Weekend? Semester end?

Its been a long time since I've had good work with lots of hours, which means the idea of not having a weekend is a little strange to me...
This weekend I work Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday. So I do have Sunday off, but its kind of weird to think about. Just one day to take the day to myself. I suppose this is how it is in the real world. And honestly I'm not that upset about it. I'm looking at a first paycheck of over $250. Which isn't bad considering!
Next week is finals week which I guess is what makes me worry about not having my weekend. I've been really good about being on top of homework and studying, but not having the weekend before to devote to studying... strange I guess.
Stranger than that is the fact that school is basically over for the next 4 months! Its just so strange that we're already done! This semester went by faster than any other semester I can think of.
I've gotten two final grades (SE Asia History- B, World Civ 2- A) which is really exciting. I feel good about most of my other classes, math being the only final I am genuinely worried about. Other than math I think I'm going to come out A's and B's! Which is excellent!

Haven't Changed

Walking home from class today I realized something very important about myself.
Maybe I'm the only one but my self image doesn't evolve as quickly as I do.
I'm 21, out of high school for nearly 3 years and my self image is still of that girl I was in high school.
I don't see myself as an adult... I feel out of place in a room of adults, and when I'm at the bar I feel like I'm breaking the rules. When adults talk to me like I'm an equal it confuses me. I still start shaking when I talk to teachers and professors. I feel like I'm still a awkward teen stuck.
I don't know why my self image hasn't evolved.
Even around my peers I feel like a child among college students.
Why is this?
I don't have an answer but I wish I did. I can handle myself amongst adults, and I can deal with just about any situation I'm in. But inside I still feel like a little kid or an awkward teen.
Maybe eventually my inside will evolve to the same level as my outside?

Happy Easter

Photo taken and edited by me

Proof of Spring!

 The flowers are blooming all around Pullman and they're all so gorgeous. These flowers (that I don't know the name of) seems to be one of the more popular species to be planted downtown! I think they're gorgeous!

 Pretty little robin was hopping around in the grass. She wasn't so sure about me, but she let me get some wonderful pictures of her!

 The river is flowing nicely through down town! Its really running as the snow melts in the mountains.

This flower was just too pretty to walk away from without getting a photo. The pink fading into yellow is gorgeous!

Spring and other things...

Every morning the sun comes through the curtains and wakes me up an hour before my alarm, and warms me with it rays. Yet, its still averaging about 40 degrees and the wind is bitterly cold. Painfully cold. By afternoon isn't not as cold, but still not warm. Yesterday, it snowed! It's half way though April! Where is my spring weather?!
I start my first day at Pizza Hut on Thursday. I'm a little nervous but very excited, my coworkers seem like great people! I haven't gotten my uniform yet because my manager keeps forgetting it, but supposedly I can pick up today. I'll post a picture once I get it on. I know you all will be so proud :P
My friend moved her wedding back by a year, so I now have more time to get money together for the trip to Australia! I'm so excited because its so much more of a realistic reality for me now! $5,000 dollars minimum- I can knock that out in a year, and then adding more to the pot as I go! So happy!
Today, I'm wearing a dress! How crazy is that? I love it! I need to work on my body a little more, but I feel awesome!
I have some goals for this summer, and I figure if I post them here the people who read this (if there are any...lol) will maybe make me stick to it! So to end today's posting here are my goals-

Summer Goals:

• Go to the gym every morning M-F
• Go outside! Enjoy the nice weather!
• Grow my own little garden
• Put away money (this year its guaranteed! I have a job already!)
• Get together with friends at least once a week
• Finish all my quilting
• Read and enjoy one book, once a month
• May- Son of a Witch
• June- A Lion Among Men
• July- Crimes Against Nature
• August- Not yet decided

31 DPC Day 31

Day 31 - A picture of yourself

Today is the last post for the 31 Day Photo Challenge! And here it is.... ME!

My and my baby girl, Winry. 

Thank you for sticking around through this adventure that we call 31DPC!

31 DPC Day 30

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

I miss my Grandma Dode. She drove me crazy on occasion because she was such a strong willed woman, but honestly all she ever wanted was the best for me. I should have appreciated her more while I had her, but I can't go back now. She knows how much I love her and that's all I can do.

31 DPC Day 29

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smileThere's no way anyone ever could look at this and not crack a smile! David and Lars are freaking awesome! Don't ask me how I got this picture... I think they took it and it showed up on my camera. Haters lol! Just think in a few years they'll be "brothers"... May god help us all!

31 DPC Day 28

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

My own mortality scares me more than just about anything. My mortality, and mortality of the people I love. I'm no longer young and immature enough to think I'm untouchable, but I'm also not old enough to accept when someone I love dies.
The idea that I only get one chance at life, and my chance at certain things are done and over with and there are things left to be done right or screwed up.
Its only when I really sit down and think do these things scare me. Usually I'm very happy go lucky and love life. My goal is always to live life to the fullest I can.
But sometimes, especially with the death of a loved one this fear pops up. I want to live my life right with few regrets... I probably over think it more than I should...

Confusion

Okay so its called the 30 Day Photo Challenge, but there are 31 days to post on... hmmmm.... well I guess I will start fixing the title tomorrow!

30 DPC Day 27

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Didn't I do this yesterday? Woops! That's okay! Here's a picture of my brother and I! He's awesome, sometimes ridiculous, but pretty awesome none the less!

30 DPC Day 26

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

A family is something right? Yeah! My family means the world to me. We put FUN in dysFUNctional! Okay, we aren't really dysfunctional, and honestly comparatively we're a pretty level headed family for the most part! I love my family no matter how crazy they make me sometimes.

30 DPC Day 25

Day 25 - A picture of your day
I'm not really sure what this means... a picture of my day... what part of my day? what day of the week? what season? It makes a huge difference.
This is my view from the parking lot next to my apartment, beautiful wheat fields as far as the eye can see. I love to just stand and look at them, sometimes I can spot a bird of prey hunting, or a farmer working. The Palouse has grown on me, and its calm rural simplicity is nice.

30 DPC Day 24

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

If I could make a wish to change something it would be the number of babies born prematurely every day. I wish every baby was born healthy and full term. My best friend was a preemie, and a friend of mine recently gave birth to a preemie. I wish there was something that could be done to help these babies make it to term.

Welcome to the World Chi!

Chiharu Halolani Saeko Allen

was born 

April 8, 2011

at 

4:58 am

5lbs 9 oz

18 inches long

Congratulations to mommy,

Leianni Kayomi Anna Allen!

I wish you both the best in health and life. 

30 DPC Day 23

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Another hard choice... There were so many books to choose from!!!
So here's an oldie but a goody! This book got me into reading and has so many wonderful memories attached to it. I can remember Papa reading it to me when I was little. I remember feeling unbelievable sadness when Marta died, and the joy of the Larson's getting to Uncle Olaf's farm. This is the first chapter book I remember reading, and even though right now I could sit down and read the whole thing in 45 minutes, the story and the memories endure still today.

30 DPC Day 22

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

I wish I was a better writer in most aspects, but specifically creative writing. I can start a project yet I never seem to be able to finish it. Poetry is a strong point, but short stories are harder for me to get anywhere with. I have a lot of great ideas and no where to put them.
I practice my writing but I'm too afraid to share it in fear of harsh criticism.
Hopefully, I'll get over this fear so I can increase my abilities and potential.

30 DPC Day 21

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

There's nothing I wish I could forget, because everything that has happened defines who I am today. The mistakes I've made in the past are the best learning tools so that I do not make them again. History does not repeat itself in my personal life, because I learn the lessons of the past with all my heart. I read a quote one time about you cannot learn from the mistakes you don't make. I'm a better person because of my past, the good, bad, and ugly included. Sometimes we think we want to forget something in our past, but if we forget we are bound to repeat it.

30DPC- Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

I would love to go sit on this beach (Cable Beach, West Australia). How amazing does that look?! I would love to travel Australia, especially West and North. I have a friend in Perth that I would love to visit too. The sunsets and the amazing animals and culture all make me want to go so badly!!! Hopefully, some day soon I'll get to go!

30DPC- Day 19

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

Asle Kittilson Lillegard & Julia Helland Nelson

Dear Julia,

You are a distant relative of mine from long ago 

in a time no longer thought about.

Today's world would be so very alien to you.

Sports cars, internet, women running around in pants.

Your world is just as strange to me...
But fascinating.

I've decided that my personal project for this summer is to 

find out everything I can about you.

I know our genealogy but I want to know about you,

and who you were as a person.

Watch over me in my research.

Love,

Kirsten 

30DPC- Day 18

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Wow where do I start? Pretty much everything about me makes me insecure, especially my physical aspects. Love the length of my legs, but hate how pale they are. Love my eyes, but hate my chin. Love my height, but hate my weight....
My biggest insecurity is the physical aspects of myself.
I know I have the ability to improve myself, and I am working on it. I have increased the distance I can run without stopping, and my weight has steadied out.
I'm working on getting into better shape, and my access to the gym has been extremely helpful. I'm slowly feeling better about myself, slowly.

30DPC- Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Confused? Well, I recently got my first full time job working at Pizza Hut as a cook! Huge impact? I think so!
Hopefully, by the end of summer I will be almost completely independent from my parents (I keep saying that I know, but this time its a true reality, not a wish) and putting away money!!! This makes me so happy!
So yes, Pizza Hut (of all things) has made a huge impact in my life recently!

30DPC- Day 15

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Kari Bryon from Mythbuster's is a huge inspiration for me. She's sexy, smart, and loves guns. She reminds me that it's okay that I can enjoy my boyish things and still be girly. I love shooting more than most hobbies, but I also love to quilt... crazy? I think not! Makes me who I am, just like Kari can blow shit up and be an awesome mom. Kari also shows girls of all ages that science isn't only for the boys and that we shouldn't be afraid to be who we are!
Oh and be goofy and having fun makes life so much better!

30DPC- Day 15

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

I want to travel to every continent except Antarctica before I die.
I want to go to:
Argentina and Brazil in South America.
Norway, England, Germany, Italy, and France in Europe.
Kenya, Eqypt, and South Africa in Africa.
India, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia in Asia.
New Zealand and Australia
Montreal Canada, in North America.
These are my dream locations, but I'd be happy if I got to go anywhere at all!
Hopefully my dream of Australia will be happening in the next few years!

30DPC- Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
I couldn't live my life without my mom. There's no question about it. There are a few other people who would fit in this category but my mom was the first person who came to mind. As much as she and I differ in a lot of things, I know that she will always love me and that I can talk to her about damn near anything. We used to fight but since I've left home our relationship has gotten so much better. I feel closer to my mom now than I ever have and I love it!

I love my mom so much and I can't wait to see her next weekend for WSU's Mom's Weekend!!! I couldn't be more excited!

30DPC- Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Easton Corbin is currently my favorite artist. His song "I can't love you back" is amazing, much like most of his other songs. He is of the country genre (come on its me!) and his voice is so incredibly soothing. I would definitely like to see him in concert.

Job!

This is no April Fool's joke! I officially have a part time job working at Pizza Hut, making pizza! I'm so happy! I start on the 20th, but start training next Tuesday. YAY!
-Does happy dance-