I have really nothing to say but I have neglected my blog long enough. So I've gone back to school. This is supposedly my last year in College. I should graduate in the Spring unless I get into the U of I's J school this semester. I'll have another year of classes if I do. Recently, I got an internship at my local NPR station. I'm pretty psyched about that. I never really thought about doing radio before but it will be a great way to see how real journalist work and learn new skills that may come in handy. You never know, right? Um. what else. I've working a lot. It's becoming dangerous to work in a book store lately. Ok, not dangerous but with all the political books coming out this year, people are ready to pounce on anything. I had someone tell me that bookstores should have more "important" books out in the main aisle like Dr. Laura (I fail to see how she can be important) instead of promoting our liberal bias. Whatever. We don't write the books we just sell them and there are plenty of books from both sides. Yesterday, we almost had two customers come to blow over Unfit for Command. It definitely makes life interesting at work. So, anyway, that's it for now. i think that should tie me over for a bit.

Olympic Fever Baby!!!

I am sure that everyone is aware that the Olympics are being competed in Athens right now. Well, not right now because it's like almost 2am in Greece but you know what I mean. I really dig the Olympics. Kat says that Patriotism only truly belongs in sports. Let everyone play on the even field and let the best win. I think that is what makes the Olympics special. I couldn't be more happy for our Men's Gymnastics team for winning the silver. The first medal for them in 20 years! I think it's so cool that Michael Phelps has a chance to win eight medals this year. It doesn't matter to me that he won't be able to break Mark Spitz's record because I didn't think he would do it but so far he has three gold's and two bronzes medal. How cool is that? I also think it's cool that the Iraqi soccer team is 2-0 in competition so far and that both Iraq and Afghanistan have women competing for the first time. So, there may have been something good come out of the US invading both of their countries. While our men's basketball team has been sucking it up on the court our women have been nothing but devastating the competition and when the boys failed to qualify for soccer and baseball (how embarrassing is that?), our women are doing us proud with win after win. That really makes me proud to be an American Woman!

For all those reasons I love watching the Olympics. The stories, the feats and the competition are amazing. They only happy every four years, well I guess every two years with the summer and winter games rotating back and fourth but that is just a minor detail because for these athletes they only come every four years. Until then, I will watch and cheer and enjoy them until they are over. Go USA!!

It's F***ing Cold!

It is August 11 and it's freaking cold outside. I am sitting in my living room in a sweatshirt and blanket! This is not normal. It should be so hot that I am sweating into little puddles not huddled on layers. This year's weather has been so odd. Iowa's weather is always up and down but lately it's been having real mood swings. Just last week it was in the 90's, then it rained and was in a comfy mid-70's but now it's just ridiculous! I just do not know what to do about it.

In other news, Kat and I discovered a new movie. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Ok not the best movie but it has a wicked soundtrack and the delicious Diego Luna in it! So HOT!!! Love it! I highly recommend it. It's not really a sequel but a different telling of the story. It has a lot of the same elements, including Patrick Swayze and did I mention Diego!! HHHHOOOOOTTTT!!!

Oh my Sunburn!

My dad, Kat and I went to two days of the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati. I love this tournament. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for it because it was the first tennis tournament I ever went to but I like the atmosphere of it. The people are friendly, the site is easy to get around and the draw is always good. There were so many great match ups, I was in heaven. Not to mention one of the first players I saw when I arrived on Monday was Juan Carlos Ferrero. *hearts* He's so dreamy. I don't care if he is absolutely in love with his gorgeous girlfriend, he is a beautiful beautiful man and I will continue to gawk at him. And not to make myself seem shallow. I do love to watch him play. He has a great ground game and covers the court like few others. Check him out if you get a chance.

unfortunately my brilliant plan to even out my farmer's tan kind of back fired on me. It worked to a certain extent because I'm no longer pale on my arms but not my shoulders are burnt and it's so painful. I did wear sunscreen but the usual layers I wear. Getting sunburns in the shoulders is just a bad place to get sunburns because you use your shoulders so often. Anyway, I am in pain but with all the great tennis I saw this week it was worth it.

My dad and I co-authored a book. Coming of Age: Andy Roddick's Breakthrough Year, so we were there to promote it a bit. It was also a chance to see real sports journalists in action. I want that job some day! Kat was dad's photographer, so she was one happy bunny. She was all over the place taking photos and even started to bond with the other photographers. We also met up with our friends Mel and Christine. It's great to meet up with friends and watch some incredibly attractive young men perform in front of you. God Bless Tennis.

I've been doing some thinking?

In little less then a month I am going to start my senior year of college.  Only two semesters to go before I graduate.  The thought literally scares me but I digress.  I am  a semester away from finishing up my History major and a few credits short of a journalism minor.  So, am I crazy to even be thinking of applying to the J school this semester?  I am so close to being done.  I should be thinking of getting my resume in order and looking for full time employment, not adding another major.  I have several different theories. 

1. I really don't want to graduate because that means, I really have to be an adult.  The end of financial help from my parents, working full time, dealing with insurance and all the other responsibilities that comes with being an Adult.  Now, don't miss understand me.  I have been paying rent and my own bills for more then two years now but I do not feel like I'm completely independent of my parents yet and I like having that safety net. 

2. Now that I am almost finished with school I realize how much I actually enjoy it.  I did not believe people when they say that I would miss school after I graduate but I'm beginning to understand.  I enjoy being in the class room with people of the same interests.  I am not the best student when it comes to doing homework and I always seem to wait for the last minute to write papers but I love to research things.  That truly is my favorite part.  Give me a subject and I'll go look it up.  Academia and I have not always got along and I doubt that I could ever be a student for the rest of my life.  I don't think I'll be going to graduate school anytime soon but I know I will miss college.

3. After spending my first three years of College having absolutely no idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I think I have finally decided what I want to do.  I would really love to be a tennis journalist.  Cover the sport around the world.  That would be cool.  If not specifically tennis, a sports journalist.  Journalism used to be a field that you didn't need specific training to be a journalist.  You learned as you went but it's become a better science.  If I am truly serious about working as a journalist, it would benefit me to take the journalism course.  So, I think.

It's times like this that I wish I was more serious about studies my first couple of years of school because my gpa is not exactly stellar.  If anything, that is what is going to hurt me when I apply for the J school but I think I have had enough experience working as a journalist at tennis tournaments.  If I am accepted, I figure that I will only have another year of school to complete it.  I only have a semester left for my History degree and I because I am minoring in Journalism already, I have already taken some classes and all of my Gen Ed's are completed.  So, all I would have left would be the required labs. 

Maybe this will work out and maybe it won't but I'm going to try.  Who knows, maybe I'll go through all the program and find out it was unnecessary or maybe I will find out that it was will with my time.  Who knows.  I'm just finally happy that I have made up my mind about a career to pursue.  That's a step up for me.