Embrace your surroundings.

"At some places, they play football. At Alabama, we live it." 

This slogan is plastered all around T-Town, showing the town's pride and support for their local team. Storefronts are lined with Crimson Tide merchandise. Local restaurants are filled with old men sipping coffee and discussing the previous weekend’s game. Every passing car has an Alabama sticker or personalized license plate. T-Town really is a mecca of college football. No, this isn't going to be a blog entry entirely devoted to the glory of Alabama Football. And no, I'm not a traitor (once a Husker, always a Husker). And no, this isn't meant to be an Alabama vs. Nebraska comparison. But my first SEC football experience needs to be documented and this is where I’m gonna do it.

Let’s just be straight up from the get go. Holy smokes, folks, these Alabamans can tailgate. Essentially, they turn the activity of tailgating into an art form. The area known as "The Quad" is a huge park-like square in the middle of campus, lined with tent after tent of avid fans eagerly awaiting the start of the game. The diehards converge on “The Quad” early in the morning, claiming the spot they've reserved and setting up camp for the day. Huge tvs, grills, and mini-kitchens span the grassy area, making a mini-maze for spectators to maneuver through. Although Nebraska has great tailgating, space is limited so spectators must disperse around various areas surrounding campus. But here, it all culminates in the heart of campus, further intensifying the experience. 

Nebraska friends: imagine the tailgating under the 10^th street bridge, multiply it by 50, consolidate everyone into one area and you have a taste of Alabama tailgating. Word.

Besides outrageous tailgating, Alabama (and some other SEC schools) are known for their game day apparel. I'm not talking an occasional dress or tie here and there. No, this is an all out fashion show. Perfectly assembled girls show off their crimson and houndstooth ensembles, many of which were bought months in advance for the season. Heels are the footwear of choice. Practical? No. But since when is practicality a consideration in fashion. Guys wear sport coats and ties, despite the thermometer bursting temperatures. The south embraces its high society culture, and it becomes very evident at the social event known as a football game.

Knowing this fashion information, I decided to live the part and dress up for my first football gig. I didn’t go all out, but felt I should partake in proper game day etiquette. One black dress and crimson-ish belt later, I was ready to converge on The Quad and live the tailgate experience. Volleyball was actually in town for the weekend, meaning I could sneak away after our match and catch the football game vs. San Jose State. Note: volleyball and football are essentially on opposite home/away schedules this season. Cramp my style? I think so. I guess Mal Moore (our Athletic Director ) didn’t consult me when scheduling.

Laura, my closest friend down here, is a GA with rowing and my ticket connection. And no, I didn't befriend her for her tickets, although I wouldn't put it past many folks down here to do that. Laura and I trekked to The Quad with Steven, a friend I met through the Athletic Department, and my football experience was officially underway! After a good amount of people watching, socializing, and Roll Tide chants, we headed to the stadium among the 101,000 other fans anxiously awaiting the first game of the season.

After passing through the gates, we eagerly approached the big, bright opening ahead of us leading to the field. Nothing could’ve prepared me for seeing a stadium of that magnitude. Nebraska’s holds around 85,000 and I thought THAT was a monstrosity! I entered into the stands of Bryant Denny and was instantly overcome with football greatness. The stands were lined with crimson clad fans, eagerly flailing their shakers (NOT pom poms) back and forth. The Million Dollar Band took the field and it was time for their version of the Tunnel Walk. While the video screens in Bryant Denny don’t quite measure up to the jumbotron at ol Memorial Stadium, I watched the screen behind us to see Coach Saban lead the boys onto the field. After the tunnel walk video, the Tide took the field and began the beatdown of San Jose State. Alabama racked up the scoreboard and put on an amazing athletic performance. But it wasn’t the game that I’ll remember most. It was the experience: the people, the passion, the pride. It felt like I was back in the stands of Memorial Stadium, surrounded with people that truly love the sport and the team. Just like back home, football isn’t just a game. It’s life.

As stated earlier, no, I haven’t turned in my Nebraska red for Alabama crimson. I’m supporting both teams now for different reasons. One, my alma matter and the other, my current school and employer. While each school offers a different experience, I’ve come to find a similarity between the two. Each has an undying passion for the game of football. Each has an ardent group of fans that would do anything for that team (Example: naming their child Crimson Ann White). And each has a reason to be very proud of their class act programs, which are doused in tradition.

While I love Nebraska and reference it often in conversation, I’m embracing my new surroundings and finding comfort in the similarities I’ve found between here and home. It’s strange how something as simple as a passionate football fan base can make me feel like I never left. Thank you, Alabama, for helping me find my home away from home. And oh yeah, ROLL TIDE!

Hold on tight.

Who'd a thunk it? Me. In Alabama. Working. Grad School-ing. Transplanted and plopped into an unknown life. Type A personality aside, the idea of the transition was overwhelmingly exciting.

The months leading up to the move were filled with more anticipation than I can describe. I did every cliche move in the book (Kate can attest to that and now knows more about Alabama than she ever wanted to know). I bought the book "100 Things a Crimson Tide Fan Must Know Before They Die." I put the Alabama Fight Song as my ringtone. I made crimson and white cupcakes, complete with the Alabama "A" for the National Championship game. I did my research so I wouldn't be "the girl who didn't know who Bear Bryant was" (Nebraska friends: Tom Osbourne is Nebraska's version of Bear Bryant). To say I was excited may be the understatement of the century.

The days leading up to the big move painted a different picture: apprehension. Am I really doing this? Am I really uprooting from all I've ever known and starting over in a place I've only visited for a mere 36 hours? The butterflies took ahold of me and for the first time, I felt fear.

A new campus. A new job. A new crowd. A new beginning.

Kelly, my best friend since kindergarten, joined me on the journey to Bama. We packed up the Breeze, with barely enough extra room to squeeze ourselves in, and set off for the land of big hair, Confederate flags, BBQ, and Sperrys.

We took off from Lincoln, after a much needed last night out with some lifelong friends which fittingly ended at The Rail and The Bar. Saying goodbye to the Shewolves and crew was even harder than imagined. After the hugs and tears ended, I walked away knowing there was no turning back. Ready or not, a new life awaited me.

After a 2 day, 16 hour journey, we finally rolled into Tuscaloosa. The South greeted us with tree lined highways, point-and-laugh billboards, and a sense of hospitality. Trying to take it all in required one big, deep breath. Okay, maybe two.

Our first meal in T-Town combined almost every stereotype I had leading up to the move. We stumbled upon a place called Bama BBQ and boy did it scream "Roll Tide Roll." The walls were plastered with pictures of Alabama football, Bear Bryant, and other memorabilia. Heck, they even had an Alabama wallpaper border surrounding the whole restaurant. It felt so small town and homey, despite being nestled into a city of almost 100,000 people. The atmosphere? Fabulous. The food? Delicious. Our first Alabama dining experience was a great success.

After a day of unpacking and soaking up rays at the outdoor rec center pool (Yes, you heard me correctly, an outdoor pool complete with lazy river and a waterslide) it was time to send Kelly on her way back to South Dakota. She'd been an incredible travel buddy, and once again, another goodbye snuck up on me and I had to separate myself from the last bit of familiarity I still had.

Driving away from the Birmingham airport, a strange sense of calm rushed over me. I was really doing this. I was about to start working for one of the most powerful and recognized Athletic Departments in the nation and get a graduate degree in the process. Pretty baller gig I'd say.

While the first few months were tough, as with any major life transition, the steps taken have helped me tenfold. There's something to be said about the gut check I went through and what it taught me. Going from a place with many friends and familiar places to a complete unknown took more gusto than I expected. A few "I miss home and my friends" tears trickled down my face at times, but the pieces are all falling together and I couldn't be more excited about what's to come! It's going to be a wild ride and I'm holding on tight.

Make a killer playlist.

One of my main thrills in life is something so simple, yet so exhilarating. Compiling random, yet similar songs into a great playlist can honestly make my day. Lame? Maybe. Therapeutic? Absolutely. I've always loved discovering new artists, whether through Pandora, friends, or other means. Expanding my iTunes library and sharing my newfound tunes with friends has become a hobby. Sidenote: this blog entry is a shameless plug to share some of my favorite lesser known artists and unearth songs you don't know from familiar artists. Hope I can inspire you to check some of them out!

I woke up early this morning, which always happens on a day off. Isn't it ironic that the day you get to sleep in, you simply can't? Anyways, while poking around on my computer this morning, I decided to open up my trusty friend, good ol iTunes. Last night, I had a fabulous and lengthy chat with Kelly, my best friend since Kindergarten. She's taking a road trip and asked for some suggestions on songs. As noted earlier, I love suggesting new songs and artists, so I jumped at the opportunity to share some expertise (if you can call it that). I started scrolling and scrolling, finding songs that popped out to me. One by one I compiled some songs I thought she could use on the trip, songs that said to me "cruisin down the West Coast, with the windows down and music up." After compiling one for Kell Bell, I was inspired to make my own. No particular reason, just wanted a new one. So here it is, the random mod podge of songs I put together early this morning. Enjoy!

1. Earth-Mouth: Alex Dupree

2. Sweet Southern Moon: Benjy Davis Project

3. I Want You: Bob Dylan

4. On Any Given Day: Carbon Leaf

5. Black and Gold (cover): Adele

6. Letters From the Sky: Civil Twilight

7. Punches: Collin Herring

8. Rhody Girl: Dan Mills

9. Drifter: DecembeRadio

10. Too Much Water: Donavan Frankenreiter

11. Guinevere: Eli Young Band

12. Letting Go: Emory Quinn

13. Heartless: The Fray

14. I'd Be Lying: Greg Laswell

15. Fighter Girl: Mason Jennings

16. My Only Offer: Mates of State

17. Marianne: Matt Wertz

18. The Cave: Mumford & Sons *New personal favorite, whole cd is AMAZING. Buy it.

19. More Time: Needtobreathe

20. Loving You: Paolo Nutini

21. Paint the Silence: South

22. Big Sur: The Thrills

There it is. No particular order or genre, just songs that jumped out from the library and made me add them to the playlist. Do your own song exploration. If you don't know where to start, one word: Pandora. So find some songs, listen to new artists, and add some new tunes to your life.

Love the Bond.

Times like this weekend in Lincoln always overwhelm me. The array of emotion on Saturday was both exhausting and uplifting. From attending a funeral in the morning to jetting to KD Pi Chapter's 90th Anniversary in the afternoon to a BBQ with amazing friends at Phil's house to a night on O Street with some of my favorite people, the day couldn't have contained more emotion. But that's the beauty of it.

It's so cliche to say, but times like losing someone always make you stop and think. You think about countless memories, the opportunities you've missed, and the overwhelming bond of friendship. While I didn't know Andy all that well, it was the last of that listing above that really hit me: the overwhelming bond of friendship. Upon walking into the church, that bond was all around. The members of Pike came together during this tragedy and used their support system to keep from collapsing. All of the people at that funeral also had that bond. They had all known Andy in some way and were brought together to celebrate his life. It was truly amazing to see how his life had bonded so many people together.

After the funeral, we rushed back to Lincoln to catch the end of KD Pi Chapter's 90th Anniversary. The room was filled with KDs, from current members to alums of over 60 years. Bonnie Purvis Warren, a former National President, spoke to us about the connections of KD. The bond of friendship that was so evident earlier in my day, was again renewed. Here we sat, in a room full of women we'd never met, yet connected by two simple words: Kappa Delta. I sat around the table with members of the Shewolf pack, thinking back over my time in KD and was again overwhelmed. The events leading up to my joining KD hadn't been ideal. I wasn't enjoying college, my boyfriend at the time had just transferred to another time zone, and I hadn't found that group of girl friends I was looking for. On a whim, I went through recruitment and I found exactly what I was looking for. Now I'm forever bonded to anyone that proudly wears the KD letters. Pretty amazing.

That KD bond also led me to friendships with the men of Pike. When I first joined, it was never a question on who we were going to hang out with. We'd get ready for the night and ask, "So which Pike house is it tonight? Vine? Ugh, ok." Now don't get me wrong, Vine was quite the establishment. From a stripper pole in the basement to walls lettered with permanent markers, that place had character (and probably some other things we didn't want to know about.) Oh 30V, may you live in infamy. That KD/Pike bond has continued ever since, and led me to another event on Saturday: a BBQ at Phil's house. Despite the long day of emotions, we all had a sudden burst of energy upon arrival. Life, graduation, and moving had gotten in the way for many of us, so it had been awhile since a reunion. We played some Polish Horseshoes, and yes, Chris and I dominated against Mark and Phil. The girls played some Ladder Golf, and the others got a chance to catch up inside the house. Our bond brought us together in grief in the morning and in celebration of life in the evening. What an amazing spectrum we all could go through together.

For the final event of the day, we all loaded up from Phil's and headed down to Lambert's going away party. With all of the KDs and Pikes in town, it was sure to be a good time (understatement of the century). From the Fat Toad to The Rail to The Bar, the night was one for the books. (Sidenote: for those of you unfamiliar with The Rail, I plan to do an entire blog entry devoted to it. Keep posted). I got to spend time with almost every KD and Pike that I'd been friends with in college. That bond we'd created years ago had carried through and it made for a night that we consider "one of the best nights EVER in Lincoln."

By now, you're probably sick of reading and especially sick of the word "bond." But it really was all of those bonds that threaded my whole day together. If I hadn't decided to go through recruitment, I never would've joined KD. If I never joined KD, I wouldn't be part of an unwaivering sisterhood or met my best friends, the Shewolf pack. If I hadn't met the Shewolf pack, I never would have gotten to know my Pike friends. If I never met my Pike friends, I never would've gotten the pleasure to know Andy. It's crazy how life brings people together that normally could've been strangers. Appreciate the randomness and love the bond.

Make a bucket list.

Insert cliche life statement here. "Live life to the fullest" or "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." The list goes on and on. We're constantly trying to pack as much zest into each day so we don't wake up one morning, thinking life has passed us by. Well, that might be a little extreme, but you get the point.

In my quest to get the most out of life, I've decided to make a bucket list for my upcoming Alabama adventure. Since it's only a two year stint, I wanted to make a list to ensure I covered as many things as possible in that time. I'm divulging the list on the blog not just to inform, but ask for additional suggestions...so here it goes, in no particular order.

Alabama Bucket List
1. Go to Mardi Gras 2011 (hopefully with Sara Dreyer)
-New Orleans is only a 4.5 hour drive from Tuscaloosa! Let's pray I make it out alive.

2. NASCAR race at Talladega
-I may have to invest in some confederate flag clothing and bring a case of Bud heavy, but the stories will be worth it.

3. Golf on one of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses (or some other beautiful course)
-I'll spend most of my time trying to find my ball in the woods, but hey, at least it will be on an amazing course!

4. Take a weekend backpacking trip to the Appalachians.
-Companion wanted!

5. Go to a crawfish boil
-I'll need a lesson in how to eat the crawfish, but I'm sure some nice Southern gent can teach me! *Swoon*

6. Go to a rap concert in Atlanta
-Hotlanta is only 3.5 hours from T-Town! I'll make some grillz out of tinfoil and wear them to fit in.

7. Hit up Beale St. in Memphis
-I may sing "Walking in Memphis" while doing it...JUST to be cliche.

8. Attend a Kentucky basketball game at Rupp Arena (hopefully against UNC)
-Hopefully by then, UNC won't suck and it will be an even matchup.

So there it is. Not done, but a good start I'd say. Post suggestions and help me beef up the list! I'm ready for my next crazy adventure and I hope you're ready for yours. Even if you aren't moving anywhere, make a bucket list that's doable for your surroundings. Whatever it is, let yourself dream and come up with a rockin' list. Most importantly: Enjoy the journey.

Sing karaoke at least once in your life.

As many of you know (as I've told nearly everyone I've ever come into contact with) I had an entertainment experience most 3rd grade kids never dreamed of. No, I wasn't on the Mickey Mouse Club with my boo Justin Timberlake. No, I didn't make it onto Bozo's Super Sunday Show (although it was my childhood dream to play the bucket game). But, I did sing with Kenny Rogers. Yes, you heard me right: Kenny Rogers, one of country music's most recognized faces. Well, maybe not technically recognizable anymore due to an overload of plastic surgery. I digress... But yes, it's true. 5 other kids and I hopped up on stage in front of a sold out Sioux Falls Arena to sing in the show "Kenny Rogers: Christmas From The Heart." At the time, I had no clue who the man was, but thought I'd give it a shot and appease the folks. In retrospect, I'm glad I did it, and I still have the Youth Large, hunter green, embroidered crewneck sweatshirt to prove it. It's made an appearance at one or two Ugly Sweater parties around Christmastime...always a good conversation starter.

I remember being nervous before heading on stage, especially since I'd just snagged my black tights. Monica was not impressed. She fixed me up, moved my tights around so the snag wasn't seen, and I headed out on stage with my Madonna microphone. What a rockstar moment. We belted out some Christmas tunes, actions and all. During dress rehearsal that day, we added a new move at the end of the final song. Very simple: right leg and arm out in front of us, left arm up in the air (forgive me for the poor visual). Welp, despite its simplicity, I straight up forgot to do it. Earlier in the day, Kenny mentioned that if we forgot to do the move, we'd owe him $10. So after the screwup, Kenny called me out in front of 6,000 people and told them about the $10 deal. I now owe The Gambler 10 buckeroos. Put it on my bill, Kenny.

By now you may be wondering what the title of this blog entry and Kenny Rogers have in common. Well, this past Saturday night I experienced another nerve wracking entertainment moment. Some of the Shewolf pack and I headed to Grandmother's bar/restaurant. The place was packed with people and karaoke was rocking the joint. One girl was clearly waiting for her big break into the music industry (I will never think of "Sweet Child of Mine" the same). Others belted out showtunes (barf). Although I criticized them, I had no intention of grabbing the mic and showing them up.

A few Boulevards later, my friends decided I was the chosen one from our group to sing. Their justification? I sang with Kenny Rogers. Dangit, I knew bragging about that would bite me in the ass one day. I instantly refused the request, as the place was still packed. As the coaxing continued, I slowly let down my guard and entertained the idea. If I could sing in front of 6,000 people, I could sing in front of 40. Plus, I've decided to be more spontaneous so this could be the perfect opportunity, or at least a great Lincoln memory.

After much debate, we decided on "Sweet Caroline." Kari rushed over to the karaoke man to make the request. I knew it was a solid pick, but I felt I could do better. Then it hit me: "Sweet Home Alabama." It was perfect: I'm moving there next month and that song always fires a crowd up. One hour after our request was made, I heard "Jill, come to the soundtable, Jill." This was it. Although more relaxed than earlier, I still felt a little nauseous as I grabbed the mic.

Those first guitar notes played and I felt like I was back onstage with Kenny. It was my time to shine! I belted the words, clinked beer mugs with a table of dudes, and generally rocked out. Kari and Lauren yelled "Roll Tide Roll" after I'd sing the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" and it was epic (well done, ladies). The song ended and although it wasn't a perfect performance, I felt amazing. I'd been spontaneous, I'd conquered an initial fear, and I made a memory I'll always look back upon and laugh at. Thanks, Shewolf pack.

So the next time you're in a karaoke bar and you refuse to sing, rethink your decision. Grab a beer, get a great song, imagine the audience in their underwear, and rock out. You may surprise yourself.

Be spontaneous.

"Type A" personalities beware. I'm about to tell you something that may send you into hysterics. Are you ready? .... You don't have to plan every move you make. I know, I know, I'm as organized and plan ahead-ish as they come so this may come as a surprising statement from me. However, in my life of pseudo-unemployment, I've begun to adopt a new policy: be more spontaneous. Keep it fresh. Keep it lively. Switch things up.

My most recent spontaneous experience was a weekend trip to Austin. A month or so ago, I made a few comments to Kate throughout the day to the effect of "I miss our Spring Break trip" and "We should road trip somewhere" and "I'm so bored." Combining those thoughts brought me to one grand conclusion: road trip to Austin! I clearly have plenty of time on my hands,we'd gone there on SB09, and half of the SB crew lives there, so why not?

As the trip began materializing, people joined and people backed out. When all was said and done, it ended up being me traveling with 3 guys (Dave, Chris, and Jim) who had no connection to the SB trip but wanted a fun getaway. So, we packed up our gear last Thursday night at 8:30pm and headed out for one of my most memorable trips!

Without doing much or any planning, we set off on the adventure with a Garmin, a Husker snuggie (thanks Dave), 3 iPods full of techno remixes, a monster pack of Gatorade, and the expectation of a fabulously random trip. Note: if you've seen the pictures of me kicking on Facebook, don't judge. That was Dave's idea. I can't take credit for that genius. I believe my exact quote was "I look like a lesbian gym teacher in this outfit." Then I did a kick, Dave snapped a pic, and the rest is history.

One Ed Hardy koozie, a tour of UT in which I only spoke in a Lorraine voice (Gahd, that's cute), 2 crazy nights on 6th Street, loads of Mardi Gras beads, drinks from the Torch, a sunset dinner at The Oasis on Lake Travis, 3 dead iPods, a potentially epic semi-truck prank, and endless laughs later, we pulled into Lincoln on Sunday night having taken our friendships to a whole new level. I mean, after 27 hours in a car, how could that not happen?

So plan a random trip with friends. Go to a matinee with your roomie and buy bulk candy at Super Saver beforehand (Kate and I did this on Tuesday). Have a craft day. Call up an old friend. Teach yourself to cook a meal. Start a blog. Whatever it is, just do it. Spice up your life with a little spontaneity.

Let yourself dream.

A girl can dream, can't she? Well today I took that to a whole new level. On an excursion to Dillards with Kate, I came across some fabulous bedding and bath decor. All of the sudden, my mind started decorating my future house (I'm a closet design nut). The exact phrase that came out of my mouth was "Kate, that bedding set is going in my future beach house. I WILL have a house in the Carolinas or Destin." Then I continued the dream with the husband in Polo, Sperry's, and above the knee chinos...sailing around on our boat sipping mojitos and soaking up the sun off the coast from our beach home. Who knows if that will actually happen, but I'm keeping the dream alive.

Let me get my design fix for a moment and describe this dream. The designer of the inspirational bedding was Ralph Lauren (anyone that knows me could see that coming). The colors were vibrant reds and blues, with varied patterns from seersucker to floral. I dig classic and conservative with a touch of nautical, so that bedding set had my name written all over it. Echo was another designer that caught my eye, having a very simple, vibrant, paisley set that would look very nice in a spare bedroom in the beach house.

This may all seem far-fetched, but what fun is life without a little creativity and wishful thinking? Finding the beauty in everyday objects is what makes life wonderful, even if it's a simple bedding set.

Decorate your dream house in your mind. Plan your dream wedding. Figure out your dream job. Dream about what you would do with a day off. But most importantly, just dream.

Rekindle a past passion.

Tonight, over a romantic dinner with Kate at Ruby Tuesday (holy tasty salad bar) I realized something that I've been missing since graduation. What is it, you ask? No, it's not homework. Or long hours in the library or coffee house. Or attending 8 am class. Or those awkward moments in class when you can't make eye contact with a certain someone after a botched date. Simply put: it's volleyball. I've been playing, coaching, or working for a volleyball team almost every day since 4th grade. Since graduation in December, all of that has changed. I no longer work for Nebraska Volleyball, play pick up/club volleyball, or coach volleyball.

Brittani called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to scrimmage her friend's club team. I jumped at the opportunity, dusted the cobwebs off my right shoulder, and hit the court. Man, it felt good! I'm a little older, a little slower, and a little less competitive than my playing days, but nothing feels better than getting an ace off of a float serve or getting an amazing dig while diving from middle back. I've always been competitive (maybe excessive at points) so it was good to feel that edge again, even if it was against a 15's club team. Yes, they were 15. But yes, 5 washed up old volleyball has-beens beat them. Sweet victory. Suckaaaaaaas!

Even if volleyball isn't your passion from the past, I'm sure you can come up with one. It may be playing an instrument, singing, painting, scrapbooking, dancing, etc. Whatever it may be, take time every once in awhile to rekindle the passion of that old pastime. It will bring a smile to your face, even if you are too sore to move the next day.

P.S. Please post comments and tell what past passion you plan to pursue!

Revert to childhood once in awhile.

We grow up too fast. We spend our whole lives thinking about tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. Suddenly, we're older and (hopefully) wiser but don't know what to do with this newfound "responsibility". Despite being 23, I feel like a kid at heart. I still giggle at inappropriate jokes, enjoy a good "Saved by the Bell" or "Boy Meets World" rerun, and am not above eating a Lunchable as a meal.

Over Christmas, Erin and I built a snowfort and it was EPIC. We threw on our childhood snow boots, grabbed some shovels, and made an incredible igloo in my front yard (big enough to fit 2-3 people). I had to chuckle during the building process and said to her "Heals, we are 22-23 years old, currently unemployed, and building a snowfort...and ya know what? I see nothing wrong with this." Ya know what? I was right. It felt good to get out in that cold, wet snow and build the creation that made all the little neighbor kids jealous. Thank you, college degree!

Post snowfort, I've decided to keep embracing the inner child. My (and Kate's) current endeavor is notewriting. Nothing says throwback like a good handwritten note to a boy. So, we thought who better to write a note to than to our neighbor boys, the ones who we pay to use their internet. Friday night, I grabbed a bright orange piece of paper, black sharpie, and handed Kate the supplies to write a cute little note inviting them over to socialize sometime. Kate made me deliver the note, which was pseudo nervewracking. I tiptoed down the hall, shoved the note under the door (which took some coaxing), then sprinted back to our apartment. Phew! I wasn't spotted. To our amusement, we received a note back the next morning saying "LET'S DO IT..." So, it's on. The notewriting exchange has officially begun. I'll keep you posted on any events that follow. I'm sure you'll be waiting at the edge of your seat.

So go ahead...build a fort in your living room, drink a juice box, and read a childhood book (personal favorite: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day). I won't judge you. Heck, I'll probably join in the fun.

Embrace It.

Sometimes, a little perspective is all you need. In my time post-graduation and pre-Alabama, I've done a lot of thumb twiddling, reflecting, and relishing. Kate, my roommate, and I have a lot of time on our hands...more than we can fill. After a little frustration from boredom, I gained a little perspective. I've decided to embrace this time off and do things I normally wouldn't have time for. Thus, this blog was created to share random thoughts, divulge funny stories, and post pictures of hilarious moments/objects seen along the way.

The past few years have been filled with quality time with the "She Wolf pack." They're my best friends and the ones that have been on this crazy college adventure with me. I decided since we'll all be moving to different locations soon, our final adventures need to be documented. The running joke is that "our lives are sitcoms"...constantly dotted with hilarious and awkward moments (generally directly correlated). These moments, among other hilarity and thoughts to ponder, will be posted on the blog for everyone's reading pleasure. Holla!

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.