Holy Hoth, Batman

    Sorry I'm a little late, but at least I didn't take another month.  My most recent affliction is a sinus infection, so I've been feeling a little crappier than usual.  It's also been snowing quite consistently up here and I'm beginning to think we've become New Greenland instead of New England.  Apparently we've already surpassed the blizzard of '78 in regard to total accumulation.  I will most likely need a Tauntaun to get anywhere tomorrow.  I've been enjoying my time off from doing anything, but I think it's about time I left the house and actually did something productive.  If only I could learn how to not panic driving in the snow...  You'd think after living here my whole life I would be used to it by now, but unfortunately I still get anxious.  Luckily, my job allows me to relieve that stress by making staying home during a storm mandatory.  However, there's only so much Netflix I can watch before I get cabin fever.  I do have some good news, another Bachelor review as well as another book review on my Reviews page.

    The good news is that I finally found a middle school placement!  The extra good news is that it's in my own town, which means it's super close and convenient for me to get there.  I also have more connections there, which might work in my favor.  The teacher I'm supposedly working with is younger, male and very good with technology, which are all great.  He also spent his sabbatical last year researching and doing a case study on the flipped classroom model, which is a model of teaching centered around providing students with lectures and other content online to watch from home and doing supplemental work and discussion in class.  I've always been curious about this method of teaching and it looks like I'll get a front row seat to this concept when I start my internship again this week.  I'm hoping that with my extended background in technology I'll be able to integrate seamlessly into his classroom and work well with him.  We'll see how it goes, but I'm looking forward to meeting him and getting back in the classroom with some middle schoolers!

    As for The Bachelor, I'm still sticking with my Top 3 of Kaitlin, Jade and Whitney.  Mainly because they are probably the only genuine people left in the house, besides maybe Casey.  I actually didn't even watch the whole episode last week because I got bored halfway through and didn't really feel like watching Kelsey's "panic attack" for the fifth time, (because they showed it so often in clips of the previews).  It's only week six and I'm already sick of the unnecessary drama that's been happening.  I'm usually ok with it, because that's what this show thrives on, but this time it's just sad.  Like they're all trying way too hard to be THAT dramatic, it doesn't even feel real.  I know that show is at least partially not real to begin with, but still.  I'm hoping tonight's episode and the two-on-one date will shed some light on what Chris thinks about all this.  I feel like we've barely heard him talk this entire time.  If it were me, I'd send both Ashley AND Kelsey home, but we'll see.
    That's all I have for this week.  It's short, sweet and to the point.  I'd probably have more if I actually did anything with my life these days, but sadly I haven't.  I don't mind being an introvert, but sometimes, if you get stuck in a rut of being home all the time, it gets harder to leave when you actually have to.  I'm going to try to make more plans with friends and see if that helps.  I've already planned my spring break vacation, which is unusual because I've never gone anywhere for spring break while I've been in college.  I'll be visiting my best friend in Colorado and I'm really excited about it!  I've never been and I can't wait to see the mountains and hang out with her again because it's been way too long.  I wish it were April now:(  While I've been shut in, I also managed to read Looking for Alaska by John Green, which is another book I got for Christmas.  I'll be putting the review for that on my Reviews page later today.  In the meantime, I'm going to go cue up my LOTR marathon and bake another batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

There and Back Again

    Hello again, and welcome to my terrific Tuesday post! (alliteration is key)  As you might've guessed, not a whole lot has happened since last week.  I saw my nephew again this past Saturday and he's still ADORABLE.  Unfortunately that might be the only good thing to happen within the last two weeks.

(Which one is cuter?)

    Although I do still feel indifferent over the whole unemployment thing, I'm starting to get antsy, sitting at home all day either reading for class, typing up assignments or looking for jobs.  I feel like I started in a good place and now I'm back in a meh state of mind where I definitely don't want to stay.  I have a promising interview a week from Thursday, so we'll see how that goes.  Right now, that's my only promising lead, having been dropped from the contenders list of the first job I applied for already.  Fingers crossed for some good news!  Luckily I got called to substitute next week so, baring the inescapable weather conditions, I could be bringing home some bacon, (if only that were really true...)

    Speaking of jobs, I had my secondary education intern orientation this afternoon and I feel really good about all the prospective intern sites at my disposal.  Number one being my alma mater middle school, with two in close proximity to where I live being close second and third.  All of the schools have a lot to offer, and right now I'm thinking I might want to give high school a second go, but for now all I can do is wait and see what happens at the open houses next week, (again, weather permitting).  I swear to God, if these blizzards all pile on top of each other the ONE WEEK I have significant life decisions to make about my future, there will be HELL to pay.

    In YouTube news, video footage released on the first of this month by Shay Carl Butler and Corey Vidal announced some new information regarding the popular and much-anticipated documentary feature Vlogumentary, which will hopefully be in theaters this coming summer.  Obviously they couldn't say too much without giving stuff away, but we shall see the final product soon, which is more than we could say about a year ago when all this started.  To say that I'm excited about this would be a severe understatement.  You can view the two video announcements here:

    Well that's about it.  I'm pretty sure I had more to offer you today, but sadly I left my blogging planner at home and have since forgotten what I had originally planned to do for today.  More to add to next week!  Thursday I will be talking about the various things that happened in TV this week as well as other stuff, (probably).  How's that for a vague description?  I will also hopefully be starting observation work in addition to my open houses next week or this week, so stay tuned for more on that!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

PS: THIS JUST IN!  SNOW DAY TOMORROW!! HUMP DAAAYYEEEEE YEEEAHH:)

Winter Vacation: First Snow Day of 2014

    Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had fun gorging themselves on Chinese food and binge drinking with friends.  Now that the holiday season is officially over, we can now move our focus to the wonderful aspects of winter vacation.  Usually this means nothing to adults, but to those select few who do still appreciate winter there are still fun times to be had.

    I know I speak for a lot of people when I say snow SUCKS sometimes.  For those who haven't had the pleasure of living in a cold-weather climate, driving in it can be extremely dangerous, especially for those people who think they're invincible with four-wheel drive.  Schools close, kids emerge and begin construction on their various snow homes and winter weaponry.  You can usually see adults shoveling, or more likely snow-blowing their way out of their driveways.  As a kid, I was always enlisted to aid my father in shoveling the driveway in order to learn how to do it properly.  My sister and I had tiny shovels and we'd start a path from the porch to the driveway and go on from there, (usually in no particular direction).  It's a fond memory I have of winter and I plan on teaching my children the same way, (or rather Tom will, seeing as I'm awful at shoveling nowadays and can't seem to stay outside for longer than ten consecutive minutes...).

    I have something called "Raynaud's Phenomenon,"in which my extremities lose circulation rapidly in the colder weather.  Because of this, my hands and feet will feel a burning sensation whenever it gets too cold outside.  This prevents me from grabbing my steering wheel, shoveling, cleaning off my car, etc.  Basically just going outside hurts and it's very inconvenient, but I've managed for this long.  I'm hoping that, in the future, I will find some gloves that will work to keep my hands warm, but so far, no luck.  I'm lucky enough to have a husband who will selflessly clear snow after a hard day's work.
    Needless to say winter hasn't always been my favorite time of year due to my medical problems.  However, I do enjoy sledding/tubing, skiing and ice skating.  My dad used to take us sledding in certain places, as I supposed a lot of people have done.  In fact, I think my dad is the reason I enjoy all of these things, seeing as he took us outside the most.  I owe him a lot for my love of winter sports and for teaching me to not be afraid or hindered by my medical issues.  I love him more for that.

    As for now, I enjoy staying indoors, curled up on the couch in my sweatpants with a movie or a good book.  Speaking of that, I am officially starting my reading for the month of January.  I will only be reading one book seeing as I have less than a month and I need to stop once my spring semester starts up again.  I will be reading Divergent by Veronica Roth to start that series.  Eventually I would like to read all of them, but until I have the time I will start with the first installment.  As I have stated before, on Thursdays I will be talking about my progress in the book as well as my feelings and inferences as well.  I am excited to start reading again for leisure:)
    Enjoy your snow days if you have them.  I will be hanging out in my apartment for the next 48 hours avoiding the outside world as best I can.  I see a nice mug of hot cocoa and some home made mac and cheese in my near future, so I will leave you to your various engagements in winter merriment.  Tell me about your favorite parts of winter in the comments below!  I will be continuing my Harry Potter Marathon.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

Partying Like It's My Birthday! (No, Really...)

    That's right, I'm officially DONE with my fall semester!  One more semester to go before my full-year internship next year.  It seems like I still have so much to do, but I also feel like I'm in the home stretch...it's a weird feeling I can't really explain.  It doesn't seem like much, but I know that when I'm really done, it'll be for good.  Until then, I'll be enjoying my winter vacation as best I can and looking forward to another great semester in January.

(Does this look plowed to you?)

    Apparently the weather is against us up here in New Hampshire.  Did I mention it's not supposed to get above 20 degrees today?!  We had a mild blizzard this past weekend where we got at least a foot of snow in some places and we're expected to get more snow this afternoon, so I might be snowed in again today.  I don't mind too much, I just hate clearing off my car...  My husband is one of those guys who feels obligated to shovel everyone out so that the other tenants can get to where they need to go.  Just based on that, I know I bagged myself a good one.  Thanks to the shoddy work the plowing company did on our driveway, (or didn't do).  I'm grateful that my own spot is clear, but as for the other two tenants, they have to shovel themselves out I guess.  You had one job plow guys.

    So far in our decorating endeavors we added a few things to our collection.  A nice door mount complete with white poinsettias and pine cones as well as some twinkly icicle lights to hang somewhere in our living room.  Unfortunately, we're in desperate need of more outlets and extension cords.  Luckily my father hooked us up with an extra power strip, so we might be able to plug our tree and the lights into that, but we'll see when it's all done.  I'll be sure to take more pictures!

    This week is special to me not only because finals are over, but because my birthday is on Thursday!  I will be 24 and I know that's not a huge deal or anything, but I definitely feel it this time.  Because my birthday is in December, I've always been bombarded with storms and winter weather, ruining any real plans.  This year it looks like I'll be free from the torment of Father Winter and finally be able to enjoy my birthday.  So far I have plans with my father for breakfast and his famous pancakes, finishing up my Christmas shopping, a lovely trip down to Boston for a nice dinner date with my husband and spending some quality time with my mother, whom I haven't actually seen on my birthday in about six years.  My birthday memories with her are my fondest; she used to call me out of school and we'd go wherever I wanted all day.  I'm really excited to get to spend time with her again.  It's been far too long.
    So that's my recap for the past few days.  I'm really looking forward to all the fun things I'll get to do this week and knowing Christmas is literally right around the corner makes it even sweeter!  I'm so excited this year and now I feel like I can finally enjoy the holidays!  Christmas cards have been sent, (major wife points right there), and presents have begun to be wrapped, so it's only a matter of time!  Our first Christmas as husband and wife has been so rewarding to me thus far, and it'll only get better:)  Check out Thursday's Blogmas post where I will list my Top 5 Christmas movies!  Until next time, I remain your faithful Christmas correspondent.