T - 4

T - 4 Days and Counting.

It is Tuesday early morning and the countdown to graduation is coming to a close. Things are happening that signal the end...such as eating whats left in the room so I won't have to waste food, or spending as much time with friends as possible. Yes, the end is near. However it is a new beginning. A beginning that I am not sure what brings yet.

I applied to two regular jobs this morning for the CHS & MOB areas. I have found a new way to search for meteorology jobs and hope that is brings more opportunities my way. I continue to pray for God's leadership and wisdom in the coming days as decisions must be made.

I will be done with school completely by Wednesday at 12:30 PM and that will be a glorious time! I am tired of school and doing school work and currently digging deep to find motivation to study for finals...hence why it is 12:45 AM haha. Starting Wednesday at 12:45 PM, a very long party is about to start and will continue through January 1st. This is my mini-vacation from the world in which I will be spending time with friends and family. This includes leaving good friends down and reuniting with some old friends back in Charleston.

Yes, 4 days and counting.

Let It Begin!

It comes down to this....one week left in Mobile! Graduation is this Saturday and it is going to be crazy!

I am planning every possible moment that I have to spending time with my friends before I leave. Going to be honest here for a moment....I seem calm and collected on the outside, but inside I am freaking out! I am stressed, and distraught over leaving Mobile. I have spent the past 3 1/2 years down here building relationships and I am afraid that they are going to fall apart, even though deep down I know that they are not going to.

Back to graduation, I have one hectic schedule this week, but I am going to find joy in every single moment of it. Here is a breakdown:

Monday

8:00 AM - Go into work
12:00 PM - Get off of work
1:00 PM - start studying
7:00 PM (ish) - Go to BCM study break
8:30 PM (ish) - Back to studying

Tuesday

8:00 AM (ish) - Wake up and start studying
ALL DAY - studying/packing
7:00 PM (ish) - Softgoods Cookout
9:30 PM (ish) - Back to studying

Wednesday (the most hectic day)
8:00 AM - Meteorology Radar Final
10:30 AM - Differential Equations Fiinal
1:00 PM - Go into work
5:00 PM - Get off of work
TBA - Softgoods Christmas Party/Graduation Party

Thursday
TBA - Graduation Photos with Miranda
ALL DAY - Packing and hanging out with friends

Friday
TBA - Breakfast with Fatty (Jaclyn)
12:00 PM - Family Arrives

• Visit the bookstore so Mom can meet Boss
• Campus Tour
• Lunch at Wintzell's Oyster House
• More Mobile activities

Saturday
12:00 PM - Arrive to Graduation
1:00 PM - Line up for Graduation
2:00 PM - Ceremony starts
4:00 PM (ish) - Ceremony Ends
4: 30 PM - Department Photos/Family Photos
5:00 - 5:30 PM - Arrive to Golden Corral for graduation dinner
6:30 - 7:00 PM - Say bye to friends
7:00 PM (ish) - Go to Bellingrath Gardens
LATER - Visit with some friends for the last time

Sunday
11:00 PM - Check out of dorm
11:30 PM - Leave MOB and head to CHS
5:00 PM (ish) - Arrive to ATL to stay the night

Monday
Arrive to CHS as a meteorologist.

Yep......crazy week! Let it begin!

Another Boring Night

Monday night was extremely boring. Nobody was free to do anything so I sat around and watched TV. I feel like I have been in prison in my room due to the fact that I don't have a car at the moment. So I planned an event tonight (Wed) with some of the bookstore employees. Those plans fell through.

What gets me is the person who was hosting it, I considered a good....possibly best friend.....decided to cancel the whole thing and even through I was the only one still coming. First of all I haven't hung out with me in almost two weeks and we could have still hung out. Rent a movie or something. What makes me really aggravated is that he text me and said that he was going to his girlfriend's house. Wow......................................................got ditched for the girlfriend. To be honest, made me pretty upset. So now I am once again stranded in this prison with nothing to do.

This is not how I was wanting to spend my few weeks in Mobile......stuck in a 4-sided cement prison.

Car = Freedom

In case you haven't heard by my post on facebook or following me on twitter (@samswindler), my car broke down outside of Atlanta on the way back to Mobile. After waiting minutes for the tow truck and waiting for the mechanic at NAPA to tell us what is wrong with the car, the fuel pump is the problem! The guy said that it was a 3 hour job and they closed in a hour. Meaning that we had to live the car in Atlanta! Yeah.....five hours away. We are scheduled to pick it up Friday afternoon in which my Dad will have to drive me back to Atlanta on his way to Jacksonville (5 hours) and then i have to drive me back (5 hours).

Anybody can do that basic math, that is a total of 10 hours of driving on Friday afternoon starting at 12:00 PM! Yea......so not looking forward to that drive. I just drove 20+ hours over the thanksgiving break and plus I will have to drive by myself. I am currently trying to convince some friends to go up with me so that I can have someone drive back with me. Not looking good so far.

On top of all this I have to depend on people for rides and such before Friday. I am very dependent when it comes to my car and rides to places. I feel like I have to pay them back for giving me rides, even though that is what friends are for....being there when you need it. However that is just me. Also I am going to miss the BCM Christmas party....my last Christmas party and I am going to miss it! Great. Stupid car.........great timing!

3 Weeks!

In exactly 3 weeks from today, I will be graduating from the University of South Alabama with a bachelor of science in meteorology. I have so many mixed emotions.

Happy - Excited - Sad - Scared - Terrified

I am beyond ready to be done with school but I am absolutely not ready to leave my friends down here. I am going to spend the next 3 weeks spending as much time as I can with them before I leave. I can already tell that it is going to get emotional!

T - 33

Its 6:48 A.M. and I am awake, but I don't have class until 9:05 A.M. Why am I awake? Doing laundry.....one of the disadvantages of the dorm, you have to wait until they are empty which is usually in the morning and early afternoon. So what else do you do at (now) 6:50 A.M.? I obviously blog haha.

Some thoughts that have been going through my head lately....

The latest countdown until graduation is 33 days away!!! I am more excited than anything as I am ready to get out of school for a while. On the other hand I will miss my friends who are here in Alabama. I had to admit that other day that I would return as Alabama now runs through my veins, even though I make fun of Alabama. I am trying to plan as much stuff with my friends down here as possible so I enjoy these last few moments with them. I know that my friends in Charleston are pretty excited about me coming back and spending more time with them as I rarely got to see them throughout college. (WARNING: I am about to quote a Miley Cyrus song). Why can't I have the best of both worlds!!!???

The job search is pretty much going no where. There are jobs opening up in the NWS but everybody is applying for those so the competition is tough. I don't want to end up with some random job, as I have worked for 5 years for a degree in meteorology, not a degree in customer service or anything like that. Oh well, that is life I guess. Going to continue to search for a real job.

I have less than 33 days left at work as I probably won't work that last week since it will be so crazy. THANK GOODNESS!!!! Everyday I walk into the bookstore, the more I am ready to leave. The store drives me crazy with all the lazy people and the stupid drama. I am having no motivation to do anything and the boss sees that, which probably isn't good. We have a good relationship where we can mess with each other so I know she is not going to fire me and she realizes that I am pretty much halfway out the door. Our last football game is this week......GO JAGS! We are still undefeated at home, which is pretty cool!

As for the girlfriend front, not much change. I have been looking and one has been brought into my mind but I am still praying about it. We have had a tough history here at South and not sure if it would work out. Still praying about that.

I went to Walmart the other night to get a few things and I grabbed a box of pop-tarts and behind this box of pop-tarts [hot fudge sundae flavor] was another box of pop-tarts (revolutionary concept I know) and its flavor was funfetti cake! I got very excited as this is my favorite type of cake!!! I grabbed it immediately like a kid in a candy store and through it into my buggie (is that how you spell that????). To my disappointment, its not very good.

My clothes are now in the dryer and I think it is time to move onto something else....maybe more productive? Ha. I doubt it.

Until next time.....

Interests

Today I had my "informative speech" for public speaking (if you want to know my thoughts on the class, see post below) and the most interesting part of the group was the different topics chosen. There were about 10 people in the time that I signed up for, and it was split almost 50/50 males to females. Here are some of the topics discussed:

• Hurricanes (mine of course)
• Domestic Violence
• Dungeons & Dragons (board game)
• Pigs
• Initiative 26 (a MS law banning birth control)
• Power Plants
• Black Holes
• Steel Drums
• Drinking
• Couponing

As you can see, very diverse group of topics.

Overall it was a pretty good class, got a little boring at the end. Oh and I made a 94 on my speech! Oh yeah!

Public Speaking

I am currently taking public speaking.....I know weird to wait until the last semester but it makes the last semester easy...and I consider it a waste of time!

It is online which makes no sense to me and they make us post these discussion responses and we are forced to respond to at least 2 other people's posts. It is just busy work and a waste of my time. I would much rather be playing video games or even reading a book than doing this stupid school work.

We also have to do 3 speeches throughout the semester. We have done one (commemorative speech) and I have to do one tomorrow (informative speech). I'm doing my speech on why hurricanes have increased over the last century due to several factors including better technology in satellites and hurricane forecasting. So naturally I'm prepared but I just don't feel like doing it. I'm sitting here looking at my outline and trying to motivate myself to write out note cards but I'm finding it hard to find that motivation.

Ugh. Guess I have to go do it now. My speech is at 12:30 tomorrow. I'm probably going to be rolling my eyes during the whole thing......such a waste of time!

Beginning...

Graduation is 42 days away (who is counting?) and I am beginning to have thoughts about what is going to happen after graduation.....job-wise, school-wise, etc. I am terrified but excited at the same time. I am ready for a change....ready to leave the bookstore, ready to just live life and not worry about school.

I am learning especially now, that I need to rely on God and His plan for myself as I enter this new chapter in my life.

December 17th is not far away!

What A Day....

Today has been one crazy day.

First of all it is homecoming week and so by default, pretty much everyday this week is going to be a crazy day. Today was especially crazy though. It started with my first public speaking speech this morning. It went well....made an 85! Woohoo! Then had an interesting conversation with my Mom and life in general (notice the casual insert of the blog title, oh yeah, that just happened!) and then a conversation with two BCMers while I waited to 10:30 so I could go into work. Ended up talking too much and was late....oops. Worked until 3 in which I came back to my room and ate some lunch.

However my bread had got all soggy and I couldn't make a sandwich.....very weird indeed. So i ate a half can of Pringles, obviously I need to go to Wal-mart. The chips were salt and vinegar flavored, in case you were wondering. Went back to the BCM to work on homework and then finished most of my radar homework. Merge started and we got fed tacos for dinner. YUM!!!

This is when it got crazy. From 9 - now (11:20), my world has gone the opposite direction I thought it was going to go....for now. A girl, who shall remain anonymous came up to me asking me about relationship advice. Totally would not have expected this from this person as our past has been rocky in our own relationships. Nonetheless she came to me and I helped her with a few things. Now I am pretty much setting up group dates for this girl and this guy that I don't really know. Weird right?

Next thing that comes up, is that I am planning an over-night trip to Atlanta to see the Jags play Georgia State. Would not have expected that tonight at all!

Oh man......crazy day indeed!

Friends....

Even though the post below says I am going to write about certain topics, I have changed my mind. I am just going to write about whats going on in my mind as graduation (Dec. 17th) gets closer.

Braden and me watching JAG baseball

The thing on my mind is leaving my friends down here. Over the past 3.5 years I have made some amazing friends down here at South. I have seen some friends lose contact but I know that there is a core group that I will keep up with and they will keep up with me. This core group, I have created several memories with and will cherish those memories throughout my entire life. On December 18th I am going to leave Mobile to head back home and from there I am not sure where I am going to end up. That is going to be a very tough day, leaving my friends down here.

I think it is time for a stroll down memory lane....let's being with sophomore year [freshman year took place in SC at Trident.....BTW I hate Trident]

Fred, Amy, and me dressed up as some of the Scobby gang.

Making new friends started right away when I got here and met my first friend through a facebook post that said, "Craving Cracker Barrel....anybody wanna go?" Braden Cheek chat messaged me and that friendship was born. I met Fred Schmidt (first roommate) and Miranda Hayes at the MET Club welcome week event. I got to know BJ Smith through a bible study for freshman/transfer students called FiSH groups and he was my leader. I met Colin Roeder through the BCM and his first time around me, he said that I ignored him and text people instead....hahaha, what can I say, I was shy. I met Jaclyn Tisdale (Fatty) and Ashley Davis through the MET club and being friends with Miranda. I learned that Carly Nichols had the same birthday as me [June 26] and Amy Cannon dressed up with me and Fred as the Scooby Doo gang. I got to know Jaclyn more through SeCAPS and Miranda and Fred more through a mission trip to NOLA....one of the best mission trips I have been on! Then there was this time Fred, Miranda, Jaclyn, and me all took a trip to Biloxi, MS which then turned into a trip to NOLA....gotta love spontaneous road trips.

Spontaneous trip to NOLA

I met many others at the BCM through various events such as Oozeball (didn't play, just watched), Urban Plunge mission trip to Jacksonville, FL, etc. Some people that met include but excluded to Lauren Walker, Kelley Greathouse, Katie Hepler, Omar Torres, Gillis Jones, and Daniel Wise.

Wow, what a great first year! It just gets better from here....next post will be junior year.

3 1/2 years!

Three and a half years in the making and it comes down to one event....GRADUATION!! So much has happened over the last 3 1/2 years that I could probably write a book from all of the lessons learned, but instead I'm going to write a series of blog posts that commemorate my time here at South.

These posts will include the following topics:

• Lessons I have Learned
• Some of my best memories
• Changes Made to South
• The Future After South

I will start these posts probably later this week or over the weekend. Should be fun to take a stroll down memory lane!

It Has Arrived!!

After 5 - 6 months of unbearable heat, fall has arrived here in Mobile! This is my favorite seasons as the leaves turn different colors and the holiday season approaches. This fall means something special to me, it is the time that I graduate from college and start a new chapter in my life.....that is a different blog post entirely. Back to Fall...

Here is the forecast for MOB and I'm loving it!!!

With Fall comes Fall Break, which is currently happening on the campus of South. I really don't have any plans for Fall Break and kind of making it up as I go. Right now I'm doing some much needed laundry and having a Transformers marathon considering I got all 3 of the movies on blu-ray yesterday. Tuesday will be the best day of Fall Break as Crowder's Christmas CD comes out that day as well as the newest book in the Percy Jackson series, Son of Neptune comes out as well!

Yes, Fall has arrived!

Update: Click-Click-Click

Although I never received a notification, apparently the maintenance department visited my room and checked out the fridge and the very loud clicking noise it was making. Well the fridge still makes noise but it is not loud any more and only lasts a few minutes. It is GLORIOUS!!! I can sleep at night now.

Did he just blog about football???

Why yes, I did/about to blog about football!

On Saturday, South Alabama faced their first real competition since the football program was created, and that was North Carolina State. Everybody I talked to or listened to said that we were going to lose so I didn't expect much. The Jags have been undefeated since the first game and the record was 19-0! Obviously from my use of past tense, you can tell that we lost to NC State. The score at the game was 35 - 13....which doesn't seem too bad to me! We scored! I was expecting, from everyone talking, that we were going to lose with a score of 40-0 but that was not the case.

So the streak has ended but the Jags should be proud! 19-1 is a great record for a new program and we are going finish the season out strong. The next home game is Oct. 15.....a little break for those of us who have to work at the games. The weather will be great and it should be fun!

GO SOUTH!!!

God is Amazing

God is amazing! He does things for you when you don't even ask.

This week was going to be a very long week! I have the first Radar test Wednesday and then my first Differential Equations test on Friday. Each course require a lot of studying and there was no way I would be able to study for both of them as much as I needed. On top of this I woke up this morning with a slight soar throat and I'm afraid that my allergies are beginning to mess up.

I went to Radar class today and he barely went over what was on the test and he told us how much we had to know. Kind of freaking out. I went to Different Equations class after that this morning and the first thing the teacher said was "we have a test this Friday, I am pretty sure that I am going move it." BLESSING!!!

This was a huge burden lifted off of my shoulder and I can breathe and relax a little bit now. As for the sickness part, I just woke up from a two hour nap and feel a little better.....enough so that I can study for Radar. The pollen in the air is currently being washed away by the rain, and its not over yet, there is rain forecasted for every day this week!

Yep, God is amazing!

Click-Click-Click

Can you imagine hearing that noise non-stop, all day long!?

Welcome to my life! My fridge a few weeks ago started to do this clicking noise and it is SOOO annoying! It has gotten so loud that I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep. I couldn't take it any longer and just put in a maintenance request to fix the noise on the fridge.

Yeah....pretty annoying!

GRE

The graduate school version of the SAT.....a 4.5 hour test.......a writing, reading, & math section............taking it tomorrow at 9 AM.

Prayers appreciated......