I realized something today: I have been out of high school for five years. (Well...five years in May.) Just a recap: That's FIVE FUCKING YEARS, a.k.a. a really fucking long time.

The thing is, my three years of high school (two, really...the first one doesn't count; it's almost as though it never existed, as I have almost no memories of it and nothing of note happened when I was a sophomore) feel like they lasted a lot longer than my five years out of high school. I'm not sure why that is. It might simply be that my memory is playing strange little tricks on me.

Or it might be that I actually did things then. Amazingly enough, I had a life in high school. I had friends, I had a boyfriend. I went to debate and forensics tournaments, I had after school mock trial practices, I went to girlz nites, I wrote for the school paper, I took figure skating lessons and piano lessons, I didn't practice my violin, and I played on a softball team.

My time was actually filled up when I was in high school. I wasn't bored nearly as often. I barely ever watched TV back then, I didn't spend every night immobile on either the couch or the overstuffed brown chair, I didn't spend hours on the Internet (shit, I didn't even have the Internet). I wore my pants several inches higher, my satiny orchestra shirt was actually somewhat cool, sparkling (by means of glitter) was fun, and I wore my suits and ties on a regular basis (a habit that I really ought to get back in to).

Life was different back in the day. Maybe those two years seem so much longer than these past five because high school isn't blurred into one monotonous day. Back then, there were actually events (other than exams and term papers) that marked time's passage and made the weeks and months separate from one another. Maybe high school feels longer in my brain because, in order to experience as much activity at this stage in my life as I did back then, I'd have to be a college student for about fifty years.

That's quite pathetic. Oh well. My life is quite pathetic.

Glad to hear you are feeling better Urs, I hope your recovery goes well! If you need any help or anything like that let me know, I'm only about 45 minutes from Madison and have no life outside of clinical and classes! Get better soon : )

Me Update
I'm doing well, awake and walking and whatnot. Thigs are still a little unclear but right now it seems like a dream for 2 reasons - first I don't remember getting to this hospital and second I don't want to face a very scary reality (I am poor and have bills and a mother to tend with). Other than that I am normal. Well, my sight is bad and my right arm is hard to manuver, but I'm pretty good - and even going about my unit with out a bra..... scary thought. Oh, they called "Amadu Diallo" for some message last night. I was amused

So I guess I also got sick of looking at Sig's entry, not that I didn't enjoy reading it, though! I hope you are feeling better Sig! I had the flu pretty bad the week before Thanksgiving, but luckily haven't gotten it again!

Second semester has officially started today! I am so glad this is my last semester ever of college. Student teaching doesn't really count, as I will only need to meet for a 'class'/discussion group once a week. I have a pretty easy schedule, finally, so I am hoping my GPA can be pulled up a little! I am taking Statistics (my 1st math class since FST!), African History 1000-1700, History Senior Seminar, the 2nd half of the Language and Literacy class (teaching reading), and Art History (renaissance to post modern).

Has anyone heard any updates about Urs and Jolene? I hope they are doing better!

My sister has quit college. My parents also quit supporting her, so she now works full time for Dell Computers. In 6 months she'll get a 30% employee discount, so if anyone is looking for computer stuff, I can get Amy to get it for you cheaper. She hates her job, but I guess it pays almost $30,000 a year and after 6 months she'll receive benefits and insurance, as well as discounts. Maybe she'll realize that college is better, even if you have to be poor for awhile. That was her big issue with college - she didn't have any money! I'm sure grades played into it, too, but she won't admit it. Hopefuly she will go back to get at least an associates degree!

I guess that is about all that is new in good old Ripon. I am so excited to get out of here! 1 year and counting : ) Love you girls, miss you lots!

I decided that we needed a new entry. I was sick of looking at the big red letters every time I went to the blog. Unfortunately, I don't have anything to say, so I'm just going to complain. Sorry, guys.

I'm getting sick. That sucks. I had the flu so bad that I thought I was going to die - I even made a doctor's appointment - during finals week. I got over it, I went to Hawaii...and now all the Hawaiians have the flu. (It takes a while for these things to travel accross the ocean, Mrs. Jillian tells me). Jillian's brother is one such sickly Hawaiian. And now me and Jillian are getting to be sickly Haolies (that would be the derogatory term for mainlanders). That sucks. Oh well. At least it's 80 degrees here and it's not snowing.

URS & JOLENE UPDATE
I just talked to Ursula's mom on the phone...the nurses at the hospital put me through. Urs is not in ICU anymore. However, things don't look good. She's physically fine, but has a "brain injury" that may or may not be helped by a year of therapy. Apparently she's talking very loudly, when she's awake, and she's very impulsive and...just not herself. At all. As for Jolene...she's got a broken back and foot. She'll be OK, though, with time. Anyway...if you guys go to visist give me a call.

...oh my god. I had wondered why Urs hadn't updated her Blog since Saturday - she's usually pretty regular about it - but I just figured that she was busy or something. I had no idea. I just mailed her a post card of beautiful scenic Hawaii yesterday. I sort of feel like an ass for that now, but...I had no idea.

When you guys go to visit, tell her that I said hi and that I hope she gets better as soon as possible and all that jazz. And if someone would give me a call or an email after the visit, that would be cool... Shit, if someone would give me a call BEFORE the visit - as in, SOON - that would be appreciated too. Lauren has the number, and so do my parents.

Update!

I talked to the nurse in the ICU who was taking care of Urs and she said that Urs is conscious ("when she wants to be") and can have visitors..and Jolene was released from the hospital today (yay!)

So..

Jamie and I (and whoever else would care to join) are going down to Madison Saturday afternoon to see Urs, and if it's alright with Rock we'll probably stay overnight and come back up Sunday sometime.

This is mostly to get in touch with Siggy since I can't really call her up in Hawaii, although I would if I had a phone number where I could reach her (hint?) But it's important for the rest of you too, so if I don't call you, listen up

I got a call last night from Urs's dad..I don't know how many of you heard about the big pile-ups in Madison a couple of days ago, but Urs and Jolene were right in the hotspot of one of them. Jolene's doing ok, she's still in the UW hospital in Madison (I think her dad said something about compacted vertebrates) and she can have visitors. Ursula isn't doing as well, she's unconscious in critical condition in Intensive Care at the Madison hospital, her dad isn't sure if they'll let her have visitors or not so I talked to Rock and she's going to find out. Hopefully she'll be able to have visitation because I'd really like to go down there as soon as possible with some of you and see how she's doing. Give me a call or send me an email for more info, or you can call her dad, I'm sure he wouldn't mind hearing from some concerned friends.

Jamie & Lauren what are you girls doing Saturday night? Wanna hang/go out someplace? I am standing up in Bethany's (Jacob's sister) wedding and kind of got snagged into throwing a shower sort of for her. Ranee, and her fiance's 2 mom's are helping. Anyways I'll be busy with that from like 3 until 7 or so I guess, but afterwards it'd be fun to go out or something. I don't mind driving to Point if you guys don't want to come to Rapids.

Jacob & I bought a couple's membership to the great Ripon Hospital gym. It's even smaller than our college weight room, but the machines are much nicer and better in shape, and we can meet with a trainer and there's more support here. We went last night, but Jacob wanted to go RIGHT after eating and he puked. I'm so excited to get back in shape, it's so depressing being fat. I already am starting to feel better about myself. We drink those slim fast shakes for breakfast and lunch have a healthy dinner and work out. I try keeping track of all the calories and make sure I burn them all, but I'm not that anal about it yet! I think this will stick cuz we sat down and made short term goals and then our long term goal and agreed we'd both have to meet it to go on our trip! I'm really looking forward to feeling good in a swim suit or a dress and not worried about sucking it in all the time!

Let me know about this weekend, though! Miss you!

Hope the weather gets better Sig! I'm still jealous though! Wisconsin vs. Hawaii - I'd take Hawaii any day!

Jacob and I are on this get in shape spree cuz we've both gained quite a bit of weight since we've been married and it's gross! We have a membership at this gym and set these weight/muscle tone goals and if we meet them by our first anniversary we're going to take a trip to either Italy, Ireland, or somewhere tropical as a reward type thing! I am excited and confident we'll stick with this! I even chucked all the Christmas candy we got!

Watch for us on TV tomorrow! Jacob and I are going to the Packer game. My mom is crazy, after the Packers beat the 49ers she sat on the phone for almost 4 hours waiting to buy tickets, and she finally got through and bought 4 tickets. Her tickets were way up in the top rows of the end zone. They weren't the best seats. Then my dad went to work the next day and the owner of a carrier (Schneider - those orange trucks) that he works with asked if he and my mom wanted to sit with him and his family in the sky box, and that he knew the newlyweds would like tickets so he offered my dad 4 outside tickets for me, Jacob, Craig, and Amy!! So my mom gave the other tickets to the Davis family - their boys were ushers in our wedding (Brad & Scott) and guess where we are sitting?! 5 yard line about 4 rows up in section 111 (Packer's side line, by where the Packer's end zone will be during the 1st half!) I know you guys don't get into Football that much, but I am totally excited! I don't care for the Packers but I love football! Jacob and I are going to probably go spend the night at Amy's apartment in Appleton tonight and then my parents are going to pick us up so we don't all have to drive seperately. They get to park in the skybox area so we'll get in and out quick! Amy and I are going to go buy some paint and stuff and decorate ourselves tonight and see if we can get on TV tomorrow! We'll have to make a sign, too! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Lise, don't be jealous yet. It's been raining since I got here, and it's not supposed to clear up for another 3 days. There are flash flood advisories out for the whole island (we're on Oahu); some guy got swept away and died on Maui yesterday. Everything is damp. The humidity level is about 90% here, and nobody has air conditioning because everyone's just used to being hot and damp. All of the pages of my books are curling. The toilet paper feels kind of soggy. Jillian's mom gave us Christmas presents, and the paper didn't crinkle when we unwrapped them. Everything is limp and damp. EVERYTHING. I took a shower at 9 am yesterday morning, and now - more than 24 hours later (we're 4 hours behind you guys, just in case you're wondering) - it's still slightly damp.

Um...the plane ride here was awesome. We got a free upgrade to first class, thanks to Jillian's friend JW over at the Mosinee airport. It was pretty sweet. I think I'm gonna cry when I have to ride coach home. So...I think Jilly wants me to stop playing computer - she's downstairs yelling "Siggy, what are you doing?" - even though the only other option is TV (and her mom is watching soaps, so that's out). I think we're going to venture out into Honolulu later to run some errands...we're going to the post office and the library. Which is fine. I need to learn as much about every day Hawaiian life as possible, since I intend to write my capstone essay on this little "vacation" of mine.

OK. We're going. I'm done now.

Yeah, Walgreens is like a scaled down WalMart or whatever, we are luckily enough to have one here in wonderful Ripon!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Happy New Years Eve and everything

I think Lauren said that Danny works at Walgreens full time? (its some big chain retailer) And that Sam is also working and going to school full time. And they are staying in Portland.... I wish them luck