Week in Review

Another good week.  I really loved having Monday off.  I've still yet to have a whole week of classes...and I'm not complaining.  But tomorrow it will start back up again.

1. My classes are great.  I've done a little studying here and there but I've been reading a lot.  I also love the faculty.  It's so nice that everyone knows your name...well except for one teacher who claims to have "face blindness".  Teacher told everyone on the first day to not be offended if we were to see her out and about and she not recognize you...because she has an actual disease/complex/disorder/functional deficit known as "face blindness".  Where she can see someone once second and then they can be almost erased from her mind the next.  She wasn't lying.  I saw her at the Shady Schnucks this week while picking some apples...I smiled and said hello and her face went totally blank and she just stared at me.

2. I got to have a skype date with my Millsy this week.  It made my day.  Technology was not on our side that night though.  We could see each other but she sounded like a mutant chipmunk.  It was the weirdest thing.  So I talked and she typed her feedback.  We finally gave up and talked on the phone but I was so happy to see her face!

3. I ate my first Chicago style deep dish pizza at Pi.  It was fabulous and better than I expected.  It's a pretty famous place and Obama has eaten there.  I also got to split my pie with Jooge's parents.  It was GREAT meeting them.

4. Have you ever heard of Bangers and Mash?  I just learned about it this week.  Apparently people in this region eat it a lot.  It's mashed potatoes and sausage.  Good Lord.  I'm trying to upload a picture from the internet but it isn't working.  I could throw up just thinking about it.  Look it up...I dare you.

5. Yesterday I went to The Container Store.  Oh.my.heart.  My little heart was all aflutter yesterday.  I could have spent an entire day in there and it wouldn't have been enough.  I held back and didn't buy anything but believe me I wanted to.  Really bad.  If you know me you know I LOVE containers and organization in general.  Some times I have containers in containers.  Why not.  Everything needs a place.

6. Talked to Mr. Neshoba County yesterday.  That REALLY made my day.  He is taking D.C. by storm.  Wearing suits errrrday, hiding his badge, riding the metro, and playing Fantasy Football. And this is only week one. Whoa, Sir.  Whoa.

7. Got to see my Rebels play last night.  We pulled out a win but it was UGLY.  I don't think I will be able to watch that all year.

8. A Lean Cuisine is not a substantial meal for a night out on the town.  That's all.

9. Had my first wine tasting on Friday.  It was really fun.  Tried a bunch of wines from Chile.  They were really fabulous.  It was in this great art gallery in McPherson Square.  Really close to my house and probably one of my new favorite areas. It is adorable.  Lots of yummy restaurants, cute boutiques, and twinkle lights everywhere. The Square has a very unique antique store that I checked out last night.  They have some great prints of popular places here in the Big City.  I'm tempted (whatever I'm going to) go back and get one.

10. Oh and how could I forget my favorite moment of the week?  I went to work out downstairs.  I was wearing my Colonel Reb tank.  After I finished I hopped on the elevator (not walking 10 flights of stairs) to go back up.  A man was already on there.  I could feel him looking at me.  So I looked him dead in the eye.  He says to me, "Is that Colonel Sanders on your shirt?"  I smiled and kind of laughed.  I just looked back and said, "Yes, I love chicken."  I was just shocked that he asked me that.  Next time you are on an elevator, mind your p's and q's and just mind your own business.  I could have totally commented on his fashion choices and flaming red hair but you know, I didn't.

11. If I am called a "Southern Belle" one more time...I am going to drop kick someone.  Southern Belle that.

12. I gave my first tour this week.  It was great and a learning opportunity for me too.  I am so glad to be on THIS side of the process.  I felt bad for them in a way because I know how I felt almost a year ago when all of this started.  But just like most things in life...it always works out.

That's about it.  Looking ahead we have a hot air balloon race in the Park this upcoming weekend, the Cards-Padres game (we might be going to the Cubs-Cards series this week), a birthday, and the Avett Brother's in about two weeks.  Oh and school.

And that's the week in review.

Still

I've finally found "still".  I have been here (in two hours) for three weeks and I'm finally still.  I've loved this place from day one but I'm just now still.

The apartment is set up and I finally know where everything is.  I have food.  I'm not running out looking for random things to eat or decorate with.  I have started school and it's great.  I know where my classes are.  I'm working out and I feel great.  I have some great friends.  Friends that couldn't be any more different from me but friends I couldn't imagine not seeing every day.

I've found my fit and I like it.

Still.

Hey Go Rebs

I can't believe I'm even writing this considering the most embarrassing loss on Saturday but I've been trying to explain to the Big City friends how magical Oxford/Ole Miss/the South really is.  I think they believe me.  Our biggest hang-up has been "Hotty Toddy".  How do you even explain it?  I think you really have to be there...screaming until your throat is sore to really get the chills that accompany the cheer.

I found this video where you can hear a Hotty Toddy.  Wait until a few seconds before the six minute mark.  But feel free to enjoy the band until then.  One of the tents in the background is mine.

I realized Saturday I missed chanting Hotty Toddy and the pep rally almost as much as my friends.  It really is an indescribable experience.  I'm glad I got to live it.

We've got spirit, yes we do.

Learning

I realize I've been a bad blogger.  I guess you will be getting a weekly dose of the Daily Beef.

I've had another great week in the Big City.  We had orientation for three days.  I know that sounds like a lot but it was well worth it.  Not at all overwhelming and a good way to ease us into the program.  We learned a lot about how things will run.  I got this very official ID. 

And a very important accoutrement for my key chain. 

Yeah.  A rape whistle.
My classes are great and I am so happy to say that Ole Miss really prepared me for my practicum experience.  I learned that I will be dissecting a human brain here in a few weeks.  A few of you have seen me in a hospital before so you especially know how I feel about all things medical  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hanging out in hospitals with me...I can't even describe to you how awful this is going to be for me.  It is going to take a superhuman force to literally catapult me into the room...that's JUST getting me in the room.  Actually touching the brain will be a whole 'nother blog post.

In typical fashion, I've had no problem finding things to do.  Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to.

A little picnic here. 

Yesterday we went to the Greek Festival.  I ate until I nearly exploded to my little hearts desire.  Then we walked to the zoo.  Everything is so accessible and FREE.  I love that price. 

I also got my haircut this week.  While I was there I was telling J that I was new to the area.  He asked what all I've done so far.  I also expressed to him how disappointed I've been with the guys in the area. He TOTALLY agreed with me.  I felt like I was at a slumber party.  He was playing with my hair as we swapped secrets about boys and giggled.  He told me that we have been going to "urban" areas and that was why we kept seeing sketchy people.  So this weekend we took his advice and ventured out to some new areas.  Props to J.  He was soooooo right.  Men in checked shirts, khakis, jeans, plaid, beards, shaggy hair-some were tall, some were short. But either way, normal (ish) is what we found.

I've also learned the power of the quarter this week.  I pay to wash my clothes.  While most people do this freshman year of college, I was always successful in getting home to get mother to wash them.  I have always hated change in general.  I would rather deal with bills. And a penny?  Don't even get me started on the penny. I literally want to punch someone when I get back one cent in change OR when a menu item is something like 8.67.  Really? Anyway, I never appreciated a quarter until now.  My new mantra is, "Find a quarter, pick it up, some time soon I'll have clean laundry". Seriously.  I love quarters.

I've learned that it is easy to get lost.  Like one wrong turn can have you in a very undesirable places...and fast.  Or you can go the wrong way and it takes ten minutes to be back to where you went wrong.  Oh and that "20 minutes away" is a dependent term.  It depends on if you are driving like a NASCAR driver, it depends on if you are willing to run people off the road, it depends on what time of day it is.  It just depends.  But ask ANYONE where something is and you will get this statement, "Oh you know, like twenty minutes."

I also learned that I missed not being in the Grove.  But I learned I wasn't as upset as I thought I was going to be.  I feel strangely comfortable here and I'm really happy to be here.  I did get a sweet gift this week from my sissy though.  A very happy surprise.

All in all it has been another excellent week.  I really love it here.  Just trying to take it all in and learning as I go.

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"