Cheers

Want to meet my new friends?  We've been living it up this past week because we know that very soon we may not have a lot of freedom.

What have we been up to?

Sushi Dates

We found a young salesman and made him take us all over the city. He took us to this place.  He was 5'2.

Here I am showing love for my city. 

Oh and here I am being attacked (for those concerned I wasn't actually attacked, I was trying to escape, and I do have a rape whistle) by a man in a white unitard. This was my escape move.  My friends look concerned...

Being cute

See, our foundation is already strong.

 So who are these people.

The Roomie: my "little billikin". She never leaves me out.  She even took me along to meet all of her college friends.  We've done lots of snuggling and "Just Dance" dancing.  And laughing.  And story-telling.  Such a sweetheart.
Snookie: Or snooks. (For the older group this is a reference to a show called Jersey Shore.  This is the ultimate compliment for my friend)  My Massachusetts friend.  She is so funny and doesn't even try.  Her giggle is so cute.
Dr. Love: She has this name for many reasons.  One being that she is actually working on my personal life and two it is part of her name.  She is a mixture between Chelsea Handler and Kathy Griffin. So our interactions are classic because we can bounce things back and forth. She is from Connecticut.
Jooge: or Juju. She is from the great state of MO.  She went to Emory and was a college swimmer.  She likes dogs...a lot.
Meister: so precious.  She has the sweetest laugh. She is from Illinois.  Her boyfriend's family has a qualifying picture for the website, awkward family photos.  Believe me, it should already be on there. She always looks so cute.  Mega-watt smile.
B: our little free spirit and vegetarian.  Possibly the most laid back person I've ever met.  Very go with the flow and super easy to talk to.  The first night we met we learned we share the same taste in music, so she's good in my book from here on out.

So can you guess who is who?  I bet you can. 

You asked for it

Ok here they are.  Some pictures from my apartment!  They aren't the best quality because they were taken on my phone, but you'll get the picture.  Plus, I expect all of you to visit so you'll see it for yourself.

Living Area:

Kitchen:

My Bathroom:

The Bedroom:

The View:

So there you go. 

Hope you like it!

Out of the Land of Y'all

Hello my blog people!

I am HERE in the Big City.  I can't believe it.  I've been here for almost a week and things have been incredible so far.  I KNOW you are just dying to see pictures of my apartment but you won't see them tonight.  I know, I know.  We just got internet and cable yesterday, so can that be my excuse?  I just wanted to tell you what I LOVE about my city.  In no particular order....

1. The Weather
I do realize this makes me sound like I am nearly 100 years old but it is amazing.  Everyone complains about humidity and I've tried to tell them that this is mild.  NOTHING compared to the sweltering heat of Memphis.  We sit outside almost every night.  I can walk around during the day in jeans.  I can even exercise outside during the "heat of the day" and not risk my life.  Not to mention, it's 65 degrees out there right now.  Jealous?

2. Transportation
I walk.  Everywhere.  I drove my car today for the first time since I got here and that was only to go to the store.  Everything is convenient.

3. The People
I am surprised every day by how friendly everyone is.  (But on the flip side, you can cut someone off in traffic and there's no issue but God forbid you do not immediately hit the gas when a light turns green...you don't even want to know what happens next)  My "people watching" quota is met every day.  I live in a pretty eclectic area so there is always plenty to observe.

4. The Soda/Coke Debacle
Everyone here says soda (a few people say pop).  I am fine with that but I refuse to say it.  It's not the fact that it's "soda" it's the fact that it becomes "sowwwwdaaa"...when pronounced "correctly" by a native.  I just can't allow myself to open my nasal passage in that way in order to make the correct production.  So it's Coke y'all.

5. Y'all and Speaking in General
I LOVE using y'all here....and speaking in general.  Everyone loves my voice.  I have been told I sound "so country" many times.  It's special to hear that.  People just listen so intently, laugh when I say y'all, and ask me to repeat things constantly.  I do feel like I need a translator from time to time...especially with my East Coast friends.

6. Hair Gel and Cargo Shorts
Wowie Zowie.  The man scene is unlike any other.  A species of their own, if you will.  The past four years I have been around blazers, button downs, a polo here and there...but not this.  Little hair spikes (apparently appropriate in the front like you ran into a door or all over the head) and faux hawks greet me at every turn.  It's impossible to escape.  And cargo shorts (nuff said).  I especially love a spiked head wearing cargo shorts (in an Affliction Tee)...that's my limit.

7. My Friends
Can you believe I just said that?  I have friends here people!  My sweet (adorable, lovely, funny, beautiful, courteous....on and on and on (she reads the blog :))) roomie took me out on the town Saturday.  I met all of her college friends and had a blast.  Sunday we met some people from our class/the partner program.  We had a party and the people who stayed until the wee hours of the morning have become my group.  It's seven of us.  All from different backgrounds and places.  We've done trivia, had coffee, shared meals, had a dinner party HERE, gone out, harassed a hairy chested man, danced at Bar Italia (more appropriately named Bar Africa-India), sang karaoke in the sketchiest place ever (rivaled Hollywood Disco), gone to the movies in the coolest hotel, and just talked.  I've had so much fun and I feel so lucky to have already made such a neat connection with these girls.

There is so much more.  It has been an easy transition so far.  I have been so surprised.  I start orientation tomorrow and school starts next week.  I have just had an overwhelming sense of peace since I've been here and I owe that to some many people...but most of all to Him.

Settling in to the Land of "Yowu Guyssss"

Packed

Mercy.  I am all practically packed up.  Well at least, every thing that needs to be on the truck is...on the truck.  A lot of the clothes are still in the closet but I know some good helpers that will get them downstairs with me. 

Its been a lonnnnnng day.  It is my poor daddy's birthday and he has helped me all day long.  If there's one thing he's good for it's heavy lifting.  I'll save the packing story for the day that I share about my apartment but let me just tell you....we went today to get the 10 ft. truck for my move.  Welllll the Budget people only had a 16 ft. truck but told us that they wouldn't charge us for the additional 6 ft.  Well, are you going to pay for the difference in gas?!  Duh...that's a no.  But what did we find out?  Oh yeah, definitely needed the 16 footer.  Embarrassing?  Slightly.

I had a surprise email this week from a sweet friend.  I think she knew I was full of anticipation.  She quoted Christopher Robin and Dr. Seuss.  Definitely a boost. :)  And then a few originals that I know will also be encouraging to a few of you out there.

Words of Wisdom

1. Do your best

2. Make friends with your neighbor

3. Mind your p's and q's

4. Be yourself

You are really going to be a natural because you are naturally an individual.  You have been working towards this since you had a little muffin cut (it was actually a skater cut and this part only applies to me...sorry :)) and were in Mrs. So and So's class in kindergarten.  You have everything you need.  All the tools to succeed are already packed and ready to go.  So get up and go.

You know who you are.  Thank you.  I love you. 

Everything is packed.

I'm ready.

5 days

This weekend I got to move the sister into the dorm again.  I was eagerly anticipating her move because it meant I got to go to Oxford.  I would get to see my white house and some familiar faces.  I was so pumped.  My plan was to head down Friday and get one more night out on the town....but it didn't work out.  My plans fell through and I would be lying if I didn't say I was more than a little disappointed. 

When we got there Saturday I felt at home but oddly displaced.  The move wasn't for me.  This visit wasn't about me.  None of my friends were there.  I was amongst all of the sophomores who were looking at me like, "Who the heck are you?".  That felt awesome.  A stranger in my place.

This was weird for me but also a good thing.  I'm done there.  I really know that now.  It's scary knowing that I'll never be the "me" that I am right now again but it's also very exciting to get to know the new "me". 

But, in 5 days I will start getting to know her.  The move in imminent.  Still have a ton of packing to do but everything is lined up and ready to go.

Ready or not.  Here I come.

Bravery

What is "brave" anyway?  It can be used as a noun, verb, or adjective...heck, you can even slap on an -ly and it becomes an adverb.  And *I* would be really brave trying to decipher in what way it was being used.  Grammar...especially parts of speech...were never my strong suit.

I've been told a lot recently that "my plan" makes me brave.  I laugh almost every time I hear this.  I wonder what's brave about it.  Am I brave for going to school for four more years?  Am I brave for voluntarily taking on the curriculum?  Am I brave for moving to the Big City?  Am I brave for stepping out and trying something new?  I really have no clue.  I don't consider what I'm doing brave. 

Am I nervous?  Yes. 

Am I sure of my decision? Absolutely. 

For the first time in my entire life I can honestly say I've allowed myself to be "the clay".  This is the first decision where I have not tried to manipulate the outcome.  The day I was sent the application I just laughed it off.  I sat and read the brochure.  I felt honored to have received it but doubted I would ever get in.  I decided I would send it in anyway.  Worth a shot.  I was then asked to interview.  No big deal.  Protocol.  I went.  Saw an amazing facility but left knowing I would never get in.  I got in.  Had a thirteen hour car ride back from spring break.  I decided on that ride I belonged in the Big City.  Sent my mom a text message confirming my decision.  That night I signed my papers and sent them in.  It was done.  Since then, I've been matched with a fabulous roommate, signed papers for an apartment, worked on decorating it, and been selected to lead tours and meet with prospective students.  Every thing has fallen into place and with virtually no assistance from me.

I appreciate the notion that I'm "brave".  Really, I'm not.  There was never another choice.  I'm doing the only thing there is to do.  I have total faith in my decision. 

Just doing what He told me to do.

Mississippi's House Party

Mr. Neshoba County himself invited me to THE Neshoba County Fair.  I've heard so many stories about the infamous fair...I'm glad I got to try it out myself.  I headed down on Thursday.  My trek started out like any other.  A very easy drive until the GPS decided it was going to die...like just.stopped.working.  So I'm in panic mode in Noxapater, Mississippi (where "Jesus is the rock that never rolls") not knowing where to go.  I got frustrated and threw little Garmania into the glove box.  She then magically just started "speaking" to me.  After she led me astray again, I took matters into my own hands, found 21, and rocked it on down the road.

Mr. NC met me at the gate and took me to the cabin.  My senses were overwhelmed as I entered the fairgrounds.  Colorful cabins, the intoxicating smell of corndogs and funnel cake, kids laughing, the roar of fair rides, and southern voices greeted me as if to say, "Hey y'all, Come on in!"

As soon as we got to Mr. NC's cabin, I had to prepare for the chair races.  The chair races are a time honored event at the fair.  Fair-goers line up at different gates outside of the race track and like equine, bust through the gates and race for the perfect location to sit during the main concert.  Mr. NC's family had their doubts that I could hold my own during the race...but really, they don't call me Beef for nothing.  I prepared like another other fair-goer: went through my regimen of stretches, channeled Mel Gibson, and "got my sweat on".  You can check out a real race here.  In true fashion, I dominated...twice (I did it two days in  a row).

In fact, here I am before a race.

The two days I was there we visited a lot.  I got to meet all of Mr. NC's friends.  I laughed until my stomach hurt the whole time I was there.  We played a million board games.  I learned how to play some new card games...and I learned that I shouldn't actually try playing because these people are some true professionals.  No competition there.  We also sang a lot.  I felt like I was in Tupelo.  It must be a Mississippi thang because all of my friends can break out in spontaneous song...and you never actually know what will trigger a performance.  Honestly, it can be a single word that will send them into a harmonizing duet, trio, quartet....possibly a symphony of singing people.  It's fun.

My favorite part of the fair was the night time.  All the twinkle lights came on.  More people came outside.  The concerts fired up.  We got to see fireworks one night.  It wasn't quite as hot as Cooter Brown anymore.   I loved wandering through all the cabins.  It was a lot like the Grove (well really the South in general) in that you could walk in anywhere and ask for truly whatever you wanted/were looking for and someone would have it and would give it to you...no questions asked.

I had the best time.  I'm so glad I got to see my little friends before I move.  So many great memories were made.  Here's the only picture I took the whole time.  Most of our group with Phil Vassar (the performer).  He's super photogenic.

I had a fun ride on the way home.  Garmania got me lost in The Middle of Nowhere, Mississippi.  Our relationship is official ov-ah.  Anyway, I found a kind man with seven teeth who got me home.  I made it.  Thanks again, Mr. Neshoba County...it was real.

I came, I saw, I conquered.