Home (At least for a while...)

Well, I am home for summer break, at least for a week. I leave in 7 days to spend 3 weeks in South Africa (WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!), so I am anxiously awaiting that!

Let me just recap the events from spring break to the end:

1. Rugby. Lots of it. =)

2. Springfest whipped my ass. Hello 3 days of drinking and other debauchery, hello awful hangover... First time being hungover in class. Also, what Bobbie calls my "drunken bisexuality" came out again as Wheels and I ran all around the rugby house kissing various teammates... Oops =)

3. Home for Easter! 

4. Relay for life, and the drunkest I think I have ever been (after Relay).  That Sunday, I woke up SO SO SO drunk, and then was hungover as shit for a band concert. Oh heyyyyy Dad and stepmom, oh hey.

5. Finals. Papers. Home. 

And now? Boredom abounding. Room was painted, and I'm getting used to it. The house is a WRECK from being painted, and I am trying to help clean it. Massive amounts of unpacking, repacking to move stuff to Dad's, packing for Africa. Waiting for phone to be fixed, waiting for friends to return, waiting for sister to go to Prom! 

And that is all for now. =)

Mud Monsters and a Funny Video

I haven't posted in awhile, and that is due to one thing: End of the semester crunch time.  With less than 3 weeks of classes left (EEEEEK!), the work is piling on, and the weather is getting nicer. Its a vicious cycle. I so badly want to be outside frolicking in the sun, but I am left sitting in the study lounge with the window cracked.

Anyways, I found time today for a brief post.

My main relief from work is rugby.  The pitch is always muddy, and yesterday we made slip n' slides out of tackle bags.  I came back COVERED in mud. The words on my shirt were completely obscured. It. Was. AWESOME. We are playing games on the weekends, partying after, and generally having an all-around good time! I'm relishing the time with the seniors before they leave (sniff...) and they are all decomped and mostly stress-free!

*Note: Before graduating, each Allegheny student must complete a Senior Comp.  These range from extensive lab experiments, to case-studies, to 50-75 pages of fiction.  Comping seniors pull weekly all-nighters, cry frequently, and have been seen carrying jugs (literally milk jugs) of coffee to the library. When a senior is decomped, their comp has been handed in.

And this is for Bri. Last weekend, there was a dragshow on campus, and a boy that we went to high school with won it. It was phenomenal.

Home Again Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Home sweet home! I have a large room to myself, access to a car, and am surrounded by familiar civilization again! A week's reprieve from classes, midterms, rehearsals and whatnot was much needed and I am relishing the free time!

Things of note that will be happening this week:

Mucho bonding with Emily and Kate. 

Mucho cuddling with the doggy and kitties.

Mucho sleeping.

Mucho great eats.

And then some. 

This week...

I'm in a list kind of mood...

THINGS THAT ARE GOOD THIS WEEK


No exams
Warmish weather
Snowmelt!
Spring Break on Friday
Quad in Caflisch!
Rugby this past weekend
Grandma's cooking this past weekend

THINGS THAT ARE BAD THIS WEEK
Turf Burn
Whiplash
Clara the Cat died =( R.I.P Clara
I have no ride home as of yet
Apathetic classmates

In Like A Lion

Is this weather depressing anyone else? It's gray, wet, rainy, and cold. Absolutely miserable.

Whatever sunshiny mood I left the dorm in is long gone.  It left with the clear skies and so did any motivation to get work done.  All I want to do is sit on my bed in my pajamas with the light off, blinds shut and watch movies and drink tea all night.

However, I have 2 exams this week and a game this Saturday. I must drag myself to the gym, to rehearsal, to a study session, and to the library. *Insert heavy sigh here*

On the less cloudy, less rainy side, 9 days until I go home. La la la.

And So It Begins...

RUGBY SEASON!

Let the flood of bruises begin. Rugby season is here! With our first outdoor practice yesterday, we are preparing for a game on Saturday. EEEK! I am so immensely excited, and terrified at the same time.

We lost our 2 starting locks, meaning I have now been bumped to starting. I think I maybe got in 40 minutes of playtime total in the fall. I am so scared that I will not know what it going on, that I will do something insanely dumb on the pitch, and that I will get red-carded...

At the same time, I know the rules. I am in shape. And we are playing a high school team. How bad can it really be?

We'll find out in t-4 days...

Feeling Better... Slightly

So I'm feeling slightly better today. No fever, and my throat doesn't hurt as badly.  I still didn't go to any of my classes, or work.  I also noticed how weak I felt after spending 48 hours in bed, with only 2 meals total (soup one day, and rice/noodles the next).  I meant to go grab breakfast today but fell asleep instead.  Easy mac for lunch it is!

I'm still going to rugby practice though.  With a game on Saturday, I have to!

Missin My Mommy

I have been fighting a cold for the last week, and this weekend I was feverish and felt absolutely miserable. I spent 48 hours curled up in bed watching movies on my laptop, and feeling awful.  It made me realize how badly I miss my mommy.

I miss having her call me in sick for school, bringing me gatorade, popsicles, crackers, soup, and ginger ale. I miss her sitting with me while I napped on the most comfortable couch in the world, and bringing me clean, warm blankets.  I miss her taking me to the doctors office (the health center here is NOT open on the weekends... are you kidding me?) and picking up my prescriptions.

Long story short, there are definitely times when I want to move back home because I don't feel old enough to be growing up yet. I still need my mommy!

Let's Get Physical, Physical.

I'm a horrible dancer, and I'm proud of that fact, especially after last night.  Last night was SAMS, (Students Against Multiple Sclerosis), which is a lip-syncing contest.  Even though it is not exclusively a Greek-life event, Women's Rugby was the only non-Greek organization that entered. And we kicked ass.

First of all, we were the only group of girls that hip/pelvic-thrusted on stage. We were all fully involved, we all had fun, and we didn't freak out if we forgot moves.

We ended the show with a banana. We ribbon-danced to Enya, and lifted Darling and Tots over our heads.  We humped the ground. We danced to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch while our coach, Mark, fake-rapped. And we looked awesome, in our 80s work-out clothes, face paint, temporary tattoos, hats, and sunglasses. For God's sake, I had a rainbow drawn over my nose. The crowd loved us.

However, the Greek life organization didn't give us any award because they didn't want to lump us with the sororities. We kind of got shafted, but everyone on campus knows that Gator Rugby is the best thing out there.

"I Just Took 200 Screenshots..."

Skyping with my younger sister is absolutely fantastic. We can talk for hours about nothing and everything.  We share music, Youtube videos, funny pictures, and gossip.  We complain to each other, poke fun, and make faces.

We've always been close (we're only 18 months apart), and I'm gad that we've been able to maintain and even strengthen our relationship.  I can't even express how excited I am to go home for spring break and snuggle on the couch watching really bad good TV with her and play jokes on our mom and brother together.

And above everything else, I am so excited for Molly to go to college next year. Northeastern University, whaddup Huskies! We discussed when I would visit, the pros and cons of college apartments, and bemoaned the fact that she'll only get one real summer break. (No more snuggle buddy! Sadface!)

I counted down after last night's Skype session: 24 days until I'm home.  Can't wait!

Things I Hate (at the moment)

1. Microsoft Office. You suck. You are confusing, and not user-friendly, and you get worse with each new edition.

2. EVERY CONGRESSMAN WHO VOTED TO CUT FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD. Please get off the crack pipe. Planned Parenthood is the only healthcare provider for a lot of women in this country. You are halting all the progress that this country has made in terms of reproductive and sexual health. The population is going to explode, and its not because there will be less abortions, but because women will not have access to contraceptives or information. The majority of you are wrinkly old grumpy men and Planned Parenthood DOES NOT AFFECT YOU. YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE DECISIONS AND LAWS THAT WILL NEVER AFFECT YOU.  I AM DISGUSTED BY YOUR IDEALS AND ACTIONS. (And how does cutting funding for Planned Parenthood fix ANY of the problems that the country is going through now? IT DOESN'T, ASSHOLES.)

3. The weather. You fair weather friend, you tricked me with your fair weather! On Friday night, I wore SHORTS to a party. And now there is 6 inches of snow on the ground. My spring fever is out of control, and I miss seeing the grass.

4. Facebook. You take too much of my time. Stop that.

5. Term papers. Go away. No one wants you.

I will try to be more upbeat in the next post. My mood is as black as a piece of coal currently, if you couldn't tell.

Coffee is a double-edged blade...

Coffee, oh how I love thee...  I love that you give me brainpower to work through these horrible post-labs, and that you taste and smell so damn good (French vanilla, yummy!).

I do have a bone to pick with you though. It is 2:37 AM. I should be beyond tired. But you, you work so well. I tried to go to sleep, and failed. So here I am, catching up on readings for environmental science. Awesome. I want to sleep, mentally, but physically am alert. And coffee, you did this. I am angry. Fuck you.

But all will be forgiven in the morning, when I rise like a zombie for my 9AM class, and realize that without you, I'd literally be failing out of school. Thank you.

Why I Hate the People in my Building

People look at me with judgement when I tell them that I do not get along with the other residents of my building.  But I think I have a few very good reasons as to why I do NOT get along with these people. AT ALL.

Case in point: Last night. I about murdered someone.

I got back from my night out around 1:15. I had my cousin and her friend in tow (they visited me this weekend).  We got ready for bed, and were all sound asleep instantly.

I was shaken awake around 2:45 by my cousin's friend. The fire alarm was going off. We packed up and went outside, grumbling.  The alarm turned off, and we trudged back inside, and got back into bed. INSTANTLY the alarm went off again. I used several choice words as I hauled myself out of bed again. The alarm turned off halfway down the stairs, and I turned RIGHT around and headed back to bed. Unfortunately, the girls in my hall did not do the same. They sat outside their rooms, gossiping and laughing.  Sorority girls, drunk off their asses from fraternity Valentine's pledge parties, tromped up and down the halls, in and out of the bathrooms, slamming doors behind them. I wanted to HIT them. It was 3:30 in the fucking morning. GO TO SLEEP.

Then we heard someone say "The light is still flashing. Should we go outside?" My cousin's friend nervously sat up and wondered the same thing. My roommate, still a little drunk, grumbled at her to go back to sleep.

And then, there was a knock at the door.

Oh God, WHY ME?!

The RA had come to tell me that there had actually been a fire in the building, and we were being displaced to Schultz until further notice.

FUCKING BITCHES, WHO LIT A FIRE? I HATE YOU.

Again, pack up, grumble, trudge outside. Walk through snow and ice to Schultz. Find a dark corner and curl up. Try to ignore the drunk sorority girls, try to restrain myself from beating up the girl who decided to sing, and try not to give death stares to the boys who are "exploring". It is 3:45 AM. I am not a happy camper.

The AC asks us to be quiet, and then tells us what happened.

Basically, a drunk asshole decided that it would be hilarious to pull the fire extinguisher on ground floor Walker. (BTW, Walker is connected to Brooks and Walker Annex. 3 dorms in 1. Approximately 400 people). The extinguisher released a thick, fire extinguishing dust, full of fine particles that set off the alarm. Once the building alarms in one hallway, the whole building alarms. The dust looks like smoke, and people thought it was an actual fire. Housekeeping had to clean it all up to stop the alarms from alarming. Someone was facing federal felony charges and expulsion.

I WANT TO KILL THIS PERSON. WHO THINKS THAT IS A GOOD IDEA? I HATE THAT DUMB ASSHOLE.

And although this was only limited to one, maybe two people in the building, my hatred continues to grow for my building-mates. I am tired and cranky and grumpy and hope that someone seeks revenge. And the gaggle of girls giggling loudly outside my door now is not helping.

It's probably best for the safety of everybody else if I just isolate myself for a little bit.  I am still not a happy college student. At. All.

A Weekend Without 265?

This weekend marks maybe the 4th weekend of the entire year where there has not been a party at 265.

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself.

(For those who don't know, 265 is the Women's Rugby House. I go there every weekend, and for the past 2 weekends, I've just slept there instead of going home. Everybody cool hangs out at 265 and everybody cool says so.)

The pressure is on to find a place to party because I have 2 high schoolers staying with me Saturday night.  My cousin is bringing her friend who is interested in coming to Allegheny, and I really want to make sure that they have a good time...

Bruce and Darling, the unanimously elected Social Chair/Song Leaders and the residents of 265, do a fantastic job at hosting parties, celebrations, and various other festivities. Weekends without them are bleak at best. I anxiously await next weekend, and can hope that something interesting pops up this weekend.

For now though, I guess I should clean my room.

Mid-Winter Slump

It's the 2nd week of February, and I'm starting to feel the mid-winter slump.  I feel like I'll never see the grass again, and that the temperature will never rise above 20.  The classes are starting to wear me down, and my room is trashed.  The roomie and I are too lazy or tired or worn to clean it up.

I keep telling myself that it can only get BETTER from here. Spring has to come at some point, the room will be clean again because there are prospies staying here this weekend, and if I work at it, classes will become easier.

It's just going to be a very long month.

I Just Don't Know

I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry.  I don't know why you're upset, but I'm sorry.  I don't know why I am sick over it, but I'm sorry. I know why I was mean, and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that you aren't sorry too.

The Snooze Button

Damn the snooze button for being so close to the Alarm Power button on my alarm clock.

When my alarm went off at 7:55 AM today, I swatted it in my half-conscious state, thus allowing myself 10 more minutes of glorious sleep.

The alarm did not go off 10 minutes later. It did not go off at all. My roommate awoke in a panic at 10:20 AM, saying "OH SHIT I slept through computer science!" Instantly, I was awake, and sitting up in bed. I had slept through Chemistry and the beginning of Environmental Science.  Oh. Shit.

I had meant to ask questions on the Chemistry post-lab in class today, and I had to turn in an assignment for  Environmental Science. Needless to say, I was upset.

I rushed to get ready, and ran to Carr Hall to wait outside for my Environmental Science professor. I ran in as the class ended, and he looked surprised to see me. I just said that I missed my alarm in the morning, and then apologized profusely as I handed him my paper. I was worried for his reaction, but he relaxed and said, "Hey, don't worry about it! I once slept through a German final in college because my alarm didn't go off!" And then he smiled at me, and I felt a little less awful.

The day has been looking up since, and guilt is no longer gnawing at me. Now I can relax, finish that damn post-lab, and get ready for my birthday party tonight! And I can cross my fingers that this NEVER HAPPENS EVER AGAIN.

Musical Education

Recently, my friend Bobbie asked me for some classical music. She said she didn't care what I gave her; she just wanted something to listen to while she studied. My golden door of opportunity had been opened.

For those who don't know, I'd like to think that I know quite a bit about classical music. My brother is a professional concert and solo violinist and I was surrounded by classical music when I was growing up. I took music lessons for the majority of my childhood and played in orchestras and the school band, and I listen to classical music frequently.

I knew that Bobbie would want something light and not dramatic, but as she had not specified this, I decided to give her music to enrich her life.

The Mendelssohn violin concerto and the Beethoven violin concerto are 2 of my favorites for background study music, so I included them on the playlist. I also included 2 dramatic Shostakovich symphonies and the Elgar cello concerto. Both are contemporary and dramatic, and the Shostakovich is laden with political drama. I included them to open Bobbie's eyes, and I knew I succeeded when she texted me asking for lighter music. In her words, she could "feel the suspense building" as she got to the end of the pages in her psychology textbook, and she was reading faster and faster with the increasing tempos.

I am gleeful right now.

Hell No!

This is not ok! Stop them please.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/arts/design/25arts-REPUBLICANST_BRF.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1295974747-NcTbRWd7i1tJlciRzHw8Tw

Time Management

I hate time management. It makes my life feel like one big day planner instead of a life.  And then you get to the weekend and think "Oh I can really let loose this weekend because I worked hard all week", and then, come Sunday, you end up spending8 hours doing homework...

Not. Cool.

So I'm off to do my anthropology reading, and then I know 50 other things will come along, and I still have to shower and do laundry and check my mail. When did I have to schedule a time to check mail? What has my life come to? Sigh...

Gator Rugby is Love

A few brief reasons why Gator Rugby is the awesome-est (even though that isn't a word):

Walking into 265 and hearing everybody yell PROOOOJECT!

Darling asking if I would like a baby stickbug when they hatch.

Conch Shell Noise

Someone saying Social? and everyone knows to yell "Social Anti Social, Fuck you, around the head, who said head? I'll take some of that shit, bitch!"

Kings

Johnny Depp

Someone is always willing to let you sleep on their couch so that you can avoid sorority run-out.

Personalized booklets :)

Heart-to-hearts with Boca

Harassing Bobbie

And thats all for now!

A Letter to My Neighbors

Dear Neighbors to the left,

Are you enrolled in classes? I am starting to think that you aren't, because I never actually see you leaving your room, and I hear you up screaming and cackling at all hours of the night. Just because you may not have work, or don't have to wake up early in the morning, does not mean that everyone here at this institution feels the same way. Last night, I managed to finish most of my homework, clean my side of the room, and climb into bed with a book by 11, and then you started screaming. I pounded on the wall. You stopped for a sec, and then went right back to it. Are you kidding me? Please, please, please stop this childish behavior before my workload picks up.

Love,
Lizzie

Dear Neighbors to the right,
Don't dye your hair in the bathroom right in front of the soap and paper towel dispensers. Don't dry your hair at 7 in the morning. Don't slam your door late at night, don't sit with your back against my door as you have a late-night hallway pow-wow with your friends. I respect your space and time, please respect mine.

Love,
Lizzie

Back to Basics

My alarm clock went off at 7:35 AM today. For the first time in a little over a month, I had to drag my lazy self out of bed, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and be able to speak coherently in a somewhat timely manner.

No more waking up and getting dressed 6 hours later if even at all, no more midnight dinners. Hello responsibility.

I'm glad to return to a regular academic schedule, but not when that involves going over the last question of my Chem exam first thing in the morning. That question haunted me for days after 1st semester. I had desperately hoped that I would never ever have to see anything like it ever again. Turns out that it haunted all of the Chem 110 students, and yes, we would have to see it again, and no, it hadn't gotten any easier. FML.

The return of school also means returning to my job at the local YMCA. I know that work = money, but this work does not interest me at all. Office grunt work? No thanks. Kids that are politely described as unruly but more accurately probably have some kind of conduct disorder and don't listen even when you threaten to kick them out and/or ban them for life? Please, no. A boss that leaves at 3 on Fridays to get a head start on the weekend while leaving me with boxes to organize and paper to laminate? NO. I'll try to end my rant here, because you can probably all see that I really dislike my job, but the list goes on.

I don't want anyone to think that my day was entirely bad though. My environmental science class and freshman seminar class were fine, I got to relax while I ate lunch, my turtles are doing silly things and making me laugh, and the homework hasn't been piled on. And my anthropology professor called cell phones, iPods, computers etc. "electronic wizardry" and threatened total atomization as a punishment for sleeping/snoring/drooling in class. I think I'm going to love that class. I guess I'll find out tomorrow!

The Last Day

Today is my last day in the Shake and I've decided to make lists instead of writing a bittersweet and reminiscent post.

Why I will miss my house:
1. I have my own room.
2. It is bigger than 12 x 12 feet and has blue and green walls.
3. I love cuddling with my kitty.
4. I love it when my dog licks my face.
5. Mom's one-liners
6. Molly's sass
7. My little yellow chariot
8. A TV with a channel guide
9. Fridge, freezer, microwave, oven, stove, sink, dishwasher, and cupboard with endless supplies of kitchenware
10. Cooking my own dinners
11. Sleeping in
12. No annoying neighbors
13. Cousins and "old" friends

Why I am excited to go back to college:
1. Friends that don't live far away
2. Rugby, rugby parties, rugby songs
3. A gym
4. No one will tell me to make good choices
5. Not doing the dishes
6. Academics!
7. Work = money
8. Not paying for gas
9. Food all the time
10. No pet hair
11. Turtles!
12. Free movie rentals
13. Constant internet access

I guess it evens out in the end. I'm beyond excited for second semester, but I'll miss being home. It's bittersweet.

Trippin Down the Freeway

I like road trips. I like going places, seeing old friends in new settings, meeting new friends in new places, and meeting new friends in old places. I like riding in cars, I like driving, and I like building mental maps.

Over the past 2 weekends, I put almost 1000 miles on my little yellow chariot. And that is a good feeling. I feel like I accomplished something. Here is a brief list of things I learned as I drove all over God's green earth.

1. Dirty windshields are a big deal. Always have wiper fluid.
2. Students don't care if you don't know where the highway ramp is. They are going to cross the street anyways.
3. Gas is always cheaper outside of the city.
4. How to properly fill a tire with air at a gas station.
5. I am smarter than my GPS.
6. I am not smarter than GoogleMaps.
7. Driving through bustling cities is scary but not if you drive defensively.
8. Missing an exit is no big deal.
9. Pee before you leave.

I enjoy the seemingly endless time that I have to think about anything and everything, make outrageous plans, sing along loudly to the radio, and not have to have any contact with the outside world. I am in my own little snug world, and I love it. As an example of my crazy plotting while cruising, while driving the 70 miles from Chillicothe to Athens, I've decided to take a road trip of epic proportions during my 21st summer. I'd drive to nowhere in particular with one of my best friends in tow. Rules include stopping at national parks, scenic lookouts, and potentially interesting townships, going places we've never been, not getting all worked up over maps and directions, minimum/maximum driving times, and having a fantastic time.

This is probably not a feasible plan. But it kept me occupied all the way to Athens and then some. And who knows? Maybe someday it will happen. My fingers and toes are crossed.

Ohhhh, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Karaoke.

It used to be a scary word for me. I have absolutely no singing ability whatsoever. I sing along to music, but I don't sing in front of people. It's not that I'm tone-deaf; I started music lessons when I was 5, and have been playing the French horn since I was 10. I have a good ear, but it just does not translate to good vocals.

Last night, Emily and Bri took me out to the Pyramids, a local hookah bar. It was a little place, with hieroglyphics painted on the walls and benches along the walls. We had all taken the opportunity to get dressed and look cute, and we did not really fit in with the crowd of regulars (cool hipsters who knew how to blow smoke rings... I was jealous). But as the night went on, the crowd grew bigger, and the atmosphere relaxed, and more and more people got into Karaoke Night.

It started off as being silly. There was only one guy (Trevor) beside the DJ who was actually participating. When Dean the DJ asked for more volunteers, the room was silent, and Bri, Jeannie, Amber, and I screamed EMILY DOES! Emily glared at us, and the DJ summoned her to the stage.

"Wait a minute, I don't have a song! I'll go, I promise, I just need to find a song!"

The DJ sighed and called Trevor back up to the stage. He sang some metal song that I'd never heard before but he did a decent job. He was a lot braver than me anyway. FINALLY it was Emily's turn. We selected Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and she killed it (in a good way!) We all watched her having fun, and signed up for more. The crowd began to grow, and more people joined in on the Karaoke. Plastic tubes began circulating for blowing smoke bubbles, and the small room grew louder, with every single person joining in for Don't Stop Believin'. It was so awesome. 

We eventually made our way home, with a quick stop at Wendy's for a midnight snack. The make-up came off, the pajamas went on, and we flipped on the LGBT channel and watched a movie until we all fell asleep. I was out in 5 minutes. It was one of the more enjoyable nights that I've had in a long time, and I look forward to ice-skating and other fun adventures tonight!

Pit Stops

So here I am, in Athens, Ohio, home of the famous girls who live above the arch in East Wash. Getting here, however, involved an overnight pit stop in Chillicothe, Ohio. My future stepmom lives in Chillicothe, and my dad is visiting for the week. When he heard that I'd be making my way down to OhioU, he practically insisted that I leave on Thursday afternoon to spend the night at Cheryl's. I was hesitant at first but then had a stroke of genius- maybe if I visited Dad and Cheryl before 2nd semester started, they'd be less anxious about visiting me at school! Yeah, this could definitely work.

So I arrived at 3:30, and promptly curled up with a bag of Doritoes, a blanket, and Cheryl's cuddly cat Lily to watch House while my dad backed up my iTunes library for me and Baron the dog slept on the floor below me. (This may be nerdy advice, but go back your libraries up people. Losing music SUCKS). This was the good life.

It didn't last long though. Soon I heard the door open, and Cheryl walked in with her niece and nephew. Calvin and Alice were staying over for the week while their parents take a Caribbean cruise. Calvin is 11 and Alice is almost 10. She idolizes me, for whatever reason. I don't mind because I like kids, but I'd really rather relax with my "grown-up" TV shows. However, I hug her, ask about school/recess/homework etc, and relinquish the remote. I laugh along with her as she watches iCarly, and worm my way further into her good graces. When Alice is asked to do her homework, I agree with Cheryl when she says that its important to finish homework quickly, and finally have the room to myself.

So I guess I should give some brief background info on Cheryl, my dad, and my dad and Cheryl together.

1. They met online.
2. Cheryl is a farmer.
3. She tries too hard with my sister and I but she is nice.
4. She is usually on our side, and I milk that.
5. My dad can be really frustrating to deal with. For example, I asked him to drive me back to college and he said no, that's not my weekend. RUDE.
6. He needs a lot of convincing to do anything to fix up our car, which is 9 years old and has over 110000 miles on it. However, he just bought himself a new car to replace his '06 Trailblazer.
7. He gets territorial regarding time spent with my sister and I.
8. He and Cheryl feel that it is necessary to visit me every 3 weeks at college, and to stay overnight in Meadville. Granted, I like that they bring my sister to stay with me, but she is a big girl and drive herself.
9. Cheryl has 2 sons, Nathan and Ethan. I am pretty sure that they lack a basic sense of humor.

Thats pretty much them in a nutshell.

The rest of my stay in Chillicothe was fine. I played a game of Mexican Dominoes with Dad, Cheryl, and Alice and won, fell asleep during a movie, went to bed at a reasonable hour, woke up at an unreasonable hour and hit the road after breakfast.  But the last thing that Dad and Cheryl said to me was scarring.

"We're going to come visit you on your birthday if your sister doesn't have anything going on! And we'll bring your cousin!"

OK, it'd be SWEET if my cousin visited me. She is amazing, and I love her so much. But my 19th birthday falls on a Saturday and my weekend plans probably wouldn't be considered kosher in the eyes of all parental units. I'd really rather that they send a present, some well-wishes, and call me in the afternoon. Getting out of this will require some serious planning.

The Simple Pleasure in Life, Like Goats (Part 2)

Everything is bigger in Columbus

I just returned home from a weekend in Columbus, home of The Ohio State University.

Whoa.

From the dorms to The Shoe to the RPAC to Fraternity Row, everything is bigger in Columbus. And it was overwhelming, but still amazing.

Kate took Isabella and I to a house party on Friday night and apologized for "how quiet this weekend was going to be." From the start, I doubted this statement, but just shrugged and said "No worries!"

The house party was anything but quiet. The bass was audible from the street, and though no one was really there at first, it quickly grew more and more crowded. Three kegs were tapped, and the JungleJuice was flowing. People began to dance, and I joined in.

*Let me just say that while I did drink on Friday, I was most definitely not drunk. But plenty of other people at this party were.

I danced with a few guys, and was enjoying myself. Kate and Isabella also looked like they were having fun with their respective dance partners. My last dance partner can be summed up with 2 words though- HOT MESS. He was beyond drunk, and I didn't realize until he stuck his tongue down my throat. I quickly turned away and continued dancing. This guy continuously tried to turn me back towards him by  placing his hand on my face, and then he attempted to give me a hickey. I left him, found Isabella, and we set off in search of High Street and a clean bathroom. (Kate was dancing with her cute TA. We decided that it would be ok to leave her.)

Uncomfortably sweaty and sober, we headed back to Lincoln Tower and hung out with Kate's suitemates until about 4 AM, when we all went to bed. Don't worry, Kate came home at 2.

The next night, we went to a frat party. With a group of 7 girls and 1 guy (a guy from our high school who was visiting another OSU student), we got in easily, and helped ourselves to free beer. Before I continue further, let me just say that the fraternity houses at OSU are mansions. Literally, they are bigger than any house I've ever seen before. I was awestruck. I also did not remain sober at the party. Soon, I was asking every guy by themselves to dance. Yes. I became "that girl that dances with everybody and then acts like a whore on the dancefloor." My bad...

So here is the weekend countdown.

Number of drunken nights- 1
Number of parties- 2
Number of boys made out with- 3

The trip continued to Pittsburgh, where I dropped Isabella off at school. We enjoyed a quiet Sunday night in. We ordered pizza, watched Friends, and read Cosmo. It was refreshing to say the least.

This weekend, I venture to Athens and Ohio University to visit the authors of AB Nightlife (www.abnightlife.blogspot.com) and Story of my Life (www.storyofmyl.blogspot.com). We'll see how THIS weekend goes!

Why Cleveland is the Reason, and other non-related thoughts.

Tonight, I heard magic at Severance Hall.  Simply put, that is how I describe my excursion to see a world-class orchestra (for discounted tickets nonetheless. Ahhhhh the perks of being a student!)

Christoph von Dohnanyi, the  former conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director Laureate (a title that I don't fully comprehend) conducted Jorg  Widmann's Con Brio: Concerto Overture, a contemporary piece might I add, Mozart's 2nd Horn Concerto (played by one of my idols, Richard King), and Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony, Pathetique.

Oh my God.

*Sidenote-this will undoubtably turn into a review of the concert. I'm not going to apologize because it was amazing.

First of all, a love for contemporary music was instilled in me by Liza Grossman, director of the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, so the Widmann was right up my alley. I loved that it reminded me of a train, and that the horn part was exceedingly hard and loud, because we horns occasionally get shafted to playing the upbeats. When I read the overview of the piece in the concert book, Widmann was quoted as saying he wanted his overture to be reminiscent of Beethoven, and I felt that he succeeded without being shadowing Ludwig. Two thumbs up for Jorg Widmann. You go Jorg Widmann.

Next, the Mozart. This is a piece that I have played, and I appreciate the simple complexity of the Mozart horn concertos. Richard King had a gorgeous sound although he faltered 3 times in the 1st movement. However, I know firsthand that the French horn is a beast to play and even though I've heard a better performance of Mozart's second by Richard King, I was still not disappointed. The rest of the orchestra sounded absolutely amazing, especially the oboes. Major double-reed love.

And finally, the Tchaikovsky. It was absolutely breathtaking. The finale of the third movement was so powerful, and I counted at least 7 loose bow hairs in the violin and viola sections. I was slightly embarrassed when I clapped between the 3rd and 4th movements; I, along with several other members of the audience, did not realize that there was still one more movement to go. The finale of movement three was so convincing and so emotional that I didn't know how the piece could continue, but movement 4 was just as phenomenal.  I truly noticed a difference between the concerts where the current director, Franz Welser-Most, conducts and this concert with Dohnanyi. I can only hope that he returns to Cleveland soon!

And now to my less nerdy thoughts for the day.

Tomorrow I am driving to Columbus to visit my friend Kate at OSU with our other friend Isabella. I'm excited to leave Shaker and to get back onto a college campus. After 2 days of fun, Isabella and I will head to Pittsburgh and I will drop her off at school, and then meet her friends.  FINALLY on Monday, I will hang out with my college friends who live in Pittsburgh. I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM.

I hope that the snow doesn't explode from the skies tomorrow while I am driving. Getting downtown and back was slow going tonight. I don't want to be stuck on the highways in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 5 hours tomorrow with a faulty rear defrost. Yuck.

Also, with all of this snow that we've been getting, its almost as bright outside at night as it is during the day.  I like it, because I can see everything outside, and there are no weird shadowy figures to freak me out, but at the same time, if I had any plans to be super stealthy, I would be royally screwed.  However, I am tempted to grab a friend and romp around outside and make snow angels, and basically be a rabble-rouser in the wee hours of the morning. I'm still 5 at heart, can't you tell?

DECEMBER also known as the month of decline.

I went to the gym with my cousin today, and it quickly became apparent that 2.5 weeks of sleeping all the time, watching way too much TV, eating delicious holiday food, and going out to eat with friends washed all trace of physical fitness down the drain.

I feel motivated now. All desire to stay sedentary for 24 hours has vanished.

However, motivation does not equal facilities. I don't belong to a gym, and I don't own a treadmill. My choices are limited to running outside. And it is cold and snowy, so I fear that my motivation will slowly decrease.

This is why yet another reason why I must return to college. I like being able to work out on my schedule, and with friends! I like running on an indoor track, swimming by myself, and using the elliptical. And I can't do that at home.

I also feel like my mental capabilities regarding academia have severely declined. I am in serious need of academic stimulation.  I'm actually disappointed that my textbooks for next semester were shipped to my school address instead of my house. As nerdy as it sounds, I wanted to start the reading for the 2 classes that require books next semester. I've been reduced to asking my cousin if I can help her on her high school literature paper, and then snatching the keyboard and pounding out a thesis for her. (I always extend help to Cece when she asks for it. But now I am practically begging her to let me come over).  I am so excited for classes to start again, even though I will be bitching and moaning about homework and stress and lack of free time by the last week of January.

I know that every single one of my high school friends feel the same way, except for those lucky bitches who are on quarters/trimesters. At least we can all bond over something before we all spread out to various locations around the country.

The Simple Pleasures in Life-Like Goats (Part 1)

Next week, I have a date with my wonderful friend Ellen. No, we are not going to a high-society tea (Ellen just came out into society at a pretty classy Assembly Ball), we are not going out to lunch, and we are not catching a movie. We're going to go cuddle with some baby goats.

*Background info-My uncle is currently separated from his wife, and is living at my grandparent's farmhouse.  He bought 2 pregnant goats to "keep him company", and they just had their babies . So the goat kids that we are going to snuggle with are not just any random goats that we heard about. We aren't creepy goat-stalkers... I promise.

The excitement that Ellen displayed when I asked her to come with me to see the goats was astounding.  Direct quote-"I love goats almost more than anything. Goats. Are. Amazing."

Ellen is also the type of person who expresses her emotions through sound.  For example, the sounds blug, merg, and blurg represent frustration, and gawww, eeee!, and schmee! are gleeful.  Even though we were instant-messaging over the internet, I could picture her letting out a "gawwwww!!!!" on the other side of the computer screen.

The joy that she took out of just an invitation to go on this excursion was awe-inspiring because she felt no need to restrain herself at all, and that is a beautiful thing. It's most definitely one of the things that I love abut her, and while I was still super excited to see the little baby goats, I think now I am more excited to see Ellen's excitement when she actually comes face to face with the goats. 

Ellen, I love you. Keep being awesome, and I can't wait to go hug some goats with you.

Jumping Aboard the Blog Train-Everybody else was doing it!

So I've decided to start a blog.

This stemmed from a) extreme winter break boredom and b) the fun I had guest-posting on my friend's blog. (www.abnightlife.blogspot.com check it out!)

Anyway, my daily routine of going to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and waking up sometime after 1 in the afternoon is starting to bore me. After all, there is only so much smutty TV that I can handle.  Now that I've beaten my latest online game addiction, creeped on all of my Facebook friends, and said goodbye to those who attend a school on the quarter system, I officially have exhausted all means of entertaining myself. (Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE not having homework or classes or stress, but I miss college. There is always something to do there.) And it isn't like I am bored during the day. Today I ventured to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History with Stilts, a fellow rugger, and then went to my oldest friend's house for dinner and a couple of rousing rounds of Blokus (the most intense game ever created).  I am not at a lack of things to do during the day, but as the witching hour approaches, my options dwindle.  But now, I've just given myself something else to do-blog about my extremely ordinary and uninteresting life. So, here it begins, and I hope that I at least get a few hits.