Ohhh Summer

Okay, since my last post was prior to spring break, I should likely fill in a few gaps:

1. Widener Law was small, but the civil procedure class I attended was a lot of fun, and got valuable info from both traditional and nontraditional students alike. Not counting that one out.

2. The prospect of dealing with DC traffic on a daily basis made me reconsider law schools in the immediate DC area. It's not completely out by any means, but it doesn't excite me like I used to be excited about DC. Still one of my favorite cities though.

3. Visited Gettysburg. Came in supremely handy to solidify the battles there (and in the area as a whole, since we drove through MD and VA via the "scenic route"). Ended up with a B+ in Civil War and Reconstruction... but that could also be because of the Gettysburg "lucky pencil".

4. Went to the US Supreme Court. Way smaller than I thought. Loved it though. Snapped a pic of Chief Justice Warren Burger for Professor Meddaugh. Also got a lucky pencil there.

Finals and papers came and went. Did well, with my only B's being in history. Still not my "all-A" standard, but I'll take it. Dr. Frederick's exams are difficult, only because there is just SO much information to digest before it (and I suck at dates and names, so I get them all mixed up sometimes.)

I have the summer off. Yes, I know I registered for a summer class, but I had to drop it due to severe lack of funds since I spent money set aside for said class on fixing a plumbing leak in my basement. Sometimes, you just have to suck it up and stay for another semester. So, graduation in Spring 2011. Not too shabby. Gives me some time to get my GPA up a few tenths of a point.

GPA for last term: 3.70 I'll still take it.

Next semester is chock full of General Ed requirements so that I can graduate a "well-rounded" individual:

Police & Society (CJ minor... I tried to switch in juvenile justice for this, but can't since it's a core element)

American Corrections (CJ minor)

Human Biology

Human Biology Lab

Living Well (phys ed at 40.. that should be exciting)

Poli Sci capstone

Ancient Greece

This leaves me with a whopping six credits to graduate. I know I have to take a political theory class. I'm pretty sure that I don't have to take anything as far as my major is concerned, but I'll probably take psych and law if it is offered in the spring... and the rest shall be classes that I wanted to take because they sounded interesting, but I didn't take because I had to take a core class. Spring shall be time to have a bit of fun, class-wise.

Took the LSAT a few weeks ago, get results on Monday the 28th. It was pretty brutal, so I hope I did okay.

3 weeks!

The kids start school in THREE weeks (count'em!) It hasn't seemed like summer has been here very much at all, and all too quickly, it's gone!

I've been wrapping up my project for my internship. It has been the albatross of my summer, and I really can't wait to get back to the books once again. I'm sure I'll look back on that statement and wonder what the heck I was thinking, but there it is.

I emailed all of my professors today to get info on the required books of the semester, since I rent them from Chegg.com. I still need to get a commuter parking pass, since my current one expires at the beginning of the semester... lets see... new notebooks, another assignment planner, and I'm going to break down and order a Mac Mini, since my laptop keeps crashing when I run Word (try writing a paper on that!) I'd bring said laptop in to Computer Services, but I can't live without it for a few days, especially since this project is due in a matter of weeks. I also need to put money on my Pitt Card so I can get my daily cup of Starbucks from the cafe (and sometimes lunch, since I practically live on campus all week.) It also comes in really handy when you need something from the Panther Shop and forgot your wallet at home... which I do about three times a week.

Well, I'm off to make lists for the kids' school supplies and clothes and whatnot.

Uncaffeinated

Sometimes, morning rolls around too soon. I spent yesterday goofing off, and will likely spend today goofing off with the girls and cleaning the house (it's really amazing to me how 3 little kids can create a tsunami of toys, books, clothes, and whatnot in their wake.) Emily is still battling this nasty little stomach bug that has been making its rounds, and I hope she'll kick that soon (pleeease!)

I have to figure out what I'm knitting for gifts this winter (likely socks. If you're among the loved... you're likely getting hand-knit luxe socks. Act surprised.) If you see someone in the commons cafe this fall, reading and knitting a sock... that's likely me. I also might be in the library... so that could be me as well.

I really should have coffee prior to blogging.

Reid (the now exboyfriend but still friend) and I drove out to Rim Rock in the National Forest (it's on Rt. 59 heading toward Warren from Bradford). What a spectacular view (it is also the photo above.) Oh, and there also happen to be wild blueberry plants on the little walk to the overlook. I got one ripe berry; I suspect bears perhaps ate the rest. I haven't gathered wild blues since I was a kid; when we used to pick them during summer camp on Prospect Hill (in Waltham, Massachusetts.) I miss the places I grew up... especially since this weekend is our annual reunion on the beach, and I can't go :(

Vacation!!! (well, kinda)

Finally, finally, FINALLY my summer classes have wrapped up. I ended up with a 3.75 GPA for the summer term thanks to the B+ I got in Environmental Science.

That said, I spent the past two weekends camping, goofing off, and just getting caught up on things like housecleaning, registering Evie for pre-K, and all of the things I somewhat neglected to do while I was busy reading textbooks. Four or so more weeks, and it all starts up again!

I need to get some inventory thrown together for the store, as well as developing some organizational system to streamline stock and shipping. I wonder how many Pitt students knit. Half of the people I know on Ravelry are college students... so I wonder how many of them go to UPB. Hmm. I could compose a colorway exclusively for Pitt, if the Panther Shop would carry it, that is.

Slowing down...

So, how sweet is it that I have only two weeks left of class? VERY! The shop is in full-swing, I have a giveaway contest running (if you knit, check out http://raffle.pigmintyarns.com), my work at the District Attorney's office is going swimmingly (legal research is somewhat daunting at first, but once you get the hang of where to find things, it's all good.)

Next week, I'm off for a camping trip in the NY Fingerlakes region (Cayuga Lake, to be specific). It's only a three-hour drive to where I'm going, and that's because of the scenic route I take (I could pop on I-86 and head to Corning then up through Watkins Glen and whatnot if I wanted to make it faster.) The boyfriend and I are going to hike around the Montezuma Wildlife Preserve and we will likely explore the Fingerlakes wine trail as well. I'm SO excited to have a break!

Summer

And here you thought summer was for kicking back and lounging around. Well, it is, but not so much when you take summer courses. There's nothing quite like cramming in 16 weeks or so of class into 4 or 6 weeks, depending on which courses you take. This summer, I'm taking Intro to Criminal Justice (which ends next week!), Intro to Environmental Science, and Criminology. I figure that summer is a good time to work on my minor (criminal justice) while fulfilling the general ed requirements of matriculation.

Since I'll be a junior at the beginning of July, so I need to start thinking about when I'm going to take the LSAT, the law school entrance exam. October seems like a good bet, but I'm almost maxed out on credits this fall, so I'm hoping I'll have time to prepare for them.

Well, back to the books. I have an env sci test Friday night.