Look at that good lookin’ mug, eh? Haha, NOT. I woke up late this day and couldn’t figure out how to get my eyes opened and my brain awake.

This is my picture from the Cyclone Aides website that shows who we are, and what we do! So, introducing the 2009-2010 Cyclone Aides for Iowa State University!

So today began intensive training week for my Cyclone Aide job. Just as a review, Cyclone Aides are students working for the Office of Admissions during the summer to help run orientation. Cyclone Aides are undergraduate students who help facilitate new student programs throughout the year. They provide new students with an introduction to campus and its resources, provide campus and residence hall tours, prepare students for academic advising appointments, serve on panels, and share information about Iowa State with new students and their family members.

Cyclone Aides also coordinate the Destination Iowa State program and assist with campus visits and student recruitment throughout the year. We serve on committees that help plan Destination Iowa State activities, such as financial management, surviving your first year of college, the comedian on Friday night of DIS [Destination Iowa State], and many others as well. Part of our training for Cyclone Aide is over 100 hours of specified training concerning campus resources, departments, colleges, and student services offered to Iowa State students. We have to be prepared to answer literally any questions about Iowa State in a professional and accurate way. It takes a lot of training, and during the Spring semester after you are accepted, you attend two morning trainings a week, Tuesday and Thursday 8:00-9:20am, and then an Intensive Training Week from May 21-29th, where we have a detailed schedule from 8:00am-5:00pm almost everyday.

Today we have an intensive schedule, with speakers and internal panel training, as well as informational sessions, phone skit training, etc. Pretty crazy when I look at all the information we have absorbed over the semester, but this week will be even more intense.

We had training today, and then tomorrow, and then a three day weekend. I plan on helping Eric pack up his place, and then just hangout and spend some time relaxing before next week’s intensive training. The three day weekend is for Memorial Day, and I think Eric and I are going to watch a Band of Brother marathon, so it should be fun. =]

Until next time,
I will be learning anything and everything about Iowa State,
Seanna

It’s official. Eric has accepted his offer from Parker Hannifin to work a two semester internship, or co-op in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m SO excited for him, but kind of bummed that I won’t see him on a regular basis for basically a year. If you are confused about this, go back and read my post about the future, called Decisions, Decisions. It explains it all, and it’s really a huge long story and my fingers are kind of tired. Sorry. ::shrug::

So, Eric will be working and living in Fort Worth, Texas until December, working his little heart out at Parker Hannifin, and HOPEFULLY this might lead to a job offer after hisgraduation NEXT December . . . which would be AWESOME.  That is the point of internships for Engineers, in case you never hear this, I’ll tell you a secret. You intern to work in the Engineering world- hiring companies want validation that an employee will be beneficial and profitable to the company, so they tend to hire within their well and their own trained flock, for lack of a better term. So in order to work for a company as a salaried position, one must first have an internship or some sort of experience with that company. Just like my grandfather [the parents I live with], he went to Iowa State for Engineering and had to stop school for a year to work and get money, so he worked as a draftsman for Rockwell Collins, and sure enough, after he graduated, they offered him the job of a lifetime in Richardson, TX, and as they say, the rest is history!

So anyway, back to Eric, hah, after my major tangent, he will be in Fort Worth, living in Hawks Creek Village. This place is terrible! It has a pool, workout facility, a CAR WASH and DETAIL center IN the complex, gated communities, a golf course, a running/walking/biking paved trail around the entire course, and SO much more. He’s excited to have a one bedroom apartment for the first time in his college/education experience. When he moved to Minneapolis, he had a roommate, so this will be his first time on his own.

Don’t worry, I’ve already run to Borders Books and bought him a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I’m on top of it.

It looks like a great opportunity, a great place to live, a lot of interesting things to do [because let's face it, if you're around Dallas/Ft. Worth, there's really no limit to what you can fill your days doing!] and he will be about an hour from my parents! What a perfect opportunity to get to know them better!

In all seriousness, I really do admire him for the strength and courage to undertake such change, after being back at school for only a semester. He’s such a driven individual, and I love him for that. He’s good at what he does, and he’s motivated and determined to achieve his goals. I’m proud of him, I’m just going to miss him.

But on a happier note, yep! He’ll be a Texan soon enough! It’s funny, because he’s been asking me about Texas A&M individuals, since he found out he will be working with five other interns from A&M College Station. We’ll see how he fares.

So until next time,
I will be packing him into oblivion,
Seanna

So tonight was our Buchanan Bucks Auction here in good ol’ Buch- this event was in conjunction with our “Last Call for Buchanan Hall,” or our last week before Dead Week and studying for finals where residents could let loose and enjoy themselves before they started cracking down for finals.

Our Buchanan Hall Association entrusted me with their P-Card, which is a credit card associated with a student organization’s banking funds, and I went to the university Bookstore and bought over $400.00 worth in merchandise, and went to Wal-Mart where I cleaned up another $250.00 in food, drinks, an iHome, and DVD movie packs.

Gotta love the $5 movie tower in Wal-Mart, eh?

Anyway, so I got back to the Hall Desk and organized it all, made signs and posters telling the prices, and prepared for the anarchy to ensure. 

Buchanan Bucks are slips of paper money with Brock, our Hall Director’s face on it. When Community Advisors see residents building community by keeping their doors open and visiting with others, or showing good grades, a student can receive these Bucks as positive reinforcement for that behavior. It works really well, and they go like gangbusters. Yes, I just said gangbusters. It’s a valid term- in my vocabulary, at least.

Basically, residents can “pay” for these items in three ways: a Buchanan Bucks Store, an Auction where students bid on certain items and the items is thus “auctioned” off, and the third way is a raffle, in which two Buchanan Bucks equals one raffle ticket.

It went really well! We had the store open right after the Dollar Dinner, where we served Jeff’s Pizza, and residents payed $1 for two slices of pizza and a can of soda [or pop, your preference, hah]! Everything sold: tailgating folding chairs, ISU lanyards, hats, tshirts, car window decals, nalgenes, ISU glasses, face tattoos, blankets, and food like mini six packs of soda, chips and salsa, candy bars, chocolate twizzlers [yeah, I was just as surprised as you are right now], and a lot of other things, too. The auction items were two DVD movies related to each other, with two bags of popcorn and two packages of hot cocoa [there were five packs of those] and the ISU tailgating chairs, which are always popular. The raffle items were an iPod shuffle [of course], an iHome iPod dock, and an ISU fleece blanket, which is a HUGE seller. It was great because the raffle was at the end of the night and so anyone who hadn’t bought something in the store or the auction could use their tickets for the auction.

Most important item: energy drinks. By far the biggest seller. As you can see, this is pretty much what a typical college student looks like after an all-nighter and a billion arnold palmers mixed with a fleck of espresso. Mmmm good to the last drop.

Residents really appreciate when we take the time and support events such as these that bring the building together. It’s always fun to see people out of their rooms, enjoying themselves before the stresses of Dead Week and Finals Week. Then it’s 23/7 Quiet Hours, so it gets pretty lonely in the halls sometimes during the last two weeks of classes.

Until people are done, of course. And then the halls are flooded.

It’s that time of the year- time for the ISU Dub H Show [Hip Hop Club]! I went today 2:00pm to the show, but we had to get there around 1:00pm to get tickets! It was amazing! There’s no video released from it yet, but make sure to check out these past performances of the 2008-2009 year! The clip from below is a preview of one of the dances that was performed. They are SPECTACULAR! So make sure to check out my pics on Flickr for more views of the dancers!

I am never disappointed by the shows. This year, Travis Horn used Super Mario as a theme for his dance, there was a “Transylvanian” Thriller Dance, and a bunch of other awesome dances, too. Check out the pictures, and these clips. There’s one show every semester, so WHEN you come to Iowa State, stop by! Say hey! Enjoy some dancing!

Until next time,
Seanna

Tonight was our hall-wide event sponsored by the Hall Council and run by the Community Advisors of Buchanan. It was called Mocktail Night, and it was an educational program on college student drinking, with facts, quizzes, mock cocktails, or “mocktails” such as virgin strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas. I was the drink master of the night, whipping out cups and using blenders like a pro.

Here we have Michelle and Nate, other Community Advisors in Buchanan, wearing our event tshirts. They said Buchanan Staff on the front, with BOUNCER on the back.

The great part about the program was not only the “drinking” games, such as ROOT beer pong, flippy cup withHAWAIIAN PUNCH, and quarters with SODA, but also the educational information that went into the event. We were educating not only about drinking but also safety at parties, and other things. Community Advisors all had a bag of skittles, and if anyone left their “red party cup” unattended at the event, we dropped a “roofie,” i.e. a colored skittle into their drink. When they discovered the skittle, they were required to give us one of their Buchanan Bucks, which are “currency” that we pass out when you promote community, shows good grades to Community Advisors, or attend hall or floor events. We are having a Buchanan Auction on Sunday, so my post will talk about that then.

I “roofied” about ten people who left their cups unattended, and I gathered about fifteen Buchanan Bucks. We had board games, a ROOT beer pong tournament bracket, and a flippy cup tournament as well. We also provided dinner- we had Jeff’s Pizza [the BEST pizza in Ames] for $1 per 2 slices, and free drinks, fruit, cookies, chips, etc. It was really fun, and it was a great way to end the semester before Dead Week [the week before finals where no extracurricular activities are allowed to meet, to help for studying].

I think we should make it an annual event, so I’ll make sure to post [if I am able to continue the blog next year, keep your fingers crossed!] about updates to the program!

In a couple of days, I’m organizing the hall-wide Buchanan Bucks Auction, but more about that on my post on Sunday! Have a great night, and as always,

Until next time,
Seanna

So, don’t laugh.

No, really. 

Seriously.

Don’t laugh.

I haven’t had a TON of time to workout lately, so a friend of mine loaned me TurboJam, a home workout system that’s fun and interesting compared to other workout DVDs. The music is great, the moves and the programs are all based on 11 moves, Capoiera [brazilian dance fighting] and toning. I LOVE it. I know, I know, it sounds corny, but I’ve been using it for a week and I’ve lost 6 lbs., and almost eight inches in combination of my arms, waist, hips, chest, etc.

A lot of people have questions about staying fit in college, between the food, sitting in class, and the change of lifestyle you encounter. I’ve been running and working out, and that not only helps me feel better [since endorphins are natural mood boosters] but it also helps me stay more organized and focused when it comes to working on homework and scheduling “me time,” which is essential for college success. Being fit and feeling good is the basis of a good body image and confidence, so when it comes to working out, make sure that when you get to college, you don’t give that up! If you feel good about yourself, you will be more confident and successful in the long run!

We’ll see how it goes! I’ll keep you posted, hah! Meanwhile, check it out! It works!

Until next time,
Seanna

Saturday, April 18

Apr 18 Pancake Feed
Location: Central Campus
Time: 8:00 AM ~ 10:00 AM

Apr 18 Silent Auction to Support VEISHEA Scholarships
Location: Central Campus
Time: 8:00 AM ~ 2:00 PM (8:00am-2:00pm)

Apr 18 VEISHEA Parade
Location: Campus
Time: 10:30 AM

Apr 18 Taste of VEISHEA
Location: Union Drive & Molecular Biology Parking Lot
Time: 11:00 AM ~ 3:00 AM

Apr 18 Cultural Festival/International Food Fair
Location: Great Hall, MU
Time: 11:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM

Apr 18 Carnival Rides and games
Location: Molecular Biology Parking Lot
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 12:00 AM (Noon-Midnight)

Apr 18 History Expo
Location: Beardshear Atrium
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM

Apr 18 VEISHEA Village University Department & Student Organization Displays
Location: Central Campus
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 4:30 PM

Apr 18 Cy’s Big Top Kids Games and Activities
Location: Central Campus
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 4:30 PM

Apr 18 Ames Neighborhood Community Information Displays
Location: Central Campus
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 4:30 PM

Apr 18 Vet Med VEISHEA Village
Location: Vet Med
Time: 12:00 PM ~ 4:30 PM

Apr 18 World Series Softball Tournament
Location: Intramural Fields
Time: 1:00 PM

Apr 18 Canoe Races
Location: Lake LaVerne
Time: 1:00 PM

Apr 18 6 Player Sand Volleyball Tournament
Location: Intramural Fields
Time: 2:00 PM

Apr 18 Live @ VEISHEA Concert Featuring Cartel, Jamey Johnson, Straylight Run, Ludo & more!
Location: Molecular Biology Parking Lot
Time: 7:00 PM ~ 2:00 AM

Apr 18 Comedian: Bill Burr As seen on HBO’s
Location: Stephens Auditorium
Time: 9:00 PM

Apr 18 BINGO
Location: Sun Room
Time: 9:00 PM

Apr 18 Adult Circus Variety SHOW 1 - Comedy, magic, juggling, telepathy and dangerous sideshow stunts.
Location: Central Campus Stage (Rain Location: Great Hall, MU)
Time: 9:00 PM

Apr 18 Mad Chad Taylor Chainsaw Juggler SHOW 1 Guinness Book of World Records Holder.
Location: Central Campus (Rain Location: Great Hall, MU)
Time: 10:00 PM

Apr 18 Fire Pixie Fire and Light SHOW 1 Aerial stunts with fire and lights.
Location: Central Campus (Rain Location: Great Hall, MU)
Time: 11:30 PM
Apr 18 Campanile Countdown Dash from Beardshear to the Campanile before the clock strikes twelve.
Location: Beardshear Hall Time: 11:30 PM

Apr 19 Pancake Feed
Location: Central Campus
Time: 12:00 AM ~ 3:00 AM (Midnight-3:00am)

All I can say is, WOW.

Yesterday was amazing! It started out waking up around 9:15am, hitting the snooze on my alarm radio and then realizing I kinda needed to wake up and get going for the parade. I was still on duty, but I headed over and put my sweatshirt on, with my hood up to keep the world from seeing my gorgeous [?] morning face. . . after duty all night long. I went back home, took a nap, and proceeded to head out to breakfast with Eric to Panera [where it was actually less busy than it usually is . . . probably because I jetted out early from the parade]. I went home, cleaned my room a TON, did some TURBO JAM [a homeworkout system I use- I love it!], and then got ready to go to dinner with some friends.

Eric and I met our mutual friend, Ben and my good friend Bailey and her boyfriend at Applebee’s for dinner. It was great ot catch up and find out what people were doing for VEISHEA. Ben was playing trumpet in the Stars Over VEISHEA “Gypsy” production in the pit, so he had to leave a tad early, but it was great seeing him! We didn’t catch up with him for the rest of the night, though. I think he went out with the pit afterwards to Old Chicago or something!

Eric and I hung out a little bit after dinner, and then walked onto campus. I was bound and determined to do three things last night: a) see the STIHL Lumberjack Show, see “Mad Chad” the Chainsaw Juggler, and to Campanile at midnight. I accomplished all of them, plus watched the Fire Pixies and talked with friends all night. It was a great way to spend my last VEISHEA [since I will be student teaching next semester abroad in Puerto Rico]!

We attended the STIHL Lumberjack show at 9:30pm, but when we walked over to the bleachers by the Molecular Biology building at 8:30pm, it was already filling up! We watched the entire show, and I even got a picture with one of the lumberjacks [ooooh yeah . . . ] but I accidentally deleted it later. My friend Nora got one, too. So maybe I’ll just show hers off. They competed in several different events, including the speed climb [where they basically climb a 30 or 90 ft pole and return as fast as they can], log rolling, and other events such as obstacle courses, or “speed carving,” where one of them made a bear in 30 seconds flat with a chainsaw. Who knew? The picture to the right here is Derek Knutsen and Bryan Killian competing in log rolling. It was hilarious, but I most certainly wouldn’t want to attempt it! They are both champions in Lumberjack competitions and they’re both from Hayward, Wisconsin!

After that, we went to watch “Mad Chad” the Chainsaw Juggler in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. He started out with simple things, like pins, balls, etc. and then actually juggled a raw egg, a chair, and a 10lb. shotput. Ha, go figure! He started out with one chainsaw, then added another one the next time, and then finally juggled THREE chainsaws. It was nuts! Here’s a promo video of almost everything we watched him do! 

<– a promo of the Fire Pixies, a group who performs stunts with fire and other dare-devilish acts! They were amazing, but I’ll leave the fire eating up to them! [I'm just really surprised the guy didn't light his hair on fire . . . or his mustache/beard ensemble!]

In between performances in the Great Hall was “The Enigma,” a guy born Paul Lawrence, who has his entire body tattooed, and performs sideshow stunts. Some of the things he did were CRAZY, like eating fire, using a chainsaw to carve an apple in his assistant’s mouth [with himself blindfolded], eating glass, drinking through his nose and it, well, coming back out again . . . and more. It was interesting, but made me squirm. I guess that is the point [?]. Oh, and he also swallowed neon . . . what the heck!?

After that, we went campaniling [we took a picture, but it's on Eric's camera, so I'll have to make sure to upload it, along with the other pictures we took of VEISHEA celebrations going on]. There were TONS of people waiting to kiss under the campanile at midnight, as well as those who chose to run between Beardshear Hall and Curtiss Hall if they didn’t have a significant other to kiss. 

All in all, it was a fabulous night. I got to see a lot of good friends I hadn’t seen in a while, talked it up and chatted, saw some crazy, interesting, funny, and jolting things, and walked around, enjoying campus. That’s what VEISHEA is all about- enjoying the campus of Iowa State and reminding ourselves to have fun while we’re young.

Until next time,
I’m catching up on the homework that I’ve put off-
Seanna

Last night in the M-Shop, or the Maintenance Shop located in the Memorial Union, there was a drag Show presented by the LGBTA Alliance on campus [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally]. With the recent events in the news concerning marriage equality, there has been a surge of energy on campus, and this night was no different.
 

The Maintenance Shop has been home to concerts since 1973, bringing in artists and entertainment at student-friendly prices, with food and drinks, and plenty of fun to go around.

That sounded kinda cheesy . . . but it’s true.
 

So anyway, with the hubbub on campus and in the news about marriage equality, it was the perfect time to attend this event! I knew someone performing in the show, and I also went with another friend, Nora, a CA I work with, and some other friends, too. It was hilarious and SO entertaining! The music was awesome, the performers were outstanding, and the crowd was loving it!

 

There were four professional drag queens, who perform every Thursday at a club in campus town, calledBali Satay, and also student performers, members of the LGBTA cabinet, and impromptu skits, dances, and singing.

The crowd got into it, cheering and yelling, passing dollars to the stage . . . it was awesome. There were students from Iowa Central Community College present as well, and friends, family and supporters of a student population that is too often overlooked.

I always enjoy attending events for LGBTA Alliance, and this week is Awareness Week, with nightly movies in a building on campus, and also events across campus. Students of all interests are able to be involved here at Iowa State, in many different facets on campus. I love how there are so many different niches for students to belong to, and groups of friends that met at college, and have formed life long friendships. I know that i have found some of my best friends in clubs and organizations, and I know that if you decide to come to Iowa State, there is a group of people that you will get to know, and you’ll find a place you belong here in Ames.

Until next time,
Seanna

My plane leaves from Phoenix, AZ Sky Harbor Airport at 7:10am tomorrow morning, and I have a two hour layover in Denver, CO. Then I get to fly to Omaha, NE, and see Eric again.

Man, I miss that boy.

It’s been a great time with my family [a tad bit hectic, but still enjoyable] but it’s always nice to drive on I-35 out of Des Moines and see the Ames, Iowa State University sign feels just as much like home as Richardson, Campbell Road does.

If you’re not from Dallas, Campbell Rd probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but for all my locals out there, you know where I’m coming from.

Intramural t-shirt. Broomball games at the ISU Ice Arena. 12:40pm, and you and your four teammates against five people wanting the same exact t-shirt.

It’s intense, to say the least.

Broomball is the most popular intramural sport on campus. Intramurals are sports teams offered by the Recreation Services Department, where students compete against each other for intramural championship status. There are several different levels, A-D, A being the most competitive and advanced skill level, with D being beginners, or people just playing for fun and giggles. There are over twenty five different sports/activities that a student could compete against other students, ranging from cross country individual/cross country team, to euchre, to hearts, to billiards, to basketball, soccer, and even NCAA Bowl Pick’em! For an extensive list, click HERE to see all intramural sports offered during the semester!

I have been on an intramural volleyball team before, and we were level B, so not too shabby, but we didn’t win the championship, so no intramural tshirt for me. I have one, but I honestly have no idea where I got it! I know that’s weird, but when you live with roommates, and between laundry and going home four or five times, and moving three times in my college career, it’s been washed, so it’s safe! I’m not going to complain . . . I just tell people i am an intramural cage fighter and they are satisfied with that answer.

There was an intramural broomball team for my band sorority and our band fraternity this past fall. They were awesome! They lost their last game, but before that, went undefeated 4-0!

Oh, and what is broomball you ask? Good question! Broomball is kind of like hockey, where you have a lacrosse-like stick that you use to launch a lightweight ball across the hockey stadium at the other team’s goal. You are required to wear a helmet, but you can truck around in your tennis shoes, so there’s no other equipment needed. It’s really fun, but you do have bruises if you take a spill out on the frozen-ness! It is by far the most sought after intramural activity, and you can do co-ed, or one gender, at level A-D, so Level A Broomball seriously kicks some butt!

You can chose your own team name, such as “Chicks with Sticks,” or “Ice, Ice Babies,” or even “Broomin’ Band Babes,” like last fall! Game times are scheduled for 11:00pm-1:00am, which is the perfect time to get homework gone, play a game and hit the hay afterwards.

Broomball is a tradition at ISU, one of only a handful of northern universities nationwide that play the sport. Al Murdock, ISU Hockey Club coach, started broomball at Iowa State in 1972. At first, students played the game outside on an ice rink north of Beyer or in Hilton in the middle of the night. Broomball really began to take off in 1979, when teams could finally play indoors at an ice rink. Last year, 285 men’s and women’s teams and 169 co-ed teams competed at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, with an average of eight players per team.

So there you have it, Broomball Intramurals! Do you have any questions about intramurals, broomball, or student activities on campus in general? Hit me up with a comment or an email at seanna@lonestarcyclone.com! I’d love to answer ‘em for you!

Til next time,
Seanna