Epic Fail

Everyone has those days where you just seem to be living an "epic fail." Today was that day for me. Want to know about all of my moments?? Well, here goes.

Epic Fail #1: Math 111 Pre-Reqs Test
My first class of the day was my Math 111 recitation. I knew that we were going to be taking a skills test today, what I didn't know was that my skills would not be present. One look at the test and I thought, "I'm screwed". I recognized all of the concepts the problems presented, however, I could not remember exactly how to complete them. It took me the full time to complete that test, and the last few problems, I half-assed and guessed. Epic Fail!

Epic Fail #2: Volleyball III Class
My last class of the day was my Volleyball III class. I was super excited to attend and play some hardcore volleyball. I did not know how good people would be. One of the first things we were supposed to do was jump serve. I've never been able to jump serve in my entire life. Needless to say I just stared dumbly and attempted to serve. I got 1 over. I was embarrassed. Epic Fail! Another fail moment? I receive a beautiful set from our setter, I swing, I miss, I fall....yeah. Epic Fail!

Epic Fail #3: Mopped Floor and Dishes at Work
I worked tonight, obviously, and I was closing up front. I had just mopped the floor and was carrying back dishes to put away. I rounded the corner and felt my feet slipping out from under me. Before I knew it, I was falling to the floor and my dishes were flying everywhere. I broke my fall with the right half of my lower body and looked around me in shock, pain, and embarrassment at the dishes that were laying on the floor. I got up and pain shot through my right side. Oh, how it hurt! But that's totally me. I WOULD slip and fall...yay. So now that I feel a huge bruise coming on, I can officially say that I've injured myself at Dairy Queen.....again! Epic Fail!

See? We all have those kinds of days. I'm just hoping that after I wake up tomorrow, my day isn't another epic failure. With that, I'll retire and try again tomorrow!

A Day of Angst

Warning: The following post may contain anger and unhappiness towards the world

How was my day today, you ask?? Oh simply splendid my dears, just splendid! For those of you who didn't catch it, that last statement was completely sarcastic and untrue. I had one of those days where it starts off fairly well and it seems like a precurser to a fantastic day, but it's all a lie. Like on Christmas, where you see a huge box and you're thinking it's the karoake machine you've been begging your parents for and you open it up and it's just a pair of socks cruely disguised. That was my day. Let the tale begin....

How I woke up should have been indication to how this day was going to go. I had my alarm set for 8:50am so I could be up by 9. I tend to hit my snooze button twice before getting up, so I set my alarm to accommodate for that. I was woken up by a text, at 8:06, from Kat asking me if I was going to the game this weekend (OSU is playing ASU at home). Well, going back to sleep was impossible after that so I decided to get up and start getting ready. I needed to get a parking pass, so I figured it was all good. I dressed and did my hair and makeup with the following results:

I felt like I looked decent so I thought today would be a great day. Well I got to campus and went straight to the Transit and Parking Services office. I waited in line for 15 minutes before arriving at the counter. I told the lady that I'd sent my application for a permit in and she looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "Oh!" she said like she'd never heard of such a thing, or perhaps she just wasn't used to Type A overachievers such as myself. Either way, I found it odd. She came back and said she couldn't find my application. That confused and upset me as I know I sent it in. But, fortunately, she was nice about it and just had me fill out a portion of the form and gave me my parking pass--which cost me $186!

I left Adams Hall (where TAPS is located) and went to find a parking spot in my usual lot. What do I find? A full lot. "No matter" thought I, I'll just drive to the back of the lot, there's always spots there. Do I find any? No. There are none to be found...ANYWHERE! I drove around for 15 minutes trying to find a spot. Finally, I flip a u-turn in the middle of 15th St and whip into a metered parking spot. The bad? The meter is only for 2 hours. It's 10:44. I have a class at 11 and noon. There is no way I'm making it back in time before the meter expires. But do I care at this point? No. This bears saying: I'm not wearing great walking shoes. I was wearing leather boots with fur inner lining with a heel. So I'm practically sprinting across campus to make it to Organic Chemistry on time. By the time I reach my class, with two minutes to spare, my feet are one massive blister. Walking back to my car after my last class was literally a pain.

I left school at 1:15 after waiting in line for a football ticket, to a game which I will probably not go! I got home and did some chemistry review work. It wasn't much of a review seeing as I did not know how to do about half of it. That looks promising for me, no?? Felt like a champ! After completing the problems, I left for my horrible volleyball game. From the minute I walked in the gym, the referee seemed to have it out for me. She disrespected my position as coach, looked down upon me because of my age, and was just downright rude. I'm a passive aggressive person. It takes a lot to piss me off, but boy was she good at it. It didn't help that I was already stressed and not in a good mood, but she really knew how to shorten my fuse. I nearly went off on her. I've never been so mad after a game, even when I played! And I got intense when I played. It took me hours to calm down.

This day was just full of anger, angst, and stress. It has really taken its toll on me. I was exhausted at about 7:30. Those negative feelings really affect a person. You don't realize how much until you just want to lay on the floor, curl into a ball and rock back and forth. I felt so helpless today, like I'd fallen into a well and was slowly drowning while the world watched and some poured water on top of me. It's an awful feeling. Even Zach had trouble cheering me up. I was really down in the dumps today. It's really hard to get out of that rut once you've fallen in. It's like the saying "I've fallen and I can't get up!" Except, I'm not an old lady that's broken her hip, but you get the point.

The positive of my day? I went to another jewlery party at Debbie's house. I'd seen the show yesterday, but it was still fun to see it again, and watch Debbie excel at her first presentation. I simply love that jewlery, and MUST have some at one point. Thank goodness I'm hosting my own party in October! That house always seems to relax me. I love it there!

So while my day was mostly negative, it ended on a positive which is where I'm hoping tomorrow will start and stay even though I have to work. I'm really hoping to not have another negative day tomorrow. I can't take many of those. They wear a person out quickly. But it is time for me to say goodnight and go to bed soon. I have a class at 9 tomorrow, I have to be up by 7. Yay me!

Stress, Stress, Stress

Well, tomorrow is the start of my second year at Oregon State. And obviously, I really don't want to go. I spent a good part of my evening looking at different classes to take. I was getting really stressed out...6 classes with Organic Chemistry? That's just crazy talk! So needless to say, I dropped 2 classes, but picked up 1, so I am now taking 13 credits. I feel like a total slacker, but hell, I'm taking 300-level chemistry as a sophomore! That's gotta count for something. I don't want to overload myself. I operate with my stress level in the danger zone. If my stress level was the nation's terror level, people would be running around like chickens with their heads cut off, storing guns, and preparing for another 9/11 attack at any moment. Yeah, that's how stressed I constantly am.

The worst part about going back to school is how much of a chunk out of my social life it takes. I was really enjoying the summer. This has been the best of my life so far. I'm young, energetic, gaining confidence, and was just having fun with friends. I got out of a bad relationship, and at the end of the summer, got into a new and MUCH better one. This summer went from horrible, thinking my life was going to end, to great and never been happier. So in other words, I've had a totally bipolar and skitzophrenic vacation, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. My friend, Kate, and I grew closer and I gained necessary self-confidence. I'm not nearly where I need to be, but I'm well on my way. I don't want this small chapter of my life to end, but apparently, the author of my life thought it necessary to change the scene. So college, here I come!

No one likes the weekend before school is about to start. It's kinda depressing as you're mentally preparing yourself for daily boredom, maximum stress levels, sitting in an uber uncomfortable desk all day, and listening to a professor drone on and on about something that you never had an interest in learning, but have to simply because it's a required class because for some reason, someone somewhere decided that I have to have a very well rounded education; why I have to study literature as a Pre-Dietetics major, I'll never know. My weekend-before-school, however, was simply amazing! Yesterday (Saturday) I got up at 6:20am---yes AM!---to make it up to Shaw by 8:30 to meet Zach so we could go to the mall to meet his friend Kevin at 9. Kevin is 18 and is marrying his 22 year-old fiancee in December. A little young, in my opinion, but to each their own. So I was the only girl with 3 guys trying to help them pick out a tie. Yeah, fun stuff. You can imagine my annoyance when they guys wouldn't settle on a color. It was supposed to be silver. Once the color was established, it was thin or thick...my goodness.

After the tie-excursion, Zach took me shopping. We ended up going into a jewlery store in which I fell in love with a ring I tried on. It felt like I'd sold my soul and it was being slowly ripped out as I handed that ring back to the sale's lady. Unfortunately, it was $560. Fortunately, there was a sale going on in which it was $250. The downside? Zach and I have only been dating for close to a month. The sale ended today. It was downright depressing. Part of my being died....over a ring. Sad, I know. But I fell in love with that thing, and I'm NOT a ring person. So that's big for me. I had a grand time at the mall, though. It was fun just walking around with my handsome boyfriend, both of us dressed up and people giving jealous looks. It was great! We ended up going out to a movie with his mom and cousin: Easy A. That movie was amazing!!! I could totally relate to the main character...although, not to being accused of being a slut. That much, I'm innocent of. But I loved the humor, and how blunt the main actress was. She did a fantastic job! After our movie, I had planned on going home, but could not bring myself to do so. So I stayed the night once again, and his mom put me in her "fairy rooom." I felt like I was imposing, but she always assures me that I'm not. I love his family! They make me feel so at home. I left his house in the early afternoon after he made me brunch. What a sweetheart! And it was actually edible! A bonus! It felt like I left a piece of me behind as I drove off...

I got home and went to a jewlery party in which I won free stuff. Free is always good. And I booked a party, so I get to experience it even more! It was just so much fun! What girl doesn't like jewlery?? A dumb question, I know. I'm very excited to have my party and I'm sure my college girlfriends will appreciate it as well. I also got to see Kate again today after about 16 days in Hawaii. How I missed that girl! We're definitely going to hang out a lot during school. It just wouldn't be the same without her.

Well, now that I've recounted my fantabulous weekend, the stress is setting back in. I'm still trying to pick out my "first day of school outfit" as it is practically the most important thing about tomorrow. I have to make a good first impression. It seems so middle school, but even in college, it is still true. You haven't seen your friends in ages, so you have to look good, right?? So I'm going to go finish that, then retire to bed early. I need my sleep for school, then my middle school team's volleyball game tomorrow.

So until I write again, goodnight, and good luck to all you college students out there!

The Battle of the Hair

Quite often, a girl's favorite feature is her hair. At least in my case, that is my favorite feature! I love my long light brown hair. What I least like about it is how straight it is. That's all it does, is straight. Unless it decides to say "damn you McKenna, I'm gonna be all kinky today and there's nothing you can do about it!" In which case I wage war against my own head.

How does the battle begin? Well, it begins by me pretending defeat by giving a pitying glance at my crazy mane of frizzy locks, followed by the grabbing of my purple brush. After all, purple is the color of royalty and the royals do have amazing hair, so maybe Karma will work in my favor if I use a purple brush...I can dream at least! I first attempt to take the easy route, by simply putting the brush through my thick hair. Sometimes it works and my hair decides to take the high road and surrender easily, on which days I am most happy.

Most of the time, my hair decides to not cooperate, in which case I have to bring out the heavier artillery: the straightener and the glass serum! So I turn up the heat of the battle, quite literally by plugging in my straightener and turning it up as high as it will go. After running it over my hair a few times, it is finally straight and gorgeous. One problem: my hair has a secret weapon, the Benedict Arnold of my scalp, if you will---frizz!!! But I have come prepared to take down Arnold and put him in chains! My glass serum will not be beat. Once applied, my hair is shiny, healthy, and luscious looking once more.

The casualties of the battle lay strewn across the bathroom counter. Dead hairs which my head has shed appear everywhere in the vacinity of this war. It never ceases to amaze me that I haven't gone bald. As I slowly clean up the victims, I reflect over the viscious skirmish I just had with my hair. And I remember a time when I didn't have to fight with these fine locks, they simply obeyed every stroke of the brush. Perhaps, like all human beings, as hair grows older, it slowly grows more and more defiant. Maybe that's why it turns gray. It does it to spite us! It no longer feels like cooperating and knows that once it is gray, people give up trying. So while I have won this battle with my hair, in the end I know I shall lose the war.

All of My Strength

**CAUTION: Sappy possible teenage love stuff **

You have been warned!

So today I spent all day with my boyfriend Zach. He arrived at my house at approximately 9:10am and we were off to Monmouth to meet up with a friend, Erik. The drive was pleasant, beside the fact that I seem to get stuck behind slow drivers the ENTIRE time! I'm obviously not a patient driver. But I did enjoy listening to "our" song together: For The Longest Time by Billy Joel, and just talking about this, that and everything. It has always been very easy to talk to him about anything. It's a nice change from my ex. Hanging out with Erik was very fun, because I haven't seen him in like 2 months and Zach likes him, which is a plus. He tends to be protective, but with good reason.

After our visit with Erik, I needed to make a trip to the OSU Bookstore, so once again, I drug Zach with me. He didn't really seem to mind, as long as he got to spend every moment with me. I got to see another one of my friends, Kaylee, whom I haven't seen since the 4th grade at Girl Scout camp. Yes, I am a Girl Scout. No, I cannot tie knots. Yes, I can build fires. Yes, I sold cookies...and I was badass at it too! Be jealous! Anyway, we drove her around Corvallis, stopped at Jamba Juice, and then I took Zach to his first Adult Shop just for the hell of it. It was an interesting experience. At least the guy at the counter was really cool and we had a delightful chat for about 20 min before some random guy came in and started hitting on me, to which Zach's reaction was to tell the guy off and we left!

The drive home was fairly quiet....and I got stuck behind a damn truck on the way home. Fricken Safeway trucks....gah! But we once again listened to music, which is a favorite pasttime of ours. And upon our arrival home, I showed him this blog. He couldn't really understand why I liked blogging so much until he read my posts. He really enjoyed them! Home didn't last long as I quickly changed and headed off to the gym for my volleyball game.

Zach was great! He helped set everything up and got roped into running the clock for the game. I felt bad that he was having to do so much work for me when he came down to actually spend time with me. But again, he never complained and was always smiling at me. Warming up the girls today was great fun. I got to pepper with them and was diving for balls and selling out. It felt like old times. Supposedly the referee was checking me out. What's new? Seriously. The girls played fairly well (no boys this time...that must have made the difference!) and I was proud of their performance.

So for dinner we had pizza, then went on a walk, then watched The Duchess. I know I've ranted before on how skinny certain women are, but Keira Knightley is one of these women. She's just disgustingly skinny! She has no boobs either. Can you seriously tell me that a woman like this is desireable? One wrong move and the guy could snap her in half! Guess she's gonna have to be on top in any relationship! But honestly, it disgusts me. Yet, at the same time this image of women is promoted worldwide and it is hard for "normal" women to accept their "imperfect" bodies based on these standards. I, for one, can never hope to be a size 0. It's just not going to happen, no matter what I do. Nor can I be 5' 10", no matter how hard I try. Does that mean that I accept my body? Certainly not. I know that I should, but when Hollywood tells me that the ideal woman has no curves...it's kinda depressing. Those are the women that land the hot and sweet guy. Those women look nothing like me. So do I have a chance? Well I think I do, deep down I know I do, but that doesn't change the fact that I still have to look at that everyday.

It's always sad when Zach has to leave. I never want to let go as I'm standing by his car (which is damn sexy....what girl doesn't love a red convertable Camaro????). It's always "one more kiss...okay, make that like 3!" I always worry about him when he leaves so down. I worry that something will happen to him on his way home...it makes it hard for me to wind down to go to bed, but it's worth waiting. Something just tells me to not let this one go. I've never really felt that before. He texted me as he is on his way home saying "it takes all of my strength to leave you," hence where the title of this blog comes in. It takes all of my strength to let him leave. It takes all of my strength not to careen out of control on Love's highway...to stay rational and keep my head. I want to make sure that it's truly what I feel. He's just so sweet that it's nearly impossible not to fall more and more head over heels for him each day! It's sometimes frightening, but sometimes the best things in life are. It takes all of my strength to fall in love with someone I never thought I'd get and someone I don't feel I deserve. It takes all of my strength to hold his heart close and never let go. But it takes no strength at all to be myself and enjoy my time with him. For that, I am eternally greatful to him.

Well, now that I've written a semi-depressing/sappy/lovey/insightful/wise blog, I think I'm going to turn in for the night. It's 12:11am here and it's not like I have anything to get up for, so I'm thinking a good 10+ hours of sleep will do me good. Now to just wait for the text from Zach saying "I'm home"

So good night all! Sweet dreams!

A Day of Boredom: Take 1

Today was actually a fairly lazy day. I was woken up by Zach's brother, Ryan. What did he want? He wanted to know if my biology book was the one he needed. Ryan is lucky that I'm nice because I really don't like being woken up in the morning. I'm an so NOT a morning person. I like to consider myself a mid-afternoon person, when the sun is at it's highest (if it's out that day) and the day is alive. If the day isn't alive, neither am I!

After being unceromoniously awakened, I decided that going back to sleep was not worth the trouble, so what do I do? I hop on Facebook...as usual. I supposedly have no life, as made apparent by my frequency of Internet usage, particularly this networking site. Seeing as it's about 9:30, there are not many people on, even with over 600 friends. Many of them are at school or working. I, apparently, am an unmotivated person as I am constantly on my Facebook, appearing to have no job. I really do work! Dairy Queen has just cut my hours to 2 days a week in preparation for what I'll be working during school, which starts Monday.

About school, the only part I'm looking foward to is seeing my friends: Karen, Danielle, James, Sophia, Kaylee, Lauren, Caitlin, Kat, Sam, Miyuki, Matt, and many others. I am not looking forward to my schedule. I am taking Organic chemistry. Who looks forward to that?? People like Zach's brother, Wes, that's who! Certainly not me! If I had my choice, I would smite all organic chemistry off the face of the Earth. But, seeing as I don't have this power, I'll suffer through it and bitch and moan about it, yet still do the work and pay for the class. I'm not required to go to school anymore. I hate it, yet I still do it. Why, you ask? Because it's socially correct to do so. If I could get just as good of a job without a college education, I would do so! But in today's day and age, if one does not have a college education, you have a tough shot getting anywhere and end up with the lower that dirt jobs that no one wants; except illegal immigrants....did I really just go there? Yep, I think I did!

Getting away from slight racism (if that's even PC anymore...but is saying "PC" even PC anymore?? Who knows, and who cares!!)....I did have a doctor's appointment today and got my third Gardasil vaccination. I know it's good to protect yourself against HPV, but does it have to be so damn painful? I mean, really. It's worse than a tetanus shot! I feel like my arm is going to fall off! The upside? I got a sweet Taz bandaid. Bet you all out there are jealous!

After my doctor's appointment, I had volleyball practice. Today I was coaching A team by myself, which is always fun! It was difficult with my left arm being practically dead. But I'm so legit that I managed! After volleyball practice, what do I do?? Go to a volleyball game of course! For those of you who don't know me, I'm the crazed fan who is in the stands yelling. Now don't get me wrong, I know what it's like to referee, as I've done it myself. That is why I only yell when I know what I'm talking about, which is pretty much all the time. There were just some bad calls made today. I understand that refs don't see everything. But if they'd open their eyes, they'd sure see more! Or if they were actually in good physical shape, maybe they'd be able to move to see what's going on. But that seems to be asking for too much.

So I return home, finish watching War of the Worlds, which I started earlier this afternoon, and watch Tom Cruise attempt to act alongside Dakota Fanning. Good luck Tom. That little chick blows you out of the water! Dakota can act....even in evil roles like in the Twilight saga. Although, as I was reading the books, I never pictured Jane looking like a carpenter's dream: no figure, no boobs, and no butt. But hey, it's Hollywood and to each their own. I will always see Dakota as a sweet, and innocent little girl. And will always pray that she grows into female parts. You never know!

Well, I should probably get some sleep. I've got to be up early tomorrow to get some things done before my first home volleyball game. Hopefully this time the C team doesn't play an A and B team, or else I think I may go mentally insane and have to be hauled off to the asylum straight from the game. Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but seriously: I can't handle much more slaughter. And I know the girls can't either. Unless more football boys show up. That seems to miraculously raise morale and clear their minds. Quite literally. Unfortunately it clears their minds of volleyball as well...I'll really have to stress that boys really aren't worth it until they become men. Which is mostly around 25, and for some males, that maturity never comes....but you never know!

Good night all! May your day tomorrow be more eventful than mine was today!

Map of Visitors

In the Beginning...

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth"...oh wait....

Apparently this is the beginning of my blog. As the title suggests, these posts will be just about the day in the life of a 19 year-old college aged woman who either has nothing better to do, or thinks that you people will enjoy reading about her and her unfortunate, or perhaps fortuante, happenings. Who wouldn't be interested in that?? I'll admit, I stole this idea from my cousin, but I take credit for all that is put on here.

So I suppose I should fascinate you all with tales of my day.

Well, to begin with, I woke to find myself in the house of my boyfriend, Zach. We've only been dating for 3 weeks, and yet, it feels like much longer. Is it possible to fall for someone so quickly? Or am I under some spell and has he gone all "Harry Potter" on me? Although the latter sounds awesome, I'm assuming that the first is correct. Anyway, I had spent the night in his parent's guest room, which is totally adorable (his mom is way into fairies). The night before, we had watched Letters to Juliet with his parents, which surprisingly, it's always fun watching movies with them. Someone quote me on this! This morning, we watched a couple movies, as usual, and made ourselves some brunch (at 12:20 mind you!). I must admit, his cullinary skills are improving, although he is sometimes too stubborn to let me help in the kitchen. Isn't the kitchen a woman's place? Unfortunately I had to leave at 1:30 as I had a volleyball game (no, I don't play, I coach at the middle school level). The girls did not play very well, and seem to have an obsession with middle school-aged football players. I'll never understand it, nor did I ever think I'd give "the boy talk" at my young age.

And as I prattle on and on about my day, I find myself growing weary of typing and filling your minds with meaningless rambling. So I think it is time for me to either curl up with my romance novel, aka word porn, or perhaps some Pirates of the Caribbean. I am, after all, American and technically still a teenager, so I should poison my mind with meaningless violence and sex in order to keep up appearences. Right?

So until I write again, I bid you readers, adieu!