Oh, would you look at that, an update o.0

So, just out of curiosity, are any of you guys actually reading this?  You can let me know by commenting =P

If I haven't mentioned yet, midterms went well, I got As on both of them.  Of course, now that half of the semester is over, things will begin picking up the pace.  But I have gotten a new organizer, which has room for all of my homework assignments in it, so hopefully that'll help me stay caught up.  Also, I get to start picking classes on November 18th for next semester...woo.  It looks like I'll be taking either three psych classes, or two psych classes and a p.e. class (aka, yoga, aikedo, tai chi, etc.)...not sure which I want to do yet though.  It sucks only being able to take 3 classes -_-'

I have been progressively learning how to cook vegan-style (mainly out of necessity) and have learned that there are many wonderful things that most meat eaters have never experienced.  For example, how many of you (with the exception of Jaime, if he reads this, because he's a Chef and doesn't count) actually know what "Nutritional Yeast" is?  No, it's not normal yeast.  It's yellow, and flaky, and makes things taste like cheese...bizarre, non?  Also, for those of you who want your soy to taste like meat, there's this wonderful stuff called 'Soy-Rizo' which tastes much like chorizo but is much better for you and such.  In fact, I think I shall cook some of it tonight.  Bwahaha!

So anyway, both Tim and myself (as a result of getting off of our asses and actually biking/cooking food at home/eating more healthy stuff) have been shrinking horizontally.  Mainly Tim...I don't have that much further I could go anyway.

Also, the whole thing regarding coming back to Oregon for a couple of weeks over the summer is looking somewhat sketchy, as Greyhound are no longer doing their $99 anywhere in the U.S. deal anymore, and therefore a round trip bus ticket would be as much as a plane ticket right now.  So we shall see how that goes.  Hopefully it'll all work out.

That is all for now.  Byes.

-Mari

Another update

Well, obviously I spoke too soon about that whole weather getting colder thing, because it was about 75 degrees today.  Odd.

Also, having to jobs is kind of frustrating.  Especially trying to communicate to one that, no, I can't conveniently skip the other one to work for them on a particular Saturday.  Etc.

I've become a slight bit less enchanted with Boulder after being here for a few months.  The town is great, but it's also very expensive, and jobs don't pay that much because people are used to hiring college kids who don't need money but have to account to their parents where the money flow is going.  Also, because it's so expensive, there is very little diversity in this town.  Lots of white people.  There are few people of African heritage, occasionally someone from Europe, and plenty of Hispanic workers who I rarely see because they're always given the kitchen or construction jobs.  I find this somewhat depressing, personally.  It seems like a lot of people here are so busy living with their yoga-filled heads in the clouds that they forget about the homeless people they're ignoring. 

Otherwise, classes are still going well.  There is not too much difference in my life from last week.  I shall continue to update.  Bye all,

-Mari

Midterms

Well, all, midterms have officially begun.  I only have two, but they're not a typical paper and pencil ordeal.  Instead, they're 'warrior style' as they like to call them here.  Two people sit across from each other (people randomly chosen), and one draws a question out of a bowl and reads it to the other, who must spend six minutes discussing the topic, how it relates to some other thing, how this subject has appeared in his or her own life, etc.  Then the questioner asks an additional question or two to draw out more information.  It really puts you on the spot, so you have to know what you're talking about.  Luckily, I studied pretty well and didn't have too much of a problem with my first one.  The one I have next Monday will be a little more difficult though.

Otherwise, life is pretty good.  I got a raise (woo...25 cents...) at the candy store, which is a total of like $10 extra per paycheck, which is really not that much, but I guess it means they like me.  The weather here has also turned cold.  There was ice on my bike this morning, and I wore two coats to school.  The towns further into the mountains are getting snow already, and the flatirons look like they've been dusted with powdered sugar.  Here's a picture of the mountains, sans snow, but still pretty:

Also, here are some pictures of my two jobs, the candy and book stores:

Finally, here's a picture of part of the Naropa campus.  The building on the right is the library, and on the left you can see a little bit of the student affairs and admissions building.  This area is called 'the green'.  Also, the large tree in the picture is a sycamore, and is one of the oldest recorded trees in the U.S.  It's 44 inches in diameter I believe.

Also, thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday/sent cards and gifts/etc.  Even if it's just because myspace reminded you ^_^  I had to go to school and work all day on the 8th, but I got to go out to dinner and buy myself some sweaters over the weekend, so overall it was good.

And now I shall go watch something and eat dinner, because I am hungry and such.  Ttyl all,

-Mari