frustration knows no bounds

I cannot believe I just spent 45 minutes (!!!) trying to log onto to the wireless network here at school. The problem? One, my computer kept defaulting to the wrong password and two, four other people around me were already on line. I have no idea how things were corrected (divine intervention maybe??) but THANK GOD they were. I was about to throw this laptop through the window next to me. But that's just the beginning...

I have also been spending way too much time working on my resume, financial aid and registration for summer quarter. What a joke. The limited amount of guidance I've received here has done nothing more than frustrate me beyond measure. It's a good thing this is a dry campus, otherwise they'd be dragging my totally drunk ass out of here naked and singing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs.

I'm starting to think my frustration is contagious. My poor husband, sick and tired of listening to my whine, came home the other day with a NorthFace backpack for me. "So you can fit in." he said. He had a look on his face like a big boy who just learned to use the potty. How could I refuse his offering of limited social acceptance? It's not as large as my "yellow submarine" backpack, but I think one of the "cool kids" actually smiled at me today. (The power of material goods is amazing!)


Now if I could just work on my gray hair...

another day in the life...

Time for another daily post about life here on campus. But before I begin that I'd like to say that I will be attempting to blog more frequently now that I have FINALLY got the hang of the wireless network here at school.

And now...

A day in the life - April 7, 2008

Realized today that I am officially a "nerd". I have noticed that "geek" has recently gained notoriety in the public eye and thus is considered "cool". I, however, couldn't be further from it - at least here on campus anyway.

I noticed as I sit here in this sunshine-streaming-books-laying-dormant-as-a-thing-of-the-past-world that the younger crowd all have little teeny Apple notebooks. They sit here for hours seeking out the latest message left on their MySpace page and taking up the only good tables with a view of the city. The only people in here with out one is me, some 75 year-old man in the corner who (I think) is asleep and the librarians (who have their own PC's to play on).

I'm guessing that these kids have to swear on Coach bags that they use Apple-light-as-an-effing-feather notebooks to gain access to the cool crowd. Not too mention be able to demonstrate wicked fast typing abilities so that it sounds like the three blind mice scurrying around on their keyboard. This ability is clearly meant to serve two purposes: one, to annoy and distract the hell out of me and two, to wake the dead(??) guy in the corner. Whew, thought I was going to have to ignore him all day!
But I'm not bitter about it. Let them have Apple, let them have Coach. I'm a home-owner bitches!

Keep it Hoppin' Yo

Wanna see how we roll on a rockin' Saturday night?

And that's just the dogs. God bless 'em - this is their (and my) favorite activity.

Tales of School Daze

I've decided to keep a running log on my time at my new school. I had NO IDEA what I was in for and I need to share with others as a form of therapy. So here ya go world, share in my craziness that is now my "school daze".

Entry One

4/2/08

Right now I am completely sweat soaked. I dressed for being outside (35 degrees) not for the ovens they call classrooms (hotter than hell). To make matters worse, I'm toting around 35lbs of books on my back. Yeah, spinal injuries rock!
Today I feel like I must really show my age. I feel like all these kids (literally - they're all 19!!) can see straight through my Seven jeans and North Face jacket (the prefered uniform of 'the tribe'). My wrinkles and my wedding band betray me. I'm 32. Thirty-two. Trente-deux. ouch. I have no children. ouch. I must apply lotion daily to old saggy scaley parts that I never used to have. double ouch. I was just rejected in french class by two 19 year-old rich (ie-mean) girls. super hurtful ouch.
I'm really feeling the gap between who I was and who I want to be. I was an insecure pea brain who had no faith in herself. I want to be an intellegent mature woman whose competent & proficient in all she sets her mind to. What I am is an insecure "mature" (read 'old' by university standards) woman whose semi-competent at a lot of incredibly non-proficient things. sigh.
I've always struggled with the balance of trying to "fit in" and trying not to care about it. I could manage it at junior college because I could relate to the material being studied, sound smart and relate to the teachers. But here at university I feel like everyone is brilliant - but me.
I have to shake this if I'm going to get anything out of this experience. I know this new tribe can sense fear. Or maybe it's my dorky yellow backpack.

Making it Through the Rain

Well, I did it! I managed to complete my AA degree with a 3.8 GPA. Yes folks, count that as a graduation with HIGH HONORS! High honors was not what I initially set out to procure, but considering the final quarter I had, I'll take what I can get! So many heartfelt thanks and hugs are going out today to those who shared a shoulder or an ear when I needed one. Now? ON TO THE NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE. What shall it be? A trip to France or perhaps an African safari? Maybe a week in New York shopping at Barney's. Um, no. Instead I am choosing to celebrate by... more schooling. I will now be working to achieve my BA at a fabulous private school in our great metropolis.

I started last week at my new ritzy school and it proved to be an interesting one. I cannot get over how smart (and I might mention, well dressed) the students are here! I feel like the nerdy kid with the wrong shoes all over again. I think I need to do some shopping. Oh, and maybe brush up on my latin. Ha!

It has been a very surreal experience so far. But I keep reminding myself, I am here for one purpose - to figure out a way to make words into money baby!!! One day at a time.

I'll make sure and keep you posted. That is, if I don't get beat up by the Ralph Lauren biker crew for wearing espadrilles before Labor Day.

Take care all, and God Bless!!!

Just something funny

(In case you can't tell: That's Jennifer Aniston, David and Victoria Beckham, and Sarah Jessica Parker)

I was recently sent this as a PowerPoint presentation in an email. Apparently it's a photoshop free-for-all where all the celebrities involved moved to Ohio.

The credit for these fabulous laughs goes to Planet-Hiltron.com courtesy of D.A.J. - Thanks for the smile!

If you're interested in viewing the whole P.P. presentation please email me at jennings.abigail@yahoo.com with the subject line "Ohio" and I'll send it to you. Otherwise you can probably get it from the creators website above.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!!

Some of you might remember that line from a Dixie Chicks song about a hundred years ago. I have to make this a quick post, but that line about sums it all up.
Had a real roller-coaster of a ride these last 24 hours. A profe*sor at school tried to shake me down, I feel, because I have a talent with the written word. Luckily, the crisis has been averted thanks to some heavy duty prayer and my organizational skills. But it has certainly turned me off from sharing my talent with too many people. I don't want to become bitter from this whole thing, but it sure has left an awfully bad taste in my mouth.
The bright side of this dark cloud has been a letter of acceptance to the University I wanted. Hallelujah!! I cannot be happier. I am really looking forward to leaving the basics of an AA degree behind and starting on my major - writing!
The last day has taught me that God is great and will always hold you in a time of need. I hope that's a lesson that we can all remember. And to always organize your ammunition.