Chapter Eighty-Eight: Football, Frogs, and Late Nights (Studying)

Activation Energy. It's a term we learned in my Biology of Animals class a couple days ago. On a cellular level, activation energy is the energy it takes to make the initial move when it comes to doing whatever cells do, such as replicating or breaking down sugars. However, our professor decided to tell us about how we all need activation energy in our much bigger, human life. Sometimes, when we have a lot on our plate or just have a task ahead of us we are not too excited about doing, the hardest part is gaining the activation energy to just start.
Whether I like it or not, I'm growing older each and every day. Which means that each and every day I am gaining more responsibilities, knowledge (hopefully), and burdens as adulthood becomes my reality. This is becoming particularly evident to me because 1) I'm currently writing this at 2:00 AM when I should be sleeping like a normal person and 2) my best friend turns twenty today. (Happy Birthday, Kimmy!)
Twenty. Twenty?! 
While I'm still nineteen, the fact that my friends and I are continuously growing older really nails in the fact that we're not immortal and opportunities don't last forever.
Basically, what I'm really trying to say is that, yes, we have new and strange responsibilities setting into our lives, but we also have so many opportunities to have fun and enjoy life while we can...it's ultimately up to us and our discipline to decide when to say yes and when to say no.
I've been struggling with this a lot with my heavy semester load and multiple organizations. It's hard to say no (or even yes sometimes), but, in the end, I'm blessed to be here and really do my best to enjoy every moment!

Towards the beginning of the month, we had our first football game of the season. We had all been waiting for football for weeks (maybe even months) because we all seem to crave that time of unity with each other as we all wear our school colors and chant the same words. On September 5 it was finally here! Before the game I got to see Luke for a whole 20 minutes because, since he is in band, his whole day is booked. Mary, Nikki, and I spent some time tailgating with friends before the gates opened. It was our first tailgate, but definitely not our last!

The Raiders left the game not only victorious, but also a little red...the sun definitely took it's toll on nearly everyone. It seemed that everybody underestimated the real enemy: Texas heat! Ironically, Lubbock ran out of Aloe Vera that same weekend...

On the following Monday, we decided to put our free coupon books to use and visited one of our favorite spots: Blue Oasis. This is a special, little Italian Ice boutique with tables that are blank canvases for Magic Markers. Not only is Blue Oasis a great stress reliever, it's also an interesting conversation starter. Like, "What is that supposed to be?" and "Will you ever let me use the red marker?" Awesome bonding opportunities for sure.

Before we knew it, another week had passed by and it was Game Day once again. This time around, the Red Raiders (still feeling the effects from last weekend) all brought waterbottles and wore plenty of sunscreen. Except poor Sarah once again burned her scalp and accidentally forgot to lather up her nose... Maybe one day I'll perfect the art of protecting my skin! Regardless, I still had fun. This time around I sat with Bailey and her crew from church. 

Once again victorious! Go Raiders! After the game I headed over to the music hall to give Luke some much needed hydration and food...it has been decided that this will be a new Game Day tradition. What are awesome girlfriends for? *Hair Flip*

Remember when I was talking about activation energy? How it takes a lot of energy to just get started? Well this was very evident in this last week. Before the school year started, I had decided to join multiple organizations to not only become more involved, but also to gain some experience outside of the classroom. Well, not only has it been hard to keep track of everything, but it's also been hard gaining the motivation to be friendly and get out of the house. However, giving myself the chance to make new friends and learn is something that's important to me. So, while it may take a lot of activation energy to get out of my comfort zone to try something new, I haven't regretted it since. 

One of these "opportunities" I have taken is getting myself some friends in my dorm room. Say hello to my new frogs!

I haven't really come up with names yet (suggestions are welcome!), but I've enjoyed their company nonetheless. They are nocturnal for the most part, but watching them swim around, hide in their plants, and hearing them sing at night has been so much fun! 

Speaking of pets, my plant, Farore has been doing pretty good these past couple of weeks. Although, on Friday, my plant looked a little droopy. I'm hoping it perks up over the weekend, as my grade depends on it!

My other pet (not as favorite as my Zinnia, I'm sure) is doing just fine. Unlike some other unlucky cockroaches, Phoebe did not get eaten nor killed. Our lab focused on measuring the length of our cockroaches, which involved restricting Phoebe from running around like normal. She did not like it at all and pouted in the corner. She hissed at us for the first time, which was a little sad, but hopefully she will forget within the next couple of weeks. 

Pouting Phoebe

This week was full of late nights studying...the first exams of many of my classes are rolling around. It's been pretty interesting so far...my art/animation class has been nothing but informational, my math classes have been surprisingly understandable, and my biology classes have been refreshing and cool. Wish me luck on my studying and exams!

On Saturday, we headed back to Apple Country and picked some fresh apples. I met up with Lynniece, a Lubbock family member, and enjoyed my time with my awesome roommate, sister, and boyfriend. We had a blast picking apples (eating too many apples), avoiding bugs, and discovering nature up close and personal!

Of course pictures are a necessity! We posed with our prized collections and awesome company.

Oh, and not to mention made some new friends! By friends I mean some birds we ran into while picking apples: 

Needless to say, it was definitely a fun time. We all took naps afterwards (which might be why I'm staying up so late full of energy!) It was an adventure for sure...Apple Picking is definitely a fun tradition that will always be a favorite in my book.

Apple of my Eye

September has been full of wonderful adventures and it's definitely not over yet! Everyday it feels like I learn something new, and not necessarily in the classroom. This semester has really challenged me on time management, remaining hopeful, and taking initiative...all important yet difficult. I thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and stories. Until the next chapter...!