Cory's Blog

Three words. Just three words can strike fear into anyone who has ever bought a piece of furniture, model car, or any other “buildable iteam”. Those three words being of course “some assembly required”. During the last week, I ran into a buzz saw of “assembly required” products that were necessities in my new apartment. Luckily, the men on my Dad’s side of the family have a long history of assembling. From fixing a broken table to assembling a Lego model, we can tackle any sort of assembling, and usually with a minimum of yelling and fighting too.

To top off the typical trouble with assembling, my father and I only had a limited amount of time before he and Mom were on a flight westbound for Tucson. So, we had to work quickly and efficiently. The main project was my new desk that also came with a file drawer and printer cart. We started out the project by getting out all of the different parts and I must admit I was a little overwhelmed, but we went ahead and took it step by step. In what seemed like no time at all we had the desk all put together, printer cart and all. Was it perfect? Not quite. The drawers don’t quite close right, and there is a hole that was drilled not quite where it should be, but it has our stamp of, how shall I say, “character.”

With the desk all finished, I had to take Mom and Dad to the airport to go home, but they left me with a new bag of tools and some knowledge of basic furniture assembly. They also left with a bookshelf that needed putting together, as well as a tall lamp that came in pieces. I set out right away on that book shelf, and I guess that experience paid off because I had that bookshelf up and running in no time.

I also mentioned that lamp. Although it seemed like the easiest item to assemble, it turned out to be a little trickier than I imagined. Lucky for me, I had my bag of tools handy and fixed the little issue in no time. Yes sir, I have become quite the handyman in the last few days. It also brings up a little hint as you may be packing to come on down in a few days. It may be a good idea to pick up an “all in one tool” that contains pliers, screwdriver, etc. all in the same tool. For someone living with limited space in the residence halls, it can be quite handy, and a great space saver too!

With all of this new handyman experience, will I be tackling all of the problems that pop up around the new pad? I think I may leave that to the professionals, but I can tighten a screw or hammer a nail with the best of them. Take care, and let me know if you need anything fixed or assembled around the house!

Posted by Cory at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So my last post seemed pretty fun, I mean a night out with my pharmacy school friends. However, the weekend kept getting better as my parents and aunt and uncle made the trek into Columbia! What was the special occasion? Initially when the word came a few weeks ago, I didn’t really know what the hubbub was about. My mom called me and said I had been inducted into something called “Phi Beta Kappa.” In all honesty I didn’t know what it was, and really didn’t plan on joining. I have gotten a lot of offers from Honor Societies that are nothing more than a “paper mill” that give you a certificate and not much else. I enjoy groups like Alpha Lambda Delta, my freshman honor society, because we actually DO things such as community service and other events, so the idea of joining a group that wasn’t worth much didn’t really appeal to me.

When I told my mom I wasn’t really interested she was quite surprised. Didn’t I know that this was the most prestigious honor society? Didn’t I? Well, I didn’t, but was quickly educated. Next up was getting all registered for the induction, which was on Saturday. I had to fill out some forms and make my RSVP for any guests. Initially I had none, and that was not going to be a huge deal. Things changed rather quickly however.

I guess my parents were proud or something, and they really wanted to see my induction. My aunt and uncle were pretty proud of their nephew and wanted a chance to see me get inducted as well. So they changed their minds about coming after I had already sent in my RSVP, but with a quick phone call and a kind word from the head of PBK here at USC, all was set: the family was coming up to see me inducted.

I can’t say the weather was the best on Saturday, but it really had no bearing on the ceremony that was held inside the Russell House ballroom. I just wanted to sneak in a quick weather word, sorry. In any case, with all of us students decked out in shirts, ties, jackets, and dresses (for the record, I was in the shirt and tie, in case you had any doubts) were a part of a lovely ceremony which was followed by a nice reception and LOTS of picture taking, including one with Spurrier! Yes, with former USC PBK president Dr. John Spurrier. Who were you thinking of?

After induction, the five of us enjoyed a fine dinner down in Harbison at the Copper River Grill (I HIGHLY recommend) . Sunday my dad and I got to play a round of gold, and then my mother joined the two of us as well some friends of mine at Yesterday’s for dinner. Monday, my folks and I took a look at my apartment for next year, grabbed some gear at the bookstore, and went our separate ways. While I will be seeing them again in a mere three weeks, it was most certainly a pleasure getting a chance for them to come and sneak in a visit, as I haven’t seen them since January.

Well, such ends my fun-filled weekend, complete with a lesson in the Greek alphabet. I know now that Phi Beta Kappa stands for something pretty important, and that I am part of it now. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I had, well, having fun this weekend. As for now, I must be off to complete oh so many tasks before finals begin to rear their ugly head. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The past week was amazing. It really couldn’t t have been more perfect. Yes, I had two mighty tests and yet the week was still perfect. You want to know why? All right, I will go ahead and tell you: it was the weather!

I know that you have heard quite a bit from Kriska and myself about the weather here in South Carolina, and there is a pretty good chance you are tired of hearing about it. Unfortunately there are two things working against you. First, I don’t really have a ton of other exciting stuff going on, and so much like a typical conversation starter with a stranger when I nervously mutter, “How about this weather we have been having?” Secondly, I feel like talking about the weather, and much like the weather I so speak of, you have no control over what I write, so that is what your going to get! (That last sentence sounded kind of harsh, but I really didn’t mean it that way, let’s just I typed it with a big ol’ wink and a smile to go with it.)

Anyways, about that weather. It was so perfect all week as I walked about campus and it attracted a throng of students to the Horseshoe where my apartment is. It also made umpiring on Friday afternoon a warm pleasure, not to mention I got a little bit of my famous farmer’s tan going on thanks to the rays of sunshine.

Then I woke up Saturday, and it was a little cloudy, slightly cool, but still enough for shorts and a tee shirt. However, after four hours in the library, I emerged to a different sight: it had rained hard while I was inside and the temperature had dropped about 15 degrees! I was downright chilly. Today was no different with overcast skies and cold temperatures to go along with a little bone-numbing breeze (by “bone numbing” it was about 45 degrees, but it is really uncomfortable to this big cold weather baby.)

Granted, I could be living where there is a foot of snow on the ground and complaining about having to shovel it off the sidewalk, but I go to USC! I GET to complain when it gets a little cold in March (nearly April!) for one last breath of winter before milder temperature settle in until about October and when you come here next year you will get to experience what I speak of quite often on here.

All I know is that I am glad I didn’t make the same mistake I made freshman year and pack away all of my warm clothes after spring break. We typically will get a cold snap or two before the true spring temperatures set it. So, despite my perfunctory weather speak, I just managed to sneak in a little piece of advice. See, this weather blog wasn’t so bad after all wasn’t it? Seriously though, I hope that this snap really is Mother Nature’s last breath of winter because as I mentioned, my hopes were high for a nice farmer’s tan, and as soon as it warms back up to normal I will be back outside enjoying the bright sunshine and warm spring temps. Until the sun rises and the mercury rises, you all take care!

Posted by Cory at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I, Cory, have been busted. Busted big time indeed. Lucky for me, this getting busted thing usually happens to me every March and as such I am pretty used to it. Yes, every March I fill out my brackets, and it seems like no matter what teams I choose each March, I have my brackets totally busted after the first exciting weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament. In fact after the first day of games this year, I was sitting dead last in the pool where my dad works. Dead last. How could that happen?

I will go ahead and tell you that it is probably my lack of time to watch college basketball from all over the country, and my propensity to follow my heart and Pac-10 conference roots and pick accordingly. I mean, of course I was going to pick my hometown Arizona over West Virginia, but then to have West Virginia not only win, but turn around and have them beat Duke as well? That hurt, but what I think hurt most was another pick of mine that I thought I had an edge with.

If you can remember I had a post back in November about the USC (west coast) vs. USC (east coast aka the Gameocks)basketball game and the rivalry with my friend Jeff who goes to West Coast USC. In that game I saw what I though was a great USC (west coast) defeat our Gamecocks. I assumed that with their great defense and freshman phenom OJ Mayo, they were a sure sleeper to get to the Elite Eight…until they were ousted in the first round by fellow freshman phenom Michael Beasley and his Kansas State squad.

Oh well, in this pool there is still the last place prize, and the fact that I have another (and slightly better) bracket on Facebook helps as well. The only little issue with that is that I am competing against literally thousands of other March Madness crazed basketball fans. In any case, it is all in good fun, and in my opinion of this weekend, some fantastic basketball. All complete with buzzer-beaters, upset specials, and Cinderella stories.

Speaking of “March Madness,” this next week and a half has the potential to be about as crazy as a 5-12 seed upset. Three tests in my three hardest classes are coming at me faster than a 3 on 1 fast break. It looks like I will just have to grind it out, prepare the best I can, and take it one possession, er one question, at a time.

Until the next tip-off goes up in the air and the next buzzer sounds, I will be working on my game to get ready for my own personal “Big Dance” these next couple of weeks. Take care and hope you can pick em’ better than me!

Posted by Cory at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you are anything like me, you may look at this title and think that it looks a tad bit like a “before and after” clue on the TV show Wheel of Fortune. While I haven’t seen the show in quite some time, the two seemingly unrelated items of a federal and racquetball court actually came together for me yesterday in an interesting turn of events that began in January.

To tell you the story, I must inform you that over by the Humanities building and Business School on the east side of campus sits this beautiful mansion like structure with a huge lawn that is often the sight of some outdoor get-togethers. The funny thing is that it has nothing to actually do with the University. It is actually the National Advocacy Center, a place of training for federal prosecutors. So, at the very least when you come here next fall, you can impress your friends with your extensive campus knowledge of this fancy building.

I told you that it was a training sight for federal prosecutors because back in January I was down in Strom just a-hitting away in the racquetball court when a guy knocked on the glass wall of the court looking for a game. On first glance he looked a little old to be a student, maybe he was a graduate or doctoral student? In fact, Aaron was here for training as a federal prosecutor at the National Advocacy Center!

Always looking for a new opponent on the court, I quickly agreed to play. We must of have played three or four quite long games, although I cant quite seem to recall the victors. Either way, we were both glad to have played the games and scheduled a rematch for later that week. Once the rematch was completed and he had to head back to his home in Rochester, NY, we exchanged email addresses as he said he would be back in March and would let me know so we could play again.

Anyways, fast-forward to this past week when, true to his word, Aaron sent me an email asking to play. Looking to work on my game against some unique competition and wanting the chance to play against a skilled player, I quickly replied and we were set up for Tuesday at 6. This time we played three games, with me taking the first, him winning the second, and myself pulling the set in my favor with a win in the rubber match.

We were both glad to have had the chance to meet and play again, and he said that he comes down here to train every few months, so hopefully we can have another few games in the future. Racquetball aside, I think that although I severely doubt any federal crimes in my future, having a friend in “high places” could never hurt, and who knows, if I am ever in Rochester, I could get a game in on his home court.

Something that I have stressed, sort of Ad Nauseum in my blogs, has been the unique experiences and people that you will meet from all walks of life at USC, and this case was no different. It started with a day at the gym working on my forehand and ended with not only some great games of racquetball, but also with a new acquaintance (and a FEDERAL PROSECUTER no less) that could come in handy for me some day.

Anyways, I need to get back to some big time school work with a presentation and two tests in the next 7 days, I need get a lot done if I ever want time to work on my “before and after’s” on “The Wheel”. I think I will go ahead and buy a vowel. Let’s make it an “o” for I must be getting Outta here. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today's blog comes courtesy of a dear friend of mine. Well, maybe he is not a “dear” friend, and, well, our friendship may be debatable by some, but I still like to think at the very least Sir Issac Newton definitely helped inspire this physics-themed entry. I say he helped me because he came up with his famous First Law which, in its most basic form, says: an object in motion will remain in motion, or an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by and outside force. Sometimes you might hear this referred to as the law of inertia. In any case, I personally am a case study in the ways of inertia.

Now, while my physics knowledge may amaze you, you will be even more amazed at how I applied it to my day yesterday. You see I didn’t do a whole lot of, well, anything over spring break. I laid around quite a bit, and as such, I was an object not showing a lot of motion (unless it was the motion of shoving the delicious food from my aunt and uncle’s house into my face). Yesterday when I woke up, I realized that I needed a lot more effort to get up and going. Since I was sick right before break, I hadn’t been to Strom in about two weeks, and I had planned to go for the first time. However, just getting out of bed presented a challenge, as my pillow seemed especially comfy. For an explanation of my situation in scientific terms, refer back to Netwon’s 1st law: An object at rest (me) will remain at rest.

Once I summoned the energy to finally get up and out of bed and down to Strom, my usual vigorous workout took much more out of me than I am used to. It felt like my body didn’t want to finish all my sets or chase down racquetballs. It seemed like I had to summon a lot of extra energy just to get myself going. This showed how, much like the rule of inertia, getting an object at rest to move requires the input of extra energy.

I would like to get myself back into my typical workout routine where the exact opposite is true. You see, I can make Newton’s 1st law can work in my favor because as I get going into my routine I will be the object in MOTION and it will take energy to get me to slow! Typically I can’t seem to take a break between working out, going to class, and all of my extracurricular “stuff” I have going on because I am in motion constantly. In fact, resting up during spring break was a challenge because my body didn’t want to slow down.

So hopefully I can get this momentum thing turned around and have Mr. Newton’s law get working for me so I can set into motion a good final push for the rest of the semester. That is all the physics for today I promise! Take care!

Posted by Cory at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday night was rainy. Tuesday night was also windy, miserable, and to top it off, I had to study for the two tests I had yesterday. I was still getting over that nasty little cold. To top it all off, I was getting some serious hunger pangs sitting in Barnes and Noble learning everything about Biochemistry and Drug Information. I knew exactly what I needed. I needed something hot and delicious in my tummy and fast!

I would have gone straight to the Grand Marketplace right there in the Russell House for some of their tasty soup or chili. It is reliable, delicious, and perfect for a rainy and windy Carolina night. However, as I thought about my liquidy food options, I remembered that as of Monday, we had a new kid on the block in the Russell House dining hall. An enterprise called “Soup Man” had opened its ladles to students Monday, and I had been dying to try some of their savory soups.

Allow me quick aside, Soup Man is a restaurant started by the guy who inspired the “Soup” episode of the TV show Seinfeld. It is a national chain, but our particular outlet is the FIRST in a university in the country. Not too shabby, and it just adds more options to eat at on campus. A common misconception by those who visit our campus is that the Russell House and its numerous options are the only place to eat on campus. However, there are places to eat at in the Patterson, Bates, and Capstone residence halls. In addition to those, there is the new “Colloquium Café” over near the humanities buildings. I am sure that I am missing a few, but my point is that there are all sorts of options spread around campus so that you can find new, tasty, and convenient places to eat.

Anyways , back to my tale of hunger, desire, and a curiosity of the tomato bisque that was written in chalk on the “soup of the day” board. One more reason I like to get soup is that is it usually is quick to pick up and I was in a hurry to get back to my studies. So, to my chagrin, as I came within eyesight of the Grand Marketplace, I noticed that a lot of other students had the same idea as me. The line was stretching pretty long, and my time was short. Immediately, I heard that soup ladling character from Seinfeld yell at me in my head, “NO SOUP FOR YOU!”

I was down but not out. Lucky for me, USC has all kinds of dining options, and I was able to mosey on over to the Horseshoe Deli for some Tomato Florentine soup. It was hot, tasty, and it hit the spot. With comfort food ingested and my mind fueled, I was ready to get back to my studies. Another day when I have more time I will try out Soup Man for myself, but in the meantime, USC’s other eateries will keep me full. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some of you familiar with Carolina tradition may recognize the title of this blog. It is, in fact, a line in the school’s Alma Mater. Typically, this line is sung at the end of a football game, as we raise our hands in a toast to “health” to Carolina. However, during the winter, the term “Here’s a health Carolina” has taken on a new meaning.

I am talking about the terrible flu season that has struck here, and across the country. Normally, I would be talking about being sick from a third person perspective, as I usually have a pretty strong immune system. Unfortunately for me, a couple of late nights umpiring slow pitch softball in that cold weather Kriska was talking about did me in, and since last Wednesday have had to deal with a rather nasty little cold. While not the flu, it still has been a pain to deal with.

My typically energetic self has been ridden with a sore throat and a stuffed up nose that knows no end (try and say last bit a few times fast!). I have had little energy to study, workout, or, as you can tell, post. I had to miss my friend Melissa’s big time birthday bash yesterday, and was unable to play in our men’s intramural basketball game tonight. While I may be erring on the side of caution, I know from experience that a little cold can turn into something worse, such as pneumonia (another story from freshman year for another day).

However, should my illness progress further, I would have no problem just moseying over to the Thompson Student Health Center as many with the flu here already have done. Our student activity fee covers visits, and it has a full service pharmacy, x-ray machine and other lab facilities all in the same building.

Hopefully though, this bug is on its way out, and I will be back to normal in no time: ready to study for my two tests Wednesday, umpire Wednesday night, and be nice and healthy for Spring Break at the end of the week! Until I write again, I will be taking it easy, dreaming of a week off, and trying to nurse myself back to some good Carolina Health. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All of my life I was on the other end of the spectrum. I was the one shaking my head in disgust. The one rolling my eyes with contempt. The one who would ask, “Where did that miss?” just to be smart. I speak, of course, of my prior life playing baseball in high school, specifically my interactions as a pitcher with the home plate umpire. Those umpires weren’t always kind to me, and in return, I may have been a little harsh back at them. The thing is, I never really realized how hard calling balls and strikes really is. That was, until last Friday, when the shoe was on the other foot. The reason? I started working for intramural sports as an umpire for slow-pitch softball. I figured that since I have played for nearly three years now, umpiring wouldn’t be too difficult to pick up. Plus I was looking for a little part time job. However, it has proven to be challenging, even for a crafty veteran of the softball scene like myself. Lucky for me, in my first game Friday and two more last night, the job has gone pretty smoothly. I haven’t had any major complaints, the games have gone well, and I have had some fun with the players. The hardest part has been calling balls and strikes. I personally like having a big strike zone and making the hitters swing a little bit, but I am still wary of exactly how big it should be. Also, you would think judging those big, slow, floating pitches would be easy. On the contrary, I find myself straining to judge the trajectory and where it lands. I do feel that despite still learning how to umpire, I am slowly improving game by game. Now, this wouldn’t be a “Cory-esque” blog if I didn’t make it relatable to you. You see, a lot of you coming here will be seeking employment to pad your wallet with some extra spending cash, and working for intramurals is just one example of a great place to look: on campus employment. Everything from the library to the Strom, and even the dining facilities offer employment. The best part is that they realize you are students and as such are quite flexible with hours. Some jobs may even allow you to study while on the clock. Not too shabby if you ask me. So, should you decide to get a job when you come here, remember to consider on-campus employment. It is flexible, fun, and if you are like me, you may even gain a new perspective: such as sitting BEHIND home plate instead of throwing to it. Until next time, I am OUTTA HERE! (That’s a little umpire pun for you). Take care!

Posted by Cory at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the most difficult parts about coming to USC was brought to my attention the other day in a comment from Emily. She asked me what you should and should not bring to school. I know that I had the same questions, especially coming from so far out of state. I definitely had a tough time figuring out what to bring. So I am going to give it my best shot to look back at what I thought was good, bad, and what I wish I had brought. First off, the most important piece of advice on what you should bring is a good attitude (wow, that comment was smothered and stuffed with cheese!). In all seriousness though, when you come for move in day, things can get a little hectic, and having the right attitude can go a long way in getting through the first hours. And a good attitude: let me tell you that will help you all four years here. Anyways, as far as actual “Stuff” to bring, there are some essentials you need to have. First off, some bedding accessories (sheets comforter mattress pad etc.) Depending on your residence hall, you will need twin, or twin xl sheets, but that information will be in the move in guide you receive during orientation. Also towels are a must, and a bringing a couple extras is never a bad idea. A couple more general items to bring may be some disposable silverware. You may or may not have a sink in your room, and even if you do, there is definitely not a lot of room for doing dishes, so the less you have to wash and dry the better, and disposable makes life easier. Believe it or not, a great item to throw in your car is some Febreeze. Odds are those cleaning supplies (bring those too!) may collect dust, and to keep your room habitable (especially for us gross guys out there), some sprays from the bottle of Febreeze will do the trick. Something else you will want to do is get in touch with your roommate, who you will find out during the summer. Their contact info will be on VIP under the “personal” section. Find out who’s brining the microwave, minifridge (although some residence halls have minifridges in them already), and of course the all-important TV and video game systems. I mean you wouldn’t want two Wii’s and no X-Box or Playstation? So let’s say you have all of your possessions in your room at home, ready to get packed away for the trip to USC. How is all this “stuff” going to fit in your car? Won’t all your clothes and sheets and pillows take up a ton of room? They will, but if there is one product I swear by: I use the vacuum seal bags you can pick up and Bed Bath and Beyond. They really increase the amount you store while decreasing the amount of space it all takes up. Whenever it is time to move out for me, everything I can, I fit into those bags. All right, time for stuff you don’t want to bring or do. First and foremost remember that you are moving into a space that is probably smaller than your room, so packing everything that you own into a trailer and trying to cram it into your room probably wont work. Not to mention it will probably irritate your roommate when all your worldly goods are sneaking across the room into their space. So try and limit the amount of items you bring. Also something I cannot stress enough is to remember that there are Targets, Wal-Marts and grocery stores here. So while bringing that 100 pack of ramen down from New Jersey in your sedan seems like a good idea, save the space in your car for the trip on move in day and get the ramen and all those other items when you are here, moved in, and have space in your car. I personally made the mistake of pre-buying all of my linens, school supplies, and cleaning supplies in Hilton Head before driving up here. Call it a rookie mistake, but it certainly made packing all of my other necessities much more difficult. The basic idea is just don’t overdo it. Now, on to the things I wish I had brought. Really there was one valuable item that ironically, as a pharmacy student, I didn’t have. I know that when I got pneumonia, I would have loved some Robutussin or at least Tylenol. Well, I didn’t pack any medicine! How could I forget something so simple? I just know it came back to haunt me in a bad way. So it is very important to bring a first aid kit with band aides, pain relievers, and some sort of cold or allergy medicine. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Lucky for me I had some very kind friends to help me out in my time of need. One more handy piece of equipment is an “all in one” tool. You know the kind that is pliers, a screwdriver, a can opener and however many other cool things they can fit in. You never know when you will need a screwdriver, or have to grab something with a pair of pliers. With that little gadget, all your tools are in one place! So, that is my effort at getting you to start to think about what you will bring to school. Trust me, I am sure I left some important stuff out, and if you have questions about something I left off, put on the list, or are just curious about bringing, please let me know and keep those comments coming! I love hearing from you as much as you love reading my blogs. Also, I am going to put a website at the bottom here that will take you to this past year’s move in guide, and the University’s recommendation on what to bring. Take care! http://www.housing.sc.edu/pdf/movingin/MoveInGuide2007.pdf

Posted by Cory at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wow, this writer’s strike is really starting to get to me. I mean, I don’t watch a ton of TV, but my Thursday night lineup has really taken a hit. For the record, I am NOT talking about Grey’s Anatomy, I speak of the one, the only, The Office! Although season three on DVD has sustained me for a while, I am in dire need of new episodes. My breaking point came this Thursday when I needed some new entertainment. Lucky for me, the Russell House offers free movies on the weekend starting Thursday, and lucky for you I am not a part of the writer’s guild, so I can freely continue to churn out blogs for your reading pleasure. In honor of my movie night this Thursday, I have decided to do a movie review from a little different angle, and I hope you all enjoy! Now as I mentioned previously, at the Russell House, Carolina Productions puts out fairly new movies in the theater. This particular Thursday, “3:10 to Yuma” was playing, and since I had missed out on a chance to see it in theaters, I was more than excited to see it playing right here on campus. So let’s start with the venue: The Russell House Theater. A full sized theater screen and comfortable chairs made the viewing experience a pleasure. Parking wasn’t a problem since, you know, it is right here on campus. The staff was friendly and the movie even had a few previews of new movies coming out in the next few weeks. My rating: Excellent. Next I speak of an issue that most of us battle with when we head to the movies: cost. Even with student discounts in numerous theaters around Columbia, the price of tickets plus popcorn and drinks can easily take a bite out of your wallet. So it was nice when the price of the movie was free. Just show your student ID and they let you right in. Of course what would a movie be sans popcorn and a drink? Surely these would run me a pretty penny. No such thing! Fresh popped popcorn and sodas were on the house as well. What a deal! My rating: A frugal students friend. What about show times? What if I have a test Friday, does that mean I am out of luck if I study during the Thursday show? Absolutely not. Thursday through Sunday is your chance to see the movie playing. There are always two movies playing as well. The early show at six, and a different movie at 9. So you really have eight chances to see the movie of your choice. My rating: The time is always right! Now you are probably wondering, “Cory, all of this information on the fantastic free movies every weekend, but you said you were doing a movie review, and you haven’t mentioned even one little scene from 3:10 to Yuma.” Very true, and I guess I will tell you that the movie appealed to me since it is sort of set in my home state. Even with the included Arizona bias, I found it to be exciting, entertaining, and they even mixed in some humor. Mix in a couple cameos from Luke Wilson and the guy who played “Steve the Pirate” from Dodgeball, and you are looking at one rootin’ tootin’ Western my friends. If you like action, Westerns, and/or Russell Crow, you will love this movie! My rating: 4 and a half cowboy hats out of 5. There you have it, even if this writer’s strike continues when you get here to USC, or if you are just looking for something to do on the weekend, the movies at Russell House are always there to keep you on the edge of your seat. As for me, I need to get out and see some more movies to review for y’all. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last I left you all, I was getting ready for my first (let the record show that this day began two whole business days before the rest of USC) day of class for the spring semester as well as preparing to work my final two days of orientation. Well, as I said I got most of my things put away and ready for the Thursday, and was ready to get sleep…or so I thought. Unfortunately, my typical “night before” jitters got to me and just could not fall asleep. So instead of a nice 8 hours of restful slumber, I got more like 4 or 5 restless hours. Not to worry, because my alarm was still able to steal me from my dreams of vacation and I woke up on time to the tune of “Jump” by Van Halen. I was up and raring to go, it was time to go and learn, time to grab the semester by its metaphorical horns and take charge! Except since I had gotten in past the time the Copy Shop on Gervais had closed, I was unable to pick up my class notes. Quite a bummer indeed, but I tried my best to pay attention and take my own notes. However, I noticed today looking back over my notes that I wrote my first yawn of the semester officially came five minutes into the first class. Not the best start, but like I said, I did my best to get as much as I could out of class. At least class was done by 11, so I could go back and relax the day away? Of course not, I got to head over to the Russell House and do my best as Team Leader for transfer student orientation. I really didn’t mind at all though because as I have mentioned before, working with orientation has been one of the most fun jobs of my life, and it was great to get to see the staff for one last go round as well. Friday was much like Thursday: wake, class, and work. Only this was no regular day of work, it was my last working orientation…ever! The reason being I worked two years ago as a regular orientation leader but was then able to return in a higher position as a team leader. Once you are done as a team leader, that is it. So it was bittersweet at the end of the day as I cleaned out my box in the Orientation and Testing office, but with that, the torch was passed to this year’s team leaders, one of which is my current roommate and pharmacy school student, Nick. When you come to orientation this summer, you wont be able to miss him, he’s 6’ 7” tall! Make sure to say hey! Anyways, those were my “bonus” days of class and work. Not too bad, in fact I had a lot of fun seeing my classmates and working my last gig at orientation. Monday, though, is when the “big show” starts and the whole campus “springs” (pun on spring semester anone?) back into action. That is all I have for ya now folks, but take care, and stay tuned for who knows what will come in the next four months? Take care!

Posted by Cory at 09:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Holiday season, that leftover pizza, the flavor in a piece Juicy Fruit, and Winter break. What do all of these have in common? They are all good things that must, for lack of a better cliché, come to an end. For me, the “good thing” that was winter break finished for me today. Unfortunately my winter break ended a little bit before the rest of campus. The reason for this premature return to school was the object of much scorn on the part of our classroom of pharmacy students. The University goes back on Monday, but us in the College of Pharmacy get the pleasure of two extra days, so we had to start today, Thursday, which really ends up feeling like an extra four days when you factor in the weekend. Also, when you are flying out from, say, across the country in Arizona, any change in travel plans makes life much more difficult. Factor in typical winter delays, and I could have been staring trouble in the face. Lucky for old Cory, I had a little ace in the hole. You see, I had to work orientation for transfers and new freshman today and Friday, so my flight already had me arriving yesterday. Would a little more time to mentally prepare for class have been nice? Absolutely, but instead I had about 13 hours from the time my plane touched down in the Columbia Airport yesterday until the first class. So, after Nick and Melisa picked me up, it was a mad dash to unpack, put away, tidy up, oh, and get all of my school materials ready and rarin’ to go. While I couldn’t quite get everything done, I had prepared enough for a nice 8 AM class, followed by, that’s right, a full day of work at orientation! I am going to leave you hanging to see how my “bonus” days of class went because I am getting kind of tired. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            I never used to be one for public speaking. When it came to getting in front of people, be it to give a speech or presentation, I was never quite comfortable. I most certainly would never been anyone’s first choice to give a speech, that’s for sure. Oh, how the times have changed though! Yesterday, I was chosen to give the opening speech for the “USC Challenge,” an academic quiz bowl competition put on every year by my honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta.

            My journey to the podium began this past week on Tuesday at our final meeting before the challenge. We were hammering out the details and making sure everything was going to run smoothly. The meeting ended and I headed back to my apartment to study for my lab final. The next day, I received an email from our advisor saying that I had been chosen to give the opening address, an honor usually reserved for the President of Alpha Lambda Delta, not just a junior advisor such as myself. Well, I just happen to actually enjoy getting in front of people and talking (at least now I do after a few years at USC), so I jumped at the opportunity.

            So, I met with my advisor to see what I had to cover in the speech, and also asked him why I was giving the speech. He said that it was nearly a unanimous decision on the part of the other members that I be the one. Go figure!

            Saturday came around, and I practiced up, and delivered a pretty solid opening speech. While it wasn’t my best, it was still pretty good. I admit I still have some work to do in the public speaking department, but I have come a long way since I came here to USC. I have gone from a decent, but nervous and unwillingly public speaker to the one who is chosen by his peers to give a speech and enjoys doing it! How about that?

            My morning speech aside, I spent the  rest of the day helping to track the scores coming in, keeping some of the volunteers organized, and putting buzzer systems (what the participants used to answer) away. I guess you could say I was a jack of all trades (and a master of none as my old baseball coach often joked). Overall, the day went quite well as all of our high school teams showed how smart they were, and while there could only be one winner at the end of the day, I can honestly say each team put me to shame with their immense knowledge. That’s all I have for now everybody. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I remember the first time “it” happened. Freshman year, it was sometime in Mid-November if my memory serves me. There was a slight chill in the air, and Thanksgiving was right around the corner. I was going about my daily routine, walking across the Horseshoe back to my dorm room in Maxcy. I was doing nothing wrong; I did nothing to provoke any sort of “attack”. However, as I moved across those bricks, something happened that changed me forever.

            Halfway across the horseshoe, I felt a knock on my head. I looked up and saw nothing but the large oak trees that dot the horseshoe landscape. Not knowing what had happened, I took a few more steps and felt another small knock on my head. This time, I saw the culprit: an acorn. Not knowing what this was at the time since I was a naïve young lad from the desert sands of Arizona where acorns are not so commonplace, I was left angry, confused, and slightly sore.

            Luckily, my friend Jenna was hanging around on the grass that day, and I was able to ask her what these weird falling brown balls were and why they keep knocking me on the head. She said that they were acorns or course! Well, I had it figured out now, or so I thought. I proceeded to surmise that these acorns were falling from “acorn trees”. I kid you not, that is what I said. After her laughter had subsided, she explained that they were actually OAK trees. Alas, my first lesson in South Carolina botany was complete! I knew about acorns and was changed forever!

            I tell you this humorous story from the past to allow me to describe to you one of the most beautiful times of year here at USC, and I am talking about fall! Since I am so lucky to walk across the Horseshoe everyday on my way to class, I have gotten to see the transformation as the leaves have turned and fallen off. To someone who had not experienced a “true” fall my entire life, the shades of reds, yellows, and oranges that paint the trees are a treat to see everyday.

            As an out of state student, experiencing the different climate is just the very tip of the iceberg as far as experiences that I would never have been able to have had I not come here for school. I have traveled to Boston as part of my honor society, gotten to enjoy the unique culture in the South, and of course, the number of friends and people I have met is beyond what I could have dreamed before I came here. My point is that coming to USC can really open up a lot of doors for you in ways you may not even have imagined. So I encourage you to check out campus, even if you have a slight interest. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you see. Just remember when you do make it here, if that flying object hits you in the head on the horseshoe, it is only an acorn! Take care everybody!

Posted by Cory at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            During this very busy week, I had to study, prepare for exams, and try and fit in some time to stay sane. Lucky for me, I, and the rest of the class, had a lovely moment of levity on Tuesday in our Pharmaceutics class. Now, I know like me, I am sure that you have all watched “The Price is Right” when you were home sick. What does this have to do with levity during Pharmaceutics? Did we get to watch an episode for some odd reason? The answer may surprise you.

            Everyday in our Pharmaceutics class, the first fifteen minutes is devoted to a group presentation on a given topic. The topic for the group presenting Tuesday was “Drug Pricing.” So, to spice things up a bit from the mundane power points we normally get, they started their presentation off with a take on “The Price Is Right.” I guess they thought I would make a good contestant because they fulfilled a lifetime dream of being on the show (sort of that is) by calling my name out and telling me to “come on down!”

            Upon hearing my name called, I literally jumped up and down, high fived everyone near me, and ran down to the front of the class to get my nametag they had make for me ahead of time. “Bob Barker” told me that I needed to match the price of three drugs given to the three prices on the board. So, I did the best I could, and made sure to ask the audience for help before making my final decision (if you have seen “The Price Is Right” on TV, you know what I am talking about!).

            As luck would have it, I was a winner! My prize? Reese’s Cups and a couple of pens. Not too shabby if I do say so myself! Better than the actual prize was getting a chance to run up in front of class, have some fun, and from what I could tell, get a few laughs as well! My only complaint was that I didn’t get to play the classic Price is Right game of “Plinko.” Oh well, I guess that winners on the “Price Is Right” can’t be choosers right?

            In the hectic pace of this week, I think I may have benefited the most from my “Price Is Right” experience. I’m pretty sure I can still feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Lucky for me, the madness is all but over, with only a presentation left tomorrow. I have some big, fun plans for the weekend that I will be sharing with you once they happen! That’s all for now, and remember, help control the pet population…

Posted by Cory at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            No, this title is not referring to what happens when you bounce a young baby on your knee after they have just eaten. I am, in fact, talking about my pre-shot free throw routine on the basketball court. What is the point of the gross baby reference and my basketball shot? Well, the baby thing was just to get your attention, but the basketball dribbling, that has to do with my theme of the day: rhythm.

            Over the past week and a half, I feel like I have been a bit out of rhythm in many little things in my daily life. Everything from my poor racquetball performances to trying to find a “studying groove” for the microbiology test I took today seems to have been just a bit off. These may seem like little things, but when you have a lot of activities in your daily life, and your rhythm is off, even just a bit, it can make life a lot harder.

            While being out of rhythm is hard, trying to get back in that rhythm is even more challenging as well as frustrating. Believe me, the past two weeks on the racquetball court have been about as frustrating as it gets for me, and I just have not been able to find an answer for my poor play. The search continues for my racquetball rhythm.

            As I mentioned before, for some reason trying to prepare for this week’s microbiology test has been much more difficult than the previous ones. Studying and retaining the information has been just a little bit harder, due in part to not finding a comfortable method and pattern of reviewing the material.

            At any rate, after my test today, I was ready for a break, and I went to the Blatt to workout and shoot the basketball around, just for fun. As a little background, I was a pretty good free throw shooter in my day, and often would sit in the gym and shoot free throws, not just to practice the shot, but to also help and relax me.

            Well, today, I started shooting them. Doing my usual “bounce, dribble, dribble” routine before I shot, and was doing alright, but then I found just little mechanical “hiccup”, fixed it, and then could not miss. I didn’t count, but I must have made at least 30 in a row, because I shot for about 10 or 15 minutes and did not miss! I was amazed at the RYHTM I had found! There’s that word again…rhythm! Epiphany! I had found some rhythm!

            I don’t know if it will transfer over into my studies or my other sports, but, alas, I had found a spark, a smidgen, a bit of rhythm, and it gave me a little swagger back. You see, as you go through school, you will find yourself in ruts, and you cannot avoid that. I mean, even I, the great Cory, was out of my rhythm. Some times you will just be “out of whack”, but those who are successful can fight through it and do the best they can until they can get back on track.

            Hopefully I have gotten back in my “groove” for now, but even if I am not quite there, at least I can brag to all my friends about my amazing free throw shooting skills! (There’s a silver lining in everything isn’t there?) That’s all for now, take care

Posted by Cory at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            So this weekend was one of the best I have had all year, and the kicker is, I spent it with my parents! You are probably wondering how spending a weekend with your parents at college could be any fun, but trust me, I had a blast.

            The reason my parents were here was because it was Parent’s Weekend, and they were finally able to come after they had unfortunately been unable to make it the last two years because of scheduling conflicts. Let me tell you, when you live 2000 miles away, a lot has to go right with schedules to make a trip like this one work out.

            With that being said, my parents drove up from their week in Hilton Head on Friday afternoon. I met them at the Marriot on the corner of Assembly and Blossom Streets. From there, we walked around a bit, checked out some housing possibilities for next year, and then it was time for some golf!

            We took my car up and met Brad in the parking lot of Desaussure, my Horseshoe apartment, and drove over the Northwoods Golf course to play nine holes (see my previous entry “A Diamond in the Rough” for details on the golf course itself if you are at all interested). On the drive over, the sky threatened rain, and we even got a few sprinkles, but lucky for us, the rain clouds went away, and we were treated to a cool, pleasant round of golf. Now when I say the term “pleasant,” it can be taken many ways. We all had a great time, yes, but my score was far from “pleasant”. It wasn’t about how “good” the “scores” were on this day, it was just about being able to play some golf with my parents and Brad and to enjoy the time together.

            After golf, we were treated to all you can eat barbecue at the now infamous “Palmetto Pig”. I don’t know if I have ever heard my dad rave about a restaurant as much as he did about the “Pig.” I guess that 2000 mile trip was worth it after all? After dinner, Brad went his separate way for the night, and I took my parents back to the hotel to get ready for the Parents Weekend “Beach Bash” at the Strom.

            The Beach Bash was just one of several events put on for Parent’s Weekend, and it was definitely a fun time. Over at Strom, there was a DJ spinning some fun Carolina tunes while we had a chance to meet other students and their parents on a fine Columbia evening by the pool. We made it an early night because Saturday was to be a big day, starting early and “going long” (perhaps an illusion to the football game?).

            Saturday, it was time to rise and shine bright and early for some tailgating before a 12:30 game against Vanderbilt. I picked my parents up from the hotel, and fought traffic down to find a parking spot about 10 minutes from Williams Brice Stadium. It was quite an experience to see my parents take in their first Carolina football “moment” as they saw the masses of people tailgating around the stadium and spreading out all over the place.

            On this day, there would be multiple tailgating for us. First up was the special Parent’s Weekend tailgate. Complete with tables of traditional Southern Cookin’ along with the Marching Band to give a special performance, just for the parents. From this student’s perspective, USC put on a fantastic program for the parents to enjoy.

            With the parents tailgate under our belts (and pushing against it after that spread!), we walked over to the Farmers Market, where I normally tailgate, and met up with the whole crew. Most of them had met my parents before, so it was a nice reunion for both parties. I must admit that I was just as excited to show off my parents as they were to see all of my friends.

            Our tailgate for this week may have been the top of the year, considering we had the most people, the most and best food yet, not to mention getting to share the experience with my parents. The tailgate was over though, as it was time to make our trek into the stadium for the game.

            The game itself, I won’t talk about too much, as it didn’t go that “great” you could say. I will say that regardless of the outcome, my parents had an absolute blast taking in their first USC football game: from the atmosphere, to the packed stadium, all the way down to “2001” and the entrance of the football team. On top of that, you could not have asked for a more perfect day weather-wise with nary a cloud in the sky.

            After 60 minutes of pretty rough football, the game was over, I was tired, and so were the parents. After a few goodbyes at our spot in the farmers market, it was time to take them back to the hotel to start to pack it up for the 6:30 AM flight Sunday morning. We all agreed, as we ate a dinner of Pop’s Pizza, that we could not have asked for a better weekend, and that while they were sad to go, they sure did enjoy all the time they got to spend here with me and my friends at USC.

            The ending of this weekend came Sunday morning, as I took them the 15 minutes out to the airport, dropped them off, and was unfortunately caused to have an abrupt goodbye thanks to an overzealous airport police officer who gave me the lovely parting gift of a parking ticket. It was well worth the price though, to get to see my parents.

            I can only hope that I they will get to make it out for another week here in the future, but until then, I can fondly look back at how much fun I had with, and how lucky I am to have such great parents!

            Until next time, take care!

Posted by Cory at 09:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            Some people have what they like to call a “case of the Mondays” when the first day of the workweek rolls around. I don’t seem to have that problem, and yesterday was especially true since I was treated to a musical “pick me up” as Carolina Productions came through with a fantastic event.

            This week it was Multicultural Music Mondays featuring Mariachi music. Alliteration aside, allow me to explain what was happening. As I was walking back from Blatt, I heard the sounds of horns overpowering the music in my Ipod ear buds when I came upon the back patio of the Russell House. Being the curious “cat” I am, I took myself over and investigated the tantalizing sounds of horns, bass, and acoustic guitar. Wouldn’t you know it that there was a full Mariachi band fully dressed and playing beautifully!

            When I first arrived on the scene, several students were enjoying a beautiful mild Monday out in the cloudless sky, taking in the sounds and sights of the Mariachi group. They were playing some 1940s style big bang when I got there and sat down. A few minutes into the performance, they played the classic “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller. This is a little before my time, but it remains a classic. The group put a wonderful spin on it, and when they were done with that little ditty, it was on to some authentic Mariachi tunes!

            Needless to say, the Mariachi music delivered just as much, if not more than the previous big band instrumentals. This time, the group of eight added some lovely lilting vocals. I enjoyed the upbeat rhythm and lyrics (some of which I could pick up from my years of high school Spanish), but I decided it was time to move along once the song started getting sad (I could tell from the sound of the instruments and some lyrics too of course).

             I originally was not aware that there was a Mariachi concert, but hearing it definitely put me in a great Monday mood! Not to mention leaving me with a Latin taste in my mouth and wanting “Mas Mariachi Por Favor.” (That’s Spanish for more Mariachi please)

            Until next time! Hasta Luego and tome el cuidado! (See you later and take care!)

Posted by Cory at 06:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            So this week, I got my ears lowered. Well, I guess you could say it at least looks like I got my ears lowered. Now, I know what you’re thinking, and no I did not undergo radical plastic surgery. You see, my grandpa always would ask me if I got my ears lowered every time I got a haircut as a young lad. Despite his old joke, I actually got a real haircut (and if you are being picky, I actually got them ALL cut. Give that one a second to sink in).

            So I got a haircut, what is the big deal? Well, before I came here as a freshman, I had almost exclusively had my hair cut by one or two people my entire life.  Unfortunately, they did not open up a new barber shop here in Columbia to accommodate me, so after about six weeks of freshman year, my hair started looking a little “shagadelic” and I realized I needed a trim. Being the naïve freshman I was, I didn’t know where to look or go for a haircut in Columbia, and I waited until fall break to go down to my aunt and uncle’s in Hilton Head and have them help me find a place.

            Looking back, this was silly, because we actually have our own barbershop, Carolina Styles, in the Russell House, right here on campus! They even take Carolina Cash, so mom and dad could foot the bill. Also after a couple of years, I have also learned the different locations for several places to get a haircut within about five minutes of campus, so there really is no excuse for coming home for winter break with a mop on top of your head!

            While there are several places to get your haircut around Columbia, I have begun to look a little bit closer to home. I am talking about my roommate from last year, Brad, who with a pair of clippers graciously donated by my dear sweet mother has cut my hair since the end of freshman year. My look has evolved from the straight buzz cut, to a slightly longer clipper cut. He has also gotten much better with the added practice, as his latest work on me ranks in my top five haircuts of all time.

            The shoe has been on the other foot too, as I have had the chance to hone my barber skills on his scalp a few times. I mostly give him the straight buzz, but once I was able to give him a desired Mohawk, with some darn good results if I do say so myself.

            In any case, when you come here to USC, you have many options for getting your hair cut so that when you return home for winter break, your hair doesn’t leave you looking like Chewbacca from Star Wars. You can choose from Carolina Styles in the Russell house, the Great Clips on Rosewood, or, if you want to save some money, just come by and ask for Cory or Brad!

Posted by Cory at 05:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            Just when I thought I had finished my move in quota for the year…it was Saturday, and time to help out with the USC “Move in Crew.” For the last two years, I have volunteered helping to move new students specifically into the Capstone residence hall.

            A quick word about Capstone: it is sixteen floors, and there are three elevators. Now, I know that you all are quite bright out there in computer land, and if you do the math on that, you will realize that not everyone can take all of their belongings on an elevator. So, when it came down to moving the freshmen’s belongings, it was time for a workout that puts the “Stairmaster” machine to shame. Try doing the Stairmaster for four hours, while carrying boxes, clothes, TV’s and yes, in one instance, a giant case of Red Bull (someone was already planning on some late nights it appeared.)

            By the end of the day, Nick, who has also volunteered the last two years, and I were downright exhausted. Several times going up past the 10^th floor with heavy items took their toll. It was all for a great cause though, as we were just part of the larger campus wide Move in Crew that helped move freshman in on Saturday.

            To all of you who are thinking, “Well, that Cory and all those other hard working studious students had to help with move in while all the university officials just watched them sweat. That’s just not fair, it’s just not fair!” I say not so fast my blog reading friends. Many high ranking USC officials, staff and faculty assisted with move in. I know for a fact that fellow blogger Scott Verzyl, director of undergraduate admissions, was at Capstone sweating it out with us as well. Also in attendance was principal of the Capstone Scholar program, Dr. Spurrier (not to be confused with our football coach!).

            As you can see, it was a university wide effort to help move in freshman, and it epitomizes how USC feels about its students. Carolina prides itself on taking care of its students, from the tours you receive while you are in high school, to getting you prepared at orientation, up to move in day and until you graduate. This attitude is just one of the many traits that attracted me to USC, and now I love being a part of the wonderful tradition here!

            However, after two days of move in activity, I am flat out hosed here on Sunday night, and with pharmacy school orientation in just 10 hours, I need to get some shuteye! Take care y’all!

Posted by Cory at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            I got a fever, and the only prescription is more spring weather. Allow me to explain: The weather here can change on a dime, but I foolishly figured that once our first warm streak in March came, it would be warm until October or November. However, I knew from last year that we got a cold snap after spring break, so I held on to my winter clothes a few extra weeks.

            A couple weeks ago, it had been sunny and warm pretty consistently, and so I decided to clear out some closet space and put my winter clothes away. It was shorts and T-shirts until next fall right? Wrong, the past week, as some of you who read up north know, we have had a little bit of a cold snap.

            Lucky for me, I kept a rain coat and a couple of sweatshirts out…just in case something like this past week happened. Last weekend, the lows got down into 30’s and it only got up to the mid 50’s during the day. On top of that, it was sunny, so it even looked warm outside, as if to tease me.

            By the middle of this past week, it was getting warm again, up into the 70’s, but by this weekend, it was cold and rainy. Yesterday, I nearly got blown away by some big time wind walking down to Strom for my basketball playoff game. Luckily, the only thing getting blown away was the other team (to clarify, we beat them pretty bad).

            So, here I sit, as it continues to blow a gale outside, but with sunshine at least. It is sitting on the short side of 70, but the rest of the week promises to have some sun and warmth at least. Just remember if you decide to come to Carolina, pack for all the seasons, because it seems like at any time, you can get any weather at any time: sun, rain, hot, cold or wind. As for me, I am still hoping for 6 months of sunshine and warmth!

Posted by Cory at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            With the season changing, and spring making itself more present every day, there is something that you should all be aware of, should you decide to come to school here of course. It is something that I was used to, and if you are from the area, or any other moderately warm climate, you shouldn’t have a big problem adjusting. Although I was used to it, it is still something I must deal with.

            What is this that Cory has babbled about for a paragraph already? I am talking about the difference between the night and day temperatures. Now, I know you are thinking that a simple thing like night and day temperatures isn’t a big deal. However, these days, the highs are getting into the middle 60’s to mid 70’s range (as all of you up North in the frigid freezing temperatures shake a frozen fist at me). However, night can still be quite chilly. In fact, this week, it has gotten downright cold.

            Monday and Tuesday, the lows got into the low 30’s. So, for each of my 8 AM classes, I had to bundle up and tough it out. The thing is, by the time I got out at 9-ish, it was already almost 60. So, the bulky sweatpants and hoodie were making me sweat! I just couldn’t win. I could freeze on the way to class, or fry on the way from class.

            My solution: layering. Simple? Yes. Effective? Yes. I still see some people, after experiencing the mild temperatures from the previous day, try to walk to class the next morning in sandals, t-shirts and shorts, only to shiver all the way there. Yet, others seem to think that we are in a cold snap, and are bundled up in the sunshine of midday. They haven’t gotten the concept of layering.

            Aside from the layering, it is always important to check the weather, as it seems to change here on a dime. One day could be sunny and 80 and the next could be 45 and pouring buckets. My advice is to be prepared, and wait a little extra time to put away those winter clothes, just in case we get a freak cold snap. It happened to me last year after spring break, and I was caught out in the cold, literally.

            So, I hope this blog has been of some help for you. Now, I am off to a few more classes, and then spring break. I will try to write a couple of times, just to keep y’all on updated on what’s going on. Take care!

Posted by Cory at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

            Around these parts, Wednesday takes a few different names. There is “hump day” since it is the day we all get over the “hump” of the week. Some students stick with the classic “Wednesday,” but there is another phenomenon that sweeps across campus every week, and it is known as “Chicken Finger Wednesday.” It is known by that name because in the Grand Marketplace in the Russell House, pounds of the fried chicken fingers are served up alongside tantalizing seasoned curly fries. I know that come Wednesday around noon, the lines will be long to get a plate of the fingers and fries. However, I have come up with a new, dare I say, secret of Wednesday.

            To explain, I must first inform you that I usually do not partake in Chicken Finger Wednesday. I have my reasons, but mostly is health wise, I just don’t like to eat the fried stuff too much. Also, when I have eaten them in the past, my body feels it all day long, and it is hard for me to get going. However, last year, I discovered another once a week treat that came only on Wednesdays, and it goes by the name “Banana Pudding.” Call me a dork if you like, but I look forward to Wednesdays for my banana pudding, and the great thing is everyone is so distracted by the chicken finger craze, that I get great dibs on the banana pudding.

            Last year, I had gotten up to a two serving a Wednesday habit of indulging in the banana pudding. The problem with the double helping of banana pudding is that it became less of a treat because I was getting so much. So, I had to cut back to one a week, and it has served me just fine. I wait in eager anticipation for each Wednesday to come so I can get my delectable dessert. The nice workers at the Grand Marketplace in the Russell House always seem puzzled when I come to them, banana pudding in hand, as if they expect me to carrying a Styrofoam box of chicken fingers and fries. One Wednesday this fall, Dejarvis (one of the most well known Grand Marketplace cashiers) asked me what I was doing with the banana pudding. I explained to her my love of the banana pudding, and that while the world was distracted with chicken fingers; I got my hands on my sweet banana dessert. She was still skeptical, but I don’t get banana pudding to make other people happy, I get it all for me!

            So, that is my story of Wednesdays, and what they mean to me. Most students, like Wednesdays because of the chicken fingers, but now you all now my sweet little secret. You must promise me, if you decide to come to Carolina next fall, you mustn’t take the last banana pudding…unless you know I have already got mine!

Posted by Cory at 09:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Humbled. I think that is the word that pretty much describes my feeling right now after volunteering at the USC challenge with my honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta. To help you understand, the USC challenge is an academic challenge for high schools here in South Carolina. We had schools from all over the state come and compete at the Russell House, answering some really difficult questions. Let’s just say that I felt like a pretty smart guy, you know, being in the Honors College here and sporting a solid GPA, but after seeing a lot of those high school students, I was left doubting my abilities (at least for now).

            Today, my job was basically to keep the time for questions, as there was a limit, and to keep score. While I was counting the seconds in my head, I often found myself trying to answer the questions. I honestly think that out of about 150 questions I heard today, I could have gotten about 15 of them correctly. There were questions from ranging from biology, to chemistry, and literature to ancient history. I felt good about answering a couple biology and chemistry questions, but was embarrassed when I didn’t know the majority of them. Most of the time, the moderator couldn’t finish the entire question before it was somehow answered by a student after hearing only a couple of key words. If these students are any representation of what the next freshman class at USC will be like, I am definitely going to have to step up my game in the classroom to keep up.

            In all honesty though, it was really cool to see how these academic athletes applied themselves and worked hard so that they knew all of this information so well. They do all of this on top of the regular schoolwork that they have to do. I think that is pretty commendable. All in all, I walked away with a new appreciation of all the knowledge out there, and I just might have learned that I am not the smartest guy I know. Anyways, that’s about all I got for y’all know. Take care.

Posted by Cory at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)