Hey Everybody
Had my 3 interviews today. And the drug test. All went very well. 
I’ll know more in the next few weeks.
AGH
I have my job interview tomorrow. Yikes!
: )
How come keeping one apartment clean is a full-time job for me? I already have one, thanks very much. Ridiculous, I tell you. And I don’t want to hear one word about maids and Rose-Hulman.
So, my cubicles and chairs are Steelcase office furniture. Isn’t that cool???? I’m supporting my brother’s business, as you can see. 
I was crawling around under my chair trying to find the name, but I got it! Entertaining for my coworkers, I’m sure.
I’m no good at planning for dinner. I started thawing the chicken way too late. Guess it’s yogurt and crackers for a meal tonight! Mm mm good.
Later!
Homesick
I think an empty apartment is a sad thing to come home to.
I miss you guys. I’ll see you in August.
Short and Sweet, Just Like Me
Look! It’s me wielding a shovel! And a house that’s taking up way too much of the picture. Focal point 
= me.
We had a fun/hot day building houses for Habitat for Humanity. There’s more pictures but I don’t feel like posting them.
Aaaand, I feel TONS better, thanks a lot for everyone that pitched in. I really appreciate it.
21 days of CAT left, and then I’m back in preseason. Wooooohoooooo! Who’s pumped about this season? That’d be me.
I’m going to go be domestic now. Yikes. Later everybody! (oh and check out Meyer’s castle online, those of you connected to Jo-B…sheeeeeeminee. that’s pretty)
I’m Famous
Happenings in Decatur-land…
I was on the Decatur news! Yup, WANDtv. I’m trying to ward off the mobs of autograph-hungry fans by hiding in a somewhat run-down apartment and developing nasty diseases. That’ll teach them! So, the Caterpillar motor grader team worked on some Habitat for Humanity houses this past Saturday. Yours truly was caught on camera wielding a shovel. Fun stuff. I should have pictures to show you all soon.
Also, I seem to have gotten on the bad side of ill recently. I don’t know what happened, but I began to notice a pain and swelling in my side and some unnatural bleeding. I went to the doctor…scary stuff, I felt like a little kid playing grown-up, let me tell you. The nurse guy calmed me down though. I like him. Anyways, I’m on some medication now that seems to be helping, woohoo! I’ll be back in black and scampering around work and the gym in no time. The clinic did manage to toss out my urine sample before getting it tested, however. Ah yes, the competency of Decaturville-ians loses none of its potent reputation.
Side note: my pee is now ORANGE cuz of the meds, how cool is that??? Aaaand, my boyfriend is wonderful and deserves like 3 gold stars or something. He takes care of me and I kind of like it. I’m skipping work today and I get to see my lovely family in just a few short hours! Thanks for all of the help my scattered family members gave me yesterday, I was kind of a basket-case. You’re all the best!
Lots Is Not the Same
I no longer have a roommate. It’s a long story, but between one incompetent HR lady and an issue with cockroaches, Emily and I were moved to new apartments, separate ones. I like having the freedom back, but I miss having the company. We still hang out and stuff, but nighttime is a little scary once again. Maybe if it wasn’t such a shady neighborhood…
I got recommended for a full-time position at CAT! That doesn’t really mean I have a job, I still have to be chosen for an interview and all that, but it’s a step in the right direction. Work is going pretty well; I am now almost through my seventh week, which means I have five weeks left of work.
Volleyball starts sooner than ever! I’m a little frustrated because my running times have gone up. I have been focusing a lot on lifting and not on running, so now I need to balance those better. I have five weeks to get my butt in gear!
I miss everyone and hope to see you over volleyball season at a game or two. If not, I’ll definitely see you after the season at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Love you guys!
New News
My new roommate is super! She’s going to be a lot of fun, yay!
Things have been picking up at CAT; I am in training for two days and I work afterwards, so I get to be busy and I LOVE what I am learning in Investment in Excellence training. It is so rewarding and revealing; psychological stuff that makes you think about how you think and why and what you can do to change it. Good stuff.
Got my first ticket, boo. 
I’m no longer upset about it, but paying it off is a hassle.
I had my outdoor adventure quota for the year when I went hiking, fishing, and swimming with Toby on Sunday. Here are some pictures of me as a fisherperson. I’m a pro! Didn’t catch anything, but just wait til next time!
I can fish!
Nature. Doing its thing.
I really can’t aim.
There’s a good one. Nice big cheesy smiles.
Is he in pain? I think he likes it.
TTFN! Tee eye double guh err.
Internship
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit Mapleton Foundry, where all CAT engine blocks are poured (including the race car engines, pretty cool). It was pretty amazing…a fun tour and a day to spend somewhere new. Peoria is a 2 hour drive, so I got to leave the Decatur office at 10:30 that day. It was cool to see how the foundry worked, but the best part was when we were watching the furnace and something went wrong. There was too much scrap metal in the furnace (magnesium in this instance, I think) and the electrical cord caught on fire. We got to see them extinguish that fire, and then they had to pour the ladle of molten metal back into the furnace, which is unusual and difficult to do without spilling. Another fun part of the tour was when we watched the crane operators break the metal parts out of the sand castings on a vibrator belt. The operators have one hand in a sleeve, and whatever their hand/arm does, the crane arm does as well. It was amazing! One operator used his crane to wave at us, which was neat to see.
I visited Grace Baptist Church today. It was alright, but I think I will look around some more. The people were very nice, but they don’t seem to have anyone around my age, which is a little awkward.
Next week I am going to Peoria on Wednesday for a business etiquette seminar. Business suits are required and from the agenda it looks like the meal is going to be very formal (completely foreign to me, in other words). I’m excited to try this! It’s going to be very new and different.
Mom and the kids came to see me Friday/Saturday! Thanks, guys! I really enjoyed having some visitors, especially on the first weekend with nowhere to go. You all really filled up the apartment, it was a nice feeling! Alright, it’s primetime tanning hour. Later!
Work Stuff
Lots has been going on! I am finally official at CAT. Got my employee tags today. They get me into and out of the security gate without having to call security every time; and it allows me to carry a camera onto the shop floor to photograph problem machinery.
Tomorrow I am taking a trip to Peoria for an intern activity. I’m excited to meet all of the other interns! Right now I only know one guy from Rose besides the guys in my worktools group. They’re fun, though, and a lot closer than Peoria interns, so maybe I should get used to an older group of friends.
I spent the weekend in Ohio, and came back with a cell phone! If you want my #, just email me. I am still figuring it out…I’m a lil cell phone illiterate, but I’m catching on quick!
Luke, one of the things I can work on at CAT if I want is a website just for our team to use. When you are designing a webpage, do you do the coding by hand or do you have a favorite program you like to work in? I kind of work on this in my spare time, so let me know what you think. Thanks!
First Day of Work
Don’t worry folks, I’m not quite as dumb as I look. I’ve been stealing the neighbor’s wireless for a while now, so as long as I don’t move my laptop, it works great!
Got a tour of the facility today. WOW, those machines are HUUUUGE! I work on the Motor Grader team; these babies have a big blade ranging from 12 feet to 24 feet, a scraper, and other tools that can be attached. I got to climb up into the cab of one of the 24H’s…the biggest motor grader CAT makes. It was cool. Very high, lots of levers and such.
I’ll be working on a military motor grader project, which just means I will be designing changes for a motor grader so it will fit on a plane.
Hehe, guess what I got to wear today? I brought along my steel-toed boots but left them in the car. I wasn’t sure if we would need them or not. Apparently we did. Anyways, they supplied me and this other dude with strap-on steel-toes. I looked sexy, y’all. Plus, they make this fun horse-shoe clopping sound when you’re on cement. Nice.
Once a week for the next four weeks, I get to skip a day of work for intern-related stuff in Peoria and the surrounding area.
Oh, and when it rains, it no longer smells like Cheez-its but instead like vomit. Yum yum!
I’m Not Dead Yet…I’m Getting Better!
I’m all moved in. Not unpacked in the slightest, but all moved in! Decatur is…interesting so far. The air smells like Cheez-its, but it’s not so bad overall. My apartment is HUGE and lonely, come visit as much as you can! I can put you up in your own bed.
I currently have no phone or internet (Panera is my best friend), so this posting stuff may not happen too often. I’ll try to keep y’all updated, though! I had orientation today and I start work tomorrow. And now my computer is about to die, booo, so I’m off. Love you all!
Poorer, Ready to Be Richer
Don’t expect to go very far if you’re not willing to risk a lot. I’m putting a lot into this education stuff, and I expect a lot out of it. Some may see that as arrogant, but at this point I’m thinking I’ve earned a paycheck or two.
I HAVE AN ABODE! I even know how to get there now. Groovy. I’ll be moving this weekend, spending some time with the fam for Memorial Day, then orientation starts on Tuesday. So remember, when you’re getting bored or lonely, there’s a girl in central Illinois who would LOVE to put you up for a night or seven and be entertained! Plus, y’all know Decatur’s the liveliest city in the Midwest. Partay all day long!
I’m all packed now, just down to throwing away the roomie’s junk at this point. Summer’s here, and I’m a SENIOR. Bring it.
No longer a bum…
I have an apartment!!!! I’m beginning to feel less stressed out about this internship deal now that I actually have a place to live. Yay!
Granted, I don’t know WHERE yet. Or if I have roommates. But it’s fully furnished, that’s good. I don’t have any internet unless I want to pay for it. We’ll see if I really need it. More details should be coming soon. Ugh. This is ridiculous. Actually talking to the HR lady does help get things rolling, however.
fun times ahead
Things are finally rolling in the intern process. I am trying to figure out what’s going on with housing still, but I know that I officially start the 29th. It’s kind of weird at the moment, since I will apparently be training in Peoria but I work/live in Decatur (about a 2 hour drive). Hmm. I’m still working some things out.
Three weeks of school left! I have official senior status, according to the registrar, but I will have it for real after finals are over!
EMILY AND DAN ARE COMING TO SEE ME!! Suuuuper excited…I haven’t seen ‘em in ages.
Yay…drive safe, guys.
Sisters – miss you guys!
Inauguration
Well, our new president was inaugurated on Friday. I went to the ceremony on Friday and the student reception and comedian act on Saturday. It was kind of a cool time; we got key chains to celebrate the occasion and I really enjoyed the comedian. He was a former engineer, and his jokes were extremely nerdy and very funny. I would tell y’all a few, but that would just make me seem like more of a nerd than I am.
We did happen to get his DVD, though, so maybe some day when you’re visiting, I can entertain you with tool humor.
Still waiting to hear back from Caterpillar about my internship this summer. So far, I’ve heard nothing back from my calls and emails. Guess I’ll try again on Monday.
Life’s been kind of crazy lately. Things are busy, but somehow this week I managed to have 3 or 4 free evenings. That NEVER happens, so I am kind of worried about next week. Yikes. I better go study for my heat transfer test now. Dinner would be good as well. Bye!
ANNOUNCEMENT
Who’s registering as a senior for next quarter’s classes? That’s right, this kid is! Woohoo! I might actually make it out of this place!
Spring Break cont.
Hot tubbin’….this is in the lanai at Carol’s house (KT’s grandma).
Thuggin’ in the Tob’s clothes.
KT and I cheezin’ with our side ponytails.
This was cold and rainy day, right after we had played volleyball in the rain for a couple of hours…and swam in the freezing ocean for a while as well. Don’t open your mouth. Ever. Don’t let the water into your nose either, painful!
Oh, we totally saw stingrays on a sunny day at the beach! They were the color of the sand and REALLY hard to see unless you looked for their little wings flapping. Fins, whatever. That day we were all so burnt that we kept most of our clothes on and could only stay out in the sun for a couple of hours. But it was fun anyway!
I’m wearing a hat. Don’t get used to it.
Hope to see all of you soon! 5 weeks of school left and I’m a senior! Whoooaaaa.
Spring Break!
The gang: Skul, Tobin, KT, and me! The location: Clermont, Florida with 3 trips to the coasts to hit the beaches.
It was too short but SO fun…mostly sunny (we spent one rainy day at the beach…the Floridians thought we were crazy!). We all got a little burnt, some more than others, but it was well worth it! The temperature difference from Florida to Indiana was extreme and uncalled for, though! From 95 to 38 in one 14 hour trip. Ugh.
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
Tobin, Erin, Skul, and KT
Heading to church on Easter.
The boys at Skulley’s (aMAzing sea food, may I recommend the blackened Amberjack, mmmm!)
At the pool by KT’s grandma’s house. Beautiful and SO sunny!
I’ll post more later. Bye all!
Chin Up
I don’t really have time for this, but since I am currently stuck in the middle of a Matlab program that won’t work, here I go anyway!
Heading down to Florida in a day and a half! I’m excited; I think I have everything I need, or almost! Now I just have to pack it all. The hard part is getting everything done before we leave. I have to finish that scholarship package and send it, pay a bill, finish my Matlab homework and Heat Transfer homework, write thank-you notes to professors, and study for and pass a test for tomorrow. Volleyball practice is mixed in there somewhere along with packing. I don’t think sleep is very high on the list. And I no longer have time for choir, so I may not be making that cd I told y’all about. Boo.
So, my internship is getting closer, and I am getting scared. There are so many times that I am doing my homework and I sit back and think, “who in their right mind would want to DO this for the rest of their lives?” as I begin to stab a pen in my eye. Hopefully reality will far surpass college banality. It’s not so much the social stuff; it’s the horrible, dull, tedious and grueling academics. I think at this point I should be finding things I’m interested in and enjoying a class or two. Beyond the occasional senile professor, classes are actually witheringly boring. Except for my lit classes. In hindsight, I may have picked the wrong major. Er, school.
Don’t worry, be happy! I shall make lots of money, pay off my loans, and become a book editor or a log-hauler or a hole-digger and be dirty, healthy, and content.
And I just found out my comp apps assignment got moved back, so these tears are now tears of joy. Later taters!
Working hard
It’s so WEIRD to be productive; I had all of my homework done by 9 tonight. That’s with being behind in two classes as well. Craziness. Don’t worry, I don’t think I’m making a habit of this. But it sure is a good feeling. Shouldn’t last too long though with tests looming on the horizon, oh boy!
Thanks to everyone who prayed…Tobin made it back safely to Indy at about 7:30 tonight. The March was successful and tiring, from what I hear. Everyone’s back in the Haute now.
Spring break is in a couple of weeks! Florida, HERE I COME!!!! Sun and beaches, beaches and sun, I can’t wait! And I’m whiter than snow, y’all. I’m laying out as much as possible here, but I’m trying to avoid frostbite too. K, it’s a tad warmer than that, but it’s not quite hot enough for me to lay out very comfortably. I have goosebumps the whole time. But a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Ok, just thought I’d let you know what was up. Later taters!
Busy Weekend
I thought I’d have a program to write this weekend, but apparently we had a lab day in class, and I got it done in there. AMAZING, I get to head home this weekend and not worry about comp apps at ALL. Happy birthday to my Jaymi! 21 on Sunday. I’ll be home for Saturday night and some of Sunday to see her and my family. Yay!
So, Tobin is heading down to New Mexico as we speak. The actual Bataan Memorial Death March starts on Sunday morning, bright and early. It’s a 26.2 mile course with elevation differences; plus, the guys are in full fatigues, boots, and carrying packs that must have 35 pounds in them at the finish line. So, any food or water they carry is extra weight since they can get rid of it as they march. The group heads home on Monday. Please pray for them all for a safe trip – no accidents or dehydration or anything like that!
Time to get some heat transfer done. Or take a nap. Or both . Heat transfer tends to do that for a person.
Here’s The Tob and I after the military ball!
Results Are In
Thanks for the feedback, guys! Apparently the majority agrees with me. “Buck-naked” is definitely the correct term. If anyone wants to get back to me on the etymology of that phrase, that would be cool too. As for why I asked this in the first place, since when do I need a reason for any of the questions I ask? I was just curious.
Oh, and we almost definitely have a house! I will call today to get the final arrangements made, then we start signing stuff. No worries, padres, I’ll read it first. At least skim, anywho. Alrighty, I’m out!
I Need a Vote
Ok, I have a dilemma for you all to solve. Is the proper terminology:
1) butt-naked
OR
2) buck-naked
eeehhhhh?? Please get back to me with your votes. I may or may not weigh the voting so the results coincide with my own personal feelings on this matter. Thanks, dudes!