the love of a green vegetable

This week has been full of tests. By next Monday I will have completed my first round of tests in 6 out of 7 of my classes (the 7th class does not have tests included in its curriculum).
After my statistics test today I went back to the room to complete a paper due for tomorrow. It is about 6 hours later and I am still working on the same paper.
I then went to social welfare policy in the library to learn about the different types of research I need to do for a group project on homelessness. After this, I went back to my room and ate celery!!! For those of you who do not know, I love this vegetable. Today, I cut two stalks, washed them and dipped them straight into my peanut butter jar. YUM!!! YUM!!! YUMMY! I haven't had actual celery in a long time. Well, I have had it in dishes but not on its own or with its lovely partner, peanut butter. Raisins!!! Have you ever had 'ants on a log'? This was a daily treat for me when I was a youngster, that and mustard-jam sandwiches (yes, I know... gross). Ants on a log--celery, peanut butter and raisins.

CHANGE OF SUBJECT

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Celery makes smile. End of story.

the comfort of corn and cow shit

Yes, I am back in Iowa--the second state of my residency. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I love summer; I enjoy relaxing a bit and working because I love it and because I need the money (which due to books and tuition is scarce). However, there is something about school, the busyness, the craziness, the sleeplessness, the “holy crap! I barely studied for this test”-ness, that holds a dear place in my heart. Maybe I have these feelings because it is my last year on campus (crosses fingers), maybe it’s because I am living in an apartment filled with laughter, thought provoking conversations, and comfort, or maybe it is due to my love for school. I love school—yes, I am a nerd. But, you all knew that already, and if you didn’t all you need to know is that I was a math major and I still absolutely love the subject.
New goals and aspirations for this school year have taken form. I hope to meet many new people. I really hope to soak up my classes and breathe the information I am given. I want my passion to grow, I am working towards a better-rounded schedule, and I want people to see my desire for life behind my eyes.
My classes are much more focused on what I hope on doing occupationally. I am overloading (21 credits baby!). I am taking: human biology, aging and social work, practice methods II, fundamentals of social work, social welfare policy, and statistics. Many of the social work classes are macro focused which points towards my desired field of social work.

I am in the campus center’s computer lab as of now and I have a scarf wrapped around my neck; it smells like corn. Not the kind of corn you eat but more like the smell corn has when it’s in the field. It’s a comforting smell, to me. My sister, who is new at Dordt, has been commenting on the smell of cow manure. It does not always smell of shit, but when it is rainy the smell is definitely evident. Maybe I am one in a million, but I enjoy that smell. MMMM! The smell of shit in the morning (specifically cow shit) places a sense of comfort in my chest. To clarify I do not enjoy the smell of human feces, cat poop, or elephant dung.
Well, IA, here I am and here you are.