Hello again, School

Yup. School's started again. And I'm taking charge of my life by not being depressed about it. See?

Oh, yeah: My post last week with the frowny face. Hm. Yes, I can see why that might lead you to think I was depressed. Well, you'd be correct: I was depressed. I am not so now. And it was really just one big fat stupid incident that ruined my entire day yesterday, but it's mostly in the past and not worth worrying about. But don't worry, I will divulge.

Depending on how long you've been stalking me following my blog, you may remember a post I did last September about stupid college textbooks. It's all to do with my $150 book becoming obsolete halfway through a class and me being required to buy a brand new $170 book to finish the course. I thought I could beat the system by dropping the class and taking it this semester instead, when I could buy the book used. However, recent events have proven me impotent against the will of Evil Textbook Makers, and I have found that I still cannot get the book anywhere except at the BYU bookstore, and so I can't rent it or get it used. I was forced yesterday to fork over $176.00 for a textbook I shouldn't have to buy (and might I add, one that isn't even BOUND. It's just a bunch of loose sheets of paper). It is infuriating and I do not wish to talk about it any further because that will only lead to a downward spiral and I don't have time to kill anyone today.

(*deep breath*)

Let's talk about something happy. Like my Country Western Dance class!

Yeah, I know, this is not a picture of country dancing. (Who country dances in a suit?) But all of the pictures I could find of actual country dancing were of old people for some reason. Weird.

Anyway, I love country dancing, and I am REALLY excited about this class. Country music is far from my favorite to listen to most of the time, but I think it's some of the best music for dancing. It's all bouncy and exciting! So far we've learned two dances: the Cowboy (a line dance) and the Shoemaker (a square dance). And I keep dancing them when I'm not in class, to practice and to make people confused. The only thing this class lacks is boys. We need boys. BADLY.

Besides Spanish (stupid.textbook.hate.dumb.growl) and Country Dancing, I am taking four other classes this semester. Church History [from the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith to 1901], American Literary History, Writing Literary Criticism, and Physical Science. Nothing much to say about any of these at present, except that we watched a 20 min clip from Stargate during my first Writing Literary Criticism class - and it was AWESOME.

Also, I have made some headway on my New Year's Resolutions! In the way of #4 (watch at least 12 of my friends become married people) this last week I received word that two of my high school friends are now engaged...to each other! This was not surprising at all, however, and my reaction was mainly that of "Well, it's about time!"

In the way of #6 (being social and making new friends) I have really worked hard to start up conversations with people in my new classes instead of waiting for someone to talk to me. I've made a couple teeny connections with that, but the bigger news is that I have become reacquainted (almost accidentally) with one Jimmy Moore.

You remember him? No, probably not. Well, here's a blog post from Fall 2009, when he first became a significant character in my life. He lived in my apartment complex last year, and our two apartments were good friends. His significance mostly comes from the fact that we went on a couple of dates and realized we were both total nerds. Also, he was my "first kiss."

Anyway, I ran into him on Friday when I had run back into one of my classrooms to get something I'd left behind. He was sitting on a bench playing a computer game on his laptop, and (being more socially proactive these days) I swallowed my fear that I wouldn't be recognized and said hello. He was very surprised to see me, but also apparently pleased because he moved all his stuff off the bench so I could sit down and talk for a while. (A while = one hour, apparently.)  We caught each other up on where we were and what we were up to, and mostly just talked about nerdy things. Except I expanded my socializing still further. (Wow, I am like a force of nature!)

He's the president of the Nerd Club (that's not really what it's called, but it might as well be) on campus, and they're having a meeting next Tuesday night, and I said I'd come. See?! See me branching outside of my own domicile?!

So let's see, that's 10 points for reestablishing and old acquaintance, plus 20 because it's a guy who took me on a few dates a while back, and 50 points for going to a club and making a horde of new friends!

I am becoming continually more awesome.



EDIT: Since you all asked, and also because I'm pretty sure it's not a secret, the engaged pair I mentioned are Kyle and Lauren. They've been practically engaged forEVer, so it's no surprise either.