NEW JOVI

Two concerts in four days made for a lively week. Sugarland at PNC (as all country concerts are) was sooo much fun. "Tastee" subs, cold beer, good friends, great music - what more could you ask for?


I've never been more prepared for a tailgate than we were for the Bon Jovi concert/opening of the NEW Giants Stadium. While I was trilled with our extraordinary tailgate, I was less than impressed with the new Stadium. I hope they're not completely finished with it, I'm waiting for a "wow" factor.

Bon Sexy lived up to his name and the band never failed to amaze me with every song... Chris was slightly embarrassed when I was the only one up dancing, even for the slow songs. I think he's just jealous that my knees buckle when Jon Bon moves his hips ;)

Fireworks accompanied the "Livin on a Prayer" Encore. I am always awestruck by fireworks (big sparkles in the sky, are you surprised?) I loved every minute of it!

However, the best part of the night must have been when I spotted Teresa Giudice (my NJ housewife idol, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Bravo reality drama). After screaming her name up the flight of steps, I pleaded with her to take my picture. It went something like this: "Oh my God Teresa I love you, I love your girls, I love your show, I love your cooking book can you please please please take a picture with me?" She did. I wish I wasn't suspiring so much, maybe we could have kibitzed a little while her husband Joe was trying to find his seats (and simultaneously laughing at my hyperventilation.)


Love Love Love

I was home for over four days before I realized that on my ID case remained two keys to 2119 Allegany Hall. I forgot to check out of my dorm.

I hope you get more of a laugh out of my ditzy antics than my mother did.

See ya never, Allegany.

a welcome home of sorts

I currently lay in my room on my luxuriously soft full sized bed, sharing it with 10+ stuffed animals, even more pillows (which Christopher and Emily would most likely deem unnecessary, and an exercise ball (?). It sure is nice to be home. Leyritz and I are the only occupants as of now - Mom and Dad are in the city, Sarah is at BOTC practice and Aunt Doe is living up to her social butterfly reputation visiting a friend in Jackson. The house is unusually quiet, a type of eery quiet that not even the blaring of Pandora can disrupt. It is at this point that I begin to reflect upon Campus pre-summer-departure because not even during finals week would dorm/apartment life be nearly as peaceful.

Living in College Park may not be as glamorous as some of us may wish, but I'm beginning to consider it home. Despite my frequent complaints regarding the irrefutably irritating on-campus parking situations, the inconvenient hours of dining establishments, and the unsettling constant barrage of crime alerts (thank you Paul Dillon) I miss College park already - my third day home. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love being home in Edison, New Jersey. Somehow being here I sleep easier, eat healthier, my clothes are cleaner and I can park almost anywhere without getting a ticket. However, I can't help but think of all the things I can't do quite as easily here in Jersey. For you're finals week entertainment I have compiled a list of things I leave behind at UMD:

1. The Salsa Food Group - Somehow eating (shoveling, pouring, dipping, or any other form of consumption) salsa for every meal of the day is not accepted here at home. Who knew it was only considered a level of the food pyramid in 2119 Allegany Hall?

2. Morning rehashes - The hours between midnight and 5a.m. are significantly duller here at 354 Plainfield Road, ergo, my sister doesn't want to wake up to me giving her a play-by-play of the evening's events. As a result, #3....

3. Mid-day Ab workouts - I miss laughing so hard about our alcohol induced antics that my abdominal muscles literally became sore. I might have to start doing crunches, or at least put this exercise ball to use.

4. Beach party, Fiesta, Eski-hoe, Rubics Cube, and other related themed parties - self explanatory.

5. Dancing - everywhere, anytime. OF COURSE, I break it down every so often in my kitchen but it's just not as much fun when my crazy friends aren't there to A) Join or B) Roll their eyes and laugh. Sometimes, my Mom joins me (I got it from my mama) and my sister always rolls her eyes and laughs, but I think she means it in a more seriously disgusted way than do my peers at UMD.

6. CYC - I mish da wed woom. =[

7. Bars - I can't imagine my F.I.D would be as successful here as the Thirsty Turtle. Probably better off though, I presume drinks are significantly more expensive than dollar pitchers here in the real world. I think I'll wait until I'm 21.

8. 9. and 10. Being within walking distance to all my friends to do all of the above. This being the most important reason why I miss CP, it gets the last three spots.

I missed Jersey, I'm glad I'm home with the family, my boo, and my BFFS B&C, but I can't help regret rushing home so quickly while College Park Life goes on without me for the remainder of the semester

Life doesn't wait...

It's cold and rainy; a fitting setting for the last day of classes as a sophomore. I went to bed last night anxious for the academic week to conclude and my summer to begin. I trudged along to my final 9:00 class of the semester, cold with umbrella in hand, assuring myself that I would not have to make the walk across campus again until August.

However, once I got to class any negative thoughts escaped me, as they usually did every Tuesday and Thursday morning now that I think about it. Dr. Alexander's Educational Psychology course is one that I will remember forever -- one of the few college courses I truly became passionate about. I love that class. I love that professor. I actually loved studying the material. And now it's over. I find myself thinking, "I wish I failed this semester so I could take it again." Interesting logic, I know.

Before we departed the lecture hall for the last time, Dr. Alexander sent us off with a maternal, tear-filled, sentiment. To paraphrase, Dr. Alexander is so desperately passionate about her field because over thirty years ago she was told that she had a rare neurological disease that left her with only one year to live. Frantically, she enrolled in doctoral school (?!). Her logic was that if a neurological disease was going to take her life, she wanted to get as much use out of 'that brain of hers' as she could. She accomplished much more than she could ever imagine (she got her PhD in two years) literally by living each day as if it were her last. Dr. A wishes we will do the same.

I left class with conflicting emotions: honor to have had the opportunity to take part in such an amazing course, deep sadness it was over, and eagerness to proceed with college career to it's full potential.

Later, in my creating writing class (while I was making ambitious plans to write (and publish) a collection of short stories and poems,) I got the news that a boy who graduated with me has been in level four comatose for hours. Vinny was on a golf trip with his team when a stranger jumped him and beat him into a coma. I am horrified that something so brutally awful could happen to such an innocent person. How could anyone possibly deserve such a fate?

I pray for Vinny's full recovery, I pray for his family's courage, and I pray that we all take Dr. A's advice to live each day like it's our last, because life doesn't wait.

Mezcla

I don't think I gave the proper introduction this blog may, or may not, deserve. With cerveza still swimming my blood stream, I couldn't shake the itch to discuss my Cinco celebrations. But with a conclusive "whaaat thee fuuck" exchange in passing with Sarah Steele (I, on my way to my 9a.m. exam, she on her way from her 8a.m.) I can ignore the lingering nausea and move forward with the month of May.

Maybe I should have started a day or two earlier with another May celebration that boasts a more significant meaning, at least to me. May 4th marks another year Christopher and I have been "dating." Some title this day our "anniversary" but I tend to hesitate to use such a term; my parents celebrate anniversaries. I am but nineteen years young and I don't think I am quite ready to be committed to such a strong word. I think I will simply stick to my claim that Chris and I are celebrating "our three years." And I couldn't be happier =]

I digress. Obviously, it is not in my nature to stay focused on a single point. I am unquestionably indecisive, and I usually only voice my opinion on trivial topics. Whether these character traits (or flaws?) are due to ignorance or timidness I may never know, but I am trying my best to resolve my communication hurdles via blog. Enjoy ;)

Cinco de Bye-o

It's 7:53 a.m. and here I sit, hot tea in hand, laptop appropriately in lap, Psych binder open. Not only is it still in the seven o'clock hour (technically), but it is in the seven o'clock hour on seis de mayo, the ensuing holiday to the much more recognized Cinco de Mayo. Not quite positive about what we as Americans are supposed to be celebrating on the fifth of May, but I can assure you we celebrate nonetheless. I can also assure you that we (by this I mean "I") pay for it on the sixth of May.

I have a test in less than two hours and instead of studying last night I gave in to the pressure of Cinco and enjoyed $1 beverages(read: coronas) with what seemed like the rest of College Park. My intentions were to study this morning; I obviously opted for the much more gratifying choice of blogging about my misjudgments.

For those of you paying the price of innocently celebrating a potentially irrelevant, yet perfectly acceptable, holiday -- Buenos Suertes mis amigos. xxx