I’ve been sending a lot of time hitting the books since the term began.

It’s my last first term of this degree (fingers crossed). I have four classes. Four classes that I didn’t always like. I liked the idea of them. I liked the descriptions of them. I hated the amount of work that each professor made his class sound like (I only have male professors this term). But now I’ve found that I like my classes. Some that I even love. (It may also help that some of my profs are very funny. And that one of them has a Scottish accent – he’s not much to look at but the accent helps me to stay awake because I need to focus when he says words that are pronounced differently in the UK than it is in Canada.)

I had my first midterm exam on the last day of September. It was bad because I had to run across campus to get there on time. I normally walk and can get there on time. That Friday, I had gotten out of my previous class on time, had to briskly walk to the building. There were exams already being handed out, I had to find a seat, get my pencils, eraser and pens out. Oh, and my student card. I always forget that I need that out during an examination (especially when requested). I also hate that photo on my student card (but who doesn’t?). The results of that midterm came in just this past Friday. I did better than average (the average being 75%). I’ve developed better study habits since my first year of university – actually reading ahead, reviewing notes after classes, studying ahead of time, studying with like-minded people.

I’m working on getting together my documents for my applications for next year as I’m applying for even more schooling. I want to do another Bachelors degree (nursing). I’ve ordered high school and university transcripts. I’m waiting on those to arrive in the mail, I’m also waiting on reference letters from my volunteering place. The application process is stressful at times – needing to gathering all the documents and references and write letters of intent and essays. But this is something that I really want to do. For most of what I can remember back, I’ve wanted to become a nurse. So even though the application process is stressful and the waiting period will be stressful as well, I’ll need to suck it up and get through it.

In other news, I’ve recently acquired a vintage 1972 Blythe doll. I know a lot of people who read this blog aren’t doll people. But it’s a nice hobby to have, I’ve met some fantastic people through the hobby. I even attended a convention for Blythe in June 2011 (it was in Portland, OR – my first solo trip anywhere and my first vacation [it was for 4 days] in years). So despite what people might think about adults having dolls and collecting them – there’s nothing wrong with it. I figure as long as I’m not pretending that they’re my children (that would be my stick insects, thank you very much) or actually alive, it’s all good. I liked dolls as a child and I played make believe with them.

It’s an extension of my childhood that goes well with the fact that I still have a teddy bear that stays on my bed. But yes, I’ve acquired a vintage one (all the rest of my Blythe dolls are modern productions, all produced from the 2000s onward). And I’ve already been informed by my parents that I’ll be receiving another two this year (one for my birthday and one for Christmas).

So other than school, volunteering and doll(s), I haven’t been doing much lately. I haven’t had time for crafting, which I hope to change soon. But I did have time to bake recently (no photos as said baked goods were consumed rapidly by family members and myself). I weighed myself recently and after getting all wide-eyed at the number (thanks, Mister Scale), I’ve decided to go on a bit of a diet. Nothing too extreme, I’m going to try my best not to get completely obsessed with it (something I fell into the habit of when I was in middle and high school and essentially stopped eating, and I also dropped a lot of weight doing that). I do need to cut out fast food though (plus it’s expensive $) and to eat more fruits and vegetables (hello carrot sticks). We’ll see how it goes! I’m also planning on increasing my daily water intake as well and overall just increasing the amount of good, healthy foods. I suppose I should buy whole wheat bagels instead of plain white ones now then…