In Review

- I have my first Physics test tomorrow. It's our first of 3 tests for this session which means that we are already a third of the way done. That just amazes me, seeing as I just got here a little over a week ago. I'm beginning to realize what "fast summer pace" really means. It's not bad. I can keep up, it's just wow. Time flies.

- My parents visited this weekend. It was great seeing them! I had been a little homesick and my dad brought me a box of The Wall Street Journal subscription I had gotten! I'm pretty nerdishly excited about that. Anyway, this time around they were on their way back froma trip to the beach for memorial day weekend and made a little pit stop here at Tech. I got to take them downtown and we walked around some and grabbed lunch at The Cellar. My parents were pleasantly surprised. I've never taken them downtown, we always opt for a restaurant in Christiansburg or some other neighboring town but it's a lot more calm here in the summer and they had a good time. They also got to see my townhouse and we're all really excited about that. My mom's already planning furniture arrangements and decor so at least it's keeping her busy with my sister and I both gone.

- I miss Bollo's with friends. I went this past weekend and got a lot of work done - it's just not the same though. I stayed there for a few hours and there were a few people coming in and out but around 7:30 ish, aside from the people that worked there it was just myself and another guy. It felt weird. This isn't the Bollo's I know, but no matter how many people are in there at any given time, there's this comfort I feel when I'm there and I haven't felt that since I've come back here and started summer session so I guess that means I'm just going to have to go more often.

- My MCAT classes tonight consisted of 3 hours of straight up O-Chem. I'm pretty sure I never want to repeat those 3 hours ever again.

- I'm missing all of you guys a lot. I hope to see you soon whether its by me coming home or you guys coming here. I miss familiar faces and the carefree that should be my summer. I guess what it comes down to is... I miss campus with all my friends just a few feet away. I guess its still going to take some time to get used to. I don't know if I ever will be used to this, but it's getting better everyday. Hope all is well with you guys. :P

The Perfect Wedding

You know how girls spend their whole lives planning their weddings thinking about all the details of how they want it to be? I was never like that. I do admit that yes, I did look at rings Freshman year and dresses, and decided that I must get married in a beautiful church, but I was never the type of girl that planned the whole thing down to the details as most of my friends have. I never knew where I wanted to have it, what the color scheme should be, how to arrive there, etc etc... until, I saw this clip on Vimeo. THIS is a perfect wedding in my opinion. I love everything about it. It takes place in a Catholic church in New York City. That juxtaposition of such an old religion and such a "modernized" city (modern when compared to other cities around the world) is just so appealing to me. I love that part of it takes place on a rooftop, and the reception area is beautiful. The whole stairs leading down to the crowd after you get married is ideal. The sparklers at the end instead of rice, the old car. It goes with the theme of mixing old traditions with newer more modern things. I loved it. So there it is, somebody's wedding, but my ideal. I finally have an idea (but don't get me wrong, I'm not stressing over it or anything anytime soon - promise).



A New York Wedding on Vimeo

Pretty interesting...

From time to time I sit back and read Zach Klein's blog and not too long he posted "Websites as graphs" and from what I gather (being the least tech savvy person you guys know) they take aspects of your blog (tags, pictures, etc.) and assign them a color and through some formula create a graph... anyway, here is mine for this blog (the above picture is just one done for a sample blog). Like what you see? You can turn it into a poster.

Apple is the new Britney Spears

"I wish they would hurry up - I've gotta check my Myspace."

So the Apple store has been open in New York for a week now. I missed thie grand opening by 2 days as I cut my New York trip but Gawker does a good job portraying the madness with it's You Tube clip and HILARIOUS commentary on the Apple-types or shall we call them Apple-ites?

a feeding frenzy amongst the city’s most obsessive virgins nerds - Gawker

Hilarious! I love it. I wish I could have been there to see it myself. The little Apple nerd inside me is growing everyday. Lately I've been contemplating trading in my Vaio for the new Mac Book because it is so SEXCELLENT. The store has a great futuristic feel to it. It boasts clean lines, simplicity, and neutrals... much like the products it carries. They were also rumored to be giving away Mac Books to a lucky coustomer every hour for the first 24 hours of its opening. I would have LOVED to be there.

Okay well I guess I will stop talking about Apple and get back to five delicious chapters of MCAT prep work. :( I'm in Bollo's right now and the good thing about this place is no matter when you go, it will always feel the same. I guess I've needed this seeing as I haven't completely gotten used to Blacksburg in the summer yet.

They offer me Europe.

So as of today, my crazy little self declined a trip to Europe. This is the second time this has happened this year and the second time I've said no to a Europe trip. So here are some statistics on my European trip offers that I have vetoed. One last November by a guy we will call J. He wanted me to go to Europe with him because he loved it and was planning on Italy over my Winter Break for a few weeks. Get this, EXPENSE paid. Whhhhat?! You may be thinking, who would turn that down? Italy with a friend for a few weeks, expense paid... you might as well decline a car from BOB BARKER on The Price Is Right. And to top that off, I have never even been on that side of the hemisphere and really did want to go and still do want to go one day. In my defense though... I must say that I turned down that trip because I felt guilty. There's a lot more to the story and the relationship and I don't really want to get into it because it's not significant. What it came down to is that he was going to pay for the whole trip, and I didn't want him to (I wouldn't let him, but he refused to let me pay for my part). Also, a long time ago I asked him what the most important advice he would give someone was and he said, "Always travel with somebody you love." I didn't love him - not in the way he wanted me to and going on the trip would have lead him on so I decided against it. I think it was a good choice on my part. Which brings me to my second Europe offer today which I got this morning form a guy we shall call G. I've known him for awhile, he's great but again... somehow I've embedded into my mind that I should travel with really close friends and well, we're not that close. Also, I'm here for summer session so that kind of hinders any ability to travel anywhere or do anything cool... I gracefully declined giving him a legitimate reason and things are fine between us (this was not as bad as the first Europe decline). Anyway, this brings me to my next question... why is it that guys want to make me to Europe aside from the fact that I've never gone. The thing with the guys that have asked me that really gets me is that I've NEVER even been on a roadtrip with them so how do they know my company in Europe (in some of the coolest countries on earth) won't be a bad idea on their part? If anything, I would say that a roadtrip would be a good start. Europe comes with the assumption that you will be staying for many days... roadtrips = short trips. Wouldn't you want to test your patience with me on a small trip before something of this magnitude? What I also realized is that neither of these guys have offered me friendship (well, that's kind of an understatement because I am friends with them, but not good friends, not good enough friends to want to go to Europe with). I don't like the thought of somebody trying to buy their way into my life. Of course a trip to Europe is a great gesture and you'd be an idiot to turn it down no matter who it was. But, I guess my reasoning for this have been that I do want to travel with somebody I truly enjoy the company of. I don't like guys just paying for everything especially when we're not "together" or at least at that point in a relationship you know? I have my own means to fund such trips. With the extra thousand or so dollars, do something more meaningful for yourself, don't waste it on me. I was thinking about this earlier today and I just find it odd that this has happened twice this year within 6 months of each other... it's a very strange coincidence.

Getting Better...

So lately, things have been getting better. I got my schedule all worked out and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this. I'm finally settling in, falling into routine. Not as sad about not seeing thousands of people everyday. It's a calm, quiet, solitude and I guess in a way it's probably better for me. The weather here has been really nice and we have a 3-day weekend coming up. My parents are going to stop by at the end of the weekend so I'm pretty excited about that. In other news there are lots of fun people on tour this summer like oh I don't know THE SPINTO BAND. So if anyone here feels like roadtripping down to North Carolina to go see them with me, let me know. Company would be great! In other news I'm supporting the local (well I guess not so local since i'm in Blacksburg) music scene by listening to Georgie James, another wonderful product of the metropolitan area. Yeahhhhh DC! I like them and maybe you will too - give them a try!

I will never stay here in the summer again.

It's been 24 hours since I've gotten here and as much as I love my school and as much as it makes me happy. I have felt anything but. It is far too weird without anybody here. Classes are fine, and more crowded then I'd imagine they'd be but it just doesn't feel the same. There's a lack of formality (which I will not complain about). My only annoyance is that it just doesn't feel right. I don't feel right. I hate it here in the summer and maybe (hopefully) my feelings will change but going to campus this morning. Walking to class. I saw about 10 people. 10! Nobody was crossing the drillfield. It was terrible. Then again, I'm not sure how I expected it to be. I mean obviously there will be a significantly lower number of people here in the summer but I didn't think I would dislike being here so much. My roomates and some of the guys in the complex have been telling me it's really not that bad and that I'm just shocked because I'm not used to it. They tell me I'll fall into a routine and I'll be fine but I'm not sure if I can see myself doing that. I just don't like not having all my friends around. I miss everyone already and it hasn't been that long. I'm itching for visitors (we have an extra room in the apartment). I miss one on one time with people at coffee shops on or off campus. Everything is closed! It's dead downtown. It's eerie. I wish I were home. My reason for coming down here for classes is avoiding a terrible commute, but I look back and kind of wish I stayed...

Sidenote... currently listened to DC grown, New York based band The Walkmen.

It's a little too quiet around here.

Maybe I came into this being a pessimist and that's what's putting me in this downer mood. I got back to Blacksburg today. The drive was pretty nice - bright and sunny the whole way down. I moved in and all that good stuff. There just aren't many people around. It kind of makes me sad. I'm a people persona nd there isn't noise! It doesn't feel right. Maybe I'm used to living in a dorm where at any given point there are people around doing something. Maybe I just need to warm up to living off campus. I'm with the Collegiate boys and of course they're GREAT. I love them to death, but there are only 4 of them here. 4! Do we not remember the Collegiate boys of Halloween in all their glory? That's a huge drop. I think I'm also not in such a good mood because I'm having some scheduling issues that I will hopefully work out. SOON. I don't like when I don't have my classes in order (which I thought I did) - it kind of makes me panic. I also think that I'm feeling a little homesick because my friends got together last night to send me off and for a few of them - it was the first time I saw them all summer. I had such a good time and I'm so glad so many people came out. I felt loved. Kaj even came and stayed after everyone left and we just sat and talked for about another hour. He is my partner when going into DC and that was on my list of things to do this week but I never got around to it. Sad huh? Hopefully, I'll be able to make nice weekend trips home. It feels like my summer hasn't even begun yet and it's already cut short and in reality, that's exactly what happened. I was getting so used to being home. My parents have been GREAT to me and I miss them taking care of me and not having to think about anything. I'm kind of let down that I feel this way, but maybe things will work themselves out. It's just one of those nights... :(

Things I noticed while in The City

- Everybody is beautiful, even the squares in their 50s look a little cleaner than the 50 year olds walking around in your suburbia
- Parks actually exist! They're small, but kept pretty clean
- It's hard to differentiate the sexual orientation of young men... you're not quite sure if they're gay or if they're the rocker type
- Models are sickeningly thin and for the most part flat chested (not that this wasn't a known fact before) but actually seeing it made it that much more grotesque.
- Again, everybody has a very well groomed dog
- There exists a place in lower Manhattan that is not sketchy where it's possible to have a family and lead a relatively normal life. This place is called TriBecCa and it is awesome.
- The food is actually pretty cheap. I mean yeah of course fine dining is expensive but you know just normal foods of the sandwich variety won't put a huge dent in your pocket. In fact the dent is smaller there than it is here. Who would have thought? I guess that's because we're used to the touristy part of the city. Once you go downtown - it's unique and pretty decent quality.
- Everyone wears Chucks - doesn't matter if you're young our you're old, you have a pair and you look damn good wearing them (how do they do it?)
- Speaking of clothes, everyone has great clothes. Even if they wear a plain white tagless t - it looks GREAT. I guess this is due to accessorizing; a concept completely foreign to us. Wearing a generic watch does not constitute "accessorizing." I'm talking fun flats, boots, or shoes with some Ray-Bin sunglasses, beaded necklaces, bracelets, rings, hairbands. It's very cute.
- Do I even have to say skinny jeans with knee high boots?
- They have really fun stores whereas in suburbia we are bombarded with chain restaruants and big name companies... don't get me wrong, NYC has it's fair share of chain companies, but if you want small boutiques - you've got them. You want hole in the wall bookstores? They've got it too. We passed by this great one right across from Magnolias - the prices on the books were also AMAZING. Kathryn and I hit the jackpot there - we loved it. Perhaps we were on a sugar high from Magnolia but... regardless it was a really great place.
- Duane Reade is EVERYWHERE
- McDonalds serves mozz sticks! Whattt?
- Everyone is really really friendly - despite what people say about mean New Yorkers, if you stop to ask for directions, you will most likely receive some help accompanied with a smile.
- Fact: everyone does walk REALLY REALLY fast - I guess it's true what they say about that New York minute... maybe you walk really fast just to keep up.
- The Subway is a lot more confusing than The Metro
- The front seat of a taxi is the best place to ride. You think suburbia has bad drivers? You wouldn't stand a chance in the city. These taxi drivers are wreckless but they get you where you need to go, and don't skip a beat. Never in my life have I felt that scared in a car.
- It's fun taking the time to get to know your taxi driver and hearing "his story" I met this guy from Senegal, he spoke French, moved here on his own, saved enough for a cab and now supports his family back in Sengal with they money he makes. He's been doing this for 10 years. - On that note, the people there just seem infinately interesting; everyone has a story and it's not your typical "I grew up in the suburbs in a middle class household with a sibling and we went to church on weekends." It's a melting pot of great stories! I hope to be able to hear a few one of these days.
- Street vendors are abundant. Whether it's sodas, penuts, bubble guns, t-shirts, jewlery, or flowers. The streets of New York has everything for a last minute shopper.
- Cafe's are EVERYWHERE

I left my heart in the Financial District

This weekend (as I have been ranting and raving about for the past x-number of months) I was in New York. Needless to say, it was a complete blast and I leave it more in love with it this time around than ever before. This time, I decided to have my parents tag along. I always tell them that I will one day live there and they haven't competely warmed up to the idea... 1) because I am their little girl and for as long as I live, my Dad will always be over protective of me 2) everytime they've visited New York, it has been cold and disgusting 3) They only see the touristy parts of New York City (we always spend time in upper Manhattan). I decided this time, I needed to show them the New York that I love. I also decided it was time I visited lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center once stood. I've been to New York numerous times over the past year (I'm obsessed, what can I say) and never have I ever been able to bring myself to go there. So I guess that's where I'll begin. Kathryn and her sister met up with me in New York and we decided to make a fun girls day of it. We went to Magnolia Bakery and got the most delicious cupcakes on this side of the hemisphere. We waited in the line that went out the door and EVERYTHING. They are completely worth the wait - one bite and you'll be hooked. If I lived in New York, this place would be the death of me. They are truly great though - go if you ever get the chance! Next we did some street shopping in NoHo/SoHo/The Village. It was a georgeous 72 degrees outside, partly cloudy - just an all around perfect da. Everyone was sitting outside at the cafes, we had our sunglasses on, ready to rule the world. It's one of those days where any song that you hear playing automatically becomes the best song you've ever heard (even if it's Clay Aiken... well, that's a stretch). It takes you to that place, you know? We worked our way down to TriBecCa to have dinner at Hoi An, and despite it's lack of authenticity, the hispanic waitresses, and japanese cook, to the not even close to Vietnamese decorations... I guess I can say that it was good. Not authentic, but will make you happy. Perhaps because we decided to explore lower Manhattan by foot, anything we ate at a place where we could sit down and rest was "good." We then decided to make our way to ground zero, not far from the restaurant. There was a huge void in the sky so uncharacteristic of the buildings that are piled on top of each other in New York. It was a weird feeling. The sun was beginning to set but my sunglasses remained on. There were a million things running through my mind as I walked closer and closer to the gated area. The street I was walking on, once covered in a cloud of debris was as spotless as it could have been for New York. Looking at the pictures, you never think that you could clean that up ever. I thought about all the images I saw of people in suits running, covered in grey dust and I imagined them on the exact street I was on - they were the lucky ones. Once we got up to the fenced in area, we could see "survivor staircase." The one reminant of the World Trade Center... the stairs that survived the building collapse... the set of stairs thousands were trying to make their way through. I can't explain the feeling - you must go in order to get the full effect. I couldn't imagine that was all there was left of two buildings that were so magestic. I couldn't believe that people could still live there, seeing that everyday. How do you move on? You don't. Kathryn began talking to me about the memorial plans for the site. Some said they wanted to get rid of the staircase. And I'm sure whatever they do, will be thoughtful and meaningful, however, I believe the stairs should stay. They have such a presence - they symbolize so much. To get rid of them would be like erasing the only thing that was left. Sure they may not be aesthetically pleasing and I know they probably don't fit in well with the new plans for the 16 acre lot, but I have a hard time letting things go and personally I don't think the stairs should. The next thing we saw completely broke my heart. Beneath the World Trade Center is an entrace to the subway as well as another fenced in area where you can see more damage. On a wall papered with clouds, children of victims made titles in memoriam of their loved ones (mostly fathers). This brought me to tears. I took pictures of it (guilty that I was being such a tourist, but you have to see it to believe it and I wanted to share it with people who couldn't make their way to New York). You think about families and what runs through a father's mind when he knows he is going to die. I imagine he thinks of his family and wishing he could hold his son or daughter one last time. This is the feeling that has made me avoid this area for so long, but I am so glad I got to see it. I think it's important that people do. I left my heart here. I tell my parents I am going to move to New York in 2 years, and though they don't like the thought of it, they will support me (seeing as I don't completely have the means - most college students don't, this will be a brief 2 month stint before med school calls). I find that if I am ever to live anywhere in New York, the finantial district would be my top choice. There is a calm that it boasts. It's not an area with heavy traffic (which is completely unheard of in New York), it's less congested, it seems more family oriented - it's eerie. You don't normally think of New York like that. The first word that comes to mind when I think of New York is electric! The ghosts of 9/11 subtly haunt the area (I don't mean that in a creepy way) - but a huge gaping void is present in the sky - you can never forget it. It reminds you of what it is to be American, what it is to keep dreaming and keep going no matter how much tragedy life throws your way. I want to live in a place that reminds me everyday to keep striving and to keep going. I want TriBecCa.

There is no good transition I can use after an experience like that, but I later met up with my parents and we spent the next day together touring the parts of New York I love such as SoHo, NoHo, I even took them to the finantial district/ TriBecCa, we passed by ground zero, but did not make a stop (I don't think they're completely ready yet). But, at the end of the trip, my parents did really warm up to New York and thought it to be beautiful (what I have been trying to tell them all along). My Dad especially loved it and I think he's feeling a little better about his little girl one day leaving for a place like this. He now understands why I love this place, he can see my eyes light up when I get out of a cab on 42nd street. He finally understands the feeling of "electricity" that I always talk about. I think it was important that I went on this trip with my family. They "get it" now - and though they were 100% behind me before in my choice to move to the city, they were also skeptical. That's what parents do, they support you even though they don't exactly love your decision. But now, I think I can say with confidence that they are less afraid and more willing to let me have my love affair with this place I speak so highly of. This is something they needed. This was something we all needed.

All in the Family.

This morning I took the car out to the Mercedes dealer and when it was time to get a temp car for the day, turns out the guy who was processing my car went to Tech. We kind of flipped out and had one of those moments while all his co-workers stared (and were secretly SO jealous that they can't boast Hokie-ness). The guy was just trying to make small talk while entering in all my information and getting me to fill out some papers... and he randomly goes so, do you go to school around here? And i'm like, no I go to Virginia Tech and he's all "Dude, me too - class of 2003!" And then I proceed to tell him I'm class of 2008 and then we talked about where we lived and then talked about downtown. It was good times. I love that connection you have with a complete stranger right away when a school is brought up or a sports team, etc. You know the feeling. Because at that point, they're no longer just "some guy" they're your fellow "hokie" or "Cubs fan." It's serendipity. I love serendipity.

In other news my cousin Dane and I met up for lunch today. It was great seeing him. It's been a really long time. He tried coming down to visit a few times this year but life gets in the way sometimes and he was never able to come. It was hilarious catching up with him though. We got really nostalgic and laughed about the embarassing things that we used to do as kids and how crazy and amazing our family is. I was also glad to see that he's in a good place in his life right now. He hit some rough patches in his younger days but it seems he's got himself together and I am his number 1 fan.

Okay well that's all for now... I'm off to New York tomorrow!

Luxury Sports Car Day? Sign me up!

Today my dad told me that I had to take one of our cars back to our dealer because every so many miles it has to be serviced. Apparently they bought some type of million mile service deal on this thing and probably got ripped off... but anyhow, I have to wake up tomorrow at 8 and join the rush hour traffic to take this thing out there. I'm not completely thrilled - you know, being a college student, it is in my blood to sleep in for as long as humanly possible. It's about 2 am now... 6 hours of sleep isn't going to cut it. Okay well... actually, I've been extremely misleading. Although, yes, it does suck to have to wake up early and be stuck in the morning commute... while my car is being worked on, I do get a temporary replacement of my choice. Which means that if the weather is nice out tomorrow which the forecast says it will be, I'm gonna have to go with a convertible benz. I mean why not right? You might as well have your fun if the Benz dealership is going to let you. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what I end up having as my temp car. With my luck it will be a station wagon.

And in the end, it's always okay.

Reed and I had a long conversation the other night (when I should have been studying for a final - it's amazing how ADD you can get during this time of year). Anyway, he's been getting pretty nostalgic recently about an ex and I mean who's to say they don't from time to time. Like I've said time and time again, I don't think you ever "get over" anybody. Even though you say you're over it and you believe that you are over it, I don't ever really think that you really are. You will never get over it. I think the factor that does change is the amount you miss them. You find other people, you "move on" with someone else and your focus shifts and that's your way of being more okay with it becuase you are happy. If you were completely over it you would never think about it and be completely indifferent which I don't think is possible for most people to feel that way towards somebody they once felt so strongly about. Get my drift? Okay so with that said, it was really nice just talking to him and both of us just kind of getting it all out there. It's been awhile since I've a) talked to Reed (which I am going to make a point to do more often because he is great) and b) had a conversation like that with someone. I guess lately I've been getting to caught up in my work (actually, all year I have) that I've kind of neglected to really sit down with friends and do this kind of thing. Sure, I always went out with friends but that's completely different than one-on-one time. Like the late, great, Mr. Warhol once said,

"People are always so boring when they band together. You have to be alone to develop all the idiosyncrasies that make a person interesting."

I wholeheartedly agree and I've realized now that I need to take more time to really get to know people. Okay anyway, back to the subject here... I came across a story that a friend of mine had sent me and given my conversation with Reed the other day - this jsut seems perfect. The bittersweet nostalgia and the fact that we are perfectly happy with where we are now and the frustruation that the two could never coexist... this story kind of just explains it all... Anyway, I thought I'd post this for you guys to read. Maybe you're feeling the same way, maybe you're not, but one day you will and I hope this helps. Here's Jake Bronstein's "Ex's and Oh's"

On a lighter note... school's out and I'm home (not for long because I'll be doing Maymester) but... a well deserved break is here at last! :) Also, last night I randomly got a lot of people in the hall obsessed with Derrick Brown (and I mean, honestly, was it really that hard to fall in love with this man's writing?) They all wanted a copy of "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Wrong" and sadly it's out of print, BUT the good news is, I'm working on getting him to come next fall. He already said he would, so I guess in which case he is but I'm trying to get the English department to let him do a reading on campus so lots of people come and get to experience him as we once did in Dylan's basement senior year. Phenomenal. VTU kinda sucks with taking chances on people so I guess I try to counter them sometimes by using my own means to get people to come (usually those that do hear about these shows say they loved them). Next fall, with my own place, hosting should not be a problem. I just want to get the word out. It's hard doing it all by yourself so I'm thinking if you want to help me get some bands and people to come play/do readings. Let me know, I will need all the help I can get...

I love the FiJi Boys...

Peter, Phil, and K made this rap and it's so embarassing with an underlying hint of awesome.

FratpacK - Frat Hard

I love how it ends with "in 'da house - pop ya colla" Don't even get me started on the line about the Burberry polo...

K.Fed/PoPoZao dance moves/Matt being a Dancing Queen



My housemate next year is a Dancing Queen on Vimeo

Alex makes me amazing drinks at Bollo's. 

Adam and I solve puzzles and we rock.  

Some of my favs.  

You should see this on tape... it's hilarious 

He failed to receive the memo that we were making funny faces. 

A semi-formal is not complete without a scandalous picture. 

Feeeeed me.  

Thriller, Thriller Night...

Last night was TNT's end of the year semi-formal. It was great to be with everyone again. I've been such a nerd the past few weeks with the semester coming to an end that I've missed a month or so worth of Thursday nights with these guys. Anyway, we all got dressed up and had a good time for the most part. Pictures will be up soon on Flickr and I have some hialrious footage of Matt and I dancing that I will put up on Vimeo sometime today so stay tuned... it's coming. This morning, Sharon picked up The Washington Post from Bollos and we sat in the lounge over brunch just reading it. It was great - I haven't read The Post like that in what seems like forever. I've always wanted to subscribe but doing it on campus is really difficult. I'm glad that I'll have a permanant address here that I can have this paper sent to come Fall. In addition, I think I will also be subscribing to The New Yorker as well. But anyway, reading it this morning made me realize how much I miss just having a paper in my hands on weekends. My dad and I used to fight each other in the mornings for The Post. We'd try to wake up earlier than the other on weekends and race down the stairs (we have 2 sets of stairs in my house that lead you to two different ways to exit the house) and try get the paper before the other one could. My sister has now joined this decade old tradition now because she's a huge fan of the Post's comics now giving us more competition. We're thankful that mom has no interest in waking up early to join us in our ridiculous obsession with this paper. I miss this. I'm spending my summer here in Blacksburg but I will get a few days at home and I can't wait to wake up in the morning and participate in The Post olympics.

In other news... check out Ben Gibbard's cover of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Balls-y.

White House Press Dinner Colbert Style...

I am still in love with Saturday

As you can hopefully gather from the pictures below. Saturday was a complete blast. I can probably go on record to say it was one of the most fun and memorable weekends of my year and I cannot wait to do it all over again next year. I met a lot of great people, got to catch up with a lot of old friends, went to an acapella concert, laughed, hugged, smiled, got nostalgic - it was perfect. Just what I needed after a stressful week and a perfect get away right before exams. There's really not much else to say about it, but I do have a short pretty insignificant clip of one of the horse races up on vimeo so check it out if you feel inclined to do so. In other news, today (perhaps I'm a little late on this) I found out that 9 of our football players got drafted! This is huge for us and it's a great reflection of our program under the guidance of Frank Beamer. I think this is great - these guys played their hearts out for the Hokies the past few years and they really deserve this and I wish them all the best and will forever remain a loyal fan to all no matter what team they're on... although I do feel that the Atlanta Falcon team is an extension of our Hokie team. :P One last thing before I go though... Marcus Vick wasn't drafted - go figure. And an important lesson we can all learn from this is that character is everything (okay, maybe not everything but it can certainly make you or break you).