Back again. :)

Hey all,'I haven't written in awhile since I haven't felt like it. However, I'm doing a lot more now than I was earlier in the year. I'm involved in Cincinnati Goalball, which is really fun. We went to our first tournament in Michigan a few weeks ago. I'm the only girl on the team, so I had to be put on a pool team with two girls from Wyskonsin. They'd played together before, so that was cool. Our guys got Mercied all four games, but scord once, and my team got mercied twice, 8/2 once, and 14-7 the last game. It was fun! I loved actually being able to use the goals, because I've never used them before and found that it is a lot easier to stay aligned when you can use the goal to back up against before throwing. We have another, more casual, tournament this coming Sunday, so I'm excited about that. Randy has been looking for a job down here, but hasn't found anything yet. He's applied to places though. I can't wait until he has a job down here! My job is boring, mostly, but it is a job so I'm not really complaining. I do get things to do from finance, which is good since there small easy things but things that need done and I'm saving time for them. I don't know how long i'll be at the company, but it's nice to have a job. Speaking of jobs, I worked at a summer camp this past summer and it was the best experience ever! I loved it! It was a Christian camp, so I got to work with kids and share my faith and grow in my faith and I wish I could work there all the time! Maybe I'll post more about that later. Right now I've got to go pack to go to a friend's house tomorrow, we have an ACBGCC (Greater Cincinnati Chapter), meeting tomorrow so I'm staying at there house and getting a ride to work Wednesday. I'll get to use their treadmill to work out to get in shape for the "Flying Pig" walk I'm doing to raise money for ACB. 5K, 10K, and half Marathon.... wish me luck! I may die! lol Really, bye for now.

Happy 2012!!! and an update on the goings on here.

Well, this past two weeks has been great. I found out I got a 4.0 this past semester! :D I was sooo surprised! I thought I’d at least have one or 2 B’s!!!
Now that I’m on break, I've not really done much except read, go to Grandma's and bake cake and cookies and help with chili, (yum!), and I went bowling with Dee and her boyfriend Thursday night. It was really fun. My games kinda sucked, (93, 82, 86), but it could have been worse. We walked around Walmart for awhile afterward and looked at stuff and talked. Sara, Mike, and our friend Ben came over last week and we hung out for a few hours and played Wii and ate AJ's pizza.

Christmas was nice. We went to Grandma and Grandpa's instead of great Grandma's for once for the entire Christmas eve, (usually we split it between the two houses even though its the same side of the family), and great Grandma didn't come, because she said she was not feeling well. I got a nice gold pearl necklace/bracelet set that can go with about anything dressy, so that was cool. I also got some nice tops, (one purple and one grey), that were dressy, so that was good since I need more dress clothes for teaching. Even though I won't be in the classroom this semester really, I'll need them for methods/student-teaching next year. I got some bath-and-bodyworks Sea-Island Cotton spray and lotion. I have so much bath-and-body its crazy, but at least I have variety lol. I got a gift card to the mall, and so my cousins and I went shopping on Monday, and I got some good deals. I even got Bilko a treat dispenser that is a soccer ball like ball with a hole in it for treats/food. He loves rolling it around and shaking it to get the food it, but he gives up after awhile, so I help him, (when I can find the ball.)

Christmas day we got up and all the grandparents came over as usual to see us open gifts. (More clothes, ITunes card, a new pare of boots that didn't fit so we're going to try to return them, an Ohio State pillow (from Walker.) We went to grandma and grandpa's at noon for Christmas dinner, and had a very... awkward conversation that consisted of my grandpa's racist jokes. It was horrible, and my grandpa's not a bad guy, and he's nice, but... I ended up throwing a grape at him from my apple salad. We all just hung out and talked until it was time to go to grandma's at 3. We had a silly gift-exchange in which I got one of the gifts we brought (and I really didn't want), and my dad got a pop-it extreme with an optional "shake-it" setting. We traded. I then set around and talked to my cousin and one of their girlfriends for awhile. That was interesting, just because I've never really talked to this girl before since I just met her at Thanksgiving.

Its now Newyears Eve Day, and Walker was up half the night puking last night, and mom was up with him. I didn't feel like going to my parents room to sleep, (I was half asleep and comfortable), so I was awake too off-and-on. He was going to have a party tonight, but I'm not sure if that's happening or not now. I'm just hanging out at home tonight with my family. Nobody invited me anywhere, and I that's fine. Usually I'm the one that has the party, but not this year, since the usual guests (except me and one friend), are doing other things in other towns. I keep telling myself that I'm going to work out more this year, and I mean to do it. Honestly, though, anything more than a few times would be an improvement. I get so busy with school and such that it never seems to happen.
Well, now that it's actually 2012 and I'm posting, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Don't ya just Love it when?...

Don’t ya just love it when…?
You find a dollar in the pocket of the jeans you wore last week? How about when you snag the last cookie? What about when you randomly run in to someone you’ve never met before and find out you have tons in common? I do! That’s what just happened to me a few minutes ago. I was relieving Bilko, (auspicious start, I know), and someone pulled up in a car. He just stopped and stared at it. I kept trying to get him to do his business, but he just kept staring. I heard someone get out and start walking up to the door. I said something like “hi.” And something about Bilko staring at her. Then I was like Bilko seriously do your business so we can go out of the rain! The girl laughed and Bilko wouldn’t even begin to circle like he is supposed to, so I gave up and asked the girl if she wanted to pet him. We walked in to the building to get out of the rain, and she started petting him and he loved it and was wagging his tail. We started talking and I found out she lives on third floor above me. I said something like “O, third floor, you don’t have to deal with people being noisy above you. Sometimes I think the people above us sound like elephants when it’s really quiet.” We laughed and she said that she is one of those people, because she’s trying to learn drums, and is practicing her base peddle. She said she was looking for someone to teach her, and since I’d played for 8 years, I said “I can teach you!” She agreed and we started talking about music. Turns out she plays violin, and I’ve been wanting to learn, so we’re going to swap lessons. Hopefully we are going to meet up this weekend and I’ll teach her some basics. I mentioned that (since we were thinking of meeting Sunday), “We’re going to H2O at 11:30, you wanna come?” She declined, but I JUST MET HER! I NEVER INVITE PEOPLE I JUST MET TO CHURCH! I am sooo proud of myself right now! :D
So, I increased my self-confidence, and hopefully made a new friend, all in 20 minutes! :D (hmmm, kinda sounds like an Infomercial.)

Birthday :) bestest!

So I'm officially not a teenager anymore! :)) Actually, doesn't feel any different. Lol.
I was woken up this morning by my roommates (Sara and Mike at least, Meg was still sleeping I think) coming in and singing "Happy Birthday," with synimon rolls and a candle in one of them. Yum Yum! That was goood breakfast!
I just hung out and looked on FB for awhile and read all the comments on my wall (I think like 115 as of a few minutes ago! Wow!) Then my parents came around 1, and we went out to this Mexican restaurant called "Don Pablos" and I was adventuress and tried fish tacos. Weird! My brother said I should try them, and I didn't know what to get, so I did and didn't like them. The rice and beans were good, but I really didn't care for the tacos and the enchilada I tried from my grandma. My mom made this giant cookie, and they sang happy birthday to me and we ate the cookie in the restaurant. Then they gave me gifts. I got a new pair of earrings from mom and da. Diamonds that I can wear all the time. I got this keychain beed thing from my grandma (mom's mom) and she picked beeds like hearts and a lock and key thing. I think they are like pandora, but not, maybe they are, I don't know. I got movies from mom and dad, and an ITunes gift card from the boys, Walker and Brennan, and a starbucks gift card! :D :D
and Money and singing cards (one from grandma and grandpa, and one from mom and dad),
When we got home, Walker wanted to say hi to Billy, (who kept licking the floor every now and again in the restaurant, but he was probably getting reeeally bored), so he took him to the bathroom for me, and I went inside. I smelled cake when I walked in to the hallway of our building, and when I opened the door... "Surprise!" There were tons of my friends! I totally wasn't expecting it! well, I was kinda suspicious, because Mike mentioned Lasagna by accident earlier, and the cake smell... It was awesome! :)
We had fun hanging out and playing scrabble, (me Brook, Kaitie, Jennie), maybe someone else but I can't think of who it was for the life of me! and it was sweet because Jenifer gave me Chocolate truffels and Trisha a stargbucks giftcard! Number two! :D Can you tell I like starbucks? lol

I did hear from Nick. Yesterday he told me his great grandpa died yesterday, and so I called and talked to him for awhile. It was kinda awkward since we hadn't talked in over a week, and I think it was weighing on us both that we wern't dating anymore but it was nice to talk to him again. He then texted me happy birthday and I texted thanks and we texted for a few minutes. It was good to hear from him. I did wish he was hear for the party, but I mannaged not to dwell on it, and overall it was an amazing birthday! :D Much more good than sad :D.
I love my friends!
(O and no spell check so excuse typos.)

SP-Recap

So now I'm finally getting around to writing about my spring break adventures.
I tried just typing it into blogger the other day, but (again) I pressed the wrong button. I'm really gonna start writing my posts in word documents and copying them.
anyway... Last weekend on Saturday, we had dinner with my cousins who made grilled salmon and vegetables of that rice-looking noodles called, roso? Rosaro? I don't remember lol. It was delicious! Well, the salmon was, my cousin managed to make all the vegitables I don't like, and I'm not a picky eater by any means! Then my brother and I went bowling with my friend Dee and her boyfriend. I got a 92 the first game and 88 the second. My brother beat me both times. :( I usually do better than that, but I haven't bowled in forever haha!

Monday I was stuck at home while everyone was at work/school.
Tuesday my grandma picked me up and took me to town (we live in the country which sucks for getting anywhere independently for a blink like me.) I hung out with a friend from high school and we went to East of Chicago for lunch and had BBQ'd Chicken Pizza. Mmm! We then walked around town and talked. We ran into another friend from high school that I haven't seen in forever, and a friend that I go to college with and was also best friends in high school.
My brother then had a band and choir concert tuesday night, and that was good. Bilko just slept by my feet, and sometimes looked up when the band started playing.
Wednesday I went to Bridges Academy in the next town over. Its a school for the Talented and Gifted. There is a boy there who is blind and in third grade and just learning braille. He hates it for some reason. He can't see anything at all either. I tried to get him to type his name but he wouldn't even try. It saddens me to think that he doesn't even want to learn. I was working with his mom, (who is his aid), to try to find motivation for him. He plays guitar, so I suggested using that as motivation-- if he learns so many letters or writes so many words he can play guitar for x amount of time,-- so I hope that she tries that and it helps. Any ideas guys? This kid is sooo stubborn!

Thursday I went out to lunch with my grandma and one of her friends to Arbies, and then walked around my grandma's block with Bilko while she did some yardwork. [I would've helped, but figured she didn't want me killing her bush! LOL.) She then tried to help me with my knitting, but we're both bad at it, so that was interesting. I had dinner with her and went to knitting class to try to get pointers. I know how to do it, but its so frustrating. I might try crochet... seems like that'll be easier since its only one hook instead of 2 needles lol. Any pointers all you blinks that do? (wink wink nudge nudge) How'd you learn?
I don't remember what I did Friday, and Saturday was spent hanging with family. This post is ridiculously long, so I'm shutting up now. My mom asked what I was doing and when I told said, "Do you really think people care about all that?"
Well, no, but if I post it online I can't lose it, right?
Seriously, posting this now.
TTFN

Friends and memories

Ok, so I'm not gonna lie. Reading Mandi's blog got me inspired to write this, but I've been thinking it a lot recently anyway so here's the motivation I needed to write it lol.

You know those friends that when your little you talk about going to the same college or living next door with your families and all that? Well I had a very good friend in Elementry that I thought the friendship would last forever. She was my closest friend from third grade till middle school. In middle school we still hung out some, but we didn't have every class together so it was hard. I remember a time... I think it was middleschool or early high school, when i was at a basketball game. My parents saw Alex and I wanted to go sit with her in the students section. I did, and I thought it'd be just like old times where she'd tell me what was going on in the game and we'd laugh at the players. I was wrong. She hardly talked to me at all! She was laughing and joking with other kids around me and ignoring me! Then when half time rolled around she left me alone in the stands! I don't remember if I cried or not, but I might have. Someone came and sat with me. I don't remember who but I think it was an adult. I was soo mad at Alex! She said later that one of her other friends was really sad and needed her and that she didn't want to leave me but everyone was pressuring her and all this stuff. I think I knew then that we wern't going to stay friends. We still talked off and on, but our friendship was never the same. Now I have her number, but I don't think she has mine, and I feel like even if I did call her it'd be the most awkward conversation ever haha! I hate losing friends like that, but it happends, and I think God does that for a reason.
When I was in high school, I had friends I hung with all the time. My friends Sara and Brittani were the closest, and we did tons of stuff together. Sara and I were in band together, so we had lots of time to hang out, and Britt came over a lot and we talked on the phone for hours :)
I'd known Britt and her twin sister Chelsey for years... we went to this before school program together... but high school is when we really started becoming close. The problem was, all of my close friends were at least a year or 2 older than me. Needless to say, senior year sucked! I couldn't really make new friends by then. Cliques were set in stone, and I wasn't really close with anyone in my grade. I hated it! I hung out with a yunger student that was kind of a social outcast. She was/is nice and we get/got along, but we never went to each other's houses or anything like that. She kind of thinks of me as her big sister :)
She knows she can come to me with anything, but its hard to keep in touch when she's still in high school.

GDB... Ah GDB! I was soo excited! I wanted to make new friends and couldn't wait to meet everybody, but I was nervous too. I hadn't had to make new friends much lately, but figured I could do it ok. I met Mandi first, and was really excited! She liked drums like me and was really cool!We were on the same plane to San fransisco, and I thought we'd talk the whole ride, but we didn't. I would've talked to her, but I wasn't sure if she was sleeping or listening to music or something and didn't want to interupt her lol! I thought we'd become really good friendsright off at school, and we hung out, but I'm not sure why we didn't hang out more. I wish we would have. For some reason we didn't. She was probably the who was most like me or at least a lot like me haha!
I really miss all my friends from GDB. Carina: Awesome roomie! I'm glad she recently texted me her new number. :) Yes!
Kristina: All I can say about that is tons of laughter and stupid songs came from our conversations, but also some pretty deep stuff too. :)
Stephannie: I remember this one time sitting in Star Bucks drinking Mint-moca Frapiccinos and comparing american and canadian money haha! Then we knocked on the window to get Carina's attention cause she was walking up and she thought it was the door... oops!
Mandi: I remember one time sitting in her room talking about our home lives and finding out that they were pretty similar in some aspects, and we really did have a lot in common. O and playing with her phone. It was really nice to just sit and talk and not be interupted by instructors taking us on routs lol.I think she was the one that ratted me and Kristina out for puttingBalloons in Tony's shower though... Darn you Mandi! LOL JK JK! Shhh! I didn't just admit that we did that! :) Good times!
O and the TP-ing the instructors... and flexy leash! Wish you guys'd gotten me off the couch 5 feet away for that one! The movie could've waited lol! I'm still wondering exactly who tried to TP me... whoever it was did a pretty crappy job of it :P
Hugs Mandi!

Yeah, I really miss my GDB friends. Now that I'm at college, I have friends, but sometimes I still feel alone. I'm not usually invited to friends rooms (Well, recently Mike and Sara have invited me places but there gonna be my roomies next year and I've known Sara for ever, and Meagan), but last semester I hardly saw the so I didn't like that much..m. and this semester none of the people I sometimes hung with and I really do much together because of schedules so it really sucksThe ones I made that live in my dorm don't invite me anywhere though, so I don't know what to think of that. I've known Sara for years (Yes the Sara from earlier in this post, which shows that friendships can last.) So God has blessed me with someone who I can turn to,and I am extremely greatful.
I don't know why God brings some people more in to lives than others, but I'm soo greatful fore all the friends he's blessed me with over the years, and I really wanna get together with out-of-state friends like Mandi and Stephannie and Carina and Kristina this summer! Miss you all! Hugs!
Jenna and Bilko
(gosh this post was depressing and random and I don't think it even makes sense! Arg me an my swirling thoughts!)

Greatful for my guide ({)

So I just had to post about how much I love my dog. :)
I went out with some friends today. One is actually my O and M instructor lol. I met her and her husband at a camp for the Vblind/VI over the summer, and she ended up being my O and M instructor for college haha!
I have to say I have absolutely nothing against this school what-so-ever. . I actually considered it for getting a dog, but this guy's handling is not good! He lets people pet his dog in harness, which if the dog can handle it and not get distracted is ok, but this dog can't. The dog just randomly went over to say hi to some kids standing near us. He kept having to tell the dog to come repetedly. The dog also licked the floor... Ok its a dog, its gonna lick, but its discusting, and he didn't do anything about it. He also gave his dog icecream in harness! He can give his dog icecream if he wants, but I don't get why he'd keep him in harness to do it. Then the dog would try to get more icecream... he was watching mine lol. Bilko just layed by my side and looked around, but didn't try to say hi to anybody like the other dog did, and didn't lick the floor. I only had to correct him once for missing a curb, but it was right outside the door of DQ. The other dog tried to follow a stranger lol! O and this dog is 11, and Bilko behaved better than him. I love my boy!
I really like this guy and his wife, but yeah... his wife and I agree he doesn't handle his dog well. Yea Bilko! You rock!