I regret to inform you all that I will not be returning to Mck next year. I just hope you all can understand and don't hold it against me.

As I'm sure most of you know I've had a pretty tough year. Emotionally it’s been a rollercoaster of ups and down. I had some good highs this year meeting some great new people and getting even closer to people I'd only know in passing last year. However, for the first time in my life, I've also had some major lows, including a kind of break down melt down. I had to take a step back and re-evaluate what I want and how exactly I'm going to get that.

While I will miss the people here, I think that it is best to spend a year or two closer to home. Simply to just refocus and decide what it is I even want. I am in no way writing McKendree off just yet. If all goes well I plan on coming back once things get sorted out.

I probably should have said something sooner, but believe it or not, it really is a recent decision.

Hannah - I hope you can forgive me for not being your roommate next year. I feel bad for bailing on you, especially since you've truly been my rock this year. It’s amazing to think that almost two years ago I didn't even know you and here we are today, you being pretty much a sister and best friend to me. You really have seen me at my lowest (tears and all), and yet for some reason you never gave up on me. Your friendship means the world to me. I pretty much owe my sanity this year to you! I will miss rooming with you again, something that I had looked forward to. I will also miss our One Tree Hill nights, the countless laughs, complaining about boys! But there is still facebook and phone calls. You are one friend I don't want to lose, and will put in the work no matter what, even if that means driving to Mt. Vernon for a weekend visit with you and the McDowell family!

Nykole - I know it will be tough, starting all over, without me, but I believe you can do it!!! You also have seen me through some of my weakest moments, but you've also been the reason for some of my happiest moments this year. Who would believe that two complete strangers would become so close so fast? Our friendship was pretty much instant!! You took me as I was, no questions asked! I couldn't imagine this year without you, though you weren't always there in person, texts and chats online only added to our humor. The distance couldn't stop the laughs, and I hope that remains true. I mean come on attacking Joe Jonas and ice packs to the head, or what about vacuuming the wall!! Who else would get me so well? I will come back to visit you and save your new roommate from the Jonas brothers, that’s a promise you can count on!!

Mallory & Bobbie - I only knew you guys in passing last year, yet when I needed a new place to stay you allowed me in with open arms. I know I may have been a little shy at first but you guys made it easy to overcome that. I will miss both of you next year and our suite family, the random chats, one tree hill nights and predictions, the I Hate Valentines Days party and She's Just Not that Into You, playing in the rain. You guys are truly amazing people.

Amanda - Thanks once again for being my dorm mommy. You really were a shoulder to cry on this year and helped me when I needed, even if it was just being there to listen to me or trying to help me sleep.

Jessica - Thanks for all the late nights and your ear to listen. I haven't seen you much second semester, but you were a constant first semester. The late night Game Show Network, keeping you company on food runs for you and Drew, cards, movies, laughs, gossiping about Mr. Hotness (no worries I'm not naming names!)

Liz - Though we kind of grew apart this year and had some very intense moments this year I wish nothing but the best for you next year, and hope that maybe one day we can overcome this.

Bekah - I know we weren't anywhere as close as we were last year, being that our trio was missing a member, but I'm glad we still were able to remain friends. I was worried that without Naomi in common, we would fall apart, but we didn't. Now we just have this summer to look forward to, when the Asian, the Immigrant, and the Roomie Next Door are reunited once again for some messy fun and guaranteed laughs, plenty of photo ops!!

McK Girl Bowlers - I feel like I owe you guys an explanation about this year. While I missed bowling this year, it just didn't hold the same appeal as before, but it wasn't even that. It was all really just in my head. I can’t even begin to explain how I was feeling. I will miss the team and those of you with whom I was close with. I wish you all good luck next season and congrats on a great season this year. I hope one day to return to the team and see all your smiling faces again.

To Everyone Else, you know who you are - thanks for being my friend, acquaintance, confidant, and for just being there. There are far too many people to list individually here but I'm thankful for each and every last one of you. More likely than not, you provided laughs and stories that made my experience this year!

I truly love everyone last one of you!

I realize I haven't really done this in awhile and I used to do it all the time so I've decide to take the time and put down whats been going on since my last real post.

First off my second year here at good ol' Mck!  Definately a totally different experience then last year.  The most important being my bestest friend from last year is not back, sadness, but on the plus side we still talk several times a week even though she returned to Ireland! Miss her terribly but we are so getting together this summer when she returns to the States for vaction.

Next big change was I switched roommates and have since switched again.  I started off rooming with Liz, a good friend from last year.  However she's is the RA and needs a room too herself so rather then wait until the end of the semester to move, I decided why not just get it done and over with and avoid any awkwardness later.  Boy was I wrong.  I was trying to avoid the awkwardness but instead I seem to have just created it, story of my life.  So now I room with Nykole and we are soo much alike its kinda scary, literally.  Both of us are probably the dorkiest people you will ever meet. I miss not rooming with Hannah, but though we don't room together any more we still make time for each other when we can, usually hanging out at least once a week, and are still as close as ever, sharing the ever present boy drama, or in our case usually lack of lol.

I declared my major and then changed it this year.  I originally had it declared as Elementary Education but have since changed it to Sociology with a focus in Social Work.

All in all this year has definatly been a year of growing, changing, and finding myself.  I'm still a work in progress but hey it's almost a new year and a new begingin!

My life at the moment is currently as boring and uneventful as it gets. 

To start things off I'm so fed up with guys!  It seems whatever I do I can't win. Either I'm to shy and don't make enough of an impression to be remembered or I'm to outspoken and that in turn pushes them away too.  I've tried to be more outgoing and talk to guys that I wouldn't in the past, even trying to talk to old crushes but that just seems to come back and bite me in the ass! 

School is school, enough said.  I'm taking pretty normal classes, nothing too hard.  The only class that might cause a problem is my drawing class, in which I will be drawing naked people with live models!!  It should be pretty interesting. 

My friends are great though, love them all to death: the asian, the immigrant, and Liz.  Hannah my roommate is great too.  I have had some great times with those four!

My life is so uneventful you'll never guess what the highlight of my week was.  Me being the clutz I am fell down a flight of stairs after my Psych class.  Not only did I fall but I did it infront of everyone, including some cute guys. Great first impression I make huh!

Hope you, whoever is reading this, have a more exciting and eventful life then mine!

I've decided to just go with the flow from now on, things will happen if and when they are supposed to.  I'm done getting all worked up over what has or hasn't happend in my life.  I will take the wait and see approach.  I've spent too much time pondering what is wrong instead of focusing on what is right in my life and I'm done.  Things happen for a reason and will continue that way.  I just have to go in and hope for the best! 

Hopefully however I don't have to wait to long for things to turn around in my life.

Artisans are the temperament with a natural ability to excel in any of the arts, not only the fine arts such as painting and sculpting, or the performing arts such as music, theater, and dance, but also the athletic, military, political, mechanical, and industrial arts, as well as the "art of the deal" in business.

Artisans are most at home in the real world of solid objects that can be made and manipulated, and of real-life events that can be experienced in the here and now. Artisans have exceptionally keen senses, and love working with their hands. They seem right at home with tools, instruments, and vehicles of all kinds, and their actions are usually aimed at getting them where they want to go, and as quickly as possible. Thus Artisans will strike off boldly down roads that others might consider risky or impossible, doing whatever it takes, rules or no rules, to accomplish their goals. This devil-may-care attitude also gives the Artisans a winning way with people, and they are often irresistibly charming with family, friends, and co-workers.

Artisans want to be where the action is; they seek out adventure and show a constant hunger for pleasure and stimulation. They believe that variety is the spice of life, and that doing things that aren't fun or exciting is a waste of time. Artisans are impulsive, adaptable, competitive, and believe the next throw of the dice will be the lucky one. They can also be generous to a fault, always ready to share with their friends from the bounty of life. Above all, Artisans need to be free to do what they wish, when they wish. They resist being tied or bound or confined or obligated; they would rather not wait, or save, or store, or live for tomorrow. In the Artisan view, today must be enjoyed, for tomorrow never comes.

Artisans make up between 15 to 20 percent of the population, which is good, because they create much of the beauty, grace, fun, and excitement the rest of us enjoy in life.

I am so frustrated right now.  Just so much stupid guy drama in my life.

I'm so fed up with guys who can't make up their mind.  They never know what they want!  It seems that guys never really want you until they can't have you, or maybe thats just me. 

That or maybe I should just learn to keep my mouth shut cause all it does is get me into trouble.  I swear, one of my best guy friends wont talk to me anymore and I don't even know why.  I think it was something I said but I wasn't tryin to be rude or anything I just asked him a question and what does he do?  He bites my head off!  What happend to the guys that used to like when a girl could speak her mind? 

Time for an update on life.

Shy small town girl me, has offically been living away from home in the college dorms for almost two whole months now.  I drove the 4.5hours home for the first time last weekend.  I think my car is trying to tell me that I shouldn't go home because on my return trip it decided to break down on the interstate.  That was the worst time ever.  I had no clue what to do and tend to kinda freak out a little in situations like this.  I ended up having to drive my dad's truck back to school but now thankfully have my great car back!

I am making some great friends, but it kinda sucks too.  I am the baby in my group of friends. I'm only 18 while they are in their 20s.  Oh well, what can I do right.  The girl I'm closest to is only here for a year scholarship from Ireland.  I'm going to miss her when she returns home next year, she's the greatest.

My roommate and I are getting along great.  We both are so much a like and we share all our funny stories with each other.  Right now we have some much guy drama in our lives that we've decided that we could make the funniest movie ever based on our love lives, or in my case lack of love life.

I miss hanging with my friends back home but I try to talk to them as much as possible.  Up until now I've had the same friends since I was like 5.  Its real hard to move away and not be able to see and talk to them everyday.

College bowling is going great I guess.  Practice is different then in High School.  We barely ever get to bowl real games.  Its all drill, but that's okay cause any way that will improve my game is fine with me.  I have my first tournment this coming weekend.  We will be going to Dayton, OH.  I'm not really looking forward to the bus ride but I think the experience should be great.  My first college tournment.  I'm so excited!

Overall though, I'm loving college life.  Just check out my photos and you'll be able to see just how much fun I'm having.

10 REASONS TO DATE A BOWLER:

1. We work well with multiple balls
2. We know how to hit it hard
3. We always come in at the right angle
4. We know how to pick it up
5. We take a fast approach
6. We know how to bend & stay balanced
7. We like it oily
8. If not oily..we know how 2 work it dry
9. We have incredible aim
10. We are great at scoring