Daph's Big Move

+1

2009-06-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

i gained a pound. womp womp.

no worries... i'm going to keep my head up and continue the work out schedule! up to 6 days of cardio a week now.

i'm off to the pool. it's supposed to be 100 degrees all weekend.

jimbo and...

2009-06-17T07:09:00.001-07:00

jim's in d.c. right now... working his butt off. he's taking two classes at GW and working on the hill. in his free time, he's meeting VIPs.

Remember him?

He's also met tons of Republicans, but I'm not going to support THAT endeavor by posting pics of it here.

training session #3

2009-06-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

So last night, we did our workout with half of a deck of cards. (I think eventually we'll build up to a full deck.) For every black card flipped over, I would do an exercise on my lower body. For every red card, an exercise on my upper body. We did abs at the beginning, middle, and end. I could play either of my two jokers at any point in the 40 minutes to get a 2 minute break. As you probably guessed, the value of the card equaled the number of reps completed. But, if the trainer wasn't happy with the number she'd multiply it, or double it, etc. It was intense!

The greatest feeling came at the end, though. I had done it! I was so proud of myself for completing whatever she threw at me. I know that two weeks ago there's no way I could have done it.

This week I'm going to concentrate on cardio. Hopefully I'll begin jogging. Oooooh man.

Thanks for the support!

quote

2009-06-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

"This isn't the elevator to the skinny floor, there are ups and downs."

Today I'm feeling a little more down than up but I'm still going to make good choices (even if those choices are made at Inoko Express.)

week 2 of training

2009-06-10T19:39:00.001-07:00

So my second training session was last night. Let me just say, I was feeling so good going into this session because my workouts had been really great last week and I could already feel a difference in my flexibility and in my strength. That said, Rena (my trainer) took me and my confidence down a notch.

The workout started with me running up and down a flight of 40 stairs 5 times. By the end my legs were shaking and as a result the rest of the workout was kind of shaky. I think the steps combined with the fact that I hadn't eaten much that day sort of hindered the work out. That's okay, though, I still think I made progress.

I'm sore today, but I know it will be worse tomorrow. I worked out again tonight but I'll be taking tomorrow OFF so that my muscles can recover.

I just need to remember that this whole journey is a marathon... not a sprint.

weight loss

2009-06-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

So, as most of you know I've been trying to lose weight since early December of this year (but let's be honest... the holidays are awful for life changes like this one so it really got going in the new year.)

Before I went home in May I had lost 27.5 lbs with the goal of losing 50 before Jessie's wedding on August 1. I gained a little while I was home but I've been really serious about it again since I've been back since it's crunch time.

SO! This past week has been serious. I had my first session with my trainer on Tuesday and was pretty sore Wednesday and couldn't walk on Thursday. Awesome. It hurts so good. :)

I'm supposed to be doing between 30-60 mins of cardio 5 days a week and a full body strength training routine three times a week. I'm also supposed to stretch twice a day. So far so good.

Combine this new routine with my ongoing weight watchers points, and I'm hoping to see great results really fast. I can already tell that my flexibility is much more pronounced and I feel much better since I've been back on the WW path.

The biggest change that I've noticed in myself, though, is my attitude towards the whole thing. I had really gotten to a place where my weight overwhelmed me and just the thought of beginning the process of losing it was too much. Now that I've started, I can't see myself stopping. It's addicting to feel good and see the change.

So I'll keep you all up to date on how fast (or slow) the change happens.

summer

2009-05-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

so far this summer has been pretty amazing. i spent 3 weeks in OH and now i'm back in ATH. i started my new job last week in which i'll be creating first year connection programs for a small community college near ATH. i spent most of my first week doing research on what other schools do for first year experience (FYE) and this week i'll be putting together a more concrete schedule, etc.

the best part of the summer has got to be the time i spend at the pool. i layed out most of the friday and spent a good part of saturday out too. i was going to lay out today but i was feeling a little crispy after the first two so i sat today out.

in short, i'm working for the weekend.

j & k plus 8

2009-05-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

so... i've always been a big jon and kate plus 8 fan. especially after last summer when i had zero job and zero school... i spent a good portion of the summer watching the show. i LOVED it. but then they moved into a new big house, and now with these CRAZY rumors running amuck on the internet and in the gossip mags (both of which i read pretty religiously) it has really gotten me into a tizzy. i mean it's not even genuine anymore to me. instead of being a normal family, they're living in a mansion and they're celebrities. i find myself feeling genuinely sad about the whole debacle.

i think i need to stop reading all of the gossip. maybe i shouldn't dvr the show either.

ugh.

i'm still here

2009-05-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

I'm alive. :)

I've been super busy with...

traveling back to OH for several weeks.

being a maid of honor.

getting back on track weight wise after aforementioned trip to OH.

starting a new j-o-b.

planning my summer travel.

more on all of this later.

xoxoxo.

personal shower

2009-05-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

So I'm back in OH for a few weeks and one of the things I'm most excited about is throwing Jessie's Personal Bridal Shower. Anyone have suggestions for gifts?

I'm thinking I'm going to put together a wedding day survival kit. This one looked pretty complete. Any suggestions on things to add?

Next I need to find options for a cake...

I love being a MOH!

today

2009-04-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

instead of me trying to write about what happened in athens today... i will instead forward you to a blog written by my friend and co-worker, Kat. She participated in the local theatre with all of those who were sadly taken from the Athens community today. She has written beautifully about all three of them. www.tumultuouslove.blogspot.com

april

2009-04-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

april has been... busy. a lot of ups. a lot of downs. but mostly i'm looking forward to may.

1. i found an INTERNSHIP! i'll be working at gainesville state college- oconee campus. i'll be creating an entirely new first year experience program for both traditional and non traditional students. i'm really excited to get a new experience (different type of school, different functional area, etc.) i'll also be working here at uga for a few hours a week to make some extra cash. woot.

2. i'm still holding at 25 lbs. i got that low, then gained a few pounds (thanks to ben's bday extravaganza) took two weeks to get back to 25, and now i haven't moved from there. in order to not lose my mind i'm going to tell myself that it's because i've been working out a lot more (4 times/week for 40 mins) and the while i'm losing fat i may be gaining muscle. oh man. that better be what's going on.

3. i come home in ELEVEN days. i will be done with finals and turn 23 in TEN days. i just can't get over it. year one? check.

a lot is going on in athens and at uga today. we're in the news for all the wrong reasons. maybe i'll blog about that later.

easter

2009-04-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

two weekends ago (i know... i'm REALY behind on blogging) i had friends from my cohort over for easter dinner. it was so much fun. i even made a ham (which officially makes me an adult) and a strawberry cake from scratch! here are some pics from our delish dinner.

benji's bday

2009-04-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago was my friend Ben's bday. We celebrated in ATL with dinner at Marlow's Tavern and drinks and dancing at Halo. The music could have been better but there was definitely no shortage of entertainment. hahaha.

Some pics of the extravaganza...

Abby even came down for the weekend of festivities.

I tried to upload other pics from the weekend but photobucket is being RIDICULOUS.

(Sorry for all of you who got this in your google reader 75 times while I tried to fix the formatting of the pics.)

relay for life!

2009-04-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

If you're reading this, then you've probably been bombarded by my e-mails to give to a great cause: Relay for Life. About a month back, our wonderful, 34 year old (too young) professor told us that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. To say that we were taken by surprise is the understatement of the year.

This wasn't the first time someone in my life had been diagnosed. In fact, it's happened all too often to our family and great friends of our family. My dad lost two of his best friends to cancer in less than two years. It's not fair to them. It's not fair to their families. And it's not fair for my dad to lose two friends before they were able to move past age 55.

In short: It's heartbreaking.

SO... enough with the sad part of it (because we all know it could go on for days...) Our program decided to rise up and do something about it. We formed a Relay for Life Team and set a goal for ourselves ($2000.) We ended up exceeding our goal and raising $2290. yay!

The event was last Friday. We had the greatest time. Even if people weren't able to attend the event, people participated in other ways (Bonnie of course made a TONS of food, Margaret donated a tent, etc.) It was so nice to be able to spend time with one another outside of class, and to band together to support the cause, instead of wallowing in our sorrows. It gave us a way to act.

Also, Christy and Kevin were able to pull together t-shirts to wear to the events. They had a cartoon drawing of Dr. Espino on them and they said "Dr. Espino is my homegirl." It is my new favorite shirt by FAR.

Check out the pics below. :)

Sam, Caleb, and Larry

Christy

Our Team (well.. part of it.)

The tent (note the sweet balloons my mom sent dr. espino and our team! I wish I had thought to get a better picture of them. THANKS, MOM!)

33 days

2009-04-01T21:39:00.001-07:00

until I am d-o-n-e. Done. With my first year of grad school.

Unreal.

I can't wait to see all of you in 34 days.

witness.

2009-03-30T11:01:00.001-07:00

I've recently become obsessed (or actually came to terms with my obsession, as some may argue) with the state of OH.

My newest interest? Lebron. Check out this Nike commercial.

Love it. He throws chalk into the air at the beginning of every game. It sounds ridiculous and if any other player from any other team did it I would think so too.

Just another great OHIOAN giving back to the great state of OHIO.

balance

2009-03-29T14:40:00.001-07:00

This one goes out to all of my over achieving friends.

updates updates UPDATES

2009-03-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

still no internship. womp womp. but other GREAT things are going on.

1. i'm down TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS. so excited!

2. i've had a slew (sp?) of visitors. Amanda and her bf Jamie were here last weekend. We started in ATL with dinner with Meg and Brendan and then explored Athens for a few days. Here's a pic to document that it actually happened.

3. This weekend Abby is hanging out and we're going to ATL to celebrate Ben's birthday! We're so excited to go to dinner and go out and spend time with some of our fav people.

4. I'm doing RELAY FOR LIFE! After hearing about one of my professor's breast cancer diagnosis at age 34, I have been called to act. Donate to my relay team at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/daphneeverhart.

More later about Relay especially.

xoxoxo.

in august

2009-03-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

The four people in this picture will be reunited.

(Please note the fact that my eye is so irritated that it felt like it was going to fall out.)

In this place.

And we're going to this place.

And this one.

And maybe even this one.

I CANNOT WAIT.

i take it all back.

2009-03-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

i take back everything i've said lately about the weather in GA. check out the forecast:

Tue
Mar 17

Partly Cloudy

73°
46°

10%

73°F

Wed
Mar 18

Mostly Sunny

73°
48°

73°F

Thu
Mar 19

Partly Cloudy

74°
44°

10%

74°F

Fri
Mar 20

Partly Cloudy

63°
41°

10%

63°F

Sat
Mar 21

Mostly Sunny

63°
42°

10%

63°F

Sun
Mar 22

Partly Cloudy

69°
44°

10%

69°F

Mon
Mar 23

Partly Cloudy

74°
46°

10%

74°F

brian fellow's safari planet

2009-03-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

a few LA summers ago my friend erin introduced me to Brian Fellow's Safari Planet... we spent all summer quoting it.

anyway... this weekend Tracy Morgan hosted SNL and he reprised the Brian Fellow character. Oh. em. geeee.

here is one of the old skits:
Saturday Night Live - Brian Fellow's Safari Planet

and the new one!
Saturday Night Live - Safari Planet

i thought i left this back in OH.

2009-03-01T11:37:00.001-08:00

t-4 until OH. t-5 until cbus.

i wish i had a time machine.

couldn't have said it better myself...

2009-02-25T10:38:00.001-08:00

new blog

2009-02-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

so over the summer i found all of these blogs i read on a usual basis... but since beginning grad school i hadn't found anything really interesting that could keep me involved... until THIS. it's a blog about a man from minneapolis that lives in LA. he moved there with his h.s. sweetheart, built a life, got married and she got pregnant a few years later. last march, she was put on bedrest and then finally gave birth to the baby prematurely. baby was great and the next day the mom got up to go see the baby for the first time and ended up collapsing. pulminary embolism. died that day. so here this man is... raising an infant while also grieving for his wife. sad? obviously. but he's really funny and artistic too. and has a good outlook. and the story is uplifting. if you get a chance... read a little bit of it. he writes like james frey writes in a million little pieces.

lots going on

2009-02-25T10:28:00.001-08:00

it's funny to me that grad school is a constant roller coaster. with work, emotions, etc. one minute i'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and other times i feel so overwhelmed. oh well... such is life.

so a few things going on right now...
1. i interviewed with BYU yesterday. it went really really well. i'm hoping that the opportunity for me to work with them is granted to me. the position is a pretty general SA position, but that's great because it gives me the opportunity to work in various functional areas. love that.

2. my first professional conference begins tonight! GCPA (georgia college personnel association) is having its 40th conference right here in Athens, GA. tonight there is a gala. it will be good to get dressed up, spend some time with my professors and classmates outside of the classroom, and get that great perspective that comes with being around people who all have a common purpose.

3. i'm thinking about incorporating video into my blog... not sure how to do this yet but once i do i think it would be fun to allow you guys to see things about athens. i usually do a poor job describing things.

visitors

2009-02-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

So I've been thinking lately... a lot of my favorite people have been showing up here in Athens, GA for a variety of reasons... but one of them has just been to visit me! How awesome is that? I have the best family and friends. Here are pics of my visitors so far this year...

Mark and Abby! Mark was interviewing for the CSAA program (of which I am a part of) and Abby came along for the ride. We had a ton of fun while they were here... minus the day I had the stomach flu and Abby had to take care of both Mark and I!

And my wonderful Aunt Kaye and Uncle Steve. They were a sight for sore eyes after a particularly rough week. They make me feel so special when I see them. I can only hope that one day Seth and I will be as good to each other's kids as they have been to us!

Maggie came too! She interviewed for the CSAA program as well but we forgot to take a pic. Boo.

More to come tomorrow but right now I NEED to sleep.

xoxo.

updates

2009-02-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

Hi, friends! I hope that all of your weeks have been fun and exciting. I know that mine hasn't exactly met those requirements... but at least the weather in GA was gorgeous. That makes a lot of impact on life for sure.

A few updates on my life...
1. I have lost 18 pounds on WW! I am so excited about it. No one has said much about it here in GA but I think that's because I see the same people every day so they don't notice the difference.

2. I've developed an addiction to going to movies in the theatre lately. In the past month I've seen: Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, He's Just Not That Into You, and Confessions of a Shopaholic (which my mom thinks was written about me. False.) Of all of these my favorite was Slumdog! It is unreal. Life changing. You must see it!

3. I still have no internship. I didn't get any interviews through NODA (orientation directors' association.) I've applied and interviewed with Baylor University a few weeks ago. They're checking one of my references but we'll see. I also applied to one at Brigham Young University which would provide a seriously different perspective on student affairs. We'll see. I'm just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Ok... I'll post more later. Promise.

xoxo.

fran and freeba

2009-02-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

we all know i love a good snl skit. this was my faaaav from a few weeks ago.

philadelphia

2009-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

have you seen this movie? if not.. RUN do not WALK to the nearest blockbuster/hollywood movie. i had to watch it for a disabilities class (next week i have to lead a discussion about the implications it could have for students and disability resource centers) and i had zero idea what it was about. to tell you the truth i thought it was about a man with mental health issues. i was clearly confused.

anyway... watch the trailer. it's a perspective changer for sure.

this is not a test.

2009-02-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

So lately, as I've been reflecting on grad school, I've come to a few conclusions:

1. I've never worked this hard on academics in my entire life. While I knew that grad school was going to be difficult, I thought it would be difficult because I would be working so much at my assistantship and practicum that school would take the backseat. Reverse that and you've got what my life has come to.

2. My social life has become the exception, not the rule. I used to go out all of the time as an undergrad... just to be social. These days it rarely happens. If I do go out it's to see a movie or maybe to get dinner. What happened to all of those fun crazy memories? They're just that... memories.

3. Put 1 and 2 together and you've got a recipe for "all work and no play makes daph a dull girl." This is true. I have been going a little stir crazy. But the great thing about living in GA is that in February, it can be 65 and sunny most days. And your windows can be open. And while this may make your internal clock think that it's spring and that school's almost over... it also makes being my dull self down here a little easier.

inauguration

2009-02-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

Inquiring minds want to know... how was Inauguration?

Only a life changing experience.

I am so incredibly proud to be part of such an amazing day in such an amazing place with such amazing people. I am so proud of our country!

A few of my fav pics:

Circa 5:30 a.m.

Julie and I giving an O-H!

The sun (finally) coming up!

So proud. :)

i'm baaaaaack.

2009-01-26T08:55:00.003-08:00

this is all i can give for now... but i promise i'll write a longer post later this week. (dad- you'll even like it so watch it... it features your girl, faith!)

where am i?

2009-01-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

right now i'm in d.c.

i'm about to witness one of the "top 10 moments in american history. ever." (as described by one of the higher ups in the company.)

oh... you didn't know what was going on next tuesday?

have you been living under a ROCK?

it has something to do with this.

so excuse me for being m.i.a.

postsecret

2009-01-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

a few of my favorite postsecrets from this week...

***note: just because i love these doesn't necessarily mean they pertain to my life.

the devil went down to georgia...

2009-01-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

ok, i'm not the devil. but i am back in georgia. (sidenote: seth used to hear this song or sing it to me throughout the summer.)

things i like about being back in georgia:

1. catching up with CSAA. i've missed my cohort a lot and it's been great to see how their breaks went. it's so weird to think that i didn't know them 6 months ago.

2. the feeling of productivity. i've gotten a lot done over the past few days. much more than i got done while i was home.

3. THE WEATHER. georgia weather is always my fav (minus the monsoons that usually happen on my days off.) but this week it's been especially great since i know the weather back in OH isn't so hot (or... warm at all, actually.)

4. Gymdogs! uga has back to back to back to back national champions in their women's gymnastic team. lori, christy, and i bought season tickets for this year (for a whopping $10) and went to the first meet tonight. we had so much fun!

things i don't like about being back in georgia:

1. i'm not so sure about my practicum... we'll see how it goes. so far it's been a little slow (but to be fair i've only worked there for a day.)

2. stress. i already feel overwhelmed! mostly by the idea of finding an internship this summer but after my meeting with a professor today i feel a little bit better.

3. being away from OH and all that entails. i miss my family. i miss my friends. i miss all things OH (buckeyes, skyline, etc.)

this weekend i need to complete a project and also finish operation clean up the crib. maybe after i clean my apt i'll take pics and show an update on what it looks like these days.

Happy Birthday, Setharoo!

2009-01-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

This is my brother. Today he turns 16.

Can you believe how tall and good looking he is?

Things that are little known about my brother:

He is tall. Really tall. Like... "where did he grow up? the giant factory?" tall. (and yes... 135 Baker Ln. is the giant factory.)

He knows all of the words to every country song known to man. He sings them at the top of his lungs and bobs his head.

He can dance. But only in our kitchen.

He can do dead on impersonations of anything funny... the Blue Collar Comedy Tour is his fav, though.

He explains football really well to people who don't get it.

He gets really good grades.

He helps out the fam with handy things (he gets it from Dad.)

Speaking of Dad... Seth is his clone.

He's going to drive a big red truck when he gets his license.

He loves every type of music just like me.

He's a good guy.

Happy Birthday, Setharoo!

New Years Resolutions

2009-01-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

We all have them... here are mine:

1. Lose 50 pounds. Preferably by the time Jess gets married (August 1st... but who's keeping track? ha.)
In order to make this happen I'm going to continue with WW. Before I came home for winter break I had lost 9 lbs but since my return my goals have really taken a nose dive. That's ok, though. As long as I'm ready to be back at it as soon as I get back to Athens.

2. Work out 4-5 times per week. This will begin happening as soon as I get back from D.C. I think to start off I'm going to get a personal trainer so I can get some ideas on how to get this weight loss thing going. It's important for me to be well and to know that I will live a long life... Without exercising that won't be possible.

3. Open my brain (and heart I guess) to the idea of actually dating someone in GA. I've kind of cut off all possibilities that it would happen because thus far I have zero desire to stay in GA past graduation in 18 months (again... who's counting? ME!) Hopefully once I open myself to the possibility some tall funny guy will just find his way to me! haha.

4. Start a more comprehensive approach to school. While I did very well my first semester in grad school, it really would be beneficial for me to start taking better notes and to start preparing for ::gulp:: Comps. Not in any formal way... but to just realize that they will inevitably be coming some time around the corner so it would be better to prepare a little along the way instead of killing yourself over it for the month beforehand.

That's all I think... We'll see how all of this goes.

bad blogger.

2009-01-01T21:26:00.001-08:00

I know. I know. I've been a bad blogger. But you see... I've had a LOT going on as of late.

1. I've been home for two and a half weeks. I came back to OH with my good CSAA friend Kevin. Ever since crossing the bridge into OH I've been spending time with the fam, burning up the highways going to see friends, and re-decorating my bedroom (pics to come.)

2. I've been trying to get some school stuff done so that I'm not totally out of it when I get back to GA. When I say getting things done... I mean just making sure things are in order for me to go to D.C. in a few weeks for the Inauguration.

3. Advancing with SPHINX. SPHINX doesn't retreat... we only advance. So we spent NYE together and it was SO FUN. It truly is unreal that all of us can go 6 months without seeing one another and we come together to truly become closer. (pics to come.)

Well that's all for now... The rest I will post in some organized fashion so that it's not TOTALLY random.

xoxo.

calculatah!

2008-12-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for a good SNL skit. Here's what I found the funniest last night...

bad blogger

2008-12-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

i know, i know. i've been a bad blogger. you have to know that after the election it was all papers, thanksgiving, and now more papers. but i'm making it a new goal of mine to keep up with my blog a lot more.

a few things...

1. thanksgiving break was WONDA-FUL. other than the horrific stories of my actual travel from ATL to DAY, nothing could have gone better. i got to see my friend family in columbus and my real family in carlisle. while i was home my mom and dad celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary, my mom turned 46, and my dad turned the big 5-0. our cousin put a hilariously tacky sign in our front yard on my dad's birthday that said "honk!!! bob's 50!" my dad hated it but we all died.

2. i'm almost done with my first semester of grad school. can you believe it? that puts me at almost a quarter of the way done. next semester i'll be working with university housing in the department of staff development and judicial programs for my practicum experience. we'll see how it all goes. i met with my new supervisor today... so far so good!

3. i'm doing weight watchers online now! after trying on bridesmaid dresses for jessie's wedding i have decided to make a change... i had to. i've been on it a week and so far i've lost 6 lbs. :) i paid for 3 months at the very beginning so i'm in it for the long haul. hopefully by the time jessie's wedding rolls around i will have lost a zillion pounds.

i think that's about it for now...

Prop 8

2008-11-11T15:11:00.001-08:00

I've been figuring out how to talk about my opposition to Prop 8 in California. Again, my thoughts don't seem to be able to be put together in any coherent manner so I will instead post a video of someone who can put them in order for me.

Thanks for sending it my way, Danielle!

It's a new day.

2008-11-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

I was catching up on my DVR this morning and after watching Will.I.Am sing this on Friday's Oprah I found myself overwhelmed and crying. This song puts it all together for me... it says all of the things that I can't seem to articulate myself.

don't you feel better about life now? don't you just want to get up and dance?

LOVE IT!

have you seen these?

2008-11-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

after writing my post about my election experience... and after buying time and people magazines today... i'm inspired after watching some of the speeches i'd forgotten about.

(After he won Iowa.)

(Obama's speech on race.)

(After he won the nomination.)
(hillary's concession speech... i sobbed. probably female guilt. i <3 her.)

A moment in history.

2008-11-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

I've been putting off writing this blog post for a few days. I needed to gather my thoughts on the history that was made. I guess I should have written this on Tuesday at 11 p.m because my thoughts are still not going to come out in any coherent manner. (Also... I'm writing this post mostly so that I can remember all of my thoughts and feelings at the exact moment... so if it seems boring, I apologize.)

My experience with this election started long ago. Back in 2004 I can remember sitting at a friend's house and getting my first glimpse at Barack Obama. He was speaking at the 2004 DNC (who doesn't remember this speech?) I can vividly remember asking myself... Who is this guy? His oratory skills are unreal. amazing ideas! He's not afraid to go "there."

At that point in my life I was just realizing that I was a Democrat. Thank God for my parents. My dad had been asking me for years what I thought about issues. It's nothing for us to sit in our living room and debate the death penalty, welfare, the war in Iraq, etc You name it, we've talked about it. My dad's a die hard conservative (who once told me jokingly that the worst thing I could ever be was a Dem) and although my mom votes issue by issue, she had always told both my brother and I to develop our own ideas. But that's a different post for a different day...

So here I was, a Dem. I went off to college in the autumn of 2004 and watched John Kerry lose an election. Most people saw it coming. Over the next few years I became even more concerned with what was going on in our country. Being a news junkie became a way of life. Internally I struggled with my own ideas on what was going on in the world... how did I feel about the wars? How did I feel about abortion? How did I feel about No Child Left Behind?

After 2 summers in D.C. I had a great appreciation for government in general. My second summer with LA proved to be transformative in my outlook on life especially in the areas of social justice. How could we stand by and allow our government to give rights to some and not to others? How was it okay that there had never been a president that didn't fit the male, white, wealthy mold? And more importantly, why had I never considered this before?

During that summer I can remember talking to one of my co-workers about the upcoming election. I was talking about how impressed I was with Sen. Obama's ideas and poise. She replied with this: "Well that will never happen." I asked her why and she just kept repeating that there was no way that he'd be elected. "It just won't be possible." "Don't get your hopes up" she told me. How could she be so cynical about it? Here was a man that she may not agree with, but to just slough off the idea of the first African American president seemed so irrational to me.

I came back to campus that fall and I became more and more excited about the future. Although I liked Hillary, Barack was my main man. Over time, I realized that my good friend Jim (who had supported Bush in 2004) was starting to really get into Obama as well. That winter we decided to get involved in the primary campaign. We painted signs, helped at rallies, and even got to shake Sen Obama's hand as well as Michelle Obama's hand. Michelle even gave Jim a hug (because he was a republican. ugh. That would not be the last time Jim got the best treatment from the campaign for being a conservative supporter.)

Obama lost the primary, but went on to win the nomination. As I sat and watched the speech he made that night, I cried. We had completed the first part. Now it was on to November.

That summer Jim got to go to Denver for free. You can read all about it here. He got to meet a zillion Dems (including OPRAH.) I was so jealous, I'll be honest.

Then came the countdown to November 4th. I came addicted to the news. I developed my favorite CNN anchors, correspondents, and pundits. I started checking realclearpolitics.com and NYTimes.com religiously. Anything I could read, I did. I was obsessed.

Then came November 4th. I was mostly nervous throughout the day. All I wanted to do was go home and watch the news. Alas, I had class and I had to focus on that for the day. That night I had friends over to watch the results. We watched as each state's returns came in. I was thrilled to see both OH and FL go blue pretty early. Once PA and OH went for Obama I knew it was over. Still, I didn't get excited until 11 p.m.

At that moment, when CNN projected that Barack Obama would be the next President of the United States, I was silent. Oh my God. It was really happening. I got text messages and phone calls immediately. I watched the crowd in Grant Park go nuts and wished more than anything that I could be there to celebrate with the masses. I watched McCain's concession speech (which I thought was great... very respectful) and waited for President Elect Obama to take the stage.

When he, along with Michelle, Sasha, and Malia, entered the stage I felt a chill go down my spine. In fact, chills went down my spine throughout the entire speech. The way that he talked about the 106 year old in Atlanta making her way to the polling booth was unreal. All of the history she had seen; the progress she had witnessed.

More importantly, I thought of how my kids will never know a time when it wasn't possible for a person who didn't fit the presidential mold to make it. It's cliche, but I was struck by how much HOPE this brought to the country.

In the coming days, weeks, months, and years, I cannot wait to see how the presidency plays out. I hope that he fulfills all of the expectations that have been placed on him (although that will be no short task) and I hope that he can bring the country together. We are so divided at this point and I hope that the American people can come together to support our new, history making president.

It seemed so unlikely four years ago, but after a process that transformed so much about our ideas, our politics, and our country, there are only three words that can sum up the fight:

Yes we did.

my fam came down to GA

2008-11-06T07:45:00.001-08:00

last week (amidst the excitement over jess getting engaged) my family came to GA! my dad couldn't make the trip because of work (boo) but my grandma ducky, mom, and brother all came down for four nights. it was wooooonderful to see them.

we ate, shopped, and then ate some more. we frequented some athens favorites like zim's, mama's boy, mellow mushroom, five guys, etc. i think i ate my caloric intake for the entire month in one weekend.

we also got to see my old roommate and bff, meg. it was her birthday on friday so we went and did lunch and an impromptu party in atlanta on saturday. we went to taqueria del sol (mmmm.) we even found a cute little bakery to get her a cake at. then we went to perimeter to shop. get it? eat, shop, eat? typical.

on sunday morning we went out for breakfast with some of my friends from grad school. we got to see christy, brad, Sam,, and Sam's parents!, jason, and kevin! it was such a good time. mama's boy is a-mazing.

my mom loves all of the little shops and restaurants that fill athens. it's really one of my favorite things, too. there in no shortage of character in this town, that's for sure.

so thanks, mom, grandma, and seth for coming all the way down here. your love, support, and interest never seem to stop amazing me.

xoxo.

my best friend.

2008-11-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

this is my best friend.

isn't she pretty? she's one of my favorite people in the world. we've been friends since before we can remember. in fact, my dad and her dad graduated in the same year. her mom graduated the year after that. all from carlisle. we used to live down the street from one another and that's when we became friends. no matter how far away from one another we live, we still have an unexplained bond. i count her as my sister.

a few years ago she met josh. this is josh.

isn't he handsome? they met when they both worked at the hospital. josh thought jess was really cute and put her at the top of his "cutest girls in the hospital" list. dreams come true, i guess. he's a really kind and funny guy. the perfect match for jess.

last friday he proposed. they are going to get married. i just can't believe it. her ring is pretty. gorgeous, really. i wish i could upload a pic of it too but i can't figure this phone out.

i can't wait for their wedding. marrying off my sister won't be easy, but to a guy like him it seems natural.

i know i know.

2008-11-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

i've been an awful blogger for the past two weeks. i'm going to make up for it today, though. i'm going to write my pants off! soooo much has been going on in GA and back home that i must share with the world.

something to look forward to.

2008-10-26T15:59:00.001-07:00

nothing makes me happier or more giddy than a new harry potter movie. after all, it's all we have to look forward to in regards to HP at this point.

turning point?

2008-10-23T14:38:00.001-07:00

this week marks a turning point in my time at georgia. (or so i hope.)

i'm feeling more like myself this week than i have in a while. maybe it has something to do with the weather finally cooling down. whatever it is, i'm liking it.

this weekend is going to be grrrreat. tonight i'm going to dinner with some of my friends. tomorrow i'm going to do some work in the morning, get my hair cut and colored, and catch a movie with my friends. then i need to focus and get to work on some big assignments that are due in the coming weeks.

saturday i'm meeting up with meg, her sister, and her nieces and nephews at a pumpkin/apple farm in the morning. then going to christy/sam/lizzie's to watch football for the remainder of the day.

now that i'm actually looking at all of the stuff i have to do i'm getting a little nervous...

ah, well. it'll all work out. it always does.

my cohort

2008-10-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

here's a visual of my cohort (everyone except for catie)

"he better win."

2008-10-19T11:39:00.001-07:00

this is a phrase that comes out of jim's mouth almost too often to count. usually it comes up after obama gets another big endorsement (like colin powell this morning) or maybe after a new poll comes out that shows he's up big in a swing state. or in our case... while we're talking on the phone after jim has just sat in the second row at the dnc the night that obama gave his acceptance speech. nonetheless, it has become a mantra of sorts.

reasons why "he better win?" 1. the two of us will never hear the end of it if he doesn't. 2. this country needs steady and smart change.

i'll leave it at that.

going to enjoy the beautiful mid-october georgia weather.

all the mavericks in the house put your hands up!

2008-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

if you haven't seen these you need to watch immediately!

2008-10-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

McCain's roast of Obama...

And Obama's response...

I love that they were able to make fun of each other and themselves! This made my entire morning.

leprechaun in alabama.

2008-10-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

HYSTERICAL.

the drawing? he wants the gold? given to him a thousand years ago by his great great grandfather? too much.

home (we'll try this post again.)

2008-10-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, you'll remember I was so excited to be going home. My trip home was A-MAZING and I felt so rejuvenated when I got back... like I could actually do this whole grad school "thing." While I was home I got to go back to Cbus to see some of my beautiful friends. It was incredibly hard (read: I had a meltdown) when I had to leave them. But I guess it does feel good to know that Columbus can still function without me. :)

I also got to spend some much needed time with my family and my friends from Carlisle. It was homecoming in Carlisle so I got to see some of my friends from high school while also being able to see my brother play football. He also had the homecoming dance so he had to get all dressed up and take a zillion pictures. He loved every minute of it.

Then on Sunday morning my entire family (on my mom's side) got together for a morning brunch. It was the greatest time. We all ate way too much, talked and laughed loudly, and genuinely enjoyed one another's company. I love it when we can all get together. While some people look at seeing their family as a chore, I'm happy to report that I am the complete opposite. I totally look forward to it.

Here are a few pics from the weekend:
Dad, Seth, Mom, and I.

Mom getting ready to give Seth a kiss on the cheek. If only the picture had been taken .1 seconds later! ugh.

lmao.

2008-10-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

i literally laughed out loud when i saw this.

Check out Brad's post

2008-10-09T20:25:00.001-07:00

I wanted to post about this early this week but I couldn't figure out a good way to put my words together. So instead of working on my writing skills, I will direct you to Brad's blog to read a post that said exactly what I wanted to say. Check it out.

it's raining in georgia.

2008-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

I should have known that today would be a little off as soon as I woke up this morning. You see, this morning when I woke up, it was raining. It rained while I got ready, rained while I drove to school, rained while I waited for the bus, it just rained rained rained and it's STILL raining. This might seem abnormal to the average person (I know if I were in Ohio I wouldn't think twice) but in Georgia there's been a HUGE drought over the past few years. So when it rains in Georgia, people react the same way they do when it rains in Pheonix: they look up to the sky with amazement.

I guess I should back up. I've been mulling over some "stuff" for the past few days/weeks. I've been homesick. I've been lonely. I've been needing my friends more than ever. I guess you could say I'm finally realizing this transition I've been in the midst of. Georgia is no longer a temporary place for me. For the next two years, it's my home.

So dealing with this revelation along with my first two midterms of grad school and a looming doctor's appointment were weighing on my mind. See? I should have known it would all blow open when I saw that today... it was raining in Georgia. (edit: it's POURING in Georgia.)

So it all sort of came to blows today when I went to my doctor's appointment. Prior to going I got a call (not bad... actually very friendly) from a guy that always makes me a little emotional... Then I got to the doctor's appointment and all hell broke loose. I was prepared for one thing and she ended up wanting to do another. It (I) fell apart. Right there in the room. While I was talking to the doctor.

Something that should not have made me upset (maybe a little frustrated... but no tears were necessary) suddenly opened the floodgates. I apologized profusely and we were able to get back on track, but at that moment I was President, VP, Secretary, and founding member of the Hot Mess Club.

Interestingly enough, though, I feel so much better now. I feel like I'm de-stressed and ready to take on the next challenge. I feel as though maybe I've come to terms with the things that were building up. Or maybe I just recognized that it was there. Nevertheless, I felt the release.

Also... and this has nothing to do with the tears or the rain... I FINALLY got my absentee ballot today! I am SO excited. :)

So with that, I think I'm going to go lay in my bed, listen to the rain, and read. After all, rain doesn't come too often around here.

love it.

2008-10-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

I love this post from postsecret. It reminds me of a lot of my great girl friends. :)

it's the small things.

2008-10-05T07:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was in a horrible mood until the Buckeyes came on. They won, then I watched SNL (of course Tina Fey was back... so that made my night.) And then one of my BFFs from OSU called me and was HYSTERICAL (I will name no names.)

I know I've been a horrible blogger this past week... and to be honest I won't be much of one until after Midterms are over (well the first round anyway) by the middle of this week. Until then... I leave you with Tina Fey.

Baracktober.

2008-10-02T22:05:00.001-07:00

My friend Gent has coined this October "Baracktober." I'm not sure if she came up with the term or not (I would not be surprised) but I love it nonetheless.

After watching the debate tonight I am believing more and more that this campaign has seen its turning point. McCain's stunt last week (he suspended his campaign to deal with the Republicans in the House) has back fired. People are starting to get it. I've chatted with several people lately who have had their "light bulb" moments. I love it.

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE DO SO NOW. Go to declareyourself.com for all of your voting needs (change of address, registering, absentee info.) If you don't register by today (Fri) in some states you're relinquishing your ability to have a say on November 4th. I don't care who you vote for (well that's a lie) or where you vote... just vote!

She did it again!

2008-09-28T19:48:00.001-07:00

I somehow missed the opening of SNL last night (I saw the rest)and didn't realize that Tina Fey was back! This made my entire Sunday night!

p.s. I'll write about this weekend sometime tomorrow.

LA

2008-09-24T20:26:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, I've worked for a company (let's call it LA) for several years. I started working there the summer after my sophomore year of college and have worked every summer and spring since (in a variety of capacities.)

The other day after I had skyped with my friend Maddy, I started thinking about all that it has given me.

1. The company has given me the opportunity to travel FOR FREE. I've spent two summers and a few weeks each spring in D.C. I've also traveled to California to see San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose. Being young and broke 99% of the time I know that without LA I would never have gotten the opportunity to travel to such fun places. I think about all of the culture I've experienced as a result and I get even more excited.

2. I've learned to deal with whatever life throws me professionally. I can multitask with the best of them. I can deal with parents. I can deal with students. I can work on almost no sleep (actually I can work for days at a time with little-to-no sleep.) I have learned a zillion other little things and now that I have I feel that I can roll with the punches at any job.

3. This opportunity has given me some of my very best friends. The bond you build at LA is unlike any other. I once heard someone describe it as going on the show "Survivor" because you're held on a college campus for 8 weeks, working like crazy, and all you have is one another. While that seems outrageous, it's a pretty accurate description. When we have reunions it's as though nothing changes. We love to get as little sleep as possible in order to enjoy one another's company for as long as possible. I just love it.

This post could never do justice to what I feel and believe about the wonderful people I've met through LA. There is never a day that I don't think about someone I know through the LA experience. They always understand me like no one else and I feel that I can go to them with any problem (er... opportunity?) and they will listen, console, laugh, and support.

I love each one of them with my entire heart.

Thanks, LeadU.

home tomorrow.

2008-09-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night I will sleep in Carlisle. The next day I will get to see some of my very best friends. The entire weekend I get to see my family. I couldn't ask for more.

I probably won't blog while I'm home but I'm sure I'll have tons to say when I get back!

have you ever read post secret?

2008-09-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

www.postsecret.com

This is a site that was started several years ago... Millions send their secrets to this one specific address and then Frank, the creator, picks 20 secrets out to put on the site every week. Some are sad, some are funny, some are outrageous. But it truly does help a lot of people feel like they're not alone. He updates every Sunday so it's always something to look forward to.

Here are a few of my favs this week:

See? Funny. Sad. At the very least they make you think.

work. work. work.

2008-09-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

Last night I got off work at.... 4:30 in the morning. "WHAT?!" you ask? Yes. It's true. We had a Dawgs After Dark in the rec center here at UGA and we had to wait for all of the stuff to be packed up. It took a little longer to expected and one of the employees for the company we use had a seizure while working so that ended up also delaying things as well. (He's ok!)

So needless to say... I'm tired. Really tired.

I'll leave you with a pic from last week... It's of one of my new BFFs, Christy, and I from a birthday party. We had a great time!

ben was here. :)

2008-09-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

My friend Ben came to visit this weekend. We had a great time. On Thursday we went to dinner in Atlanta with his good friend (who was also an Alpha Gam) and her husband. We went to Six Feet Under. DELICIOUS. Great view of the city, great seafood, fun atmosphere. Loved it.

On Friday we got up and went downtown to get coffee and check out some of the shops. We went and got sushi for lunch. It was a beautiful day in Georgia... warm but no humidity (what a concept!) We had a wonderful time enjoying Athens!

Come back, Benji!

things that i am looking forward to...

2008-09-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

1. Benji visiting on Thursday! i am so excited to have one of my bffs Ben here on Thursday night. I'm going to meet him in Atlanta to have dinner with his friend Rachel and then come back here to Athens for the night and for the day on Friday. Yay! He will be my very first visitor. I have so much to do before he gets here (clean, hang pictures, etc.)

2. Going HOME next week. On Thursday I fly out and on Friday I make my return to Columbus. I'm only going to be there for the day so I don't have much time... That being said I get to see 3 of the people who mean the absolute world to me: Jim, Abby, and Amanda. I'll be sure to take pics. I also get to see my family and plenty of my hometown friends and on Sunday my mom's side of the family is getting together for an enormous breakfast. I cannot wait! The last time they did this I wasn't in OH and I heard it was sooo much fun. This time I wouldn't miss it!

3. The power coming back on in OH. If you haven't heard, Gustav sort of screwed over Ohio too. There are major power outages that have stopped my hometown in its tracks. My brother didn't have school today and won't tomorrow either. My dad went in to work today and they sent him home because they were being forced to turn off the water. Luckily (or unluckily?) my mom's office did have electricty and water so she was able to go in. Gov. Strickland has declared a state of emergency. It's just crazy!

4. Knowing where my practicum, internship, and future job placement will be. If you know me well you know I am a planner at heart. I hate the unknown, I love to make lists, I love to plan my future. For the past 24 hours I've been trying to figure out what I can be doing to make myself more marketable to future employers while also trying to figure out where my true interests lie. Couple this with the fact that I am trying to find money to pay for my rent over the summer so I don't have to completely move all of this stuff out and you can definitely spell s-t-r-e-s-s. I know I know... I haven't even acclimated to the city and my current job... how can I worry about future ones already? I don't know poeple. I just do.

So much work to do... And so much procrastination going on...

the highlight of my weekend...

2008-09-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

this was definitely the highlight of my weekend. a few weeks ago (when they originally announced she was going to be the candidate) my friend holly suggested that tina fey play sarah palin... and she was right! i was literally laughing out loud as i watched this. whatever your political views you must agree that it's uncanny how much they look alike! tina fey pulls of the accent and the mannerisms (and gets a few good jabs in there too. :) )

enjoy! and happy monday!

OSU vs USC

2008-09-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Today is THE day.

Watch this to get you in the mood.

GO BUCKS! :)

HOME!

2008-09-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

So... over the past week or so I was battling a pretty intense case of homesickness. Well... I guess it wasn't that intense but I was homesick nonetheless.

SOOOO...

I've decided to go back home for a weekend! Hooray! I'll be flying back to OH on September 25 and coming back here on the following Sunday (the 28th.) So far my plans are:

Fri: breakfast with Amanda, lunch with Jim, hang out with Abby. Brother's football game that night!
Sat: Go to brother's JV game and then see him off to the homecoming dance. :)
Sun: Hang until I leave for GA.

I hope to see you if you're back at home!

okay... better get it out there.

2008-09-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

I'm a Dem. Did you know?

A prochoicegetthehelloutofiraqgivegaysrightseveryoneneedshealthinsurance Democrat.

The thing about it is this... if you're a Dem too, great. If you're not a Dem, great. I get it. You have your opinions and I have mine.

But what I won't stand for is for being told that I "just don't get it." Or that I'm "naive." And no... I'm definitely not "confused." (That's my Dad's fav way of telling me that my views are wrong. He's kidding... sort of. :) )

I am educated about the issues. I read. A lot. I watch the news. A lot. Am I an expert? No. But do I know what I believe and why? Yes.

I am SICK and TIRED of getting laughed at in a condescending tone. I hear the whispers... "why does she like him so much?" The rolling of the eyes and the shaking of the head. It's gotten old, folks. Really, really old.

November 4th can't get here fast enough.

I'm a sucker for...

2008-09-10T19:41:00.001-07:00

courtesy of www.postsecret.com

There's nothing I love more than a good "feel good" story. You know... the kind community organizers tend to be a part of.

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T...

2008-09-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

... do you know what that means? (this is in reference to a rap song. listen to it here.)

Well it's been a while. Once a day I think to myself that I need to update... I formulate posts in my mind... but I always forget. So here goes...

1. School. So far it's been really great. I always say that my classes are like free therapy. We talk about theories and student development and then apply the things we learn to ourselves. When I say "we" I mean my cohort. There are 16 of us that all come from very different perspectives. It's an interesting dynamic... we're all so different yet very similar. Here's a rundown of the cohort:

Me: Recent grad from OSU (obviously.) Assistantship: University Union
Lori: Graduated from Rome College (it's in GA) and worked as a staffing recruiter for several years before returning to school. Assistanship: Pandora (the yearbook.)
Christy: Graduated from Texas A&M and traveled for Kappa Delta for a year. Assistantship: Arch Society in the Center for Leadership and Service.
Brad: Graduated from Rhodes College and worked at Christian Brothers University for a few years in admissions. Assistanship: Dawg Camp in the Center for Leadership and Service.
Kevin: Graduated from Indiana University and worked for Golden Key National Honor Society. Assistantship: Leadership Resource Team.
Samantha: Graduated from University of Pittsburgh. Traveled as a consultant for Kappa Delta. Assistantship: Greek Life
Lindsey Ann: Graduated from Clemson. Assistantship: Greek Life at Georgia Tech.
Larry: Graduated from Georgia Southern. Assistantship: Volunteer Services at Georgia Tech.
Danielle: Graduated from University of Florida. Assistantship: Housing.
Will: Graduated from Indiana University. Worked for a small methodist school in Minnesota. Assistantship: Housing.
Bonnie: Graduated from Elon University. Assistantship: Housing.
Caleb: Graduated from Millikin University. Worked there in housing. Assistantship: Academic initiatives in housing.
Catie: Graduated from Georgia Tech. Worked for Georgia Tech for a few years. Assistantship: Career Services at Georgia Tech (I think.)
Amy: Graduated from the College of Wooster. Worked in Chicago at a university. Assistantship: Something at Gainsville State.
Dawn: Graduated from University of Central Florida. Assistantship: Int'l Student Services?
Jason: Graduated from California State University at Chico. Assistantship: Alumni Society working with undergraduate initiatives.

There we are. A really really great group.

2. Work. Work is work. But it's really fun. Everyone I work with are incredibly laid back. My bosses are all about making sure that I understand the culture of Union. Our students are amazing. They're hard working and have great attitudes. So far I've had the opportunity to work a movie preview, a comedy show, a Dawgs After Dark, and a lecture event. It's been pretty fun so far. It can drag at times... but I have confidence that it will get better. I guess I should enjoy the down time.

3. Friends. There are some members of my cohort that I've instantly become close to. The entire Campus Life crew (Lori, Christy, Kevin, Brad) have become close and I've loved that. Pretty soon we're all moving into new offices and we'll be so close to one another! We're pumped. Last night I had Christy, Kevin, and Sam over for dinner and it was so nice to be able to have other people in my apartment (more about my apt in a minute.) Last week Brad and I spent the afternoon laying in the sun while I was dog sitting for my boss and it was nice to actually talk to someone about something more than a theory in class. My relationships here are really coming together.

4. My apartment. I still love it. It's coming together more and more. I put together an entire dresser for ikea by myself this past weekend and I've been putting together pictures to go up on the walls. As soon as they're done I'll take pics and put them up.

5. OSU. I miss osu more than anything. Every time I see anything scarlet and grey, anytime I see something about buckeye football. Any time my professor mentions osu (two of them got their PhDs there) I almost lose it. I finally watched the OSU vs Michigan HBO special and I was a mess by the end. I was by myself and crying like I had lost a friend. But I guess that's the thing about OSU... it's been my romantic involvement for the past 4 years. My one true relationship.

6. Jimbo. Yes... my BFF Jim got to go to Denver for free because of the Obama campaign. The opportunity was unreal. He got to meet Obama and talk to him before he gave his acceptance speech. He got to be a VIP at all of the big events. And right before he left Denver... he got to meet Oprah. He was living my liberal dream. He got to go because he won a competition the campaign held called "Backstage with Barack." Google it and read about it. So so so cool.

7. Politics. Well... that deserves an entire post. I'll post about it later. promise. Just know that I've watched more CNN lately than is probably healthy. And NO. I don't like Sarah Palin.

I promise to update more. So keep checking (well... it may just be my mom reading... but she'll check back.)

All my love from GA,
Daph

bored bored bored bored

2008-08-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

Thus far there's nothing to do in GA. Well... I guess that's not quite true.

Let me start over...

I'm bored in Georgia because I have no money. If I had money there would be plenty to do. These things include:
1. Finish my bedroom. As in... buy a headboard/footboard and perhaps a dresser.
2. Go to ATL to the Ikea and to see Meg.
3. Go out to the bar with my cohort (although this probably could have been done... but I'm too stressed about it to have a good time.)

So instead of doing any of the above I have:
1. Watched the Olympics.
2. Cried over the Olympics.
3. Window shopped at TJ Maxx (another great thing about my apt location... SO close, maybe even too close, to a TJ Maxx with a Homegoods too. aaah.)
4. Checked the mail a zillion times hoping that my loan check would be within the box. No luck so far.

Tomorrow will be a better day. Of course the mail doesn't run but I'm planning on...
1. Working out.
2. Watching the women's gymnastics.
3. Doing laundry.
4. Cleaning in general.
5. Laying out (because EVERYONE in the south is SOO tan.)

Tomorrow will be a better day... :)

I love ATL. I hate cars.

2008-08-07T12:29:00.001-07:00

The title says it all.

I'll start with the bad: I hate cars. I love the easiness and convenience they bring to my life, but I seem to have the worst luck with them. I've been in 3 wrecks in the 6 years that I've been driving (2 of which were not my fault) and I've had endless repairs and minor issues. Last night when I was leaving Meg's (I'll get there in a minute) I started to drive away only to hear these awful noises when I hit any bump, no matter how minor. This led to calling AAA, waiting for a tow truck, and then driving back to Athens hoping that other drivers wouldn't look at my too weird when I hit little bumps in the highway. It was comical.

Now today, I've dropped my car off across the street and have since been without one. Luckily everything around me is within walking distance and the whole area has sidewalks and is walking friendly or else I'm not sure what I would have done. I would look like a wandering nomad, I suppose.

But alas, the car will be fixed and I will again have convenience in my life. Hopefully I can go another few months without car issues.

Now the good: I cannot tell you how nice it is to know that I can see Meg whenever I want. Meg (as most of you know) is one of my best friends and she just happens to live a little over an hour from me in Atlanta. We lived together for over two years and to say the least we feel extremely comfortable around one another. I know that if I would ever need anything she would be there in a sec to help me (and vice-versa.) How nice. :)

Mom left yesterday. :( I dropped her off at the Atlanta airport before I met up with Meg. I cannot thank her enough for all of the cleaning and buying she did while she was here. Even when she got home last night and all day today she's been helping me with this car mess. I could not do it without my family (even Seth. haha.)

xoxo.

so much done.

2008-08-04T17:48:00.001-07:00

I've gotten so much done in the past 48 hours (mostly due to my mom's driving spirit to know all there is to know about the city.)

1. Got a library card!- This may seem ridiculous but it's not at all to me (a girl who loves to read and is barely getting by.) I could lay and read all day.

2. Opened my bank accounts! The bank here was super helpful and I already feel like I have a better relationship with the people there than I did with the people at my old bank (of which I was a customer for 4+ years.)

3. Figured out where all of the main streets lead and even found a few shortcuts! (self explanatory.) I even found a shortcut to work that takes me right by the Alpha Gam house... it makes me feel a little more at home.

4. Eaten at some great local places! Five Guys Burgers and Fries (which I guess isn't local... but they didn't have it at home so now it's local to me) and a japanese restaurant that had wonderful fried rice.

Tomorrow I plan on going to campus and dropping by where I'll be working (and hopefully grabbing some free garb while I'm there) and laying out by the pool. Kick it.

Mom leaves Wed. :( My parents have been so great throughout this whole thing. It's been a pretty easy transition (so far) and I think this has a lot to do with them.

Well I better go watch Jon and Kate Plus 8... hahahaha.

xoxoxo.

I am in love...

2008-08-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

...with my new apartment. ;-)

Entry

Living Room

Dining Room (the 4th chair is at my desk right now.) (THANKS, AUNT KAYE AND UNCLE STEVE FOR THIS GREAT FURNITURE AND RUG!)

Kitchen

Bedroom (Still mostly unpacked and without a headboard and bedspread... but it's getting there.)

Walk in Closet! My faaaaaav! (Also unpacked and unorganized... project to be finished this week.)

Bathroom (I forgot to take a pic that showed how big it is and how the shower is as big as a regular bathroom but just know that it's wonderful!)

I didn't take pics of the utility room or the patio but both of these areas are also equally as nice... just not very exciting.

It's coming together quickly because my parents are both AMAZING and they've been helping me a ton. Tomorrow Dad goes home :( but Mom is staying until Wednesday. I'm so lucky to have a wonderful family!

I'm sure there will be lots of fun stories to come...

All my love from ATHENS! :)

101 love.

2008-07-30T22:11:00.001-07:00

So at the beginning of last year I was unpacking in my new apartment and came across my magnetic poetry. I also found the "101" magnet and I immediately thought of a zillion adjectives that described the 101st Class of SPHINX. So throughout the year I added, subtracted, etc. to the list and as I was taking it down last weekend I made sure to take a pic. Nothing too exciting but something meaningful to me nonetheless.

I love SPHINX. I have learned so much from each link. I still can't believe our year is over.

101 love.

(Don't know what SPHINX is? Learn here.)

Thanks, Ohio State.

2008-07-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Ohio State for:

1. Teaching me what real tradition is. Mirror Lake, Script Ohio, etc.

2. Giving me the opportunity to grow and become a real, independent adult.

3. Giving me Mount, which gave me the most amazing friends all through college.

4. Giving me USG, which gave me the opportunity to work with a zillion different kinds of people and learn the art of negotiation and patience.

5. Giving me the most amazing mentors I could ever have. So many people have helped me throughout the years.

6. Blessing me with great roommates. Living in 208, on Norwich, and in Hotel RAD has always been a good time.

7. Allowing me to be me. And for figuring out what that meant.

8. For all of the most random nights of my life... :)

9. For giving me Alpha Gam. Which really gave me purpose when I couldn't find any.

10. For allowing me to walk away with absolutely no regrets.

T- less than 36 hours until the great migration begins...

Do you have Skype?

2008-07-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

If not... ask yourself... WHY?!

Over the past few days I've become OBSESSED with it. It's just the most amazing way to keep with up people. It's so simple too. Go to www.skype.com, download the program and install it. All you need from there is a webcam with a built in microphone (you can get them for under $60 at Best Buy... or my mom found them on craigslist today for $10) and you're all set! I have Skype and I'm literally telling anyone who will listen about it.

Bottom line: Do it. And then tell me about it.

Giving it another whirl...

2008-07-10T21:22:00.001-07:00

So I've tried this blogging stuff once before. It didn't go over well because I really had no reason to write other than the fact that I wanted to document my life for myself. But now, since I'm moving and I want to try to keep my family and friends in the loop, I'm trying it again. So here goes nothing...