The end is near everyone! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.....the tunnel o' spring semester that is....

Everyone of course has been scurrying about to cram in studying and assignments lately. It takes some serious concentration to not loose it right before finals week. It is so easy to fall of the wagon (so to speak) and just crrrraccckkk.  I have found that from making a ridiculous amount of "to do" lists to help out-for me at least. 

Along with wrapping up my classes this week I also had my art critique for my final art project in my 3-D sculpture class. I was very happy how my project turned out and the positive feedback I received from my students. I don't know how much I will be using wood in the future though as a medium for sculpture-it was pretty rough haha. I have decided to spend this weekend relaxing before I start operation: study for finals 2009. It is quite nice to have a weekend with just studying and no other assignments.

 Today they will announce the decision for the 2009 school year budget cuts.........my major is on the list of 21 proposed to be cut sooooooooo I am very very much on the edge of my chair today.....I don't have too much to say because it is all I have been talking about lately...

I am keeping my fingers crossed..

UPDATE: You can link to the following hyperlink, to watch the webcast of the FSU Town Hall meeting regarding the budget cuts today at 3:30pm: http://mediasite.apps.fsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=a31b4966b6d3448db4c078006fdd326c

Or show your support at the Student Life Building theatre at 3:30pm April 21st!

So can you guess where this picture was taken? I took this picture a couple of years ago-but it still remains one of my favorite pictures that I have taken at FSU. 

Not too much is new in the life of Katie as of late.....I think that everyone can hear the groans from the student population as we head into the end of the semester. I can't believe it is already April, that thought alone is pretty scary. I am really ready to have a summer without classes since the first time since probably 8th grade-really. I always took summer school so I could get ahead and take more electives in the school year. Ever since then I have continued to take summer classes and thats always what I really associated my summers (at least most of them) with. Even though replacing class will probably be a second job for myself- lack of homework will be no problem here. 

 (This picture has nothing to do with the subject of my blog-it is just so cute/awesome )

Greetings everyone.....

I really wish that I did not have an exam tomorrow. I had a test on Friday that I was preparing all week for, but I could not relish in relief when I was done because the dreaded Monday test was coming in for the kill. Tests can be very very sneaky.

I have had a very enjoyable week though. Last weekend I went to McClay Gardens here in Tallahassee for the first time and it was absolutely beautiful. I am very much an outdoors girl and this was completely satisfying. You could either go walk some of the trails or go see the gardens themselves-but doing both is the best combo.

Well, it is a welcome back for my classmates and myself from spring break....but I am sure that everyone reading this necessarily has had their spring break yet. It would seem likely for me to go on and gush about my fabulous spring break for this weeks blog....but really I don't have too much to gush about-sorry! I sort of had a "play it by ear" spring break.

Having grown up in Florida automatically is a deterrent for me to the popular beach scene that everyone sprawls to. With that said, I am the only one that possibly came back from spring break more pale than prior to leaving......

I always feel anxious taking a break from school though. The abrupt change from school, work, etc-to a complete clear schedule is strange. I am not complaining at all-but I am so used to keeping busy that when I stop I sort of feel guilty as if I am procrastinating on non-existent work.

Happy March everyone! Spring is drawing much closer-even though it was surprisingly chilly this morning when I woke up. As March rolls on in, that can only mean one thing.....spring break. Its funny....spring break really does come at the perfect time, its as though the gods of academics align and know exactly when we need a break.

This year I have nothing planned at all for spring break, I officially think this is a first. But sometimes just playing time off by ear and relaxing is the best way to do it. I will most likely head home to Orlando, and do some sailing with my parents....I can't complain. Lets just hope I can work on my newest project and my paper a bit during my time off.....we'll see.

I had a pretty good weekend all-around. Last night my roommates and I threw a birthday party for our friend. We even went all out with cheesy streamers, we did hang them a bit too low and they ended up getting accidentally torn down. My roommate and I also experiment with food coloring while attempting to make a three teared cake. The cake was green inside, and when she came around to cutting it her expression of confusion and amusement was obvious. It was a big hit by the way....green cake=delicious.

Ok so this "truth" is not little known....everyone has been told over and over again by their teachers/professors/what have you, that studying in advance is a huge help-well obviously. I mean, half of you reading this are probably studying RIGHT NOW-right? Alright, I know you probably are not. But I think its humorous how this overlooked little tid-bit of information will most likely be one of the most important in college, at least to me.

I feel as though every semester that rolls along I form back into the same habits of studying the week of an exam or test. Eh, a week is not too bad right? But when its more than one test piling, and you have a paper, and a project, and a job, and (insert time consuming activity here) to do-it becomes a bit overwhelming. Procrastination is in a college students blood. It really runs through all of us I believe. To some of us, looking at material two or even three weeks in advance really seems quite "overachieving". But I don't think people realize how beneficial it can be to get fresh new information in early.

I have the blues........the mid-semester blues. It never fails. I don't even know if it is technically the middle of the semester yet-but it is un-motivational central in my world right now. Trust me, trust me, I am a good student. I am proud that I am a hard worker and that I have continued to stay on the Dean's list. But even a hard working student gets into that rut.

Somewhere between the beginning of the semester (where classes are exciting and new) and the end (well, it's the end), I fall into a 'blah' mode. Its not so much that I don't want to wake up for classes-because I am a morning person surprisingly. It more or less, I just want to sit and do nothing-all day long. And the ironic thing about that is well is-when I don't do anything for the entire day, I go insane. I can't be satisfied!

I have just literally arrived home from a semi-spontaneous camping trip this weekend. I say semi-spontaneous because I tried to fanagle all of this together around Wednesday, and thats cutting it close with my planning skills.

I know it is just me, but at least monthly or so I need to go out into the nature. I don't really mind what it is, from driving away from town on a nice drive, visiting a park, or camping like I did this weekend.When you have many things piling on top of you like school, and work, and everday annoyances-getting away is a real treat to me. So, some of my friends and I grabbed our camping gear and headed out to Silver Lake.

If you have never seen Silver Lake, or been camping in the area you really should do it soon (if you like the outdoors that is). It is only a fifteen minute drive from Tallahassee, and it is an ideal spot for quiet and peace. Silver Lake itself is beautiful, I am always surprised when I see it, that it is so close to town. When I arrived there with my friends the sun was just setting beyond the lake and the sunsets colors were just breathtaking. You would be surprised how many great spots lie so close to Tallahassee. And these are spots that don't involve studying, arguing with roommates, etc..etc... Even though it was just for a night, it really relaxed my entire weekend. And even early this morning the lake looked beautiful, there was zero visibility because of the fog over the morning, and as the day went on the fog faded and the sun came out. The only problem is, I never want to leave. Driving away breaks my heart just a littttttle bit-reality begins to hit again. Why would you ever want to leave a night of playing music around a bonfire and looking up at the stars? But don't fret, my mini destination is oh so close. And I highly recommened the area to anyone looking to get away.

This week in Katie's eventful/uneventful life, I went to a great comedy show at the Club Downunder (FSU's very own venue on campus)

http://www.cdu.unionproductions.org/ <---- check out the link!

My roommate and I went to go see Doug Benson, a fantastic comedian. Everyone can use a laugh in the middle of the week-especially when it is just a step away on campus. I feel like sometimes I do get stuck in a rut where I am not taking advantage of the free shows for FSU students-and not only at the CDU, but other off-campus locations such as The Moon (http://www.moonevents.com/).

I did have a hard time choosing between the comedian and seeing a live Pink Floyd cover band at The Moon, which was also free for FSU students. Decisions, decisions.....but I had my heart set on seeing Doug Benson for a while, and it was well worth it.