Name: Cat

Major: Air Traffic Management

Age: 18

Home: Studley, VA

April

April 10

Tests, Tests, Tests

Test always seem to come in rounds in College. You have tests for all of your classes within about four days of each other. Hopefully your teachers let you know well ahead of time that you are going to have a test.

Weird stuff: I'm sure this has happened to many college students, but it is kind of strange to be surfing around on facebook and then see a few of your high-school-mates in wedding pictures for their own wedding. Not that I have any problem with marriage, but I don't know. Wait until you graduate and get into college and then see your friends' wedding pictures where they are drinking apple juice instead of wine to toast because they are not 21. It's just weird. So that was my little tangent on that. Thought it was worth mentioning that uh people, I guess, really DO grow up after high school. Sometimes maybe a little too fast, eh?

Things have been moving pretty slow since I finished my recent wave of exams. However, the semester's end is coming a little too quickly for my tastes. I turn around and we only have two and a half weeks left of my first year of college! Time flies when you're having fun or working your toosh off. Literally, I think the last time I actually thought about it, we had a month left and then POOF two weeks!!! It's nice though.

Except that I am staying to take classes over the summer, so I don't really get much of a break. Steve and I are going to Virginia right after our last exams, picking up furniture, and driving back to Daytona with Sophie in tow! We made our security deposit on the apartment today, and we were told that we can look at our ACTUAL apartment sometime next week after they clean it. I'm full of antici.......pation.

The weather in Daytona has been dismal the last few days. It's not Floridian at all, to be honest, which takes some of the fun out of it. We've managed to keep ourselves fairly busy, though. Been bowling a lot. I'm getting better, not that I was ever truly terrible.

Anyway my point is that even when you can't laze around in the sun at the beach or have a cookout in the pits outside, there's still stuff to do. Shopping, movies, and bowling. I think for my last journal of the semester I'll give you all a run down of things you ought to see and do (and eat) in Daytona. Hopefully it will prove a helpful little guide for you when you come to Riddle, which I know all of you undoubtedly will, right?

OH! And I just registered for fall semester classes last night under my new and improved SOPHOMORE status! Yay! And just so you know, registering as a freshman sucks because you are the DEAD LAST people to register and you are all battling for the same classes. Trust me; it gets a lot better once you are bumped up. I didn't have any problems at all with my registration this time, AND the server didn't completely crap out like it did when our 1,000+ freshmen tried to register for spring classes at the end of last fall semester. So yeah, it gets better. Don't fret.

That's all for this week. Email me if you feel the need! Rumbebb5@erau.edu

March

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March 27

SPRING BREAK!

Spring Break was fun.  I had to work the Friday night before, so I didn’t fly out until Saturday.  I got to VA around noon.  I spent some time with my best friend (whose birthday is today), some other friends, my family, and my boyfriend.

I also got to fly, which was nice.  I flew to the airport where I got my training for my private pilot’s license.  It is currently being redesigned and renovated.  So far, I don’t like it much, since it is very different from what I’m used to, and it’s still all plywood and nails.  I’ll probably warm up to it when it’s finished.

Steve had a birthday over Spring Break (he’s 21 ooooooh), and I missed it.  But prior to Spring Break Cassie and I gave him his gift, which was a teddy bear named Sampson Von Kriegenbergh that we made at the mall.  It sings the most annoying version of “Happy Birthday” that I have ever heard.

APARTMENT!!!  Steve and I signed up for our apartment – we finally got all of our paperwork filled out and turned in, and we picked out which apartment we wanted.  We chose a second story apartment facing the woods.  There’s also plenty of lawn behind it for my dog (Sophie, pictured below) to run around in.  We’re both very excited about it.  We’re also excited about adopting a kitten once we move in.  Everybody loves kittens.

Over Spring Break I also got a chance to hang out with another good friend of mine and play with her new son.  He was so sweet, and although prior to his birth, I really disliked children, I think I’m warming up to them now.  He’s also pictured below, isn’t he cute?

The return home was relatively stress free.  In fact, this week has gone by very quickly, and all of a sudden… I have two tests tomorrow and one on Friday.  So I’m off to study. 

Email me with questions/comments!

- Cat

March 13

Last weekend was fairly uneventful, but it did mark the beginning of bike week. I'm not that into bikes, but some of my friends seem to like them. All I know was that traffic was horrible, so getting anywhere was a real chore. I spent most of my weekend inside.

The week was kind of busy. I had a few tests, went to the gym, worked some, etc. Not really too much else to say about that.

I worked an evening shift Friday, and then that night we went to see 300- the new movie about the Spartan warriors and some crap (I got kind of lost in the details). It was really good. All the men were very hunky.

Parking was a nightmare, though. Saturday I woke up somewhere around noon - which is so nice when you have to wake up early every other day. And Wood 5 decided that we should have a cookout and make hotdogs and smores.

So we bought wood, hotdogs, chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, pokers to put the hotdogs/smores on, huge matches, and Steve bought some camping chairs. Then we went to Daytona Beach to this little fire pit, and there was a number that said we needed to make a reservation, even though nobody was using it. So I asked a Beach Patrol guy if we could use it and he was really mean to me.

We were still trying to meet up with my friend Kim, so we decided we would go to New Smyrna Beach to meet her at the airport.

When we met up at the airport, we both didn't know how to get to the New Smyrna beaches, so we decided we would go inside and ask someone. One of the flight instructors gave us directions which turned out to be bad. We did end up at some park, and we asked some locals for directions, which turned out to be bad. Eventually we found the New Smyrna beaches on our own and when we got there it was dark. But then one of the boys saw a sign that said "No open fires." We had already dug a hole, so a few of us sat around it and ate cold smores. It was kind of bleak.

We were next to the cars getting ready to leave when I realized that I had lost Ryan's (my boyfriend) ring when I took it off to dig in the sand. He gave it to me for our one year anniversary, so it's kind of important. I checked the pocket I had put it in and realized it wasn't in there and proceeded to freak out. I seriously could not breathe and I felt like I was going to throw up. So Kim and Steve were coaching me to breathe and calm down and the search commenced. After about five minutes of searching, Kim found the ring in the sand - it was a one in a thousand type thing. I burst into tears, and the day was saved.

You guys don't lose valuable stuff at the beach.

Then we went back to the dorms. I set my alarm for 6:30, because I use my cell phone and it corrects itself for daylight savings. But it also pushed my alarm time forward, so I woke up at 7:30, which is when I was supposed to be at work.

I got to work at 8. Thankfully, it was really foggy, so no one showed up for the morning flights. And then I worked for eleven hours straight, but I'm not complaining!!! As much as I don't like being at work ALL day on a weekend, I REALLY don't like not having money for the rest of the week.

Monday was a typical Monday, I suppose. It was a very long day. Classes until 3:30, and then I took an absurdly long nap in the afternoon. That's the thing about college - you learn to sleep when you can. In the evening I went to the gym (which I've been doing a lot lately), and then drove ALL the way past Orlando to pick up one of Boris' Bulgarian friends who is staying in the dorms with us.

We didn't get back to Daytona until around 12:30 or 1 am. But that's okay.

Plans for Spring Break include going home, hopefully flying some, visiting family in Pennsylvania, And we'll see.

Shoot me an email if you have any questions - I respond to all of them!

- CAT rumbebb5@erau.edu

February

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February 27

Greetings.

My trip home last weekend went rather well. The boys of Wood 5 stayed in Daytona and suffered through the Daytona 500. They worked at the race. I'm sure they had fun, but I'm kind of glad I wasn't here.

Over the past week I have been ridiculously sick. Apparently (according to my mom) there is something going around Virginia that I picked up and brought back to Daytona with me. I had two days of barely being able to get out of bed, and I even went to the hospital at one point. So, needless to say, this was not Cat's Best Week Ever. Luckily, the hospital is right across the street, and I discovered that some medicine I was taking was giving me some weird symptoms.

I missed a few days of class, but if you email professors ahead of time and are legitimately ill (like if you have an E.R. bracelette), they are fairly lenient about letting you make up what you miss.

And although the dorms make it easy for illnesses to spread (which, I'm happy to say, was not the case with my plague), the good thing is - there is always someone there to check up on you and get you anything you may need. Like ginger ale. Or a bucket.

My dad flew in on Friday and parked his plane at New Smyrna (where I work). I took him to Woody's Barbecue - which, by the way, EVERYONE should visit. It's at Nova and Dunlawton and they have THE BEST barbecue ever. We also went to a LASER LIGHT SHOW!!!! I know, it's so 80s. But it was the Beatles and the Beatles are awesome, so I didn't feel too dorky.

Last night we went on a casino cruise, which seemed like a good idea, until the boat started heading out to sea and rocking back and forth and to and from and... ugh. Many of our party were not feeling well. It was kind of miserable until the bartender made us an anti-sick concoction which worked very well. Everyone lost money except Steve, who won a lot. I guess he's just lucky.

Today my dad accompanied me to all of my classes. He seemed to enjoy most of them. And since he's a pilot, he was interested in all of the subjects.

And that's about it! Email me if you have questions/comments!

- Cat

February 15

Hi, folks!

Not too much has been going on in Daytona since I last wrote a journal. The semester is well underway, and it's been good so far. I've been hanging out with new friends, and old, and just generally hanging around Daytona.

Thankfully, the first batch of exams for this semester is over. A lot of the time it just so happens that you will have four or so exams in one week, or, as was the case for an unlucky friend of mine, in one day. This can be a bit stressful, but if you plan ahead it shouldn't be a problem. A lot of the time, it's not like high school where you can just review your notes a half hour before the test and get an A on it. So preparation is key.

Ah, let's see, stuff that's been going on these past two weeks. A few of my friends' family members visited, which was nice. One of my friends had a birthday. Valentine's Day came and went, and our hall was really great about circulating V-Day gifts. It was very sweet and the boys of Wood 5 got some good brownie points from my roommate and I.

OH YES! A run down of the first AT course, AT 300. At the beginning, it was a LOT of history (ugh, I hate history). History of the ATC system, aviation in general, regulations, legislation, etc. We also learned a few parts of the 7110.65, which I'm told is the ATC's bible. Along with that, we learned the different types of controllers and what they are responsible for. This was helpful, since eventually I'll have to pick which type of controller I'd like to be. As of yet, I'm still undecided, but leaning towards TRACON. So that's AT 300 so far.

This weekend I will be going home to visit. I'm excited about it. After spending a huge winter break at home, it was difficult to come back to Riddle for a month. So my Valentine's gift to everyone is to come home!

The Daytona 500 is this weekend, and I'm actually glad I'm not going to be here. I'm not a racing fan, and the traffic is apparently pretty bad. I haven't looked for myself, but I'll take everyone else's word for it. Also, I would have had to work this weekend, which probably would have been pure hell. Perhaps I will hang around for the 500 next year.

Next weekend my father will be visiting Daytona for that student/parent weekend thing, so you'll probably hear about that in my next entry.

As always, email me with questions, comments, etc.

- Cat

January

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January 29

I think last Wednesday was probably my most difficult day of college yet. It started off with my four classes, and I found out that I have tests in three of them next week. I didn't get much sleep the night before, so I was drinking lots of tea just to get me through to 3:15. After my last class let out, I rushed to my car and went to work.

At work, the computers had been down all day, so they had to hand-write everything that was supposed to go into the computer. The computers came up when I got there, so I had to put all of the written stuff into the computer, as well as maintain some level of organization to the current transactions that needed to be put in. It took roughly four hours of me standing on my feet. Usually, I would have been glad that I was keeping busy, but after six hours of classes, an additional four hours on my feet didn't feel really great.

I was also bummed as I realized that I would repeat this same routine Friday, Saturday (all day), and Sunday. But you know, I handled it. I got through. I think a key part of college is finding your limits, and then handling them well, even when it's difficult.

My mom expressed a lot of concern about me working so much while I'm at school. This week was rough, I admit. I worked a lot more this week than I've ever been required to work before. Usually I don't have so many hours. And I think that if this was the norm, I'd probably have to tell my boss that it's too much.

When you work yourself too much (whether it's actual work, school work, too many clubs and activities, etc), you don't perform your best. And how are you supposed to do well in school if you aren't at your best? So when you're in college, it's fine to be involved on campus, and it's fine to have a job or two. But remember, that's not why you're here.

I don't know if I mentioned this, but at the beginning of last semester I was having some money issues, which I think happens a lot to college students. I had two jobs, and was considering getting a third, because I just wasn't making ends meet. Asking my parents to send me money weekly or whatever was out of the question. It's college, I'm supposed to be independent now.

I brought up that I was considering getting a third job, maybe another airport job, to my boyfriend, and he brought up a good point: My objective is not to get a steady job at an FBO. My objective is not to be completely independent and work my butt off to survive. I'm here to go to college and to learn and all that fun stuff. You can't let tons of other things into your life that are going to impede that goal.

So I asked my dad if he would pay for my car insurance, since that was a big payment that I wasn't going to be able to make. I mean, I was frantic and stressed out about cell phone bills, credit cards, gas. So I asked for help, and he agreed.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Sure, this is college, and you are on your own, and part of that responsibility is making your own money, doing things you want to do, and taking care of yourself. But don't do too much. Don't burn yourself out and forget that you are also supposed to have some fun while you're here. Remember that you can always drop a few activities, ask for fewer hours, or call someone back home. Email me if you have any questions. rumbebb5@erau.edu

- Cat

January 17

Well..

Riddle survived the tornado.

Looking around campus, I can barely tell that anything happened at all. The grounds are completely clean - the clean-up crews have done a truly remarkable job, and I feel like it's important to acknowledge all that they have accomplished in these very few weeks. All of the buildings that were damaged have been patched up and people relocated, and classes are going on as scheduled.

My break went well. Quite well. I had a good, long visit at home which didn't involve too much rushing around. I spent some quality time with my best friend, and with my boyfriend, who accompanied me to visit my extended family in Pennsylvania, and of course I spent lots of time with my family.

And got presents. And gave presents.

Anyway, the return to Riddle was stress-free. I was worried things might be a little mixed up with the tornado damage, re-located offices and such things. But they weren't. A few of my hallmates arranged rides from the airports (thanks).

TIP: ALWAYS arrange rides and get details straight BEFORE your trips. It just makes things easier. Be sure to have everyone's phone numbers, too, because you will want to arrange rides and talk to your friends over winter break. Especially if they are as great as Wood 5 friends.

So we were all back in Wood 5 soon enough. A bunch of us watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and did that whole hallway-bonding thing.

First day of classes, for me, was great. I had one class in the morning, and then NOTHING all day, because my professor had cancelled my afternoon class. So what did I do? I spent six hours at the beach. I love Daytona. I brought my roomie with me, and drove her back to Riddle for her afternoon class, then picked up Steve, Boris, and Matt and took them back to the beach with me, since they were done with classes. It was a good day. We tried to watch a movie last night, but we were all too tired to stay awake.

Today (second day of classes) went just as well. I thought that four classes in a row would be really difficult, but since they only last an hour each, they actually aren't bad. So when you are scheduling classes and are worried about having a lot in one day, keep in mind that the length of these classes is much shorter than what you are probably used to. In high school, my classes were always about an hour and 45 minutes. And that's not cool at all.

That's all that's going on today. Next time, for those who are interested in the Air Traffic major, I'll be posting some details about my first AT class. Hopefully that should prove interesting. And if not, I'll...I don't know. Maybe I'll write a poem about Riddle. Let me know what you think about that.

Rumbebb5@erau.edu

- Cat

PS- Andrea T., I can't respond to your email! Please send me a different address, the one you sent your email from isn't working.

December

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December 14

I have been SO sick the past few weeks. The illness kind of passed through my dorm in a wave, so I’m not the only one who was miserable. I visited health services, but I don’t think they could do much for me. It’s a virus, so it just has to kind of work its way out. I just wish it would work a little faster. Today marks the two week point. But I AM getting better. TIP: When you come to college, bring lots of medicine with you. I had no medicines, and no money to BUY medicines, so I just used what health services gave me until it was gone, which was about a week and a half ago. A better tip: Stay healthy, don’t get sick, and don’t share food/drinks with anyone.

As you can imagine, Riddle has been pretty busy the past few weeks. Lots of people were taking tests, preparing for exams, and Cassie and I had to do some shopping – we made little gifts for our buddies on the hall. That really made me feel all Christmasy. We just got them lots of candy and some personalized ornaments and holiday stickers. I think they liked them.

I’ve been really anxious to get home the past week, probably because finals have been kind of stressful. And I miss my family and friends back home.

I actually spent almost an entire day studying last weekend… Crazy. But it paid off. And now all my finals are DONE and I can relax at last. So my first college exams experience was tough, but not traumatizing. I was exempt from a few exams – If you are not persuaded to do well in classes just to do well, or to please your parents, or because you want a great GPA, then DO IT FOR THIS REASON!!! There is nothing better than having an idle exam day to just sit around and do nothing, especially when you know you will be cramming the next day.

First semester is over. I think I did really well. But everyone says the first semester is always REALLY easy, so I’m a little scared about next semester, especially since I will have a demanding course load. Overall, it was a success: - Made a lot of friends - Became familiar with Daytona Beach - Managed to keep myself out of trouble - Got a good job - Established myself as a good student - Didn’t gain the “freshman fifteen” - And most importantly… I made a lot of really great friends.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

November

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November 27

Wow, what a weekend!

But first, I'd like to talk about registration:

Registration online was interesting. The upper classmen seemed to have no problem with the registration process, however, unfortunately for the freshmen, the server died as soon as 1000+ students tried to access it at midnight. Some hallmates and I stayed up until about 2:30 to see if it would come back up, but it didn't. It came back up around 7am, which was around when I was getting up for my first class. I got most of the classes that I wanted, and I'm happy with my schedule. Since I got to pick my own classes this semester, I got to focus more on what I'm really interested in and, of course, what I really need. So next semester I'm taking six courses: Aviation Law, a 2nd Aero Safety course (because I really liked the one I took this semester and I got the same Professor, too), Air Traffic I, Business Management (or something to that effect), Psychology, and Meteorology II. I'm really excited about my first real Air Traffic class, as well as continuing my studies further in my Aero Safety and Meteorology classes. They aren't required, but I'm trying to decide between the two of them for my minor.

So about registration: Riddle is great because you pick your own schedule, classes, and professors, and Riddle gives you all the information you need to do it yourself: Class schedules (or course), catalogs, and little checklists of everything required for your major. Also, Riddle allows you to take classes at different universities if you don't want to take them at Riddle. I think over the summer I will be taking an English, Physics, and possibly French class at a community college back home. This is really helpful, since credits at the university get expensive, so it's nice to have options.

PICK PRE-REQS!!! My roommate gave me top-notch advice: A lot of your upper level classes DEPEND on you getting your pre-requisites in the first few semesters, so it's really important that you follow your catalog and check all the courses to make sure that you are taking the correct classes that you NEED. Otherwise, you could be stuck taking 100-level courses in your junior and senior year as pre-reqs for courses you really need.

So anyway, all my classes are between 9:15 and 3:30 everyday and that sounds good to me. AND all of my classes except one are in the same building, which is nice. I didn't plan it that way, I just got lucky I guess.

This past weekend was our Thanksgiving Break! My flight up Tuesday night was terrifying, we flew through a front over the Carolinas and had some really wicked turbulence, everyone was really shook up literally. A few times I got knocked right out of my seat. Weather was bad in Richmond when we landed, too.

It rained through Wednesday as well. Wednesday I got to hang out with my female friends back home. We went to see Stranger Than Fiction, which was cute, but not what I was expecting. Hanging out with the girls was a lot of fun. Not that I don't absolutely love all my guy friends at Riddle, but sometimes it's nice to relax in a mostly estrogen environment.

Thursday I had two Thanksgivings. One with my mom at her house, and one with my boyfriend's family at his parents' house. Both were great, and I was quite full. I don't think I could ever get sick of eating "Holiday Meals." I only wish that I could have brought some home. My dad and brother were visiting my father's side of the family in Pennsylvania. They told me that everyone is doing really well, which is good to hear.

Friday was mainly uneventful, which is just fine with me. When I went home before, I was doing too much running around, so it was nice when I got to just slow things down and mosey around my town at my leisure. Ryan (my boyfriend) and I went to see "Deja Vu" which was really good. It had Denzel in it, so it was bound to be good. We also visited the mall which were, indeed, crowded. After the movie we went back to my house and Ryan cooked my mother and I some delicious spaghetti with a home-made sauce that was to die for. I was in charge of hors d'oeuvres, so I made a plate of crackers with pimento cheese spread with celery, and cut some pieces of sour dough bread to serve with brie cheese and grapes. Yes, it was good.

Saturday I finally got to fly for the first time since August. It was a ton of fun. I flew a Cessna 172 for the first time. I'd always flown 150s and 152s before. The 172s are a LOT easier to land, but it took a little more muscle to fly. They seem more stable and probably because they are big enough for the wind not to blow them around. There is a lot of construction going on at my former workplace, but it looks like it's going really well. I'm hoping more of it will be done when I visit for the Christmas break.

Sunday I hung out with my Dad and his girlfriend all day, since they were back from Pennsylvania. We went out to lunch and looked at some houses for sale in the area. They want to move soon.

Flight back was good and not nearly as crowded as I thought it was going to be, even Atlanta wasn't so bad. Steve picked me up at the airport (thank you, Steve, you're a lifesaver) and we got back to Riddle around 1:30.

And that's about all I have to report. As always, send any question or comments to me at rumbebb5@erau.edu or just post them on the message boards!

November 14

Well, last weekend I went to the military ball with a friend of mine. It was an interesting experience and if you ever get the chance to go, I suggest you do it.

This past weekend I went home again. I'm not sure if I've already delved a bit into my nostalgia, but here it goes again: One of the best things about going to school far away is how wonderful it is when you go home. Home is always there and it might be changing a little while you are gone, and the people are still living their lives without you there, but it's there for you. Home doesn't discriminate- it always welcomes you back, regardless of your grades, or how many friends you've made, or the decisions you make at school.

In case you haven't guessed- I really enjoyed being home. It had been two months, and some people might say "so what - I don't get to go home until Christmas", but I don't know, I like going home as often as I can. Moving away from the sappy stuff.

A lot has happened to my home since I last visited. I live in the sticks (country yeehaw) and the land behind my house is starting to be developed (BOO!!!). My mom did some landscaping, my dad closed down his pool for the season, all the leaves were red and orange and it was nice to see fall, a definite change from Daytona's eternal summer, my brother grew a beard, and my dog gained some weight. A close friend of mine also gained some weight, but that is due to her pregnancy. I was very glad to see her looking healthy and with a big round belly. Her son is due in December.

I wasn't ready to leave Virginia this time. When I go home, I sometimes don't really feel like I'm home because I spend so much time running around, trying to see people that are important to me. So, I didn't really have much time to relax. Fortunately, I get to go back in a week and a half for the Thanksgiving break, and I'll get to take my time seeing friends and family and eating as much turkey as I can handle.

Which will be a lot.

School's being going well. I had a speech and presentation due, which went well, I think. I believe this is the quiet before the storm. Finals are approaching FAST, and I have a feeling I might be more bogged down as they get closer. DUN DUN DUN!!!

Email me if you need anything at rumbebb5@erau.edu or post your questions to the ERAU discussion board.

October

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October 29

Last weekend I worked ALL WEEKEND, 23 hours total. It was tiring, but I was grateful to have the hours (since I don't work that often). The great thing about working long hours is that I get lots of money which means more money to have more fun.

Last weekend was Biketoberfest, too. It was pretty nuts and very loud. It was actually pretty exciting. My roommate and I went down to Main Street where most of the festivities occur, and looked around. And although it smelled like beer and smoke and exhaust, it was kinda cool, I have to admit.

Visited the mall a few times and I like the mall here. It's big and there's a lot of stuff to eat (I like to eat, what can I say?). This includes a candy shop. Yummy. However, it's not good for dress shopping. I was shopping for dresses because I'm going to the military ball next weekend. I'm really excited, I've never been to one before, but everyone is telling me that they are a lot of fun. One of my friends from work who is in Navy ROTC invited me. AAAAND that's enough from my inner personal life.

Classes have been going very well and I got a great grade on my last speech in COM 219, which I'm really happy about. However, I would like to say that the speech class is a little more difficult than I originally thought it was going to be and don't just assume that because you can talk, or because something was easy for you in high school, that it's going to be just as easy in college. It's not like that. There are exceptions, though, and I guess that kind of depends on what kind of classes you take in high school and what kind you decide to take in college.

My friends and I found a really good pizza place, it's called Giuseppe's and you can get a 2foot 4inch (in diameter) pizza there. Which we did. And it was good.

OH YEAH Homecoming was this weekend. In high school, homecoming is centered around a football game, and there is a dance where everyone dresses up really nice (girls love an excuse to dress up). Here, homecoming is a little different. First of all, we don't have a football team, so the game that homecoming built up to was a basketball game. There was a parade, a tailgate party (with free food, by the way), a talent show, and lots of other stuff that escapes me right now. I missed the basketball game because my friends and I decided to go ROLLER SKATING instead. That was kind of a bust and there were tons of obnoxious kids, and I don't particularly like kids.

So, to conclude, when in Daytona, don't go roller skating.

October 16

Moving Right Along

I realized that it's been a while since I last wrote a journal, so I have a lot to talk about:

I took a trip back to Virginia to attend a wedding. It was kind of weird to go home, everything was the same, and yet different. I sort of felt like a stranger, probably because I was running around visiting the whole time, and didn't get much of a chance to relax in my old environment. The foreigner feeling wore off just in time for me to leave and come back to Daytona.

I have a credit card, Credit cards are really very useful if you use them appropriately. But one of the best ways to use it appropriately is to barely use it, and since I don't have much money anyway, it's not too difficult to keep up with a credit card. Unless you use Esurance.

Do not use Esurance to insure your vehicle whether or not you are going to Riddle. They doubled my payment without telling me. Do not trust them.

A few weeks ago I experienced my first helicopter ride at Epic Aviation at the New Smyrna airport, I have a new obsession. And if I wasn't so broke I would learn to fly helicopters in a heartbeat. But I am broke, so there goes that idea out the window. Perhaps it should be a life goal? Maybe. I'll think about it.

Rush happened in a rush. I kind of wanted to participate in some rush activities, but I rarely knew when they were happening, and I don't think I had time to do them anyway. My suitemates are pledging two different sororities, and they are thoroughly enjoying the experience so far.

I have to admit that I've done some partying (UH OH). I confess. And it was fun. And I'm not going to do it again for a while.

The last week has been really REALLY stressful. Lots of stuff has been happening, I had a test, a speech (on the Rubik's cube), a project, and all of my normal homework and duties still piled on as well. My boyfriend is visiting this weekend, so I've been trying to plan out some stuff for us to do. Furthermore, I have another test on Monday, and a term-project outline due as well. The good news is although I'm busy and a little stressed, I'm coping with it well. I got a 95 on my last Aero Safety test (which is SOOO much better than the grade I got on the one before), and my speech went well.

And now a post about grades from my other online journal:

September

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September 28

My first college exam went badly, by my standards. I was working for a grade between a 90 and a 95, and I got an 83. I've been told by several sources that an 83 is an excellent grade, but 83s are just not my style. Call me a nerd or an over-achiever, but it's just the way I am - I refuse to be an 83% efficient air traffic controller. The first exam was hard - really hard. It was in a subject that I had never really closely encountered before - Aero Safety. It included a lot of history, politics, governmental acts and processes, and a lot of CFRs and the FARs. This class is teaching me how to hone my study skills - conform to tests to get the outcomes that I want.

I was terrified of my IT class. Really - I can't stand computers - I don't like thinking about them, learning about them, or being on them that much. I have absolutely no interest in how computers work, unless it has to do with how to download music, send emails, or talk to people on AIM. I just don't care and it bores me to death and I hate computers. I know NOTHING about computers, while half of my class seems to know everything about them. However, I have 98 in that class - Never gotten anything below a 90 in the class (and that was just once) - and blackboard tells me that the average for that course is a 77. I have no idea how it is possible for someone as challenged as I am about computers to be doing that well. All I can say is that I TRY - I try REALLY HARD to understand and do all of the assignments - There are a lot of assignments, a lot of quizzes - just a lot of stuff to keep up with. This class has shown me that if you DO the work and you TRY... it should pay off. Also, it has shown me that I need to talk to my professors - if a grade doesn't seem right, get it fixed. The same proved true for my meteorology class.

My Meteorology class - I like the subject, but I'm not wild about the class - it's the biggest class that I'm in (I think), and I think I lose something from that. However, it challenges me to be focused and to use class time wisely. Sometimes I fail. Horribly - I'm not going to lie. I took a test in that class today, and I know that I did really really well on it - I studied what the professor suggested that we studied, as well as my notes and the text. There is no doubt in my mind that I got an A. (And I did!) I work really hard in my math class. Really hard. I do all the homework, I got to class, I do well on quizzes, I study, the material is easy - but I still had a B. Just because it's easy - that doesn't mean that I don't have to try just as hard. I also think that professors take into account how much you participate - at least, I hope mine does, because I participate a lot in class. I have an exam coming up in that class - on the 2nd. I'm not too stressed about it yet, since I feel pretty comfortable with the material that we have already covered. (And that exam went really well, I now have a really great grade in that class).

University 101 is a strange class. But I have an awesome topic for my term paper. It's going to be something like, "University 101 is Necessary?" I know it's a bit controversial, but I like that. Topic is already approved and it's going to be fun.

Speech class... I didn't get an A on my first speech solely because I was not prepared to speak on the first day. There's no excuse. My professor even told me that my delivery was worthy of an A, but because I didn't speak on the first day, I got graded down. Next time I'll be ready. (And I was.)

And that's it for now! If you have any questions or concerns or you want to chat, or you want to rag on me for being a nerd, just drop me an email: rumbebb5@erau.edu

September 19

Today has been rather busy.

I woke up around 9:30, took a shower, yada yada, you know the routine. At 10:30 I had a meeting with my advisor. I'm glad that my UNIV 101 teacher forced everyone to meet with their advisors - I learned a lot. She helped me figure out some stuff about choosing my minor, registering for classes, events on campus, internships, electives, off-campus schooling, and the list goes on. I'm really glad that I went - So all you Riddle newbies or soon-to-be newbies - Go see your advisor, it's a good idea. She also pointed me in the right direction for other concerns that I had.

After I got back from seeing my advisor, I made a trip to the bank, and then to a gas station to vacuum out my car - In case you haven't noticed, Carlos (my car)... It tends to um... suck. I almost regret bringing my car down here, except that it is INFINITELY easier to have the job that I want, aka off-campus, and go to the beach when I want, and the grocery store, mall, etc.

Speaking of my job, Epic called today and asked me to work a few more days in October. I was really worried that I wasn't going to have enough hours there, and I was going to have to get a third job, but things are looking okay. Plus, I really REALLY don't want a third job. At all. Although, one of my hallmates did tell me about his job that he loves, and he said he'd give me some information if I want it, but... I really want to continue working at Epic, so hopefully things will work out.

There are these crazy little bugs here - People call them Love Bugs. They are everywhere, and they fly into you, and get in your car and drive you nuts. "Love Bugs" is not a good name for them. They are kind of like June Bugs or June Beetles from back home in Virginia, except they are much smaller and somehow more annoying. I vacuumed up a lot of them while I was vacuuming my car, just because they were bugging me - no pun intended.

After the gas station, I went to Publix to get some food. I had about four things on my list and left with... significantly more things, but I think I did alright. I should be good for another two weeks or so (and then I'll get paid again). Then I came back to the dorms. Class this afternoon... Woo hoo. Then I get to study for my FIRST COLLEGE TEST. Cumulatively, I've already put about 7 hours of study into it... But that's because I'm TERRIFIED. So... we'll see how that goes. *crosses fingers*

Stay classy, and stay in class!

August

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August 23 - September 12

They Will Not Always Be This Long

My journals will never ever be this long. But, I have another journal that I keep, and I put a lot of stuff from my first few weeks in school in that journal, so I figured I would take some excerpts and share them. But there are a lot. Hopefully you'll find them entertaining. Or, you can read them until you fall asleep. I know you guys need sleep, let's not pretend like we all go to bed at 9:30. Let me begin here:

The Trip Down/ Prior to the Dorm Days:

What's Going On? Nearly died three times on Friday heading towards South Carolina. Didn't have any near-death experiences on the way to Florida. Currently in Daytona. Sitting. Eating animal crackers.

Begin Dorm Days:

Wednesday, August 23

Home Sweet Home. Well, I've just settled into my new dorm. It's small. However, it is very tall. In fact, this room is taller than it is wide. How very strange. I guess that's so they can hoist my bed up TEN FEET IN THE AIR... For real, I'm in the sky up here. My room overlooks another residence hall, and also some palm trees, picnic tables, and grass. It's a nice view, really.

Cassie is due in about an hour - My mom and I are going to pick her up at the airport. There are lots of guys here. Lots. I mean, wow. I am soooo tired. Later.

Thursday, August 24

Oh God... What Time Is It? Yesterday got really cool after our hall meeting. After that, everyone just started wandering around the hall and socializing. After invading everyone's rooms, we decided on a whim to walk to Denny's (ew). It was around midnight, and about a dozen of us went. I think about four actually ate. I was not the only girl - a girl from the dorm across the hall came, too. There are actually only seven girls on the hall. And on fourth floor, there are only four.

I got back to my dorm around 1 o'clock. Word. And now it's 8:45 in the morning. But I don't have to be anywhere until ten. So my point is... My hall is awesome.

Friday, August 25

Yesterday...Yesterday was cool.

Got up, took a shower, went to my orientation thing, which was less than interesting, but necessary. There was this one period of the day when absolutely nothing was happening, and people started to gather in me and Cassie's room. Which is where the insanity began. It started as us girls not wanting the extra bed, so about half a dozen aeronautical engineers helped us out - or rather, they moved the beds around and we watched from the corner. Then, Mike (the red head from floor four) decided that he wanted to create a masterpiece, so the team proceeded to make an eight foot archway out of my bed that arched over the doorway between the dressing room and the bedroom. It was insanely tall, but actually sturdy. They were armed with only a hammer and a tape measurer. There was enough room for a couch. Maybe two.

Following that (three hours later) I went to dinner with my mom -Just salad at Ruby Tuesday's. She took Carlos (my old Monte Carlo) for today and dropped me off. I immediately went upstairs and discovered that no one was there. They were at the soccer game.

Riddle - 3

Guest - 0

Yay girls' soccer.

In the evening, our room was once again a hang out spot. We tried to listen to some music, but no one could find anything that a majority could agree on. Adam called me from Doolittle, and then he came over to Wood to join the gathering in my room. Ashley (RA) came in and said that although the archway was cool, the bed was too close to the fire sprinkler (on the ceiling). Mike was devastated. We took his creation down.

Now it's morning (early, because I'm continually waking up at 8). I need food and I need to go to the gym. (By the way, I never went to the gym, haha)

Sunday, August 27

Ah man Yesterday... let me try to remember...

I remember the luau and going to the pool. I remember Juan doing comedy in my room for a large audience. He's hilarious, seriously. I remember kicking everyone out at two and talking with Cassie until three. I remember missing Ryan (my boyfriend back home) a whole lot right before I went to sleep. I remember sleeping well for the first time since I've been here.

I woke up at 10. At ten I hung around (I think I might have eaten something... don't remember). Ryan (Harry Potter) and I met my mom downstairs and drove her to Orlando. Weather sucked - heavy downpour, nothing, heavy downpour, sprinkles, downpour, nothing, the pattern continued. Dropped my mom off... I didn't even have time to be sad or say goodbye properly... But I guess that's good because I wouldn't have wanted to cry. Got back around four. We made Juan do a spaceball - the thing where they put you in the ball and spin you in every direction. It was hilarious and highly entertaining.

Back in Wood I got tired around six o'clock. Slept. Got up, and there was a barbecue going on outside - sponsored by the Greeks. We all rolled down and grabbed some food, then went back upstairs. In the evening we went to a show - some illusionist/magician dude. It was something to do. After that, the chilling commenced and there was music and fun.

Our room already needs to be vacuumed. Cassie is pissed because an unclaimed half of a candy bar was found in here. The mess isn't so bad, because it is easy enough to clean up.

Monday, August 28

I'm Tired. We went to the beach yesterday. That was the biggest thing we did. We also went to half of a soccer game. Back at the dorms, we hung around. Juan and I swapped life stories, which was funny. Earlier in the day Mike and I had swapped life stories. Life stories everywhere. Anyway, we went to sleep comparatively early. But some people stayed up until 5:30. I don't know why, but that's what they did. I think they were probably playing video games. Just a guess.

Today Cassie and I had to wake up at seven and be in class at eight (the only class we have together). It was a long walk. I will wear sneakers from now on OR take my bike. It was uh... I don't know. Introduction stuff. We didn't learn anything. And then we came back and went to Einstein's Bagels. Now I'm in my dorm. And it's nap time until 11:20

First day of classes went well. Cassie and I were in the same first class - Aero Safety. We woke up around seven, and had to be in class by eight. We learned that the clocks in the school lie to you. We were on time, though. There was a syllabus, yada yada.

My next class was the College Success class, which is kind of strange, but whatever. We pretty much just met each other and talked and that was it. I love how all the classes are like an hour long. It's just perfect.

After that (ended around one) I went to the bookstore and bought two books, but I have no clue where I put the receipt.

My bike lock is messed up. I put in the password and it doesn't unlock. What am I supposed to do??? Anyway, so I had planned to ride to class, and ended up running, so I was covered in sweat when I showed up late to my class. Awesome. Math class was a not exciting. We learned about vectors. Yay. Plus homework.

Ran to my IT class after that. I'm scared of it (because I don't like learning about/on computers), but the teacher seems really nice and fun, so hopefully it won't be too terrifying. Homework for that too.

For the remainder of the evening... Lots of Wood went to the hypnotist, but Cassie, Ryan, and I went to Wal-Mart instead and got some much needed items. We had McDonald's for dinner, and the food at ERAU is SO bad that I actually referred to McD's as "real food". But you know, a lot of the guys say that they really love the food, so maybe I'm just strange. Or maybe I'm a health nut. Yeah.

And then we had a party in here like every night - everyone sitting around and talking. I got some homework done, and I feel like I'm keeping up pretty well, so... yay! And since the office is closed for the evening and I don't have class until 2 tomorrow, I think I'll go chill in Sutter's room. Steve, Dan, Brian and I are going to the beach most of the day tomorrow, so... woooo Daytona sucks SOOO much.

I hate it here :)

Wednesday, August 30

Yesterday I had my Meteorology and Speech classes. Meteorology... we started taking notes, and it was fairly interesting, I suppose. Speech was interesting... The professor is really nice. We had to give ice breaker speeches of at least three minutes, and I went first. It was fairly easy.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the Office (aka me and Cassie's room). I worked on homework, and thank God there are all of these aviation/engineering nerds around (then again, we are all nerds). The guys helped me with my math homework. It's not that I don't KNOW this stuff, it's just that I don't remember much of anything that happened before summer. The Professor said that if we don't get at least 70% of the questions right, we shouldn't be in the class. Well I got a 76% so... I'm staying.

Around 9 we all decided to go to Wal-Mart for some necessary products. I only spent five dollars. Cassie and I were done in five minutes. The boys took two hours. How's that for gender profiling?

Eventually we got home... I did some more homework and talked to Ryan (boyfriend in VA) online. A little after 12 I stood up and told everyone to get out. They obliged. Cassie and I went to sleep.

Woke up at 7 (bummm). Dragged our lifeless bodies to Aero Safety class, where we watched a movie on plane crashes. It was actually pretty interesting, but as we neared the end of the movie, I could feel myself drifting, so I was really happy when it ended and we got to leave class 15 minutes early with no homework. After that...

No classes for the rest of the day. School was closed because of the "hurricane". Which actually did nothing at all. Yay Florida. So Cass and I went back to sleep until about noon.

Thursday, August 31

Hooray...I wrote a resume in an hour last night. And I actually think it's fairly impressive.

Today I went to Epic Aviation at the New Smyrna airport for a follow up interview. The lady hired me (cuz I've got teh skillz) and she seemed to really really like me. I will be an Administrative Assistant (aka everyone's gopher), and because of my experience, I will probably be shifted to dispatching really soon. Which I'm excited about. I will start at 9 dollars per hour. There is a tower on the field, and Danny said he would get me in contact with the controllers as soon as possible.

Word...Anyway... Today was cool with getting that sweet job and all. Now I just have to wait a few hours to go to classes. By the way I start work tomorrow... Bummm.

PS I had to get a campus cop to free my bike.

Friday, September 13, 2006

They are about to "get hype" UGH!!! I wake up to a phone call from Sutter. Bass is still blaring in the hallway. I've got an awful headache, and someone informs me that they are about to "get hype" in the hallway. Juan asked me if I'll be clubbing tonight and I say, "No, because I have a huge headache, because everyone has been blasting bass all day." I took some tylenol and now I am eating ramen. I still feel bad.

In other news... I woke up at seven, and Cassie and I went to Aero Safety class. We took a lot of notes. Determined that flying is pretty safe. Duh. At nine, we were let out of class, and we walked back to the dorms. I got ready and immediately left for work. Got to work at 10. Waited until 10:30 for the guy who is training me (Josh) to get to my office. He's pretty nice. The job is mostly data entry. And since it's on TFBO, it's not that difficult to figure out. I worked until 2, then left to come back to school.

I call all of my teachers "Professor" because I don't know their names. What? They don't know mine either. Came back from class. Fell asleep. Woke up around 9.

The end.

Saturday, September 2

Bad Judgement...Last night half a dozen of us slept on the beach in order to see the sunrise.

Do not do that.

At first it just started out that it was midnight on a Friday night and we had nothing to do. So, naturally, we went to a graveyard. Well, that was creepy and Brian was really really scared. Siss. Anyway, so we went to Ormond and layed out on the beach - Eight of us all marveling at the sky because it was SO clear... I have never seen that many stars. You could even see the Milky Way. Brian pointed that out to us, because he went to Space Camp so he knew what a lot of the stars were. And yeah, we rag on him for going to Space Camp. But really, everybody here is a dork in some way.

Eventually the idea came about that we should stay all night and watch the sunrise. Seemed like a good idea at the time, and it probably would have been okay if we had been prepared. But we had no blankets, no food, and only cell phones as lights and clocks. So eventually, we all ended up huddled together wrapped in towels, shivering and hungry and covered in sand. It sucked. But it sucked so much that it was kind of fun. Otto had brought his guitar, so we had some nice soothing tunes. That was pretty cool.

Brian and Sean bailed because Brian felt sick and Sean decided to go with him. Around four, the other six of us were debating going back. But we figured we had already been there for four hours, and we only had about two to go. Steve was out like a light. Probably passed out from cold and hunger. Cassie kept mumbling, "nooooooooooo" every time the wind blew. That was kind of funny. And I was looking at the stars and stealing jackets to cover myself. Eventually I usurped Steve's towel and jacket and that kept me sufficiently warm.

It got light around 6:30 and we woke up and hung around, but it was cloudy on the horizon, so we couldn't really see the sun peak or anything. This upset us because we had been laying out there all night. Steve started cursing the sun, and we were all so tired that his cursing was supremely hilarious to us. We all decided to leave around seven. Stopped by Krispy Kreme on the way back. Steve bought way too many doughnuts, and we were too tired to eat them. We got back, found a great parking space (I've been really lucky lately), went inside, showered, slept.

Got to work around 2. Pretty much just had an overview, since I was doing dispatching today, and I already know how that works. Procedures at EVB are pretty much the same as OFP. Some are even... shockingly similar... it's strange. De ja vu. Anyway, the place closed at 4 (I KNOW - FOUR??? WHAT!) so I came back here (dorm).

Talked to Ryan (boyfriend) on the way. He finally solved that Rubik's cube. Congrats, kid.

Sunday, September 3

I'm Not Sick...But I woke up this morning and didn't feel really great.

Actually, when I woke up, I felt like I was back at home, probably because the way that I was laying on the bed felt familiar - it was the same way I would sleep on my bed at home. Except no Dophie (my weiner dog). I imagined that there was a wall to my immediate left, a bookshelf behind me, a dresser on the far wall, and a little table to my right with a model car and Wisdom of the East calendar on it. I would get up, wander around and wonder what to do with myself, maybe eat something. Say good morning to my mom. An hour after that, I would call Ryan or get a call from Ryan. We would go out to lunch, then wonder what we should do for the rest of the day. Maybe we would stop by the OFP and say hi to Kerith (my best friend) or go flying. Maybe we would go to my dad's house and the four of us would go to Peking. But more than likely, I would wake up and still be in a dorm bed.

Took a shower. Still don't feel great. Took meds. Still don't feel well. And I went to sleep fairly early last night, too. After my shower I went in the lounge and got on my laptop and looked at pictures of Dophie and Ryan and Kerith and Jordy.

Now I'm going to go back to bed, curl up, and cry until Saturday.

Monday, September 4

Yesterday, I DID go back to bed, and then I didn't wake up again til about 2:30. Got up... I don't really remember much. A bunch of people went to the store and the beach. I was left alone for a while.

Around 9:30 we decided to go bowling. We bowled three games - they were a quarter each - amazing, I know. But you had to pay a 10 dollar cover. Still a good deal, I think. Oh yeah, and after the 10 dollar cover, EVERYTHING in the place is a quarter - food, drinks, shoes, etc. I got second place every round. Boris (the guy from Bulgaria) was soooo funny - it was his first time bowling, and he would "twinkle toes" up to line and then wildly (but artfully) toss the ball into the gutter. He said "It is art - I make the sacrifice for it." Sacrificing his score for art - can you blame him? So Boris is pretty much The Bomb. He was also singing some funky retro techno and every once in a while you would hear an off-pitch, bulgarian-sounding "WHOA OH WHOA OHHH!!!" I want everyone I know to meet Boris.

Got back. There was a singing party in my room. We bonded through song. Brilliant rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Then a few people left, and four of us had a good discussion. At four, we called it a night.

Then I woke up and I missed my mom.

Tuesday, September 5

Pictures For You

This is Steve (the guy I trust the most).

This is Borisaurus (When asked what he would want to be if he wasn't going to be an engineering physicist, Boris stated that he would want to be a dinosaur)

Regular Boris.

Thursday, September 7

Two Days Later, AH!
Yes, I'm still alive. Been going to classes and work and oh yeah trying to eat and sleep in between.

My hallmates got me addicted to Lost, and if you haven't seen the show, I suggest you buy the DVDs and watch it. Now. Go. You are wasting time.

I'm getting restless about stuff back home. I want to make sure that my puppy is okay, and my Jordy (another good friend). I want to be around to know what Vincent (old friend) is up to, whether or not he tells me himself. It's been three months. Three months since I last saw... hundreds of people that I might not ever see again. I don't mean to sound sappy, but... I just wish he would call.

I'm sitting at work, copying programs to CDs. It's boring, but at least it gives me a chance to write. I miss writing. On days when I don't have the opportunity to do this, I feel like I skipped something very crucial and important. And, on those days, my mom calls me four times and texts me three times because she thinks I'm dead, or that someone kidnapped me. But that's just because she loves me.

I ate an apple this morning. Today is Cassie's birthday.

I'm leaving work a little early, and going to pick up Steve. We are going to Target to get some (cheap) decorations, and a gift certificate. Oh yeah and cake if we can find a decent one... If not I guess we'll go to Publix. Publix is sort of like Ukrop's. Except not as good.

So that's the plan for today.

Tuesday, September 12

An Excerpt From A Letter

I was walking through the campus today, and it struck me that... Well, I hope I don't sound too strange... I'm supposed to be here. This is how it is supposed to be. I don't know if I believe in "set paths" of life, but I got the distinct feeling that I really am supposed to be here. I got the same feeling Saturday night when I was with Ryan (he visited for the weekend)... I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be in life right now. I've never felt this confident about my life-situation. It's strange, but comforting. Do I make any sense? Anyway, I figure I'm doing something right, so I'm just going to do all my homework, stick with Ryan, and things will work out.

It's terrifying to think that I was so close to not coming here.