Spotted: Trio at Alpha Gamma Rho

Spotted: Trio at Alpha Gamma Rho

Well, it may not have been the best party ever, but it was pretty great in my opinion! Last night my roommate ("Rebecca"), another of my sorority sisters ("Allie"), and I all went out partying (the "trio"). We started at AgRho and ended there too! Everyone agrees that if you are able to stay at the same party the whole night it must be at least decent (or you are very very drunk and don't care!).

Personally, I think what makes a good party is the size. That doesn't mean I think the party has to be huge and, in fact, to a point I mean the opposite. A good party is one during which you can actually socialize and get to meet new people. To some, the idea of a party is to find the biggest, wildest rave they can and that is their idea of a good party. The difference lies in the end goal of your partying endeavor: new friends and a good time, or getting blacked out drunk with your current friends. I have a blast getting intoxicated, sure, but the fun part is trying to converse with strangers (hot ones!) while I'm at it. Not to mention all the memories that I make with the friend group I choose to go with that night which I suppose you can make equal but different memories at a crazy party, too.

For my taste their is a formula: loud crowded dance rooms+small, more private side rooms=fun, socializing, and new friends. The dance rooms are where the rave feeling happens (minus the hard drugs), and once you run into someone worthwhile and talking gets too difficult with the noise, you move into a smaller room where you can hang out and get to know each other. Some may worry that by moving into the privacy of a smaller room a woman could be taken advantage of, and I won't say it isn't true. But as with all aspects of a night out you have to use your head: don't get so intoxicated that you can't make your own decisions and say no. Not to mention that it isn't very likely that you will be the only couple in the room. I don't mean to sound as if the men I meet are always for romantic involvement, a lot of times it is just to meet a new greek friend who also has info on when the parties are. I've met quite a few of my male friends just by saying hey. Of course I did begin the friendships many times with a makeout sesh....but that is just a fun drunk thing to do.

Judge my partying preferences and habits if you want, but to me going out is a way of socializing with both old and new friends in a familiar and enjoyable setting. Take last night for example, the party started just a little on the small side, but within thirty minutes it was a pretty good size. They managed the rooms nicely since there are multiple rooms and they don't have them all open at the same time, As the visitors grew they opened more rooms. People had fun bonging beer and playing beer pong (bongs and pongs...hmm that should be the theme of a party one of these days), and there was a large supply of alcohol that never ran out. I would say the biggest thing these frat boys did right is that they actually approach their guests and strike conversation. There's nothing weirder than just dancing around with your girlfriends and not even getting to talk to the brothers of the house you're visiting! After all, if I wanted to just get drunk with my girls I could chill in one of our rooms with alcohol from the grocery store. Alpha Gamma Rho aren't the only partiers I deem quality either. Delta Chi is equally fun for the same reasons. Of course I fully understand that with the layout of some frat houses parties are held in an open basement because that is what they have to work with. You can always take a girl to a private room upstairs but then you really will be private and secluded because the chances of other people being there too is slim. However, one thing party throwers can do is strike up conversation and say hey; actually socialize! I revert back to one of my original statements: if I stay at the same party all night long, it's probably because it's actually a good one and for me that is how you do it. Party safe, people! TGIF:)

I Can Study Too, Just Like You

I Can Study Too, Just Like You

The picture above basically describes what I feel like doing right now. I feel another rant coming on. I've decided that during the hour between my Culture and Mass Media class and my Creative Writing class I would spend a little time writing my blog on the Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays that I have it (which is holding true; I can only promise to be posting three times a week since school has begun again). Usually there is no class occupying the room during the hour before Creative Writing starts, so I just sit in the room with it all to myself and study and blog; it's pretty great.

I was already feeling just a little peeved since when I arrived at the room it was occupied by a bunch of nice but very socially awkward graduate engineering majors. In fact, when I asked to make sure they would have the room, none of the six of them could get the words out that ,yes, they had reserved the room. They stood there and stumbled and stammered over their words like God had asked them what they were doing for charity lately. But I digress. Anyway so I understood and left. They reserved the room and I most certainly had not, it is just kind of my little (only holds 20 students at a large round table) private study room for the hour and I quite enjoy it, but I have no claim to it. So I moved on.

Directly across from the Arts and Science building where that room is at is the Law Building. They have a very nice library in there that, from peering through the huge glass windows, I could see was practically empty. Now, let me just add that I happened to go to Ellis Library for a silly scavenger hunt I had to complete for a class that is meant to acquaint students with Ellis and the Mizzou libraries in general, and one of the questions was to find the closest library to my residence; it happens to be the law library. This is significant because you would think that since the library system is advertising the law library to all students that all students would be welcome. No. I saw a sign that if you are not a law student you must sign in, which is reasonable. However, as I walked up to the sign-in sheet the desk attendant started asking me questions.
"Are you a law student of the university?"
"No."
"Okay, you'll need to sign in. Are you here to conduct legal research?"
"No, I am just here to study in the library."
(in a sappy, empathetic tone)"Oh well I am sooo sorry, you have to be conducting legal research in order to enter. Have a nice day." and then he turns to face the other way and pays me no more mind.

Excuse me, although I know this is an argument made since tuition was created, I PAY A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY to attend here. ...Or...my parents do. I walked out extremely peeved and even had trouble getting the door since I was so frazzled. The law library was basically empty; I wasn't taking anything away from the precious law students, I just wanted to sit in a desk with an outlet. I know it isn't because the legal documents are that precious either, because he would have easily allowed me to use them if I had said it was for legal research. I didn't even want that though! I JUST wanted a quiet library space in close proximity to the class I had in less than an hour right across the courtyard. It frustrates me because there is no reason I can think of that should prohibit me from being aloud to study in a library at a university of which I am a paying student. It is my right to study wherever I want, and the only reason I wasn't aloud is because they didn't like my purpose for being there. When did studying at college become an invalid reason for utilizing a library?

Shopping SPREE

Shopping SPREE

Wow what a day, and it's been a great one! Shopping will make any girl feel great (until she glances at her credit card bill...) and today I got so much new stuff! My friend Lorie and I hit up Marshalls first because I don't have enough warm party clothes. Most of what I have is short sleeve or thin fabrics that needed a jacket! We looked around Marshalls and didn't find a leather jacket but I DID happen to find two new shirts to go out in. One of them is a steel grey, completely lace, see-through, crop top with spaghetti straps. Definitely a cold shirt! I plan to wear this navy bandeau bra I own under it. Needless to say, that jacket was really needed now! The other shirt I bought was a little warmer; a plain navy blue, off shoulder, TIGHT spandex, quarter sleeve shirt. I'm hoping it is going to be a little warmer to wear out in the frigid night air. We were about to leave since I didn't see any jacket options, but as we made our way to checkout I found just the warm winter hat I have been looking for this whole season! It has one of those big, fluffy balls on top made of faux fur hairs and it is bulky, cream knit with little gold studs on it. On the very front is the Steve Madden gold metal label and, get this, it was only $7.00. I left very pleased but still very much in need of a jacket:)

Round two was at Columbia Mall. I still really needed that jacket, so we tried H&M first. They had some leather jackets, but the more I looked at them or tried them on the more I realized I don't really fit the part for the edginess of leather. I looked around and found some jean jackets but I didn't like the wash of them. Lorie ended up buying a dress for the sorority since she just began Spring Informal Recruitment! (Remember her name is changed, Ladies).

Leaving empty-handed we headed on to Maurice's where I finally found a jean jacket with a wash I like that I can even wear year round. Thank God! It was $40.00, but seriously that's not bad at all. I also bought the first (and not last) item of the day that was not needed: a pair of 75% off printed leggings for only $7.00; that must be my magic price. 

Satisfied, we headed on to Icing so Lorie could look at an earring for her cartilage piercing, and while we were there I noticed all the belly rings and bought two...whoops:). 

Before we left, though, I wanted to find some cute booties to finish off my looks for any upcoming parties, and it took a few stops before we ended up at this weird shoe place whose name escapes me. It worked out, though, because I found these cute, black, suede, lace-up, heeled booties for like $40.00. I didn't even know that Fergie was designing now, but I guess she is because they're "Fergalicious" brand. 

We left the mall after that, and you would think I'd be done right? Well I came home to the sorority house and made some buffalo chicken dip for a snack (mix shredded chicken from a can, 1/2 cup Frank's Buffalo Wings sauce, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup ranch dressing and put it all in the microwave until cheese is melted. Eat on crackers), and went shopping again! My sister who lives upstairs from me was selling a bunch of her clothes so I decided to take a look. Great brands and great style so I grabbed two cardigans, a sweater, a blouse and a sundress and when I asked her how much it would all be she said just $20.00! They are all new with tags, too.

Back in my room later I was doing some homework right here in bed on my laptop just like I'm sitting now, and I realized that I could sure use a lap desk! Soooooo I got online and bought a lap desk...and a ton of other stuff! I ordered BB cream foundation, lipstick, contour sponges and a contour cream palette, a concealer palette, a little two step stair to get up to my bed more easily, and some adhesive boobies (a bra) for all my cute and slightly scandalous new party clothes. Nothing feels better than a whole day of shopping! WHAT A SPREE.

Waiting and Waiting... and Waiting

Waiting and Waiting...and Waiting

So of course everyone loves when class gets out a little early. And I don't want to complain too much...but I'm going to be a bit of a nerd here and say that I wish my last class hadn't released us an entire half hour early; that's half the class! Of course there is the argument that college is expensive and it would be nice if we got the entire class that we paid for and not just half of it. But of more importance to me is what we can do with that time! The teacher thinks she is so nice for letting us out, but unlike her I can't just go home and be done for the day. My next class doesn't start for another half hour, and that isn't enough time to do anything or go anywhere.

Luckily for me I can blog during this time and it's a pretty good sized time interval to do it in, but I don't want this to become a habit of hers. It just bothers me because I personally don't do as well in school with breaks between my classes, even though thirty minutes really isn't terribly long. Every time I take a break or switch gears my brain has to refocus again when I go to the next class.

I am super pumped for this class to start though! The class starts in ten minutes and its creative writing. With the small class size we actually get to be really hands-on and discuss a lot. Plus there is this really cute guy, and with the size of the class I feel like I have a good chance of him noticing me:) Anyway, the class is letting out now so finally I don't have to be bored to death!

update: I just checked my schedule because I was confused on why it is almost 11am and yet the teacher and students aren't here yet! Come to find out the class actually starts at 12pm, so I actually have another hour to go ugh. Still trying to memorize my class schedule.

School is Nuts

School is Nuts

Where do I start? School is back in session! I moved into the sorority house and have a four person room that I only share with one other sister (two closets each is AWESOME!). I already feel so much closer to many of my sisters just by being in the house around them and doing daily activities with them.

Classes so far seem interesting. A few aren't about what I thought they were, but I still think I can interest and engage myself. I am an idiot and left my planner back in St.Louis so I had to improvise and print off some calendars. I have way too much going on not to keep organized! I am taking a creative writing course to learn to write more fiction since currently the only other pieces I write consistently are freeform poetry. I love how small the class size is; only around thirteen students. I got to know the girl next to me who seemed really nice. I am one of only two freshman in the class, though, which is weird but I suppose with the class size it isn't unheard of.

Of course, it is syllabus week and that means frat parties!!! Last night I went out with my new roommate Rebecca and one of the girls I went skiing with over break who also attends (we'll call her Lorie). We hit up multiple frats, and surprisingly I thought the parties we went to were extremely small in comparison to other parties I have been to at frats, even in comparison to last semester's syllabus week. The last one we went to had run out of all their alcohol except for some unflavored plain vodka, so the three of us all took shots of it! We asked if they had chasers and all they had was a single bottle of water that we passed around. I feel really bad because I was so drunk last night that I spilled multiple of Lorie's drinks on her!! I kept thinking I was standing farther from her than I was. I am excited to say that last night I convinced Lorie to sign up for our informal recruitment, and there is a chance she will be a sister!!! I wish her the best, and I am nervous for her!

It is always just a tad stressful to find the time to write, but once I start I find the words come pretty easily. With school starting again I can't promise a daily post, but I can promise that I'll do my absolute best to not let three consecutive days go by without a word. It's great to see my readership increase, so thank you all, and the only thing I can ask is that sometime someone leave me a comment! I would love to know what you all think of my posts, my subjects, and future ideas of things you'd like to see. Your feedback, positive or negative as long as it is constructive, is greatly appreciated and wanted. Ask me questions about myself or anything you want to know more about for me to expand on!

If you just returned to college, too, I wish you all the best this semester!

Back at It

Back at It

(Sorry there is no funny photo here, I promise I will update it later! I'm posting from a different computer and I don't know how to work Apple computers!!:)

Whelp, I'm back at Mizzou! I feel bad that I haven't posted in two days, but I have been pretty busy packing or sleeping! Yesterday I drove to Lambert Airport to pick up my man friend (we'll call him Josh, I'm changing names) and it was SO good to see him again! We drove back the two or so hours back to campus and dropped him off at his apartment before I went to move in at the sorority house! Last semester I was in a dorm since I am a freshman, but this semester I decided to move in-house! So far I would say I will get along with this roommate WAY better than the random dorm one.

The day was not perfect, however. I went to get my bike from the dorm where I had left it, planning to take it over to the sorority house. To my disdain, someone stole my bike basket. It was a nice, big, sturdy one. I am less upset about having to purchase another one than I am about having to take an hour or two to reinstall it. But hey, thinking optimistically, at least they didn't steal my whole bike (although it has a good lock so they didn't have the option).

The other thing that happened that was less than desirable is that when I got into my new room in the house it appeared that my sisters who had been in the room last semester had never. moved. out. All their things were still out as if someone were still inhabiting it. Nothing was in boxes. So when I came home to Columbia all prepared to set up my new room and get unpacked and comfortable, I couldn't because there was barely enough room to even set my luggage. Even more frustrating is that I waited and waited for the girls to come move their things, and two of them did within a few hours. The third girl still hadn't come by 9pm, so luckily I went over to Josh's and spent the night. Otherwise I would have had to sleep on the floor of my own room because her bed was still made! I did hear from my roommate this morning that the girl had come late last night and moved.

Still, I am so excited to be home even though it is bone cold! I have so much to do, though. Today I am spending the day with Josh and we are going to the grocery store so I can cook him a great dinner:) I also have to pick up my books and later tonight attempt again to settle into my room. Hopefully late tonight my roommate (we'll call her Rebecca) and I will go shopping for some things for our room. I forgot that the house rooms don't come with any furniture besides a bed! As of now I have nowhere to put my clothes and books for school! We plan to get a rug and curtains to spice it up, too. Anyway, busy busy!! Good luck any Mizzou students on our first day back tomorrow!

Wash, Dry, Fold, Repeat

Wash, Dry, Fold, Repeat

My family is really weird to me because they choose not to use a dryer to dry their clothes. I know that it is because they are trying to save energy and relieve themselves of the risk of shrinking their clothes, and I agree that there are some more delicate items of clothing that need to be line dried. However, I usually wash all my usual clothes at the end of the week and I end up with two to three loads. Not only is there not room on the line for that much, but I also don't have hours and hours to spend waiting for load after load to air dry. 

Luckily for me, one of our family friends got a new washer and dryer a few months ago that she was just so excited for me to try. Honestly, it was just your standard washer and dryer. But it was nice because her daughter has been a lifetime friend of mine and is also the girl I went skiing and to wild country with the other day, and it was good to spend more time with her before I go back to Mizzou. 

I am very much looking forward to returning to Columbia, but also a little stressed! I drive back on Sunday after I pick up my manly friend (not a boyfriend; still working on the commitment part!) from the airport. I am making headway on my to-do list though. One of the things I had to do before I leave is to get completely everything out of my wrecked car so it can be salvaged. I wasn't expecting to get so emotional while I was sitting in the driver seat on a dog food bag so I wouldn't cut my butt on the glass that covers the entire car. I managed to get everything out, but even though I felt like a wuss I was sobbing by the end of it. It made me so anxious to be back in the place where it all went down that when I came back inside I actually vomited. I got the job done, though, and now I should never have to go in it again. In fact, by the next time I visit home it will have already been taken away to a salvage yard. I don't know; I feel silly getting so worked up about just sitting in the car, but I try to give myself some credit. After all, I should have died in there and that rightfully shakes me up. I definitely look forward to taking my new car back to Mizzou after I visit for Mardi Gras in St.Louis City!