Paul Gillin, who wrote the book The New Influencers, is speaking to my class next Tuesday. So if anyone wants me to ask him any questions let me know. He writes about new social media, which relates to my MK 402 - Marketing and New Social Media class. Pretty interesting stuff!

Grown Up Make Believe:

I wonder, do adults still day dream about make believe? If so, of what? If not, when did they stop? And why? I feel like I'm never going to stop day dreaming or making believing.

Since I have no Thursday or Friday classes I have a 4 day weekend all semester long, which gets even better when you have Monday off for President's Day. Yup, you got it 5 day weekend. I decided I would go visit my grandmother who lives on Cape Cod in a wonderful beach house (although it is freezing here) to get off campus and spend some quality time with her since I haven't seen her since Sept. or Oct. Since she goes to bed around 10PM, and I don't fall asleep until 2AM, I found myself being very productive, but relaxed at the same time.

I can't wait until I'm like 35, married with kiddies, and have this wonderful, awesome job, where I can take a month off from work, come to the Cape to my grandparent's house (which I now own in my dreams) spend all day playing with my hubby and babies during the day, reliving my childhood through my kids and at night after movies and ice cream sundaes, stay up and super productive and get tons of work done. Now is this my own determination or just a grown up version of a day dream?

Road trip Update #1:
Basic Outline:
1. Fairfield, CT -> Topeka, KS = 1,311 miles
2. Topeka, KS -> Keystone, SD = 708 miles
3. Keystone, SD -> Grand Canyon, AZ = 1,060 miles
4. Grand Canyon, AZ -> Las Vegas, NV = 277 miles
5. Las Vegas, NV -> Beaverton, OR = 1,065 miles

We are leaving 5/18 and need to be in PDX by 5/27. My dad also wants to do 500 miles a day, thus we need to figure some things out. But hopefully everything will go well.

100 Days...

When I was in kindergarten we had a big celebration for our 100th day of kindergarten. We collected 100 pennies, 100 buttons, looked how far we could go taking 100 steps, etc. It was a pretty big deal let me tell you. Tonight is senior pub night (our school does this once a month) and the theme is 100 days until graduation. 100 days from today (including weekends), it will be May 17th and I be done with my continuous college education (I might do grad school at some point but not for a couple of years - thus the continuous part). So before heading to the bar to celebrate being so close to being done. I'm sitting here thinking back to how long 100 days was to me when I was 5 and how short 100 days seems now that I'm 21.

Lent:

So, Lent starts today. And my friend and I are going to give up swearing for the next 40 days (hopefully longer since it is such a bad habit - this will make my parents happier too). My friend and I agreed to be accountability partners (funny thing was I didn't even know she was religious and I bunked with her over doubles last winter for two weeks). But we are going to be praying for each other (more importantly our mouths for the next 40 days). And are joking that if either of us ever feel the urge to cuss we would call the other anytime and place.

I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." - Psalm 39:1

Career Fair Tomorrow:

Tomorrow is Bentley's career fair. I'm going to go check it out see if I can get any leads for a job. What I'm looking for:
1. A marketing job (back up management job).
2. A job outside of New England (West Coast or International preferably)
3. Something non-profit (or Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability aka not driven by money but will make me feel like I'm actually making a difference in this world)

Things I need to do before hand:
1. Fix my resume
2. Update my Optimal Resume
3. Print out like 20 copies of my resume
4. Look over the list of companies so I can pin point who I want to talk too
5. Straighten my hair

Cross Country Roadtrip?

I really want to drive my car back to Oregon after I graduate. Can anyone say Cross Country Roadtrip? I'm starting to create a list of things I want to see. But I would really like to hear other people's suggestions. So share away!

The List Thus Far:
* Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona
* Las Vegas to see some Cirque Du Soleil shows and learn how to gamble (not a ton though)
* Topeka, Kansas - check out Dad's motorcycle that is getting redone
* Sturgis
* Mt. Rushmore
* Badlands
* Yellowstone
* Grand Tetons

God Moments vs. Impatience

I always feel like I need to work on praying more for guidance. I seem to struggle with that a lot internally. Maybe just cause it's in my nature to be very strong willed, impatient, driven, and I think that I have pretty good street smarts that makes me this way. But I have never been the one to stop and pray about what God wants me to do with anything, which classes I should take, what I should do with my life, who I should invest time with, etc. But them I feel like for most of my life, things just seem to fall into perfect place for me. My God moments I call them. Where things could not have a lined up so perfectly without His divine intervention. Not to mention I feel like God made me this way for a reason. Should I just go with it? I'm pretty sure most of those personality traits aren't sins and I like them for the most part. But I do know that God wants us to strive always for our best - so maybe I just need to improve on some of those things. I'm not sure. Just looking for thoughts or comments today. Should I just accept that God made me this way and our relationship is pretty strong, and I love and respect His "God moments" in my life. Or should I start spending more time in prayer asking Him what He wants me to do - rather just going with the flow that is my nature?

Changing my Major:

So I'm officially on my way to changing my major. Technically I'm double majoring - but the school doesn't give out double majors, but I can prove I've taken 24 credits of marketing and 24 credits of management. So whatever. I just added into my 5th class, but its on Tuesday nights so I still have Thursday and Friday off. Tomorrow I am meeting with the management minor chair to change my management major to a minor. Then on Wed. I am meeting with the marketing major chair to change my marketing minor to my major. Crazy, crazy life I live - I know. But what else would you except from Jenna?

MLK Celebration

This morning I had the opportunity to hear Morris Dees speak at my school in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. This guys is pretty amazing. He is known for his dedication to suing hate groups and discrimination controversial cases. Because of his line of work he has become a target for criticism for many of these organizations, receiving death threats and strong accusations against him. There are currently over 30 people in jail in connection with plots to kill Des or blow up his Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). All in all a great honor to hear him speak and he was an amazing speaker. He talks about all hate crimes, not just those involving race, but also religion and sexual orientation. He also talked a lot about the Bible - which I found interesting (I need to do some more research on the prophet Amos now). And also compared the 40 years since MLK, Jr's death to that of the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert waiting to cross into the Promise Land.

Changing My Major

Yes, I do know I'm a second semester senior. Yes, I do know it is incredibly last minute. Yes, I know it might not work out. But I was looking over my DAS (degree audit summary) on Friday and realized I have taken 24 credits of management courses (current major) and 24 credits of marketing courses (something I realized I am way more passionate about). So hopefully I can either change my major or double major. I'm not sure, but I have a meeting with my academic adviser tomorrow at 1:30PM to find out. I think I'll be able to do more with a marketing major than just a plain management one. But I do know that it is incredibly last minute so I know it might not work out, which is fine with me. But I am going to try. Would you expect anything less of me?

On a side note, MK 402 class we have to follow a blogger who write about social media and write about them on our classes newly created blog: http://marketingandnewsocialmedia.blogspot.com/

And my blogger, Shel Israel actually wrote on my blog and we have been emailing back and forth. Which is incredibly cool (or at least I think so). Or I'm the biggest nerd ever.

Okay - so my roommates found a copy of Juno online so we had a bonding experience watching this movie. (Not that I condone illegal downloading - but it is really convenient. And I'm poor, and I hate movie theatres (that is for another blog)). Plus, I was on duty and I couldn't leave the building. Anyways, the movie is really cute. The lingo is fun and funky and easy to follow if you are a hipster.

Juno MacGuff: Oh, and she inexplicably mails me a cactus every Valentine's Day. And I'm like, "Thanks a heap coyote ugly. This cactus-gram stings even worse than your abandonment."

For example.

I dunno, maybe I'm just super emotional about teen age pregnancy/babies from spending a summer working with teen age mothers and/or ex-boyfriend's previous (aka NOT me) relationship ending due to a pregnancy. But these types of movies always make me tear up (okay - so the only other movie like this I've seen in Saved - but I cried in that movie too and I AM NOT A CRIER and I teared up in this movie). Either way - the movie was great. I loved it - will probably get it on DVD when it comes out. Which BTW, Across the Universe comes out on DVD Feb. 5th. Hello early Valentine's Day present to myself. So if you like cute, witty, finding yourself movies (ie, Donnie Darko, Garden State, and Empire Record) chances are you are going to like this one too.

Last semester of college.

It's official. Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 22nd. I start my last semester of my college career. Crazy huh? I think it is slowly seeping in. Although I do need to get up early tomorrow morning and go to the Registrar's Office to find out a couple of things:

1) Why I can't register for my 4th class - long story I can't add my 4th class (which makes me a full time student and thus a RA and can stay on my dad's insurance) because of a financial hold on my record - however, there is no financial hold on my record - confusing huh?
2) When I become a full time student I need to get the paperwork confirming this for my mom to send to my dad's insurance company so I can still get benefits.
3) Figure out if the Registrar's Office actually figure out that little jinx in my Marketing Minor - I talked to the Academic Center and they told me it was nothing to worry about and I'm all set to graduate on time. Yeah for being an overachiever and double minoring. Causes problems left and right.
4) I need to actually sign up for my 4th class - I'm hoping to get into a class called LIT351 - Monsters and Madmen in Media - sounds interesting and fun. Plus, there are 6 books needed for the class that are all classics like Frankenstein - so I'm willing to invest the money into those books (and they are available used at the school bookstore for less that $10/book, which equals roughly a $60 class).

Other classes I am taking this semester:
* MG228 - Managing Diversity in the Workplace - sounds pretty simple - plus it is co-taught by a lady from Academic Services who used to be a RD (Resident Director) and she loves me.
* MK 402 - Marketing and the New Social Media - I believe we are studying about the affects of blogging, YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace have on the marketing world - pretty exciting stuff and it is taught by one of my favorite marketing professors, who had to pull some strings to get me into this class, which I really appreciate.
* NMSC 303 - Coastal Zone Management - taught at Brandies another school in Waltham, so that is exciting that I will get to meet other students from another school, and learn about the coastal ecosystem.

I also need to sign up for another Service Learning Project - I think I have about a week before that is due so I can get my Service Learning Certificate (120+ of community service in the 4 years I have been at Bentley).

I'll update you more on my classes as they come around. And how my attempts of getting things organized at the Registrar's Office goes.

Sorry - I know this is long. I have more things to add to this day. I went to the book store (anyone who has been to college know how much of a rip off this is) for the usual blowing of hundreds of dollars to find out at that a. MG 228 doesn't have a text book, and b. MK402 only has two books, but they aren't text books - they are actual best sellers that only cost $25/each and I would have probably bought them anyways - cause I'm a nerd like that.

And I got home from this exciting shopping trip to find an email from a student wanting to buy a boring textbook I posted online on ibeatmybookstore.com for $40 bucks. I only paid $60 so it seemed good since I wasn't going to EVER use that horrible textbook again.

Also, did I mention that I only have class Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday? Oh the life of a senior, 3 days of school, 4 days of weekend. I think I'm gonna get another (I already have 3) job. I need the money anyways.

Adventures in Key West
While overall I have a great time in Key West with Sam, we decided that Key West is the reminds us of Pleasure Island from Pinocchio. The place where all the boys go to drink, smoke, play pool, gamble and oh - turn into donkeys. Key West is everything that your parents tell you is bad, yet they do while there. There were no kids there, and we were probably some of the youngest people there.

Things we did:

• Snorkeling - saw a Nurse Shark, Barracudas, and Parrot Fish
• Scootering around the island
• Getting hit on/free drinks from older men
• Riding a trike around Duval street ending in an accident and Sam getting a "Trike Burn"
• Almost getting suckered in to joining a cult
• Tanning - A LOT
  
• Other unmentionable things - you will have to ask me about that personally
  

Other than the fact that I have no idea where I am going to be living post my May 17th graduation date. Here is my post-college apartment (house?) wish list. Just for fun and I will probably add to this as I get distracted constantly.

Post College Living Wish List:

• KitchenAid Stand Mixer - in ice (up for color change)
• Ultimate Sack - bean bag chair (the 6 footer one) in black or navy
• Cool Starbuck's Coffee/Tea maker (do those exist even?) - what ever is on sale when I graduate/move out
  

One thing I look forward to do after I graduating and moving out of my mother's house would be going to Goodwill/Ikea and getting a ton of really cool/funky bookshelves painting them and fixing them up then taking all my books out of my mom's attic and finally having a place for them. Sorry I'm in a reading craze this past week and I'm just totally pumped about that.

I am currently reading:

• Eclipse
• The Kite Runner
  
• Eat, Love, Pray
• Keeping Faith
• Eragon
  

I hate finals. They stress me out. I can't focus and they seem quiet pointless to me. Every semester I just want to get them over with and get home as fast as I can. It seems like everyone gets all stressed out and turn into walking zombies - which just makes me want to get out of here even faster. Plus we are being hit by snow storms - which makes me nervous about my flights home. But I know I just need to buckle down and get my work done. Lucky for me, I only have 2 more finals and 4 more days here in Boston until Jan. 17th!

Tomorrow/Today/Saturday I have, hopefully, an easy final. From 2-4PM, then a party celebrating at 10PM.

Sunday, I have to work from 4-6PM lifeguarding, hopefully writing my 4th credit, service learning paper on "How organizations, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, help assimilate international children to the American culture." Exciting I know. Then I was planning on going to my aunt's house to get a nice dinner, do some free laundry, and pick up the Christmas presents from her family for my family. But its supposed to snow all day - so I'm not sure if this will actually work out. I could always go Monday and just veg there while everyone is at work/school, or go and sleep over.

Monday is my roommates and I's OCD cleaning party. In which, our common room, kitchen, storage room, and bathroom will be cleaned for the break. And hopefully, I will be motivated to clean my actual room (and maybe start packing).

Tuesday is my study/packing day.

Wednesday, I have a final from 10AM-12PM. Then I'm leaving for the airport at 2PM to catch my 5PM flight home! AND I CAN NOT WAIT!

Thoughts on purity.

Today our pastor at my school's church was ill so I went to Catholic Mass. While everyone else was reciting some memorized quote that I had no idea about what I was bowing my head in prayer and I noticed a line across my right hand ring finger and that is when I had my most recent epiphany.

Friday, I decided to take off my promise ring because the stone is really loose and I don't want to loose it so I'm saving it until I get home for Christmas and can get it reset. I usually don't make a big deal about my own choices. But it seems to be a recent topic these days. I was really surprised that there was still a mark 2 days later. Granted I've had it on that finger for over two years, I guess that make sense. Now there are a whole bunch of metaphors I can make about this like purity is permanent and always there until you loose it. Stuff like that. But there are two recent events that were insightful to me.

One, over Thanksgiving break I attended a sex toy party with one of my friends. Which I wasn't sure how I was going to react. It was very educational and I got a lot of good, tasteful present ideas for my friends that are getting married. On the other hand, it was really uncomfortable and sad being there, there was like 6 other girls there (I was clearly the youngest and the only virgin) only one women was married and all the girls where there looking for ways to spice up their sex lives. These girls were 22-26 years old. I thought it was really sad to be that young and that bored with sex. I'm working on a new life goal of finding more joy in my life and I guess this is one thing I'm really joyful about. That I'm not bored of sex yet (granted you actually have to have sex first to get bored of it - but you get my point).

Second event, this week. A girl that I go to school with, had sex with one guy on Thursday night and another different guy on Friday night. While I'm not going to judge this girl, we do share a lot of friends and have spent most of the weekend being the listener of all of our shared friends comments about her decisions. Another thing I am joyful for, that my decisions not to have sex doesn't lead to public discussions and insights.

That is all for now.

Update! I am going to Key West for Winter Break (Jan. 10-17th) with my friend from school Sam. We are going to live on a boat and swim with dolphins. And anything else we can plan.

My goal is to loose 2 pounds a week (or go to the gym everyday and eat healthy) until then.

I am also going to be working on being more joyful in my life and in God.

Accomplishments?
Things I want to do (if you are interested):
- Christmas Shopping - negative - but planned
- Get a holiday Mani/Pedi - pedi check and I LOVE the color
- Change license to say I'm not a minor anymore - neg.
- Get motorcycle license - neg.
- Hanging out with my kid brother - check
- Visiting him at UofO - check
- Wine Tasting - neg.
- Checking out the local micro-breweries - went to McMinamins (so not really)
- Checking out the "cool" clubs/bars - went to Dixie and Solo (well outside of Solo)
- Thanksgiving - check
- Watching Gilmore Girls - check - more than 1/2 way through the series
- Going to Lavish - neg.
- Before We All Leave Reunion Reunion party - check
- Hanging out with all you cool kiddies - check

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be back in the PDX! Next Friday, Nov. 16th until Monday, Nov. 26th. If you guys want to hang out let me know!

Things I want to do (if you are interested):
- Christmas Shopping
- Get a holiday Mani/Pedi
- Change license to say I'm not a minor anymore
- Get motorcycle license
- Hanging out with my kid brother
- Visiting him at UofO
- Wine Tasting
- Checking out the local micro-breweries
- Checking out the "cool" clubs/bars
- Thanksgiving
- Watching Gilmore Girls
- Going to Lavish
- Before We All Leave Reunion Reunion party
- Hanging out with all you cool kiddies