Cutting the calories..

I'm not the only one making healthier lifestyle choices...

THAT WAS THEN

THIS IS NOW

Low Fat Milk-Bones (only 5 calories each)

Keepin' it light in 2012

Dear AUM...

I hate your stinking guts. You make me vomit. You are scum between my toes. 
Love, Amanda

Do you see the picture above? It is a picture of the books I ordered to start classes next week at AUM. The only problem is... I just dropped my classes. To say I am a little upset would be a complete understatement, but to understand my anger... I'll have to fill you in. I decided to get my master's at AUM as a reading specialist. My joke of an adviser told me that if I pursued the degree, I would be eligible for a teacher grant (which would pay for the majority of my schooling). I was stoked... and totally on board! And things even got better! She said that because my GPA was so high, I could go straight into the master's program without taking the MAT until my first semester. I later learned that this labeled me as a provisional student. It sounded like a plan to me! I could go ahead and get going with classes, and take the MAT sometime my first semester. Well... I called AUM's financial aid to make sure everything was set, and they informed me that I was not eligible for the teach grant because it's not available to provisional students. They told me I could try to apply my second semester, but that I probably wouldn't get it since it wasn't the beginning of the year. They said I should probably talk to my adviser. So I called her. I asked her about it... and she said... "Oh yea... I guess it does say that." And I asked what we could do. And she said there was nothing left to do. I gave a very frustrated "Ookkkaaayyy"... and she said very cheerfully.. "Ok, bye!" and hung up.

Are you kidding me!?! I was typing so fast trying to pull up my AUM account that I kept hitting the wrong keys. I went straight into webster... and dropped... my classes! I am completely finished with AUM. I am not giving them any more of my money. Boo you AUM!!! BOO YOU!!!

So it looks like I have some decisions to make.... West Alabama with the rest of my crew... or travel to receive a gifted degree. Whatever I decide... I can promise you that it won't be from AUM. Who wants to be called a warhawk anyways....

Goodbye 2011... Hello 2012!

Big plans for 2012!

Ladies and gentlemen let the 2012 year begin! And may the odds be ever in my favor... Bring it on 2012!  This year I am volunteering to be thrown back into the hunger games at AUM. I will be fighting others for high grades, cheap books on Amazon, and the seat in the back of the classroom. I'm sure I will face many challenges, like unknown holds to my account (which has already happened), get dropped from a couple classes for no reason at all, and earn a few extra student loans. But despite it all, in just one year (and probably an extra semester) I will have the honor of making more money  obtaining my master's degree as a reading specialist. I am super excited about attending AUM this year as a mockingjay "warhawk." I'm taking two classes back-to-back, which will make for tiring long days.... but hopefully it will be worth it in the end! Maybe I'll wear my hair in a braid and carry a bow and arrow for my first class. Can't wait...

I have also began jogging. I even bought shoes to fit my new hobby, so that means it's serious (because these things were ridiculously funny-looking expensive). My aunt and I are jogging about five days a week. We started last week, and my legs have been so sore that I try to make it throughout the day without squatting down for any reason... ever. She's pretty hardcore, and I doubt she'll let me back out much, so that's probably a good thing. She likes to race by Dairy Queen ::sigh::, do lunges up mountains hills, and jog at a speed that makes me pant.  Sometimes I just walk really fast with my arms in jogging mode, thinking maybe I'll fool her. Then when she looks my way, I start jogging again. She told me that chewing gum helps while running, so I probably need to stock up on gum because I could use all the help I can get. We also do this thing where you run as fast as you can to a mailbox, and then walk to next one... like a cycle. It's not too bad if you're athletic like me. You should see me zoom the five feet to the next mailbox. And just for fun, yesterday we ran up a boat ramp. On a positive note, I have already lost 3 pounds, which is pretty awesome... except I just ate some cookies and probably gained them back (don't tell my aunt).  Just 15 more pounds to go, and I'll be doing pretty good! My aunt said that's no big deal, and I'll be there in no time. She's already lost 22 pounds since September. We shall see what happens! Our next jogging adventure is tomorrow. Did you know it is going to be like 25 flippin' degrees?!? But we don't care... because we're hardcore... and I have new shoes... but maybe I'll chew an extra piece of gum just in case....