Hello again LJ!
Wow, I guess it has been a while since I last updated this thing, and even longer since I wrote a real entry. I guess its because I've been pretty busy, and when I am not busy, there is not much exciting going on that is update worthy. Just a lot of work and class, and watching TV when I should be reading instead, just like my first 17 years of school. But, however, the last two weekends were great times that involved some trips to places I have never been before.
First off, on September 30, I flew and my sister drove home and surprised three of my four grandparents with our presence (my mom told her mom that we would be coming home, otherwise we would've gotten all four). As always, it was great to see them as it was two of their bdays that day, and my other grandfather was permenantly released from the rehab center after his knee replacement, so that was great news. I think they all were very glad to see my sister and I, and on my mom's side, my cousin too. Next day my family drove up to West Point, NY to see UConn crush Army in football. The game itself wasn't great (47-13), but it was a beautiful day and West Point is a beautiful place. My mom and I even pretty much completely avoided fighting, which was a nice change. However, my sister said one of the most absolutely horrible things I have ever heard, which was, after checking into our hotel with my sister and I in one room and my parents in the other: "Just so you know mom, the walls are really thin." Why she would ever say something like that I do not know and I'm very upset with her for thinking such things. But otherwise, it was a pretty great weekend, except for when I got back to Baltimore and had to pay $30 for parking.
Then I had a very busy week with my first two projects/papers of grad school due, both of which came out alright. Well actually, since I have not really written anything in a year, the paper came out pretty horribly in my opinion, but I still got a B on it, so I'm happy with that. Then, for the weekend, I made my very first trip to Ohio in order to visit Mindee who lives there and Steve who flew into visit as well. I can't believe I've only known them for just over a year, as it feels like so much longer. Needless to say, we all had a great time, as is always the case when the three of us get together. I also gained a newfound appreciation for farm living, as I went to see the hog show at the local fair and I got so good at judging hogs that I picked out the eventual winner of best in show for two weight classes. We didn't spend much time in Cleveland, only going to the Hard Rock Cafe where I bought a shirt and then left it in Mindee's dorm room anyway, but instead spent most of our time in farm country, which I really enjoyed. We went to Amish country where I got three huge scoops of ice cream for $1.50, Steve nearly got strip searched at the Christmas Shoppe, and I became convinced that the Amish use all the money gained from tourism to outfit their homes with plasma screen tvs and take luxurious vacations to Tahiti. I also got to pet lots of cows and learned all about life on the farm. Although I've been too urbanized to ever really get into farming, I think that I would enjoy living out in the country much more than I ever thought I would. We also went to a Lutheran church, where they were shocked to see us outsiders, although the black man in church was much bigger news than we were, the preacher's sermon was about sex, and I learned that Lutherans believe in the Catholic Church and that Jesus descended into hell before ascending into heaven. Oh, and I almost forgot that we also went to a haunted house at an abandoned prison where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. I had to go in the lead the whole time while chainsaw weilding zombies jumped out of cells at us and chased us down the prison block. And even though we knew these things were coming, it was still really scary. We also went hiking at Mohican State Park, which was really nice. The only bad news all weekend was that the Red Sox got swept out of the playoffs by the White Sox. But at least the Yankees lost too, so there will be a new AL champ this year. I'm rooting for the White Sox, as after finally seeing the Red Sox win last year, it would be great for the White Sox to end their even longer drought. Maybe the Cubs will do it next year. But I guess that was a brief overview of my last two weeks. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving now, as I will be going home then after spending last Thanksgiving holed up at the Coronado Springs resort in Disney World as my whole family came down with something that day, and also hopefully getting together with Steve and Mindee again in NYC, and of course, some NH buddies too.
As far as things here in Maryland, once again, not too much is new. I'm still spending a lot of time with my roommates and people from my program, especially Gabby. Last night I went out to the Santa Fe Cafe with my roommate Matt, which was a really cool place I hope to go back to. I even kind of met new people there, although nothing will come of that unless I just happen to see them out again sometime. I also haven't shaved in a while, so maybe that is something new as well if I decide to keep letting it grow. Probably not for too long though, as I still remember when I did that junior year it did not turn out too well. But I'm lazier now, so I just might keep it that way to avoid doing the work. I'll be sure to keep that situation updated on here as well. Well I said to myself I would really try to get to bed early tonight so that I can get some work done tomorrow and go to the gym and go to CVS to get my pictures developed to the grocery store to buy groceries, and all in time to still make it to the grad pub at 4. But to sum up the past two weekends, they were great, and I am very lucky to have such great friends and family, and even though Maryland screwed me over by giving away my football tickets to the Virginia Tech game, and even though I write horrible run-on sentences, I am very lucky and grateful to have the friends, family, and experiences that I do. :-D
First off, on September 30, I flew and my sister drove home and surprised three of my four grandparents with our presence (my mom told her mom that we would be coming home, otherwise we would've gotten all four). As always, it was great to see them as it was two of their bdays that day, and my other grandfather was permenantly released from the rehab center after his knee replacement, so that was great news. I think they all were very glad to see my sister and I, and on my mom's side, my cousin too. Next day my family drove up to West Point, NY to see UConn crush Army in football. The game itself wasn't great (47-13), but it was a beautiful day and West Point is a beautiful place. My mom and I even pretty much completely avoided fighting, which was a nice change. However, my sister said one of the most absolutely horrible things I have ever heard, which was, after checking into our hotel with my sister and I in one room and my parents in the other: "Just so you know mom, the walls are really thin." Why she would ever say something like that I do not know and I'm very upset with her for thinking such things. But otherwise, it was a pretty great weekend, except for when I got back to Baltimore and had to pay $30 for parking.
Then I had a very busy week with my first two projects/papers of grad school due, both of which came out alright. Well actually, since I have not really written anything in a year, the paper came out pretty horribly in my opinion, but I still got a B on it, so I'm happy with that. Then, for the weekend, I made my very first trip to Ohio in order to visit Mindee who lives there and Steve who flew into visit as well. I can't believe I've only known them for just over a year, as it feels like so much longer. Needless to say, we all had a great time, as is always the case when the three of us get together. I also gained a newfound appreciation for farm living, as I went to see the hog show at the local fair and I got so good at judging hogs that I picked out the eventual winner of best in show for two weight classes. We didn't spend much time in Cleveland, only going to the Hard Rock Cafe where I bought a shirt and then left it in Mindee's dorm room anyway, but instead spent most of our time in farm country, which I really enjoyed. We went to Amish country where I got three huge scoops of ice cream for $1.50, Steve nearly got strip searched at the Christmas Shoppe, and I became convinced that the Amish use all the money gained from tourism to outfit their homes with plasma screen tvs and take luxurious vacations to Tahiti. I also got to pet lots of cows and learned all about life on the farm. Although I've been too urbanized to ever really get into farming, I think that I would enjoy living out in the country much more than I ever thought I would. We also went to a Lutheran church, where they were shocked to see us outsiders, although the black man in church was much bigger news than we were, the preacher's sermon was about sex, and I learned that Lutherans believe in the Catholic Church and that Jesus descended into hell before ascending into heaven. Oh, and I almost forgot that we also went to a haunted house at an abandoned prison where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. I had to go in the lead the whole time while chainsaw weilding zombies jumped out of cells at us and chased us down the prison block. And even though we knew these things were coming, it was still really scary. We also went hiking at Mohican State Park, which was really nice. The only bad news all weekend was that the Red Sox got swept out of the playoffs by the White Sox. But at least the Yankees lost too, so there will be a new AL champ this year. I'm rooting for the White Sox, as after finally seeing the Red Sox win last year, it would be great for the White Sox to end their even longer drought. Maybe the Cubs will do it next year. But I guess that was a brief overview of my last two weeks. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving now, as I will be going home then after spending last Thanksgiving holed up at the Coronado Springs resort in Disney World as my whole family came down with something that day, and also hopefully getting together with Steve and Mindee again in NYC, and of course, some NH buddies too.
As far as things here in Maryland, once again, not too much is new. I'm still spending a lot of time with my roommates and people from my program, especially Gabby. Last night I went out to the Santa Fe Cafe with my roommate Matt, which was a really cool place I hope to go back to. I even kind of met new people there, although nothing will come of that unless I just happen to see them out again sometime. I also haven't shaved in a while, so maybe that is something new as well if I decide to keep letting it grow. Probably not for too long though, as I still remember when I did that junior year it did not turn out too well. But I'm lazier now, so I just might keep it that way to avoid doing the work. I'll be sure to keep that situation updated on here as well. Well I said to myself I would really try to get to bed early tonight so that I can get some work done tomorrow and go to the gym and go to CVS to get my pictures developed to the grocery store to buy groceries, and all in time to still make it to the grad pub at 4. But to sum up the past two weekends, they were great, and I am very lucky to have such great friends and family, and even though Maryland screwed me over by giving away my football tickets to the Virginia Tech game, and even though I write horrible run-on sentences, I am very lucky and grateful to have the friends, family, and experiences that I do. :-D