More Summer Photos

Forgive me I still have catching up to do....

Here are some more pictures from my friends trip out, these are from our trip to Historic Jamestown, my first trip there- it was very pretty and worth the trip out- I'll have to take my next visitors there too.

Traveling with a dog, part 2

Well, as previously mentioned, I am back in Virginia after spending a month in Utah. It's strange, I no longer know which one to call home, did I go home to Utah or am I back home now that I'm in Virginia? I mean my home is here- its where I live (and I worried about my apartment and my car while I was in Utah) but Utah is where my family is, so it's hard.

The traveling went much better this time, Rusty likes his new carrier slightly better than the old one, the wheels make the trek through the airport easier for me and smoother for Rusty. He still doesn't like being in the carrier but he hasn't poked a hole in the side or bitten me through the mesh- so it's an improvement.



Rusty liked hanging out at my parents house in Utah, I think he misses their dog, Angel, they had fun playing together, neither of them would hold still long enough for me to take a good picture of them together but here's a halfway decent one of them playing in the snow.



Rusty made himself very at home at my parents...

New Years Blues

There's nothing like the start of a new year to make you take assessment of your life. Normally I try to avoid falling prey to my tendancy to overanalyse things- it's a horrible habit and usually leads no place good. Unfortunatly I haven't been successful this year, I think it is because I have too much time on my hands. I'm incredibly grateful for such a long break- I really needed it- but having such an open schedule for so long seems strange and frankly I'm a little bored. Reading brain-free books and watching TV has been nice and all but I need to get out more.

As far as the assessing thing goes- I didn't do so well my first semester. I'm only beating myself up about it a little. I know I could have done better- you can always work harder. But I don't think I should be too hard on myself- it was a rough semester for me personally, there was a lot going on back home and it was hard being away from family. Plus- well... I hate to say this but I didn't really like my classes (didn't hate them or anything- just not completely my thing) none of them were particularly exciting. The one bright spot (there were two really- I also made a few good friends) was teaching. I really liked the class, working with my advisor was amazing, the other TA was also great. Most of all I really liked my students. Of course I always think I could have done better but overall I think it went well and my students seemed to enjoy the discussion sections.

I'm feeling very optimistic about next semester. I am much more excited about the classes I'm taking and it should be less stressful since I won't be teaching - I will miss teaching but it'll be nice to have less work. I have to retake the French exam but I should actually have time to practice this semester so my chances of passing will be better. I'm thinking about discussing France in my dissertation so I may try to find funding to go to France to do research - which would amazing! Plus I plan on making time to see more of my new home and maybe taking a trip up to DC. Who knows if I'll actualy do any of it- but it sounds like a good plan now.

The Grande Illumination

Sorry, I have been remiss in posting. I don't have much to say because I have been relaxing (reading fluffy books and watching TV-basically enjoying the much needed break from school) which is nice but isn't very exciting. I realized that I never posted on the Grand (Grande?) Illumination. Earlier this month a bunch of my friends and I went to the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg. The crowd was immense and it was freezing but it was fun all the same. Most of the pictures I took didn't turn out so well- but here's a fairly good one.



I went back during the day and I took some more pictures of the Christmas decorations.

Bear Lake

Earlier this week I went up to Bear Lake. My sister and I drove up to meet my other sister and her kids. We snuck the dog in with us- I don't usually break a lot of rules but I didn't want to leave Rusty the day after I got him. Bear Lake was fun. We were only there for the one night and it rained the day we were there, but it was nice to hang out, especially since I'm moving soon (I know I mention this way too much- but the count-down has begun I will be moving in less than 2 months! Yikes!)

Here are some pics of the lake and one of Rusty trying to drive...