Things I Learned in Grad School...

That have NOTHING to do with Theatre!

(too important of a lesson to be numbered)

I have been in class for about a week now and I  am actually starting to get into the swing of things. I know who the department allies are and I know that the coffee they sell in the union is cheaper and way faster than the Starbucks- 20 yards away- and doesn't taste that bad... So where we go...

1. The dishwasher escapades... When I moved in to this apartment- it was not working at all. Super duper not working- it sounded like it was working- but nothing came out clean. So I spoke to the right people and a week later- BHAM new dishwasher. Loaded it full of dishes ran it and then um... it didn't clean them. I'll end this story very quickly- add soap. Duh.
   
2. Warm shoes are really important. As are coats. Both of which I bought this week.
   
   
3. That sometimes women can just be horribly mean. Like middle school. Passive aggressiveness stings.
   
   
4. Bill paying is just annoying. Yes, yes, the money spent part is annoying, but what I mean is the how you never get paid when its time to pay them and then they all show up at different times and have different means of payment and who actually has stamps. Blech.
   
   
5. I cannot go to bed before 11pm.
   
   
6. I need to thank God for things before I even see what he's got planned. Or else I'm not going to make it through this.
   
   
7. Video Chatting is great. But its not as good as actually getting to sit next to someone.
   
   
8. Wii Fits work better taken out of the box.
   
   
9. College is a really good weightloss program. You remember all of that complaining I did about how Chase was loosing weight so much faster than I was? Well shoot, I just needed to start reading every play ever written and walking up to my fourth floor office with 50 pounds of books is helping me catch up to him!
   
   
10. That being said- I like Tim Hortons' doughnuts, Ruben sandwiches from Call of the Canyon, pasta with mozerella and balsamic vinegar, BLIZZARDS, and Sonic-- in general.
    
    
11. Plane tickets are so stinking expensive.
    
    
12. You are never too young to start anti-aging treatments.
    
13. Honey mustard is good on practically everything.
    
14. I really miss my Mom and Dad.
    

And... Quincy is awesome [FYI He's in the PhD program and told me that he reads my blog- makes him awesome aside from the fact that he and many others of the department have been so stinking welcoming.]

So thats just the beginning. I'm pretty homesick- not actually for Jacksonville, but for my family and normalcy. These things seem really silly and aren't actually things I didn't know before arriving in BG. But they are slowly bubbling to the surface again. Anyone else having to re-learn things?  Anyone else feeling a little dumb because you are having to be reminded of things you've already lived through and mastered... like dishwashers and bill paying... and being away from your mom and dad?

Week Two

So today I start week two of Graduate School. I am feeling more confident. Knock on Wood.  I hope I don't regret typing that. I have a better idea of what is coming at me and what is expected. I have more grounded expectations.  I think that its going to make the biggest difference- knowing what to expect. That is the part that scared me the most last week.

Now.  It is Monday.

I made a new schedule thing-y. It really helps me organize past my just my average agenda. It helps me figure out when I will actually do things... not just the day they are due. Seems so stinking simple. But I really love it. I love organization. To avoid homework I clean. Yes, Mom. I clean.


I will spend this morning getting some last minute homework done and then head to school around 2:00p. I will be at school until 9pm. Just a little easy paper to write 1-2 pages. The reading was a lot more intense. A whole book and four articles. [side note- this coffee I just made for myself is amazing] Ashley really helped me this week trudge my way though  Ancient Greek Plays. I have a joke that I have cultivated since coming to BGSU- If it didn't happen in America I don't care. I mean its not entirely true- it just means my basis of knowledge is American Theatre. Oh and thanks to Theatre History III- the Ism's of the 20th century. Theatre Nerd.

This week I am planning to start researching to write a proposal for a paper for MATC- the Mid American Theatre Conference. I have next Monday off- so it is going to be entirely devoted to MATC. It was such a wonderful experience this year. I won't get a lot of CV opportunities, but I really would like to at least try.

Yesterday in church the [amazing] pastor suggested that so often we keep asking and keep asking... and think God isn't answering. And yet, our faith can be demonstrated by praising him for what is yet to come. So. Thats really me, thats really where I am right now, that will be my attitude for this week. Thankful for what is to come because I really feel that God has placed me here in BG.



I'll keep reminding myself that God has it figured out- even if I am totally clueless. Hopefully I won't have the same breakdown as I did last week.  My poor parents and Chaser- a crying girl on video chat. I'm not homesick- I am MomDadChasesick. Just wish I had my awesome support system around. Like to give me hugs or sit next to me on the couch or at a coffee shop.  So if you're the praying type- say some prayers that I will keep a positive attitude this week- and if you aren't the praying type... well.... pray anyway. :-)

Chase comes to visit [for his BIRTHDAY] in 16 days! Hurray!

Now don't get me Wrong...

...as you saw two posts ago I am very glad to be here in Bowling Green. I really like the town and the school. But whew the school part is difficult!

I never thought graduate school would be easy. I say that first. I never thought that It would be a breeze, I never thought I would be a professional at this, and I never thought that I would just swoop in and impress everyone.

AND (not but...)

This is intense. C.W. always said I wouldn't have time to hate the cold weather because I would be so busy. That it wouldn't matter that there is "nothing to do" in BG because I would be living with my nose in a book. I kinda thought she was teasing.... Nope. I have been at school since 9:00 this morning and got home right at 6 pm. Thats like a real job or something.

So much of what we do is reading. Lots and Lots of reading. I am discovering some habits I have that I need to correct to be successful...

1. I am an excessive note taker. I over underline and excessively highlight. That kinda defeats the purpose and not to mention... TAKES FOREVER. I have developed a new method...  I'll update you in a week or two to see if it works.
   
2. I have to print everything. I cannnnnnnot read a digital article. Cannot do it. For the Life of me. Or the life of the trees. I am guessing that I will go through 4 reams of paper and maybe 23 black ink cartridges- give or take five.
   
3. My original habit of going to bed at ten pm that I developed this summer... uh yeah. Not going to work in graduate school. Not going to work at all. At that time of night either
1. My TV shows are on
2. I have about 14 more articles to read
3. I have consumed too much coffee to be able to even remotely think about sleeping.
   
4. I have no shoes that are practical for not living in warm weather. Maybe none is an exaggeration-- maybe I have one or two... I really want these...Aren't they cute?
   
5. I thought that I worked best while listening to music. WRONG. I have to not listen to music and actually focus on what I am reading. Which also means I cannot watch Bridezilla while working. This might be the worst part about graduate school...

Well I survived the first week- I have all day off tomorrow. I am going to read and do dishes... my dishwasher isn't currently working. And then read some more. And write a paper. Haha. But I really like my fellow MA's and lots of the PhD students are amazingly awesome. And the faculty has been super gracious and it is cool how successful they are in their respective areas of expertise.

Oh and Chase comes to visit in 20 days! Wonderful! He's a great one!

Things that make Bowling Green great!

1. My Shoe Rack- its so nice to have them all so organized and easily accessible! 
2. How fluffy my new couch is, even if it isn't red.
3. My new Agenda- it has lots of space and lines and its sooo perfect.
4. The fact that when I plugged my cable in to the wall I get over 70 channels including BRAVO...Surprise!
5. That the green and yellow actually work in my kitchen. 
6. I can see my church from my house- and the pastor is wonderful.
7. I can walk to Grounds For Thought and it makes me happy to be there.
8. There is an awesome sandwich place called Call of the Canyonwith in walking distance from my house- there is this one that has coleslaw... whew!
9. My internet connection is really fast.
10. They have a Kroger with a really ritzy cheese selection.
11. Ohio isn't hot like North Carolina.
12. I can walk to school, its just a little bit further than UNCG's walk- when I cut through two church parking lots that is!
13. I could pay someone 75 cents a pound to do my laundry if I just get too lazy.
14. By transferring my prescriptions to Rite-Aid, I'll get a 50 dollar gift card!
15. Ashley. She's pretty great.
16. How close my apartment is to all of the illustrious night life.
17. The wild number of books I have had to (loved) buying over the last few days!
18. The Black Swamp Art Festival that is happening next month just a block from my house and how Erin, Ashley, and I remade the poster.
19. The labels I made for my binders-thanks the S. D. G. for teaching me about how to download super duper cool fonts!
20. My office- its very quiet and has air conditioning (the other grads tell me that this is a big deal).
21. The other grads in general are really wonderful, helpful, entertaining, and supportive!
22. The professors are really supportive of my research ideas.
23. The library has a really big collection of Mormon books (for my thesis).
24. I AM going to graduate in one year. Even if It kills all of my brain cells.
25. When my sink was being weird they came that very day and fixed it.

that is just 25. there are more.

Don't worry I'm not going to make a list of things I don't like.

Because frankly that does no good and is a total downer. 

And no one likes an emo theatre kid blog.

or  Bowling Green. 

Orientation Day One!

I finalllly have a class schedule. And it is going to wear me out!

See Below.

And then I have to do 20 hours of Box office work a week!

But I so badly cannot wait to get started. I am going to get textbooks over the next couple of days and just finish getting settled. As I hope you saw in the photos- my apartment is pretty much all set. Nothing super major left to organize. So as I sit here watching Real Housewives of NJ and eating oatmeal. I'm exhausted. We had to go to these seminars today- the two I was assigned to were 

• Research Methodolgy- the proper ways to go about TESTING ON HUMANS AND ANIMALS
• uhhh how does that apply to me?
• How to be a Research Assistant
• I'm not a research assistant. I'm an admin assistant because I work in the Box Office. Yeah.

So that was that. It was really fun to meet lots of people and see the campus. The weather here is super great super duper great. But there is still snow to come...

Tomorrow is more workshops and stuff like that. I am going to go to Bible Study at church. And then I might have lunch with a lady from church that I just thought was super cool on Wednesday. This church isn't full of lots of young people- but I like that there is some wisdom with in the congregation. And shoot- the pastor came up and introduced himself to me-- that DOES NOT happen in most churches!

So I am still happy. I cannot wait for Chaser and Logan and Erin to get here on Friday... hope the NATIONAL TRACTOR PULL that will be going on simultaneously! Wish us luck. 

Hello From Falcon Country!

I am coming to you from my new apartment!
(see Photos here)
The internet is finally up and running and life is good. 

So let me get you up to date!

We arrived in Toledo late Monday night. The hotel we stayed at originally looked shady- but it actually was pretty good. We had dinner at Texas Stake House (yes the sweet tea was different than home) and we all passed out but only after watching the History Channel's Pawn Stars! We really like those funky history shows.

Tuesday morning we woke up and got the U Haul. We told the lady where we were headed to and she asked us where we wanted to drop it off... and of course we said as close as possible.  So she assigned us a place.  And off we went to the store. Let me just say, the site to store thing that Wal-Mart does is super duper wonderful. And this was the NICEST Wal-Mart I had ever been to. It was so stinking fancy and clean and bright and there were no crying kids. Then we went to Sam's get a mattress and we headed to BG. Three cars trying to stay together when only one person knows where youre going is difficult!

As we drove into town we passed the college. It kind of reminded me of NC State as you go down Hillsborough. And with in just a few blocks we pulled up to my NEW APARTMENT! yay! Couple of papers signed and the keys were handed over. Its a great apartment. You walk into a largeish room that is the living room and the kitchen then once you turn to your left there is my bedroom and the office room and the bathroom. All are great sized room and there is so much storage space. The Best part.... is.... my closet. Whew.  I really love it. I

Mom and Dad were AMAZINGLY helpful. They helped me unpack and build things. They cleaned, they decorated. Dad hung curtains as mom (ohhh so stinking perfectly) organized the kitchen. Its like being back in Jacksonville. She helped me do the decor and the apartment looks pretty good. The carpet is emerald green which was a hurdle to overcome, but with the help of Mom, Pier One and Target success was mine!

In general it took us two days to get all unpacked and set up. One day for lunch we went to a great restaurant named Call of the Canyon Cafe. Amazing sandwiches and even more amazing pie. I had the peanut butter pie. Holy cow. I have a feeling I have to limit myself to one piece a month. Or else I am going to gain about 30,000 pounds.

Mom and Dad seem really happy with BG and BGSU. Mom kept saying Ohio smelled good! Dad was quiet and I think a little sad. Sweet Daddy. We worked ourselves to the bone. So tired very very tired.  We spent some time just hanging out around the apartment and the hotel and of course watching Real Housewives of New Jersey!

After a breakfast at Bob Evans (love the oatmeal and the banana bread!) Mom and Dad headed out. I was super duper sad, but we all handled it pretty well. Kinda just faced the facts. I came home and crashed-- until about 6pm! Hahah. I finally got to meet face to face some of the other GA's. They were super lovely!

The last couple of days have been spent doing some shopping and hanging out with Ashley- She's super great and I am really looking forward to being in classes with her. Plus her mom is a southerner and Ashley isn't too weirded out by my southern habits!  We have been shopping and hanging out and last night we ate Brie and bread and pepper jelly and cream cheese and s'mores! Lots of calories to celebrate the end of the summer!

Today I tried a new church that I can see from my house! It is Turning Pointe United Methodist Church. It is small but so very welcoming. I really liked the people. Several of the ladies were super sweet and personable and the pastor came and introduced himself to me! Really made me feel at home. I'm going to   try their Bible Studies and things like that. But I think its a great place to be around non-college students! I feel like it is important to have community and wise people as a means of accountability.

Tonight Ashley and I are are going to hang out, watch Next Design Star and Mad Men and have dinner. At 9:00am tomorrow morning the school year begins. I feel really ready. I may be the youngest new grad student and frankly I only see it as an asset! I have plenty of binders and graph paper (for my OCD and notes) and I am in the process of finding the cheapest places to buy books [factoring in shipping from online/buying used from the bookstore/buying used from the alternative bookstores] but all of it is just part of the fun.

I'm a happy girl. A blessed girl.
Oh... and I GET TO SEE CHASER IN A WEEK!

Soooon!

I will get internet this evening! Then the real blogging will begin!
Thanks for your patience!

From one New River to the Other

Well we're half way to Bowling Green. Which means we are in RandomTownville, West Virginia. The drive was pretty painless.

After getting packed - which it felt like it took forever- we finally left Jacksonville. As silly as it sounds as I just about lost it as I checked my hair in the mirror before leaving. Its not like I don't get to come back... but for some reason it was just strange. I am really going to miss my parents. Simple as that.

We drove to Raleigh and my Daddy especially stopped so that I could use my gift card from my aunt and uncle for Borders books. I got lots of really great bargain books. Cookbooks, poetry books, journals- normal Lauren things. We then drove to GSO and ate at Panera Bread.

Then the hellish drive began. Of course as it got dark we entered the mountain-y part of NC/VA/WV. Holy cannoli. I about gnawed my teeth flat. I was so nervous- it was dark, curvy, and scary. Two hours of INTENSE driving.

Now I watch Mad Men and try to relax and talk to Chaser. Two weeks and I'll get to see him. I don't know how Military wives do it- I've gone a little over a month and am ready to walk to Iowa if I have to. I really respect military families. Whew. Okay. So yeah. Chaser and Erin and probably Logan will be at my house in TWO WEEKS-- my new house in BG!

Tomorrow we'll go the rest of the way. And we'll be driving through the mountains IN THE DAYLIGHT. Very important. I might get to shop some tomorrow night- depending on how early we get there.

Okay I am stopping blogging. I'm tired. Can't say I didn't try.

Sorry

I was really boring today. 

But very proud of my Dad who finished yet another cool gate.

Go to his website and comment on his blog!

http://stephenzmetaldesigns.com/

One Week From Today

... I will be half of the way to BGSU.

Simple as that.  

If only!

Ahhh. It is 9:45pm Sunday. In exactly one week, my family and I are going to be spending the night in some random Holiday Inn Express in West Virginia. I always like Holiday Inn Expresses because they have good coffee and Cinnimon Rolls at breakfast. Plus they don't use comforters but use blankets instead. For some reason that just feels less gross to me. Anyway. My Mom and I will probably be watching TLC or Bravo, enjoying TV we can't get at home, while my Dad sleeps still dressed in his clothes from the day. And that my friends is the scariest part of going to graduate school. No not surviving West Virginian hotels but the idea that this is pretty much the last time I will "leave home" and that home will be my parents' house. 

You see, Chase and I will live in Iowa once we both graduate, and so... as of next Sunday... I won't really live in J'Vegas anymore.  Don't get me wrong. I really feel like God is leading us down that path and I have this awesome peace and excitement about moving to DSM eventually- especially to become a McCool... but that means I have to leave my Mommy and Daddy. Yes. At 23 I still call them Mommy and Daddy. Not ashamed. I am so very close to my parents and for the first summer in my life my mom and I aren't fighting. Thats a whole other story- lets just summarize by saying my mom and I didn't always know how to communicate- but we've both worked really hard and now its working. She's a lot of fun and I really enjoy having a Mom that wants to be involved in my life, but still lets me be my own person. It is a great place for us to finally arrive at together. 

But there's also my Daddy. Whew my Daddy. I am the epitome of a Daddy's girl. My Dad and I have always gotten along, always enjoyed being together and I know he loves me so much.  He is an awesome man both to me and my mom. He is a great model of what a Godly man should be. As I get older we get more and more alike. We think alike. We have the same sense of humor. Hopefully I am as creative as him. And I am proud to claim I have his gift for gift giving. My whole life he has shown me how a man treats his family and how to love others. And his daily influence has a big impact on my relationship with Chase because Chase does so many of the things my Daddy does. I remember being at his retirement and all of those men and women were so honored to have worked with my Dad. My Dad. I was and am so proud. 

So in the Bible women left their father's house and joined their husband's. So many women would see this as a loss of freedom and patronizing. That the world thinks they can't make it on their own. But I've been in the world- maybe not totally on my own- I've made my choices and mistakes. I really love the fact though that I have a wonderful family that has prepared me to go into the real world. Equipped me to be on my own and to make it.  My parents- if anything- made it very clear that I am my own women and that I shouldn't settle or compromise when deciding if and when I want to be in a relationship. They've even let me be in an icky relationship or two. I'm grateful. It is how I know now that I am walking down the right path. They taught me by example to follow God's will even when it seems risky

So here I go really on to Chapter Two. Graduate School and Love and new friends and new places. But I'm not really that worried. My parents have made me feel confident to do it on my own but I'm also confident that they would help me if I genuinely needed it. I am glad that I am a person who can say that.   So I'm not worried, but nervous? Sure. Excited? Very.

This week is the countdown. I am going through all of my things. Packing them up and organizing them. Not just to take to Ohio but to have in storage until I move to DSM.  Until I move to Iowa. Wow. This is all really happening. It is exciting. I have a feeling I'll need to re-read this blog a month or two from now when I feel like I have bitten off more than I can chew. After I get back a grade that is less than stellar or just feel like I might freeze in the snow. Eh. The Snow.

But then again- who knows... maybe I'll like snow. I mean I like sweaters and cool coats- need cold weather to wear them right? Yeah. I'll keep telling myself that... and that I can do this.