School will officially be over for me in a week.  Yes, you read it write!  My first year of college will officially be over as soon as I finish my 9AM exam on PSYC 470, Intro to Language Sciences: Linguistics.  My gosh, right?  I am just as excited yet as shocked because I just can't believe how fast time flew!  The countdown truly begins, and well I thought, what better way to do the countdown than by...

On the first day of counting down, I went back to "First Day..."  (Sing to the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas" hehehe!) 

That was me at the reception that followed the First Day Convocation.  I know I've probably shown this picture at least a couple of times here and there, but I just love it!  There I am, among the midst of a crowd...I believe that it's my roommate's mom who took the picture, but nevertheless, I don't think she meant in any particular fashion to take the picture in that way.  I think it's just cool how it captures so many aspects of my year here at Carolina, as if that event were foreshadowing how the year would go.

USC is so diverse, and there's just so many people to meet.  I think two girls over to my back are in a couple of my classes.  I've seen those two ambassadors towards the top left corner at least once or twice around campus giving tours.  Actually, the more I look at the picture more carefully, the curly-haired one is actually in my Physics class.  The girl I'm speaking to is my neighbor.  In more than one way or another, I feel as if I've at least walked past each one of those people in this picture either as I walked through the Horseshoe or through the Gimp.  But the most important person in this picture (besides me of course, hehe!) would have to be my roommate standing there to the left of me in the picture.  That girl next to me has been just that all throughout this year--always by my side.  I've pretty much grown to know her so well this year that I really believe I've made a new best friend!  I have been able to count on her for anything and everything.  We're so perfect for each other that she and I have decided to room together for the next 20 million years, so expect to continue hearing about many adventures with her!

If anyone had told me that first day how great of friends she and I would become throughout this entire year, I totally would not have believed it.  I have known Megan since high school, but we were never quite close.  She was quiet, and I was loud.  She's pretty shy, and I'm pretty not..hehe.  Total opposites...but I guess that's what makes us work!

Well, to all of you graduating seniors, here's to hoping y'all will have just as much luck as I did with y'alls future roommates!  Can you believe that y'all can finally soon call yourself "freshmen" again...oh COLLEGE!

Well, tis all for now folks.  Keep on the lookout for the rest of my countdown jingle...I want to make this last week as special as every other day as I've had in Carolina (despite of course of the fact that exams are finally here!)  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 08:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I remember that during Scholars' Day one of the parents' and students' most common concern was FOOD.  Where can you eat?  What can you eat?  What are your meal options?  Personally, I had the same concerns.  I loooove food, but hey, who doesn't!  So, here I go...I'll try to briefly explain the main places where most people eat their meals here in campus...Enjoy! 

The Gibbes Court at Capstone is the best place to satisfy those home-cooked meal cravings.  Their hot plate menu usually consists of mac and cheese, green beans, rice and gravy, and corn among other things that bring you back closer to home.  They also have a pizza, deli, and grill service to satisfy the junkies.  Oh, and my favorite things that I must not forget...the great cornbread muffin and the fruit cobblers, whether it be peach or apple!

The Grand Market Place, or simply the "Gimp," is in central location in the first floor of the Russell House.  There are several options to choose from.  Like Gibbes, there is a hot line, deli, and grill service.  There is also a salad bar.  There is a bake shop, too, to satisfy the sweet tooth from jell-o to gourmet cakes to good ol' New York cheesecakes!

Next door to the Gimp are Zia's (for the health conscious), the Horseshoe Deli (for a more uppity deli sandwich than the Gimp), and Pandini's (for your on-campus "Italian Restaurant").  Zia's serve some of the greatest smoothies I've had in a while, and they also have an awesome soft serve ice cream, which is too good to be true because it is low-fat!  The Horseshoe Deli makes some great sandwiches.  Their croissants are awesome!  Pandini's has anywhere from strombolis to calzones to spaghetti and meatballs to pizza...anything Italian pretty much that's within the meal plan!

Up a floor is the Gamecock Park in the Russell House.  There's Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Santorini's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and the Marble Slab.  Enough said...

Another on-campus place I've eaten at this past year is the Bates Cafeteria.  This definitely has its big pro but likewise a big con.  The place is an all-you-can-eat cafeteria, and they have an ice cream bar that serves your basic ice cream flavors with all the toppings you can think of from sprinkles, to strawberries, to cherries, and of course, whipped cream!  A big bad con, however, would be that it is out in the "boonies" of the campus.  Unless you live at Bates, it's pretty much a mile or two of a walk to get there!

There are lots of options to choose from to satisfy your hunger, but in any case, when things kind of start getting boring (and trust me, time will arise that the burgers from Burger King and the grill as well as the chicken nuggets from Chick-Fil-A and Burger King and likewise the salad from the salad bar and Santorinis will all taste the same to each other) there are some pretty great places around campus to eat at!

Let me give you a quick sampling...This week was a week of lots of eating out for me and my friends.  Although all our dinners have put a dent in the pocket, food and time spent were great, tip-top quality!

Let me break it down per the budget, let's just say...

For a more up-scale dinner, there are many restaurants at the Vista, at Five Points, and Harbison Boulevard.  Here's a little tip: Bonefish Grill (locations: Forest Road or Harbison Boulevard)

Not really a Chinese/Japanese Restaurant, so don't be fooled by the chopsticks!  Bonefish is a really great place to get big portions, great ambiance, and great satisfaction for the bucks!  Whether it be a cute dinner date with your significant other or a big group dinner with your friends, the nice ambiance will sure put a great atmosphere to your meal!

For a more casual dinner out in town, the Vista and Harbison Boulevard are also good.  From Chili's to Mellow Mushroom, there are several places to go hang out with the gang!  Here's a little tip: Monterrey's (locations: the Vista and Harbison Boulevard by the mall)

Bottomless chips and salsa welcome you at this Mexican restaurant.  The atmosphere is set with vibrant colors and that iguana figurine that scared the jeepers out of me.  The food is fairly good (an upgrade of Taco Bell of course!), and the desserts are great--try a fried ice cream of a sopapilla!

Finally, for the low budget and lazy butts...there's always cheap good food and convenient delivery options!  The typical pizza joint is of course available, but in addition, there's Chinese Food from Tea Pot if you're craving an actual meal or the ever-famous sub shop...Beezers!

The Tea Pot has a huge selection as most Chinese joints.  For a minimum order of $10, they will deliver on campus.  Beezers is popular with college students as they are conveniently open until 3AM.  I've been lucky enough to live only a block away from the sub shop, but they also offer delivery...so lucky to all!  (The Sicilian is my personal favorite!)

Okay, anyways...that was a long Blog.  The short version of course would be that there are lots of food options here, whether on or off campus!  This place pretty much caters to anyone and everyone's cravings and hankerings!  Hope that addresses everyone's qualms about where to's of your appetites!

If any of y'all have any other questions about on-campus, Gamecock life, please feel free to comment and I will address your questions and concerns as soon as I can.  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks.

Posted by Kriska at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks to Shawn's Art 101 class, he and I have been "culturizing" a lot this semester.  Occassional visits to the museum have filled our Saturdays.  We've seen many different exhibits, from Picassos and Pizzaros to Japanese wood blocks!

Tonight, he and I enjoyed another art extra credit trip into Downtown Columbia to the Vista.  Shawn and I visited an art exhibit that was part of the annual event called Artista Vista.  Described as the largest visual arts event of the Midlands, it is part of the big Columbia Festival of the Arts effort.

There were lots of different exhibits to visit--about 11 major galleries all over the Vista and downtown Main Street.  Shawn and I visited this one called the City Art Gallery.  There were so many art pieces in the 2-floor gallery.  Most of the pieces featured were very vibrant and colorful.  The pieces were mainly contemporary art made in different modes of media--from charcoal, to oil, to paint...They were all just beautiful!

There's really so much art here around Columbia.  There is always the Free Museum Saturdays and the occasional art events to look forward to!  Columbia's a pretty nice place for the arts!

Well...don't know what much else really to say.  Things have been just pretty much getting wrapped up now with the semester ending.  Can y'all believe that the semester is almost over?  I sure can't believe that my first year of college is almost done!!!

Here are some pictures of downtown Columbia from our stroll today...the day still seemed young even though it was already about 7 or so when he and I walked over to the gallery...

Hope y'all enjoyed the pictures of the city!  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 08:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting last last Friday with Relay for Life, the past week seemed to have gone so well.  I had a blast with my friends and all the other participants at RFL.  Then Shawn's parents came up for the Spring game.  Pseudo-tailgating and watching Hootie and the Blowfish was so much fun.  I didn't have my usual Chemistry lab because I had already finished all of the experiments for the semester.  I also finally made my first A in Physics.  I went to the mall to celebrate the A and shopped!  I also found great bargains on USC merchandise at the bookstore at the Russell House.  Then, on Thursday night, I went to a concert with Shawn and Megan.  And lastly, to top of the week, Shawn and I were picked up by my brother, sister, and her husband for a nice Saturday get-away.  We had so much fun hanging out at Beaufort!

It seems so unfair, however, to enjoy the fact that I had had such a great week last week.  What with the NASA murder-suicide, the massacre at Virginia Tech, and the crash of the Blue Angel that killed the pilot and destroyed several homes that all took place last week.  Looking back on all the things I have enjoyed, they all now seem so miniscule all too quick, and it makes me want to just take a moment to pause and put things into perspective...

I actually didn't hear much about the NASA murder-suicide, but it is just as important and as big as anything else.  It's all too incredulous how a man can do such a thing.  Quite even more unfathomable, of course, is how that student just went around on such a spree to take so many innocent lives.  There are so many questions.  So many questions from everyone, including myself, that will just never get answered.  I couldn't even get myself to gather my thoughts about what had happened.  It's just one of those things that's just too impossible to comprehend. 

Over this weekend, when I had gone to Beaufort, I thought I was just going to have a fun Saturday with my siblings and my boyfriend.   Just one good Saturday of relaxation--a nice little break from school.  And it was nice.  It was a lot of fun, but little did I know that as much fun as I had and as fascinated as I was with all the tricks  that all of the pilots performed that day at the airshow that it would end on such a tragic note.  I didn't know the pilot, of course, but when I saw that cloud of smoke and realized that one plane was missing there was only one thing that I could think about--I hope that he's okay.  Regardless of the fact that each individual in the service knows that there is an ultimate risk in what they have gotten themselves in, it's always so sad when a life is claimed.  On top of that, it wasn't like he was off in battle.  He was just there to provide families and friends with good, patriotic, American pride and fun!  Keeping up to date with the news, I later found out that his family was also there at the show to watch him.  I can only imagine what was going through their minds as his plane could not be seen anywhere in sight...Again, questions in my mind...

No one expects any of these things to happen.  No one thinks that a bad report may induce a man to kill.  No one suspects a single student can affect so many lives in such a scary way.  Lastly, you think least of accidents to happen to anyone...

LIFE.  It's all too precious.  So many bad things can happen and usually without any warning.  Maybe it is okay for me to be excited about last week.  That USC "Why Not US?" shirt I bought for $5.99, that guy who said I was a pretty beastly football player at RFL, my first A in physics, the mac & cheese and banana pudding Shawn's mom made, my new black clutch purse that Shawn got me, the crazy, fun concert where Shawn, Megan, and I were swarmed with cute dancing old couples...maybe I am allowed to enjoy all of those things despite the unfortunate events that came with it because at any given moment any bad thing can happen to me so I should treasure every great moment that comes. 

I will continue to keep all those who have had a rough week in my mind.  I only hope that time will help them heal...but at the same time I urge y'all, whether y'all were affected directly or not by any of the events to just continue living.  No one could have said it any better than Abraham Lincoln did when he said, "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Catch y'all later on the flipside future Gamecocks.  Keeping y'all in my mind...

Posted by Kriska at 04:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's eleven o'clock on a Friday night.  People are out dining at the Vista.  Others are starting to party at Five Points.  Some are probably bumming around in their dorms.  My friends and I...well, we were quite bored.

We were too broke for the Vista (hehehe!) The drinking and clubbing scene is just not our thing.  And, well, bumming around in MaxcyPad was just getting too old.  So, what do Megan, Eric, Shawn, and I do to get ourselves entertained on campus?

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL at the HORSESHOE IN FRONT OF MCKISSICK!

Yes, we played flag football.  Well, a version of flag football was more like it.  Searching through the stuff we had at Maxcy, we came up with a mini-soccer ball and lots of socks.  So with each having a pair of sock wedged in our pockets, we played two-on-two sock-erball!  (Get it? Get it?  Socks + Soccer + Ball!  Yea, DORK!  LOL!)

Anyways, we had a little brick path that was 10' x 25'.  Quite the tricky "field" to play in, I would have to say.  Let's just say, it was quite the most interesting football game I've ever played in.  Shawn and I were on a team opposing Eric and Megan.  Sadly, they dominated us.  But not by more than 1 touchdown.  They would have had a two-touchdown lead had Eric not made the fatal mistake of assuming that I would not be able to make a long pass.  But truth be told, I'd have to say that assumption was fair.  I'm not much for playing QB.  Anything on the defensive side or center, I'm pretty good at (remember how I said I was beastly at the flag football game at RFL?!?).  I'm more the defensive player in most cases anyways.  I used to start on my high school's varsity soccer team as a right fullback!

Well, anyways, just thought that I would share another adventure with y'all.  Keep in mind that when in college, the typical going out and party scene aren't all there is to do at night around here at USC.  Hanging out with friends and being silly is perhaps the best thing to do around here, I'd have to say!

Well, catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks.

P.S.  By the way, like I've been saying, if any of y'all have anything that you'd like to know more about USC or you'd jut like to know more specifics about my experiences here, just let me know.  Comment on my blogs, and I will get back to you ASAP.  I promise!

Posted by Kriska at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, so this is not another reference to my cross-dressing boyfriend and friends from Relay For Life.  Although, that activity of the night was quite funny!  This is in reference to my little mall trip.

See, I was supposed to have this horrible Physics test, and usually I have a tradition with a friend who is in the class that we would get Marble Slab ice cream the Russell House after each test because we both usually do pretty badly on it.  Well, actually, most people do pretty badly on the tests...hehehe!  But this test was different because I knew that it's one of my last few chances to bring my grade up, and I was just so down.  I knew that the chances of me gettting more than just a C, which is what I've been making, is just not going to be that easy.  So, to relieve my worries and get me looking forward to something fun and exciting, my boyfriend promised to take my roommate and I to the MALL!  Man, isn't he just fabulous?

Well, it turned out the test was more than just great...I actually made my first A in that class.  I think my professor started feeling bad about the bad grades, but nevertheless, we still went to the mall.  What reason is there not to go anyways?

So, while at the mall, my roommate and I passed two of the most gorgeous prom dresses I've ever seen, and I was just dying to try them on.  Because the boys (my boyfriend and my friend from the class) thought it was ridiculous, we had to keep walking past the dresses.  Little did they know that, well, girls are girls, and after having gone around the mall for over an hour we ended back right at that same place staring at the two dresses.  WE JUST HAD TO TRY THEM ON!!!

Talk about nostalgic about my good ol' proms during my Junior and Senior years.  Both nights were "magical" with my then high-school boyfriend.  I know most of the proms are done by now.  I sure hope that y'all went.  I know some kids decide not to go because of "making a statement" or something, but it's one of those once in a lifetime events that you just can't miss out on.  I've been bugging my boyfriend for the past two months that I want to go to a prom.  I told him that my friends and I should just dress up and go somewhere out to eat and then go to some nice dancing club, and it will almost be just like a prom...and well, I got vetoed for once!  But only because really, there isn't much time left with the school year.  He promised me that maybe next year if we think about it early enough, we just might do something to that effect!  Oooh, how exciting!

Well, just wanted to catch up with y'all.  Maybe some of you won't mind sharing your prom nights with me.  I'd sure love to read about them, so comment me about what you liked or possibly not liked about your prom.  Tell me how much you spent on your dresses because I sure wanted to buy that dress at the mall, but it was $168 that I could not justify to my mother!

So, catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can't wait for next year's RFL!  We had sooooo much fun.  Raising money, playing football, seeing our guys dress up us ladies, all of it...staying up for 12 hours while having no had much sleep at all the entire week due to tests and exams was totally worth it!  I hope that you future Gamecocks will consider joining in the great RFL event next year when y'all get here in Carolina turf!

Well tis all for now again, my future Gamecocks.  If there is anything y'all would like for me to address and talk about especially for seniors whose last year of high school is winding down, then just leave me a comment and let me know what you'd like for me to talk about.  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Despite the exhaustion, fatigue, and soreness, this weekend has been climbing its way to be the number one weekend I've had thus far during my freshman year!  It's been such an incredible weekend that I don't even know where exactly I should begin to write and tell ya'll about it!  Sigh!

Well, as many of you have been keeping up with my Blog probably knew, this past Friday/Saturday was the Relay For Life at USC.  I could barely focus on my two classes Friday morning because I was just way too excited for the event and too preoccupied with making list after list of things to do.  With so many things still needing to get done, everyone was frantically running around all day Friday.  Everyone had their own last minute preparations that they wanted to get finished.  Shawn, Beverly, Cynson, and I worked on banners for the event.  Megan ran a couple of errands for things we needed for our on-site fundraisers.  Then, after our own little duties were done, it was a mad dash for each of us around all of our dorm rooms, packing all of the food, drinks, clothes, games, cameras, etc...all of the goodies we wanted for the night!

My impression of Relay for Life at USC would have to be that it is just as great if not better as I remembered my first RFL experience to be back at Greenville.  Even with such a small team, my friends and I of the Fab Five and Co. did an amazing job at fundraising and raised probably about $1700.  That is only my estimate, however.  We will find out exactly how we did on Tuesday at the final RFL meeting for the year.

Many different student organizations and small groups of friends like with the group I was in had done so much work and put together a great little carnival.  There were snowcones, candied apple, cotton candy, pie-eating contests, bake sales, random games for prizes, and a gazillion other fun stuff!  There were so many different activities and games to help keep us all awake for the entire 12-hour duration of the RFL event reminding us all that unfortunately cancer does not sleep.

Fab Five and Co. participated in practically all of the games that the different clubs had.  We played flag football despite the fact that we probably had not only the smallest people but the most players to not know how to play the game.  We were definitely the underdogs!  Unfortunately, we did not win, but I was told that I was quite the beastly, hardcore player on the field as also a great entertainer with my awesomely intimidating faces!  We also did the trivia game, the scavenger hunt, and participated on the side to the newlywed game.  We didn't exactly go up on stage for the game, we just stayed at our tent and answered the questions.  Shawn and I lost to my friends because Shawn did not know what my shoe size is!  Geez!  Hehehe!  But my most favorite activity that we joined in, however, would have to probably be the Ms. Relay For Life Pageant.  The boys in our group were such troopers and dressed up in our girly clothes!  They looked pretty tacky, however, as the only clothes that would fit them were big, unmatched pairs of clothing that my friend Beverly and her roommate owned!  I will have to post pictures later!

There's so much more to say about RFL and I also haven't even begun to talk about the other part of what made this weekend awesome--Shawn's parents' visit and the Spring game!--but I have to say that I need to cut this blog for now.  The only reason I'm even up at this hour is because I just finished a 3-hour nap that was preceded by a 4-hour nap--only broken for a quick dinner!  My body is just physically exhausted, so I'll just have to give a Part II update of this weekend perhaps tomorrow.  Contingent, of course, with me finishing all of my homework.  If not, I will have to get y'all caught up on Monday!  (Sorry if I barely blogged last week.  The preparations for RFL along with my classes and other activities that FASA and CSC were doing throughout the week was almost too overwhelming to deal with that I never really had time to write!  I'll definitely get y'all caught up by the end of this week.)

So, this shall be it for now my dear fellow Carolina lovers!  I will talk to y'all and catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 01:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, today's theme seemed to be all about Housing.  Several people came over to visit my roommate and I here at Maxcy for some quick interviews about our housing experience here at good ol' MaxcyPad.  Questions were the obvious--How long have you lived in a dorm?  How have you liked it thus far?  How have the RAs helped you out?  What are the advantages of living on-campus?  Our answers may be used for future housing publications for future prospective students like y'all, my avid readers!

I'd have to say that I've definitely enjoyed living on-campus.  I most definitely appreciate it with gas prices rising ever so steeply.  There's really no need for a car for me seeing as I am already on-campus.  Living in a dorm has also helped my academic experience as most of my classmates live down the hall from me.  Whenever a need for homework help arises or I forget what's the date for the next traumatizing test, I've got my neighbors to run to.  Likewise, I'm able to help them when the scenarios are switched!  Being here at Maxcy has also helped me become moe involved with on-campus activities.  Our hall meetings and government meetings has kept me up-to-date with the many on-going activities and upcoming events that the hundreds of organizations have planned for the student body.  Our hall government also tries to keep the residents together in many ways by planning get-togethers and exam breakers.  Little get-togethers have helped us become familiar with the many faces we live next to, and those exam breakers are definitely awesome for little break times from the late night, stressful crammings for those finals!  Lastly, another advantage to being in dorms is that you also get RAs who are generally helpful.  They are upperclassmen, so they usually have some tips and tricks up their sleeves and some words of wisdom to share, especially for newbies on campus like me!

In any case, a home away from home is what you hope your dorm room will be.  For about three-quarters of the year, your little cubby hole of a room will not only be your bedroom, but it will be your living room, your study room, your dining room...and you'll be sharing it with another person.  Your creativity will be tested as you will have to find ways to decorate a gray colored room.  Don't fret...Here are some of my fave tips to share to keep in mind for when you're planning to move out of your parents and move in to your new place...

1. To stuff it or not to stuff it.  However old you may be, those cutesy little stuffed animals will always bring a sense of home to you.  Don't fear that your roommate will think you're dorky and childish.  I'll bet on it that he/she will probably bring at least one that either their parents gave as a going away gift or their special high school sweetheart gave to them on their first Valentine's day!

2. Cozy it up in them chairs.  Mushroom chairs, disk chairs, tailgating chairs, whatever...Chances are your room might not be big enough to hold a couch or a futon, but seating will still be necessary for having friends over!  So bring the coziest chairs you can find.  They will not only be great for when visitors come, but they will be great to study in when your desk and chair has become too stuffy for the all-nighters!

3. MEMORY FOAMS!  Not for your brain--although, some device for memory enhancements would definitely come in handy--but memory foams for your bed!  Many times, the typical dorm mattress can be old or too springy or torn or something.  It will just not like be the mattress on your bed at home, so memory foam it up!  Several of my friends have come over here to MaxcyPad just to take a nap in my bed because my memory foam is most definitely awesome and comfy!

4. Bring in the classics and faves!  A great collection of DVD classics and your personal faves are definitely great staples for a room.  Sometimes you'll just be too lazy to go out and all you'll want to do is stay in (preferrably in pajamas), and those DVDs will definitely be handy!

5. For lack of a better bold-faced catchy phrase: PICTURES!  Post on your walls your most favorite moments from home with your family, your old buds, and even your dog!  Make a collage, put up frames, or just fill up your entire wall!  Pictures will help bring a piece of home into your place.

In any case, whether you listen to me or not...the ultimate tip is to MAKE THE SPACE YOURS!  Many have visited our MaxcyPad and have loved it because of how "cozy" and "homey" my roommate and I have made it, and that's exactly what we were going for!  I guess we figured that we'd be spending so much time in the room we might as well make the best of it!

Well, hope all of y'alls week started off on the right foot.  Man, how the weekend just flew by so fast!  Belated happy Easter to all.  I hope the Easter bunny left y'all some nice treats!

'Tis all for now.  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yep, guys.  I'm over the hump.  My hump of the week!

Many people usually consider Wednesday to be their "hump day" of the week being in the middle and all, but for me, my hump day would definitely have to be Thursday.  Pretty much, when I wake up Thursday mornings, I know that I just have to get through to the afternoon and that as soon as I get done with my Chemistry lab that I'm home free.  Home free towards the weekend until I have to start all over again on Monday.  Actually, I still do have classes the next morning on Fridays, but pretty much after such a busy week, my Friday morning Physics and Chemistry classes just kind of blur all together into two whole hours of...hmmm...what should I call it?  Two whole hours of anticipation for the weekend!

In the beginning of the Spring semester, I felt as if I just had way too much time on my hands.  I had scheduled five honors classes and an honors lab, but still it felt as if I wasn't doing enough.  So, being the "typical Honors/Overachiever student" that I tend to become, I joined an undergrad research (the Pscyholoy aLab that I've been talking about).  That pretty much rounds up my Tuesday afternoons.  But still, I figured that I wasn't doing enough so I joined a couple more organizations/activities.  Along with FASA on Tuesday nights and Maxcy Government on Wednesday nights that I started off last semester, I've been doing Relay for Life (which is coming up in a week, I'm so excited) and, as recently I just posted, Carolina Service Council.  Occassionally, the Fellowships Office, the Admissions office, or some other organization will also need a hand at some program that they're doing, and I usually get myself somehow involved with little interviews and little activities.  So, talk about some crazy days.  But I wouldn't have it any other way!  If I sat around "lazying it up," I would just die!  Besides, I always have my buddies at Maxcy to keep me entertained and to help me lighten up and have fun and enjoy the experience and blah blah blah blah blah.  Also, the weekends greatly makes up for the heavy weeks.  Hence, why I love Saturday outings to the museum, to the city parks, and such!  All that good stuff.

Well, here's a sneak peek at my week.  All of these translate to a schedule that looks like this during the school week:

Mondays:  Physics and Chemistry from 9:05 to 11:00.  Lunch break and Gilmore Girls until I have to go to Linguistics class, which is from 12:20 to 1:35.

Tuesdays:  Science & Spirituality and Logic from 8:00 to 10:45.  Lunch break and Gilmore Girls until I have the Undergrad Research at the aLab, which can last up to 2-3 hours depending on what needs to be done at the lab.  I get a break sometime before I have FASA at 6PM.

Wednesdays:  Physics and Chemistry from 9:05 to 11:00.  Lunch break and Gilmore Girls until I have to go to Linguistics class, which is from 12:20 to 1:35.  Just like Mondays, but I have an afternoon Physics session from 3:35-4:30.  I dislike going to this session because it means instead of just 3 Physics classes a week, I have FOUR!  I tend to just do homework or rest in between, until I realize that MY CHEMISTRY LAB IS DUE IN ABOUT TWENTY HOURS and I haven't started it!!!  So, a late night consisting of 6 hours of laboratory write up and a Maxcy Government meeting at 9:30 PM usually rounds up the night.

Thursdays:  Science & Spirituality and Logic from 8:00 to 10:45.  Lunch break and Gilmore Girls again like Tuesdays, but on Thursdays instead of the aLab I have to go to Chemistry lab.  Recitation begins at 2PM and lab experiments will start about 2:30PM.  I usually won't get back to Maxcy until 4-4:30PM.  Tsk!

HOME FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Fridays:  Like I said, two hours of daydreaming...errrr...Physics and Chemistry.  Then, lunch and Gilmore Girls!  Weekend's a comin'!

Well, catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not quite sure what possessed Shawn and I to go on what you might actually could possibly call an"excursion."  Seriously,  read this: 

We started off our nice Saturday with our usual brunch at the Gimp.  Then we strolled through the Horseshoe, which by the way is looking very nice with the spring flowers.  Then off we went on a walk through Main Street of the City of Columbia to see some art exhibits at the Columbia Art Museum.  Shawn had some extra credit to do for his Art 101 class.  The Richland County Library was only a block away so we went there to do a quick research for Shawn's paper.  See at this point, it's already been about a mile and a half that we had walked...but Shawn wanted an adventure.  "An adventure!  I want to be spontaneous," he said.  So off we went for another mile...or two...or three to Riverfront Park.  Mind you, we still had to walk back to Maxcy!

Well, despite the really long walk--it was about six miles all in all--I must say that I did quite enjoy the day.  I mean, I did once say, "Make friends, have adventures, and treasure memories."  Ahhhh, CHEEEEESY!  Hahaha!  Let's just say I won't be going to Strom anytime soon!

Well, enjoy tome of the pictures I took future Gamecocks.  Isn't Spring time beautiful in Carolina?  Well, catch y'all later on the flipside!

Posted by Kriska at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)