Homeward Bound (Well, almost...)

In approximately 17 more hours, I will be boarding my eleven hour return flight to the states! It's fabulous really, but I think once I arrive home I'm going to miss this place more than I'm anticipating. It's been a wonderful growing experience, though, and I'm so thankful I pushed myself to do it! That's all the reflecting I can do for now though, as for the past 48 hours, all I've been doing is reflecting, in some form or another, and it was all for a grade. I'm all done now though! Thank goodness. Now on to summer school...boo.

Today has been fairly uneventful. I really just don't have the desire to go walk around Athens anymore, and I only have 5 euros left, so it's not like I need to go blow money. I've just been relaxing in the room, watching Gossip Girl and reading. Tonight we have our big closing dinner, so I figure I'll get out and about for that.

I realize I haven't posted many pictures lately, so I figured I'd share a few of my favorites from the last few days!

Here's Natalie and me at dinner one night! It was probably my favorite dinner of the whole trip...pesto pasta, yum!

Kevin and Grace playing on the see saw! So cute...

And there's good ole' Mindy, all tucked in thanks to the maid's love and tlc :)

Well wonderful, I'm glad those finally worked! This will probably be my last post from Athens! Tonight will consist of more rolling of my clothes to get them all stuffed back in my suitcase. It's amazing how much more space that frees up! I recommend it for any future long-term travelers. Hopefully all goes well with my flights tomorrow! I am so excited to see everyone, hand out presents, get me a delicious caesar salad from an authentic American restaurant, and lie around catching up on reality tv and some sleep! Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? :) See you all soon!

Greecercise...

I'm back! Sorry again for the absence, the internet has been an issue the last few days, and thanks to my considerable problem with impatience, I have chosen to just avoid it if at all possible. But then people send you emails complaining of blog withdrawals, so I decided to endure the pain to provide an update. :) Don't expect pictures, though. Waiting on that process could move me to tears.

Anyway, I guess I should start with the past weekend...although there really isn't much to report. We had some homework time, some shopping time, some eating time, some napping time. It was very uneventful and I was actually quite bored. When you're running low on money and it's brutally hot out, there's really not much to do in Athens. I did make a pit stop at McDonald's, though, which was an excellent idea. It tasted just like America. And they even got my special order ketchup-only hamburger correct. Those Greeks are so great.

Monday meant a long bus drive to Galaxidi, a tiny (I mean tiny) little port town on the coast. Our hotel was very nice and luxurious, complete with an infinity pool and nice over-sized room. However, I don't think I really understood the meaning of "in the middle of nowhere" until I arrived here. There was nothing around us. Nothing. We had to load back on the bus to drive to dinner, only to sit down at a rather expensive restaurant that drained my wallet. No gelato for me that night!

Tuesday morning we departed from The Boonies, Greece, and headed for Delphi, a.k.a. a pile of rocks on the side of a mountain that I would maybe be more enthusiastic about had it not been 100 degrees. We saw the former seat of the Oracle of Delphi, who breathed in methane gas and rambled out crazed nonsense to those who came seeking her advice. I mean whatever makes you feel better, right? After a rather lengthy hike and quick run through a museum, we boarded back on the bus for naptime. Wonderful.

Today we woke up, presented our lovely group projects to the class, and then Natalie and I ventured off in search of a delicious lunch to fill our rumbly tummies. And what to our wandering eyes did appear, but Subway!! With pizza subs and everything. It was probably one of the best meals I've had, and I didn't feel bad about it one bit! This afternoon we took a group trip to the Hill of the Muses. Thanks to the nice breeze, it was actually quite gorgeous. The scenery atop the hill was very similar to what one might find at Gregory's Bald in the Smokies: very dry shrubbery and desert-looking plants. I wandered around a bit thinking of home, and then we descended for a provided dinner at a taverna, followed by, you guessed it! Gelato. Yummy :)

K-town is calling me like none other. Exciting things are happening at home, and I am stuck here! The Benjamin is currently on his return flight to the States, and I am super jealous. I know I only have two more days, but it's becoming hard to keep a positive attitude. We have two papers due over those two last days, and I'm just really not looking forward to tackling that. I can do it, though. I think I can, I think I can.


Oh, and by the way, I named the post Greecercise on account of the steep hills and multiple steps I have ascended the last couple of days on all our excursions. My legs are sore, and I am out of shape. But no worries! Meredith is teaching the Super Class the Sunday after I return, and I plan to be there with bells on. :) Love to you all!

Better than Chocolate Chip Pancakes?

This was my breakfast/lunch for the day. Please note the inside was also filled with chocolate. It was amazing! I've been craving some IHOP chocolate chip pancakes the past week or so, and I must say, this came awfully close to satisfying that wish. Now if I can just find some hashbrowns...

It's a mighty hot Saturday here in Athens. I just got done with some shopping and now I'm off to work on a group project. Tonight? Maybe a Starbucks run? And gyros stuffed with french fries. Hello delicious!

Well that is all. Just wanted to brag a bit on my find this morning...

Long Time, No Talk!

Sorry for the small hiatus. Life is slow here on Spetses, and I've really had a pretty uneventful few days. Just having class, going to the ocean, walking around the island. Nothing too special, but still quite amazing considering my location. :)

The breakfast at our hotel is probably one of my favorite parts of this stay. Each morning I've had warm buttered croissants, yummy peaches, and scrambled eggs! Greek style of course, but the color is really the only difference. They still remind me of home, and that is all that matters at this point.

Speaking of home, I'm getting antsy! I think I've just had a lot of time to sit around and think while I've been on Spetses, and well, I've thought my way into wanting America. Really bad. Only about a week until I get it though! Don't worry, I'm not wishing my time away, I'm just ready to return to some of my comforts. They are oh so comforting. Don't take them for granted!

Today we took a ferry all the way around the island to a secluded beach on the other side. It was very pretty and very relaxing. I neglected to bring my ipod on this trip however, so I must say I'm pretty ADD when it comes to laying out for long periods. I'm kept busy with reading and journal writing though, so that's been good. We got a quick and cheap gyro for dinner tonight, and now here I am! About to shower and pack it all up again to return to Athens tomorrow. There's a crew heading to Santorini this weekend, but I think I'm going to be lame and stay behind. Short, quick trips can stress me out, and it's a little pricey. I still have some shopping to do!

I saw today that Kris won American Idol. Poor Adam. He was so fabulous. I'm sure he'll do fine and still get a great record deal though, so I'm not feeling too sorry for him. And Kris is so very good looking, he makes a good victor as well. Oh how I miss my reality tv! It's killing me that I missed The Bachelorette last Monday! The shows on abc.com don't work overseas, so I will just have to wait until I return to get caught up.

Well that's all for now. Bathing calls...loudly. I would post some pictures but it's being awfully slow. Sad. Oh well!

Pretty Much Paradise

I'm sorry, am I on my honeymoon?

That seems to be a recurring question amongst us ladies here on the island of Spetses. I have been to some pretty beautiful European beaches and stayed in some very nice quarters, but I'm pretty sure this set up beats all.

Picture this: very small Greek island, very small population, mostly elderly, very quiet and relaxing way of life.

Hotel? Beach-side.

Room? Ocean-front. And the water is so clear I can see straight through it from three stories up.

Balcony? Absolutely, with a tremendous view of the ocean, surrounding islands, and Spetses itself.

I even have my own "reject bed" all to myself in the corner, which may disappoint some, but thrills late-nighters like myself.

Ocean access? There's a beautiful wooden chase lounger just an elevator ride away. And there are plenty to go around, because we have the hotel to ourselves.

Oh, and did I mention our breakfast area is an open-air lounge with yet another lovely ocean view? K, well that's what it is.

Not only all of this, but our trip here began with the best meal I've had yet, a traditional multi-course meal with all sorts of delicious fare. And it was free. Wow, I think I'm gonna like it here...

The Weekend

Whew, it's been a busy couple of days! Who would have thought our two days off from class were possibly the most exhausting. It's been fun, though! I'll start with yesterday...

Saturday morning a large group of us woke up early on our own and trekked through the city to this huge mountain near its center. I'm not sure I've climbed so many stairs at one point in my life! The hill itself is identical in height to the Empire State Building, so just imagine climbing up that baby. The view at the top was completely worth it, though. You could see everything in all directions, from the surrounding city to the Acropolis, even out to the ocean! It was truly amazing and I am so glad I got to experience it! Here is a view of the hill from the Acropolis and a pic of Kevin and me at the top!

After the hike, we went to the Achaeological Museum for a while, followed by a delicious hotdog lunch at a nearby cafe. I came back for some rest time, followed by dinner with my professor and her family! It was very fun. I had spaghetti (sorry, can't help it) and got to talk with her daughter, which is really all I want in life, because she's adorable! We had some post-dinner gelato (I'm getting fat, by the way) and then I was dragged to this swanky little red velvet cushions club where I sat awkwardly for a little while until someone else was ready to head back. Thank goodness...

Today was a bit more relaxed. I slept until 11:00...yes...and then Natalie and I went to this little hole in the wall bakery to enjoy a couple delicious donuts for brunch. Did I mention they were about the size of our heads? Again, the fatness...it's coming. On our way back from the bakery, we went to this really cool shoe shop where the owner custom fits the shoe to your foot before you buy them. It was so awesome, and I got a pair of perfectly-fitting sandals! Here's Nat and I in the shop and a pic of her getting fitted!

So cool, right? Yes. Anyway, after a two-hour afternoon nap and easy dinner at the Noodlebar, I am left to packing up my suitcase once again for our next destination! Tomorrow morning we are off to the island of Spetses for the week! I am hoping it will fairly uneventful. In other words, I really just want to be a beach bum for the next four days! That and a productive little student...we got some work loaded on us today. Well I'm off to work! Happy last week of school Knox County! :) Love you all...

By the way, when I get home, Wasabi anyone? Cafe 4, Chick-fil-a, IHOP, Aubrey's? The list is beginning, and don't worry, it will continue...

Where Old Meets New

Acropolis day in Athens! And despite the blazing sun and stinging shoulders, I absolutely loved it! It was fascinating to hear our guide telling us about the ancient battles and history associated with the monuments. I mean I was right there where a Greek soldier once stood...so cool. I think my favorite part of the experience though was looking out over the fortress walls of the Acropolis and seeing the thousands of modern Athenian buildings, yet I was looking up at some of the most ancient history left on the planet! It was a truly rewarding little hike. Here's me at the Parthenon! :)

This evening we went out for a little shopping excursion, followed by a nice authentic Greek dinner...haha, NOT! I'll admit it, tonight we swallowed our pride and headed to the Hard Rock Cafe in Athens. It just sounded good for some reason, so I made the trek and enjoyed a nice big burger and fries-totally American. Nice.

Speaking of America...Our professor has an absolutely adorable six-year old daughter who we get to see and talk to occasionally. Today was one of those opportunities, and let me tell you, she is precious! It made me miss all my little kiddies at the preschool so much! I guess they only have about a week left of school and then they all get to go off and enjoy their summers! Oh how I wish I could say bye to them one more time! I really hope someone calls me to babysit when I get home because I'm going to be needing some little people time in my life!

Maybe tonight I'll actually get a full night's sleep, as that has still yet to happen. Last night I tried the sleeping pill trick, which did work, but seeing as how I took it after 1:00, I still lost a couple hours. It's technically the weekend now though, so late nights are more acceptable. Hah! Big day tomorrow, hope all goes well, will post about it later. Good night!

So Much Cheese!

Ugh. My tummy does not feel 100% at the moment...I'm attributing it the amount of cheese these crazy Greeks eat. I'm pretty sure just about every meal I've had so far has had some sort of cheese component involved. Normally I love cheese, and I'm sure one of my first meals when I return home will be cheese and crackers, but for some reason the Greek's cheese is just a little unsettling. Oh well.

However, my dinner this evening did not involve cheese, because it was strictly Asian. Last night's quest to the Noodlebar, as it's called, did not pan out as hoped, but tonight we made it! I had chicken satay with peanut sauce over steamed rice. It wasn't what I was expecting and maybe not quite the flavor I was looking for, but it was still a nice change from, well...cheese. Hah. Here we are at the Noodlebar. It was very red.

Today was gorgeous! We visited the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio. It was really nice to get out of the city and sit in tranquility for awhile. I did get a little sunburned unfortunately, but it's not too bad, and I'd say it was worth it. The ruins of the temple were set atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful! Take a look...

On the other side of those columns, it's pretty much straight down and ocean. Lovely! On the ride back from Sounio, we stopped at a little beach cove and waded in the shallow water. It was wonderful as well!

The rest of the trip is starting to get all booked up! Between projects and side trips and outside traveling, I'm going to be busy the next two weeks. It's a good thing, though. When I have nothing else to do, I get homesick, and I don't like being homesick. At all. It's sad. Boo.

Well that's all for now! Tomorrow we're off to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon! Should be exciting, as well as a great opportunity for more pictures of ruins...I know how everyone enjoys those. :) Happy weekend to you all!

This is a problem...

There is a seven hour difference between home and Greece, meaning there is the potential for some serious jet lag should one be sensitive to it. Well, I have always had trouble falling asleep, it doesn't matter what country or time zone I'm in. Usually, though, on my last trips abroad, I have gotten accustomed to the difference pretty quickly. Well that does not seem to be the case for this trip. Last night, after finising up some homework around 1:00 a.m., I turned off the computer and attempted to go to sleep. Two and a half hours later, after tossing and turning and a serious build-up of frustration, I reached for my computer once again, as the sleep was not coming. Eventually, a little after 4:00 I finally fell asleep, but let's just say I'm glad we had an easy day because I'm only going on 4 hours of sleep. Darn time change...

I had a really great night, though! Sticking to true Greek tradition, a few of us went to dinner around 9:00 p.m. at a cute taverna a little ways from our hotel. The manager stopped us in the middle of the street and promised free drinks and dessert, so we stopped and sat down. Nat and I ordered Greek salads and fried cheese (that was for you, Melissa!). The salad consisted of some chopped vegetables with a slab of feta on top, so that was a bit of a disappointment. I ate the cucumbers though. As for the fried cheese, well...it was interesting. It kind of looked like pizza without sauce or crust.

I also had my first sips of wine while at dinner tonight! It was...alright. Haha, I didn't have much, but hey, maybe there's a hope for me there somewhere. After dinner, we went searching for more gelato, so that made two servings yesterday. Lovely Emily...

After class this afternoon, we stopped at a cheap and delicious sandwich window for lunch and then headed for the tram to the beach! It was some of the most perfect beach weather I've ever experienced! Definitely warm but with enough of a breeze to keep you from being miserably hot and not a cloud in the sky. The beach itself was a bit of an experience, what with the young Greek boys playing soccer and paddle ball all around our towels and kicking sand and rocks up everywhere. They didn't have one ounce of concern that they were totally up in our space! The weather made up for it, though. We stayed a few hours and then headed back to shower.

I think we may go to an Asian flare type restaurant for dinner tonight, which I am very excited about. Then I'm hopefully just going to take it easy and maybe catch up on some homework. And tonight? Oh let's all just pray I can overcome the vicious time change. Grr..

More!

Day two from Athens! All is still going well. Last night's barbeque was actually quite lovely. I had a totally American hotdog and a skewer of seasoned meat that we're thinking was pork. Everyone just got to mingle and get to know each other better, and I enjoyed myself very much! The best part was probably the location. It was set on a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the Acropolis above:

And the surrounding city below:

After the barbeque we went with Dr. Yates on a walk through the Plaka to find some delicious gelato. I got cookies and cream and made mental notes of all the locations we saw, as I am sure I will be returning frequently. Then we made our way back to the hotel, where I pretty much got ready for bed and hit the sack. I was exhausted. Unfortunately, I woke up a few times in the middle of the night and found myself wide awake, which I'm attributing to the fact that at home it was only about dinnertime. Time change...crazy stuff it does.

This morning we had our first class. It went well except for the fact that I was still pretty tired and I don't think the air was on in our classroom. Bad combo. It didn't last long though and it seems like it will stay pretty interesting. After class we went on a walking tour with some student guides from the university. They took us all around downtown and showed us some good places to shop and eat. I had another gyro...it was yummy again, but I really have to find another option tomorrow. I'm already a little sick of them.

We did some exploring post-lunch in the Plaka and around the hotel. I finally got to visit a fruit stand and purchased some apples and bananas to remind me a little of home and to make my body like me better. I'm sure they will be enjoyed thoroughly.

Now I'm just sitting here on a beautiful afternoon blogging and relaxing on my bed. We're a little perplexed as to what exactly we're supposed to do for the rest of the day...it's awfully hot out to just go walking, but what else is there? You'd think I'd know the answer but I honestly don't. It feels too late to go start anything, but then again dinner isn't until around 9 or so. Decisions, decisions...Oh well, tomorrow I'm hoping for a nice beach trip. :) Until then...

Grecian.

I'm here! After hours upon hours of airport waiting and flight changes, we finally arrived in Athens this morning. That's about 9:00 a.m. Athens time and about 2:00 a.m. my normal time, so let's just say I'm a bit worn out. I took a sleeping pill on the plane which definitely did its job to make me sleepy, but unfortunately the discomfort of the lovely upright seat and basically styrofoam blanket did not allow for much shut-eye to actually occur. Still though, at least the severe drowsiness helped to pass the time, as a nine hour plane ride is not my favorite activity. I have a really great shot of the view when we were landing in Greece but it doesn't seem to want to upload at the moment, so maybe later?

After waiting a while for the second group to arrive, we hopped on a bus and made for our hotel. It's fairly nice. Nat and I get to room together, and minus the non-working tv, paper thin walls, and very loud old men outside our window, it is really quite quaint and comfy. I took a shower earlier and managed to only partially flood the bathroom floor, so hey, I'm doing better than I normally do in Europe!

We went on a small walk today to find some lunch, and I had my first gyro of the trip. It was delicious! I will remember to ask for no onions next time though, as my hands still reek of the stuff after having to pick so many out of it. Still though, I'm sure it was the first of many more gyros to come.

I am so thankful for my computer and the internet at the moment. I already got to email my parents and the Benjamin, check out the Facebook situation, and write on my blog-all from a foreign country! My how I love technology! (well, sometimes...) I might be feeling an ounce or two of homesickness coming on, but I'm hoping it's only first day jitters mixed with complete exhaustion. I always get more emotional when I'm tired. Anyway, we have an opening reception barbeque tonight with a couple other groups of students studying here at the university so that should be interesting! Hmm, Greek barbeque...I'm intrigued. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks everyone for your prayers! I love you and miss you all already! :)

All Packed Up!

Whew. I'm exhausted. Packing just stresses me out. Therefore it wears me out. It's all done though! Do I have everything I need? Good question, but too late to go buy it now. Plus it probably wouldn't fit in my suitcase, so let's just hope it's all in there.


I really hate the 50 lbs. rule for checked bags. Last time I went to Europe, my bestie's bag was over the limit, so she had to open up her bag right there in the middle of the airport and take some stuff out so it would meet regulations. I do not want to be in that place at 6 a.m. in the morning, so I'm hoping and praying that I kept it light enough. I switched bags at one point in the packing process because I knew I would go over. The bag itself was huge and weighed a ton, so I consolidated a bit and fit it all in a smaller suitcase. I should have an easier time lugging my stuff through multiple airports and international city streets, too. Thank goodness for rolling luggage!



The fam and I went to Litton's tonight for my last meal in the Americas...for three weeks that is. I stuffed myself silly with red velvet cake, so I've got lots in my stores in case I don't fancy the food of the Greeks. As long as I can find a few gelato joints while I'm there I should be fine.

Yum. Anyway, I guess the Benjamin's somewhere over the Atlantic right about now. His flight got delayed earlier because the plane hit a fuel tank before they boarded, and I haven't gotten to talk to him since. I think his group was going to be in a rush to make the rest of their flights on time. I got upset last night after dinner and again this morning when he came to give me a hug goodbye. I'm a weenie, but what can I say? He's used to it.

My goal for the trip is simple: when in Greece, do as the Greeks do. I've been reading a lot about how the Greek culture is very laid-back and relaxed. They live to enjoy life and take the time to soak it all in. Since this is often the complete opposite of my own way of living, I'm hoping to use this trip to lose some of the stress I've become accustomed to. It may not happen, but I'm determined to make a conscious effort. I've just got to take a deep breath sometimes and go with the flow...Yeah. K. Well, we'll see.

Alrighty well wish me luck! Keep Nat and me in your prayers as we venture across the ocean! I'm excited to see what God has to show me on this trip. I know it will at least be a growing experience! :)

Celebrity Sightings

Cool stuff never happens to me. Tonight was no exception. Nothing cool actually happened, but I saw something cool and that's better than nothing. Also, I know this is my second post today, but this is blog-worthy. :)

Tonight the Benjamin took me to Ye Olde Steakhouse for our last hurrah date night together before we become world travelers. It was pretty good. I must admit my favorite part may have been the processed cheese spread and packaged crackers, but that's typical me, eh? Anyways, we walk in, sit down at our table, and begin eating said delicious cheese. Five minutes later, a bombshell blonde takes a seat at the table behind us. She is accompanied by a man who is being blocked by the Benjamin's head. The owner comes to welcome this mystery guest and says something that makes the Benjamin think it's Dave Ramsey. At this, I take a closer look...

No, it's not Dave Ramsey. It's better. It's Bruuuuuce!! Yes, Mr. Pearl himself happened to be partaking in his first dinner at Ye Olde on the same evening as myself. Oh, and it gets better (in my opinion). Let's not forget that first of all, this bombshell blonde is the illegitimate girlfriend that caused the recent divorce of Bruce and first wife. What's more, I notice bombshell blonde has a pretty bangin and humongous rock on her left hand...engagement ring? Yep, apparently he announced this to the public a few days ago. Oh Bruce...

Anyways, along comes slight celebrity couple number two to accompany Coach and his lady. It's Pastor John Wood from Cedar Springs and his wife. Sorry, he's kind of a celebrity in my book. Well they have a lovely little dinner together discussing who knows what. Here's an interesting point to ponder, though: Bruce is Jewish is he not? Hmm, perhaps bombshell blonde is helping to cook up a conversion? All I can say is I really wanted to take a picture and write a sweet tabloid story...I'd probably read it.

That is all. Not very exciting I know, but hey, I lead a fairly boring life. This was kind of headline news.

Tick, Tock...

The big day is getting closer! Only three more days in the states, ahh! I started some laundry last night, but other than that, I'm slacking on the packing. It just doesn't seem like I'm leaving this weekend! It will all get done, though. I don't have anything going on tomorrow or Saturday, so I'll have time to hit it hard. And I'm determined not to stress over getting ready for this trip. Psh, we'll see how that goes...

So I can't even really express how lazy I have been since I moved home. I mean it was my goal to chill as much as possible this week, but good grief...it's been me and the tv and the Vaio kicking back on the couch-a lot! It's ok though, check out some of the stuff I've discovered:

Hulu. If you're ever bored, and you want to watch a tv show...I mean ANY tv show, from any season, you can find it here! It's free, it's fast, and it will save me from purchasing every season of Friends on DVD. Last night I watched The Office, and it was fabulous!

Celebration, FL. Everyone knows I'm obsessed with Disney. I mean really obsessed. Well, guess what? Disney has it's own town where you can live. Not only is it the cutest little city I have just about ever seen, but it has it's own special roads into Disney World so you don't have to get caught up in the traffic of everyone else! We already found a condo for the parents to buy when they retire. Look how cute!

And finally, American Idol. I finally got to watch both the Tuesday and Wednesday night episodes this week. Adam is incredible. I mean seriously, even my dad, who is like the biggest Led Zeppelin fan ever, said his "Whole Lotta Love" voice was better than the normal lead singer. Wow. I'm officially obsessed and will be devastated if he doesn't win. On that note, Allison, you deserved to stay longer but I'm sure you'll get a record deal anyway!

Well, I'm off to my last day at the preschool! I'm gonna miss these kids so much this summer! It's sad to think some of them won't be back next year, either. They are so precious and have really helped me see how important it is to look at the world through the eyes of a child. :)

Happy Things

Just a few things to smile about on this cloudy, rainy Monday...

1. These were featured on the Today show this morning. The company is called hello robertson, and they are handmade by the two girls who own it! Not too expensive and very Gossip Girl, as they pointed out on the show. It was hard to pick my favorite, but I found two I love!

2. I just saw a commercial that kind of made my day...College Jeopardy starts tonight!! My nerdiness is showing through, but I don't care. I'm pumped and will be waiting on the couch at 7:30 tonight. :)

3. I stayed up last night reading my lonely planet Greece guide, and it got me even more excited! I'm determined to find a way to make it to Santorini before I leave...

4. Lunch with mom and her teacher friends today at the Apple Cake Tea Room! Always a happy thing.

5. The Benjamin just surprised me with beautiful pink and red roses from his mom's garden...he's precious. :)

Hope everyone has a very happy day!

Rain, rain, go away...

It has now rained for three days straight, and I miss the sunshine! Last week, when I was cooped up studying for hours on end, it was of course warm and gorgeous, and all I wanted was to go work on my base tan for Greece. And now that I'm done and have the time, it's dreary and wet. How unfortunate...

On a lighter note, I just looked up the 10-day forecast for Athens, and the first two days look splendid! Nothing but sunshine and mid-70s...perfect!

It's crazy to think one week from today I will be on my way! I should probably go get back to unpacking my life so I can start repacking. I haven't gotten too far because Mean Girls is on tv...oh distractions.

Check out what I have to look forward to in only 7 days! Nat, get excited. Everyone else, be jealous. :)

Kicked to the couch

Whew. What a day. I drove back and forth between home and downtown three times, moved out of my 6th floor apartment without the use of an elevator, babysat two hooligan boys whose favorite activity is "wrestling" (aka jumping on top of me and clinging til I can pry them off), and now here I am, finally done with it all, but without a nice big bed to fall into. It's covered in the contents of my now empty apartment's closet, a task that requires at least a full day to tackle, therefore it will stay until tomorrow (at least). Thankfully, the couch is actually pretty comfortable, so hopefully I can get to sleep before 2 a.m. for the first time this week. I have to get more sleep or I'm convinced I'm getting the swine. No good.


I had a little treat waiting for me on the kitchen counter tonight when I get home, in the form of a new J. Crew catalog. Woo! It was brilliant, to the say the least. A couple of weeks ago, while on the website, I stumbled upon a wedding dress that made me sad I'm nowhere near that whole process. I found it again tonight in the catalog. Gorgeous. No worries, I ripped it out, so when the big day does come along, I'll at least have the memory. Wanna see?



Ahh, yes. Love it! Anyway, I've gotta get some sleep. Tomorrow? Cleaning, and a lot of it. The apartment, my closet, my bed, the list goes on...Couch here I come! :)

I love you, wildcat...

Last night in Laurel. Last night we're all together. Last night to sit in silence with computers in lap. It's a night that deserves a final hoorah, a commemorative send-off. How do we do it? We eat. We blog. And we watch. What's new? :)

I must say, it was a pretty great day. Woke up to take a final, which went pretty well. I still have one to go, next Tuesday, but it shouldn't require much in the way of studying, so I'm feeling good in the school department. After the test, I came back for a quick lunch and some chill time, and then Nat, Mims, Mel Pie and I ventured up to Pigeon Forge for a little spring shopping. We hit up the J. Crew, stopped for some ice cream, and then headed back to begin our night's festivities.

Unfortunately, our hopes for looking nice and taking cute pictures in Market Square were somewhat ruined by the May monsoon that descended this afternoon. We still had an excellent dinner at Cafe 4, though. It was my first trip, and I was so impressed! I got a barbeque chicken flatbread, and it was delicious. I'm excited already for my next trip. I think I already know what I'll get...

Back in Laurel, we all piled in Mel Pie's huge, fluffy bed and took some snuggly pics. Gosh, we're so cute...

Once we were sufficiently sick of waiting on self-timers, we plopped into our spots in Mel Pie's living room and popped in HSM 3...my fave. :) Super cheesy, yes, but so great, for reasons such as this: Ahh the Zefron...sorry, I can't help it. Anyway, so now here we are, relishing in what we do best, one last time. It's been a great year, and I will miss these girls so much over the summer! Don't worry ladies, I'll be making some visits, if you'll have me. :)

Thursday nights are always a lost cause...

It's the truth. Every week, it's the same. I'll say I'll do this, I'll plan to do that, and yet I always seem to end up on the couch with my computer and a muted tv, just whittling away my time. It's ok though, right? Bonding is more important than studying. Friends are way better than cleaning. And I'd always rather look through J. Crew's sale site than read some psych book.

Tonight was no exception. I have a final tomorrow morning, I have an apartment I have to pack up, and I have a bag of chocolate-covered popcorn on my desk that really needed to be countered by a treadmill. Don't worry though. None of that stopped me from the spontaneous trip to Rita's or the random nighttime room hopping, and oh let's not forget the creation of this little number: my new blog. :)

Have I ever followed a blog? Nah. Have I ever even read a blog post? Well, only to search for computer help or self-diagnose my latest illness. Would I have ever thought in a million years I would have my own? Definitely not. But do I love it now that I've been introduced? Absolutely. So I'll end with a big thanks to my lovely Melissa-Pie, I'm sure this is the start of a new obsession. :)

Now about that final...