I did it!

CANDIDACY! To receive candidacy, recording Industry majors have to complete four core classes, at least 65 credits of gen. eds., and receive a C or better in College Algebra. The department then takes the average to the four classes, plus the Math and average of gen.eds. to create one number that is used to compare all candidacy applicants. They accept only the top 20% of those students into the program. If you do not receive candidacy the first time, you are recommended to retake either the math or some core classes to boost your overall score. Most people that I have met in my core classes were there retaking the class.
I was able to apply for candidacy this semester since I have now completed the math, core classes and gen. ed. requirements. I was contacted yesterday by the dean of the department congratulating me on receiving CANDIDACY! :o) So I did it! All the social opportunities I passed up to study and all the note cards I took with me to work just to study, paid off! I guess I knew it would, I was just worried about how well all the other candidacy applicatants did. If their score was higher, than I wouldn't be in the top 20%! So...it's a good holiday now. I can relax and enjoy my time with friends and family.
I finally did all my Christmas shopping yesterday. I wish I had more money to spend on my family...But I just had enough to buy one thing for everyone. I know it isn't about how much you spend, it's about being together...But I like to make people happy. Well Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I Have a Roommate!

Things have gotten VERY tight financially, so I've filled out about ten different job applications at local hotels to be a front desk clerk a few days a week. I thought that would be an easy day job that I might even be able to get a little reading for school done. I have my first interview tomorrow for Fairfield Inn, which is across the street from my Outback job! I'm keeping things really local. Wish me luck, receiving this job would be a nice note to end on before I fly home.
I also have acquired a roommate! Katie had put a deposit down for an apartment with a friend of her's from home, and was scheduled to move in January 1st. Well last week her friend decided she won't be able to afford the apartment and wanted her deposit back. It was hell trying to get the money back and Katie didn't have enough time to find another option for living arrangements. So, my dining room is now her bedroom! We have moved my guitar, keyboard and microphone back into my bedroom and rearrangement the kitchen table to allow room for her bed and dresser. There is, surprisingly, enough room! I have a huge closet, that I now share, as well as space in the bathroom. She has already bought all kinds of things for OUR place. I drew up a little contract that I asked her to sign that just said she would pay about $200.00 a month towards the rent payment and other bills. I couldn't charge her half, since she lives in the dining room! But it will really help me financially and with Bailey. So it looks like things are going to be ok!
I do have some bad news though. A really good friend of mine from home, Kateri, needs your thoughts and prayers. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer this fall ( I honestly can't remember what kind) and they have been doing multiple tests and procedures. I received a message from Kateri last night that said her mother wasn't doing well. Her mother is just the kindest women I've ever met and it just breaks my heart to know what this family is going through, especially during the Christmas season. Please keep them in your thoughts.

Exams Completed!

All weekend I have been working through 100 math questions in hopes that I would be more prepared for this final. I have never been very good in math but my test scores did get a little better each test. But still I need an 85% to keep my B. How good do you think your college algebra skills are? Check it out at, then you can check the answer key at http://math.web.mtsu.edu/course_materials/1710_reviewsheet.html http://math.web.mtsu.edu/course_materials/1710_answerkey.html

Last night I got together with a few of the "smart" people in my history of recording industry class to study for our final. We went over everything until 2:30 in the morning! I was VERY prepared for that final. I ended up getting a B in that class and a B in my Mass Media class. Today I took my survey of Recording Industry final and my teacher graded it for me and told me that I have a B in his class as well. So now I just need to know about my Audio of Media class and my Math class. I'm still worried about the Math though.

But.....it's OVER! My first semester at MTSU is over. In about 7 days I find out if I can go on and take upper division classes in the recording industry program. Keep your fingers crossed!

The Semester is Almost Over

Yesterday was our last day of classes for the Fall semester. I have two finals in Monday and Tuesday and one on Wednesday. I think I have really been over doing myself though. I work everyday, go to school, study for exams, and constantly search for another job. I was contacted last Friday to interview for a position I was really interested in. It is a publicist position at a small independent music label called Dualtone. I was really excited and spent the weekend rewriting my resume and practicing what I would say. Tuesday at 3 pm was my interview time and I looked AWESOME. I was having a great hair day and I looked professional but trendy. The office was right on music row across the street from Sony/BMG headquarters. I walk in and met two gentlemen that work there and was told that the woman who was scheduled to interview me had to go to the hospital that morning due to complications with her pregnancy. I was so upset but I understood. So now I'm waiting for my interview to be rescheduled.
I think all the stress has finally gotten to me physically. I was so productive this past week getting everything in order for next semester and my flight home for Christmas that now my body needs a break. I went into work last night for my 7th shift in a row and my stomach was quite upset but I thought I could work anyway. My first table ordered a bloomin' onion and the smell made my stomach turn and I knew I could not stay there. My boss was really great and let me go home. Katie came over with medicine and Kassi dropped off some sprite on her on her way home from work. Finally around 3am, I finally got to sleep and by the time I woke up today I was feeling much better. Thanks to the help from a few friends.
Today I have just been relaxing and doing reviews for exams next week. I might do something low key this evening but I intend to be asleep early so I can continue to study tomorrow before I go to work.

What a Crazy Few Weeks

Let me start with my 4 am drive to the airport on Thanksgiving Day. I was a little nervous about how crazy the airlines would be, but BNA was it's usual quiet peaceful self (though it was 5 in the morning and only crazy people travel this early). So I take my time to the terminal gate and even stop and get a huge cup of hot chocolate since I learned last time that a cup a of coffee on an empty stomach can be painful. Once I arrived at the gate I took my seat next to another girl my age, two seats away from the only other young person in the room. Everything seemed fine until it was about 10 minutes before we were scheduled to board and BNA employee came over the PA system telling us that our flight attendant wasn't here and they were in the process of finding their back-up. Ok, fine not a big deal. Thirty minutes later we hear that there is no back-up flight attendant and they have to call another employee in, soon after that we were told that the flight was canceled and we had to chose another flight. It was now 7 am and all 25 passengers had to get back in line and individually plan another route to Washington. I couldn't believe it! There was a young woman with her two boys ages 18 months and 2 and a half years. The boys had been entertaining us all up to this point but were out of patients. She was allowed to reschedule first due to her young boys but while they were at the counter the boys lost it. The mother was told that she had to fly through Chicago and catch another plane on to Washington. That is just too hard with young boys. The mother was losing patients, the boys were wining, and then she gets a call from her husband in Iraq, but doesn't reach it in time and misses the call. She finally took a step back and sat down to regroup. I was so impressed with her composure, I would have lost it! After about 45 minutes of trying to reroute everyone, a flight attendant was found and we were back in business. I was arrived in Washington 3 hours later than expected and quickly took a shower and headed over to Mommak's house.
I was so excited to see my nieces since the last visit home was just an adult function. We played and had wonderful appetizer and causal family conversation. I started to feel how much the morning had effected me around 4 pm and just HAD to take a short nap. I woke up to dinner being ready and I could smell the fired turkey and stuffing. Mommka makes awesome stuffing. After dinner my mother, aunt, and grandmother left and "the kids" were left to play cards and finish off the wine. I have to say this was the most relaxing Thanksgiving in recent history, but it felt too safe. It felt like we were on our tip-toes and tried not to offend each other, it was a little odd. I slept downstairs with my oldest niece and in the morning AM and left to have lunch with my mother and grandmother.
Later that afternoon my best friend Jessi came all the way up from southern Maryland to see me and be my driver for the weekend. That evening we went to John's house (the medical school student from New York that I've known since 5th grade) to have drinks with he and his cousin and then went on to a bonfire. We really had a great time but if you walked away from the fire you were freezing!
The next day I was in a wedding and Jessi went with me since I had no car and knew no one at the wedding except the bride. Though I hated my dress, the day turned out ok. The reception was at a really nice place and I played with the kids most of the time. Jessi and I had planed to go to Baltimore that night but we were just too tired from our long day. So instead we stayed home with Mom and watched movies on the Hallmark channel. Jessi went home and Mom went to bed but I stayed up until about 2 in the morning watching back to back Law and Order. I really miss cable! The next day Mom and I decorated her apartment and lounged around until I had to go to the airport. The trip home was much less eventful than the trip to Virginia thank goodness.