I seem to have a lot of weird zen moments. My current one is sitting in my room and eating broccoli cheese soup out of a dining hall to-go cup, reading some good medieval literature, and outlining my next essay on the prevalence of friendship during Ancient times. Everything I does screams Classics major…

Today I accomplished shaving, doing my laundry (which in itself is an adventure), going to the gym (and burning 762 calories on the elliptical. Hells to the yeah), and… that’s it. I think I said in some previous blog that I was getting thai food with some people, but that never happened, but it is tonight! For real this time!

Except I got guilted into it, so I’m not all that excited. Some people I just don’t want to spend extra time with. But the food should be good.

I got high Bs on both of my midterms. The fact I did so well on my first environmental policy test made me ecstatic (even if the teacher did have to add 10 points to everyones grade as a curve, but college is all about curving, so who cares), though the Roman Civ grade made me fume a little. I didn’t even get anything wrong. I just didn’t list specific information the TA was looking for. Like, “oh, look, you didn’t mention this random date in your summary of this piece of literature. Guess I have to take off 2 points”. Gr. Oh well. I’m over it.

I can’t believe I’m halfway done my first semester. Soon we meet with our advisors to go over classes for next semester. Soon we pick housing for next year. Soon I get to go spend a month at home with no impending doom of tests or homework. Life is pretty snazzy.

Though I did just finish my soup. Sad.

TELL ME ABOUT MONDAY. YOUR POST WAS SO CONFUSING.

Yesterday was a fun and eventful day. :) I volunteered to go to the away game at Maryland because I had nothing better to do, and I was pleasantly surprised.

I met with Other Emily (or E-dawg, as I like to refer to her), and we trudged through the workings of the desolate stadium to find the parking garage in which the band was meeting. We get there, find the other horns going, and isolate our selves from the rest of the band, like we always do. The horns for that day were Christine (who doesn’t really talk to us, so she doesn’t count), me, E-dawg, Katilyn, and Ben (otherwise known as nice 3^rd horn). We eventually loaded the buses, and I got positioned in a window seat next to Ben, which I am certainly not complaining about, since he is a very good conversationalist. For the first hour or so we talked about random things surrounding us (like one company entitled “SiloSmashers”. There are jobs for that?!?). Then we reverted to our antisocial tendencies and listened to our iPods for 2 hours, only resurfacing afterwards to complain about our lack of stopping for lunch. Though I do admire him, because he was on his laptop working on an Organic Chemistry lab report for a good portion of the ride. Crazy chemistry majors (I think).

Around 1 we did pull into a McDonalds parking lot, and it was easily one of the most exciting moments of my life, since I skipped breakfast. And since they gave us $30 dollars for food, I splurged. Mmm. Big Macs. So bad for you, but so good. Katilyn got a happy meal, and it came with this little red dragon toy, so we spent an hour of lunch trying to discover exactly what it did, which was basically nothing. We found it could hold a piece of cardboard if you shoved it in hard enough. Then we presented it to one of the band director/assistant people, who proceeded as if it were the coolest thing ever. Mission accomplished.

Then we drove through sketchy Maryland (sketchier than Georgetown South!) and ended up at College Park, which was still kind of sketchy and I can proudly say Charlottesville is so much classier. We got dressed on the bus, layering as much as possible, dawned the hugest rain coats in existence, and set out for Byrd Stadium.

After about 10 minutes we were completely miserable. We were losing. The rain was progressively getting harder. It was progressively getting colder. And our gloves had been completely saturated with water, so our hands were steadily growing numb. Eventually we realized that it was warmer without the gloves. No hot sacs in site. AND they kept making us play. How cruel. The woodwinds weren’t even allowed to bring their instruments out due to the rain (except for the clarinets ,who were able to play UNDER the giant raincoats).

Half time was a lift me up, because I gave in and bought 4 dollar hot chocolate. Best decision of my life. As soon as I held the cup, I felt feeling return to my fingers in the form of that annoying tingling. The people around me took turns just holding it. Optimism had returned. And then, of course, we started winning. It was pretty amazing. By the end, we had no feeling in our limbs, but enough energy to break into our TAG dance multiple times. The rain stopped after the game ended and we dragged our sopping selves back to the bus, revealing in the invention of heat and forgetting our previous miseries. Oh, and watching Georgia Tech beat Virginia Tech, making UVA #1 in the coastal division and undefeated in the ACC. This will only last a week, as next week we play Georgia Tech and will certainly be demolished. But, it’s exciting while it lasts.

We drove for an hour or so and finally stopped in some shopping center at 9 for dinner. Everything was closed except a place similar to Chipotle, so we ate greasy quesadillas and had silly conversation (“HEY GUYS, THERE’S A COLDSTONE HERE. WHO WANT’S ICECREAM?”, to which Ben thought I was serious and got excited. Silly boy). In the final 2 hours people mostly fell asleep. I tried, but gave up after a half hour and texted Christian, like I normally do.

We pulled back into the creepy parking garage at midnight, and E-dawg and I trudged back to our dorms, where I proceeded to collapse into bed. Good day.

LOOK I’M DANCING ON ESPN

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292900120

Watch the video. The last 20 or so seconds showcases TAG, which is by far the best part of the Cavalier Marching Band.

Randaom random

I'm sitting in my room, drinking tea and eating peanut butter out of the jar. It's a pretty zen moment. :) It would be even better if I had plans for tonight, or if I liked peanut butter. Sadly, I have run out of all food that's not ramen and easy mac, and while those are 2 very delicious food items, they make me feel guilty and they're hardly snack food. Lucky for me a package is currently in the mail from one Mrs. Watkins. :) Food food food.

I just had to sit through a 2 hour long awards ceremony for 3rd years, just so the wind ensemble could play the processional. Boring. Though the 3rd horn is fun, so it wasn't too bad. (If I haven't mentioned this earlier, I am 4th horn, but out of 7, and behind upperclassmen, so it's all good).

Tomorrow I volunteered to go with the band to the Maryland away game (away games are optional, and we get payed 30 dollars to go, so what the hey). It'll be cold and miserable, but hopefully fun. Definitely an experience.

This week has been very relaxed, compared to last weeks stress fest. Though I did slack significantly on my reading. It's not my fault European Lit expects us to finish one epic after another. :( Pleasure reading does not exist in college, though I think I've added like 15 books to my list of books read since being here. Eerie.

Funny story. My roommate is trying to convince our entire suite that I'm going to kill her in her sleep. It started out one night, when I said, "Goodnight roomie, I hope you don't die in your sleep", to which she replied, "YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME?" The next morning she told everyone my plan, and then my RA informed us that it's a myth that if your roommate dies, you get all A's, which fueled the fire. Now, whenever I pass a dry erase board I see, "I'm going to get you, Elizabeth -Emily". I don't think most of my suitemates believe it though, thank goodness. :)

And apparently it's time to choose housing for next year. Already?!?! What the freak UVA. We don't even have real friends yet! I got invited to live with Sally and some other band people, which would be fun, but I don't know the other people except for one girl who I went to gov school with, who never seemed to like me. So that's iffy. Then yesterday I got invited to live with my 2 suitemates Justine and Bailey, who are living with people who all happen to be involved in the big Christian organization. Also iffy. Though we were discussing getting together just a group from our suite, and that sounds very fun. :) We're soul suitemates. None of us party. Our favorite time of the day is sitting in the common room at night, eating and talking about our days. I love us. I hope your group is equally as amazing.

I'm rambling now. I should end this.

AND I MAY BE ONLY 9% OF YOUR TEXTING, BUT I TURNED YOU INTO A GIRL, SO I ALWAYS WIN.

Random updates.

Tomorrow is homecoming! I hope you have a fabulous time and dance the night away. I brought you to your first homecoming. :))) We ate Subway with Paul and Kat and it was magical. Most random homecoming group/date ever. Love. I hope you dance skankily with a cute boy!

Totally killed my Roman Civ midterm. :) Slaughtered it, even. I wanted to keep writing, because it was so much fun. It would just list terms (such as 49 BCE) and we had to write facts about it. OBVIOUSLY 49 BCE was when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, officially declaring Civil War on Rome. akjdflksajfds. Roman history makes me giddy.

AND I have a moral dilemma. If I finish out Latin I would automatically have a minor in classics. How cool would that be?! But finishing Latin would require 8 more credits, and I'm just no that into it anymore. I really wanted to start Italian. Ah. Dilemma Dilemma.

I'll figure it out before next semester.

In unrelated news, we got back our first REAL college 5-page papers back in European Literature today. I was quite nervous, because I wrote my entire paper, then realized I read the question wrong, and had to salvage bits and pieces and create a new thesis. The finished product was slightly all over the place. But I got a B! And I'm good with that! I have to keep reminding myself that this is UVA, and it's supposed to be harder than Osbourn. Haha. My TA said I had really originial ideas, I just needed to support them more. I love my TA. :) He is a gorgeous gorgeous tall, dark, and handsome grad student (Thank goodness Christian does not read my blog) who pretty much speaks fluent Latin and Greek, and does so often. It's pretty sexy, if I do say so myself. My discussion class is like 10 people, and none of the rest of them talk, so it's pretty much just me and my TA having intelligent book discussion for an hour. I sort of love it. Hah.

Nothing else too exciting going on. My suite tie dyed last night. That was a party. The dining halls started serving caramel apples for some reason. I have band 4 days this week for long periods of time. I'm TERRIFIED out of my mind for my policy midterm and I've only spent about 10 hours studying so far. I predict all nighters in my near future. I also got reprimanded by some friends for not being social enough, since I opted not to go to a movie with them. But, the thing is, I WOULD be social if I enjoyed the people I was hanging out with. I need to find people I actually like being around, rather than people I'm just forced to be around at all hours of the day. Annoying. =/

Today one of my closer friends turned 20. That seems to weird. Like an uttainable age.

Right now I'm saying nothing of importance, so I'm just going to go procrastinate on studying some more.

I NEED TO BE STUDYING FOR MY MIDTERMS BUT I'M NOT. INSTEAD I SPENT MY EVENING ON MLIA, PEOPLE AT WALMART, AND AVERAGE CATS.

Good times.

I wish it were still fall break. :( Fall break was nice. People appreciate me when they don't see me anymore. Here I am an everyday commodity. Though I am rather attached to my room and will hate to move out of it.

THE FIRST PUNIC WAR WAS FROM 264-241
THE SECOND WAS 218-201
THE THIRD WAS 149-146
63 BC WAS CATILINES CONSPIRACY
CAESAR LIVED FROM 101-44 BC
492-287 WAS THE STRUGGLE OF THE ORDERS

Roman Civ midterm, I'm going to ace you. I try to study, but then I get pompous because I think I know it all already. Except I'm wrong, because I most certainly do NOT know that the Megalensia, a festival dedicated to Cybele the "magna mater"is on April 4th. :(

Rome nerd Rome nerd. David says I should recreate Roman society and rule as the emperor, but I decided that would not be a good plan. I'd have to reinstate slavery, slaughter the jews, and feed christians to lions, and I just don't think I have the stomach for it.

I'm not even thinking about my policy exam yet. That comes monday. I will study for that tomorrow, friday, and sunday. Saturday is devoted to band. :)

Despite it being midterm week and the fact that the next break seems ions away, I am in a very good mood. Fall in Charlottesville is gorgeous, and my favorite activity is just walking to class listening to oldies. I've found Billy Joel seems to always fit the setting.

I'm sorry things are making you unhappy, Sarahpants! Go look at averagecats and life will turn around!

Fall break already?

I have been a college student for 45 days. Fall break beings this Friday (It's sort of lame, because we just get Monday and Tuesday off) and midterms start the week after. I have 2 (European Lit doesn't have one, because we write so many papers). I shouldn't complain, because I'm taking under the normal course load because band gives me 4 credits, but still. COLLEGE TESTS. Or pretty much just ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TEST, since I could cares less about my Roman Civ test. I rule in that class. I can list off all the kings like a boss. :) Ancient Rome nerd! (random fact: I am listening to Aida right now)

Anyways, back to the dreaded policy test. In my discussion for the class, the TA apologized to the first years who had to take it. He keeps repeating over and over again that the test is, "incredibly difficult". The teacher does multiple choice where multiple answers are correct, and you have to get them all. AND she focuses on tiny details, like who was Senator of which state at the time this report came out, which would be okay, except we've literally read over 400 pages of reports for her class. BAH BAH BAH. I would explode if I didn't love the topic so much. Sure the SO2 and NOx stuff sucked, but now we're onto radioactive waste. I am all over Uranium-235. And for putting it all in Canada. :) I love my discussion.

But I'm studying like crazy. Since the readings are so important, I'm going back and outlining EVERYTHING. This may seem like a simple feat, but one article literally took me 6 hours to completely outline. Egads. I have until the 12th. I anticipate many all nighters in Clemons. Having a 24/7 library is such a brilliant idea.

Today is Wednesday, which means I have no classes! Sadly I have to head over to student health soon to get an immunization I missed. :( Bah. Then I shall come home, do laundry, check the mail, maybe shave, read some Greek comedy, and study study study policy. Life is good.

But really, it is. :) College is a blast. It hasn't completely met my expectations yet. I don't have any crazy stories to tell, and I'm hesitant to go out of my box and do anything. My biggest rebellious moment was having a shot of vodka (mixed with tons of lemonade, because i'm a lightweight), which on UVA standards makes me an extra pansy. Seriously. Everything they say about UVA is true. People DO get drunk all the time. No matter the reason. And then go streak the lawn.

Emily is a good kid though, and sits in her room talking to her boyfriend at all hours of the day. That's getting sort of tiring, just saying. I'm ready to go out and have some fun.

Tomorrow U2 is coming, so there has been construction in the stadium all week building this massive stage. Lucky for me, the stadium is right across from my dorm. My friends and I plan to spy. After going into town and getting Thai food, that is. :) Band is cancelled for U2. I don't think anything else has enough power to cancel band.

Then fall break! :D Heck to the yes.

Band still manages to devour my free time.

I suppose I will start off writing about the band competitions we attended on Saturday.

I woke up and it was dreary and wet. Practice started at 11:45 at the Cage, which is basically a 45 minute walk from my dorm. I would have been fine with that. Us first year band kids love walking together. But it was wet. So Sally begged the upperclassmen, and we got Erik to pick us up outside of our dorms. Huzzah! Erik is a 3rd year and one of the fantastic mellophone section leaders, by the way. We piled 5 first years into his tiny car. I got the honor of sitting on top of Kyla and other Emily. I'm always the one stuck sitting on someone.

Practice was fine. They decided against marching all day, so we pretty much just practiced forming arcs (which is very difficult to plan with 280 people). The soloist for Disney was there and sang Tarzan with us. If I wasn't playing, perhaps I would have gotten a little weepy. Who knows.

Then we frantically grab uniforms, hats, and instruments and load buses. Mellophones got a bus with the piccolos, which wasn't too bad. They're quiet. Then I was informed that the bus ride was 2 hours long. For some reason I did not anticipate actually sitting on a bus, so my iPod was sitting on my desk. Worst yet, I was in an antisocial mood and sitting next to Kyla, the queen of energy and talking above the appropriate noise level.

Kyla: EMILY LETS PLAY A FUN GAME
Me: No.
Kyla: BUT IT'LL BE A FUN GAME.
Me: No.

Eventually I got my way and just huddled up in the corner of the seat texting. In the middle somewhere I decided to talk, and we played silly games like the Umbrella game with our section.

Person: Does reality fit under the umbrella?
Other person: No
Person: ...Do multiple realities fit under the umbrella?

Then we changed on the moving, crowded bus. Which I was certainly used to, but the UVA uniform has a lot more parts and buttons. We got to North Stafford and file into the gym, which is packed. Everyone screams for us, because that's what you do for college bands. And we play. Woo hoo. It was funny to see their reactions though. I have never seen a gym of high schoolers so excited when they announced we were doing Disney. I remember being one of them once, too. :) It was cool.

Then they fed us lousy hamburgers and we sat around socializing. That may have been the highlight of my day though. Roberto made me sit by him and Richard (2nd or 3rd years. I'm not sure) and we had fun conversation for an hour or so.

Roberto: So I'm thinking about working on growing a beard.
Me: Oh me too. A creepy red beard.
Richard: IT WOULD BE A MANE. YOU WOULD BE A LION.

And at the end Roberto said that he totally forgot I was a first year. :) That was nice. I love having upperclassmen friends.

Then back on a bus for another 2 hours. We got to Hermitage and sat around for ANOTHER 2 hours because we were early. Our performanced time was 9:45. More fun times. We perform. Everyone goes crazy for us. We get on a bus and get back to U Hall around 1, and Shanna (my OTHER amazing section leader) drives me home.

END DAY.

I love band. :)