Left Ya Hangin'...

Hey all,

I've left you hanging. So here's the low down. Got too busy last semester, needed to drop one of my activities. So I'm no longer working for Marketing and Communications. I'm also no longer a student because of the new change in allowed credits for financial aid. So I'm finishing up my last credit in piano without being registered. I had an incomplete. So I just have to take a few tests, well, practice like a fiend and THEN take a few tests.

Also kinda cool, I was contacted by a lady from Downeast Outfitters that asked me to visit their store and blog about it. They gave me a $25 gift card so I figured why not? I'd never been there before. I'm plus size and they barely carry a 2x. So let me break this down for you all honest like...   I went with a friend of mine who is a manager at a local retail store just to get her opinion on things.

When we got there I was kinda put off, there is a LOT of stuff in that store. It's great if you like to hunt and pick and try to find a great deal. They carry a lot of brand name jeans (Lucky) and they're greatly discounted. I didn't really care for the clothing selection since none of it applied. But I browsed around. They had some cute swim suits.

I targeted the accessories - since that's something a fat girl can buy in any store. They had a lot of really cute enamel pieces, rhinestone rings and earrings, belts and headbands. They had a pretty good selection of handbags. If you can get diesel satchels for $30. Over night bags. Hobo bags. Clutches. Everything! They also have a little corner for little kids - another place rife with hair accessories.

I left with a cocktail ring, a little girl headband, a fancy necklace and a rhinestone bracelet... all for $25.07. The prices were pretty dang good for accessories.

The cons...  
- They don't carry my size.
- They don't carry shoes.
- The store is very crowded.
- Many of the items are returns to brand name stores that they couldn't sell again. We found a few damaged items (dye stains, wear and tear).

So when you shop at DownEast Outfitters schedule some time for shopping so you can go through the racks slowly to find your treasures. Also, really look over the clothing and try it on to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with the item you're about to purchase. Enjoy the experience and find your deal! :)

XO, Nanette (the sell out!)

P.s. Photos to come later... gotta find my camera cord.

Homecoming!!!

Homecoming week came and went with fury!

Monday, I watched some of the Powderpuff football that happened on the quad. Seriously, look out for those Alpha Xi Delta girls. They've got some BITE!

A group karaoke number

Tuesday, sad sad story. I didn't actually get to participate in the karaoke because of my schedule. But I was smiling and chuckling when I was walking past the physical science building. I heard a very brave rendition of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees. Then I heard Aaron McCabe singing something but I was too far away at that point to figure it out. I WISHED I could have stayed and really enjoyed myself for that one.

Wednesday was energetic. I LOVE that the bonfire happens so late at night. It meant I could go after work and still participate. By the time I got there the fire was HUGE. The crowd was HUGE. The spirits were high. I still can't believe how tall the flames were.

Thursday, again I only caught glimpses of activity in passing. The twister game was hilarious and I was very disappointed to not have a camera on me. I've seen a few of the tie dyed shirts floating around campus. Good to know that people were there getting their hands dirty - the tie-dye, not the twister.

Orange Man

Friday was True Bengal. My friend, who shall remain nameless experienced herself some disappointment. She was sorta eye-ing Guy A, a good friend. As the kiss approached she was whisked away from our circle and a few moments later she's locked lips with Guy B - a very unexpected surprise as that was DEFINITELY not her plan. I mean, it wasn't terrible. She knew Guy B. So it was fine. But alas, her romance with Guy A will have to find another opportunity to bud.

Saturday morning I'd kinda forgotten that there was a parade. Until I could hear the band and people from my house near center. I ran out in time to see the choir walk past, cheerleaders - both high school and college, cars, clubs and a sea of orange. I would definitely have to say that Orange Man was my favorite. Any It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Fans out there? You know what I'm talking about!

Enthusiastic and mesmerized fans.

The game was alive. It's what a game should be. 8000+ people in the stands. A close score for most of the game. Tons of fans sporting the ISU colors. It only could have gone better if we'd won - what a sad fumble! Our team is doing SO much better this year. GO BENGALS!

XO, Nanette

The English Department Social

Photos Courtesy of  Carlen Donovan

As part of my creative writing class, extra credit was offered to attend the English Department Meet and Greet. Heck yes, I'll take a free assignment or absence! That's just enough to get a long weekend if I need it. I even skipped one of my easier classes for it.

The party was in the LA student lounge/reading room. It was absolutely packed. I was glad to get there early. Professors had baked goods (or at least picked them up from Fred Meyer) and there was a raffle for bookstore gift cards. Students slowly filtered in as time wore on; that girl from my german class, two of my employees from distance learning, the guy who does the movie reviews on the local channel, the guy with the long hair that I saw at the quad concerts.

Everyone was very friendly. Writer students. It was a room full of eyes. Lots of observation. Lots of talking. The professors were milling about as well. Susan Goslee was in charge of coordinating the event. She got an excellent turn out. She had provided students with writing/talking prompts like "What sort of school uniforms would you implement at ISU?" or "Best movie adapted from a book."  I also met all of the Donovans, Carlen and Will and their adorable son. Carlen Donovan roved around getting photos of the event.

I made a few new acquaintances. I had an excellent brownie. I didn't win a raffle. But I did enjoy watching and talking with other students.

XO, Nanette
PS. Going to the Volleyball game this weekend at Reed Gym. Starts at 2:00p.m. Maybe I'll see you there?

Baby's First Game

Sooooo.... I went to an ISU football game. The first sporting event of my collegiate career. I didn't know what to expect. I mean, I went to a couple outdoor games in high school. What do you WEAR to an indoor game? What do you take? I'm a redhead. I don't wear orange. I have a black dress. That's ALMOST school spirit? right? Then I packed my bag full of homework and things to distract myself with incase it was SUPER sucky.

I went up to the Holt with a photographer friend. She hooked me up with an all access press pass. I wandered down on the field. The new field looks less fake and it's squishy. Feeling a little uncomfortable (not having attended any of these games and having privileged access), I returned to my rightful place in the stands.

Photo Courtesy of ISU Photographic Services

I sat near the band. My people. I was in the family section. There was an over-gelled and proud father bouncing his knee in anticipation in front of me. He had his video camera out in preparation for the entrance of the team through the inflatable Bengal head. The feeling was electric. Anticipation. I wasn't entirely surrounded by people. I wasn't ready for the real immersion. I'm still an outsider to this whole sporting event thing.

The game started without much hurrah until the first down. Then cheerleaders and band kids and bengal dancers all went crazy. Music! Movement! Shouting! The Idaho Central Credit Union (to whom we owe our thanks for the new field in conjunction with other contributors) handed out free horns to attendees. Each one has a number. If your number is called at any game this season, you can win $100. The horns droned like a traffic jam for the entirety of the game. We scored a touchdown only minutes in.

Was I mistaken? Isn't our recent legacy one of losing every game? I was posting facebook updates as the game went on. We were completing passes, interceptions, plays... TOUCHDOWNS. I'm not a sports person, but I do have a flare for the dramatic, and what a terrific way to start the season. People around me were shouting at random times. I guess you don't have to wait for the right time. It's like shouting "hallelujah" when the spirit hits you. I was tempted to yell random phrases like "GODSAVETHEQUEEN!" because it seems like if you were going to do it, the football game would be an acceptable place.

The father guy in front of me was talking to himself and whomever else was listening. He gave the play by play. He yelled at the refs. He jumped to his feet. He waved his camera around. He rocked in his seat. I suppose this is why people love sports. The immersion. The forgetting where you are.

I watched the band students in the times when I didn't know what was going on. They instrument dance. Whenever they play, the bengal dancers get jiggy in the endzone. Those poor students were clad in polyester in that HOT arena.

We won the game. 44 - 7 (in case you didn't catch the score). I might go to the next one...   Step a little further into the pool. Normally I'm a jump-head-first kind of gal. But this is taking some getting used to.

XO,
Nanette

The end of the world.

I may be in over my head. I've gotten involved alright. Three jobs this semester. 40 hours a week and 12 credits. Any bets on how long before melt down? I've been looking at football calendars. I keep seeing girls with "It's Game Day" shirts on. There are fliers everywhere I look for events every night of the week! I realize how much more time I'm going to need to get active in campus life.
 
All summer I thought "why were you never involved?!" Now I remember. By the time I get home from a full day of classes and five hours in an office, I realize my week is halfway over. I've missed 6 events (Shape UR Yoga Booty, End of Summer Pool Party, Zumba Flash Party, Part-Time Job Fair, Ice cream social, and a Bengal Wednesday) . There's no going back. Only forward. It means giving up one of my Friday nights to go to an ISU event. Or worse, a Saturday night. Choosing to go to a football game instead of a date, or heaven forbid, FOR a date. Choosing a dance over a movie night with friends or even getting my homework done. I'm not sure how I'm going to fit everything in.

Anyway... enough complaining. It's time to plan ahead. I pulled up the ISU calendar. Looks like there's a football game this Saturday. I'm trying to be positive. I'm trying to like it. This really is a first. Nanette Nielson is going to a football game. Hell might freeze over. Farm animals might start flying. The end of the world might come early. At least you've been warned.

XO, Nanette
P.S. I'm so excited for Gabriel Iglesias to get here. This man is funny people. It's Oct 7. Get your tickets.

The week concluded...

Week overall: win.
Being a more participatory student: fail.

There was SO much going on this past week. I didn't get to go to ANY of it. I suspect some of you are in the same boat. With working  in the evening and 6 classes, time just sort of escaped me. I am proud to say though, that I am current and slightly ahead on homework, although that will last a total of MAYBE three weeks and then I'll be looking for things to distract me. 

I never reported in on my Tuesday/Thursday classes. I might have made a mistake. They are LONG days. 

9:00 - 10:00    Swim 
11:00 - 12:00  Form and Analysis (aka, hard and frustrating, the second time I'm taking it). 
12:00 - 1:00    Diction (learning IPA and applying it to French, German and Italian). 
3:00 - 4:00      Dance Basics 
4:00 - 5:15      Pedagogy (learning how to teach voice lessons).
5:30 - 10:00    Work.

It's homework and reading intensive. But that's not the hard part. Those of you who have met me, understand through body shape alone that I prefer eating to moving. Two physically active classes in one day is a leap for this stationary/office job kind of girl. Thursday was the first day I experienced the full wrath of my laziness. It was hard. It was exhausting. Then Friday and Saturday came along. I could barely walk. Here's the other thing, these classes were NOT hard for some of the other members of class. But one should never measure progress by comparison to others, but comparison to self and MAN, do I have room for improvement. I'm hoping that after about two or three weeks, it gets less hard and my body will start adjusting.

Lately, as part of the renaissance of self, I've made it a goal to do something creative every day. Now, creative writing class's homework assignments do not count. I've taken to visual journaling. Trying to take a photo, paint (poorly) or doodle to pair with an observation that day. I'll post the less personal ones here when I get them scanned in.

Have any of you been trying new things this semester? Any classes that you might regret signing up for? Tell me about your first week!

XO, Nanette

First Day Of School... Side A

Normally, as a music major, the piece of paper in my planner would have between eight and ten classes listed and it would barely equate to 13 or 14 credits. This semester, I feel like a more normal student with my mere six classes.

Today was Creative Writing Workshop with Ms. Goslee. Now, she made it very clear that whatever happens in class, stays in class (very much so like Vegas). So I can't divulge too much about what goes on in there, but I will certainly say it's a classroom full of very interesting characters. The mom, the accountant, the handful of english majors that haven't decided to seek a more cash oriented degree, that girl with the emo hair and the skinny jeans, the overeager, but I'll tell you what's missing... the apathetic. It's absolutely lovely to have a class that everyone seems invested in. This isn't a prerequisite. This isn't a goal class. It's a collection of interesting people with interesting stories (I hope).

Great Aunt Loma - Look at those curls!

Ms. Goslee is chipper and fun. But firstly, I noticed her very curly and playful hair. She is humorous. She is definitely clever. Today during class I noticed a man through the window in the door going into his office, another English professor I assume. He sports the same curly hair. And Ted, an English grad student friend of mine, also sports the same natural perm. I can't help but be led to the conclusion that their brain is so crazy, so full of ideas and so creative that their hair is charged by the rapid electricity of constant thought.

It was a great 50 minutes. Now, let's get serious, Nanette. You WILL go to class. You WILL be prepared. You WILL NOT get lazy or procrastinate-y or excuse-y. You will be curly headed and full of creativity. And THAT is the bottom line!

How was yours? Do you have any goals for yourself this semester?


XO, Nanette