My first field trip

This is the only one of me, but it was taken at the end of the trip. I was too busy up until this point.


This is a pretty cool outcrop. It shows a transitional period of a marine environment having storm surges and turns into a really shallow marine environment where it wasn't always under water.


This is a geopedal indicator. It shows which way is up. I would have to talk and point to the picture in order to have most people understand, but the gist of it is that mud goes to the bottom, and then sparite fills in holes later on. This is a picture of that.


A pretty cool fossil.


This is a black dolomite nodule. I still need to research how those got there...


This is the first outcrop. It was pretty fun to just go and look at rocks. They are so fascinating if you know what you are looking at, or have an interest in finding out what you are looking at.

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I decided to spell it out if anyone reading this doesn't know what it is. So I have had to fill out a FAFSA for the last 5 years. It has been so nice to me! It has made going to school much easier. So I got an email from my department reminding me to hand in some scholarship applications and fill out my FAFSA for the priority deadline. Endrit got his W-2 two days ago so I had all the information that I needed to fill it out.

After I was done filing it out and submitting it, I realized that it was my LAST FAFSA that I have to fill out!!!!! I can't believe how libirating it is for me to know that there are things that I am starting not have to do anymore! Seriously it is almost surreal. Now here is hoping that I get some good financial aid so I don't have to pay too much for my last year of education.

Sitting here in class...

I am bored so I blog. School is going well so far. We don't have any grade for Endrit's seminar but we are still sure that he did everything that he needed to do in order to pass. I am not too worried. His bos gave him back the paper that he wrote for publication about 2 months ago to revise it, so we are hoping that he will be able to get a couple of papers published by the end of the year.

Endrit is almost 26. His birthday is next Sunday. I am hoping that we will go out to dinner on Saturday. Who knows. It is up to Endrit. He gets to do what ever he wants for his birthday. It will be fun.

New Entertainment Center

I hated seeing all of the power cords so I convinced Endrit to buy a new entertainment center so that we had more vertical storage. I love it!!! I just wanted to share.

First assignment of the semester

The first assignment that I had this semester was a 3 page paper for my educational psychology class. It isn't due for another week and I just finished it today! I am really proud of myself. I need to do a couple of other things and I really want to just sit down this weekend and get all of the quizzes for a class done so that it is one less thing on my plate for this semester. It took until last night for me to get into the school mode. Last night I was in a class that was talking about all of the things that I already know so I decided that technically I am only taking 12 credits because 3 of my 15 credits are things that I already know. That is nice.

Endrit's seminar went quite well. I didn't get to see it, but from the things that Endrit has told me, we should be expecting a good grade to be mailed to us within the next little while.

So now that school has started it is good. It took a while to get into the school mode, but now I am here!

New Computer

My brother is pretty awesome. I asked a while ago if I could borrow the computer that he wasn't using. He told me that I could just as long as he had time to get some of the things off of it. I was fine with that because he said that I could borrow the computer. This last weekend Phillip was coming up to stay at my apartment for me to take him to and from his Lasik surgery. He brought me the computer and some Christmas things that my Mom bought for me on the after Christmas sales. I am currently blogging on my new laptop. Phillip said that it is mine. It is nice that Endrit and I have our own computers because it is getting to the point, for school, we needed 2 computers. It just gets too complex with trying to figure out who gets the laptop when. When we got it, Endrit did his whole, make the computer better thing and doubled the RAM. We just happened to have some old RAM from our Dell that worked. Go figure. Endrit is a funny person. I would have never thought of it.

I was able to see the Lasik procedure. It was pretty cool and kind of gross at the same time.

Endrit has his seminar today. He is really nervous about it. I know that it will be just fine and he will pass with flying colors, but he is still nervous about it. I don't blame him. I would be nervous as well. It will be nice to have this out of the way. Just one more step for him on his way to a PhD.

That is about it. I have to miss his seminar because I have a class at the same time. I am almost happy about it because people are just so mean with questions afterwards and I don't like to see Endrit so stressed out.

The Dangers of University!

I just thought that this was hilarious! What people actually believe.

Better and Better

Endrit has been practicing for his seminar on his research for the last "class" that he is taking. I have heard it 3 times now and it just keeps getting better and better each time. I have to admit that I don't understand about 70% of it, but I am the grammar checker on the slides I can actually read and keeping the uh, ums under control. He is becoming a pretty good public speaker.

After his seminar he has his pre-orals. It is kind of an interview of questions that only about .1% of the world population would even begin to understand. At least that is my understanding about that.

The countdown is on for Endrit's citizenship as well. In exactly 1 month we will be filing!!! We are really hoping for a 4 year anniversary present of citizenship, but it may not happen that fast. The only government paperwork filing we will have to do after this is getting him a US passport. I am willing to do that!

After the first week of classes, I have realized I am in for a really long semester. I expected this because of the all upper division class nature of the classes I am in, but wow... I just have to keep my head on streight and just plow through. I hope that it will make it go by fast because I will be constantly busy.

I think that is about it. I was going to post a picture of Dexter, but it is fuzzy. He likes being in bags. He is such a cutie...oh well.

Unamused

I got to my class last night and the first thing that I hear from the professor is that there is a 90% chance that this section of the class is canceled. I really am upset with this all. I pick my schedule the way that is the best for me to learn. I have to take this class this semester. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I just wish that they canceled the class before it started so I didn't have to go to the first 2 classes if this is the case. I will be so happy to be out of my bachelors! Once I am in my licencure, it is all good. They can't cancel those classes; right?

Options options and more options

When thinking about schooling, there are so many ways that you can achieve what you want out of school. I know that eventually I will be in graduate school. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. I will get a Master's of Special education if not a PhD. With me graduating a year earlier than I would have thought last year, it brings up what I will be doing that year after I graduate. I have 4 really good options that I am trying to start choosing from. Honestly I at least need to whittle it down by this summer because of when I want to graduate with my Bachelor's. Technically I am done with my bachelor's in August. There is one option that I could choose from that I have to really start thinking about now to either accept it or not because of that filing for graduation deadline that I have to meet. If I decide not to do that I have 3 other options that I don't have to even start thinking about until about half way through Fall semester. So...it isn't really 50-50. Either I choose the one, or choose from the other 3 later. I am not too much a fan of making decisions that will really impact the rest of my life on a timeline! I know that most of this makes no sence to most of the readers of this blog, and that is ok.

I am still on the fence. I do have a preference, but I haven't put enough thought into it yet. I have enjoyed being a professional student. I hope that I will be able to keep learning for the rest of my life. I just wish that someone could tell me exactly what I am supposed to do. I don't like to be slapped with options.

So Happy

I went to my class this morning and it was so great! I have the other Earth Science major in my class and we have come to be really good friends. It is nice that I will be able to have him in 2 of my classes this semester. He will also be in my Field Methods class. We have been in a class together every semester since I have started going to school at the U. This is really good for me because the end of school has been challenging, and now there is really someone that knows exactly what I am going through. I have seen the last little while that there are less and less people around me that truly understand why I am doing what I am doing.

I couldn't have chosen a better life for myself. I am very ready to tackle this semester. I spent most of my day doing administrative things. Signing off for a scholarship, asking about grants and grade changes, calling to get my account number for early re-payment of my student loans, etc. I am even going to the gym tonight. Lets hope I can keep that one up for the rest of the semester...Goals.

My Wonderful Man

It was a tag, but I am not really one for tags. I just wanted to brag my hubby up. I love this man more than anything else!


Whats your husbands name? Endrit Shurdha
How long have you been married? 3 years 7 months+ and have loved almost every moment of it.
How long did you date? 3 months un-engaged, and 6 more engaged. I knew him 1 year before we were married.
How old is he? 25 but practically 26
Who eats more sweets? Endrit. He absolutely loves chocolate. Such a sweetie!
Who is a better singer? Me
Who is smarter? Endrit!!! PhD in Chemistry. He has A LOT of grey matter!
Who does the laundry? Me
Who pays the bills? He brings home the bacon, but we split the bill paying him with the online and me with the checks.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me if you think in the way that I sleep to his right while lying on his back.
Who mows the lawn? No lawn, but I would. Why would he have to if he works and I don't?
Who cooks dinner? Me and sometimes him. He is a wonderful cook!
Who does the dishes? Endrit! I rarely touch the dishes. That is one thing that I just really don't like to do.
Who drives? Endrit mostly. But I have to say I am better at city driving and he is better at highway.
Who is the first to say they are wrong? Endrit, even when he isn't wrong because he is such a pacifist!
Who kissed who first? It was mutual. We just kissed each other with a few pecks the first time.
Who asked who out first? It was more of a "so what now...I'm ok with it if you're ok with it". Then we were dating. It was mutual where we both knew that it was happening and just let it happen. That was the day of our first kiss as well. Great thing about being friends first with no strings.
Who wears the pants? Equal to a little bit me. This shows how sweet of a man he really is.

Needless to say Endrit is just a wonderful person. I am such a lucky woman.

I am spoiled!

Since coming into the Shurdha family I have been able to have some great custom clothing and let me tell you that this picture does nothing to even slightly show off this new skirt. I just got back from dinner and Endrit made me put it on to take a picture. I tried to bend my leg so you can see the pleats. It didn't work too well. Just know that it is perfect! I absolutely love it. I have a new black skirt as well. This one was made to go with my new shoes from Christmas.
I am just so spoiled and I love it!

With the start of a new semester

Endrit and I would like to ask you to say a little prayer for us. Endrit has a couple of MAJOR things that he has to do for a grade this semester that he is really stressing about. I am in a class that I am not prepared to be in but my advisor said that the teacher will work with me. It will definitely be a hard semester for the both of us. It always gets a little harder when you are closer to graduating. I start school on Monday and one of his huge assignments is a seminar on January 20th. I just wanted more spiritual energy coming our way.

Manti

Endrit and I have been trying to get people who want to go to Manti to get a date. Well, Endrit and I have gotten a date because with me going to school all year round now we decided to just set a date and if the others can come if they can. Group get togethers are so hard when it isn't a holiday. We will be going down there the first weekend in May. May 2nd to be specific. So that is when it is. I hope others can come, but Endrit and I have a goal. I think that it will be fun.

proud of myself!

I got the emails that I can go an pick up some of my scholarship checks. Yay but not the point... I thought about the 15 minute free parking lot to go and drive since the day is good. Then I thought...why should I drive when the day is so good? So I walked to the WBB and picked up my checks, walked to the bank and deposited them and walked home. I would say that is about 2 miles. I even walked up and down the stairs to the 7th floor. I am proud of myself. At least I am getting out of the house. I even will be walking another mile to walk to and from the gym later today :)

All Sorted Out

I got an email tonight that I didn't get a D-...duh! She completely didn't drop my lowest test score. I still only got a C, but with how horrible last semester was I will totally take it! I get to get my GPA up, keep all of my scholarships, and even pick up a check tomorrow. Now if I could just get rid of this horrid cough. :)

List of plans for 2009.

There are many things that I would like to do in 2009.

First and foremost I would like to sort out my grades for last semester. D- = not cool!

File for Endrit's citizenship (FINALLY!)

Successfully get through my Bachelor's degree requirements. I should be done with that the end of summer. :) I will have my degree, but I will wait until I am done with school to apply for graduation.

Start my Cohort year of student teaching. Pass Praxis 2 and Earth Science Praxis. These are together because well I can't pass student teaching without passing these 2 exams.

Save more money. Hopefully enough to pay off all our student loans by the end of the year. We should at least have mine payed off by the end of the year :) That is a good way to prepare for graduation.

Hopefully I will be able to focus more on school this year. I tried to focus on too many other things last year that just got me more stressed out than I should have been.

I am definitely excited for 2009.

He is addicted too

Dexter gets jealous of me being on the computer. I was looking online for the nearest office max to be able to spend the great gift certificate that my sister was kind enough to give Endrit and I and he came and sat on the keyboard. I had to pick him up off of it in order to type and Endrit thought that it would make a good picture. I am glad that Dexter likes to just lounge around with me.
Also Dexter slept on my lap for the Utah game. He kept on rolling and he ended up on his back. He is just such a cute kitty! Congrats Utah for a perfect season! They beat Alabama 31:17. Not too bad!

Year in Review

I got this idea from Josh, who got it from Patrick, but I thought that it was pretty cool.

January: We started teaching our little 5 turning 6 year olds in primary.

February: Happy 25 to Endrit!!

March: First dentist visit in a few years and only 1 small cavity :)

April: Holy Scholarshipped!!! I<3 the geology department and quest.

May : 3 year anniversary trip to Vernal Temple making only 2 temples left in Utah to go to. Also started my first summer semester of university.

June: High speed camera footage of Endrit and I shooting various guns/targets.

July: Endrit is green carded.

August: The summer Olympics. I saw a man win the first medal ever for his country.

September: First time riding on FrontRunner. It was pretty cool

October: Took Praxis and ROCKED!!!

November: Utes perfect season and beating the holy hanna out of BYU.

December: Fully accepted into the teacher certification program starting Fall 2009.

Pretty much this year was good, but I am looking forward to this current year.