So the summer is winding down.
A lot has happened. I've learned a lot about men, love, and life in this summer. It all seems to be a blur... but a really amazing blur.
Vegas was absolutely incredible. I had such a good time. We went out, we drank, we gambled, we stayed a foursome and we really, really made some amazing memories.
I'm ready for school to start, though. As much as I love summer... or what was left of my summer with my work schedule... I'm ready to be busy and in the middle of everything again. I'm ready to go back to the crazy world of Pi Beta Phi with my pledge class. I'm ready to see my amazing advisor Dr. Mac. I'm ready to have homework and study groups and write for the paper again. I'm ready for homecoming and football games and hanging out with my friends again.
I'm especially ready for Mike to be back in this town again. We've gone through a lot in our relationship but he really is one of my best friends. Period. No matter what we've gone through, he's in my corner and I'm in his.
Speaking of good friends... I'm sad to report that Val has officially made the move to North Carolina to spend a year with her dad. I'm the saddest face in the world. Val is one of my best friends and has been since 9th grade. Freshman year! That's epic. She and I went through first kisses, dances, band, school, AP Chem, The Chemical Olympics, prom, sorority life and the Pi Kapp house, the Michael Episodes, the Steven Episodes... she knows me so so so well. I miss her already.
I'm ready to leap into the year. I'm happy. And I guess that's what really matters.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Jenna Can... not keep on top of the month
Dear Blog Gods,
Please take this as a sincere apology for my lack of posting over the past month. It has been a crazy, crazy summer so I feel like reviewing is a complete necessity. Between work, classes, the wedding, and my vacations, I've been a busy little bee. Let me expand.
Work: still as amazing. Technical writing is... interesting... but I'm learning a lot of real world skills such as formatting, contacts and T2 reports. Hooray! But in all seriousness, I really love my coworkers. April and I discuss the pros and cons of boys and makeup. Michelle always found time to help me with my questions and my boss Daniel? He definitely keeps me entertained. After all, with what other job could I go home singing such gems as "Elmo's World" or that filet o' fish song. Yeah, I'm serious.
Classes: DONE! HOORAY! Finished, completed, owned. I dominated my summer classes and enjoyed my one month of summer... if I can even count it as summer considering I worked almost 40 hours a week. Ewwww.
The Bachelorette Party: We made a pact not to discuss the happenings of Blairre's bachelorette party, however, I feel like I need to state the main points. Drinking, being hit on, almost getting arrested, hookah, driving around, making new friends at random bars. Whew.
The Wedding: Blairre's wedding was amazing, beautiful and a night to remember. It was a long day, starting with getting our hair done at a spa, drinking mimosas and then getting our makeup done all together. I really feel closer to the bridesmaids. We all got along really well and bonded. Dre, Diana, Amber, Ashley, Theresa, Clari and I decided to have a bridesmaid reunion and wear the bridesmaid dress over to visit Blairre some random tuesday after the wedding. "You were so right! We can wear these again!"
We danced a lot, completing the required bridesmaid wedding dance duties as the YMCA, Celebrate, the Macarena and the Electric Slide. Oh yeah, we shook our groove thangs.
The trips... may be better saved for another post. More to come.
Please take this as a sincere apology for my lack of posting over the past month. It has been a crazy, crazy summer so I feel like reviewing is a complete necessity. Between work, classes, the wedding, and my vacations, I've been a busy little bee. Let me expand.
Work: still as amazing. Technical writing is... interesting... but I'm learning a lot of real world skills such as formatting, contacts and T2 reports. Hooray! But in all seriousness, I really love my coworkers. April and I discuss the pros and cons of boys and makeup. Michelle always found time to help me with my questions and my boss Daniel? He definitely keeps me entertained. After all, with what other job could I go home singing such gems as "Elmo's World" or that filet o' fish song. Yeah, I'm serious.
Classes: DONE! HOORAY! Finished, completed, owned. I dominated my summer classes and enjoyed my one month of summer... if I can even count it as summer considering I worked almost 40 hours a week. Ewwww.
The Bachelorette Party: We made a pact not to discuss the happenings of Blairre's bachelorette party, however, I feel like I need to state the main points. Drinking, being hit on, almost getting arrested, hookah, driving around, making new friends at random bars. Whew.
The Wedding: Blairre's wedding was amazing, beautiful and a night to remember. It was a long day, starting with getting our hair done at a spa, drinking mimosas and then getting our makeup done all together. I really feel closer to the bridesmaids. We all got along really well and bonded. Dre, Diana, Amber, Ashley, Theresa, Clari and I decided to have a bridesmaid reunion and wear the bridesmaid dress over to visit Blairre some random tuesday after the wedding. "You were so right! We can wear these again!"
We danced a lot, completing the required bridesmaid wedding dance duties as the YMCA, Celebrate, the Macarena and the Electric Slide. Oh yeah, we shook our groove thangs.
The trips... may be better saved for another post. More to come.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Jenna Can... finally win a game of charades
The gods have spoken.
And they have said, "jennacan, you are victorious!" Success is mine!
As per tradition in the candelaria household, we began celebrating the birth of our nation (happy birthday, America!) with a friendly barbecue with friendly barbecue games. Read: the CHARADE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF AMERICA!
My mom has two best friends: Leigh and Arlene. These women have been in my life since before my life. For example, Arlene and her husband Bill and son Shane (who is a year older than I) watched my sister when my mom went to the hospital to have me. That long. Leigh entered the group when her daughter Christina and I were just a few months old.
Needless to say, these family friends are like plain family to me.
I digress.
Every year, the three families join together at my parents' house to host the massive 4th of July party that we've been doing since I was young. This includes plenty of fruit trays (and the ongoing assassination attempts from Arlene who insists on adding strawberries to the fruit tray even though Leigh is deathly allergic, a joke that has run through our group for years), lots of beer and margaritas and as many burgers as my dad can shove on the grill.
And, before the fireworks start conveniently close to my parents' house, we play charades. And when I say "play", I mean, battle to the death.
I've been preparing for this moment. I mean, really preparing. Sounds like, two syllables, book, movie... I've been practicing the hand signs for the past year. Okay, not as dilligently as I may make it sound, but still. Charades has been on my mind and what other sane 21 year old can say that?
And tonight... on the anniversary of the birth of our nation, at the annual 4th of July cookout...
I, Jenna Candelaria, truly dominated at charades, successfully completing such guesses as "Man, Child in the Promised Land" (a book), "The Patty Duke Show" (television show) and even "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (I'm particularly proud of that one).
I am the queen. I am the master. I'd like to thank my mom for being a constant inspiration in my attempts, to Leigh for being the ultimate Charade enthusiast, and my team for guessing right at my amazing charade antics.
Wow. I'm the biggest nerd ever.
More soon.
And they have said, "jennacan, you are victorious!" Success is mine!
As per tradition in the candelaria household, we began celebrating the birth of our nation (happy birthday, America!) with a friendly barbecue with friendly barbecue games. Read: the CHARADE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF AMERICA!
My mom has two best friends: Leigh and Arlene. These women have been in my life since before my life. For example, Arlene and her husband Bill and son Shane (who is a year older than I) watched my sister when my mom went to the hospital to have me. That long. Leigh entered the group when her daughter Christina and I were just a few months old.
Needless to say, these family friends are like plain family to me.
I digress.
Every year, the three families join together at my parents' house to host the massive 4th of July party that we've been doing since I was young. This includes plenty of fruit trays (and the ongoing assassination attempts from Arlene who insists on adding strawberries to the fruit tray even though Leigh is deathly allergic, a joke that has run through our group for years), lots of beer and margaritas and as many burgers as my dad can shove on the grill.
And, before the fireworks start conveniently close to my parents' house, we play charades. And when I say "play", I mean, battle to the death.
I've been preparing for this moment. I mean, really preparing. Sounds like, two syllables, book, movie... I've been practicing the hand signs for the past year. Okay, not as dilligently as I may make it sound, but still. Charades has been on my mind and what other sane 21 year old can say that?
And tonight... on the anniversary of the birth of our nation, at the annual 4th of July cookout...
I, Jenna Candelaria, truly dominated at charades, successfully completing such guesses as "Man, Child in the Promised Land" (a book), "The Patty Duke Show" (television show) and even "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (I'm particularly proud of that one).
I am the queen. I am the master. I'd like to thank my mom for being a constant inspiration in my attempts, to Leigh for being the ultimate Charade enthusiast, and my team for guessing right at my amazing charade antics.
Wow. I'm the biggest nerd ever.
More soon.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Move!
Jenna Can... move her entire life in 4 days.
While housesitting, working 10 hour days, taking two summer classes online and attempting (and failing) to get more than 6 hours of sleep a night, there isn't a whole lot of time for packing up my life and transferring it across town to my new pad.
This new apartment just fell into my lap. I wasn't even looking, but it's a fantastic deal and in a nice, gated area. And I, being an over-thinker and a worrier, need all the locks and security codes I can get.
I digress.
Softball today, just as an update for those who may be wondering how my attempts to hit a double are coming along. Other than getting walked four (yep) times, striking out once, and grounding out twice, I'm having absolutely no luck. But I did get a bonus prize- heat exhaustion and dehydration! Big winner! It was a long, hot, sun-burny day.
I really should pack.
Books first. Then shoes. Then clothes and bed. Priorities, mi amor, priorities.
To be continued...
While housesitting, working 10 hour days, taking two summer classes online and attempting (and failing) to get more than 6 hours of sleep a night, there isn't a whole lot of time for packing up my life and transferring it across town to my new pad.
This new apartment just fell into my lap. I wasn't even looking, but it's a fantastic deal and in a nice, gated area. And I, being an over-thinker and a worrier, need all the locks and security codes I can get.
I digress.
Softball today, just as an update for those who may be wondering how my attempts to hit a double are coming along. Other than getting walked four (yep) times, striking out once, and grounding out twice, I'm having absolutely no luck. But I did get a bonus prize- heat exhaustion and dehydration! Big winner! It was a long, hot, sun-burny day.
I really should pack.
Books first. Then shoes. Then clothes and bed. Priorities, mi amor, priorities.
To be continued...
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Three Strikes...
Jenna Can... hit a double.
So even though I'm a retired waitress from Texas Roadhouse, I am one of five girls that volunteered to play for our cute little co-ed softball team called The Loaded Roadies, which is true in a lot of ways.
Softball is interesting, if you like being hot and sweaty and dusty all at the same time. Or you like it when 21 year old competitive boys yell things like "HIT THE BALL!"
Oh, is that how it works? Thanks for clearing it up. Fade to Jenna hitting a grand slam.
I wish. No, really. I wish.
We played a hard game today and I got onto base four times, but three times because of walks and once because I have this uncanny ability to hit the ball STRAIGHT TO THE SHORTSTOP but God was on my side and gave it a bounce to get me onto first.
But I have yet to have a real hit.
New summer goal! Hit a double. I just need a few hours of practice, a bat, some batting gloves... and maybe a Major League Baseball Player. Hey, whatever works.
Stay tuned.
So even though I'm a retired waitress from Texas Roadhouse, I am one of five girls that volunteered to play for our cute little co-ed softball team called The Loaded Roadies, which is true in a lot of ways.
Softball is interesting, if you like being hot and sweaty and dusty all at the same time. Or you like it when 21 year old competitive boys yell things like "HIT THE BALL!"
Oh, is that how it works? Thanks for clearing it up. Fade to Jenna hitting a grand slam.
I wish. No, really. I wish.
We played a hard game today and I got onto base four times, but three times because of walks and once because I have this uncanny ability to hit the ball STRAIGHT TO THE SHORTSTOP but God was on my side and gave it a bounce to get me onto first.
But I have yet to have a real hit.
New summer goal! Hit a double. I just need a few hours of practice, a bat, some batting gloves... and maybe a Major League Baseball Player. Hey, whatever works.
Stay tuned.
Friday, June 5, 2009
School
JennaCan... stay focused stay focused stay focused...
I blame whoever invented Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Fmylife.com, blogspot, postsecret and secrettweet. They just keep taking over my life and distracting me from my summer classes that I was a GENIUS for taking.
Moving on.
I'm a firm believer in rewards, though. So maybe I can take an art quiz and then read a page of fmylife?
Yeah and take five weeks to finish one week of assignments.
Bad idea, bad idea.
Plan B. Just go to each of the sites and exhaust them until I have NO choice but to spend the rest of the evening on school work.
Perfect.
Let's see how it works.
I blame whoever invented Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Fmylife.com, blogspot, postsecret and secrettweet. They just keep taking over my life and distracting me from my summer classes that I was a GENIUS for taking.
Moving on.
I'm a firm believer in rewards, though. So maybe I can take an art quiz and then read a page of fmylife?
Yeah and take five weeks to finish one week of assignments.
Bad idea, bad idea.
Plan B. Just go to each of the sites and exhaust them until I have NO choice but to spend the rest of the evening on school work.
Perfect.
Let's see how it works.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Bridesmaid
JennaCan... be the perfect bridesmaid.
There are several important things to remember about being a good bridesmaid. Number one! The bride is always right. Number two! Nobody cares if you hate strapless dresses, you're wearing it anyway. Number three! If you think you may be right, refer to rule number one.
I'm about to go meet the lovely bridesmaids and the lovely bride-to-be Ms. Jaimmah Blairre Flores for a little outing to get the perfect shoes. Blairre and I are both Scorpios, so we're used to being in complete control and a few months ago when Blairre asked me to be in her wedding, she seemed pretty... laid back. Surprisingly so for a Scorpio.
"Whatever shoes you want," she said with a shrug.
And now, a little over a month and a half to the wedding, we're piling into a carpool and driving an hour away to get the bronzy-strappy shoes she pictured in her "dream wedding".
But, because I love her, I'll willingly sacrifice my Saturday to spend it cooing over the shoes or the flowers that she picked. Also, because Blairre has excellent taste, I'm not all that worried about it. And she's pretty enough to let us be pretty in her wedding... unlike a lot of other brides that want the bridesmaids in neon green puff sleeves to look better in comparison.
Blairre and I have been friends since high school, 4 years ago. She was the type that would make it unbelievably easy to be comfortable around. We spent days and days at Starbucks, talking about boys and dreams and life. And she's always been a romantic and wanted to get married young but hey, I thought we had years and years.
Now she's getting married, to this great guy named John Melvin.
So regardless of the shoes, the hairstyles, the 4 (yep) parties thrown before the actual day, all of which I am expected to show up with a perky-bridesmaidy smile and carry finger foods, I'll be there.
But if she changes the dress to neon green, I'm gone.
There are several important things to remember about being a good bridesmaid. Number one! The bride is always right. Number two! Nobody cares if you hate strapless dresses, you're wearing it anyway. Number three! If you think you may be right, refer to rule number one.
I'm about to go meet the lovely bridesmaids and the lovely bride-to-be Ms. Jaimmah Blairre Flores for a little outing to get the perfect shoes. Blairre and I are both Scorpios, so we're used to being in complete control and a few months ago when Blairre asked me to be in her wedding, she seemed pretty... laid back. Surprisingly so for a Scorpio.
"Whatever shoes you want," she said with a shrug.
And now, a little over a month and a half to the wedding, we're piling into a carpool and driving an hour away to get the bronzy-strappy shoes she pictured in her "dream wedding".
But, because I love her, I'll willingly sacrifice my Saturday to spend it cooing over the shoes or the flowers that she picked. Also, because Blairre has excellent taste, I'm not all that worried about it. And she's pretty enough to let us be pretty in her wedding... unlike a lot of other brides that want the bridesmaids in neon green puff sleeves to look better in comparison.
Blairre and I have been friends since high school, 4 years ago. She was the type that would make it unbelievably easy to be comfortable around. We spent days and days at Starbucks, talking about boys and dreams and life. And she's always been a romantic and wanted to get married young but hey, I thought we had years and years.
Now she's getting married, to this great guy named John Melvin.
So regardless of the shoes, the hairstyles, the 4 (yep) parties thrown before the actual day, all of which I am expected to show up with a perky-bridesmaidy smile and carry finger foods, I'll be there.
But if she changes the dress to neon green, I'm gone.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Believe You Me
So if you've been reading, you know that one of my goals is to go on to graduate school to find some kind of secondary degree that would validate my on-the-way degree... meaning, if you throw a Doctor in front of my name, would I get more respect?
Eh. To be seen.
But more importantly, I think it's time to pull up some roots. I'm looking heavily at Mizzou and UNT for further education in journalism and mass communications. Should I pick up my life and make the drive in my cute white Scion to Texas or Missouri, leaving all of my friends and family behind? Or should I accept that going there would be jumping to a different tree, a lower branch, and at the end of the day if all I'm looking for is being able to write, would trying to make it big make me a sell-out?
Which has opened a whole world of questions up to me, mostly asked late at night when just the light of my glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling are judging me. What do I want in Washington DC or New York? Are those just symbolism for "making it"? Would moving there help me become a big author? Of course not. But maybe the opportunities might.
I've been lucky with a great family and fantastic friends and a wonderful hometown. Am I leaving because I think I can find better, even though I know I can't?
Or am I planning on leaving to see what I'm made of without the fall-back of my safety nets behind me?
Stay tuned.
Eh. To be seen.
But more importantly, I think it's time to pull up some roots. I'm looking heavily at Mizzou and UNT for further education in journalism and mass communications. Should I pick up my life and make the drive in my cute white Scion to Texas or Missouri, leaving all of my friends and family behind? Or should I accept that going there would be jumping to a different tree, a lower branch, and at the end of the day if all I'm looking for is being able to write, would trying to make it big make me a sell-out?
Which has opened a whole world of questions up to me, mostly asked late at night when just the light of my glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling are judging me. What do I want in Washington DC or New York? Are those just symbolism for "making it"? Would moving there help me become a big author? Of course not. But maybe the opportunities might.
I've been lucky with a great family and fantastic friends and a wonderful hometown. Am I leaving because I think I can find better, even though I know I can't?
Or am I planning on leaving to see what I'm made of without the fall-back of my safety nets behind me?
Stay tuned.
Fast to Slow
Summer is quite possibly the best thing that happened to college students since the invention of facebook creeper feeds or ramen noodles. Maybe even black coffee or Captain Morgan. But I digress.
I've spent my summer so far just... working. But apparently I'm also moving into this incredible deal of an apartment and helping my bff mikey move to Los Lunas to visit his parents. Which kind of blows, because he's my best friend after all and I'll definitely miss him. And I'll definitely miss my current roommate Tony who was seriously fantastic as a roomie, but this new deal is amazing.
In other news, I've left my bed for a grand total of 4 minutes today and it is now 5:00. I've been up since 10:30. It's okay to be impressed, I kind of am as well.
I have done nothing for my summer goals yet. But it's still early, just barely May. I have faith.
Time for a nap to replenish my energy for movie night!
I've spent my summer so far just... working. But apparently I'm also moving into this incredible deal of an apartment and helping my bff mikey move to Los Lunas to visit his parents. Which kind of blows, because he's my best friend after all and I'll definitely miss him. And I'll definitely miss my current roommate Tony who was seriously fantastic as a roomie, but this new deal is amazing.
In other news, I've left my bed for a grand total of 4 minutes today and it is now 5:00. I've been up since 10:30. It's okay to be impressed, I kind of am as well.
I have done nothing for my summer goals yet. But it's still early, just barely May. I have faith.
Time for a nap to replenish my energy for movie night!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Summer Goals
JennaCan... have a productive summer
So I've made the executive decision to be productive this summer. My first goal was to get an internship (check), where I write technical things for 36 hours a week on base at White Sands Missile Range for the nicest people EVER.
But I figure that there are hundreds of other things I could be doing to better myself. So here's a quick list of some things I'm considering...
Yoga-lates (yoga and pilates together! hooray!)
a roadtrip
see every big summer blockbuster that comes NEAR las cruces
learning to cook
make it through a Blink-182 concert (my best friend mikey's favorite band... and apparently they're back together, so here we go)
Grow (and keep alive) a spider plant.
Stay tuned.
So I've made the executive decision to be productive this summer. My first goal was to get an internship (check), where I write technical things for 36 hours a week on base at White Sands Missile Range for the nicest people EVER.
But I figure that there are hundreds of other things I could be doing to better myself. So here's a quick list of some things I'm considering...
Yoga-lates (yoga and pilates together! hooray!)
a roadtrip
see every big summer blockbuster that comes NEAR las cruces
learning to cook
make it through a Blink-182 concert (my best friend mikey's favorite band... and apparently they're back together, so here we go)
Grow (and keep alive) a spider plant.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Jenna Can...
I've been called by a lot of different things in my 21 years.
My mom and dad named me Jenna, allegedly because my mom "liked the name!" but the truth came out years later (a Dallas star? Really, mom?). But I never really liked the name Jenna growing up.
There seemed to be only one given nickname. Jen (shudder). Which didn't do much for my individuality when there were (count 'em) three Jens in my fourth grade class.
I digress.
Then there are the questions. "What's your name?" Jenna. "No, your real name". Still Jenna. "Like, your full name?" Jenna.
But then I went to high school where, almost overnight, the nickname Jenna-Belle took off for some unknown reason, quickly followed by Jenna-Love, Jenna-Bear and, Blairre's favorite, Jenna-Face.
Then I went to college, where my first official act was choosing an NMSU email address. Candelaria was too long. Jenna was already taken. All that the email would let me fit was Jennacan. Thus, my new nickname was born.
Who even thought it would be a nickname? I sure didn't. My sorority sisters were the first to pick up on it. In front of my girls at a meeting, I was giving instructions on my email when everyone burst out laughing. "JennaCAN!" or, sometimes when I'm late for a party or can't go to the bar because of homework, I'm briefly labeled JennaCANNOT. I try to avoid that one.
What started as a simple email has now become part of my identity, a testimony to my abilities and a constant reminder to stay positive.
And so I begin this blog, where I hope to navigate through my senior year of college, reminiscing and trying new things. I'll find out if JennaCan... ace the GRE, be the perfect bridesmaid, survive one last sorority recruitment, fall in love and land a graduate assistantship for further education.
Lord help me.
My mom and dad named me Jenna, allegedly because my mom "liked the name!" but the truth came out years later (a Dallas star? Really, mom?). But I never really liked the name Jenna growing up.
There seemed to be only one given nickname. Jen (shudder). Which didn't do much for my individuality when there were (count 'em) three Jens in my fourth grade class.
I digress.
Then there are the questions. "What's your name?" Jenna. "No, your real name". Still Jenna. "Like, your full name?" Jenna.
But then I went to high school where, almost overnight, the nickname Jenna-Belle took off for some unknown reason, quickly followed by Jenna-Love, Jenna-Bear and, Blairre's favorite, Jenna-Face.
Then I went to college, where my first official act was choosing an NMSU email address. Candelaria was too long. Jenna was already taken. All that the email would let me fit was Jennacan. Thus, my new nickname was born.
Who even thought it would be a nickname? I sure didn't. My sorority sisters were the first to pick up on it. In front of my girls at a meeting, I was giving instructions on my email when everyone burst out laughing. "JennaCAN!" or, sometimes when I'm late for a party or can't go to the bar because of homework, I'm briefly labeled JennaCANNOT. I try to avoid that one.
What started as a simple email has now become part of my identity, a testimony to my abilities and a constant reminder to stay positive.
And so I begin this blog, where I hope to navigate through my senior year of college, reminiscing and trying new things. I'll find out if JennaCan... ace the GRE, be the perfect bridesmaid, survive one last sorority recruitment, fall in love and land a graduate assistantship for further education.
Lord help me.
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