All · the · Pretty · Things

    First of all, my trip to Tallahassee was great!  Alex and I went to Starbucks every day, which is a real departure from my newly adopted thrift.  We mostly watched episodes of the Justice League and read comic books, such is the life of hip nerdiness!  Oooh and we also went to a pink mall and saw the modern film epic "Snakes on a Plane."  I must say that in terms of the genre, it was a fine example of film making.  Plus I got on a plane the next day and had to think thoughts like, "What if the plane depressurizes and instead of oxygen masks, snakes fall down on me?"   All in all, it was a lovely break from my increasingly frightening course load. 
    My first big test is Friday, so the whole class is pretty much freaking out about it en masse.  I hope that if I employ study skills that I haven't had to use in a couple years, I can get back on the bandwagon of actually studying for things.  I've been working hard to develop a daily study strategy that works for me.  The only problem so far is that I love my TV too much.  I may seriously have to cancel my cable after this semester if all does not go so well!  Every night there's so much I want to watch, or would rather watch than study.  It's a sad situation indeed.
    This past week I helped out with sorority recruitment at St. Louis University.  It was nice to meet so many local alumnae, even though most were older than me and at a different place in their lives.  I did meet one recent graduate who I think is awesome and could definitely see hanging out with in the near future.  It's really funny that all the alumnae including myself are able to make conversation so easily when we have just met.  It's like we all have this common ground or common experience that makes it so easy to talk to them.  I'm definitely going to go to the young alumnae wine and cheese reception in a couple months.
    In terms of big serious things, I have had a revelation that, as I have been told by many current friends, I come off as a bit intimidating and uncomfortably confident upon first meeting, especially when confident is the last thing I feel.  I wonder how it is that I am so good at fooling people?  Regardless of how, it appears I've been a bit off-putting at times to at least one of my fellow classmates who I overheard telling another girl that she didn't like me because I am a know it all.  Ouch.  Well I talked to her about it the next day after I'd had time to think that in some ways she was totally right.  So I'm trying to be more careful about how I present myself and being more emotionally honest and less intense.  If people aren't going to like me, I'd much rather them not like me for who I actually am instead of some bogus image I present when I'm worried about the future.  I actually do like this girl and since we talked I think it is possible for us to be friends.  At the very least the air is cleared and we will be able to work together on projects easily.  I hope that if I've been obnoxious at UMSL, it isn't too late to change how people view me.