Finals

  


It's that time of the year when everyone buckles down and starts studying for finals.  This is all new for me since I am a freshman, I mean I have had big tests and all, but nothing like this where these tests count for quite a big percentage of my grade.  It's nice to think that in exactly a week from today I will have two done and one to go the following Monday, but I'm not too worried about that one.  It takes so much time to review and remember all of the information we have learned over the semester from each class, but I think if one puts in an adequate amount of time for studying and leaves some time for relaxtion, then things should go well.

This is where my running comes in handy for me.  Of course I have been continuing to run because not only do I love to, but it feels great, especially around this time with finals and all.  It's my chance to "relax" and relieve my stress that I may have from studying.  Another way that I like to de-stress around this time is go and study at coffee houses.  I prefer to go to caribou because in my hometown we have at least six caribous and I have grown to love the place.  There isn't many here in Minnneapolis, mostly star bucks and other "one timer" coffee houses, which I like, but I like the location of the Caribou I go to because it's a little out of the way of all the hustle and bustle and makes a great quiet place to study.  I would like to go try other coffee houses since I love the atmosphere they bring, but the "more interesting" java houses seem to be out in the city, not exactly on campus.  I might have to venture out one day though and go study at one for awhile. 

   

I just cannot wait for winter break to finally come, knowing that finals are over and we can finally relax and enjoy our time with the family.  Also less than one week until I see my brother, which I am very excited for!  I hope everyone else has some exciting plans for the holidays, maybe even those of you who are really lucky are going somewhere tropical.  I wish I was going somewhere warm and sunny during break, but instead I'll be in Minnesota working...
 

I hope everyone enjoys the holidays and does well on finals!

Christmas Spirit!

Now my blog, since it has changed to personal, isn't relating so much to running.  How can I talk about running though with holiday season taking place right now.


    
I'm so excited for Christmas to come, not only does it means good food and time spent with family and friends, but finals will be DONE. I cannot wait for that feeling of relief, knowing that all our hardwork, (that is if students put an adequate amount of studying in towards their finals), will be paid off and over! Well, until next semester at least. I also can't wait to see my brother over break.  He currenly lives right outside of Boston, attending Bentley University, where he plays Division I hockey.  I rarely ever get to see him, especially now that he is getting older and is getting a job over on the east coast, so it makes most sense for him to stay over there.  Exactly two weeks from today though he will be home for a week and I am so happy and excited to see him.  He also will be bringing his girl friend that he has been dating for awhile with him, but she is only staying until the 23rd, so she can be with her family on Christmas Day.  It's a big deal to have her come with, because it's our family's first time meeting her and they have been dating for quite awhile and not only will she meet our family (like the immediate family), but she will be meeting my extended family to at our family Christmas party, probably a little nerve racking for her, but we are all very warming and welcoming, so I think she should be fine!

Speaking of a family Christmas party, that is another event that is coming up soon that I am quite excited for.  It's an annual tradition that we do every year at my uncle's house with my mom's side of the family.  She has eight siblings including her, so it's quite chaotic at his house.  It's lots of fun though because we all get to be together, which doesn't happen very often since we all are so busy all the time and have many different schedules to attain to.  Between this Christmas and next year's Christmas we will have lots of new additions to the family, by additions I mean new babies.  My cousins have had a few kids each and now are both pregnant and expecting another child early this spring, so it will be one of my cousin's second child and the other her third, not to metion all these kids are under the age of four, so it's going to be a little crazy! I love children though, so I think it will be more fun than anything.



I suppose I could mention a little something about running too since that's what I love to do and had been talking about previsouly in my research blog.  This morning I went on one of my longer runs, about seven miles, and boy did it feel great.  It was snowing very lightly, and all the trees looked gorgeous with the snow covering their branches. It was like running in a winter wonderland.  I was also quite surprised as to how many people were out and about either running or walking. I thought since it was a tad chilly outside not many people would be out, but there were a handful of people out and running, getting their early morning exercise.




I hope everyone is getting all their school work finished and studying hard for the up coming finals.  We all want to have a great holiday break and what could be better than knowing that we have done well on our finals!