Brett and Mark, two lawyers that I work for, were making jokes about me going to the University of Arizona.

I told them my story of how Arizona State University accepted me without knowing anything but my name, address, and major.  Mark said that’s because ASU did an extensive background check with its alumni.  Mark then asked if I think I could pass the UofA admissions test.   Sure, I said, I guess I’m a pretty good test taker.  Mark led me to a table, told me to put my hands palms down on the table, and he did the same.

“Now,” he asked, “Which hands are yours?”

I held up my hands.  “These are my hands,” I said.

“Congratulations.  You passed the test!”

I think there might be a war soon.  Never mind that he’s a lawyer and I’m an intern.

In the previous post, I had said that I was going to live in a dorm. Well, on Day 2 of orientation at The University of Arizona, I learned that the dorms were full and that I need to be looking elsewhere. The dorms filled up in record time this year.

After gathering brochures from a line of apartment representatives, a perky woman said, “Hi! Our apartments have a no party policy, 80 security cameras, and a fence with a laser beam that goes around the edge and sets off an alarm if anyone tries to hop the fence.” This sounded nice. Only university students can rent there, they provide a shuttle to and from campus, there is a pool, an exercise room, a mini-movie theater, a game room (as in PS3 and Wii), a study room, and a computer terminal.

I looked at the price, and it’s between $150 and $200 cheaper per month than the dorms– fully furnished, all utilities (including wi-fi internet) included. Also, the price of food will be a lot cheaper because it has a full kitchen.

My mom and I drove past it after orientation, and it looks like a ghetto Las Vegas hotel from the 60’s.  I’m going to get a room mate through the room mate matching service they provide.  I just hope this doesn’t end up like Circus Circus.

It is currently 1am Arizona Time, and in 4 hours I have to wake up and go to Tucson again.

Yesterday I went to Freshman Orientation at the University of Arizona. It really wasn’t all that helpful for me, but it was extremely helpful for my mom who was quite worried about me going to school down there and being kidnapped and killed by some crazy stressed out student. A cop talked to the parents and said that out of the 9 years he’s worked there, all violent crimes were alcohol related. Good thing I don’t plan on doing anything alcohol related.

The parents were also told that living on campus is much better for freshman than living off campus. Their grades are better, surprisingly, and they are much more involved.

Before yesterday, I had planned on living off campus because a series of unfortunate events made it so that I am not currently in the Honors College and therefore can’t live in the Honors Dorms. I would have liked to live with a lady I know who lives in the Tucson Foothills, a place known for the rich and snobby, about 20 minutes outside of town. During dinner my mom and I met up and talked about the things that we were taught during our separate orientation sessions. She said that she was now much more comfortable with the idea of me living in a dorm, on campus.

So when we got home I started looking into the Residency Life catalog. I hadn’t really done that before, because previously my living in a dorm was pretty much out of the question. I’m on a waiting list for a dorm room now.

How do I feel about all of this? Well, I’m excited that I’ll be able to be more involved on campus; I’m scared that I’ll get a preppy Paris Hilton wannabe as my roomie; I’m scared that I’ll get a roomie who steals my stuff; I’m nervous about the cost.

Dear Lord, the cost! I guess that I forgot to mention that it is very expensive to share a 14×11 space with another person. I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for everything after this first semester, because I don’t have a scholarship. I’ll probably have to take out a loan and be in debt my whole life and then I’ll be depressed about that and need therapy. Oh wait, scratch the therapy because I probably won’t be able to afford it.

The other day I went to a craft store in Phoenix and bought some cardstock and matching accent paper. I was really excited about the possibilities so I started making cards right away.

That perfect little Thanks button is a sticker that I bought. Actually, I bought 6 of them.

I was so proud of how they came out! But I promise that I will never be one of those scrapbooking moms who has a whole entire room devoted to making intricate little details on a huge page that only features 1 picture. That’s just more than I can handle.

The past week or so I’ve been training at my new job.  I work at the city hall in Casa Grande.  I file papers, I copy papers, I get paper cuts.  Actually, it’s a great job for someone as nosey as I am.  I bet they didn’t know that I was nosey when they hired me.

Today I was in court making copies of all the plea agreements, and I was listening to everyone’s sob stories of how the justice system isn’t fair.

“The police, yeah, they set me up.  It ain’t right!”

“Your dog jumped over your fence and almost bit someone.  How is that a set up?”

“It’s a set up, I TELL YOU!”

My favorite one is a girl charged with a DUI.

“You can accept the plea agreement if you would like to resolve this case today.”

“I want to plead not guilty.  Like Paris Hilton.”