Odors Good & Bad

It's only been a couple weeks, and the semester is already kicking my butt. Clearly I wasn't thinking when I registered for 5 classes, all of which have online components. However, I haven't fallen behind yet. I'm even able to get all my homework done during the week so I can have fun and relax on the weekends. Anyways, it's still been a good semester so far. I had a fun chem lab today, minus the first half of the lab that stunk like rotten cheese. We messed around with hydrocarbons today. We were creating esters, which usually have pleasant odors. They are created by combining foul/rotten smelling carboxylic acids and sour smelling alcohols. We had to "waft" the odor of all the substances and record the descriptions. After smelling only 2, I had a headache. The worst was rotten cheese. I have never smelt something so bad before! Luckily, the lab started to smell a little bit better after the reactions took place. The esters smelled fruity. There was banana, pineapple, pear, orange, wintergreen, and brandy. Yes, one of the odors we created was that of brandy. My dad was pretty proud of me when I told him that I recognized the odor with thanks to him. My chem teacher got a kick out of it too.

On a different note, my health class has me keeping daily food and physical activity logs. I'm hoping to be eating healthier and being more physically active by the end of the semester. I've done one weekly log of each so far. I'm not consuming too many more calories than what's recommended for me, but recording is definitely making me think about what I eat. It's crazy to see how many calories are in some foods. It's making me more aware of what I'm eating, which is a good thing. I'm already down 1 pound too! After all the shoveling I did this morning, I wouldn't be surprised if I lost another pound. We'll find out tomorrow during my weekly weigh-in.

Spring Semester

I have survived my first week back in school. For spring semester this year, I am taking 5 classes worth 16 credits, which is only 1 less credit than last semester. It will be a busy semester once again, but I am hoping to allow more time to blog this time around. I am also currently enrolled in 2 different colleges. At my main college, I will be taking chemistry, holistic health, weight management, and GIS applications. Chemistry shouldn't be too bad; it's simply the part 2 to my chem class last semester. Holistic health will be studying different alternative therapies, including speakers and potential involvement with the different therapiers. Weight management is exactly what it sounds like. I will learn how to eat healthier and manage my weight when I reach my goal. GIS applications will consist of using a computer program that is similar to a GPS unit. It is also an independent study class, so hopefully I don't get too stressed out from it.

At the other college, which is located about an hour and a half away, I am taking environmental biology online. It will transfer to my environmental science program, so one less class that I will have to take a year from now. It is designed to have assignments due every 2 weeks. So, every 2 weeks I will have to read 2 chapters, take a quiz on each chapter, and respond to a discussion board posting. Every 4 weeks, there will be a test covering all 4 chapters of the previous weeks. It shouldn't be too hard, but I will be busy.

New Year = New Me

Welcome 2011! As another new year begins, it's time to reflect on the previous year. As usual, I have taken a look at my resolutions for last year. How did I do? Not the greatest, but not horrible. My first resolution was to finish school in a year, and that won't be happening. The college decided to not honor of all my transfer credits, so I will not be graduating this spring as I was hoping. But that just leaves more room for an awesome internship, which I am hoping to get this summer. So the second part of that resolution just might come true. We'll get into those internships later when I get hired on :). I also did not completely follow through with my other resolution, which was to join the band or the theatre department. The band meets every day at times that have conflicted with my other classes. I am in process of joining the drama club, in hopes of helping out with lights and sounds in the background. So far they haven't needed anyone, but that might change this year. However, I have joined the school's ecology club. Sometime in the next month, we will be sponsoring a snow-shoeing trip. I've never been snow-shoeing, so I am looking forward to it a lot.

And that leads into the new year. What are this year's resolutions? There are three things that I want to work towards completion over the next twelve months. First, I want to keep up with my chores around the house. I am hoping to cook dinner at least once a week, if not more, for my parents. I am also hoping to do all my laundry every week, and put it away the next day when it's dry. I tend to forget it hanging up in the laundry room once dry. I will also keep my room and desk areas clean and hopefully clutter-free. Second, I want to make more homemade gifts for friends and family members' birthdays and holidays. Not only will this save me a little bit of money, but it will also result in more meaningful gifts made from the heart. Third, I want to better my eating habits and continue with my weekly exercise routine. One class I am taking this spring semester revolves around weight management, so I should learn some healthy eating tips that will become a habit. I will also continue one of my previous resolutions, which is to continue to do well in school and work as hard as possible to keep up my perfect 4.0. Here's to another great year!