So, welcome me back again folks, as I know I've been MIA again.  But I've been home for almost a week now, and this whole adjusting back to home-style living is just quite something to get around.  First of all, there are about a gazillion boxes and bags of things that have just been put in mounds and stacks all over my living room, my younger brother's room, and my room.  You don't ever realize how much stuff you accumulate over a period of one year until you have to move everything out and it's like you just ask yourself, "WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?!?"  I feel like I've been going through all of my things for hours, and yet there are still more things to be sorted through.  Secondly, I've been back on the clock at CVS.  I started yesterday, and as much as I was worried about getting back into the groove of things, I surprised myself about how much I actually remembered from last summer.  And finally, as much as the familiarity is giving me the home-sweet-home vibe and mom's homemade cooking has been very much appreciated (she is basically cooking up every single one of my personal favorites ever since I got home), being back home is such a big change from being in Columbia and being on my own.  My parents are a bit more slack than I remember them being with me during my high school years, but there is something about their parental power that makes me feel like I can't quite do as much as I would like when I'm under their roof!

With all of that said, what exactly do I miss about Columbia?  I mean, I was pretty excited about getting out for the summer and going home.  As I said in the last few entries, I was pretty tired of the Russell House "cuisine."  I was also just plain over doing school work after such a grueling week of finals.  You would think that with those complaints that I'd be so happy to be away from Columbia!  But that is simply not the case!!!

Here are my top 3 reasons for missing Columbia, in no particular order of course:

1. The Vista, Harbison, oh the town of Columbia!

My friends and I usually take to the streets and enjoy some great dining in the Vista or some shopping down Harbison Boulevard when it comes to winding down the week.  With so many great restaurants lining the Vista downtown area of Columbia and so many stores all over Harbison, there's a lot to do on a Friday or Saturday night.  We also like to go to the shopping and dining area of Sandhills near Clemson Road (ironic to say Clemson, ain't it?) 

2.  The Horseshoe, the Russell House, oh the campus!

So, I probably don't miss the food of the Russell House, as y'all have read my whining and complaining and missing of my mom's cooking.  I do, however, miss the feeling of being on campus.  As much as I'd love to say that I have my own apartment or my own place, there's just something about the experience of being on campus.  I miss the hustle and bustle of Greene Street.  I miss the free movies and free concerts.  There's lots to miss about the Carolina campus.

3.  Lastly...but most definitely not the least: MY CAROLINA GAMECOCK FRIENDS!

My roommate sent me this bumper sticker from Facebook, and I couldn't agree more about how she felt.  The bumper sticker read: "We left our families to live with strangers, and now we left family to go home.  Miss you!"  It's so weird that my parents catch me referring to Columbia as "my home."  I'm always talking about how school was like this and like that and how I did this and that back "home."  I mean, home is still sweet, but I've just gotten so used to living on my own.  My friends are a great, big part of this home feel!  I'm going to enjoy my summer, but I will sorely be missing my friends as they all also spend their summers in their respective home cities!

And well...that's it for my top three!  What are y'alls top three things that you'll miss about being in school?  I know y'all probably can't wait to get out school, but I'm sure y'all will be missing hanging out with your friends.

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