Shelly's World

Just Can't

2006-01-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well ever since Christmas break, when i took a hiatus from blogging, I just can't get back into the swing things. I never have anything to write, and I feel like no one is reading anyway, so why should i write? I don't know how much longer I will have my blog. I think that the excitement has worn off. So to anyone who still reads this.....Sorry.

First Day Back!

2006-01-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

Well today was rough. I was so used to sleeping in all vacation, that I did not want to get out of bed this morning. I hit my snooze button more than once. Well I went into work and got yelled at by the boss for some stupid thing (turns out she was wrong and she apologized). I spent 4 excurciating hours at work. I felt so unorganized this morning, but I feel much better now. Tomorrow I go into work again. Hopefully it will be better. Wednesday, I start teacher meetings in Anderson (30 min. drive) and then I get to drive to Greenville (40 min. drive) for my first class. The class is Applied Behavior Analysis. I'm kind of looking forward to it. I like behavior management classes but I think the professor is tough. Then, on Thursday, more teacher meetings in Anderson and class at 6:30pm. The class is Counseling for Addictions. Not really my field, but I needed an extra class and addictions are common in special education. Luckily, I work with two counseling majors so they should be able to help. On Friday, I'm on my way to Greenville again. Only this time for pleasure, not class. I'm going to visit two of my friends who i haven't seen in 3 weeks! I miss them so much!! Well I'm done for tonight! I should be regularly posting from now on.

My Family's Christmas Picture

2006-01-09T21:45:00.000-08:00

Back Row: Sharyn, Carol, Steve, Me
Front Row: Dad, Ben, Mom

I'm Back

2006-01-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

Well I finally made it home from my vacation. I had a great time, but I'm really tired now so I'm going to bed! I'll let you know what i did later.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder!

2005-12-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well alas this is my last day at my apartment for 3 weeks. It is Christmas break, and I'm heading back to PA to stay at my parents' home. The reason I am posting this is b/c I will probably not be able to update my blog for the 3 weeks I am there, because *gasp* they have dial-up, and I don't like messing with that. I may do a Christmas post but I'm not promising anything. So I just wanted to say that I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I know I will! May God bless you all!

Icy Days and Dodging Trees

2005-12-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today was definitely an adventure! I woke up at 8:30am to a phone call from my boss. She just wanted to let me know that the two hour delay the public schools were having turned into a cancelation b/c of the freezing rain we had the night before. Whew that's a relief....actually i didn't even know that there was a two hour delay! she told me she was out of power and was heading to the office b/c it was warm there. I looked at my clock and thought "oh yeah i have power b/c my clock is right." I went back to bed and an hour later i woke up and it hit me that the clock i looked at was battery operated and I really didn't have power in my apartment. I made a few calls to my mom and sister just to talk and went back to bed again. What else was i going to do without power? might as well get some extra sleep.

Well my roommate woke up at 10am and told me she was headed to Greenville to pick up her sister from college ( her last day was today). i needed to pick up something in Greenville and asked if i could join her. So we looked outside and saw that the roads were clear of ice and started on our merry way. We were making pretty good time and then we saw it! A cop straddling both lanes of the road! he was not letting anyone through. (i think he is really stupid to just be sitting there with no warning but hey this is SC). anyway....we were like "no problem" we will take the detour. So we headed that way.....that's when we saw trees down everywhere. We had to serve into the left lane several times!! Then we came to a HUGE tree across the road. We could see cars on the other side but there was definitely no way to get to that side. Yet again another detour.

So we finally get on the highway and make it to Greenville. We pack up her sister's stuff and decide to run the errands we had to do and pick her up later. so we head out again. There are no stop lights working and everyone is just going whenever they want. there are trees in the roads everywhere. We almost got clotheslined by a downed powerline. that was most definitely the scariest. A trip that would normally take 10 mins. took us about an hour. We were detoured and stopped in traffic. All that kind of fun stuff! Definitely an adventure. Finally we made it back to BJU and picked up her sister. By this time we were all starving. Well wouldn't you know...no places had power. We finally found one at 3pm. It was a Pizza Hut in Easley. the place was packed. But they had power, heat and food and that was all that mattered to us.

We finally made it back to our apartment and saw that we had power!!! We definitely rejoiced! I must say though, this was one of the best days i've had since starting grad school!!!

EXAM WEEK

2005-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well this week is exam week. It's kind of nice b/c i had two take home exams and therefore, I only have 2 more to take. Although in one class I have a major notebook due. It is taking me forever! I had to postpone one of my exams until Fri. b/c of it, which really stinks. Oh and my last exam is Sat. night at 6:30pm. Now who in their right mind would leave an exam at that time. He claims he can't switch it, even though tons of other teachers have switched theirs. Oh well. It's going to delay me a couple of days in going to my parents in PA, but there is nothing i can do about it. It's my hardest exam too. At least i have a lot of time to study for it. Well i should get back to studying. One semester down (almost) and 2 to go. Then i will officially have my master's degree!!

Funny Stuff!

2005-12-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

While I was in Ohio over Thanksgiving break, I went out with my friends, Erica and Ashley. Erica's thumbs are very interesting and so for her personalized license plate she wanted it to say "THUMZUP". Well instead it turned out to say "TUMZUP". Bring on the heartburn b/c she is ready! (I wish I had a pic, but unfortunately I didn't bring my camera with me).

The Weekend

2005-12-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was fun for me. On Friday night, I went to a lighting ceremony at my old college, with the "kids" from Camp Spearhead (a camp for individuals with disabilities). We took them to the Dining Common b/c they love acting like they are college students. Then we went to the front of campus and sang Christmas carols with the other people that were in attendance. The campers sang at the top of their lungs, even though sometimes it was just sounds and no words! We had some strange looks that night. After that, my friend Elizabeth and I took our 5 campers and went to the basketball game on campus. Tim, a boy with autism, asked if Michael Jordan was going to be there! I told him maybe.

On Saturday, my friend Amanda had a pizza party. It was alot of fun. She had me and a couple of other friends over, and we played games, ate pizza, and listened to music. It was nice being with my friends, who i don't get to see very often. This week is my last week of classes and then exams next week. I am crazy busy (as usual) but i always find time to post something!!:) On the 18th, I head back to PA for 3 weeks. It's going to be great! I miss my family and can't wait to be home and in my own church. Now if i can only get through these next few weeks......

Thanksgiving Pics

2005-12-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a link my sister sent. It is to view my pics from Thanksgiving in an easy to use slidshow!
Enjoy!

HELP!!!!

2005-12-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

Ok so you've probably realized i have no photo in my profile. This is not because I don't want to have one, it's because I forget how to change it and deleted my last one accidentally. Can someone please tell me how to change my pic? I really want a pic on there. Thanks.

Absolutely Nothing

2005-12-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Well i have nothing to blog about. Absolutely nothing. I'm just sick of coming on my blog and seeing the same post. My life is pretty boring so I can't blog about that. I don't ever do anything exciting. Although this weekend I am going to a lighting ceremony and a party. maybe i'll take some pics and post them. Well if anybody has any suggestions about what to blog when i have nothing, that would be great!

There is a lot to be Thankful for!

2005-11-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

I had a great thanksgiving. My sister and I traveled to Ohio on Wed. and got there at about 1:00am Thurs. morning. Traffic was terrible. We stayed with my sister and brother-in-law. On thursday morning, i worked on my project that was due for Mon. Then headed over to grandma and grandpa's house for thanksgiving dinner. My mom's whole side of the family was there. There were about 25 of us all together. It was a nice day. Of course the food was great!!:) Then on Fri. we had a birthday party for my grandma's 80th birthday. Again, we ate a lot of food!! That evening we did some shopping at Easton (a huge outdoor mall). Sat. was spent at the outlet mall and then out with our friends Erica and Ashley. Here are some pictures from my vacation. Enjoy. (the first picture from left to right: My cousin Jenna, My little brother Ben, Me, My aunt Kristin).

My Grandma and My Mom. Her eldest daughter.

Left to Right: My cousins Kristin, Ali, and Katie.

My dad and grandpa.

My brother-in-law, Steve, enjoying his Thanksgiving dinner!

Me, my sister Sharyn, and my sister Carol.

The Nelson children. My uncle Dan, my Mom, my aunt Karen, and my Aunt Kristin.

Left to Right: my sister Sharyn, my brother Ben, my cousin Daniel, my cousin Kidron, my cousin Shiloh, my cousin Ali, my cousin Angie.

My cousin Jenna and her boyfriend Marshall. It was his first time meeting the family!

Give Thanks!!!

2005-11-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all are having a great day with family and friends. I am in Ohio celebrating with my mom's side of the family! It has been a good day so far with food and fellowship. Leave me a comment letting me know what you are thankful for!

The Turkey is Coming!

2005-11-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Well it's one and half days until Thanksgiving. I for one am excited! After I finish cleaning my apartment (yes thanks to my mother I can't leave the apartment a mess while I'm gone. not like anyone is going to see it, but it will make me feel better) I am leaving to go to my sister's house. Anyway...the task of cleaning falls on me b/c my roomate has decided she doesn't need to clean before she leaves. Oh, how i love when she leaves dirty dishes on the counter (yes that is sarcasm). Then after cleaning , i will head to my sister's house. I am driving her car to Ohio since she has recently had knee surgery and is in no shape to drive. It is going to be a fun trip with her being a backseat driver the whole way. We don't leave until tomorrow since she has to work. I will probably sleep in, even though i should get up and work on my research proposal that is due on Mon. Yes, my teacher is a mean man and is making our project due the day we get back from thanksgiving vacation. Ok so we have known about it all semester and could have started it but that would have been too easy!!!

Well below is a list of things I am thankful for at this particular moment:
1. TV
2. Heat
3. Being done with work for today
4. Dishwasher
5. Candles
6. Eggs (I just made a killer omelet)
7. Comfy pj pants and sweatshirts
8. Being alone
9. Music (gives me motivation to clean)
10. Ponytail holders

Hunting

2005-11-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

No i'm not a hunter! In fact I HATE hunting. It has become a barrier between me and my boyfriend. As you well know, we live 15 hours apart so our only means of communication is the phone. Lately he has been so tired that our conversations have pretty much been me telling him about my day and then asking questions about his day in which i get like 2 word answers. He tells me not to be mad, and to understand that hunting has been part of his life since he was 7. I understand that, but he doesn't understand that I need communication. How can we have both? Any suggestions?

Weekend Plans

2005-11-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

While the other college students are off getting drunk, I'm going to be hanging out with my favorite person on earth. Ok second, only to my boyfriend! His name is Michael. He is amazing. He is always estatic to see me and kisses me as soon as i walk in the door. He loves to give me hugs. He sings to me all the time and laughs at me when i'm being funny. He's compasionate and never interuppts when i'm talking to him. He's not picky about where we go when we go out. He just likes to be in the car with me. His mother approves of me and treats me like i'm one of the family. Wonder who this guy is that seems so great! Scroll down!
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Me and Michael at Chili's. He's just happy they have FF's (french fries)!!!

All Done

2005-11-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

Well i finished both my papers! And it's not the night before (well it is for one but i had that one done on Sat. morning). Can't say they are the best papers i've ever written, but they will do. Besides, I figure, I'm getting my master's in teaching not in writing research so it is more important that i know how to teach than that i know how to write a research paper! That's my own reasoning...people may disagree but they are wrong of course!! hahha. Today was a pretty dull day. i got up went to Lakeside Middle School to make sure there were no problems with the computer program that is part of our research project, got hit on by a teacher's aid, took a nap, woke up late, and drove, um, a little over the speed limit to get to class!! Class wasn't too bad tonight. Actually understood somethings! Then i came home and watched my favorite show, Prison Break, and finished my paper. Tomorrow is going to be just as exciting of a day!! I can't wait. Oh the exciting life of a grad student!

Writer's Block

2005-11-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

So I have writer's block. And no it's not blog writer's block, it is research paper writer's block! I have two research papers due next week, and being the faithful student i am, i waited until the last minute to start them. Suprisingly enough I finished one this morning (I swear I dreamed what I was going to write in my sleep). Now I just have one left. I still haven't finished reading the articles but at least I have an outline, though it is very weak. Does anybody know anything about assistive technology for students with learning disabilities. If so, please give me a holler!! You would think i would know alot about technology since I spend the majority of my time on here, but alas I don't! Or at least I can't formulate my knowledge into a good sequential paper. Well I guess I should stop using my brain power for blogging and start using it for my paper that i'm actually graded on! Til next time (hopefully by then i will have two completed papers).

Go Tigers!!!!!

2005-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

As you all know I attend Clemson University, and I am getting my Master's in mental retardation. Don't laugh. It's true....there is a major for that! anyway...I also work for the school and apparently since you work for Clemson and make next to nothing they think that you still don't need free football tickets like all the undergrads (may i ask what a bunch of drunk undergrads are doing to improve the university?). Anyway, the point is is that I don't get free tickets to see the Tigers play. So with my limited funds the only football game I could afford to go to was the Clemson/Duke game. Now if you know anything about Duke, you know that they are not known for having an outstanding football team (although they did beat Clemson last year. Clemson fans claim it was a fluke). Well 2 of my best friends, Amanda and Sharon, came with me. For undergrad I went to a small Christian school that didn't have intercollegiate sports let alone a football team. So, I really didn't know what to expect at this Clemson game. We arrived early b/c we wanted to find a good parking space and neither of my friends had ever been out to Clemson so they wanted to be shown around (I'm still finding my way around!!:) Well it turns out our parking space was about 10 miles from the stadium (maybe not that far but it felt like it when you were walking and it was hot outside). Apparently you have to be old and have lots of money invested in Clemson to get the good parking spaces! After we parked, we were hungry and walked the long trek to Subway in downtown Clemson. Well let me tell you, I felt like I was at the hometown fair! There were people EVERYWHERE and food and drinking and music.....it was great! I didn't partake in any of it. I was more of an onlooker. I loved it! I can't believe I haven't gone to more games. Well we walked and walked and found some friends of my friend Amanda and hung out with them. We headed into the stadium around 12:30 (after being delayed by the marching band and banton twirlers and flags, etc.) After being directed the the correct gate we were informed that our seats were "way up there". I thought we were walking all the way up to heaven!! It was so incredibly high up. We couldn't even talk when we got up there, we were so out of breath!!!! hahahahaha! Our seats were awesome though. Even though we were high up we were "on the 50 yard line in the middle". We heard some guy on the phone say that to his friend. Did he mean the one in the middle opposed to the 50 yard line on the end? We thought it was really funny. All day we kept saying it. (guess you kinda had to be there). Well the game was boring so we just took pics the whole time! All around it was a fun day. Clemson ended up winning 40-29 or something like that! Anyway...Go Tigers. Beat Florida!

Weekend in NY

2005-11-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well a couple of weeks ago I went to spend the weekend in Niagra Falls, NY with my boyfriend. He lives there and it was his 31st birthday, so I flew up to celebrate! We had a great time just hanging out and being together. We hardly ever get to see each other b/c of the great amount of miles in between us. It takes 15 hours to get there if I drive. I flew in on a Friday night and left Monday morning. We helped his friend move on Sat., which was fun b/c it gave me an opportunity to meet a lot of his friends. Sunday we went to his church (the heater wasn't working. It was so cold)!!! Then over to his dad's for a birthday party. Monday was insane. He dropped me off at the airport pretty early (I tend to be a worrier so i made him get me there early). Turns out my flight was delayed so I was transfered to another one going to Charlotte, NC. That plane got delayed too so when I arrived in NC I had to run (literally) from one side of the airport to the other in order to catch my flight that was leaving in 8 minutes. I was so tired when i got to the plane, but I made it!!:) I finally got back to good old Clemson. Then I ended up being sick with the flu the rest of that week! Not fun!

What I want in a Man!!

2005-11-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

Ok I have a boyfriend, but I found this email in my "Book of Things" and thought it was too funny!

Original List (age 22)
1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful suprises
10. An imaginative, romantic lover

Revised List (age 32)
1. Nice looking (prefer hair on his head)
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week

Revised List (age 42)
1. Not too ugly (bald head OK)
2. Doesn't drive off until i'm in the car
3. Works steady- splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

Revised List (age 52)
1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when i'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

Revised List (age 62)
1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

Revised List (age 72)
1. Breathing
2. Doesn't miss the toilet

Well there you go ladies! This is what we have to look forward too!!!!:) Sorry men....i konw it's a little degrading but hey, we love you all the same!!:)

Happy Halloween

2005-10-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

Well with tomorrow being Halloween, I thought I had to post something about halloween! I don't really celebrate anymore. I think that has to do with my 4 years at Bob Jones University where we weren't really allowed to celebrate it! I wanted to trick or treat in the dorms but found out my freshman year that that was unacceptable. It's pretty much become a thing of the past now. It's just kind of there. I'm sure once I'm a teacher I will get more in to it. I will have a Halloween party in my classroom and get my students loaded up on candy and send them home for their parents to take care of!!:) Until then though, I will just be an observer instead of an active participant. So to all those that celebrate Hallow's Eve, dress up, have fun, make the most of it, and please please toliet paper someone's house for me!!:)

Sick and Tired

2005-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

I am literally sick and tired. I just spent the most amazing week in Niagra Falls, NY with my boyfriend (he lives there). I hadn't seen him in 2 months, so i flew up there for his birthday! He was 31 on Wed. It rained all weekend so we didn't get to see the Falls, but that is ok. Just seeing him was enough for me (this 15 hours apart thing is killing me)!!! Well I came back Mon. and since then I have been sick. I missed two days of work and one day of class. I've basically laid around and watched tv...oh and felt sorry for myself of course. My boss emailed me and told me I MUST come in to work tomorrow b/c we start this big project Mon. blah, blah, blah. So I guess I have to stop feeling sorry for myself and stop throwing up long enough to make a cameo at work! Thank the Lord it is Friday!!:) More about my trip to NY later....along with pics!

Just a day, just an ordinary day

2005-10-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

Nothing much happened today as you can gather from the title of this post. I woke up late for work, rushed into work (praying that my brakes wouldn't fail me. they have not been working correctly), worked 8-12 at my first job, then was suppossed to work 12-3, but only had to work til 12:30 but still get paid until 3! Lately I've been having some financial difficulties so my professor i work for sent me to the financial aid office. She told me she would feel better, once i felt better! So i went, picked up some info about loans and mushed to my car. Now the you know that my brakes were suppossedly fixed. Well last Sat. night i was driving to my friend's house and i heard a myriad of different noises coming from my back tires. I called the guy who "fixed" it the next day and didn't get an answer. I called all day mon, and all day tues and still no answer. Today I called 3 times and on my way home, I saw that he was open. I slammed on my brakes (didn't stop too well) and pulled in. I told him they must be fixed b/c i have to be in Anderson on business the next day. I then proceeded to walk the mile or so home. Now let me tell you....this morning i was running late. So I threw on my usual running late attire: a long jean skirt (made out of a pair of jeans i once owned....pretty cool actually), a pink tank top and a black sweatshirt. It was 58 degrees so i figured i would be fine. Well turns out the high was 80 and it just so happened to be that hot when i walked home! It was awful! But my car was fixed in a timely fashion and i didn't owe anything else(a spring had come loose....oh i feel safe)!! anyway....looked up some research for my paper, talked on the phone and played on the comp. Nothing really interesting! Friday I get to see my boyfriend who i haven't seen in 2 months!! I'm so excited!!!:) that weekend will be more interesting than my regular boring life!!:)

Random

2005-10-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Since I am going to be a teacher, I found this very funny.

Students should not spend more than 90 minutes per night. this time should be budgeted in the following manner:
15 minutes looking for assignment
11 minutes calling a friend for the assignment
23 minutes explaining why the teacher is mean and just does not like children
8 minutes getting a snack
7 minutes checking the TV Guide
6 minutes telling parents that the teacher never explained the assignment
10 minutes sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Mom or DAd to do the assignment.

Top Ten Things Only Women Understand:

2005-10-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend, I helped my sister, Sharyn, move from a house into a third floor condo! She has hurt her knee and can't walk without crutches so you can imagine she needs a lot of assistance. When we were packing on Friday, she came across this notebook called "The Book of Things." It has comics, funny emails, lists, differences between men and women etc. in it. Well she told me that I had inherited it since I am still in school. So I've decided to post some of my personal favorites on my blog! Enjoy. If you have read it before, i'm sorry. If not...I hope you get some enjoyment out of it!
Top Ten Things Only Women Understand:
10. Why it's good to have five pairs of black shoes.
9. The difference between cream, ivory, and off-white.
8. Crying can be fun.
7. FAT CLOTHES!
6. A salad, diet drink, and a hot fudge sundae make a balanced lunch.
5. Discovering a designer dress on the clearance rack can be considered a peak life experience.
4. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
3. A good man might be hard to find, but a good hairdresser is next to impossible.
2. Why a phone call between two women never lasts under ten minutes.
1. OTHER WOMEN!!!!!

Random Thoughts

2005-10-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why:
1. We say 'bless you' whenever someone sneezes?
2. Earwigs are called earwigs? They have nothing to do with ears?
3. Bugs are attracted to light?
4. A penny is named a penny? a nickel, a nickel? a dime, a dime? a quarter, a quarter?
5. When you're bored and want to watch tv there is nothing on, but when you aren't bored and have no time to watch, all your favorite shows are on?
6. You wake up with eye boogers? (I know that's gross. but haven't you wondered why)?
7. Some people still have mullets?
8. You can't wear white after labor day? (Is someone really checking...and if so, what will happen)?
9. How Febreeze works to remove odor (I know I changed from my why questions, but i really wonder how it does)!
10. People drive slowly in the left lane when they know that is the passing lane? (that one is for you Amanda)!!!
11. Some people still dress like it's the 80's?
12. Orange juice is actually yellow and not orange?
13. A t-shirt is called a t-shirt? (it's not shaped like a T)!
14. Green means go? (why couldn't it be something fun like pink)?
15. People make up stupid lists when they're bored?!!! hahhaha

Sorry this is so random! I didn't have anything to write so I just wrote some things that boggle my mind. There are a ton more but i can't think of them right now!!:) I'm sure they will come to me, and when they do, I will post them for your reading enjoyment!

Surveys....

2005-10-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm on the hunt for some good surveys. I'm sorry, but I love surveys. Most people hate when they get a forwarded email that has about 30 some questions about a person's likes and dislikes. Not me, I LOVE them! I love reading and responding to them. I will sit down right then and there and fill out one. I always try to come up with some funny or quirky answer. Although sometimes I think I try too hard and it just ends up being stupid. But please, fellow bloggers, lend me your surveys! If you know of any good ones...send them my way!:)

Not So Bad

2005-10-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Well as usual I overreacted. I received my grade back for my Educational Research exam. I ended up with an 86%. It's a B. Not too shabby even though I would have liked an A. Oh well, quite an improvement from failing though!! Thanks everyone who prayed for me. One more exam, and I'm done with midterms...here I come Fall Break!!!

Bummer

2005-10-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well I took my midterm for my really hard class tonight, Educational Research. Now let me start by saying that I am a fairly good student. All A's and B's. And if I pay attention in class, I usually do not have to study much for the tests. Well, I paid attention in class, but I still felt the need to study. I studied for 6 hours for this test (I have never ever studied that long for a test before). I knew those notes frontwards and backwards (or so I thought). I sat down to take the test and blanked out. I have this theory that if I don't know the first answer, the rest of the test is going to go downhill. Well my theory proved true tonight. I didn't know the first, or the second, or the third.......ok maybe i'm exaggerating but i really felt lost in this test. Well now all i can do is wait until Wed. morning (that is when we get our grades). Well, here is to 1 more excrutiating day of torture.

The New X Files?

2005-10-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

There is this new show called "Supernatural" on the WB. It is about 2 brothers that travel from place to place to stop supernatural beings from reaking havoc on people. They are also trying to find their father who has gone before them and left nothing but a journal. The brothers use this journal to gain information on how to stop these beings. Each week they come closer to figuring out where there father is, but never get quite there. The story lines are very reminiscent of the show "The X Files". Only it's younger and fresher. Plus the two brothers are incredibly hot! Thus the basis of the shows appeal!

Nothing

2005-10-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

So i'm sitting here trying to think of something great to write and have nothing. Of course I did just wake up from a lovely nap (my sister called and told me she blew out her knee. Well I would say that my sucky weekend of studying for midterms is way better than her blowing out her knee. If you think about it, you can pray for her. Her name is Sharyn). I'm pretty sure my brain is dead, and I just need to quit grad school. Well it's all because of one class, Educational Research (see even the name is scary!). i pretty much sit in class with a stare that says "what in the world are you talking about" for 3 hours on Monday nights. Now I am being tested over internal validity and external validity and means, medians, modes.......stuff i don't really think I as a special education teacher am going to need. Well maybe some of it but there has to be an easier way to go about learning it. Well that was my earth shattering post for today! Maybe something exciting will happen to me and I will actually have something to write. Sorry for the dissappointment ;).

Car Woes

2005-10-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well my car is in the shop. Something about a wheel that turns the brakes broke and is now in the drum (didn't know that cars had drums) and something else is leaking. Not really sure what the man was talking about but I guess he does and that is the good thing. Can you tell I have no car knowledge whatsoever?! The bad thing is is that it is going to cost me $170, and I'm going to be out of a car until tomorrow afternoon. So let's pray that i don't have to work tomorrow or I better figure out this stupidCAT bus system fast!!:) Also pray that I come up with $170 somehow. I definitely do not have it right now. But my brakes will be fixed tomorrow, and I guess that is better than dying in a car wreck!:)

Carowinds

2005-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

Every year Camp Spearhead takes a trip to Carowinds (an amusment park on the boarder of North Carolina and South Carolina. You can actually be in both states at once)! It is awesome because we get this "handicap" pass that allows each person with a handicap to take 4 of his/her friends up the exit and cut in front of people on the rides. Even though only about 1/3 of the campers like to ride the rides, all the counselors get to ride! hahah it's a pretty sweet deal. It's an overall fun, tiring day! I love it and can't wait to go again next year. This is a picture of me and one of the campers, Christine.

Amy, Serge, and Mark having a great time or just being stupid for the camara. Who knows?

Me and Stan being cute. Obviously on the way back since I am sunburned!

Becca's bus! It was a blast but now we are all tired from the long day.

Car Trouble

2005-10-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well my 1992 Buick Le Sabre (yes, i know it is a grandma car but i like it) is having brake problems......again! The picture is a little nicer than what my car actually looks like. He's a little rough around the edges. I say "he" b/c it is a boy (not sure how you figure out the gender of your car but i think it has something to do with looking underneath the hood)! Anyway...his name is Beauford. My sister, who had the car before me, named him after the lawyer on "Sweet Home Alabama". Well I'm having brake trouble and since they are under warranty I can only get them fixed at "Monro Muffler/Brake". Doesn't seem like a problem right? Well of course I go to Clemson (not really that much around) and the nearest store is 1 1/2 hours away. So I get to trek halfway across the country (well not that far but it sure seems like it) to some store. I'm not even really sure where it is. The man gave me directions on the phone but this was after he spent 20 mins. telling me his life story of how he grew up in PA, blah, blah, blah, blah,........must have been slow business this morning. Anyway...pray that I get my car fixed! I rather not have my brakes go out on me while I'm driving!:)

Much Better

2005-10-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well I'm feeling much better about grad school. Ok, maybe not "much" better....but at least a little better. I found a lot of articles for my research paper, so now i just have to hope that he doesn't shoot my idea down (crossing my fingers). I accomplished a lot last night and hope to do so tonight as well (after "So You Think You Can Dance" of course!!). Well keep praying for me (if you were in the first place....if you weren't....why not?!!!) anyway.....later.

Overwhelmed

2005-10-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

"I know you can be overwhelmed. and you can be underwhelmed...but can you ever be just whelmed?" (a quote from my favorite movie "10 Things I Hate About You") Well right now i'm overwhelmed! It seems like everything is due at once and I have no idea what is going on! I have a midterm on Thurs, 3 midterms next week, a revision on my research paper, plus 2 more research papers and a research proposal! Can I just tell you I am sick of research!!!:) Why can't we just make stuff up? J/K. I did get some stuff done today for my midterm on Thurs. (the midterm is essay and the teacher gave us our questions that we will have to answer....so we are allowed to research and make outlines). I have a ton to do this weekend though. I can't be lazy like usual! Oh well, it will all get done as my boyfriend says (yeah he is the one that has free time to go hunting. Now i don't hunt but i would if it meant i didn't have to take midterms and do research papers). But I must also remind myself that i brought this upon myself!!! No one forced me to go to grad school. I just hope the extra money i get when i'm a teacher is worth it! hahahah j/k ;)

Prison Break

2005-10-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

So normally i don't watch shows on Fox b/c they aren't the type i like, but this new show "Prison
Break" is amazing! it has just sucked me in! I race home from my Monday night class just so I don't miss it!!:) If you have not watched it, you must! It is definitely one of the best dramas on TV. Plus it doesn't hurt that the men on it are HOT!! So check it out if you can and let me know what you think!

Choices

2005-10-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

So i've been faced with some pretty tough choices...not going to go into the particulars right now, because it is way too long! Anyway.....i'm being torn in two different directions. Why can't life be as simple now as it was when i was 5? the only thing i had to decide then was who i was going to be friends with that day!:) Now i'm faced with a decision that involves two people that i really love. I have to choose between them. Confused would be an understatement for what i am feeling right now. Need to think and pray about it!

A Little About Me

2005-09-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

1. Legal First name? Shelly (no it is not short for Michelle. Why does everyone think that?)
2. Were you named after anyone? Yeah, my dad's oldest sister....met her a few times. don't really remember her.
3. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes
4. When did you last cry? It was sometime last week (fight with my boyfriend, as usual i overreacted)
5. What is your favorite lunch meat? What is it with the lunch meat question? Roast Beef....but i rarely buy it b/c of the cost......settle for Turkey.....now turkey and roast beef!!! that is what we will eat in heaven!!:)
6. What is your birth date? July 17, 1982
7. Whats your most embarrassing CD? I don't know...i'm not really embarrassed by any of them...i like my music and that is all that matters!
8. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? Probably.....people seem to like me....well most people...for some reason there are a few girls that don't like me....oh well
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yes, i am the queen of sarcasm
10. What are your nicknames? Shellbelle, shellybelly (only my dad is allowed to call me that), shells and cheese, hoochie, smelly (not b/c i smell!!!), Bean
11. Would you bungee jump? Pretty sure no!!!! I hate heights....not a very daring person!
12. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Pretty much only wear flip flops!!
13. Do you think that you are strong? Semi.....why does it matter?
14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby....you can't beat it!
15. Shoe Size? 11, i know i know....i have huge feet... blame my grandma
16. Red or pink? Pink....just recently...used to hate it
17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My stomach and thighs
18. Who do you miss most? My boyfriend.....he is in NY
19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Right now? jeans, ireland t-shirt, and black flip flops....pretty much the norm for school
20. What are you listening to right now? People typing in the computer lab
21. What did you eat for breakfast? Pack of crackers....i was running late
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? vibrant orange......orange is my favorite color and i am a vibrant person!!
23. What is the weather like right now? Why do you care? i think it is semi overcast
24. Last person you talked to on the phone? My boyfriend
25.The first things you notice about the opposite sex? Their eyes....Jon has the most amazing eyes......ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
26. Do you like the person who sent this to you? No one sent it to me......stole the idea off of another person's blog.....shhh don't tell!!:)
27. Favorite Drink? Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi
28. Hair Color? Naturally blonde!!! honestly...if you know me you know that is true!!!
29. Do you wear contacts? Yeah, unfortunately....it's a pain to be blind!
30. Favorite Food? COLESLAW!!!!! seriously....ever since i was like 2yrs. old
31. Last Movie You Watched? can't really remember b/c we watched like 5 in one day but i think it was "The Longest Yard"
32. Favorite Day Of The Year? My birthday!!!!:) for one day i can act like the queen i really am and not get yelled at for it!
33. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Both.....although i shut my eyes during the scary parts!!!
34. Summer Or Winter? both have their good points but i think i like winter better....i love winter clothes!
35. Hugs OR Kisses? can i pick hugging while kissing?:)
36. What Is Your Favorite Dessert?hmmmmmm this one is hard....not really a dessert fan.....i guess anything that involves ice cream
37. Living Arrangements? Me and my roommate, Sarah
38. What Books Are You Reading? hmmmm......characteristics of LD, Educational Research, and the Voice of Reading......notice they are all textbooks...no free time in grad school for pleasure reading!
39. What's On Your Mouse Pad? the Dell computer logo (i'm in a comp. lab at school)
40.What Did You Watch Last night on TV? Law and Order, Seinfield, Friends
41. Favorite Smells? My boyfriend, tommy girl, abercrombie and fitch for men, freshly cut grass, early morning, rain storms, fresh laundry,......lots of stuff
42. Favorite junk food? DORITOES!!!!!! i love the salsa ones....boy i wish i had a bag right now!
43. Rolling Stones or Beatles? neither.....don't like them.....well if i must choose....Beatles
44. What's the farthest you've been from home? hmmmmm....is Belize farther than Cozumel? either one of those!!!

Tiredness

2005-09-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

Wow.....can i just say that grad school is kicking my butt!!!! I have never, ever been this tired (except maybe when i worked two 16 hr. shifts with only 4 hours of sleep in between). But other than that i can't think of another time when i just wanted to sleep and sleep. Now i guess i could go to bed earlier. But what is the fun in that?! Even when i do that, i toss and turn until about 2 (my normal bed time) b/c my body thinks it should stay up. Well i have news for my body......It's too tired to stay up and needs to start going to sleep! Almost fell asleep in class today, which would have been bad considering i work immediately after class for the professor that teaches the class. She is tired also so we are both just blah today! I am in the computer lab b/c once again there is nothing for me to do! Should be working on homework, but we are only up to chapter 3 in the class when we are doing homework for chapter 8 (I know i will regret this later when i am frantically trying to makeup homework before the final!!!) well have one more hour before i can go get some supper and prepare to fight sleep in my class tonight (starts at 6:15, ends at 9!) TOTURE!!! More later! bye

Boredom

2005-09-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

So this is my third post in one sitting. who can tell i'm bored!!!:) i was passed down today from my boss to another department in the education wing of Tillman Hall at Clemson, University. I feel like a negotiating tool.....("I will take minutes at your meeting if you provide me with a highly qualified personal assistant to answer phones while i'm gone"). so I don't really think that is how it all went down, but anyway....i have been designated to answer phones while others are at a meeting. I don't really mind though. Except for the boredom. The phone hasn't acctually rung yet (knock on wood). I just know that at 4:29 (i get off at 4:30) the phone is going to ring asking for some big head in the education department and i will have to transfer and will end up hanging up on them and they will be calling from a foreign country and need an answer right away and ........hahah i know i am exaggerating! anyway.....hope the phone doesn't ring!

Blog Jealousy!!!:)

2005-09-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

So i have been reading a few other people's blogs and have found my self jealous of how cool they are! Mine is so dull in comparison. I have no idea how to incorporate pics as part of my post or how to copy a pic from the internet and post it on my site....so much i don't know how to do. I don't know how to do or have the computer knowledge to figure out. I guess i will just have to ask. but to those of you who have awesome blogs......ROCK ON! and i will work on my jealousy!!:)

Mornings

2005-09-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well this morning i woke up at 4 am to a phone call (from my famous ex!) Who in their right mind calls at 4 am. Now i could see if he was at a party school and was up drinking on a tues night, but no he is at Bob Jones University (those of you who know what that is will understand!) Well i was so thrown off. i thought it was time to get up and get ready for work. since he woke me up i decided to talk to him. then went back to bed at like 5 am, thinking only 1 1/2 hours till i get up to go to work. well i woke up later to sunshine. Now let me tell you taht there should not be bright sunlight shining into your room at 6:30 am. well i looked at the clock to discover that it was 9 am!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was suppossed to be at work at 8am! I immediately called my project coordinator (kind of like a boss) and explained i was going to be late. she was really cool about it! I made it to work by 10. I did have one good thing happen today! No class tonight!!!:) YEA!!! I should do homework......but i probably wont;)

WICKED!

2005-09-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well let me start off by saying, I love Broadway and my ultimate dream is to one day be on Broadway! My sister just introduced me to a new one called "Wicked". It is about the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz. Now, i am not a big Wizard of Oz fan, but this musical is amazing! It is nothing like the Wizard of Oz (part of the basis of it's appeal). I listen to the soundtrack every morning when i'm on my way to school (yea Clemson!:) The songs stick with me all day and i look forward to leaving just so i can listen to them on the way home. You must check out this website. I haven't actually veiwed everything on there (limited time as a grad student) but if you like broadway, you must check it out! http://www.wickedthemusical.com/
Some of my other favorite broadways are: Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Le Miserables, and Scarlet Pimpernel. Hope you enjoy!:)

Lord, I Come

2005-09-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Admist all the hussle and bustle of life Lord, I come
Admist all my darkest times Lord, I come
Admist all my easy times Lord, I come
Admist trial and testing Lord, I come
Admist happiness and rejoicing Lord, I come

Lord, I come to You no matter what the circumstance
You are my strength, my light, my all
Never changing, a constant I can cling to
Perfect in everyway
Whatever the circumstance
Lord, I come

2005-09-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

ME!!!

Blondes

2005-09-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Now as you can all see from the picture, I'm a blonde. And yes it is natural even though i like to enhance it. (that was for all you skeptics out there). As we all know....blondes have a stigmatism, dumb! Certain events that happened tonight made me wonder, are blondes dumb b/c of some gene linked to their hair color? (highly unlikely) or are they dumb b/c all their life they have heard jokes about dumb blondes and have programmed themselves to fit the stereotype? But then that leads me to ask.....where do the jokes come from? Obviously there must have been a good number of "dumb blondes" in order for the jokes to originate. So that leads me back to my original questions! I prefer to believe that since we have been stereotyped as dumb, we might as well not dissappoint people. Now i'm not going to lie, I'm an intelligent (book smart) person, but sometimes I think that my hair color does affect my common sense ability. I don't try to act "dumb", it just comes naturally sometimes. (Just ask my friend Aaron. He has experienced it first hand.) Well even though i will probably never know the answers to my questions, I know one thing for sure: Blondes do have more fun!!!:)

Emma

2005-09-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

This summer I worked at a camp for those with special needs called Camp Spearhead! This was my second summer working there and I loved it. Two summers ago (my first year at camp) this camper named Emma, came every week. Emma is a 55 yr. old black woman with down syndrome (pictured below). She is everybody's favorite camper but she also has her favorite counselors. These counselors are labeled "mama" or "daddy". I just happened to be one of those "mamas". My name to Emma is "Mama Shirley" (I tried repeatedly to get her to say "Shelly" but to no avail!). Emma has given me a new appreciation for life. Many might look at her and think what a shame it is that she has down syndrome. I look at Emma and think what joy she brings to others. There is not a time that I am around Emma that she is not making me smile or laugh. (except for maybe 3 in the morning when she is yelling "mama, help i'm scared" b/c she can't find her way back to her bed from the bathroom!). Camp to Emma is a haven. Her home life is not the greatest. At the end of every week Emma cries and cries b/c she has to go home (even though she will be returning on Mon). I look at her and think of how lucky I was to be raised in a good family. To be happy at home. To feel safe. It breaks my heart to think that this sweet woman is sad about her home. I would love to take Emma home with me. In fact she asks me all the time "I go home with you, mama?" I wish that everyone had an Emma in their life. Maybe if they did, the world would be a much better, simpler place. If you ever meet an "Emma" laugh with her, love her, but most of all learn from her. You will experience a great blessing in life if you do.
Emma Sayings:
"I scared mama, I scared"
"You lie, you lie, you aint two-ply" (referring to toliet paper in the bathroom)
"I want some titty milk"
"I can't boo boo, mama. it hurts"
"I sleep in your bed?"
"I can't have a baby. I retarded"
"Oh my nuts" (yelled this when I was tickling her one day)
"Give me some sugar" (that's what Emma calls kissed)

2005-09-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Emma trying to kiss me on the lips!!!

Relationships

2005-09-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Relationships are strange things. Many people have more than they realize. They are also continually changing. It can seem to be an unchanging relationship but that can never be because people are always changing, therefore their relationships are always changing. Take the parent/child relationship for instance. I do not interact with my parents the same way i did when i was 5. Why not? Because not only have I changed, but they changed too. I used to hate my mother. She was the bain of my existance. Now she and i have an awesome relationship. I have changed and realized the years of her getting on to me about my physical appearance were only because she cared about me. There is also the relationship between you and your friends. Oh to think back to high school when you were going to be BFF's (best friends forever). Oh how naive we were. I think there is one person out of my Senior class that I still keep in contact with. And about a handful from other grades. Then there is the relationship with your significant other. When Jon and I started dating we talked and talked and talked on the phone. We could talk all night. Now we are lucky if we talk everyday. After 1 1/2 of dating our relationship has changed. Even though we do not talk as often, we are more in love than we ever were back at the beginning. I know so much more about him and love him for everything I know. We have definitely been through some hard times, but i believe that those have brought us together. I am not the same immature girl he met so long ago. (Yes i still am immature at times but not nearly as bad). I'm now a college graduate and attending grad school. I no longer live in the sheltered world of Bob Jones University. I have to think for myself, make decisions for myself. It has affected me, but not only me, but him and our relationship. I wouldn't change anything......yes i am sorry for much of what i've done, but it has also made me who am I am that is why I wouldn't change it.
The most important relationship we can ever have though is our relationship with God. That relationship is always changing too.....not because God is changing, but because we are changing. I cannot say that my relationship has always been strong. But God has promised never to leave me nor forsake me. This relationship is by far the hardest but most important. If we do not have this relationship....the others will be empty. They mean nothing compared to our relationship with God. And so I pray that you have a relationship with God and that it is one that is changing in the right way. That it is growing stronger each and every day.
-Shelly

Introduction

2005-08-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

Well this is my first time doing anything like this! I'm a virgin at this so bear with me. I guess I should start with "about me". Well, hmmmm, let's see, i grew up in a little town called Clymer, PA. We had one stop light and when i started driving i inevitably got the red light everytime. My dad was and still is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. My mom is a secretary and a Spanish teacher. She is also the church pianist. I have 2 older sisters, Carol and Sharyn, and a younger brother Ben. Oh yeah, and a brother-in-law who I guess is worth mentioning!!!:) Growing up, I attended Calvary Baptist Academy from K5-12th, then headed on to good ole bju to start work on a bachelor's degree in special education. I am currently at Clemson University, where i am studying mental retardation. I want to teach life skills to those with mental retardation, so that they can have a place in society some day. Well, that is all for now! I will write more later!
-Shelly