Boys...sometimes they smell weird

I'm learning more about college boys now that I'm an Academic Counselor than I did when I was actually in college. One of these insights is into the olfactory world of boys.

Y'all...it's intense.

I have an office (all my own, and I love it) that is rather small and- shall we say- cozy? Close quarters. Well, when I have meetings with my students, I become oh-so-very-aware of what they smell like, due to the "coziness" of my office. This week was rather harsh on the nose. One moment, it was the overwhelming scent of too much cologne. The next, it was the scent of too much basketball/not enough shower. Sometimes, it's the scent of I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-am-really-not-fresh. This isn't the case with the girls. Excepting one particular girl student, I don't generally smell anything from the girls.

I have yet to have a guy come into my office who doesn't leave some sort of scent. Usually, it's not very pleasant.

Remember how I like my job?

I still like it...however, I've decided that Thursdays might be the death of me! I have 20-minute, individual meetings with students literally all day. About 20 of those meetings. While I love that part of my job, it's really draining to go through the same set of questions, prescribe similar-yet-slightly-different solutions, explain how those solutions work (over and over and over again) while maintaining a this-is-the-first-time-I've-said-this-today demeanor. It's like teaching/being in the classroom only with one person at a time and many more times per day. Oi!

I've already perfected a few schpeils (sp?) for some of the speeches I give multiple times a day. Here are a few of the topics I am now proficient at addressing:

1. how to increase the hourage of sleep acquired

2. how not to do dumb things (like not sleep for 3 days) that lead to getting sick

3. how to use the FREE tutoring service

4. what study habits ARE

5. how to go to the FREE tutoring service and let them show you how your "study habits" are totally ineffective

6. how chapel credits work

7. what comma splices are

8. how college is different from high school (you'd be horrified at how necessary this particular discussion is)

9. how grades below a 75 are D's at our university and no, you shouldn't be proud of those scores

10. Yes, you have to use capital letters for proper nouns.

Again...oi to Thursdays.

I like your job.

I realized recently that I've never written much about what I do. It struck me that that might possibly be of interest to some of you; my roommate and I were chatting about it the other night, and partway through the discussion, ME (roommate) said, "Erin, I like your job!" Granted, compared to her job, mine is a day at Harry Potter's Wizarding World (aka: gobs o' fun). She's teaching in an innercity/urban setting here in town and deserves an award. And a cape. And a crown. She's a hero of society.

Having said that, here's a little about MY job:
I work at my alma mater, which is great. My job focuses on first-year students who have been conditionally admitted to the University and are required to be a part of an accountability program. I spend my time meeting with these students, following up on all their classes (assignments, quizzes, tests, concerns, victories), setting up support systems (tutoring, paper critiquing, meetings with the school counselor, organizing workshops), and listening to them when they're overwhelmed and stressed and missing home. I get to spend time getting to know them and helping them find ways to succeed in class. It's awesome. It was such a blessing that the Lord provided a job that I love and that falls within my skill set. He really such a provider-God.

And, apparently ME like my job, too.

Things YOU like

So, last time, I listed things that I like. This time, I'm listing some things that y'all like!

Brad suggested:

http://passwird.com/ (for electronics, especially) and http://www.steepandcheap.com/ (mostly outdoorsy items that are sold one item at a time)

Breanne suggested:

Swagbucks http://swagbucks.com/ She said that "You win points for your internet searches. With 450 you can trade them in for a $5 Amazon.com gift card. It's a great way to fund your reading habit :)"

Kirby suggested:

http://hip2save.com/ as a great coupon database.

Have fun!

Things I like and you might, too

I did a post like this whilst in Ukraine, and I thought I'd revisit the concept now that I'm back in the States. Enjoy!

"Ramona and Beezus"

GREAT G-rated movie based off of Beverly Cleary's children's fiction series.

Mark Driscoll/ Mars Hill "Luke"

Sermon series (really long series!) about the gospel of Luke. I listen to it in the office when I'm working on boring, paperwork-y stuff.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/luke/jesus-rejoices-in-the-holy-spirit

USA Network Shows

We don't get USA on our tv, so I can- legally- catch up on episodes for free online! May I recommend "Burn Notice" especially?

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/

Two Thrifty Sisters

This is a resource for thrifty shoppers! They also update on free giveaways/opportunities/etc.

http://www.twothriftysisters.com/

New Dress A Day

I accidentally stumbled across this website a few weeks ago. This gal in California started a year-long project wherein she refashions old clothing (one item each day) for a dollar or less. It's so great!

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

uu.edu

This one I check daily because it's my homepage at work, but it's also a really interesting read. There's all kind of stuff going on around the U!

http://www.uu.edu/

Pandora.com

This is a free, online radio program. You type in the kind of music you like, a specific song, or an artist/band, and the program creates a playlist of similar sounding-songs for you. You can create multiple "stations." I also frequent this at work. Such genius.

Hope you find something that you like, too! Do y'all have any favorites to share?

Weekend at Union

Last weekend (American Labor Day weekend) was great fun around here! Brad's sister plays on the Union women's soccer team, so his family (or at least most of them) came in for the weekend. They won their games on both Friday and Saturday, Rachael scoring the winning (and only) goal of the second game. Go Bulldogs!

It was fun to be with Amiee for her first round of Union soccer games. She had a blast! I had fun watching her be immersed in Union culture.

Saturday held lunch with Brad's family, spontaneous and impulsive bargain shopping (I mean, it was impressive...and I am really not the World's Most Avid Shopper), afternoon movie with Amiee and some new friends, followed by soccer games. Such a great day!

Sunday church and lunch with Brad's fam was really great and yummy (for anyone from the Jackson area, Brad's dad LOVES Old Town Spaghetti Store, so lunch was super!), and Monday held an All-American cookout with friends.

Here are a few pieces of documentation. And, Breanne, I think you would really like this G-rated movie we went to see. I loved it!

Big and little sister love.

Cutest little freshman ever? Yes, I think so. :)

House pictures!

I know I keep saying that I'll post pictures, and I'm now FINALLY putting them up! Here goes:

My bedroom (well, at least most of it)

Living room

Dining area

Outside!

I didn't get pictures of the kitchen, the bathrooms, roommate's room, or the spare room. At least you now know those rooms exist, right? We're loving our little house. Hope you do, too.

Facebook used to be my lifeline.

I think I'm a recovering Facebook junkie. Whilst in Ukraine, Facebook was my outlet to the world that I'd left in America. It's how I kept up with who got engaged, married, had babies, etc. I checked it everyday and was so much more active on the Facebook interaction front.

Not so much any more. I still check it on a regular basis, but I need it so much less now. I actually get to interact with friends and family in person, and they can actually tell me about their lives, rather than send me info electronically. Imagine that. I'm kind of shocked at learning how much time I spent scouring FB for information from home while I was gone. I still like Facebook, and it has a definite place in my life. But goodness gracious...I'm in rehab for Facebook usage, I guess.

The same could probably be said of Skype, but to write a post about it would just be redundant.