Freshman year, served with tea and methyl salicylate

It has been quite a while since my last post, but there's good reason for it!
Classes have been over for a while now. Since the completion of my Freshman year, I've moved home, been on a family vacation, and am now preparing to head to Dauphin Island for my next semester.

This semester rounded out okay. Except for the fact that I didn't do as well as I had planned.

I made a B in the easiest class that I was taking..... take a guess.

If you guessed Speech, then you're correct! Really though. I emailed the instructor and he said that I was a point or two shy of an A at the end of the semester. I think I got jipped, and will speak to the instructor in person in August. Other than that mistake, everything else fell in line. We got moved out quickly, said our good-byes to the friends that I've came so close to this year, and started relaxing for just a moment.

For just a moment... until we take our vacation.
Perhaps my image of a vacation is skewed. Tell me if you think I'm wrong, but aren't vacations supposed to relieve stress? Why must I be separated from the Internet and forced to wake in the single-digit AM hours. My mother, Sister, Grandmother, and I stayed at my Uncle's condo for four days in the Smokey Mountains. Aside from one hike and being able to watch the entire first season of Heroes, it was more stressful than it was worth. I did get some quality time with my grandmother, and even got into some of Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle..but the vacation was taken 4 days before I'm supposed to go to Dauphin Island...jeesh! At least it's over now.

Presently, I'm packing and redying for my trip to Dauphin Island. I really don't have much of and idea of what to expect. We're staying in the old Air-Force barracks for 5 weeks, but other than that... I don't know whats going on. I'll be taking Marine Biology, a 4-hour course where we learn about what makes the oceans tick. I've already made up my mind that I want to own the class. Vanguard may even have to take a break while I study (Vanguard: This new and amazing MMO that i've started devoting my time to). I'll give everyone an update when I get there and get settled in.

But that's about it. I was proud I successfully identified a patch of Eastern Teaberry (American Wintergreen... if you get the vague reference from the title... but I doubt you would.... More on that later) plants while in the smokies; I even stole a leaf to chew, but don't tell the feds. Ah, tea. I've acquired some Lapsang Souchang lately after first tasting it at Dr. Garstka's place. It really is a fantastic tea. I almost like it more than coffee. But really---caffeine is caffeine. Oh, and I've been talking to Haley again lately. Apparently she doesn't disfavor me as much as I thought. Things have just been...well, you know. Complicated. I've also been able to talk to Seth some... and even stole a peek at him yesterday for a brief moment. Ah, Life.

Cheers for now,
Andrew