What I did on Study Day.

I am happy to say that I go to a wonderful church that loves blessing people.  Every semester during finals week, Blackhawk church has what is called "Study Day."  About 1,000 college students show up each semester.  The church has about 400 volunteers provide TONS of food, there is an open gym, Christmas movies playing in the food room, a games room, quiet study spaces, group study spaces, an optional worship service, a tutoring center--the whole thing lasts from 12PM-12AM and there are free yellow busses that run back and forth from campus to the church every half hour.  The Church's goal is to bless the college students taking finals and help de-stress them.  It is my favorite part of finals week (the rest of the week tends to kind of suck with the whole taking finals thing) and I am sorry to have to miss it next semester, but at least I will be in Leeds instead.

Okay, so my day began roughly (I will spare you the details), but when I finally got on the bus at 11:30AM, I was ready to begin a wonderful day of eating too much food and hanging out with friends.  I watched "Howl's Moving Castle" with Emily C. and played Battleship with her, got to hang out for a little while with Adrienne R., Mary C., Jill T. and Tim R., with a few cameo appearances from Max B. and others.  To all of you who I got to see on Study Day, thank you for making it a wonderful day.

I had to leave at 5:30PM in order to get to the place where I was babysitting, so I was not able to stay the entire time as I usually do (oh, and btw, I hardly ever study on Study Day, oops!).  Traffic was terrible and it seriously did take me from 5:30PM until 6:55PM (I had to babysit at 7:00PM) to:
-Make a quick run to Gamestop with my Mom (her idea, not mine)
-Get gas because the car was running below the "E"
-Drop my Mom off at home
-Drive from the West side of Madison to the East side to babysit
Amazingly I was not late!  Good thing I know back roads and didn't have to take the highway, which was at a full stop.  So, when I got to the house, the baby was sleeping and I got to hang out with one of the dogs, Roy, and watch cable.  It was a sweet night.

The point of this note overall is to say this:  although there are many tough decisions and circumstances (finals included) that we all experience during college, it is always easier and more enjoyable when we have friends to lean on.  I am happy to say that I have some pretty wonderful friends.  And by no means were all the wonderful people in my life mentioned in this post.  Don't think I've forgotten about the rest of you!  You all mean a lot to me and I hope we will still be able to hang out and talk after I return, especially those of you who are graduating!  Keep in touch!

 Emily C. and I after we claimed our favorite spot in the church downstairs.

 Howl's Moving Castle!

 Jill and Tim, engaged!

 Mary C. and Adrienne R. arrive.

 Some people still use Study Day to study. 

 I won!

 Upstairs at the church.

The church, still upstairs.

 West Side room at Blackhawk--food room.

 Dessert table.

 They played A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, and A Muppet Christmas Carol.

 Roy, the dog I played with while babysitting.

 More Roy.

 I watched Frosty the Snowman. 

 Snowflakes on my window.  How beautiful. 

Here are a few pictures from my 21st birthday with more amazing friends!  Below the MERIT gang: Laura E., Anna L., Michelle B., and Adam C.

 Mary C., Jo C., Emilie M., and Mary S.

Nichole C., Katie S., Yvonne F., and me! 

 Ha ha, oh Adam!  I love your facial expression!  Adam C. and Jo C.

 Me and Hattie S.

 Some of my Historical Society girls: Mary S., Allison P., and Nichole C.

Mine.  =)

The last day of my 20th year.

A few days ago, my kitchen window was left open after an entire day of snowing.  This is what happened.  (There had been more before I took this picture, but I was also cooking dinner, so the stove's heat contributed to it prematurely melting.)

I decided that this was an opportunity not to be missed, so I had a little fun with it.

So, here is what I did with the snow.  Well, this and throw a couple snowballs out my window (which, by the way, is on the 6th floor of the building--great sport!).  This poor little guy, however, only lasted a few minutes, maybe 20, before melting.  It was fun in the meantime.  

I want it to be Christmas now!  I've got my gifts all wrapped and my apartment decorated!

Today, I enjoyed the snow.  

After a nice trek over to the library to post "Closed" signs on the doors and change the answering machine to reflect likewise, I ran over to McDonald's (yes, yes, I know... it's bad for you.  I am running out of food and am hesitant to buy more since I'm so close to leaving my apartment for the next 8 months), then ran a few errands.  When I got home, I was enamored with view from the kitchen window.  Everything just looks so peaceful.  

After a little snow-gazing, I got to hang out with the wonderful Nikki Barnes for a few hours!!  (Hope you don't mind that I stole this pic of you Nikki from facebook =D)  We got to put our heads together and begin to come up with ideas to tackle our last History of Science essay of the semester! Yay for the year almost at an end!

After Nikki left, I watched "The Social Network," which I found to be a very interesting movie, then went on facebook for the next few hours  =)

Pretty much my goal was to enjoy this 7,664th day of my life before the big 7,665th!!  So far, I would have to say I have succeeded.  Now the only thing I have to do is print all my CW (Creative Writing) stuff out, arrange it in a portfolio, and then I'm done with one class!  Only 3 more to go!

Today it snowed.

Good day all and welcome to my blog!  I have been writing essays endlessly all day today and yesterday, so I thought I would write something on here to release some stress!  There is nothing better than a free-write when you want to de-stress.

I am happy to announce that after I finish these two essays, I will be essay free for the rest of the semester and soon after will follow finals and then...I leave for England!  Speaking of this, I also bought my train ticket today from Manchester to Leeds!  I found this terrific railway website (which doesn't cater to the U.S., but I found a way around this =)  (as usual)) and only paid 7 pounds for the train ride itself and 3 pounds for a day bus fare.  Umm, can you say "Score!"?  While browsing through the site, I looked to see how much other fares would cost if I wanted to travel for fun...only 11.5 pounds from Leeds to Edinburgh!  I am so excited!

Also, take note: my 21st is in 9 days.  Holy cow.  And yes, for those of you who haven't figured it out, it is during the first week of finals!  Yay!  =/

Now, as to my title for this posting, last night and into this morning it snowed!!  (I mean snow that stuck to the ground, not just the kind that melted immediately.)  We might have a white Christmas after all!  I know some of you don't like it, but I truly hope it continues to snow.  A lot.  I like snow (though I could do without the cold) as much as I like pie--that's saying a lot.  =)

Cheers!
Megan