Breaking News

Duke has been rated the #2 "douchiest" colleges in American by GQ magazine. The following is the Daily Dose from Wednesday's DTH:

"GQ magazine has spoken. The article, "America's 25 Douchiest Colleges" published in the September edition of the publication officially declares Duke the number two 'douchiest' college in America.

'They're probably number one. But we'd rather not rank Duke number one at anything,' the article says. That's just embarrassing for the Dookies, who, unlike UNC, did not win a National Championship last year and camped for months outside Cameron Indoor Stadium only to watch their team get pummeled.

The article also defines Dookies to be the 'O.D.' or 'Original Douche.' Duke students should have seen this coming. Notice also, UNC was no where to be seen on the douche list. Laugh out loud."

Also on the list:
25. University of Virginia
24. University of Texas
23. Randolph Macon
22. Vassar
21. Trinity
20. Morehouse
19. Ohio State
18. Boston University
17. University of Chicago
16. USC
15. Notre Dame
14. Arizona State
13. University of Georgia
12. University of Phoenix
11. NYU
10. University of Colorado
9. Charter College, Wasilla
8. Rollins College
7. Amherst College
6. Bob Jones
5. Deep Springs
4. Harvard
3. Princeton
2. Duke
1. Brown University

Now, how about that?

What the First Week of Class Can Tell You

Over the past couple of years, I learned that the first week of class can tell you a lot about the professor and how the class will turn out. For example:

Professors/Instructors with really long, wordy syllabi are usually new. They like to use big words and complicated course objectives to intimidate you. They have complex, unorganized layouts and reading schedules. On the other hand, the best professors, the ones who have been teaching for years, have 2 page syllabi that are short and to the point. The course schedule includes 3 things: the date, the title of their lecture, and the reading assignment. These are the professors you want to have.

I've also learned that you need to plan to spend more time getting your food at Chick-fil-a in Lenior because the Freshmen (pardon... "First-years") really do not know what they are doing in line.

It's also important to take a look at the books before taking the class if at all possible. Book titles tell you a lot about what the class will be like. For example, a textbook written by the professor is usually a good thing - they'll have structured lextures. Several books not about religion in a religion class is usually not a good thing - it could mean that the professor thinks crazy abstract and tries to relate unrelated topics to their subject. Just saying.

It's always good to get the TA that smiles and laughs. Not the one that dresses in a suit and acts nervous around the professor.

Old people in the class = good news! In my experience, if an old person is taking the class, it's usually because the class is super awesome and the professor comes highly recommended. Why waste your retirement years in a class that's no good?

You can also always tell which girls plan to rush - it's easy. They are the ones that still dress cute, put makeup on, and straighten their hair after the first couple days of class.

If a professor asks how many students are enrolled in the class because it meets a requirement, it's a good sign. Usually, this means the professory recognizes that their course isn't the center of everyone's world. I love these professors.

Finally, the people who haven't yet fallen in love with Carolina and don't act crazy for Carolina athletics, won't know who the basketball players are until Late Night with Roy comes around. Sad, I know. Take for example this scene at Chick-fil-a:

Girl from Kaplan Testing goes table to table asking if people are interested in going to grad school and if they have taken the GRE, MCAT, etc... She stops at me and Amanda's table goes through her little spill... we chat with her, blah blah blah... she moves on to the next table. She proceeds to ask Deon Thompson if he plans to go to grad school. He smiles and says "no." She asks him if he's considered taking the GRE in case he changes his mind. He laughs.

So Kaplan girl...

...this is Deon Thompson.

Starting forward for the 2008-2009 National Championship team, otherwise known as UNC.

Back to School!

Whew. I'm tired. First day back to classes today! Can I just say how crazy it feels to be a senior? And, furthermore, can I just say how crazy it is for my little brother to have his first day of Middle School today? This cute little third grader is now in MIDDLE SCHOOL!
Yikes! I can't believe it. This was his first day of 3rd grade. Where has time gone?

Anyhow, I think my classes today went well. I like them so far. This semester, I have African American History to 1865, Holocaust, World Since 1945, American Art, Senior Seminar, and Teaching Fellows MAT. Tomorrow I start picking up a 7th grader from school as a part-time job. I'll pick her up Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and my friend Holli picks up Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's such a great deal and I am so thankful for the money.

I also will be doing observations/tutoring for a couple hours a week as a part of my Teaching Fellows coursework.

Other than that, I think that's all. I mean, that's plenty to keep me busy. I'm looking forward to this semester! Whoo hooo Senior year is here!

Happy 6 Years!

Six years ago today, Parker asked me to be his girlfriend! Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you!

Invitations and Stockings

Remember when I made these invitations for my friend & sister-in-law-will-be-in-law, Candice's shower?

Well... I liked them so much that I made these for my friend & old roomate, Katherine's shower...

Cute huh? Katherine is so sweet! She's getting married to her high school sweetheart, Eric. They have been dating for over 6 years! (Yay for the "Six-Years") I'm so excited for them!

So, for the stocking I've been working on for my grandma... (How's that for a change of subject? I tried to come up with a transition, but I've got nothing.) I started it last November in hopes to give it to her at Christmas. Ha! What was I thinking? Cross-stitching takes forever. My grandma cross-stitched a stocking for each person in our whole family - except for herself. So, I thought I'd make her one. This is what it looked like after one WEEK of working on it:

Hahaha! That's garland, a snowflake, and part of an angel.

But this is what it looks like now in August (that's nine months later).

And, in my defense, I didn't work on it at all between the months of February and June. I've started back and think there is a decent chance I'll finish it by this Christmas.

Just in case you were wondering... I did wrap up what I had done at Christmas and I gave it to her with a picture of what it would eventually look like with a letter about how much I appreciated her hard work in all the stockings she had made.

So with that... I'm going to cross-stitch!

Feeling Crafty!

So now that I'm settled getting settled into my new apartment, and I'm trying to get things straight, I wanted to show you some of the things I've been working on! First, my throw pillows for my bed.

Taadaa!

How cute is that front pillow? I got the paper fabric flowers from Michael's and used buttons and ribbon for the centers and stems.

I also built a shelf. Okay, maybe I didn't actually build it, but I did put it together. See?

My class books are going on the bottom shelf, so that's why it's empty now. Ignore the random boxes on the right. I got the book case from Target for $26.

And finally, I hung a bunch of stuff on the wall after being inspired by Edie's Wall of Frames. So, here it is!

I think that I should add something to the bottom right corner, it looks empty to me. What do you think?

Please disregard the random fan string hanging down in the middle of the picture... and don't notice the frame with no picture in it on the left. I know the picture that I want in it, I just haven't printed it yet. So just, imagine that it's there. Also, don't notice the revamp-clock without any numbers on it. I will be putting numbers on it, but I left my white paint at home in Greenville. So, just imagine white numbers on the clock. But DO notice my awesome pillows that I made. Suh-weet! :)

And that's all for now.

Not Me Monday Tuesday

Welcome to "Not Me" Monday Tuesday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. Wanna play? Just tell about all the embarassing things you "did not do" this week!

I did not take apart my old, cheap, Walmart clock and revamp it to make a new clock.

And the back of the new clock does not look this ghetto.

And I would never hang the new clock without putting the numbers on it... because I never leave projects unfinished.

I also did not write things on my To Do List that I had already done, just so I could cross them out and make it look like I had accomplished something.

Speaking of lists, I definitely did not make a list of things to write about for "Not Me" Monday and then forget to post "Not Me" Monday until Tuesday night at 10:15. That's absolutely ridiculous.

What did you not do?

Guess what today is...

Ok, you'll never figure it out, so I'll just tell you!

6 years ago today I started my first day of high school (but that's not what I wanted you to guess)... 6 years ago today was also when Parker & I had our first date! We went and got ice cream at Dairy Queen after my cheerleading practice. I was 14 years old! Yikes!


This picture is from the Winterville Watermelon Festival, which was our 2nd date - we went to the Tracy Byrd concert. Ok, ok... this picture isn't actually of our 2nd date, but it IS at the Winterville Watermelon Festival my senior year of high school (I think).

Anyhow... just thought that I'd share! I love you honey!

Good news!

Mom's doctor appointment went great! The scans confirmed that cancer was no where else in her body. She started Herceptin (preventative treatment) today. We won't know about how the tumors in her brain are until her MRI in a month. (She has to have an MRI one month from the end of radiation because the tumors will continue to shrink even after radiation has stopped). Then we'll know about the Gamma knife and the preventative treatment in the form of the pill.

So thank God today for good news! We are so relieved and thankful!

Summer Time

Remember this post from way back in April? The one where I made a short list of the things I wanted to do this summer. Well, since I'm moving to Chapel Hill to my new apartment on Saturday, let's recap and see how I did.

1. Read Pride & Prejudice - Check! I did and it was wonderful!
2. Get a tan! - Check! Well, it's not that great, but it's good enough.
3. Go to bed on time! - Check! I did a pretty good job of that...
4. Finish my Grandma’s stocking that I started for her … for Christmas (ahem… last Christmas) - Minus! I did work on it and get a lot done though!
5. Scrapbook – Minus! Not even close...

I mean what can I say? It's been a busy summer!

I cleaned out my room, and did all the stuff in this post... (You know, Candice's Bridesmaid's weekend at the beach, Parker's graduation, Teaching Fellows Escapades (3 to be exact), Candice's wedding shower, family vacation, the wedding...) AND my Grandma Sue passed away and my mom's cancer came back. I threw my dad a surprise 50th birthday party and spent time with Parker's side of the family. So I've been busy busy busy!

However, it has been such a great summer! And, the best part is, just because I'm moving, doesn't mean summer is over yet! There are still some great things in store... you'll just have to wait and see!!

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Please pray for us - my mom goes to the doctor tomorrow to hear about her body scan results (to see if cancer is anywhere else in her body) AND to start the preventative treatment.

100th Post!!

Yay for my 100th post!

Also, Yay for my mom's last day of treatment! She said "I would jump and down to cheer if I wasn't so dag on tired!" She is still exhausted and will be for several weeks. We will wait 5 weeks and do another scan. Depending on the results, they will use the Gama Knife. We shall see!

She had full body scans (minus the noggin') today to see if cancer was anywhere else. The doctors don't anticipate that it will be, but we just want to make sure. We will hear the results on Tuesday at her next doctor's appointment.

And one more Yay for the new Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Morgan! The wedding was beautiful and fun! I am so happy for them!! Pictures and details to come... you know, when I have an extra hour in my day :)

Till then...

God bless!!