21st birthdays all around!

Hello, sorry for the long time no writing. I've been very busy and very tired.

The slideshow is a compilation of pictures on my phone and with my camera from my birthday last December up until last week. So enjoy. To view titles and descriptions rollover the picture with your mouse.

Things with my life are slowly and painstakingly moving forward. Even though it is July right now, it is raining, and raining, and raining.
Check out the weather in my life here...(Erie Weather)
Other than that I have been working 40 hours a week for the past two months, and sleep has been taking over my brain. All I ever really want to do is sleep when I get out of work. I always feel exhausted even when I have a day off and sleep in a little bit. Who knows what's going on. I think it's the weather. Normally when its sunny outside I feel energized like I can stay awake all night, but when it's like this, all I want to do is lay in my bed, surf the internet, and read a book.

All of my friends except one are 21 now. It's makes my life much easier because I can call anyone to hang out at the bar instead of just like 2 people. I think I've started to drink more because of that actually, which might be a part of why I am tired all the time. I'm still going to the gym though, not everyday, but just about every other day. Next week the gym is closed for final rennovations and the reopens as the new YMCA! It's going to be SO amazing! I can't wait.
Check out the renovations here... (YMCA Facebook)

That is my life right now... I will update soon!

Honesty with myself (and apparently the world)

So, here is the thing. I'm going to list the things I want to admit to myself. These are things that I think in my head, but am honestly scared to accept. This is sort of a, middle of the year resolution.

So here goes...
1. I honestly think I am an emotional eater. I joke about it with my friends to make myself feel like it's ok that I do it. And sometimes I make them do it with me. I am probably 20lbs overweight. So what I want to do to change this is try and seek out a dietitian. I am sick of "diets" and "being healthy" I want to know what the smart choices FOR ME are, not what the commercials on TV say are healthy. I am going to start going to the gym more often than 2 or 3 times a week. And, I'm not going to drink as much. I know that I'm young and should be enjoying life, but I think I can enjoy life and be healthy.

2. I want to be that girl that goes to the gym everyday, eats organic food, and doesn't like to drink. But (as the moment) I am none of those things. And even more, I want to be them because I know it will bring Jake and I even closer together than we already are. I want to be healthy for me and for him. I don't want to be the girlfriend he is with for 6 years and then gets fat and comfortable. I want to be hot and sexy all the time. So I am going to do what I said in numer 1.

3. I want to learn how to save money. I don't want to end up like the rest of the country with no money saved and nothing to show for the 40+ hours a week we put into working some dead-end job we don't even like anymore. I am actually already doing this. Sort of...inadvertantly saving money from myself. (go me!)

4. I want to understand what my beliefs are. Is God real or not? How will I ever know? Hm... this is a tough one.

5. What is my dream job and how do I get it? FIGURE THIS OUT.

6. What is really important to me right now? I want to graduate college and start my life, somewhere with Jake. Whatever that entails will be a suprise and that's kind of exciting. Also, learning to connect with my family again. I feel like we have all kind of lost site of one another. It's a strange feeling, to be so disconnected with someone who you love so much.

That's all I can really think of for now. I suppose if I think of more I will update....

What week is it...

So last time I wrote I titled it "Week 1" well, i don't remember how long exactly is has been (although I could probably just look), it is a sign that my summer life has begun to speed up. I worked almost 40 hours this week so hopefully my paycheck will be big and fat so I can pay to get my brand new car fixed.

My Car:

About a week ago I was innocently strolling out to my car at 5:15am to drive to work. I am walking down my drive way just minding my own business when I look down and see that the chicken wire that surrounds my vegetable garden is bent over as if someone had fallen on it. I questioned the scene but didn't think twice because of the crazy events that normally take place at my house, something like this could easily happen on accident. So I fix the fence and continue onto my car. I begin to dig into my bottomless purse for my keys and as I arrive at my car door I reach for the door handle of the driver side of my car... I'm grabbing...and grabbing. And... "WTF where is my door handle!?~?~?~" This is when I realize that the chicken wire on the fence had been fallen on because someone was trying to break into my car and pulled so hard that the RIPPED the door handle off my car and fell onto the fence. So... $150 later I will eventually have a new door handle. This is my life....

Work:

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET A REAL JOB AND QUIT STARBUCKS.

Enough said.

Friends:

Today I went and helped Nikki pick out a wedding cake, got fitted for my bride's maid dress, went over bridal shower plans with Pam, went to lunch with Nik and Heather, moved Jax into her new apartment, went to dinner with Jax and her mom at Bostons, chatted a bit, and now here I am in bed typing this post.

Discovery of the day: People cover their toasters... the reason is beyond me.

Question of the day: Why don't people just do what they know is right?

Something I REALLY WANT: warm weather

good night and good luck.

Week 1

Summer vacation has officially started.

Events this week:

1. I paid off $215 in parking and speeding tickets. Joy.
2. I worked almost 40 hours
3. I worked on my tan (and now officially have tan lines).
4. I actually had time to go to the gym 3 times this week.
5. I had my first paid photography job by my friend Adam. It was fun to do something not for school. I think I'll keep that habit up.
6. I'm going to my godson's 2nd birthday party tonight. Can't wait.
7. Slept in twice this week. (I felt lazy, but then reminded myself there was no reason to rush out of bed).
8. I spent the whole day with my boyfriend the other day. It was FANTASTIC.
9. I had time to clean my room.
10. I am actually writing in my blog.

So there are 10 things I had time to do this week that I normally don't have time to do during school. Who knows... maybe I'll have time to do some REAL baking or REAL cooking. Maybe I should set some summer goals so I'm not too useless. Any ideas?

We'll see.

New photos!

Hello, just so everyone knows I uploaded new photos to my Flickr account! Go check them out!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lhanna85/

Thanks!

The End of the World

Video!

Enough.

So finally here is a post that isn't about class!

As you probably could have already noticed, I haven't had much time to post anything new. So I have a few minutes here to update you on my life.

Last week:
I started at my "new job" last week at the State St. Starbucks in Erie, PA. It's much better there. I have time to think, and I actually think it's making me lazy. At my old store in the Millcreek Plaza I always had to be on my toes and thinking whats the next step because we were so busy. Now that I'm at State we are much slower and I have more time "to think" but I would rather not think about anything. So on my first close I apparently missed about half of the things I was supposed to do. (Oops) Oh well, I'll get better at this whole being slow thing.
We hit the half-way point in the spring term of school so things are going to get even more difficult than they were before. I'll just have to be super focused. (except that the weather is also getting nice and the beach is calling my name.) So we shall see how focused I can stay.

I've also narrowed my grad school search down to three schools (all of which are VERY far away)
1. Cal Arts in Valencia, CA
2. Design Media Arts College (DMAC) outside of Boca Raton, FL
3. Rhode Island School of Deign (RISD) Providence, RI

I don't know really what to think about being that far from home, but I have yet to visit these places and have my portfolio ready so we'll see how things go from here.

This week (so far):

I've gotten slightly behind on classes because the weather was 80+ degrees and sunny ALL WEEKEND (for the non-Erieites, the NEVER HAPPENS HERE it's either nice and then rains/snows or it's not sunny at all... the weather here is crazy) So I didn't do any homework from Friday-Sunday. I gave myself a little vacation and now im paying dearly for it. I'll never do that again that's for sure. But on the positive side, I did go to the beach twice which was very very nice. I also gave a mini-tour of Erie to my foreign friends. Good times.

Also, the yearbook went to press yesterday! That was a very exciting moment for the team. Then the owner of Gohrs Printing in Erie took us out to dinner at a new restaurant called The Cove. It was a very nice dinner with the team. Although us girls owned the conversation the entire time, I think the boys enjoyed it too.

Here is a photo update! (This is John, Kristy, and I going to John's camp)

360 View

This is a SWEET 360 view of the Mercyhurst College baseball park! Enjoy!

360 VIEW

Favorite Places

View Favorite Places in a larger map

Long time since I last wrote, but to be honest not much has occurred. School is still pushing forward, 4 weeks left. I can't wait until this busy hell is over. Although, I've thought a bit more about the option of grad school and I've heard rumors that unless I plan on being a teacher grad school is slightly a waste of time. But then again, who knows.

My job as Starbucks is changing slightly at least. For the past three years I've worked at the same store (Millcreek Plaza) and starting on Monday, I'll be working at the State St. store. I'm a little bit nervous. But it will hopefully only be for a year.

I've been able to spend some quality time with my best friend and my godson. They are both so amazing. Check out these pictures that I took with my new camera (Nikon D60)

So that's a slight update on my life. When more things happen. I will write more.

Also, check out an interactive panorama of a part of Mercyhurst College


Here is the panorama!

holy weekend batman

This week/weekend could have been the end of me. I definatly worked 35 hours and went to school full time and tried to have a social life. I think something is wrong with that picture. So anyways, working has been rough. I feel like I have nothing too much to report other than working is getting old. I've had enough. I either need a vacation or I need a very very rich man who wants to take care of me until the end of my days. Or even better, the lottery. (I am now going to buy a lottery ticket after this class). On top of work, midterms are this week and I have an entire website due on wednesday. How far am I?.. not even done with the homepage yet... I'm entirely screwed.

So eventually I will have Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday off so I will be able to do something with my life, such as be a maid of honor for my friend Nikki and visit with my best friend and godson. Who knows.

I will update later.

Curves

The weekend of nothing

So this weekend was rather uneventful, I worked, slept and did homework. The only thing that happened was on Saturday evening Jake (my boyfriend) and I went on a date (which we never do anymore because we've been dating for 5 years) to Outback Steakhouse. We had to wait almost an hour for a table but it was worth it. We just chilled and ate amazing food and spent time together without his or my family and friends. We had plans to go to see "I Love You Man" after dinner, but by the time we were done we were both so full and tired that we decided to go home and go to bed. And, of course the only night I'm ever tired enough to go to bed at 9:00pm is the only night I turn my phone off, and is also the only night 4 of my friends call me to see if I want to go out to the bars. I love life.

I've been thinking a lot about school and what happens after college lately. I'm only a junior but I feel like my "real" life is approaching so quickly. I want to go to grad school, but I hate having to find schools and visit them and jump through hoops to figure out where I want to go. It's so hard to see past the facade that most schools put up when you're visiting them. I want to know what schools are really like before I waste my time and money on them. It was easy choosing Mercyhurst because I've been involved with Mercyhurst community for my entire life. If anyone has any suggestions for grad schools for graphic design feel free to help me out.

So far this is what I'm looking at: (in order)
1. Rhode Island School of Design
2. Cal Arts (Valencia)
3. Temple
4. Milton Avery
5. Edinboro
6. Marywood

So if you have any words O' wisdom I would really appreciate it.

Financial Aid

So today was supposed to be a big day, the day that I was supposed to receive my tuition refund. But did I get it?... of course not. Why? You may ask. Well it's because the financial aid office here at my trusty school is incompetent. I called them several times just this week, not to mention talking to two women within the department AND talking to my financial aid advisor and still they weren't organized enough to look at my profile and see that I needed to fill out two forms that would take two weeks to process. So now, I have to fill out those forms and wait for two weeks or so for my refund, which BY THE WAY I was going to pay my down payment on my car with... you know that car that I mentioned in my second post. Oh yes... we here at Mercyhurst know EXACTLY what's going on.


But anyways... here is my homework.

These are some tutorials on basic mac and photoshop skills.

Hum Drum Day

Today was rather uneventful. Although I would prefer to never try to design a website ever again in my life. It's the most tedious and time consuming process that has ever been created. If you make even the slightest mistake it takes your a lifetime to find it, and then a lifetime to fix, save, re-load, and then test it to even check to see if it's fixed! Ugh, that is life.

Then after all this is "over" I had to go into work at Starbucks for a few hours to do the in-store set up. It's not a difficult task, just yet again very time consuming. Mainly the job is to move all the product from one part of the store to another part adding and subtracting product along the way, all while following exactly specific directions from corporate on where these things should be placed.
The worse part of it all is that we have half of the space that they show in the pictures so I have to basically make the entire thing up myself. It's just fab.

And yet again, two days in a row with no time to go to the gym. I swear I'm going to gain 30lbs this term. On top of everything else.

p.s. Two good things happen this week, I get paid (yeah!!), AND I get my refund check from school (Yeah! that means I'm going to buy a Nikon D60!) I can't wait...

First day of "spring"

So today was the supposed first day of spring, I say this because it snowed last night and it's 28 degrees outside right now. But hey, we are in Erie, PA so no surprise there. So today to celebrate this momentousness occasion I drove to the peninsula and took pictures. So here they are.

It was nice to go to the beach alone and just wonder around. This is my hometown so it was nice to delve deeper into the world that is Erie, Pennsylvania. It was cold outside but the sun was warm and cutting through the light breeze. I wish I had more time that morning before I had to go to work. Normally the only way you know it's spring in Erie is when the ice on the bay and most of the lake has melted. And this was true of the the first day of spring.
I didn't discover anything too new about presquile, but I did see a lot more wildlife than I normally would on any busy day in the summer. There were geese roaming around and birds were chirping their heads off. The squirls were out and about chasing each other around and everything just looked so alive. It's amazing to think that just a few weeks ago Erie looked like this


(that's my house a few weeks back after the last big snow)

I love Erie when it gets warm out, to be honest it's what keeps me from moving away from the place in the deep dark depths of winter.



Here is a video of a little bit of my life history.
(sorry about the sound quality.)

Hooley House

So for St. Patrick's Day I didn't exactly celebrate like most other Mercyhurst College Students by attending Kegs and Eggs at the Stone. Instead, I went to class like a good student (sober) and then went out to drink. In fact I even supported a "local" restaurant. It's kind of local. It's in Mentor, OH and it's called The Hooley House. If you are anywhere near the place you should go check it out. So it's about an hour drive from here so Jax, Casey Kaz, and I all made the mini-road trip to go to this place and enjoy the guiness, the band, and the good drunk people.

This is also my first "legal" St. Patty's day, so I wanted to make it a good one. (also unlike other college kids, I like to remember big holidays such as my 21st birthday, new years, and st. pattys day) So I only drank 2 beers and something called Hooley Hooch. It was like koolaid. Yummy. The Band was AMAZING! They sang all kinds of Irish/Folk music and they were hilarious, which always makes for a good time!! The bar was packed but with really fun people including my good friends who I came with, and my friend Kate (who's father co-owns the bar). Thats Kate with me there on the right...She's not irish, but the other family who owns the place is, so I guess she's down with the Guni's (as my Italian boyfriend likes to call us). After that long day and exciting time I had with my friends it will be hard to top this past Tuesday. Unless of course I would spend this magical day IN IRELAND. So maybe one day I will do that. Here is a slideshow of the rest of my fun pics!

photobucket slideshow

Click here for my new photobucket account!

Here's a slideshow of a few of my pictures

Web 2.0

Erie is broken.

So this last assignment was depressing, basically it was to go around Erie and take pictures of things that were broken down and falling apart. (no so difficult as it turns out) Here is what I found.

This is the broken down dock on the bayfront parkway.

When I went to this dock, there was no one outside. The entire parkway was empty, it was like no one lived near this place. (even though there are houses right on front street next to the parkway). Other than the little boy and his grandma feeding the rats with wings (aka the seagulls) nothing too exciting happened while I was taking pictures this day.

I'm not sure what this used to be, but it's located next to the new Bayfront Convention Center.

There are some cool lines within these pictures but other than that again, nothing cool happened to me while I was taking these pictures.

This is a broken down building on 6th St.

This used to be a paintball facility, and now the buidling and the parking lot are decayed.

This used to be where kids went to drink and smoke when we were in younger. (I of course didn't do that...)

The Procrastination Station

Today my life is all about putting things off. I've never really had this problem until this year. I have always been really great about doing things on time and even early so they don't come back to bite me in the ass later. But not this year, oh no. I wait until the last minute to do something and then I COMPLETELY regret it later. I just feel so unmotivated, I mean what's the rush for? I want to be able to do things when my mind is ready to, not when someone else wants me to do something. I've also decided that one day I want to be able to work when I want to, not when someone else tells me to. Tomorrow night is a bar crawl, the first one I would have been able to go to since my 21st birthday, but who will be working until midnight? oh yeah, that would be me. There will be no drinking that night for me... because I will be at starbucks serving all of the well-to-do people their precious lattes. Well, oh well I have to pay off my new car somehow right? (yes I have a "new" car, a 2006 chevy cobalt)

Heres a picture for you.



So anyways, I will apparently have to work for the rest of my life only to pay off my loans from college (yeah!) and from grad school (I love it) and from my car.... (joy...)

So back to me procrastinating. So far today I have put off:
1. buying glasses (who wants to do that?)
2. going to gym (I will go.... i just don't really want to)
3. working on any homework (sorry Stadt, I'm just not in the mood for HTML)
4. taking a shower (I know, kinda gross)

I'm sure there are things that my mind has suppressed so much that I don't even remember that I don't want to do them. Maybe once it gets warm outside I'll feel more motivated to do things. But until that happens I guess I'll just slack and sit around.

Bonus: Tonight is Greys Night! So that means more slacking and not doing school work!

I think I'll go take a nap.

Technomonster

Today I found out that I am being forced against my will to move on to the age of digital photography. I entered my local camera/film development store (Van Tuil's)

Go to Van Tuil's website here

and walked up to the man at the front counter who kindly greeted me. I was there to drop off some film that I needed developed ( I unfortunately did not have time to do it myself), then I inquired about the prices of color film ( 24 exposures, at 400 speed). He told me that for one roll I would have to pay almost $4.00!!!! I was apalled! Of course it's not his fault that the prices of life are rising, or that the entire world has forgotten the distinctive art of film photography. But I mean really...

He continued to explain to me that because everyone is moving on to digital media that they only order enough film for the few (and stubborn) few of us that remain. And that this in turn has caused the prices to rise. So in that moment I decided that because I'm cheap, I would need to spend more money. And how much more money do you ask? oh about $599.00 more. Good lord, I swear there is absolutely no way to keep money in my pocket these days

This is the CAMERA MONSTER OF DOOM that attacked me today



But other than that all is well... no gym today (instead im eating girl scout cookies)
AND I found out that I need glasses... oh joy.

Class homework

Here is the Youtube version of Web 2.0



This is part 1



Here is part 2




Here is one of my new favorite songs... enjoy.

Just another day in the life...

The most exciting thing that happened to me in the last few days was a trip that I made to a new boutique and gallery on Peninsula Drive called Kind Kandles and Beach Creations. (check them out at http://www.kindkandlesandbeachcreations.com) I saw that they had pictures hung the walls for sale so I asked the man how they decided who's pictures they sold and he said "Well, if you want to bring in your portfolio I'll check it out." So what did I do? I came back the next day with my portfolio. He was surprised that I showed up the next day, and began to look at my portfolio. As he paged through he was saying things like "wow, these are great, I've never seen anything like this..." he went on and on. Afterwards he began to show his wife and she was agreeing.
After he was finished he turned to me and said, " So I think we will be buying 8 to 10 photographs, how does that sounds?" I was completely speechless. Of course that sounds amazing! So I am now starting to page through all of my work and decide what to show the owner, Rob Veres.

Here is a sample of what I'm going to show him.






Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.