Gang.. Bang.. Shoot Em' Up!

The day started out like any other- hit the snooze 16 times, showered, dressed and out the door by 8:30! Just a typical morning in the life of one not so excited college freshman, until I got to school. While I'm sitting in my first class I see my mom and dad calling me, and then again, and then again, and then again.. and again.. and I think you are getting the picture here!!! I was getting text after text, call after call, and started to get a little freaked out! If I hadn't been in the middle of one of the hardest problems OF MY LIFE I would have gotten up and called whoever it was back! But I decide to wait till class was over and take care of business then! I picked up the phone and called my dad back first and after only one ring, he picked up! "Lauren, is that you??" he frantically asked. "Yes dad, it's me! Is Nana alright, and mom, and everything.. why the heck did you call so many times?" "Lauren you need to get a stomach bug and come home NOW!" Okay so by this time I am seriously wigging out! Then he finally told me that not only had Darton called our house, but also the sheriffs department to let us know that there was to be expected gang related activities at the school today! I MEAN COME ON PEOPLE! You have nothing better to do then hang out at a college and scare people. But non the less I was scared and decided then to go home. Well that impulsive idea was then shot down by my next thought -"English Quiz!! So instead of getting to my save haven, I had to stay and wait out the day with all the potential killers around me! haha! But as you can already tell...nothing happened! Because I am sitting here writing to you about it!

Julie & Julia...

From the Eiffel Tower to the city scape's of Queens, New York, Julia Child and Julie Powell are fearlessly united despite time and space.
If you have seen the movie, then you know that Merril Streep and Amy Adams play impeccable roles as two women that profess their love for cooking through books and blogging! Julie Powell and Julia Child both learn fairly quick that the art of cooking, once obtained, is something that is not easily let go. They take their daily struggles and release their stress with their cooking- somehow together. There is no problem to big or small for the two ladies that a little chicken, salt or BUTTER wouldn't fix!
Some of my favorite quotes from the movie include:
"I was drowning, and she pulled me out of the ocean." - Julie Powell
"What do you love to do?" - Paul Child, "Eat, and I'm so good at it!!" - Julia Child
"Are you home?" - Julie Powell, "Whats for dinner?" - Eric Powell
So all in all, this was ABSOLUTELY the best movie I have seen in forever! You will leave the theatre, or your couch with a warm fuzzy feeling that will entice you to fly into your cozy kitchen and screw up.... I mean mix up any and everything you can get your hands on! It's late for me now so I will have to do my experimenting at a later date, but when I do I will let you know- whoever you are! Instead for now I leave you with this thought...,"Bon appetit, and good night" - Lauren Stotler

Cats and Cheesecakes!

Saturday was spent like most of the rest, wake up early, clean, clean, clean, nap, and then clean some more! This past Saturday required even more cleaning because our pastor and his amazing wife were coming to our house for dinner! So you can imagine how fun preparing was! Well, my dad did the cooking, as he always does! He takes his culinary skills VERY seriously - even more so then my birth! So instead of helping my mom and I clean up that morning... he began cooking! He started with his famous cheesecake! Once it was done, he laid a towel over it and let it cool, while he went to the store to buy the rest of the needed items for the meal. I then walk into the kitchen to get something to drink and saw the most HORRIFIC SIGHT OF MY LIFE! MY CAT WAS LAYING ON TOP OF THE CHEESECAKE!!!!!!!!! How or why I do not know, but I couldn't run fast enough over to him to get him off! I pulled the towel off to see the beautiful cheesecake mushed and holey! (He has punched his little foot right in the middle!!) Well I immediately scream for my mom to come see the catastrophe, and so she then comes running! If you have ever been to our house you know that our kitchen is open to the foyer and it separate from the den. Well I was in he kitchen and went into the den, while my mom went into the foyer looking for me in the kitchen. Then we switched, she went into the den and I went into the kitchen. This went on for about four more times until my mom finally screamed, "BE STILL!!!" So I followed directions, and she came to where I was! She immediately busted into laughter as well as I!! When we finally reclaimed our composure, we had a quick prayer (for my dads temper) and then proceeded to "fix" the problem! In the end, the cheesecake was fine and tasted delish! But have you ever heard of such a thing! Cats and cheesecakes... devastating but delicious!

The Start of Something NEW!

White or black??

Awake at 6:36, showered by 7:00, dressed and ready by 8:00, and coffee in hand by 8:30; I was finally ready! I woke up earlier than I had expected, but could not make my feet hit the floor for fear that reality would soon take over! IT WAS MY FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE! Every other suspenseful "first day of school" had taken place only to prepare me for the one that would really matter! Encouraging texts came swarming in from the people who loved me most (Fowler, Anna, Mrs. Cathy Lynn, Mrs. Rhonda, Emily, and Michael- just to name a few!) As I pulled onto the college and I felt terrified! I was so nervous; not of my classes at this point, but rather of hitting one of the dodging pedestrian's that were shooting out right and left! Luckily I found a spot near the front of the parking lot (which still meant that I had to walk 1/2 a mile to reach the building!) I waited for my partner in crime, Christina, to arrive and we walked in together.

I thought my first class was English, but much to my dismay it wasn't!!! It was Algebra which meant I had to run to the other building as fast as I could, only to find that I wasn't as late as I thought I would be!! I was met by a room full of girls - none which seemed as excited to be there as I was! I walked in and found an empty seat.... in the VERY front. Yes I could have snagged one in the back but my attention would have most likely been on everything besides the review of the syllabus and WEBTC!!! The next 50 minutes flew by and before I knew it.. class was dismissed! YAY! One down, two to go! I quickly grabbed my things and headed to U.S. History- after grabbing my phone and checking my texts and fb of course!

When I arrived at room 210 I was relieved to find an open seat in the back which my tush quickly claimed!!! I met some people, whose names have escaped me, that were very friendly and before I knew it, I was engrossed in conversation! But the acquaintance was ended by the voice of my second professor, Mr. Latona! A jolly fellow who I believe is going to be an amazing teacher! We looked over the syllabus and then had a time "bonus discussion". He called out dates and if we could tell him what was significant about them, we got an extra credit point. I am not really a history buff, but did however manage to snag July 4 :). After history I walked over to the student center where I met my loverly boyfriend, and some other friends! We then walked inside the student center and "chatted" until English comp. We waited outside the English room for FOREVER, but the time was not spent in vain for we (Anna, Emily and I) met a new friend! :) The new 50 minutes were spent laughing, leaning, and lecturing over the material that would help us get through the next nine weeks of our lives! But soon enough, that class too was concluded all to soon!

So overall I have had an AMAZING first day and I can not wait to go back! :)

Small fish in a big pond!

Today I went with some of my besties (Rachel Adams and Christina Rose) to scope out the perimeter and find our classes! "HAHA" sums up the experience! We must have been asked 11,000 times, "You ladies appear lost, can I help you?!" And of course we gladly took the help and were then on our way!

When we got there Christina and I parked in the student parking and waited on Rachel to arrive. Well a few minutes later we see little Rachel flying by to zip her little tush in the teachers parking lot! (she is such a rebel) After we gathered our composure from laughing (because she didn't even notice where we had parked) we all walked in, holding hands, and skipping. Okay that last part was a lie, but we did begin our search "together." - a word I have come to love and respect.

The first class we arrived at was my English Comp. class.
Next we have FYE (first year experience)
Then Algebra

Followed by Physical Science

And we ended our journey at U.S. History after 1877!!!

I am VERY glad that I took a lunch break to go check this out! I may still be lost, but at least now when the stranger asks me if he can help me.. I'll feel a little better saying, "I came and looked at my classes, I don't know why I forgot!" SHEESH! haha I did find out too that Rachel is not in my Algebra class or my U.S. History.. Sad event! :(

Anticipation....:)

"There is no terror in a bang; only in the anticipation of it." - Alfred Hitchcock
Nerves are kicking in, and breakfast is setting in. Four days, and a few meals from now I'll be sitting in my first real "big girl" class at college. WHAT THE HECK??? I know! I didn't think I would be this nervous, but the truth of the matter is that I have never anticipated anything so much in my life. Graduating from a tiny school in SW Georgia did not prepare me for the monstrosity that I fear will slap me in the face on August 14, 2009. Okay so I AM over reacting a little, but who cares.... it's my blog :)
Nerves were put at a slight ease Sunday when I found out I would not be COMPLETELY alone in this first year jungle. I was comforted by the fact of finding out that some of my "tight peeps" would be walking the halls with me! College Algrbra as well as U.S. History after 1877 will be tackled with my dear friend Rachel!

Anna and Emily will be by my side in English,

and Michael will be pulling my attention from every word that escapes my professors mouth in Physical Science. YAYYYY! However, I do have to take DART (First Year Experience) alone, but I think I can manage!

How it Began...

"Ending on chapter and starting another", "Finishing the high school book and being the college novel", "Simply a new beginning". All these quotes are examples of what I have looked forward to for the past four years of my life. Getting out of the "high school scene" and escaping to adulthood turned from a dream to desire to now a goal in the forefront of my brain!I have always had a passion to do something spectacular with my life, I just never really knew what that was - until my senior year of high school. To be perfectly honest I wasn't exactly "excited" about graduating until about my senior year either. I loved the thought of freedom and adulthood, but leaving everything I had come to know was not exactly filling my stomach with roses, but instead butterflies.But as that graduation day came and went I began to feel at ease with my future plans of attending Darton, and then transferring to Georgia State University in Atlanta. My ULTIMATE DREAM is to one day own my own wedding planning firm (STURNS & CO.)

But to begin with I would love to work at another firm or with an organization such as Girl Talk, which is a non profit that targets middle school girls in helping them get through their "drama defining days."So where do I start on this journey... well 2400 Gillionville Rd. sounds good to me! I filled out all my papers and was accepted to Darton in early April and since then I have spoken with someone at the college probably once a week. WE ARE ALL ON A FIRST NAME BASIS!!! :) Okay not really, but I have tried to stay up to date on everything I need to do and everything that needs to be done. The first big issue I ran across was filling out my HOPE application! HAHA describes the experience so very well! ok no really it was a nightmare! I had called the college several time and could not get a definite date on when my financial aid information was due. So I made a few more calls and finally reached a lady that knew enough to give me a "for sure" answer (which was something that was not easy to come by!!) My next step was then to actually fill out the information with GSFC so I proceeded to fill out the application online - like any other AMERICAN would have done!!! I filled it out and as I press send I notice at the bottom of the screen there is a little warning that states..and I quote,"Any false information will result in 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2,500 for participant." So I checked over my information once again - just to be sure!!! I proceeded to press send and when I looked at my e-mailed receipt I noticed that it said I had a bach degree and that I was independent on my taxes. BOTH WHICH ARE """""WRONG""""":) As you can probably guess I began FLIPPING OUT!!! I e-mailed GSFC and called and got it all worked out, but my word! Prison and a fine! It was a scary situation!
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