No School!

P.S. (but this p.s. stands for pre-script not post script) I am on a blogging roll. Mum you'd better be appreciating all the effort I put in to provide you with timely posts. Except I am running out of things to blog about tomorrow.

We didn't have school on Monday. Which was almost the greatest thing ever because it meant on Sunday I could just relax and not be worried about getting up for classes the next day. Dream! So Sam and I went to Roanoke to celebrate.

We did some nifty sight-seeing and then went to a museum. It was a science type museum with a live butterfly exhibit. This story needs to be prefaced with I was having a great hair day. It was curly and volumey and great. So Sam and I go into the butterfly room and it is so HOT! I felt like I was back in Mesa. Except unlike Mesa's dry heat this was WET. Sam even said she was going to drown from inhaling too much water.

I was determined, however, to have a butterfly land on me. I don't know why but thats what I wanted. So I sat like this for a very long time. And then the stupid butterfly finally landed on me and I was so excited I made the ugliest face. Then we promptly left but my hair was already ruined.

Our tickets to the butterfly room also got us access to the rooftop and it was gorgeous. I want to have my wedding reception there. Or at least a fancy soiree. I would also like to state for the record that I "globbed" it for you dad but its lost and I don't know where it went.

 The butterfly is on my wrist. See it? Its the black thing.

 See? Good curls.

 This is from the sky bridge that goes over all the train tracks.

Apparently all the pictures from the day are missing. Like the pictures of the butterflies and the jellyfish and of Sam and I and the rooftop. Blame Google not me.

Sam and I will have to go back to Roanoke because we did not see all that we wanted to see. We are thinking on a Saturday during the farmers market.

-ALC (the butterfly whisperer)

Snow Day

We had a snow day last semester. I don't remember if I told you about it so here is a recap: lots of kids got up at 9 and went to church. but an ice storm was supposed to roll in later in the afternoon so 1 o'clock church got cancelled. (my time) They didn't want people driving on the ice. I counted it as a snow day (and treated it like a snow day but that just means I didn't take my pajamas off) but there wasn't actually any snow. And as it ended up there wasn't any ice either.

BUT. the other day we had a real snow day. actually I still had to go to classes but it SNOWED. a lot. at least I thought it was a lot. Jord (who is from Idaho) begged to differ.

First off snow is cold. durdur, but really cold. and it hurts to breathe its so cold.

I had big plans for the first real snow storm, they included snow cones and snow angels and a snow fight and a snowman and possible snow sledding. In reality I put on warm clothes and drank hot chocolate at my desk while I watched it snow out the window.

I like snow though. Its magical, you can stand there and it's falling all around you and everything turns white and sparkly. negative temperatures are not as fun. The magic is lot and its only bitterly cold. But boy oh boy is actual snow the coolest thing ever!

It's supposed to snow again this afternoon. Most of campus is wishing for the sun to stay shinning but I've got high hopes.

-ALC

 Falling snow does not show up very well in pictures...

I Am Sam

Actually this is just Alyson. But I'm here to introduce you to my new roomie Sam. Or Samwise. Or Samantha. Or Sammit.

I used to be a resident in 312, which was so fantastic. But poor Sam was new to SVU and moving in next door with no roommate. So I had (got) to move!

Moving was weird. Actually weird isn't the right word. On the other hand maybe it is. Jill was moving (yes she's left me. yes it's hard.) and I was helping her pack up her stuff when I found out all my things had to be out of 312 and into 310 BEFORE I left for winter break. and I was also sick and wanted to lay in bed and do nothing ever again. Oh and it was finals week.

So when we were done with Jills room we took the extra boxes and headed to mine. Oh MY GOSH I have so much crap. and a buttload of clothing.

Here's the weird part: the 3 previous residents of 310 were STILL LIVING THERE. So I found myself a corner and squished my stuff in there. Then I got to unpack all that stuff the night I got back, (lets be honest. Jord and I talked till like 3 in the morning and I unpacked the next day)

Wow, my post all about my new roommate has morphed into a post about how I moved my stuff to the room next door.

Samwise. She's pretty great. Its just the two of us in here together. We joke shes the right side and I'm the left side of the 310 brain. Which is ironic because she actually lives on the right side and me on the left. Its a dream only having two people. We each get our own sink and now I have TWO closets.

Sam has a large paper deer above her bed. and a large hat collection. She stays out very late and likes to drive me to dominos to get pizza (which is really a borderline addiction of mine). 

Her classes start later than mine but she totally puts up with me getting up early to study.

In fact here was our conversation this morning (it was 5:30 and I was laying in bed reading over my accounting notes) Sam wakes up and rolls over to face me.

Sam: "Why are you awake?"

Me: "I'm studying."

Sam: "It's 5:30."

Me: "I know."

Sam: "Are you okay?"

Me: "Yes."

Sam: *not quite awake anymore* "Sometimes I don't believe you. I just want you to be happy you know that. Just be happy....."

So pretty much she is just awesome. and I wish we had a picture together but we don't. Yet.

-ALC

I'm Back

I'm back to Virginia. back to BV.

back to doing four plus hours of homework everyday.

back to my dorm (actually I moved next door. but I'm back to THE dorms. that counts)

back to the SLOWEST wifi in the history of wifi. Here is pictoral proof. ITS NOT EVEN AT ONE! That is a POINT one. 

back to all my meals looking a lot like this. and that's okay with me. (what you're missing in this picture is my face. I was freezing and those were hot Spgettios. I have never been so happy.)

back to walking to class in this. Actually it didn't snow before I left so this is a first. but I'm back to being cold. P.S. I added the snow for effect.

back to being able to wear my hunter boots without being harassed.

back to going to the lobby so I can check my outfit in a mirror and taking photos like these to send to Mum so she knows what I'm wearing.

and this is what I came back on. When was the last time you got on an airplane with an actual propeller. Super sketch.

So I survived finals, and Christmas break, and the first snowfall. I'm back.

-ALC

Vacation from my Vaation

College to me is still very vacation-y. I still have laundry and homework but I rarely go to bed on time, I spend all day every day with my best friends, I haven't pulled weeds in months, and the only dishes I do are my hot chocolate mug. So life has been like one big vacation!

Finals are in 2 weeks. Which means it is buckle down time. Lots of studying: less TV watching with Jill and less chit-chatting with Jordan. My vacation is going to very quickly get less fun I have a feeling.. So before that happened I took a vacation from my vacation!

It was Thanksgiving and there was a nice boy who was friends with a friends boyfriend... (he and I are super close) who was driving up to PA. Which is where my Aunt Tricia lives so I hitched a ride with him and crashed at her place. It was a blast! Her kids are adorable and her youngest Jack kept calling me "Carly" (I guess I do look a little bit like my cousin Carly) I got to eat lots of food and go to the Crayola factory.

All of my friends made it out to their different destinations and home without incident which was a blessing because the weather was TERRIBLE! We txted non-stop the entire weekend and there were joyous reunions last night when I got back (I was the last to get home from the group) I love those girls. I am ALMOST not excited to go home for Christmas and leave them for an entire month.

Here is a montage of photos for you to view while I go and write 29 (numbers really need capitals and lowercase) pages of school stuff that needs to be typed. I'm bursting with excitement right now.....

 It has been very cold.

 This is me making a marker at the Crayola Factory

 This is a snowman kit.

My new friend.

 My other friends.

 I eat snow.

 My playdough Christmas Tree

AND my real Christmas Tree. Courtesy of Trader Joes and Jill's car.

-ALC

I and Jill went up the Hill

The title has very little to do with this post. But Jill's in it and it rhymed and I really like rhyming titles.

Last weekend was Jills big Weekend! Her mom and cousin Tiny came and visited! and she turned 23! See?Big weekend. And as Jill's BFF I got to tag along for ALL the fun.

Tiny, Jill, and I on our adventure

If you've noticed in my photos Jill has this great Green coat. Its actually my green coat. So the first order of business when Momma Wulf got in was to drive to the Roanoke mall and get a coat. (I should disclaim Jill wanted her own coat, I was not pushing her out of mine) The drive to Roanoke is about an hour but it is gorgeous and I could make it everyday! There was a large group of us that all went coat shopping and out to dinner afterwards!

This is not a totally related photo. This is a hat I found at
the mall I wanted to buy so bad because it matched my scarf!

This is me and a live sheep. They have those in Williamsburg. They have everything in Williamsburg

Friday night (rather early Saturday morning) was a slumber party in Jill's room! (don't worry, we cleared it with our RA's first!) and Saturday morning was an early one- because we were going on an adventure. Or rather "up the hill" Colonial Williamsburg is about 3 hours away from BV and that's where we were headed! It was a long day of walking but oh SO much fun! We toured the town, and nearby William and Mary college that was founded WAYY back in the 1600's. That night went on the haunted tavern tour. It was so cool (scary) to hear the ghost stories from a town so old!

Waiting for our table in the basement of the Tavern,
 which was lit by candlelight

Here are us girls with Colonial People!
 (I'm on the left, Jill is in the middle and Tiny is on the right FYI)

Sunday I got up early and went to church with Jill and Momma Wulf and Tiny for fun. After a quick nap I was back at my ward to give a talk! Sunday afternoon we went on the most beautiful drive on the parkway and out to dinner at Crate and Barrel. Monday was Jill's Birthday! We all had to get up and go to classes but we met up in the afternoon for birthday dinner! We went to Macados pronounced mack-a-doo's) and got wings for wing night. We were so good and still even went to FHE before the birthday party. Which consisted of delicious cupcakes and The Help.

Jill and I at FHE. They gave her this birthday crown that was
 WAY too small and she was very excited to take a picture with me.
Shes going to be even more excited I'm putting this on the internet.
 But look its equally embarrassing for the two of us because I look stoned or something.

Picture from Sunday drive before
the battery died on me. Some trees and Tiny

The Birthday Girl and I found these candy lips at Sunday dinner

It was a very enjoyable and slightly exhausting weekend. I am so thankful to Tiny and Momma Wulf who let me tag along on their adventures and share Jill with me! And also for buying me food, because college kids really enjoy getting to eat somewhere other than the cafeteria!

This is Jill and I locked up for doing something bad. Apparently Jill felt remorse and I did not. She is not looking at the camera in any of the 5 versions of this photo that exist.

2 blog posts in one day. -ALC
(p.s. If I knew how to fix the weird photo spacing I would. But I'm behind schedule and Jill needs me to find her a box so I have to go.)

Reasons My Weekend was Better Than Yours

1. I went on a date- Friday I got to go out for ice cream with a great guy from the cheer squad!
2. My extra hour- Its the new fangled thing that doesn't exist in Arizona. Today I just got an extra hour for no reason. One second it was 10 o'clock the next it was 9! Which means I got an extra hour of sleep! I like this daylight savings thing!
3. I got to attend a great CES fireside tonight! and the church fixed the projector so it was in color!
4. The guy who works at Jamba Juice bought me a smoothie- how romantic!
5. I found a guy driving to PA so I can have Thanksgiving with my aunt!
6. My sososo AWESOME RA Jordan came and killed this VERY large spider so I didn't have to
7. Saturday I was able to walk around DC (despite the fact my knee hurt, and I woke up two hours late, and forgot my test AND my waiver) (it was a long morning) My art history class took a trip to the National Gallery to take our midterm. Jill was able to take one of the extra seats on the bus and come with! So after my test her and I and some other friends from the class went exploring! We walked to Union Station and got lunch and then walked back to the museum and then to the White House and then back to the bus! (it was a lot of walking) (roughly 10 miles. I was pedometering it) (not good for the knee)
8. After spending all day in the Nation's capital I got to spend the night boding with Jordan!

-ALC