Current mood:	grumpy
Current music:	Decode by Paramore

Random Resolutions and Ramblings...
I really don't have an outline in mind for today's blog. I'm just going to write down whatever randomly pops into my brain...because I feel like I should update this thing. Should be interesting...

First off, I would like to explain where my blog title came from. It's original. I thought it up...at least a good two years before Mark Schultz decided to go and name an album with the same title. 'Stories From Life' was my brainchild. Maybe I heard it somewhere...and it just rolled around in my brain for a long time...or maybe not. However, I did not take it from Mark Schultz...who just so happens to be a CCM artist I enjoy listening to. Just wanted to write that down and clear that up...although I suspect I am the only person who would have noticed such a discrepancy anyway.

I've restricted the number of New Year's resolutions I made this year. I look back at 2008's resolutions blog...and I just laugh. I think I made like...8 resolutions...for 2008. I kept...maybe 2 of them. That always happens. I read a statistic somewhere that said 90% of resolutions fail after the first month.

That is not a very heartening statistic, and I fear I have only contributed to it through my ridiculously long and detailed resolutions. Well, no longer!

This year...I have set for myself...3 resolutions. Simple. Short. Sweet. To the point resolutions. Here they are:

(1) Exercise three times a week.

(2) Read two non-school books a month.

(3) Pray at least once before I go to sleep.

These are wide open. I can exercise in any manner I want...at any time I want. I can read any type of book I want. I can pray whenever I want...just as long as I pray once a day. I *hope* that by leaving my resolutions wide open to interpretation...they just might last in my increasingly hectic and busy life.

And these are all resolutions I think I will NEED in the coming months. I'll be student teaching...and hearing back from law schools...and finishing my history honors thesis. All very stressful goings-on. Thus...I need to make sure I take time for myself...because if I don't plan for that...I won't do it. And I'll work myself into the ground.

Which I don't care to do anymore. I've busted my butt through 4.5 years on college...and I am done. Seriously. Done. For all intensive purposes...undergrad is over. My law apps are in. My GPA is perfect. I have done all I can do...and this last semester is going to be my reward to myself. I am going to complete the tasks set before me...WITHOUT worrying about the grades. I am going to take time for myself EVERYDAY.

I don't know if this is me finally being realistic with myself about my own abilities...or just a serious case of senioritis...but I am so over and done with undergrad. I'm ready for the next step...ready for law school.

Registering for graduation and sending out my graduation invites didn't help much, either. Ever since that day...a little voice in my mind has been growing increasingly louder..."3 MORE MONTHS!!!"

I finish student teaching on May 1. I graduate May 9, 2009. Sweet, sweet victory. :)

In other news, all my law school applications are completed and paid for.

I have finished two chapters of my honors thesis. I only have 1 more to go...

I'm back at work today after two blessed weeks off. It was great to finally have a Saturday to myself...for the first time in nearly four years. However, I think they expect me to work Sunday as well...which sucks. We are supposed to be closed the first two Sundays of the month...so, unless someone verbally tells me otherwise...I am not coming in. They can't expect me to come in on mere hour's notice like that. They don't even post a schedule for me anymore...so that is their fault, not mine. I'm not psychic, and I can't read managerial minds. Sorry.

And so...2009 is shaping up to be a VERY busy year, indeed. But when have I ever not been busy? Exactly...never. ;)

Till next time,
Melissa

P.S.---> I finished the latest book in Christpher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, Brisingr. It was great. I'm hooked. The characters are so complex...which you probably already know from reading my blog is my absolute favorite part of reading books. I love complex and dynamic characters...and Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr are just chock full of them. Plus, I love a good ole high fantasy adventure novel. I am now eagerly awaiting Book 4 from Paolini. I hope he gets to writing soon!!

In the meanwhile...my next book is "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak. Will report on this when I have finished it.

Also...I got a new MP3 player for Christmas with a subscription to Napster...and I am proud to say I have uploaded some 200 songs to my new player...for free! Yay! :)

This is it...I swear...I now have XM Radio in my car!! Woo-hoo! :D