Just a thought..

10:44am: Concert

I'm going to a Dashboard Confessional concert Sunday night in Raleigh!! Who's excited??? I am!!!

Anddd.. today and tomorrow I'm hangin' out with a really awesome friend [Ryan] whom I haven't seen in over a year!!! =) yaaaaaay!

4:22pm: This is too cool for school!

Okay I just checked my UNCP email.. and I usually don't check the crap email sent by 'Teresa Bryant' to all the students... but this one struck my interest. It is a NASA internship for 10 or 15 weeks doing research and getting paid for it! Man I don't want to be too dorky, but I'd do it for free!! Plus its a paid round trip travel allowance! I think it is held in Hampton, Virgina. This is from the email:



NASA Internships


NASA-USRP = Undergraduate Student Research Program

NASA-USRP offers undergraduate students across the United States internships at NASA centers under the supervision of technical mentors. This prestigious program seeks rising sophomore, junior and senior students in the disciplines of engineering, math, computer science and life/physical sciences. Students may apply for 10-week summer session and 15-week spring or fall sessions. NASA-USRP provides students with hands-on, real-life research experiences that challenge, inspire and bring practical application to complement the students’ academic education. Stipends are $6,000 for the summer session and $9,000 for fall and spring, plus a round-trip travel allowance.

Application deadlines are:

Spring October 22, 2007
Summer January 31, 2008
Fall February 29, 2008


***Visit NASA for more details!

2:08pm: I wish the media would cover something... useful?
I am sooo tired of hearing about the lives of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and any other celebs that are constantly being photographed doing something stupid.. and I am even more tired of their fans/supporters trying to defend them and claim "it is okay because they are just going through a hard time". Why can't people understand that everything a celeb does is for publicity?!? I mean obviously they are not making money in singing/acting, so they have to make money some how.. DUH!! I don't keep up with this kinda stuff a whole lot.. but going off the few things that have some how weaseled its way into my cerebrum, I think I have enough justification. (Which I feel makes more sense than all of these people's: "She's a mom doing her best while going through a divorce and raising 2 kids".)

* First Britney shaves her head claiming she's having a break down (which I still think was just a night of a little too much tequila and maybe some crack cocaine in there somewhere..)... and now the MTV performance of her poorly dancing (if that's what you want to call it) in her victoria secret bra and underwear because she didn't like what was picked out for her. But that's okay because "she's Britney Spears and 10 years ago she was awesome!" Well she has kids now so she needs to find a more promising career (like in trash pickup), be a decent mom to her children (by not embarrassing the name they will grow into for starters), and stop trying to make the world fall in love with Britney again. It's over!

and I'm not even going to start on Paris Hilton. Ughhh.

4:36pm: Sanitization


I'm really sick (hah) of hearing about all these disinfectant wipes and hand santitizer and all that crap. "Kills 99% of germs in less than a minute!" Well what they are not telling you is that YEAH.. it may kill 99% of one type of bacteria... but there are many different kinds on your hands, desks, pencils, door knobs, etc. at any given time.. whether little susie que just sneezed on her hand and touched it or not. So the 1% of the bacteria that escaped along with the other kinds it doesn't even affect are growing an immunity to the sanitizer, thusly making it less and less useful. All these parents that completely wipe down their entire house daily and their toddler's toys are just doing them more harm. If you don't expose them to the germs at an early stage, they will play hell when they start school and become exposed for the first time to some of these bacteria. Let them get sick! Build up their freaking immune system! Sheesh.. and just use good ol' soap and water. That's your best option for getting rid of germs.

3:50pm: Skool
So yeah... school isn't so bad this semester. I have several breaks between my classes on MWF.. so I have time to relax, eat, or study/finish up homework if I need to... which I like. I have a friend in all but one of my classes.. so that's pretty cool too. It makes it a little easier when there is someone I know in my class. The work load hasn't been too bad so far.. except one week I had homework due for every class and a test coming up. We have a lot to study for in Zoology Lab (the test is this Tuesday..).. The last two weeks we've been dissecting a fetal pig and learning about the organs, circulatory system, etc. For our test we have to be able to identify about 80-100 organs, 30 bones, and about 30-ish tissues (as seen under the microscope). The first test on Zoology lecture wasn't too hard... I was freakin' out b/c Mrs. Young made it sound like it was impossible. I think I got an A or at least a high B.. I can't wait to find out for sure.

12:50pm: Bad habits are hard to get rid of...

Ok here is an article I noticed on yahoo.com today. It obviously struck my interest because I bite/chew/pick (whatever you wanna call it) my nails all the time and they are constantly gross looking.. so I decided to give 5 minutes of my life to read it. (Which ended up being pointless and a complete waste).


"Dutchman offers 'cure' for nail biting

September 8, 2007 01:03:28 AM PST

Do you find your fingers drifting into your mouth when you're nervous, anxious or just bored? Are your nails chewed to splinters or your cuticles gnawed to bleeding pulp? Nail biting is more than a bad habit. Doctors say it is one of the most common symptoms of stress or of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially for teenagers or younger children, and can lead to disfigurement and serious infection.

Alain-Raymond van Abbe, a former health industry and cosmetics promoter, estimates the world's pathological nail biters number 600 million or more. He saw that onychophagy was so widespread that he has opened a business devoted to a cure.

"In four weeks, nail biting can be over and over forever," he says.

Studies show around 45 percent of adolescents nibble their nails. That drops to about 20 percent as young adults learn to cope with their anxieties or become too embarrassed by their self-inflicted deformity.

In public, compulsive biters typically keep their hands out of sight as much as they can, buried in their pockets or behind their backs. They often feel depressed and shamed, and avoid social contacts. Van Abbe says his clients suffer so much from the stigma that none would volunteer to be interviewed or photographed.

He calculates Holland alone has 2 million chronic sufferers, enough to keep his enterprise busy and profitable. He charges up to $670 for a course of treatment.

Van Abbe, whose field is marketing rather than medicine, describes himself as a problem solver.

His treatment relies on a tooth guard molded to fit either the upper or lower teeth. Barely visible, the "preventer" makes it impossible to bite, but can be removed for eating.

"After four weeks, the impulse disturbance is so frustrated that it is controlled. You don't have any problem any more," he said.

After developing his solution over two years and working with about 150 pilot customers, Van Abbe refitted a gabled brick house in Venlo, near the German border, with reclining leather manicurists' chairs where cosmeticians can begin reviving damaged finger and toe nails.

Yes, some of his clients habitually bite their toe nails, including one man in his 40s, Van Abbe said. "If you start young, you stay flexible."

Nail biting is one of a category of obsessive-compulsive disorders known as Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors that is gaining more scientific attention. Others include hair pulling, skin picking or incessantly biting the inside of the cheek.

Lawrence S. Micheletti, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch, says most research on nail biting focuses on the psychological stress and on the therapies that treat the source of the problem.

But there also is a chicken-and-egg factor, because the ugly result of self-mutilation heightens anxiety. "If you cure the symptom, you reduce the stress, and the person is a happier person," Micheletti said in a telephone interview.

Micheletti, who works with many adolescents in stress management, says nail biting is one of the most common symptoms he sees among his patients.

He said Van Abbe appeared to have developed "a plausible approach" since, in clinical terms, the treatment involves both cognitive and behavioral aspects. But he wonders about Van Abbe's business model.

"I never thought of opening a clinic just for nail biters," he said. "I wouldn't want to rely just on nail biters to make my living." "




Ok so my point is... the big "solution" is some 'covering' to put over your teeth that prevents you from biting your nails or being able to 'mess them up' so-to-speak. It is easily removed for eating and easy to put back on, according to the article. Sooooooo... wouldn't most people just take it off if they bite their nails???? I know I would...

10:10pm: Quickie.
School's back in. I like it so far! That is all.

10:46am: It's time to be a big girl now...

Okay so I don't usually like all the popular pop or whatever you wanna call it crap (Jessica/Ashlee Simpson, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Black Eye Peas..) .. but for some reason when I heard this song by Fergie I really liked it... and I can't get it out of my head!! ughhhh...


"Big Girls Don't Cry"

Da Da Da Da
The smell of your skin lingers on me now
You're probably on your flight back to your home town
I need some shelter of my own protection baby
To be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS:]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry

The path that I'm walking
I must go alone
I must take the baby steps 'til I'm full grown, full grown
Fairytales don't always have a happy ending, do they?
And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

[CHORUS]

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and uno cards
I'll be your best friend and you'll be my Valentine
Yes you can hold my hand if you want to
'Cause I want to hold yours too
We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds
But it's time for me to go home
It's getting late, dark outside
I need to be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS]

La Da Da Da Da Da

2:58pm: thinking....
It is almost time for school to start... I can't wait!! =) I'm getting kinda tired of working everyday but the money's good. I can't stand routine.. doing the same thing every day for a long time drives me nuts. I've gotta find something to keep me going. I'm seriously considering moving back in with my mom and sister when our lease is up in January. It is so hard to save money when I have to pay ~$300 a month (that's just my half) just to live in an apt. [Rent + Utilities] then buy groceries, etc. on top of that with just two people working part time with not enough hours or time to work. It is soo not worth it.

Actually I would be completely fine if I had a car at the moment but since I don't and I have to rely on Bryan so much, I hate it. That's all I'm really saving for right now is a car and every time I get the least little bit saved I have something that comes up I have to pay for (Rent, something school related, etc..). Soo maybe if I move back in with them for a while and save up to buy a car then save some more, I can find somewherez else to live. But this time I think I might try to find more than one roommate (who is reliable!!) to help pay bills.

11:22am: Concert + Myrtle Beach = Awesomeness!!

Bryan and me made a last minute decision to go to a concert in North Myrtle Beach at the House of Blues on Saturday night (we decided Thursday). At first I was kinda skeptical and didn't really want to go because of what happened at the last concert.. but this one was awesome!! It was Powerspace, Brighten, Secondhand Serenade, Kill Hannah, and Hawthorne Heights. The first two we'd never heard of.. and we purposely missed the first band.. but Brighten rocked pretty hard, and the last 3 were kick arse. :) We actually stayed overnight for the first time and stayed at the La Quinta Inn about 6 miles down the road. It wasn't too bad of a hotel.. they had cable tv so we got to watch Roseanne until falling asleep.. and we got free complimentary breakfast that morning. Fun fun :)

Anyway.. we went to the beach for about 2 hours, then we went over to Friendly's for lunch and ice cream :) yum.. and went to play putt-putt at the Lost Treasure Course. I beat Bryan by 1 point! haha I was only 10 (Bryan 11) over par. At our hotel there was a stand of brochures talking about stuff around there to do.. and lots of coupon books. :) I found a couple and took with us.. like for the water park and putt-putt course and such. We didn't go to the water park, but there was one for this tattoo and piercing shop called Dr. Ink and we decided to head over that way. We were really wanting to get another tattoo but apparently the SC law is no one under 21 can get tattooed.. GAY! So we went next door to Dr. Piercing to look around.. lol.

Spontaneously I decided to get an industrial piercing (I've wanted one forever) !!! :) It is really awesome and I'm so glad I got it. My mom of course freaked out because it doesn't look very "cute".. but oh well a piercing isn't permanent like a tattoo.. so I don't see what the big deal is. Plus my hair covers it if I need to. I was mad though because Dr. Ink & Dr. Piercing has a limo that will pick you up whereever you are.. and I kept telling Bryan to call and see how much it was.. and he wouldn't because he figured it was really expensive.. and right before we left after I got my piercing, I overheard the chick on the phone say it was free!!! Grrrr!!! But oh well... maybe next time :) So yeah.. this was a freakin' awesome weekend. :)



Next we are probably going to a concert in Charlotte around the beginning of August featuring Linkin Park, Taking Back Sunday, Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, My Chemical Romance, and a few others. :)
Yay!

12:44pm: Lately...
So.. lately things are getting kind of repetative.. I've been working a little more during the week and less on weekends, and Bryan pretty much works 6 days a week.. so we haven't been ANYWHERE this summer!! A few times we've thought about heading over to the beach, but those were the days when it was supposed to storm that afternoon or we just didn't have much money to spend. One plus though is we've been hanging out with more friends lately, and even made some new ones. We've played Apples to Apples with Chris Mauk a few times, along with Nick, Epi, and Kris. Kris is usually always around.. which isn't a bad thing really.. but after a while gets kinda boring because all we do is watch movies. One night we stayed at his house and we watched 3 movies that night and 2 the next morning! I was like jeeze don't you get tired of movies?? I know I do.

Bryan and me have been hanging out with Justin Tatum and Stephanie Burnett a lot lately. It is really cool to have another couple to hang out with that like to do various things. We've been playing Halo2 and renting movies mostly with them. We stayed at Justin's the other night which was so much fun! I felt like a kid again havin' a sleepover. :) I love that feeling. We ordered pizza from Domino's and got The Descent (which was scary as crap!!) and played halo2 for a while until about 2:30am. That next morning we had breakfast then played some more halo.

I really want to go see Transformers. I've heard EVERYBODY talk about how awesome it is. Maybe we'll go in the next few nights. Bryan and me need to get our tattoos touched up now that they are healed. I want another already. Well I guess that's it for now. :)

4:23pm: Today
HAPPY JULY 4th EVERYONE!!!


Be safe tonight and don't do nothin' to cause more people to be admitted to the hospital... I gotta work here ya know ! :)


haha



Love ya'll!!

Ash :)


<3

7:36pm: Pharmacy Research
In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a brand name and generic name. For example, the brand name of Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also called Amoxicillin and Motrin is also called Ibuprofen.

The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.

Pfizer Corp announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.



Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

2:04pm: Pharmacy Research

In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a brand name and generic name.   For example, the brand name of Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also called Amoxicillin and Motrin is also called Ibuprofen.

The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra.  After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin.   Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.

Pfizer Corp announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of "cocktails", "highballs", and just a good old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.

Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

 

 

12:37pm: Another job...

I've been looking around town at the pharmacies trying to find somewhere to work during the week part-time. So far Eckerd's (soon to be Rite-aid) and the Walmart pharmacy are the only 2 places that seem promising. I'm sure I could get a job at Medicine Shoppe or Medical Village, but they only stay open til 6pm and I need to work at one that stays open later so I can work after school when it starts back. I think right now Joe at Walmart says they are good on techs, but I think Eckerd's might need someone. Everyone says Eckerd seems always under-staffed.

The main reason I need another job is the hospital job is pretty much only on the weekends or maybe when someone needs a day off.. and I can't save up enough for a car with only 20 hours a week. Jackie used to work at Eckerd's and said they only $6.76/hr. or so starting out.. which isn't much.. but it's a check I guess.

Soo... we'll see.

8:45am: "I apply my personality in a paste.." - Eternal Sunshine
I dyed my hair! I did it Thursday night at around 12am. Well actually Bryan did it. It actually looks pretty good for Bryan's first time dying hair. :) At least I like it.. I don't know if anyone else does. It is a bright-ish red with kinda blonde-ish highlights.


YAY! =)


Bryan is calling me 'Tangerine' like in the movie Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind (my favorite movie).. so I feel all special. hehe :)

6:33pm: Birdie update
So we decided to name the Quaker Parrot 'Sobe'.. like the energy drink as I said before. I'm really glad I did-- I think it fits her well. She is so full of life and energy all the time, and she LOVES playing with the toys in her cage. Some birds will completely ignore them and you'll barely ever see them play with them.. but not Sobe. It is like a routine for her. I cover her cage every night around 10pm. She knows when its 'bedtime' too because she will get on the top perch on the left side where she sleeps every night (since we brought her home) and sit there staring at me like.. 'ok time for bed guys'. haha Then around 9am she'll wake up, wait for me to feed her, then play with her toys/entertain herself for a few hours, then chirp at the door wanting to come out and play (either with me or on top of the cage.. I have a perch and a few toys set up there also). Then she will go in and eat some more, and kinda repeat the process until time for bed.

I've been trying out different fruits and veggies to see what she likes and doesn't like. So far she's in love with broccoli, and sometimes she eat carrots, bread, and almonds.. which are all really good for birds. I read never to give a bird avacado, and of course anything like chocolate, alcohol, etc. and not a lot of foods high in salt or sugar.

I've been working with her everyday talking constantly and repeatly doing the 'step-up' method.. which did not take her long to master. She will willingly step-up on my finger if I gently rub against her belly and say "step-up". Lately I've been trying to get her used to sitting on my shoulder while I walk around a bit, but she gets a little scared if we go too far from her cage. She's still new and her cage is her 'safety zone'.. so it's all good. She's only about 14 weeks now; I've read most Quakers don't start talking until 6 months.. but she's trying. :) I think she'll be talking in no time. I love her soo much!!

12:26pm: New New New!
So Bryan got his tattoo Wednesday, (May 30th), FINALLY! Its a tree with a heart hanging from a string from one of the branches. He got the idea from the cover of the cd "In Love and Death" by The Used.. my favorite band.


Right next to the tattoo shop is a pet shop called Creature Comforts. It has all pets besides cats and dogs-- exotic birds (yay!), reptiles, fish, hamsters (etc.), and supplies. We noticed it one day leaving the tattoo shop and decided to pull in. Well I of course fell in love with every bird there. A few days later I decided.. I already have 3 big cages, plenty of seed, bird toys, and more.. so why not get another bird!? So.. yeah. I did. :) I got a Quaker Parrot. She is the cutest thing ever!! She's lime green with a pale gray chest (like almost all Quakers) and she's a little bigger than the size of a cockatiel. I haven't completely decided on a name, but I'm thinking either Tiki, Kiwi, or Sobe-(like the energy drink). I think they all sound like birdie names. Maybe I'll have a pic of her on here soon!

4:38pm: Tattoo #2
I actually did it! I got a second tattoo. Bryan and me went to Southern Pines Monday and Tuesday of last week just to 'go somewhere..' and for some reason we decided to stop at Sinister Monkey Tattoo and Body Piercing in SP right before you get on US 1. We were looking around at the Flash and I for some reason really wanted to get a tattoo of a lizard. I've always loved lizards and I think they are interesting creatures. I saw one of a lizard coming out of a hole and a smaller hole right below it with his tail sticking out, and I thought that would be cool to get.

Bryan really wanted to get one but he was trying to think it out and make sure he really knows what he wants before he gets one. I was the same way. I thought it out for a while and I decided to do it. We went back Tuesday, the 22nd, mainly for Bryan to talk to the guy about the one he wanted. Bryan's is quite a bit bigger than mine and would take about 2-3 hours to do and the guy would have to draw it out first. He told me mine would only take 1 hour. Bryan smiled at me at that point, and I was like okay let's do it.

The guy got the stuff ready and in the meantime I thought about where I wanted it. I layed on the table thingie on my stomach and he put it on my left hip since I have one on my lower waist in the front on the right side. It didn't really hurt much, but was a little more painful than the first one. It tickled more than anything, and I was trying so hard not to laugh and mess him up. It looks really awesome and I can't wait for it to heal completely. :) I still want at least one more... but don't worry.. I'd never get one on my arms or legs or anywhere that you can't easily cover up if need be. Yay!





Oh and something else funny: Last night, (Saturday night), the guy was supposed to have Bryan's drawn out but didn't get to finish.. so Bryan was really dissapointed. I had a few fake tattoos laying around, so I got the girliest one I had and put it on him. It was 2 bright pink birds touching their beaks together, and together with their wings they formed a heart in the middle.. hehe.. so cute. We stopped by my mom's house last night on the way home.. and I showed it to her (but didn't tell her about the real ones of course). Then I showed her mine and just smiled. She said mine was cute too and she really liked it. Obviously since she didn't freak out she thinks it, too, is fake. HAHa.. I'm going to laugh in a few weeks/months when she sees it again and realizes it didn't wash off. LOL Wow I'm mean.. :\ but it's funny! O:)

3:03pm: Geology Trip to the Desert Southwest
Well I made it home from the desert southwest, ALIVE! (Hurray.) It was soooo much fun.. but I am glad to be home! We stayed at the 4 Queens Hotel in 'old' Vegas after arriving early that night. We left the next morning and drove over to Frenchman mountain just outside of Vegas. WOW! What a view. You could see the entire city of Vegas, and the surrounding mountains were beautiful. After climbing up a few miles and back down, we started our trip on to Utah.

We arrived to Zion National Park in Springdale that night, set up camp, then went into town for dinner and a little exploring. We sat up for a while around the campfire and got to know each other a little better. Everyone was picking on Salyna, Ashley, and me because we had the biggest tent. They called us the 'Condo Girls'. The next morning we took a shuttle bus over to one of the mountains and started our hike. It was about 3 or so miles round trip. Later that day we left for Bryce National Park.

After driving for a few hours, we made it there and went for a hike. That hike was about 4-6 miles.. that was a long day!! We saw a Steller's Jay in a tree while we were resting.. it was soo pretty!! They are blue and black-- similar to a blue jay. The next morning we left for Arches National Park in Moab, Utah.

The first few hikes weren't bad because it was pretty much flat and not very steep. We saw 4 or 5 arches, then it was time for the really cool one. We hiked about 3 miles upward (pretty steep) to see Delicate Arch. I almost didn't make it all the way up because it was SO hot and really strenuous.. but McNeil and Salyna stayed back with me and pushed me to keep going. I was sooo glad I made it up because it was worth it. The arch was beautiful and we were soo high up.. it felt like we were on top of the world. Apparently a guy took his girlfriend up there hiking, because over near the arch (which was a good 1000 ft. away from the point we were up there) he got down on his knee and proposed to her!!!! We saw the girl smile and he jumped up and she hugged him around his neck, so we all started screaming in excitement. It was the sweetest thing I've ever witnessed!! :) Anyway.. of course because of our friend GRAVITY, the hike down was much easier. After that we went to set up camp and stayed at a campground in town.

The next day we left for our journey towards Arizona. We made a few stops along the way, one at Newspaper Rock, which had really old Petroglyphs, and then at Mexican Hat and Monument Valley. We made it to Sunset Crater (a cinder cone volcano) and hiked a short and easy trail up a little ways to see a deep cave that was FREEZING COLD. It was blocked off sadly because huge rocks had fallen in and it was dangerous, but we could still feel the cold air. I really wanted to go to the top but he said that was a reeeeally long hike. Then after thinking for a minute, he said he had a surprise in store for us. We left Sunset Crater and continued on towards Arizona. We stopped in the middle of nowhere back about 3 miles off the road into a cattle farm, where more volcanoes were.

We went to SP Crater which stands for "Shit Pot" Crater.. (lol!) and climbed to the top!! That hike was really tough because we were walking on cinders, which is like walking on gravel, but on a steep incline, so every step we took, we took like 1/2 a step back. About 3/4 of the way up, Dr. Phillips almost walked into a rattlesnake! It started rattling, but thankfully never struck at him. We all slowly backed up (and slid down a bit) but we went the opposite way. Once we reached the top, we sat up there for about 30 minutes and just looked around and enjoyed the view. Salyna, Stephanie, and I were the 'wanderers' of the group, and we wanted to go closer to the middle to get a better look. So we started down the slope towards the mouth of the volcano. It didn't take us long to reach it but it was very steep, so we were nervous. Being dormant for thousands of years, the center was filled in with huge rocks and boulders unfortuneately. We took some pictures and hiked back up to join the rest of the group.

After enjoying the view and talking for a while about random subjects, we got ready to head down. From the top of the volcano, the van which would seat 15 people looked like a Matchbox toy car. We started down the steep side of the volcano and it only took us about 3-5 minutes to reach the bottom. I slid a lot of the way on my butt which was a lot of fun... I just ended up with pants and shoes full of cinders, and very dusty, as did everyone else.

We left SP Crater headed to the Grand Canyon.. Finally!! After about an hour we made it to the South Rim and set up camp.. though we were exhausted. After that we went to take showers which were $1.75 for 5 minutes! WHAT!?! Anyway.. afterwhich we took a shuttle bus to the little town area and ate dinner. We walked over to some big shopping area and behind them was the Canyon. We sat up on the wall made of stones for about 30 minutes to watch the sunset, which was BEAUTIFUL.. except it was a little cloudy which made it not as glamourous as it could have been. When we got back to camp we were sitting around the campfire, and Garrett and I were eating Sunflower seeds after trying to roast marshmallows on tiny sticks. I don't care much for marshmallows so I only ate a few. I was proud because with the sunflower seeds, I could actually pop them open and spit out the shell! I NEVER could do that when I was younger. He couldn't do it.. he was having to grab them off his tounge. hehe Go me! Ok anyway.. The funniest part of camping at the Grand Canyon to me was the Ravens. There were these HUGE freaking black ravens that looked bigger than Adult Roosters... HUGE I tell you!! haha The next morning we got up around 5 and they were eating the sunflower seeds which the bag was like 3/4 full.. and they had got into the marshmallows.. which that bag was completely full except for maybe 10 marshmallows gone when we went to bed. Someone left everything out..

Anyway.. after breakfast and doing our own thing for a while, we filled up our bottles of water, grabbed some fruit, and headed towards the trail for the Grand Canyon hike. We only hiked about 3 miles into the Canyon, because we weren't up to really going all the way to the bottom... [I think I read online somewhere it is a 22 mile hike!? Or maybe it is 22 miles rim to rim... not sure] We took pictures, gazed out into the canyon, and journeyed back up. Whew! That was a little tough, but I think the SP Crater and Delicate Arch hikes were much worse.

After reaching the top we took a short water break and headed back to where the van was parked (about .5 mile away). We got back to the campground and sat around for about 20 minutes deciding what we were going to do next. Dr. Phillips told us the rest of the day was ours FREE.. but we had to go to the visitor center and copy down some information for our journals. [Did I mention we were keeping journals and taking notes/drawing sketches at all these places and it was to be graded??] Yep. Which is cool because now I can look back through it at any time and remember exactly what we did and where we went AND what we saw! YAY! :)

That night Dr. Phillips went to visit an old college friend that lived about 2 miles away for the night, and we were left with the van!!! (He's crazy.. right?!) We stopped by the general store after dropping him off and picked up some 'booze'. [Of course Salyna and me got Bacardi because we don't drink beer.. gross!] I don't ususally drink.. but hey.. it was our last night there. I only got 2 bottles and of course had to have one of the guys buy it for me. [I've only got 7 months 'til I'm 21 anyway.. :P ] SO.. we went back.. sat around the campfire.. drank.. talked.. laughed.. sang.. ..Yeah.. that's right.. about 8 buzzed random aged people sat around a fire and tried to sing 'row row row your boat' in threes at about 9:45 at night. That didn't work out too well.. lol Ashley recorded it on her camera which I couldn't wait to watch in the morning. Quiet hour was at 10pm so we went on and turned in. The next morning after taking down camping and getting ready to hit the road, Ashley and McNeil discovered some of their belongings had been stolen from the van! No one had been locking it at night, and that last night someone got in it and went through their two bookbags. McNeil only had his cash ($70) stolen.. but Ashley had her dig. camera, jewelry she had bought there, and cash ($120) stolen out of hers. I'm glad I didn't take my camera and that I kept everything with me in the tent. I felt really bad for them, and that put a damper on everyone's morning. We had to wait for the park ranger to get there and write a report.. so we left about an hour later than planned.. and Dr. Phillips HATES waiting for anything.. but he didn't say anything about it.

We left towards Las Vegas which was about a 1-2 hour drive... on the way there was a really bad wreck and 3 cars were smushed like aluminum cans. I think we heard on the radio that 2 were killed. I don't see how anyone survived, if they did. Traffic was a little conjested right at the hoover dam, which I didn't mind because it gave us a chance to stare at it. Dr. Phillips asked if we wanted to stop, but no one said anything except Brian saying nah lets just go on.. so he went on past the parking entrance. He thought for 2 seconds to himself and said.. "If I don't do this now I'll regret it the rest of my life." So after going around a curve he whipped the car around and went back to stop. I smiled so big when he said that. I was really glad because I wanted to stop there, but didn't say anything. Everyone was tired and hot and didn't seem like they wanted to. We accidently got caught up in a tour and went down to see the generators, and watch some short film on why and how the dam was built. It was pretty cool. We took some pictures and left after about 45 minutes.

After about 30 minutes on the road again, we made it to Vegas! Finally.. we could go relax at the hotel and do our on thing. Oh, Ashley, Salyna, and me were all wearing our Hiker Girl t-shirts from the Grand Canyon, so of course we HAD to get a pic together in them. It was cute- we did a charlie's angels pose, and then just a regular pose. We took quick baths and changed into our 'night out' clothes and Ashley did our hair and makeup.. which was lots of fun! It was like being little girls again. I missed having girl friends.. I always hang out with 'the guys' and don't really have any close girl friends anymore. They all either moved away, do drugs, are too stuck up, or contain too much drama for me. So anyway..

We went down to the Casino on the first floor of the hotel we were staying in (same one as 8 days before) - the 4 Queens Hotel - and just walked around watching for a while. Of course I still look like I'm 17 so twice I was asked if I was 21 and twice I had to say my ID was in my room, that I was going to get it.. and never went back.. lol smooth. So I just went out on the street in front of the Casino where tons of people were walking around to look at the lights, shops, and all the stuff going on. There were these 2 Chipendale guy's throwing beads at Salyna and me trying to get us to come over there and take a picture with them. haha! I was like no I'm not gettin' in trouble with Bryan :) .. lol But they did it about 3 different times and eventually we went over. They were kinda cute but not really.. just had sexy bodies.. =D LOL One was like "grab my butt!" and grabbed my hand and made me put it his RUMP (lol) and the other grabbed my hips and got up behind me!! It was awkward but funny.. and there were people watching and Salyna was screaming "go girl!!" haha.. Then it was her turn and they LOVED her! She seemed a little more shy about it so she just kinda posed in the middle of them.. but it was a cute pic! Of course we didn't buy them or anything.. but it was fun to do. We had to find Ashley and make her take one with them too. We brought her back later and they wanted another pic of Salyna and me and then one of all three of us with them. LoL! This time they picked me up off the floor and had their hands on my legs and I was sitting on their shoulders.. haha It was crazy!!! The guy was REALLY trying to get us to buy them, and he printed one out for Ashley because he was trying to really convince her.. but she said she didn't want it and wouldn't buy it (She's married!) So they just gave it to her for free. I was like dang!

Salyna was trying to get a free drink in the casino without actually gambling, but they wouldn't ever bring her one. There was a stand in the street selling alcoholic drinks, but they were like $4-$8 for a little tiny cup. Some of us got henna tattoos a little later. I got mine at a different place because I was wandering by myself for a while and found it. It was supposed to be $30 for this tiny butterfly, but I kept acting like I didn't want it and the asian lady lowered the price to $15. I was like ok.. I guess so. She said it would last 3 weeks. Later when I met up with Ash and Salyna and some of the other peeps from the gang, they had henna tattoos too. Their's averaged $8 but was supposed to last only like 5 days. I want another real one soon.

Well after a while I got bored with the whole street thing and lights so I went up to the room with Salyna, because she was pretty tired too. It was about 12am at this point. I organized my stuff and worked on my journal some more since Dr. Phillips was going to take them up and grade them on the plane the next day. I stayed up to about 2:30am working on it and just trying not to sleep so I would on the plane. [1 hour flight to Salt Lake City then another 3 and 1/2 hour flight to Raleigh.]

I'm not a big fan of country music.. but at the airport in Vegas we saw Brooks and Dunn in person!! The country music awards had been there the night before (while we were there). Ash got a pic with them (though Brooks didn't look too happy about it) and MAN is that guy TALL! haha.. I went up and stood about 5 feet away and took 2 pics of them on my cell phone.. hehe :)

The first plane ride sucked!! There was a lot of turbulence and I seriously thought we were gunna die. lol [Overdramatic] On the 2nd plane home we watched the movie a Bridge to Teribithia. That was a crazy SAD movie. I was depressed after that.. and almost everyone on the plane that was watching was crying.. even Dr. Phillips!! haha We made it home at about 10:45pm our time and we were exhausted. It was cool because Ashley's aunt and uncle (which brought her car to the airport from their house.. they live 1 mile away and kept Ash's car while we were gone so she wouldn't have to park it at the airport) greeted us at the bottom of the escalaters with 2 signs like those people that hold up a sign with a name on it. It was sooo cool and soo sweet of them!! haha One said "Ashley & Ashley", and the other said "Welcome Home!!" That was the coolest thing ever. Well it was pouring down rain the whole way home.. and Ashley drives a red volkswagon beetle.. just like the one I had last year.. when I hydroplained when it was pouring just like that. I was freakin' out the whole way home because I'm usually nervous in a regular car when it rains.. but the bug just petrified me. Ash lives in Hope Mills and Bryan met us at a gas station right near her house and she dropped me off. I was soooo happy to see him!!!! :) We didn't even leave for like 10 minutes because we just hugged and smiled and talked. He knew how I was about the rain so he drove slower than usual the whole way home. That was really comforting. I was telling him bits and pieces of the trip.. but I was so tired and ready to sleep in a comfy bed, esp. since the night before I had 3 hours of sleep and didn't sleep at all on the plane.

I didn't realize until this weekend when I came to work how much I got in shape from the trip. I had to take something upstairs to the 3rd floor and I took the stairs.. and when I got to the top I wasn't one bit tired or out of breath. I was so proud!! I've felt more energized as well since I've been back, and I've got a little bit of a tan. :) YAY. Hopefully that won't be the only trip I take this summer.

Now all that's left is the 3-5 page report I have due tomorrow (Monday).


THE END!



Update: I ended up with an A on the paper and for the course!! yay!!










(wow.. sorry that was sooooooo long. If you actually read it.. congratulations. If not, I don't blame you. :) bye!)

4:36pm: GEOLOGY TRIP!!!
Get this! For the first time ever in my life.. I'm going to get on an airplane. [WHAT??] Yeah.. really. I've always been afraid to fly (plus we've never gone anywhere.. at all..) so I guess its kind-of a big deal. One of the professors at UNCP takes a group every summer for a "Maymester" course (May 07-May 27) somewhere out in the west to study rock formations and such for Geology. I will get 3 credit hours (totally awesome) for going on an 8 day trip to study the Colorado Plateau. Dr. Phillips will be lecturing some at the National Parks, and we will have to keep a journal of what we do/experience/observe through the whole trip. When we get back we have to write a 3-5 page report and turn it in by the 22nd. Each day we are visiting a different National Park, and the last 2 days we will be at the Grand Canyon. We will be camping out except for the night we arrive and the night before we leave. We will be staying in a hotel above a casino in downtown Las Vegas on the 2 nights we're not camping, which is pretty cool. The places we are visiting & studying are as follows (by each day):

Raleigh to Las Vegas
Zion National Park (Frenchman Mountain)/(Navajo Sandstone)
Bryce Canyon National Park (Claron Formation)
Moab - Arches National Park (Entrada Sandstone)
Sunset Crater (Cinder Cone Geology)
Grand Canyon National Park (Canyon Geology)
Las Vegas to Raleigh


I'm soooo excited!!! But I'm gunna miss Bryan soo much. :(

7:37pm: Sad face...
The story of Rocko and Spunky...


Well last week was about the worst week of my life.. Spunky (the new gray cockatiel) was apparently sick or something when I bought her from Petsmart in Fayetteville.. because late on Wednesday, April 11, she died in her cage. :( I was so devastated... She did not show signs of an illness except this slight panting when we would walk into the room.. which everyone I talked to about it said that it was just stress from being in a new home.. which it probably was. I had trouble sleeping that night and I don't think I fell asleep until around 5am. But Bryan and me still got up and went to school as usual on Thursday, and I was to work that afternoon for Mona from 4-10pm.

While I was at work Bryan noticed Rocko acting.... different. He was weak feeling when Bryan tried to pick him up and just wasn't acting like his perky, usual self. He started breathing heavily and started sneezing repetitively for about 20-30 minutes. Bryan was frantically calling vets close by as well as my mom to try to find someone to take him to. Of course this was around 6pm so every place anywhere near by (like Southern Pines) was closed or either wouldn't look at birds. The closest place was in Cary, NC which is like 2 hours away... and Bryan didn't want to drive there alone since he had barely had sleep the night before because of being sweet and staying awake with me. I ended up just telling him to wait until I got off work at 10 since my mom and sister couldn't go and he couldn't find anyone to go with him.

When Bryan picked me up at 10 and we went back to the apt, I went straight to see how he was doing. Rocko was breathing so hard, he was rocking back and forth on his perch.. and his feathers were really puffed out. (He wasn't this bad when Bryan left to go get me from work).. I could look at him and tell something was extremely wrong. I had a strong feeling he wouldn't make it through the night. We hurriedly grabbed everything we needed and put Rocko in a smaller cage to head towards Cary. When I picked him up he barely wanted to move.. I could just tell he was really weak by how limp he was being in my hands. Well long story short.. only about 1/4th of the way to Southern Pines at exactly 11pm.. he stopped breathing.

I of course felt a huge weight of failure come over me... and as Bryan pulled over we just kinda didn't say anything for a few minutes. I couldn't stand watching him take his last few breaths.. knowing there was nothing I could do to save him. We both were crying as we sat in silence and just hugged each other for a few moments. It wasn't such a big impact (like Spunky's death was) since I knew something was wrong and could see it happening.. but it was still one of the most horrible feelings I think I've ever felt. I hadn't had either of them long... Rocko ~4 months and Spunky about a week.. but I was so attached to my birds. It was like losing a child. I still walk into the apartment some days expecting to go right up to Rocko's cage like I habitually did to greet him and take him out.. only to find the empty cage. My heart was torn apart.. I miss them so much.



Rest in peace, my loves.

2:59pm: Care to know what's goin' on right now in my life?
Sooo... its been a little while since I've been on LJ.. since payperpost has changed so much and my ranking is not very high, there are barely any 'opportunities' out there for me to take.. so I forget to log in sometimes. O:) Anyway.. with the summer approaching I've been stressing trying to work extra hard to make my grades as high as I can get them before the end of the semester. The past week I've been working on an 8-page paper (due tomorrow for English) and studying for 3 tests in my other subjects last Tuesday (Earth Science), Wednesday (American Civ.), and Thursday (Geography).

Bryan and me have been hittin' the pool at least 1 or 2 extra days during the week (besides during our swimming class on Tuesday) to get in shape and practice for the final. Bryan is advancing quickly in the beginner's section, he can now swim (doggie-paddle or back-stroke) the length of the pool AND he has just learned to jump in the deep end and get to the wall! I'm so proud of him. The other beginners are no where near where he is.. they are still scared to jump in or swim across.. esp. in the deep end. I've been swimming my whole life so I was put in the intermediate section (unfortuneately) and we have to swim 9 laps in under 4 minutes for our final... which is tough. I tried last Tuesday and I got it in 5.51 minutes. I don't mind practicing because I love swimming!

I just got another cockatiel Thursday to keep my first one (Rocko) company and give him a friend. Rocko is a pearl cockatiel, and the new one is a gray cockatiel. I named her Spunky. [I used to watch a silly cartoon called 'Rocko's Modern Life', and Rocko's best friend was a puppy named Spunky]. Spunky is a bit younger and of course smaller than Rocko, but it won't take her long to catch up. They are getting along so well already!

In May I am going on a trip to the west for 8 days for school. Any student can go no matter what their major, and they'll get 3 credit hours in Geology. I'm not quite sure where in the west.. but I know we are flying there, staying in a hotel like 1 night, then camping the rest of the time until time to go home I think. I'm really nervous because I've only been camping twice at Jordan lake.. and they had bathrooms and showers in a little building near the camp sites. I don't think we will have the luxury where we're going. I've never been on a plane, and I've never been anywhere west of NC. We'll have to carry our tents/sleeping bags/clothes/etc. on our backs and probably be walking the whole time.. sooo.. I REALLY need to get in shape! I'm excited about going though.. I can't wait!! :)

10:44am: 300
Bryan and me went to see 300 FINALLY last night in Pinehurst.. it was AWESOME! I would not recommend for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone with weak stomachs though.. hehe


We stopped by Best Buy to check on my computer since it had been 3 weeks and they hadn't called yet... What a big surprise.. it was in... they just never called. When I got it back I looked it over to make sure it wasn't missing anything, and sure enough the remote that goes in the side of it that I can use for playing music, movies, etc. was missing... I was freakin' out and she said "Well I'm sorry ma'am, the paper says there were no accessories with the computer when you dropped it off.." I was like WHAT!?!? That is such bull crap. THEN.. I got home (around 12:30am after the movie) and tried to hook up to wireless and nothing at all was showing up for wireless.. so I think they took my wireless card as well. I'm going to call up there as soon as I get home from school.

Oh.. they had to replace the motherboard... even though I've only had it 1 year and they just replaced the hard drive a couple of months ago. Luckily my mom bought the 3 year protection plan on the hardware so I wouldn't have to pay for it if something went bad. The hard drive would have been $350 (thats how much the protection plan was) and the motherboard was $450... so I got lucky there. Then I read that almost EVERYTHING from Best Buy is refurbbished.. such as computers and such. I guess that is why I'm having so much trouble.

DON'T BUY ANYTHING BIG FROM BEST BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:57pm: Grandparents' house
I finally got to see Grammy and Opa after all this time! Mom and me actually didn't come home until Wednesday.. (I think Bryan was about to die). We had a lot of fun and mostly just sat around and talked, and ATE.. boy did we eat. I think I gained 10 pounds while I was there Sunday - Wednesday. They haven't changed much, just a little more gray. They still have the two dogs, Muffin and Choo-Choo, a pekingese and Shiz-tzu. We are going back March 23-25, and this time Bryan is going. I can't wait! :)