Giving it Up

Below in the post titled "Floating around the Earth," I wonder to myself what it will be like to live in Texas. Well, I been here for a little over 1 month so I think I can now answer that question.

I was certainly right about one thing - it's HOT! Although it isn't a type of HOT that I've never felt before, it is a constant HOT that just doesn't seem to go away. For instance, in the Bay Area we can get a streak of warm weather in the 90's. But once nighttime rolls around, it usually cools down enough to where you can wear a light jacket or long sleeves and be comfortable. Here, it is just constantly warm, and there will be NO jackets worn by me! I did however wear a button-up long sleeve shirt to the Shack. And my shirt was damp when I left haha. Fortunately I am getting used to the weather. I will never be comfortable with it, I just expect it nowadays, so it's not much of a surprise. To get an idea of just how it is, pay attention to this..

On Fridays when we had days off, I would spend about 3 hours in the Library completing some work for my Medical Terminology course. It typically went like this; go eat around 12:30p since the cafeteria closes at 1pm, and head directly to the library. So by the time I left the library, the time was usually around 3pm. Keep in mind, EVERY buildiing has A/C. If not individual units, there is central cooling. On this particular Friday, I walked out of the library and was just swarmed by warm, moist, humid air! Like, have you ever taken out the garbage in the middle of the night when it's cold, and walk pass the front of a car that was recently parked - and the reason you can tell it was just on, is because you can sort of feel the warmth from the engine as you pass by? But immediately as you pass, you no longer feel the warmth from the engine, obviously, because you're no longer standing in front of it. Imagine that warmth that you felt for that split second as you walked by the front of that car, and imagine not just feeling it for a split second, but rather, ALWAYS!!! That is how it gets here in East Texas. Like a blowdryer is constantly in your face. And at night, it's no better.

Enough about the weather. I knew it was hot before I came here, so I can't complain about it too much. I don't really complain about it because everyone else here knows it's hot, too! What are they gonna say? "Oh, it's not that hot?" WHatever -- I try to tell myself that I wouldn't have expectations of this place before moving here. I did. I think it is a little better than what I expected. The town of Nacogdoches is okay. I mean, I can't fairly compare it to Oakland, or San Francisco, or any place in the Bay Area. Not saying that California is waaaaayy better than Texas, it's just that I am so familiar with home, and I've only been here 1.5 month. One thing I can compare, though, is the people. I'm not one to judge, but I thought I would down here with quite a few Bush supporters and closed-minded people. Not even. Just my personal opinion, only "stupid" people support Bush, and I am not surrounded by "stupid" people. Afterall, I am in a University environment, which doesn't automatically meann everyone is smart, but it does weed out the "lower" end of intelligence. I suppose. Anyway, I don't want to get too political because people's feelings get hurt too easily. Blah.

The people are really nice. One girl described it as "Southern Charm," and I think she's right. I don't think there is much difference between assholes and bullshit, wherever region you visit, because BS is BS. Here in Nac, though, people can be bitch-asses the same way they can be bitch-asses in California. Fortunately I haven't met any of those, although I have come close - once! I think being from the Bay Area plays a HUGE role in my easiness. For example, I will never hear the music I like in the nightspots here. Never! I'd have to go to some of the bigger places like Houston or Dallas to get some Dwele. Thank goodness for Imeem.

Overall, I am content with the type of lifestyle most people live here. I almost feel like if everybody thinks this is fun, wait until you see what it's like in the Bay Area!!! Haha, yeah right...most folks from this area would probably not have fun in the Yay haha...it's okay because that's how life is. I'm looking forward to more observations of the folks here. I've gotten some slack about being from Cali haha, but it's just innocent stuff. Everyone always ask, "How did I end up here?"

Month 1

I know this is all supposed to be about Athletic Training, but since I am not currently doing anything AT-related, why not just write - right?

Anyway, I'm still on a mission. I feel like everything is going well. It could be better, but I can't be upset with how things are right now. My three classes; Medical Terminology (online), Protective Applications in Taping & Bracing, and Athletic Training Clinical, were all successes. I am ecstatic in the fact that I got straight A's - which I think is the first time I EVER got a 4.0!!!!! Hard to believe, huh Grandma? She thinks I am the smartest person in the world lol, which always makes me smile, when she calls me her "Genius." But this 4.0 was kind of a "soft" 4.0 because I don't think the professors here will let us fail. So the grades were kind of "given" to us, but that certainly doesn't mean I didn't work hard for them, and I didn't learn A LOT! Because, I did

I have yet to develop a routine, but that's okay because the real school hasn't started yet. In just this month, I've mainly been attending class during the day, eating, exercising, and on Saturdays knocking out errands and going to the Shack (town nightclub).

I am excited about the upcoming Fall semester. I have money in the bank (because I'd hate to not be able to get some of the books), I'm real cool with the rest of the cohort, and I will hopefully get hired to be a Community Assistant (CA), or as I know them as, Resident Assistants. If I can get this job, then I can get my own room, which as a 23yr old Graduate Student, is very important. I was originally going to room with Clutch, but this is a much better idea, I feel. Besides, we'll probably both get placed in the residence hall we were going to be assigned to in the Fall anyway.

Two-a-days began last week and First-Year Graduate students are actually not allowed to participate. Hmm. Not that I am angry or anything, but that is a little surprising. In fact, being a student who is living on-campus, it is a huge factor in terms of housing. In the letter the program sent in mid-June, it states that they will "provide housing for two-a-days," but nowhere does it say Level I graduate students are not expected to participate. So, I figured I had housing covered for the two week gap between the end of Summer school, and the beginning of Fall. Turns out, I don't. Without getting into all that, I have to give props to Justin for letting us crash. Good looks, man! I got some orange juice for ya :0)