The update you have all been waiting for...

Hello all! I have indeed returned from the dead! I have one week in which to get all of you up-to-date on the various happenings in my lovely little life before I embark on the exciting existence of full-time student. I have indeed decided to skip the dental assistant program and just get all my transfer credits to go to dental school at OHSU. I am so excited about all that biology and chemistry I will get to take!!! And, (drum roll please) I have received an "A" in my math course and a 96% on my final exam. Me!!!! The girl who was so terrible at math in school!! I really enjoyed that class and (believe it or not) am really looking forward to taking the higher math classes. So, what else? Well, I had a summer job as the receptionist at a wrecking yard, which aside from being casual and fun allowed me to display my skills as a truly sarcastic person with a raunchy sense of humor in an appropriate setting. I feel as though I have risen to a higher level of rudeness. I feel I should receive some sort of award for being able to stymie a large group of men that only work with other men. Perhaps I should scrap the dental thing and open a truck stop or something. Nah. In any case, I am now trying to get my books and house in order to do the full-time deal and I must say, it is a little daunting. I can't remember what life was like with no job. It feels strange. I get some interesting responses to my little educational plan, as well. Either people are truly excited for me and express how thrilled that I am taking such a big step at this point in my life (whatever the hell that means, what am I, geriatric?) or they get all shitty (pardon the language) and act like this is just an excuse to drop out of society and not be responsible. Like, am I accruing all these massive student loans for fun? That would be the most expensive stint of laziness I have ever taken. I actually have, for the first time in my life, the drive to get kick-ass grades and be really good at my chosen field. Even if my major changes somewhere, I still want to get out of school and look back and go, turns out I didn't need that class, but I passed it with flying colors!!! I think that's a good thing. Also, some people assume that we (Brandon and I) use homework as an excuse to avoid other obligations, like social ones. To this I say, duh! Like I wanted to hang out with your tired, lame asses anyway!

Just kidding.

We just know that if you want to score those kick-ass grades, you have to put a good deal of time into it. Not to mention that unlike high school, it's not enough to just pass. You need to actually learn the material, understand it, and be able to apply it in a practical setting. That's why the studies take so much more time now. Well, that and, you know, now I give a shit. Wow! Does that ever make a difference! I actually care. That helps. In any case, regardless of the reactions we get, mixed and varied though they are, we are set on this course for higher education. And for those of you who expressed love and support, we say from our hearts, thank you. This would be so much harder and less fun if it weren't for you. And, that even includes the people we are barely acquainted with. Believe it or not, we've gotten lots of good advice and uplifting support from people who were friends of friends and the like. I will never tire of hearing, "well, you seem smart enough, as long as you don't f**k it up, you might be something someday."

Be still my heart.

More later!!!