Back To School

So this week I went back to school, and I have a full schedule-Math 120, Spanish 113, Child Behavior Disorders, Film Noir and Literature, and Philosophy 102. So needless to say I'm going to be working my butt of until May. I'm really excited about my child disorders class; it is so interesting and I've only read the first chapter. Math and Spanish are going to be rough but that's expected and I really just want to get them over with. Along with school I am still working 3 days a week with the Beckers. So my 5 weeks of winter break bliss have come to an end and its back to reality.

Over the last 3 days I have gone back and forth to the bookstores on and near campus trying to find the best deal on my books. I have to say that the prices for college books is a serious crime. I still am shocked every single semester when I go to purchase my books. This semester my most expensive book was $160, overall I spent about $350; that's my car payment and insurance payment! No matter what the textbook industry or whoever is in charge of raping college students of their money, finds a way to screw the students. Like for instance, I bought most of my books used because its obviously cheaper, so I got my math book used and I just had to purchase the code for the online labs; the code alone is $65! It blows my mind that scams like this go on year after year! As I was standing in line the buy my books I was noticing other people's hefty book totals; one girl's was $650! I almost fell over and I didn't even have to pay it. No wonder college students are in so much debt! After being in all the bookstores this week I never saw one person pay with cash; everyone used credit cards. What other choice do most college kids have?

Here's the good news: On Monday after my first day of classes, I get home and my Dad hands me the USA Today and tells me to read an article. The article was about a man who started up a website that is basically a Netflix for college text books at discounted prices! Yes, I know, what a genius idea right?! Here's how it works: you search the book you are looking for, you can either rent it for the semester or buy it at a cheaper price. The website gives a date in which the book has to be mailed back or you get a late fee, kinda like the library. So I of course ordered my $160 book and got it for $98 tax and shipping included. Amazing huh?! This is the closest thing to a good deal that any college student is going to come across, here's the website, check it out, it saved me money.

http://www.chegg.com/

Puppy School Graduate

Tonight Tootsy Girl graduated from Puppy school! The class was a great idea, that taught Tootsy basic commands, how to socialize with other dogs, and best of all taught us the proper way to train her. The class was once a week for eight weeks. Tootsy can now sit, lay down, stay, come, walk properly on a leash, and leave objects that we don't want her to have. She's one smart pup!

New Years and a Sad Start

I have had quite an interesting start to my new year. It really hasn't been everything I was hoping for but maybe I can get all the bad over with now before I go back to school on Monday. Palmer and I had a great New Year's Eve, which included dinner at Bonefish Grill (an amazing seafood restaurant,) then we went to the Sunset Station to play some air hockey before the movie started, we saw TWILIGHT, and finally we ended 2008 at a party at David and Caitlin's apartment. We left soon after the fireworks because Palmer had to work at 6:30am New Year's Day.

I started my New Year's Day by writing down all of my New Year's resolutions, (I have 10 of em'!) Some of them are simple things like being on time and other are a little more tough to commit to like making school my #1 priority and working out at least 3 times a week. I thought I was totally on track and excited to start a new year but then I heard the terrible news...

On Saturday I got a terrible phone call about my friend and neighbor, Cade Cripps, getting into a car accident while him and his girlfriend were traveling to Boise. I was basically in denial or shock and had to call my mom to make sure the news was true. Sadly it was true; Cade and his girlfriend were killed in the accident. I think I am still in total shock. I haven't really let myself believe that the whole thing is true. I'm still waiting for Cade or someone to call him and tell me it was all just some confused information. I called my mom again Sunday just to ask her again if it was for sure the truth. As the days pass and I hear from more and more people, I am being forced to realize that this tragedy did truly happen. Isn't it so strange that when anyone gets terrible news like this they instantly try to remember the last time they saw or spoke to the person? As I was racking my brain trying to remember when I last spoke to Cade I was flooded with memories of Cade throughout the last 4 years. I remembered getting up at the crack of dawn to go jogging with him before our first period class. Our morning jogs consisted of me actually sprinting to keep up with Cade's log strides, (Cade was 6'5 I believe.) I remembered Cade letting me constantly borrow his big old gray truck during basketball season. I remembered Cade growing out his curly hair until he had this ridiculous afro puff hairdo. I have a bunch of great memories to remember Cade; I just wish what I think every person wishes when there hear terrible news like this, that I could have seen him one last time.

This weekend I am driving to Elko to attend Cade's funeral service and then rushing back to start my spring semester. I hoping that my year will turn around after all that.

VEGAS SNOW!!!!

On Saturday when I was getting off from work Grant (the little boy I watch that is 8) told me that he just knew it was going to snow sometime over the weekend. I told him not to get his hopes up, "it never snows here," I reminded him. Grant was very persistent that it would snow, because his music teacher told him all about it and he knows everything! So I laughed and told him I hoped it snowed so his teacher wouldn't be wrong.

Then on Monday, Palmer and I were driving to Hawthorne and on our way out of town sure enough, it was snowing in North LV. I was as surprised as anyone. Now it wasn't very much snow but enough for everyone to start driving like complete idiots.
But the real surprise came in the last three hours... It is actually snowing! REAL SNOW!! So far there is about 2 inches and the snow just keeps on coming. I got out my coat and everything to take Tootsy out for her first snow. She doesn't know what to think; she was sliding all over the sidewalk and eating all the snow off the ground.

Its amazing how many people absolutely hate that is snowing here. I went to the bank and Barnes Noble and both places were full of people complaining that its snowing. "I moved to Vegas to get away from the snow," is what everyone says. Well it probably won't snow again for two years so I'm the person outside taking pictures and making snowballs!

TOOTSY!

Yesterday Palmer and I picked up our new puppy! We just decided that her name is TOOTSY, like Tootsie Roll. She is a gorgeous pup! She is 8 weeks old and loving her new home with us. She has only been with us two days and is already doing great with the house training. Skin and Bones are adjusting well. They have given her a few good swats but she does not seemed phased. Don't be surprised if you see her in the next Dog Show on TV.

Trust Me Its still too HOT!

Finally the Las Vegas miserable heat has began to lower a few degrees or so. Honestly its still blistering hot here. Nevertheless, since the 1st day of Autumn, when I arrive at UNLV and make my treacherous walk across miles of asphalt to my first class I've noticed people wearing winter attire. I realize that so many people are just so anxious to pull out their fall wardrobes. I walk by these people in their scarfs, UGG boots and wool jackets and I want to trip them. OK that's a little brutal but I want to stop right in front of them rip out their iPod headphones and scream "STOP THE MADNESS!" I'm F*****G sweating my ass off and it only 8:00 am and these people are strutting around like its 30 below. Look I get it your fall outfit is just so great it cannot possibly sit in your closet any longer but please for the sake of the people still sweating it up put it back in the closet and wait for December! And just to let you know... IT was 89 degrees when I got in my car today at 3:00pm. Not UGG boots weather by any means.

The Rebels vs the Pack

This last weekend my Parents and my brother Andrew came down to Vegas to check out our new apartment and to watch the UNLV vs. UNR football game. My parents arrived two hours later than they had originally told us but we are used to that. Punctuality isn't really there thing when it comes to travelling. By the time they pulled in from the 5 hour trip it was time to go to dinner. We met the the Beckers minus Steven at METRO PIZZA. If ever in Vegas go to this restaurant... its amazing! Grant, the oldest boy I watch, was eager to interrogate Rob after he found out he was a cop. The dinner was quiet exciting. My family got a small taste of the wildness I'm apart of four days a week.

The next day I took my Mom to the outlet mall on the Vegas strip. She had forgotten what driving in Vegas is like. We were harassed at a stop sign because my mom apparently didn't drive away fast enough. The whole ordeal was quiet amusing. I always forget how ridiculously huge the outlet mall is. By the time we were finished there our feet were aching and we were dying of thirst.

While we were at the mall Palmer and Mike took Andrew frisbee golfing. There is a frisbee golf course at Sunset Park which is less than 10 minutes from our apartment. Frisbee golf has become Palmer and Mike's new favorite pastime. I dont mind it but its still a bit hot for me to be wandering after a frisbee in the afternoon heat. And Im not too good at throwing the frisbee disk yet. Andrew seemed to enjoy game except he got his frisbee stuck in a tree and luckily a kid with a basketball got it down for him.

We all met back at the apartment to get in our UNLV gear well except Andrew who sadly represents the PACK. Finally it was time to head to the game! Not sure how much I want to mention about the game since it ended tragically. But the first half was exciting to watch. Andrew was in his glory!! I waited a while to buy the tickets so the ones I finally bought were right next to the UNR student section. So Andrew fit right in. Mike was regretting that he didn't come with us he would have also been in his glory sporting his FUNLV shirt. After the game we made our way through the crazy after game traffic all the way to BUFFALO WILD WINGS. Palmer devoured 2o wings I believe. We got back to the apartment around midnight.

On Sunday we couldn't let my family leave until we took them to the Original Pancake House so that they could leave with disgustingly full stomachs. The weekend was a blast except for UNLV's loss. :)

The score board when UNLV was looking glorious! Sadly it ended after the first half.