Home sweet home!

It feels so great to be back at school!! Everything pretty much picked up from right where it left off. Except instead of everyone looking tired and run-down from finals, everyone is refreshed and totally full of life again. I think that our break gave everyone the down time they needed to get back to the swing of things again. I, for one, dove right back in. I even gave a tour to transfer students on first day dorms were open. It was really fun and a great oppertunity to get to know some new faces. And the weather was perfect. low 70's and sunny! I'm sure the transfer students must have been thinking, "Phew... I made the right choice. My tourguide is able to wear a skirt and t-shirt in january!" I know that's what I was thinking.

So I was able to unpack before my tour and really get organized. I even went to the bookstore and got my books/school supplies for the semester. It was such a productive morning. After my tour I laid in my bed, trying to take a nap, but really just basking in the fact that I was back in my room. My roommate and I had a good bonding sesh too! Meanwhile everyone on my floor was coming back... very exciting to reunite Mo8! Later on I went to Bruff. I actually missed it while I was gone so my early bird special/very late lunch was very delicious! Bruff was repainted and everything. It looks so revamped. AND, among other things, there is a new pannini maker (adds a little something special to your average turkey sandwich!).

After lounging around some more, my friends and I got together for our very postponed secret santa. It was very fun... and for the most part we were all very secretive and sneaky about our gifts. I loved my gift!! I got a gorgeous silk top from J. Crew (very stylish) and the cutest black headband with a bow on it. My secret santa nailed it! It was the perfect gift. Afterward all of us secret santas went out to the Boot to see everyone else who had just arrived back in the NO (New Orleans). It was so fun to catch up with everyone and hear how their breaks had gone. It was a very relaxing night.

The next day I had class. And I have to tell y'all... I LOVE all of my classes. I got so lucky with my teachers. But I picked up an extra class (International Relations... so interesting) and dropped British Literature II (I'm sad, but no one signed up for it this semester so I'm going to take it next semester) which means I have one class on friday. Still, not too shabby of a schedule if I do say so myself. And my professors are awesome. All full of energy, all passionate about their subject matters. My political science professors are awesome because they are also very much involved in the field (outside of teaching). My American Government professor actually works for NOPD. It's really interesting.

So that is how my first week is going. Tomorrow is the Spring Activities Expo. I'm really psyched for that as well.

Some other things to look forward to: Mardi Gras lacrosse tournament, Sorority Rush, and, last but most definitely not least, MARDI GRAS!

Stay tuned!

Break Flew By...

I feel like it was just yesterday that I took my last final (Religion and Politics) and hailed a cab to take me to the airport. And now I have less than a week left until classes begin! And as sad as I am to leave my friends and family, I could not be more excited to get back to Tulane. I miss everything about school and I miss everything about New Orleans! Basically, the break was timed perfectly... I enjoyed every minute of it... and I'm ready from break to end. I actually even miss studying and doing school work. TRUST ME when I say that I loathed having work on my vacations on through high shcool, but not having any kind of academic worry or care in the world for a whole month is too much to handle. I'm going crazy!

Anyway... a quick update on the events of my life. Mountain Lakes has been pretty low key... lots of sleeping, watching movies, shopping, and working out. VERY EXCITING. I went to Cincinnati for Christmas to visit my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousin... a very tradition... always fun. I came back a few days before New Years and I got to see Stacey from Tulane... she lives about 30 minutes away. It was so fun to see her. We had a slumber party. We're such party animals.

On New Years I went to see my friend Jackie.. who I have known since the summer we met in 6th grade at Camp Birch Hill. She also lives really, really close to Mountain Lakes. It was so refreshing to see her. We don't get to talk as much as I would like, but it's nice to know that we can always pick back up right where we left off when we get together.



A few days later I went to Florida for my sister's basketball tournament (Mere that goes to Colby. She plays basketball there and is, if I do say so myself, AMAZING!). Florida was so much fun! We had such a large family clan down there. We represented quite well. To the right is a picture of some of my family and some of Meredith's team out to dinner on the first night. Notice... I am not tan because the weather was so crumby! Of course on the day that we leave, it's 80 and sunny. Just my luck! Nonetheless it was so wonderful to see my sister play basketball. I haven't seen her play since last season!! I miss her so much because she's back at school and I'm here in Jersey (boring!).

This is Meredith (Blue). She is going to hate me for putting this picture up... but I had to. I'm her biggest fan. And I just learned how to put pictures on my blog... so I'm going a little picture crazy. Mere made that shot, by the way. No big deal.

In other news, my roommate, Katherine, came over to my house last night after a long afternoon of shopping at The Mall at Short Hills, or what I like to call, the mecca of all shopping places. It was so good to see her and she got me so excited for this coming weekend... when we reunite at Tulane!!!!

I'll let you guys how my first week is back at school. I'm anticipating a very, very busy return. Still, I'm so psyched for my classes. I'm taking American Government, Brit Lit II, E. Bio (not too happy about that.. but at least I'm getting my lab science requirement out of the way), and Spanish. And I love my schedule too. I don't have class on fridays... which means a relaxing 3 day weekend. Am I lucky or what?

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Happy 2008.