we talk about, laugh about, and complain about are just hilarious. I think the fact that we rock out to 93.1 (XRT) is just fantastic. I really don't have any complaints.

School School School! I am shocked! Well not really, but let me explain. When it comes to school there are two sides of me. There are the high school Tessa days where I did nothing and got the grades to prove it. Then there is College Tessa. College Tessa works hard for A's, most of the time gets them, and is always putting in at least 80% effort. WOAH. Talk about a huge change. So anywho; it's the last semester. I am excited for it to be done but I have a feeling I will go back in time and get a degree in something for baking or perhaps Broadcast Journalism (for meteorology). So since it's the last semester, I took fairly easy courses; variations of courses I had taken other times and did well in. So here I am in classes that are loaded with first year students. Gag me with a spoon! This makes class drag with stupid comments/questions or people that take forever to say what they are trying to say. It's easy; compose an answer, raise your hand, say it. Not hard--learn it. Besides the annoyance in the classroom, these classes are short and sweet but sometimes I find that even just a 50 minute class can drag. However, since this IS the last semester, I'm half in half out. Of course I'm going for good grades, but I'm just there for the paper at this point. Shockingly enough, I've been doing way better than I thought. I did well on a history exam, got an A on a math quiz, a B on a nutrition exam, and composed a 4 page essay very quickly and feel confident about it. THANK GOODNESS. So I'm shocked that I'm not doing so bad at all and I think I've got this college thing/what to study for all in working order. What a relief!

Eric and I spent another great weekend together. Kind of a low key weekend, but we did eat at some fantastic places and we went to the gym together. That was a fun experience! I haven't been to the gym since and perhaps before I wrote this very entry. It was good though. I always like a good workout and to do anything active. Again, after another great weekend it was time to snap back to reality and face the world of the upcoming week which so far has been good. Classes, work, skating, nothing outstanding. Although something out of the norm was that on Tuesday I decided to go skating at 7:45 a.m. I have not done a morning skate since I was about 10 years old. I used to go before school in the days of being a competitive skater. I got a good hour + 15 minute skate in. I am really glad I decided to go. Originally I was going to skip out because I had a dentist appt. at the normal time I skate. I needed to skate more than once a wee k though and it's such a good workout that it is a bummer to skip. But alas! Ballet was tonight. I had to miss last week due to the AMAZING Phoenix/Chairlift show Eric and I attended last Wednesday! The class went well this week. I really, really like it and feel like I have progressed. Unfortunately my lower back has been really hurting me these past few days :( It shall get better soon.

AHH! Fall temperatures are approaching! It is almost here people! I am nervous for it's arrival. Every year I am in TOTAL denial that it is going to get as cold as it gets every year. EVERY winter I say many, many times that "I HATE THIS PLACE! I AM MOVING OUT OF HERE!" Normally it's when I'm running to the car to avoid the frigid weather. I admire those warmer winter nights. Where it doesn't seem as cold and the sky appears to be and orange shade. I love walking around on those nights. Especially real late at night. I also adore that extra hour that creeps into our lives--the one that we welcome with open arms. I love to see the leaves change and fall from their beloved branches--where they hung out at all hours during the late spring and summer months, and just letting go so easily. I love wearing boots and some select fall pieces from the trusty wardrobe. I love the spirit of the holidays. It's already starting; Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are starting to be talked and thought about and I love the pre-holiday excitement, but when it's going on it just seems like too much. I don't have definite plans for Thanksgiving, but I hope I can get a few days off work :)

Wow; the night is young. Not even 11pm, but let me tell you, I am thinking about going to bed in about 15 minutes! How glorious that would be :)

These upcoming days are simple; skating and work tomorrow followed by a little studying hopefully, and Friday is class, straight to work, and then I'm being swept away again :) A new CURB is on Sunday! YAY!

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

it's a meal in itself!

Anyone who watches CSI knows that you have to see it from the very start.

CSI is my current background noise/main focus when commercials aren't on.

I love this show, but ONLY Vegas. Miami does not do it for me, but I don't loathe it.

However, I disdain New York. I will never watch a CSI New York. Although I love this show, I will most likely never be watching SVU, NCIS, or any other thing that is like CSI. I just love it.

I naturally find myself going against mainstream. Music is really the only exception (some clothes/shoes of course). But most of the time if it's popular, then I immediately do not like it. Let's give a few examples of things that are just way to overdone for me to even bother to start to trying liking them now.

1) Twilight. Forget it. I don't care HOW good you tell me it is, I just have no desire to be a part of it. I am willing to pass it up for the sake of everyone being obsessed.

2) Harry Potter: Yeah, sorry. I hear these books are amazing, but lets get real, I'm not about to start settling in for a 6+ book series just because everybody else tells me "I just have to".

3) Peace Signs: This USED to be great--when no one wore them. Now you can't go anywhere without seeing peace signs all over it. They are all over every girls shirt, pants, jewelery. I'm just done with it. It doesn't work out to my advantage because I used to wear a ton of peace sign stuff. Now it's hyped up like crazy.

The list goes on, but you get the idea.

This week has been pretty good. There were a few (+) & (-) things.

(+)

1) Seeing Phoenix and Chairlift and front row last night! Eric and I saw them at the Aragon and it was such a GREAT show. It has been awhile since I've seen a show that great!

2) Having a good skate on Tuesday. It's important to me that I skate at least once a week, even though thats not nearly enough. I would like to be skating 3-4 days a week for at least 2 hours a day. Unfortunately, it's not possible at all with my schedule. My jumps are getting more height and spins are pretty good.

3) I purchased my favorite bread from the bakery today. It is scrumptious even though it's just normal white bread. They have such a variety though that I'm always tempted to get something like Apple Cinnamon or Strawberry Banana. Next time I will :)

4) Curb Your Enthusiasm premiere was on Sunday night. Eric and I went to his parents house to watch it. I love that show and I'm glad I have a new season to tune into every Sunday!

5) GOING TO HENRY'S HOTDOGS! So good. I've been going here for years and I love it. Eric and I went on a Sunday on a daytrip :)

(-)

1) I had to miss ballet. I love ballet and only have it one day a week. However, it was skipped to go to the Phoenix/Chairlift show. In retrospect, missing ballet was totally worth it. I will just have to practice more to try and makeup for it.

2) Classes. Enough said.

3) Only have one day of skating. Like I said, the more the better. The lack of working out kills me. I'm pretty active and eat pretty healthy, but still, I like a workout here and there to make me feel better. Especially skating.

4) Already having spent a lot of my paycheck. Of course $180 went to a bill and other things (food, unfortunately!) Oh well. I worked some good hours last week so that will make up for it!

Overall, the week was pretty good. Complaints are small and were overridden by better.

Classes, work, and weekend bliss starts tomorrow!

Cannot wait! Have a great one!

-Tessabee

the best times happen while wearing red.

a neat music vid I found this morning ; enjoy!

Ballet starts in one hour.

Actually less than that--it starts in 57 minutes.

Here is me starting a blog post.

I've been caught up in habit. I do the same things over and over without intending to.

I try to do a lot all at once. My brain is scattered. It's okay--I'm happy as a person,

it's just my brain that's all over the place.

If I were able to get into my car, start it, get out of the driveway, pick out a CD, and put on sunglasses all at once we would be getting somewhere. Unfortunately that is not the case. I am so picky about my music that I will sacrifice promptness in order to have great tunes for the road.

Classes consumed my day today. They were kind of a snooze. I am glad I do not have work tonight because I need to get crackin on some readings. My classes are JUST starting to pick up. Unfortunately I've gotten in this nice little groove where I don't have a ton of work to do and can mostly just get by with little to no effort. I knew that would change soon. I just need to really start focusing and things should be fine.

On a completely different note; I am DREADING winter yet somewhere in me wants to welcome it with open arms. I think it will be a cheery winter. I am looking forward to Christmas and everything looking gorgeous outside after everything has been sprinkled with snow. I also am excited for my winter wardrobe. Not that it's anything snazzy, it's just a change of pace and I love pullin out the boots and sweaters. However, I will REALLY miss opening my windows to let the breeze pour in or taking long walks. That is what I will miss the most is my long walks. Maybe I will find the desire to bundle up and trudge in the cold, but probably not.

I don't really know why I posted. But yeah. YAY! Ballet soon!

check this out: kinda cool

"...with club sauce."

Another great weekend was had along with a good week.

Last week was pretty much the usual. Nothing too exciting happened.

The week ended with me having class all morning on Friday, going straight to work, and then going out afterwards. Eric and I grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to his place Friday night.

Saturday was great! I convinced him to go to Greek Islands with me. He had gotten really sick at the downtown location and I was so worried that I would talk it up to much and something would happen to make it a bad experience for him--(don't you just hate it when that happens?). However, instead of the bad happening, it was a great experience. I love that place and just knew that everyone that goes there just loves it. I haven't been going there since I was months old for nothing! After lunch, we decided to get some walk action in at Oakbrook Mall. We bopped around--not really shopping for anything in particular but of course we bought things--I must admit, some very wise purchases were made! No regrets on that end. After we left the mall 2 or so hours later, I had an odd desire to both play some mini golf and get some batting cage time in. So luckily we were able to find a place close to Oakbrook and did that for awhile. I guess you would be able to say we were the front runners in the Acura Championship for golf. It was rivals with the BMW Championship that goes on the same weekend... It was a good game for sure and it has been forever since I have done batting cages. I was glad we were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine on Saturday. Not too many gorgeous days left this summer! Gotta utilize!

Sunday was fantastic because we had all day plans in the city. Rodan--our new found breakfast place in the city would be our first stop. It was more like a brunch because we arrived in the city around 12:30. After breakfast we cruised over to the beach and had a few drinks at the restaurant there. There were so many sailboats on the lake and everything was so blue. I know it's silly, but everytime I'm on the lakefront, I can't help but think of it as a sea. It's really enjoyable and I love spending time down there. After our drinks we just walked along the lake and we had the idea to rent some bikes and see lakeshore that way. I had so much fun with that! I have never ridden a bike in such nice scenery! Normally I'm just going around my neighborhood which is always a snooze. It was such a great day out too. We got lucky with a beautiful weekend! It's funny how the mundane becomes so exciting when you are in a new and unfamiliar place. I ride my bike all the time, but change the background and it makes all the difference. After our bikeride we went across the street to make our 6:00 pm reservation forCafe Spiaggia. A few weeks ago we went to Spiaggia. The cafe is much more laid back, quicker, and very affordable. Spiaggia on the other hand is a 3+ hour meal, very classy, and not what you would call cheap. It was a nice change of pace. I am ABSOLUTELY in LOVE with the gnocchi they have with the wild boar ragu. I love everything about that dish. We both enjoyed dinner, spent a little more time together, and then it was time to head back to Naperville.

I didn't have to much going for today. I had classes in the morning and I knew the only big thing I had to do was get some laundry done and clean up my room a bit. I HATE doing laundry. I don't think anyone really likes it. I get irritated with myself when I see the stack just getting higher and higher and I just keep putting it off. It's not a good habit, but in the end, I get it all done. I like maintainence and efficiency. I also get irritated when these two things are not always going on. Oh well--it got done today!

Tomorrow is work--yay! When I have a few days off, I really enjoy going back. I also get to skate tomorrow which will be good! I am exhausted right now . It's been a busy weekend. I'll leave you with a picture from Sunday :) See what I mean about how blue it is?!

Have a good week!

"I think of having tea everytime I see the shoes too."

Hello there!

I am starting to forget what the weekends look like in Naperville. Trust me, I'm not complaining!

I spent this weekend in Indianapolis. Eric and I stayed at the Westin downtown.

For dinner was Capital Grille.

We were both expecting it to be better for its reputation it has of being a great place.

It was a good night overall though.

In the end we'll probably blame it all on Indianapolis and it's cluster of chain restaurants.

Ha ha. Poor Indianapolis--It hasn't been doing too well on the score card...

However, Greenfield, Indiana was quite the pleasant suburban area. Pretty Indiana. There we go! There was a suprise party for his cousin and that was a good time. It was nice to meet family, mingle, and see different faces. It was nice to spend a weekend away somewhere new too. Last weekend was Chicago, this weekend was Indianapolis, and we're still trying to muster up something for this weekend! I'm determined to pick out something fun to do because it's my turn to pick. EEK! Pressure, pressure! :)

So I've been dying to talk more about my adoration for tea. It has been increasing more and more. It's most likely because that visit I had to Tea Gschwendner got me all crazy hooked on seeing it and smelling it before I buy. It's also a huge perk not to have to pay shipping like I was when I was ordering offline. I've tried about 4 new teas in the past two weeks.

Blood Orange

Peach Melba

Earl Grey Creme

Anna's (a raspberry yogurt flavor)

I love getting people on the "tea train" too, as I like to call it. I think it's much easier to drink than water most of the time and with all the unique flavors I've been getting my hands on, I'm practically boiling a new pot of water every hour when I'm home. I think I should wait awhile before I head over to Teavana or Tea Gschwendner anytime soon considering I have about 6 tins of tea in my cabinet...not a bad thing!

I am also an official member of the American Meteorology Society; the student chapter. Today was our first meeting. There is a symposium coming up in November--a 3 day event. I really want to go but I just am not sure if I could get work off and it's kind of pricy. However, it's all related to severe weather so I think I would really dig it. We will have to see. If I request off now, i might be a lucky duck and get the time off. I bought a new radar (RADAR SCOPE) application for my phone. That makes 6 weather apps. It's making life a little easier. I was always wanting radar on my phone, especially with base velocity. Good stuff!

This week brings the usual; classes, ballet, skating, and work.

Ballet and skating are both going pretty well. I'm happy with ballet especially. I have really fallen in love with it. I love the movement and how tough it is and how much strength it requires, but how beautiful it looks. I am going to start going to a school for it and take longer classes. I have ballet tomorrow night. I skated this morning though for an hour and a half. I guess it went pretty well. My jumps were really good today and my spins were just okay today. I'm focusing a lot more on edge work these days. I feel that if I rely more on my edge and learn how to use them more efficiently then I would be able to make things more sharp and consise with elements. I want to get into ice dancing. Take a look at some good ice dancing HERE. Impressive stuff, folks!

I'll anticipate the weekend for a nice break from the usual! Have a great night!

-Tessabee

"That was plums!"

Where to even start?!

It has been quite awhile since I have blogged.

Last week at this time I would have been (well, working) but looking forward to seeing

Modest Mouse.

It seems like one thousand things have happened since then. I suppose that is pretty accurate.

The highlight would have to be the wonderful weekend I spent in the city.

I got whisked away to the W on Lake Shore Drive!

What a unique and fun experience.

I have never done anything like that.

The weekend included some of my favorites!

1) Spiaggia. Two words. Damn Delicious.

2) Art Institute of Chicago

3) Lake Shore walking. Especially because on Sunday the waters were quite rough!

4) Room service!

5) A lot of good laughs

6) Fantastic room view (31'st floor overlooking the lake)

It was something to gush about that is for sure! It was hard to snap back to reality today and drag myself to classes at 9am this morning. My classes really do seem like a joke.

I say this because they are 50 minutes long. If there is any form of discussion, what we actually need to learn gets pushed off. I also hate that I ordered my books online because I really need them and feel mentally unprepared for a class unless they are in my possession.

You know what I do not get? Why people buy books aware of the fact they are not going to read them. I also do not get why people sign up for classes if they are just going to sit and text or walk in 20 minutes late to class. I try and make the most out of it. I feel good about that atleast. Anywho, I just hope my books get here soon!

I am exhausted! Hopefully I can squeeze in a quick skate tomorrow and head to work at two. I am excited to get back to decorating :) It seems like it has been forever!

Have a wonderful week! Hope you have something exciting planned!

You should be more Modest, Mouse!

A good amount has already happened to me this week.

This is not a bad thing I suppose. I like having a set schedule and something to do each day.

Note; I will regret saying this I'm sure at some point during the semester.

Let's delve into the early part of the week:

Monday: I started classes. I normally am really excited for school to start, but I was just not really in that mode of thinking. I will get acclimated and things will work out fine. I am taking five classes this semester, but only have four classes on Mondays and Fridays and five on Wednesdays. They are short and sweet so that is a huge perk, plus they all mildly fascinate me--the subjects that is. I can dig history, especially stuff I can remember or things I know a good deal about already. Nutrition? Of course, that's right up my alley. Ethics, business math, geography--all applicable things. I also am glad that I am out early. After school, I headed to work where I unexpectadly got out at twelve twenty a.m. That turned into a late night, but I'm glad I worked the long hours. I need the dough.

Tuesday: A day off. A day to really do nothing, except Modest Mouse at night. So I slept in a little bit, headed to the mall, scoped out an outfit, and headed back home to get ready for the show. I did so, got scooped up, and headed to the city. We arrived midway through the opening band which was a smart move. I never feel compelled to see first act unless I know it's going to be really worth it. We had a few drinks and found a good spot on the floor. The show was REALLY good. I was really happy with it. I was not a huge Modest Mouse fan a few weeks ago, I will be honest. I was asked to go to the show and I really wanted to check it out. I am really glad I did. I also am glad that I listened to a good deal of Modest Mouse a few days before the show to prepare myself. I like to atleast be exposed to an album or two than going and not knowing what to expect. It was a wonderful night and I would see them again if they came around :)

Today: Goodness. Up at 7:10, classes from 9-1, Whole Foods lunch, nutrition class, home, ballet, home, long walk. Ballet takes it out of me. I practically releve'd for forty five minutes. Poor legs. Oh well, it's worth it in the end. I am exhausted. I am pretty determined to get some good stuff done for classes. So hopefully I can utilize tonight.

I have an odd desire/craving right now for cheesecake-a good solid cheesecake. YUM! I haven't had good cheesecake in awhile--maybe years! Or a orange vanilla smoothie kind of thing. Good thing we have oranges and Vanilla ice cream! Bonus! Because it's just the worst when you want it and it's not readily available. I guess that will be the easiest craving of the two to cure.

OOOO! Tropical Storm Danny? A little tropical action and the weather channel is on that and only that until it disapates. This seems to be a quick one though. It might not even organize properly, but if it does it will definately affect the states. It might either way. I love tracking these things, seeing the impacts along the way. It's just interesting how weather moves in such large systems and how one system can cause so much destruction. Storms are beautiful and devestating. Anywho!

I should get some work done. Have a great night and enjoy the week!!

-Tessabee

Tropical meteorology;You're great!

Looks like it's that time again.

Yep. That time.

The time where I start kind of freaking out about school.

Summer is over.

School starts the twenty fourth.

I am normally a really relaxed person, but school stresses me out.

I really want to get A's.

Math alone. Scares me senseless.

I mean...THEY THINK I KNOW BASIC ARITHMATIC!?

Good God. Who are they kidding?!

I will admit I am mathematically INEPT. I cannot comprehend math. I like geometry, but that's shapes and shapes are everything we see. Geometry is way easier for me to conceptualize. Algebra? x-y? WHAT? When counting, my fingers are a necessity. How sad. I wish I were a math phenomenon.

However, I'm right brained. Give me an open stage, a spotlight, and some music or lines.

I'm too energetic for things like math. It's just how it goes. BUT I WILL TRY!

I have some other courses I am anticipating besides my Business math (which really should be a snap).

1) Ethics. BONUS. Bring on the debates.

2) History in depth from 1945 to present.

3) Cultural Geography

4) Nutrition for food professionals.

I'm looking forward to it I guess. I have to get some notebooks and pens/pencils. I am a little disappointed. See, I really wanted 2009 to be the year of the pencil. I came across these AWESOME glitter pencils (see here)

So I buy these pencils and I declare "Hey, everyone! It's the year of the pencil!". I ditched the notion of my previous mechanical pencil adoration and love for ink and moved on to the trusty pencil. Yeah, so NONE of the pencil sharpeners at C.O.D. work. Really?! The toilets flush on their own but you cannot install adequate sharpeners?! Weak Sauce. New pens and pencils are to be bought very soon.

So I have completely ignored my Phish concert experience.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL. This was a great show. It was Tuesday Aug. 11.

I know awhile ago, but I feel it definately deserves a little recognition.

Setlist:

I: Kill Devil Falls, Sample in a Jar, Ocelot, Paul and Silas, Windy City, The Curtain With, Train Song, Gumbo, Heavy Things, Time Turns Elastic
II: Backwards Down The Number Line> Carini, Gotta Jibboo, Theme from the Bottom, Wilson, Also Sprach Zarathustra> Chalkdust Torture, Harry Hood, The Squirming Coil
E: Loving Cup

This show was packed full of great songs and the crowd was a great one. They were in a jammin mood for sure and they played some great songs. WILSON! I cannot even believe they played it! Loving Cup too, WOW! Harry Hood! GOTTA JIBBOO! HEAVY THINGS! AH! I get so excited just thinking about it (I am sure you noticed). We were in Toyota Park and since it's a soccer field, we opted to buy seats because the floor would all be level, we wanted to really see the show. This was a GREAT move. We were able to have an angle view down onto the field and see all the activity. The whole field was covered and all the seats were filled and it was a perfect night. We were really lucky! During a piano solo everyone had the lighter flick goin and to look down at the crowd and see all the lighters and glowsticks in the air, I love seeing music bring people together and how it makes you feel so powerful and part of something. It was such a wonderful evening.

Wow. What an all over the place post. Sorry about the un-organized thoughts. But if our thoughts were all organized then what's the point of blogging? So all in all' I love Phish, I am nervous/anxious about school starting again, and I thought I loved glitter pencils but sharpeners hate me.

Enjoy the weekend!

Hope classes don't start just yet for you & you can still enjoy more summer freedom!

-Tessabee