I Can't Get Over It... (:

There are some things about this campus that I simply will never get bored with. Last Friday after my SUA office hours, Juli and I went exploring campus because it's simply soooo big!! We sat down on a foot bridge by Potter Lake and listened to music on my laptop and just de-stressed from the long week. We started talking about how beautiful the campus was and I mentioned how much I want to take pictures of it.... Well Before you know it, we were back down on campus, showered, dressed up, with Jessica in tow and ready to go! Unfortunately, we lost the light super quickly Friday night, but we went back out on Saturday and had Robert with us!! It was a great two days and honestly, a blog about it wouldn't do it justice.

You just have to see the photos for yourself.

(:

I <3 my friends (:

It's all about Balance (:

Ok, so let me begin this blog by saying, "ITS BEEN A LONG TWO WEEKS!"

I feel better. (: I'm not saying it's been a BAD two weeks, just long, stressful, anxious, and tiring... lol with exciting, eventful, amazing, surprising and lets-do-that-again thrown in along the way.

So let's start with some good news.

A couple weekends ago, the girls and I decided to go to a candlelight vigil in honor of 9/11. Andrèa and I had been watching 9/11 shows and news stories all day, so we thought it would be a fitting end to go and reflect on everything we had seen that day and what we remember. Well, of course, when I make plans... they usually get shot down in some way shape or form. Not five minutes after we get there, I get my weekly-James phone call. So I stand up and run away as fast as possible (while getting weird looks along the way) and get to the campanile out of ear shot of everyone. We talked for about seven or eight minutes, which doesn't sound like much, but compared to my usual three to four, I was elated! It was a wonderful ending to my day and beginning to my week...

I got my next phone call a week later on my way back from my Bio150 test review. It was perfect timing and a great conversation because it was going to be our last "weekly" phone call!! James graduated from Basic Training on September 22, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas! He will now be sent to California for tech School... but what I'm really saying is he'll get his phone back and I can text and call him again! That's what's really important... right? :)

I stole this from his dad... He's the one shaking hands... (: I'm really proud of him. <3

Also, I took two tests this past Tuesday... yes, TWO! lol One in Bio150 and the other in Calc. I received my first ever 73% on my Bio test. And I am (now) ok with that. I was freaking out horribly because, hello, it's my major! But I realized, I am allowed to not be a perfect 4.0 student here... I can accept 3.7 ;) And what made it all better was getting that beautiful 95 on my calc test! It's all about balance. (:

Second time is the charm!

Also, I was elected into McCollum Hall's government as the Programmer! It's kind of like StuCo and Cheerleading all in one... coming up with events and marketing and planning them. Perfect. (: However, i found out on a Thursday (night..at 11...) that I had won.. and was then asked to go on a retreat with the other councils and the e-board the next night... Sure!! Robert and Jessica are the President and VP of AURH (Association of University Residence Halls.... acronyms are everywhere here!) and they went too... So what could have been a 24 hour, last minute, sucky trip... was a fun and enjoyable experience! We had a campfire and I got to meet some amazing people that I cannot wait to work with!... oh yeah, and I got some quality time with my BFF's. (:

BFF's (:

You can see the rain drops on my jacket lol

No idea what we were talking about lol

Every year, Big Mac puts on a Battle of the Bands... and yes, I drew this :) Be proud.

Random happy things: I went to my first AURH and SUA (Student Activities Association.. I should make a list and run it down the side of my blog, huh...?) meetings. I am on the Cultural Arts Committee for SUA and I will be a photographer and writer for the Hall Street Journal. I love how I'm branching out here and doing a lot of never I never could have done back home (like drawing, writing, and going to Nebraska for a AURH conference in October, and visiting the KU Med Center in December!) 

Side note: Glee and Grey's Anatomy came back this week... PLUS PLUS PLUS!!

So now for the bad (or as I like to call, interesting) things.

This morning, the busses were running late today because there was a huge power outrage and the internet was down. So I got to Chem a little later then usual. I was distracted and was following some guy.. when the next thing I know, I'm in the wrong class!! It's way smaller then Budig 120, so I didn't want to just get up and leave, plus he was talking about genetics and it was really interesting... so I stayed. I took out my notebook and pretended to take notes and it was a super interesting class.

If you aren't laughing loudly right now, you should be.

It's honestly no big deal, I can catch up on Chem this weekend, but you have to admit.. It's super funny, and totally me.

Another Taylor moment happened the other night right after my two tests (but I still had a BUNCH of work to do) and I was studying in Robert and Kenton's room in my chair... when the next thing I know... it's 5:30 am, I'm in another chair, and I had my blanket around me... I quickly put two and two together... and went right back to sleep (: lol Kenton's alarm went off at 7:30 and I went to my room to sleep for 45 more minutes. I was wiped! The next afternoon, I asked Kenton when I fell asleep and he said it was sometime during the re-run Charlie Sheen roast before Charlie had finished lol. He said he told me to go to my room, and I stood up and went to the other chair and fell back asleep... so typical. 

As I read back through my "bad" moments, I just laugh and shake my head saying "that's typical." I wouldn't trade any of the bad moments here for anything... because in hind sight.... there are no bad moments. There are interesting, comical, embarrassing, off-the-wall, and weird moments... but never bad. As long as there is a balance between the good and the "bad"... the "bad" make the good that much better.

<3

Memories in the Making...

I've always known that some of my favorite moments in life are the little ones: the ones that are seemingly useless or forgetful to others. That moment when I finally understand my Chemistry problem and I feel the lightbulb come on; that moment when I see a familiar face in a football stadium; and that moment when I realized just how amazing my college years are going to be.

This past week has been super stressful because I had my first college test on Thurs.. and of course it was for Chem 184! Two-thirds of the information I was very comfortable with, however, its always that one chapter that I don't understand that causes me to lose sleep at night. Literally. I was holed up in a library for several hours a day, then I would come back and ask Robert (he's a chemical engineering major) questions on the ones I didn't understand. This process lasted several hours after my suggested bed time. But.. It all paid off.. mostly. Out of 25 questions, I only missed three. For those of you who know me, you know I am not thrilled with that.. but everyone else says that I did extremely well... so I am trying to be proud of myself. (: I will definitely take that for my first college test! (hey, it could have been worse.)

Once the test was behind me, I realized just how stressed I had been. So we all went to eat at the Studio and catch up since I had been absent a lot that week studying. That was my moment. Sitting in a booth with some of my best friends laughing and talking.... that is what I want to walk away from this amazing place with. Not just my degree... but those memories that someday I can still recall easily and laugh about as if it happened an hour ago... (:

Friday was great because since we had our test the night before at 8, class was cancelled! I didn't have to wake up until ten to go to my 11:00 class. Then I was done for the day! I came home, showered, and got ready and went out to dinner with Juli, her parents, and Robert. After that, we watched a movie in Robert's room... and I'll be honest, I haven't felt well in a few days, but that night was awful. I curled up in a ball with a blanket in Robert's chair and went through a half a box of tissues. At one point, he walked by me, looked at me, and said, "You look awful." Gee thanks, bud. But seriously, I felt awful. But me and my desire for memories stayed up and watched everybody play ping-pong and we chilled in Juli's room, where I eventually fell asleep. It was a great end to a great day... yes, even being super sick!

GAME DAY!! I love those two little words!! It was family day (and band day) here in Lawrence and the campus was suddenly filled with parents, siblings, cousins, uniforms, trombones, etc. Andrèa and Juli's parents flew in the night before, but mine arrived a little before noon and it was great to see them! I wanted to try and show them everything about this place that I loved! Claire had to go home for the weekend, unfortunately, but she'll get to meet my parents soon! (Sidenote: I will not be coming home for Mulvane's Homecoming because it's the same weekend as KU's. We'll work it out!) They met Robert, checked out my room, and then we went out to lunch and to Target. We came back to McCollum to set up my TV and get ready for the game. We then began the rather long trek to the stadium and I tried to show them some of my favorite buildings, however, mother nature had other plans. As usual. Rain, AGAIN, seems to always find the game days here in Lawrence. But oh well! We made it to the game and had a blast watching my boys win (In a NAIL BITTER!!) and the bands from the state play at half time!

Again, it's all about the memories I make here. I am so fortunate to go to the college of my dreams and achieve all the goals I have for myself here. <3 Thank you to everyone who is helping me along the way.. and making memories with me.

Mom and Dad <3

Shae!! (:

Jayhawk Parents!

Two of my favorite girls!! (:

The Marching Jayhawks rushing the field!

KU!

Pre-game Sunflower! 

♥ 9.11.01- remember and never forget

It's Always Sunny in Lawrence!

This Labor Day weekend has been a blast! Exhausting... but a blast!

Friday: The weekend always begins for me at noon on Friday's because that's when my last class gets out. It's great! I picked up my football tickets, went to the doctors, and interviewed for SUA. I came back to my room and we all went to dinner, then a KU volleyball game! It was fantastic; there is so much school spirit here! We beat Appalachian State (really badly too!) and decided to go see a late movie. The Debt is what we decided on and I must say.. It was Amazing! It was one of those movies you would never expect to love (or even see in the first place, unless it's the only one playing at 9:40), but it was one of the most intellectually stimulating movies I've seen in a long time. After the movie, we came home to play Uno in the lobby for like four hours! It was epic... we had like eight people playing and there were alliances and cheaters and cuss words and many, many middle fingers. All in all, a great Friday night. (:

Saturday: GAME DAY!!!! My first Jayhawk football game!!! I can't even explain how excited I was! (: We left for Mass St. to go shopping for game day apparel, but ended up just coming back to the Union since Juli and I have discount cards. We got ready and immediately left to go get great seats! (Mishap: I brought the WRONG ticket and didn't want to run all the way back home... so I bought another one! lol That's why they gave me a diploma :P ) We were third row back and right behind the other team (easier to harass, of course ;) ) I took a gazillion pictures since it was my first football game ever that I wasn't cheering and/or playing the drums. Although, that also made it kinda sad: I'd watch the cheerleaders and wish I was down there, and the the band played three of my FAVORITE songs at half time... yes, I miss it. We won 42-24 and it was a great game to watch! I can't wait for next week's game with my parents!

Sunday: Aka: shopping day. We went to Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond for supplies and such. We came back and it took three college freshmen girls (and two unhelpful "coaches") to put up Claire and I's closet curtains... it was hilarious. With innuendoes flying left and right and bars falling on people and Andréa and Robert sitting on my bed yelling "Left hand higher! Right, no YOUR right!"... This place is full of laughs, all the time. (: That night, I had my second shift of work at Mrs. E's. Let me tell you, I am not cut out to work in food.. BUT I am keeping this job for the food discount and free meal I get on the days I work. At least for now. Last night I was in the dishes room and I enjoyed that WAY more then I did behind the grill. They crank up the stereo and go to town. Plus... No one sees you. Excellent set up if you ask me...

The gang (:

Roommates...or Twins?! ;) Yes, we planned this lol

Our boys ready to go!

Us.. and some weird guy... lol

They tried to get us to evacuate.. and the entire student section was chanting "Hell no, we won't go!"

Big Jay Planking! Our mascots are Hilarious!

Final score and the crowd waving the wheat!

(See the college memories panel for more pics!)

I came home and went on a walk with Robert to talk and to enjoy the WONDERFUL 70 degree weather. (I have missed fall weather horribly and I relished it yesterday. I think the summer heat just took all the fun of warmth out of me... I'm ready for breezy sweatshirt weather!) We came back and the whole gang (minus Juli, she was on a date) chilled out there. By the time I left to go down the hall to sleep... I found out something I never wanted to experience...

MY DOOR WAS LOCKED!

And no, I didn't have my keys.

Of course not.

So, I went back to Robert's room and slept in a chair for a few hours. But McCollum is freakin' out and going Arctic on everyone, so I woke up FREEZING. I was so afraid of losing fingers, that I got up (it's now 4 am) and bothered Claire until she woke up and let me in. She was still apologizing earlier.. lol I told her I was never going to let it go. ;)

It's funny now, so no harm done! Plus, how can I get mad at my favorite roommate when it's so beautiful out!? Fall is on it's way!! And so begins the Real freshmen year...

<3

I Have Converted...

To a MAC!! I am now the proud owner of an Apple MacBook Pro!

Monday was my first day of class. I walk in, and it was like someone, somewhere hit a button that said, "Ok, everyone whip out their MacBooks." It was ridiculous. I called my mom after going to the bookstore after class to see what she thought and she was good with the idea, although she thought I didn't need both an iPad and a Mac... Well, OF COURSE I need both!! It's me!! So, the next day after my Biology class... I made a $1,236 purchase. Woah.

It was by far the biggest purchase I've ever made (besides KU) and I am so glad I made it. It has been the best computer ever and I am still fascinated by it and love exploring it's awesome gadgets. And I even got to put Office for Mac on it, so I didn't lose my Word or Powerpoint! I can't wait for Labor Day weekend to have more time to spend with my new child.. (:

My first week of classes, and Hawk Week, here at KU are over and I can't say I'm sad. Having both at the same time was actually pretty difficult and I am glad I can focus more on classes, my friends, and just chillin' in my room.. which is the best room ever. Oh! and of course, my JOB! Yes, that's right! I got a job at Mrs. E's, the dining hall on Daisy Hill. I applied to be a cashier, but it all depends on the schedule, so who knows what I will be doing. But it's only for a few hours a week to make some extra dough for weekend trips and Bookstore sales.

My classes aren't hard. I'll be straight up; I will be fine this semester. I have the three best friends here that anyone could ask for and Andrèa is a transfer student and has done this before... so she's been helping me figure out how to take notes and read 15 pages much more quickly. Juli is my buddy who will be with me for everything from opening my Mac and squealing as it makes noises, to going to the gym yesterday and getting our butts kicked, to laying in bed with me talking about anything under the sun, to having dance parties in my room anytime we eat an Oreo to burn off the fat. Claire is the best roommate I could've asked for; the more people I talk to here on campus, the more I realize how lucky I am to actually be friends with my roommate and not just... a roommate. The four of us are almost always together and I love it! It's like a Sisterhood-of-the-Traveling-Pants-Sex-and-the-City friendship. (:

Last Night was the SUA Carnival and I took tons of pics since I've been slacking just a little. The girls and I have it on our To-Do-List to go exploring through campus and take pictures with all the statues. (: Sounds like a good time in my book! Claire went home yesterday to pick up more stuff, so it's my first night really on my own... and I'm honestly too tired to worry about it.

This week was just a glimpse into my future four (or more) years here on campus.. and I can tell you it has felt like much longer then a week. It feels like Claire and I (and Juli and Andrèa) have been living together for forever... It was really easy to readjust to life up here in Lawrence. I'm a very fortunate, lucky girl.

Here's to my seven remaining months here as a freshmen! (:

Juli and I with Big Jay!

Juli, Andrea, and I at the Carnival

Juli! <3

Dylan and Drèa!

Drèa and Robert! He lives on our floor and is Pres. of all the Resident Halls

How cute!! (:

Before the hypnotist on Monday!

Hawk Week-End.. (:

These last three days have been the epitome of "milestone" in my eyes...

Saturday was my first real day here. Claire and I woke up to a very chilly room and got around for brunch with the girls. After, we all decided to venture out into Lawrence to get supplies at Target (which was a real adventure!) We spent the better part of an hour searching for crates for me.... which we did end up finding lol. We unfortunately, forgot our Christmas lights... so we will have to get those next trip.

After stocking our dorms, we came back and chilled in Claire and I's room. Somehow, our room is the party room and everyone is always here... we even pretty much adopted Juli from the 5th floor where all she does is shower and sleep... and I believe that will eventually change. (:

Juli and I at Tradtions Night!

We lucked out and ended up with this amazing RA (who is also a Human Bio major from Wichita) and she told us to go to the Ice Cream Social before Traditions Night, where they send us all down to the Stadium to learn about and how and when to do the traditions of KU. So we go and get free t-shirts, bags, and above all else... food. It's why every freshmen gains so much weight... the free food. (I won't be gaining a THING here... too much walking.. my calves already are looking way sexy. lol) And again, after, they sent us to a free concert! There was crowd surfing and water slinging and Baby Jay Surfing... incredible! I will definitely never forget my first college concert.

Ice Cream Social... "Is this too High School?" lol

Spirit Squad!

The mascots are Hilarious! Super distracting lol

Baby Jay CROWD SURFING!

The gang!

Me afterwards in our room.. the girls thought it was funny :)

And oh yeah.. I got told hi by Bill Self... My life is COMPLETE!
Sunday was pretty similar. We had brunch and then the girls took personal class tours around campus and I went to an Honors Program thingy... yeah, show's how much I paid attention. But it was fun. I met my Honors Seminar group and professor and assistant. And of course, I got to see some old friends. (: Which I am slowly figuring out is my true calling in life: meeting people! After, we decided to go eat dinner at Oliver's dining hall where Juli had a friend. We ended up staying over there for hours playing Battle of the Sexes and Never Have I Ever with the guys from that floor. It was a blast and AGAIN, I saw an old friend from high school... (: It really is wonderful here and I already call it home... much to my family's chagrin. :P

Today was my first day of CLASSES! And if you know me, you know how much that excites me! Class is what I do best; it was the social aspects of being in a new place that worried me… and that turned out great, so I am set! I started out leaving with Juli at 7:20 for her 8 AM class. I chilled in the Union until my 9 AM Chemistry class. After that, I went to hang out in the Union again until my 11 AM English class… and then I was done. Just like that…

COOL!
I stayed near the union because I was eating lunch with the girls at 2 after Andrea’s last class. We then went to the SUA’s office to pick up our money saver cards and sign up for SUA. Then it was off to the bookstore to pick up my textbooks… which of course were in the biggest box in there! Sam, Juli’s friend, was kind enough to carry it to the bus and into my room for me. 11 (plus the one more I had to buy for English) books are heavy!

Tonight was especially funny because Hawk Week sponsored a Hypnotist at the Lied Center. I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life! I was literally holding on to Juli laughing and crying at the same time. I would love to be hypnotized someday… as long as I am not in front of a crowd! I saw some very interesting things tonight…

Welcome to College! (:

PS: Tomorrow is the second half of my schedule (ha. two classes!) and a big long to-do-list with the girls... Yep! I still make To-Do-Lists!! More blogs to come.. especially since I was dubbed the Carrie of my four girls! And I am getting a surprise this week.. a REAL reason to blog!! (: