halloween!!

The last day of October!  I don't know where time has gone, but it has been passing rapidly.  Since my last post, we've had two great regattas and we're now officially off the water until spring break.  I'm sad, except rowing in the snow is not my fave...so it's all for the best.  Over fall break, I started reading Bossypants by Tina Fey.  It's hilarious and such a great break from homework (which I should be doing now, oh well).  I also got to see my family in Boston, and I'm just so happy with how most of life in general has been going.  Very sunny. 

I was a house elf for Halloween - I got inspired at the premiere this summer.  It was fun and exciting to actually have a costume, since usually I forget until the day of.  On an unrelated note, here's a link to an interesting and slightly scary article about bioterrorism: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/magazine/how-ready-are-we-for-bioterrorism.html?pagewanted=1&hpw.  It's long but worth it. 

Also, this song has been playing over and over on my iPod (and in my mind) for the past few weeks.  I'm putting up a link to the audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpWsVw9HfBQ.  If you really want to watch the video, go for it, but fair warning: it's kinda disturbing.  So just listen. 

And now it is actually time for homework.  May the fist week of November be productive, fun, and not too cold.  peaceandlove.

It's been a crazy past few days and my brain is having trouble forming sentences, so I'm just going to make a list of things that are exciting/happy.

-new earrings!  purchased with Robin, I got some silver waterlillies and pink octopuses :)
-a new, fuzzy, gray Middlebury sweatshirt.  cozy cozy cozy.
-winning our race last weekend!
-sleeping a lot
-fall break
-going to Boston for the weekend/getting free stuff at the Head of the Charles
-being able to (sort of) play a few notes on the oboe

And here's the link to a song I like - pretty sure it was the free iTunes song of the week awhile ago, but it's blog-appropriate and fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZDn3C7Bh8

the sun will come out tomorrow (or in a few days...)

It has been rather dismal for the past couple of days (weather-wise).  Luckily, the forecast looks good for the end of this week and our upcoming first home regatta!  I'm really looking forward to hosting UVM on Saturday for a little scrimmage - should be fun to have some other boats rowing with us on Lake Dunmore. 

Right after my last post, something else exciting happened...I went to the organic garden for the first time ever!  We harvested probably almost 300 pounds of butternut squash and I ate a delicious carrot.  It was quite fun and I'm excited to go back in the future.

Also.  Starting this week, I'm going to be learning to play the OBOE!  I've sort of jokingly said I wanted to learn it for awhile, but now I actually have the chance to!  I am a little nervous that our orchestra concert is November 12th.  There isn't much time, but I hope that with lots of practice I'll be able to play my part by then!

I can't believe it's already October.  School starting late this year has really messed with me.  Crazy crazy.  I should probably get back to work, but in the meantime, some Lady Gaga for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9YMU0WeBwU&ob=av2n.  And an interesting and relevant NYTimes opinion piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/opinion/an-indefensible-punishment.html?_r=1&hp.  May this week be full of happiness :)

FRIDAY!!!

I'm so glad it's the weekend...another crazy week is done, but it feels like we've already been at school for at least a month (in a good way).  Here's a list of things I'm especially excited about:
-Atwater breakfast.  Today I had a great combination: plain yogurt, strawberries, grapes, and dark chocolate.  So delicious. 
-Doing the woo drill at crew practice this morning :)
-A lovely (albeit early) week of rowing and sunrises on Lake Dunmore
-Seeing some shooting stars
-The return of some t.v. shows - Glee this week was especially good
I'm sure there are many more things I have forgotten, but that's a solid list for now.  I can't wait for the rest of the semester.  Fall is always my favorite, and I have a feeling this year is going to be great.  Happy weekend!

and so it begins

I'm super sorry for neglecting the sunny side recently...life has been crazy!  One week of classes down and I'm already feeling quite busy, but it's great to be back at Middlebury.  Fall in Vermont is so pretty, and the past few days have been mostly warm and pleasant (though there's a frost warning tonight!).

It's so weird to be a senior.   I love feeling like I know what I'm doing, but I also miss some of the excitement of freshman fall.  Mostly, though, I'm thankful to have such great friends and be able to spend my fourth year here.

my lovely window and plants!

Speaking of why Middlebury is awesome, I got a free plant from the greenhouse this week!  It's called a Purple Heart, and the leaves are supposed to stay purple if it gets enough sun.  It was also Greek night yesterday, and falafel is always a wonderful treat.  It has also been lovely to be rowing on the water again.  Other than today's upcoming 6k, crew is nice :)

That's about all for now, but here's a song I recently discovered and like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjoA4nYBD5U

May the week ahead be happy and successful!

"Storms a comin'. She's gonna blow."

As Robert McCloskey writes in his lovely children's book "Time of Wonder," storms are exciting times on the coast.  Huge waves and powerful winds batter the shore, and the sea spray mixes with the rains.  With all this talk, I'm a little excited to sit inside and watch the Irene this weekend.  Luckily, it should only be a tropical storm by the time it hits Maine - hopefully there won't be too much damage.  Should be interesting. 

I had a great trip to the beach today to prepare for the storm, where I finished my latest book, Barack Obama's "Dreams from My Father."  It was so interesting to hear about Obama's childhood and ancestry, and I'm glad I read it.  Here's the rest of my summer reading list: I need at least one more book for the summer (to get to 20). 

1. The Man of My Dreams
2. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
3. Thirteen Moons
4. Mountains Beyond Mountains
5. A Discovery of Witches
6. The Last Lecture
7. Chocolat
8. Blink
9. I Think I Love You
10. Commencement
11. The Elegance of the Hedgehog
12. Sisterhood Everlasting
13. Poisoned
14. Big Girl Small
15. The History of Love
16. In Cold Blood
17. Mortal Lessons
18. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
19. Dreams from My Father

An interesting mix...it has just been so great to be reading for fun again.

Exactly 2 weeks from today are Middlebury move-in and my 21st birthday, both of which I'm very excited for.  I can't wait for senior year, and spending the fall in Vermont (rowing on Lake Dunmore) is gorgeous. 

Finally, here's a song I've been listening to a lot lately.  It's very sunny side.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtLKlB6XcC4

That's all for now, have a good weekend!

Craziness!

So it's the last three weeks of summer.  The end of junior year feels like it happened awhile ago, but at the same time I can't believe it's already the middle of August.  Here's what is on my agenda for the rest of the month:
-read as much as possible (soon to come: a list of what I've read this summer)
-buy a few things for school
-exercise a lot
-beach it

The big news of this post is that finally, after 20 years, I have gotten my ears pierced!  It was a pretty random decision, but I'm excited to enter this new chapter of my life.  Not so excited about dealing with them for the next six weeks...oh well, a sacrifice for fashion.  And you can imagine how cool I looked walking around the mall with my Claire's bag :)

Also, I just bought a clown fish pen drive.  So so cool. 

If you didn't see the NYTimes magazine today, here's a cool project being done to benefit the relief efforts in Japan: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/21/magazine/mag-21Look-paper-cranes.html?ref=magazine

Finally, here's a song I have recently discovered - Don't Stop the Party by the Black Eyed Peas (I'm always a fan): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LH_y159sg&ob=av3e

Peace out, enjoy the rest of the month!