Pros
01) There are only about 20 people in my “cycle” (it’s a very small program) and that means lots of professor-attention, opportunities to network, and FRANDSHIPZ!

02) The program is one of 29 in the 433 National counselor education programs that meet the standards of CACREP and offers a 60 hour program in Mental Health Counseling.

03) It’s held at a technical college campus (because the college itself is in an ENTIRELY different part of Kentucky) and there was a poster of salamanders on the wall. Win.

04) I get to take classes such as: Psychopathology and Substance Abuse Treatment and Evaluation of Mental & Emotional Disorders, instead of undergrad courses such as: Asian Philosophy (fail) and Introductory Logic (fail, fail). I actually felt myself salivate as I read the course list.

05) The program is weekends-only. Class is Friday 4pm-9pm and Saturday 9am-4pm. This means I can work part-time through the week, have a baby (just sayin’), focus on my family, have nights off to read and do homework, and I still get done in two years.

6) I would be a LICENSED COUNSELOR (with supervision) at the end of the program. What the. I would also have a Masters of Education in Human Development, which could be applicable in other fields besides Counseling.

Cons
01) It’s a private school, so tuition is pretty expensive. It’s going to be about $20,000 for two years. Ouch sauce.

02) One that is also a pro… the fact that the program is weekend-only. Even with a few weekends off, this does mean that trips home will be limited, not seeing my husband until 9:30 at night on Fridays (oh BOOHOO, I know) and just general nerd-suckage being in school on weekends.

03) I’m one of the youngest in class (because it’s mostly for working adults) and I felt… retardo face. *wears my grown up clothes next time*

04) That’s all I can think of, though I really wanted to make this list a lot more equal to try & distract you from the decision I made until the end of the post. Crap.

The program starts January 16th, and it’s done in tri-mesters. I am so excited, optimistic, and ready to just get this part of my life moving. I’ve found with my mood changes, it’s hard to settle into decisions sometimes, and without a sense of purpose or direction, it actually makes the moods even worse. So I’m going to commit to this decision & see it through as best as possible, and if I can’t… I have a back-up plan… lots of chocolate and denial.

1) My friend Christy started a personal blog, and you all will fall in love with her.

2) I put in my application for a few part-time jobs. And my graduate school orientation is tonight. The light will either stay on, or turn off, and my decision will be made this week on whether or not I plan to attend.

3) I’ve been craving a baby for the past month. I’m hoping it’s “that time of the month” hormones. It’s difficult, because we’re trying to decide if we want to have one before I start medication therapy for bipolar, because I’m afraid coming off medication & then getting pregnant could be far more disastrous. I’m talking to my psychiatrist about it on the 11th.

4) I’ve been trying to do Pilates in the living room floor, and I’m pretty sure I am a 5′9″, 500lb person trapped in the body of a 5′2″, 114lb person. Saying I am out of shape is like saying chocolate tastes okay… sometimes, I guess.

5) I’m in anti-shower mode currently. I wake up, brush my teeth, and refuse to shower for at least 2-3 hours into the morning. REFUSE. Hate it. Don’t want to. But then, when I force the whiny, pre-teen inside of me to get in the water… I am fine. I like it again. I want to shower again later that night! It smells so good! It feels so wonderful!

PS) Captain Wafers & Ritz crackers both have cocaine in them. That is the only possible way they could be so addictive (or is it the 900 thousand cajillion mg of sodium?)

(I deleted the original post, because I’m trying to decide if it was too personal or not. I’m still learning my personal limits. I might re-post it.)

Kalen… that’s the thing… you don’t get the difference between spontaneous and dangerous.
-Cymbre, Summer 2006

I did my first tutorial! And it’s hilarious. I guess with time I will become more “natural” in my tutorials, but for now you’re going to have to deal with my other voice.

My other voice is the one I use on the phone with doctor’s offices, when I’m explaining something to someone, or sometimes when I first meet a stranger. It is more high-pitched & I use more tone changes, in some strange attempt to sound more professional. It’s ridiculous.

This video is also ridiculous. I have been told (numerous times) that my makeup “techniques” for covering acne are splendid, so I made a video about it. However, I kind of rush through it (but you’ll get the basic idea). The main idea is TAPPING, PATTING, AND BEING GENTLE… not rubbing - which all sound more like skank-nasty techniques than makeup techniques if ya know what I mean…

moving on…

I stupidly picked one of those “HI I AM STICKING UP OFF OF YOUR FACE” blemishes, so even covered (and less red) you can still see it on the video, which is going to cause a lot of, “ZOMG! I STILL SEE IT!” responses. However, I also have about 8 other bumps on that side of my face, which you can’t really see at all. So I promise - this works! Try it & let me know if you helped you! I know Jess always said it works like a charm.

Unfortunately, I look like a total ass in this tutorial, but it was worth posting to make you guys laugh… especially the people who know me “in real life.” Enjoy making fun, biatches.

My sister Kindal invited me out with her & Taryn, my niece, to Chuck E. Cheese’s & I happily agreed to go. Once we got there, T-T & I began riding the rides and playing games while Kindal ordered. This is when I realized I am truly going to be an a-hole of a parent. I also realized that HOLY LORD… Chuck E. Cheese’s kills your soul slowly & painfully…

Anyway.

T-T was in this helicopter simulator ride, and I was laughing & taking pictures of her. A little boy, finger in his nose, kept walking around the ride, staring at her angrily.

“It’s my turn now! I want to get in!” he yelled, as he began climbing into the helicopter. He was probably about 7 or 8.

“Um, no it’s not… you need to get down and wait until her ride is over,” I replied, but he continued climbing in, which was distracting T-T and not letting her enjoy herself.

“Get down, or I’m going to let her ride again. You have to wait in line. Thanks.” I helped him off the ride and looked at his parents, who sat feet away from him, hopelessly eating pizza & lost in conversation amongst themselves.

Okay…listen.

Today reinforced that I’m extremely over-protective of those I love. How am I going to control that when I have my own children? How am I going to keep away all the bullies, the line-cutters, the pushers & shovers?

Of course it’s not the child’s fault… but someone has to discipline them, right? Someone has to speak up and say, “Hey. You don’t call people poopyheads or babyheads. You don’t cut line. You don’t throw temper tantrums when you don’t get the Chuck E. Cheese’s plastic cup you want. It’s ridiculous. Cut it out.”

And I guess it doesn’t help that I was raised to have extremely good manners. Kindal & I waited in line. We said, “Please,” and “Thank you,” and we shared. Not to say we were perfect kids, but I am thankful that my parents took the time to teach us about being polite & treating everyone equally.

I’d just really prefer that it would take Taryn a lot longer to realize there are people in the world that you really want to punch in the face. And you can’t.

And that it sucks, big time.

(her & i take food VERY seriously)

I’ve recently discovered a new musician named Jes Karper & his music is so relaxing, optimistic, and just… wonderful. I have a feeling this guy will get big, even though he probably doesn’t even want to.

Give thanks to the land & the sky up above, and pour your energy into building a community.

-Try Life

Some times it’s only your heart that you will follow, and those are my favorite times.

-Followin’ the Sun

And she told me that the answer to love’s questions are all just a matter of timing.

-Goddess

Is this what our country is based on? Dude… where is my country?

-Dude, Where is My Country?