First weekend of the semester has officially rolled in... so, how did classes go? Let's see...

ITAL101 - So, not only did I need a filler in my schedule, but I also missed taking a language. I took Spanish for 5 years, I've been away from it for 3 and I wanted to try something new so I opted for Italian. My teacher seems cool. She's from Rome, so she obviously knows her shit. She's not an American trying to teach other Americans the language. I am liking the class right now (and flashing back to how overwhelming it is when you first start learning a new language), but the only thing that bothers me is that this is an intro class, which technically means it's for people who have no experience with the language... and yet, she's teaching the whole thing in Italian. There is very little English at all. Which, yeah, I guess I can see the good in that cuz we're immersed in it from the very first day... but seriously, most of us have no idea what she's saying. I end up picking up what she's saying from how she's gesturing and stuff. But anyway... like I said, I like it for now and I'm happy I chose to take it.

WMST360 - It's only been a day and already I am declaring this class my favorite. The course title is Caribbean Women, and I'm taking it for my undergrad certificate in Women's Studies (which is basically like a minor). First of all, my professor is awesome. She's an anthropologist by trade, and she's done most of her work in the Caribbean so she really knows what she's talking about. She is super-enthusiastic and funny as hell and she's one of those professors that seems to really have a passion for teaching, rather than acting like it's simply an obligation for them to come to class every day and teach us. We're gonna be doing a lot of reading, obviously, but she also wants to do some cultural stuff too, like dance. And while I'm not necessarily looking foward to learning a cultural dance and inevitably making a fool out of myself, I think it's really cool that she wants us to get involved in something like that rather than just sit in the classroom every day and discuss discuss discuss.

COMM232 - Normally I would have absolutely nothing good to say about this class, since Toth is teaching it and anyone who knew me last semester or ever read this Xanga, knows that he is the Devil and quite possibly the worst professor in the world. This is the follow-up to the News Writing & Reporting for Public Relations class - News Editing for Public Relations. Really, neither class has anything to do with PR, besides the words "public relations" being mentioned every once in awhile. However, he changed the format of the class from how he taught it last semester and so we're not just gonna be writing stories and crap like I was expecting. This semester we have a "client" (the outreach coordinator in the comm department) and we're going to be designing a new admissions brochure for the department. We have a budget and everything. How cool is that? We are gonna be working with everything, from writing, layout, editing, etc. Now this is what the poor 232 students from last semester should have been doing! I know I'm still gonna hate Toth and his class, but at least we might be doing something worthwhile.

COMM453 - The Power of Discourse in American Life. Doesn't that sound interesting, lol. I thought it did, but I'm not so sure though. My professor doesn't seem like she's at all laid-back in any way, shape or form. She seems nice enough, but there doesn't seem to be any sense of humor or fun to her at all, which sucks. I'm not saying I want my professors to be goofballs, but a little fun doesn't hurt. Anyway, since the course title is so broad, we're gonna be focusing on slavery in America and the discourse surrounding that entire time period. We're gonna be analyzing speeches, articles, etc. We have a big presentation and 3 exams. So basically, everything is weighted the same - 25%. Definitely one of those classes you're not allowed to screw up on anything ever. Anyway, despite the fact that my professor isn't the most laid-back or interesting, I am not one to drop a class so I know I'll end up sticking with it, and at least I have a friend in the class to keep me entertained!

COMM461 - Voices of Leadership in the Twentieth Century. I was actually really looking foward to this class cuz I am taking it with a professor that I absolutely adore. I had him for another comm class a couple semesters ago, and he is such a great teacher. His teaching style is so relaxed and slow-paced. I love when people don't rush through things. He is always willing to rewind and explain again if you don't understand something. So all you UMD comm majors out there... if you ever get a chance to take a class with Jim Klumpp, do it! Anyway, we're analyzing a bunch of speeches from the 20th century, not only for what was said in the speech and what it meant specifically, but also the historical context behind it and everything. The basic format of it is going to be a lot like the class I already took with him, which helps me a lot. So I'm excited.

So, there ya' go... there's the rundown of my classes, in case anyone gives a crap, lol. I figured it'll save time on people asking me how the first couple days of classes went. Just click on the Xanga, and it's all there!

In case anyone missed it, and I doubt anyone did, we beat Duke on Wednesday night! And of course, any win or loss to Duke on this campus requires a "riot." (And the reason I quote that is because it's not really a riot as much as it is everyone walking down to Rt. 1, milling around, high-fiving each other and screaming about how awesome we are.) Yeah, it was really cool that we beat Duke (especially since they were undefeated and all...) but how quickly people forget that our ACC record is still 3-3 and our overall is, what, 12-5? So calm down. Let's riot when we win our next ACC tourny or, if you can imagine it, another national title. And it's not that I don't have pride in our school - like I said, it's totally cool that we kicked their asses and all - I just think people lack common sense sometimes. ...but whatever. Ok, I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

I'm gonna go be lazy and possibly nap... hopefully something fun will pop up tonight, since I have to work aaalllll day tomorrow and will thus be sacrificing almost my entire Saturday. Until next time...

Hmmm, so it's been awhile... so what's up? Well... just moved back to campus yesterday after being home for forever. I have been saying for like, 2 weeks that I was so ready to go back to school if for no other reason than to have something to do since I've been so bored @ home (even though I worked a lot and stuff over break, but whatever) and I needed a change of scenery. But of course, when I was packing my car yesterday morning I felt a little pang and for a second I really didn't want to come back. But clearly I got over that cuz I've been back since about 1:30 yesterday afternoon.

Move-in was a breeze thanks to help from Kim and Rob and I unpacked really quickly and set up my comp all by myself (my dad usually does it) and I am now staring at my new, flat-panel monitor (yay!). Last night I just hung out with Jeff, Kim & Rob (and the roomies, of course) and then today all the roomies and I went to the leasing office of our new apartment complex and signed our leases for next year (I seriously felt like I was signing my life away - scary!), bought books and went food shopping... and when all that fun was over I went to work from 4-8. And oh-my-God it was the worst fucking night ever. Out of our 3 computers, only one was working which meant we literally had patients lining up to be checked out. On top of that, everyone and their mother decided that they were gonna call us tonight and ask us questions that required using the single functioning computer, and we had two emergency fit-ins (which tend to complicate an already-busy flow of patients) and then we had the bitchiest woman EVER call (we all hate her and no one ever wants to deal with her) at 7:30 ... at 8:15, when we'd already been technically closed for 15 minutes, we were still on the phone with her, attempting to deal with her bullshit. Oy vey... I love my job and I love BVH but sometimes our patients are absolutely mental and they drive me up the wall.

So anyway... I'm gonna go unwind for a bit with some TV and try to mentally prepare myself for the first day of classes tomorrow.  I cannot believe I am starting the last semester of my junior year. Ewww, I am so close to being a senior. SCARY!

Okaaay... so he got married to someone other than me, but I still adore him. Look at my adorable Johnny on his wedding day!

P.S. - Happy New Year to everyone who I haven't already seen or talked to

Happy happy happy! Tek re-signed with the Sawx!  And he was named Captain! Kelly = happy.

And here's a hilarious poem, courtesy of www.bostondirtdogs.com (best Sox site EVER) Oh right... and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

'Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the Nation,

We were happy for ‘Tek, but worried about the rotation;

Randy in pinstripes? That deal fell through,

But Pedro went walking to the orange and blue

Schill was nestled online, reading a thread,
While thoughts of ripping Petey a new one danced in his head;

But then he looked at his “2004 World Series Champions” cap,

And forgot about the Met and his mouth that yap-yaps

When out on the ‘net there arose such a clatter,

Who was getting away? Now what’s the matter?

Typing on boards fingers flew like a flash

Like when Tony Soprano slips his girlfriends the cash

And on some dot com I got such a blow,
They were reporting “RJ to NY” is finally a go;
He’s #1 for the Yanks, or so I feared,
But wait – it was on ESPN, and the report was unclear

Johnny Damon was on his honeymoon, the new newlywed,
Now will he pull a Ricky Williams? Will he ever leave his bed?

We'll miss Roberts, and Kapler, OC, D-Lowe and Pete

And Mientkiewicz or Millar, 'cause one of them is hittin' the street

Now Curt’s on the shelf, no more blood in his socks,
And D-Lowe is home playing with his mental blocks;
Our starters are gone! Who is to blame?
Who are these new guys? What are their names?

“Now, Boomer! now, Miller! now, Clement and Halama!
On, Mantei! plus Payton! and Vazquez and Edgar!
A whole new clubhouse! GM made the call!
Free agents dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

But Theo went to the Wells and a Cub named Clement;
Have faith in our genius, it’s money well spent;
And now we’ve got Miller, the second best Wade,
In the history of Boston (so his labrum’s a little frayed)

And then, in a twinkling, he was back on the mound,

The prancing and pawing of the old top throwing hound,

Laying his finger aside of the seam,

He gave ‘Tek the nod, an almost impossible dream;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

He went into his windup; then turned with a jerk,

As he threw out his hand, and was coming around,

Down towards home plate, the ball took off with a bound;

He threw like the old days, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment, Schill was no longer sick;
His heater’s mid-nineties, the splitter has bite,
Let’s mark him down for eight innings a night!

More rapid than eagles came the Opening Day game,

Up went The Flag, the Yanks looked ashamed;
Johnny's speed back in center, Manny’s long drives lit the sky,

Papi had the old stroke back, when he hit ‘em, they fly

I sprang to my feet, to the team gave a whistle,

They circled the bases, Schilling threw another missile;

The good times were back for our championship ballclub,

"LET’S GO BACK-TO-BACK, MORE PENNANT FEVER GRIPS HUB"

Wooohooo!!! I'm DONE!!!

I was officially done with exams yesterday and I handed in my last paper of the semester at 2:30 today (after not starting it 'til 7pm last night, staying up til 3am this morning, and then working on it non-stop from 9am on today). So I am free! I can go home tomorrow (after working 7 hours)!

So now that all the academic work is done... I now have to do all the random stuff. I need to clean the bathroom, pack up all my shit, sell back my books... etc. But whatever... I'm so happy to not have school work to do for the next 6 weeks! YAAAAAAAY!