365 Oooh girl!

2008-07-15T09:59:00.005-04:00

July 9 - Out of order. Ugh!! Took the day off and went to Blue Hole. I'm not sure if Adam is going off about the freeeezing cold water or the fact that John eats sunflower seeds with the shell.

July 14 - This was clearly meant for Beth, Guinta and Kerri-Jean. KJC is coming this weekend and I'm so so excited!! If only Guinta could come down from Mass. and Beth over from RVa. July 13 - Griego and I are taking our relationship to the next level; dueling gchat statuses. And what a lovely relationship it is-- I was quoted as saying, "Everything about you bugs me." July 12 - I'm convinced that swimming will remedy any chain of unfortunate events. The morning after the night of all things broken - car, phone, spirits - I taught Brittany a lesson in saying "yes!" and we followed Brandon through the woods to a quarry in New Market. Brittany woMANed up and jumped, while I shimmied down and eased myself in.
July 11 - Dad is stoked on getting birds, namely Ollie and Buttercup. Mom needs some convincing, so this picture now hangs on the fridge, while Dad has begun to sign his notes "love, O & B." July 10 - We've likened ourselves to be the new Lindsey and Sam, especially on this date night. Dinner (lentil curry), movie (Ratatouille) and drinks (long islands).

Saltine Challenge

2008-07-08T12:29:00.002-04:00

July 8 - I found several takers for the saltine challenge over a free lunch (thanks, Wilma!) with Andy (Melissa, Jared, Andy).

Grub

2008-07-07T17:37:00.005-04:00

July 7 - Yesterday I baked banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and today I made curried lentils. Who am I?

July 6 - Late night/early morning paint fest to ready John's new room. I spent all my time taping just to have him get nervous during this picture and color outside the lines. Luckily he had a can of white paint in addition to the barnyard green.

July 5 - Picnic in the park with Katie and Claire to celebrate our one year anniversary of friendship. Ha. We also made the trip to Staunton to see the Cinnamon Band play a surprisingly short set at the opening of the Darjeeling Tea Company. However, it was a pleasant surprise to run into my old friend, Derek, for the second day in a row. Fate!

July 4 - This picture really makes me laugh. It was taken right before the fireworks began in downtown Harrisonburg. I wanted to capture the boys filing through the crowd, but ended up with this faceless pic (Tim).

July 3 - Time trails for le Tour de Burg @ Hillandale Park. The boys were more than tired as they had a 90-mile road ride earlier in the afternoon (Blake). The night's complimentary and communal dinner was hosted by Blue Nile, and I happily shared in the free Ethiopian buffet. Vive le Tour.

ALL CAUGHT UP!

2008-07-03T17:13:00.004-04:00

June 29 - Trip to Charlottesville with John to hear Modest Mouse play at the Pavilion.

June 30 - I found Pana's graduation dress while browsing magazines in B&N. We seem to have the right style as we've both had dresses featured in publications. What can I say, we're excellent.

July 1 - The best perk of my job are the free magazines that are delivered to the office.

July 2 - Tour de Burg has commenced. Kyle's apartment is pleasantly overwhelmed with bikes and boys.

And that, boys and girls, is how you update a blog. Phew. I'll try not to fall behind again.

2008-07-03T16:48:00.003-04:00

June 24 (2007*) - Vivarelli with her JMU bambini during art history at the British Institute.
June 25 (2007*) - Dad and U. Jim swore by the secret passageways tour through P. Vecchio. On a rainy day we took them up on the suggestion for this mildly amusing history lesson (Liz, Sarah, me, Erin, Meredith & Sam).
June 26 - Dad loves his Natty just enough to rep for it. Too bad his glass of Franzia discredits his loyalty to the fine light beer.
June 27 - Thursday @ Luigis for Harper's birthday (BrittGalina).
June 28 - This man love Stevie Nicks, Old Milwaukee and accessories, all of which are terribly absent from this picture (Bladen).

2008-07-03T16:21:00.004-04:00

June 19 (2007*) - Stroll through P. Vecchio for Gelato Crawl 2007 (Maggie, Meredith, Kelsey, Liz & Dana).

June 20 - I hosted a dinner party before heading to see the Cinnamon Band @ Clementine (Beth & Laura)...

June 21 - ...which turned into quite a night. Who knew my middle name was "Ima-buy-you-a-drank" (Ryan, Kevin & me)?

June 22 (2007*) - This weekend we decided to travel to Elba. Please note that our western Italian island is nowhere on this road sign (granted we did frequent Roma, Siena, Grosseto and Follonica). After finding alternate modes of transportation due to a recent train strike AND missed bus connection, we arrived in Elba to the surprise of many. However, we couldn't fool Alessandro, who only asked, "Tell me, Kate. Is it breezy?"

June 23 (2007*) - Despite what it may look like, we actually knew where we were for once. On our first full day on the island we took a bus clear across Elba to Fetovaia, a white sand beach on the western edge (Maggie).

2008-07-03T00:10:00.003-04:00

June 16 (2007*) - The Colosseum is much more beautiful and haunting at night.

June 17 (2007*) - Myriam took us up to the roof for pictures of the sunset. Via de Serragli 7 is heaven on Earth.

June 18 (2007*) - Christina "le Svedese" was my favorite flatmate.

2008-07-02T23:44:00.002-04:00

June 11 - New strings and grip right in time for the French Open.

June 12 - My fanny pack was a hit with this wanna-be South American. It reminded him of his days in Chile, while reminding me of my days in Spain (Michael).

June 13 (2007*) - While in Italy I had an honest to goodness crush on our flatmate, Valario. He was a weatherman and a biker. A guitar player and melon-eater. A mac user and literary genius.

June 14 (2007*) - After coming home from dancing and drinks, Maggie and I loved to snack on nutella on the dishes set out for breakfast. Man. I love and miss that girl, and those nights.

June 15 (2007*) - Just having arrived in Rome (Roma, Roma!), we toured the Pantheon. Craziest mathematical work of genius I've ever witnessed. I loved how the sun spot would travel across the room depending on the time of day.

Flashback!

2008-07-02T12:53:00.010-04:00

June 8 (2007*) - Yes, I know. I have failed in my attempt to take a picture every day for an entire year. Ugh. I surprised myself lasting this long; January 1 until June 8 amounts to quite a photo montage. I'm not sure why I lost motivation or concentration, but the mid-summer heat probably had something to do with it.

Instead of leaving this date empty, I sorted through my photos from last summer in Italy and found replacements for the same dates, only one year earlier. Therefore, one year ago I had just arrived in Cinque Terre, Italy. This stretch of five coastal villages in the north is known for its limoncello, pesto and 7-mile hike that connects all three. Pictured above are bottles of wine from our favorite limoncello shop.

June 9 (2007*) - The conclusion of our 7-mile hike brought us south through Via del Amore (Lover's Lane) in Riomaggiore. To many American's distaste, this romantic breezeway is famous for the graffiti-lined walls.

June 10 - Reunion with Will! Let's not forget that he is the best looking Delta Chi, a point he likes to make on all occasions, including those complete with a composite.

2008-07-02T12:45:00.004-04:00

June 2 - Dave's rooftop (Will, Me, Laura, Alex).

June 3 - LOST marathon. And when I say marathon, I mean I averaged five episodes a day for several, several days in order to finish season three and four. Desmond will always be my favorite, and consequently, my constant.
June 4 - @ Bourbon Street with the best dancers ever. Will's face doesn't lie; he's serious on the dancefloor (Laura, Alex, Will). June 5 - Housewarming gathering for Zack and Crash. June 6 - The gang of Kings visited Christopher in DC (Ryan). June 7 - I had my tall glass of milk in the morning with Sara. Thank you Papa Borsari for the rest of our meal. I was then on my way to pick up Guinta from the airport! My little Dutch friend was finally back from Amsterdam.

2008-07-02T12:42:00.002-04:00

May 28 - Yaa know (Mary Kate & John).
May 29 - It isn't very often that I'm able to see Kyle. Between his semesters at sea, summers at camp and new Staunton address, we have lovingly resorted to snail mail and occassional calls. But tonight was the perfect summer send-off, as he heads to Deerfoot and I begin to pack my life up for Knoxville. Over homemade margaritas, smores and campfires I was reminded exactly why I love Kyle and what a blessing he is in my life. Plus, he's the only man I know who still loves tie-dye and jello jigglers.

*I left Staunton in time to make the midnight premiere of the Sex and the City movie (in my tie-dye and chacos amidst flocks of dressed-up girls. And I call myself a true fan?). Eh, the movie was over kill. I was happy just finding out Big's name. May 30 - Joel is no longer a "bike boy," as he is moving from our downtown haven allllll the way across the country for an AmeriCorps program in Portland, OR. Tonight we said goodbye over burgers, beer and, of course, bikes (Kyle, Quentin, Me, Kate, Joel).
May 31 - Sweet, sweet Pana throwing some D's. I especially enjoyed these last few days because so many sisters were in town. Like they say, you never realize what you had until it's gone. But heck, that perpetual bond of friendship ain't going nowhere.
June 1 - Mike Hill night @ Clementine. It was also bring your twin night. Not (John, Harper & Zack).

2008-07-02T12:40:00.003-04:00

May 23 - Last show at Satellite Ballroom- darnit CVS! I made the trip to Charlottesville to visit Claire and see the Cinnamon Band. As I say, "I love."
May 24 - Hiking with Mr. Jonathon in Shenandoah National Park. I'm not a mathematician, but the year-long pass ($30) is clearly a better deal than the day pass ($15). That's incentive to come home during the fall... if and when I tire of the Old Smokies. John and I hiked Bear Fence, otherwise known as the rock scramble, and enjoyed the 360-degree view from the top. However, my favorite view was of the 86-year-old woman who met me at the top in her chinos and Rockports. May 25 - Lake Anna for Memorial Day. Will and I made the trip (largely without clear directions, no surprise) to visit Ryan and his family for a weekend of boys, boats and beer. May 26 - Boys with boats!
May 27 - My little is such a diva. She is also very much 21. Happy birthday, Lauren.

2008-07-02T12:34:00.004-04:00

May 20 - Brunch with Dan @ Little Grill. On his trip down from the dirty Jerz Dan was going to present me with a graduation gift... but he forgot it. Oh, how the mind works. A few weeks ago a hand-dyed silk PACE flag arrived! Dan and I will always be Florentines at heart. Thanks, Dan. May 21 - Workity work work at the pottery shop.
May 22 - Hmm... Harrisonburg, how I love you.

Beginning of 45 pictures

2008-07-02T12:33:00.004-04:00

May 17 - Leaving Knoxville after a weekend with the roomie and new employer.
May 18 - Drinks with NickO.
May 19 - We always match (NickO).

2008-05-19T10:18:00.003-04:00

May 16 - Knoxville outings (Emmy).

May 15 - View from 4 Market Square rooftop.

May 14 - "What is this!"

May 13 - We were all surprised to learn that Melissa's uncle had written a book. We were even more surprised that he pulled it off considering the absurdity of his About the Author blurb.

May 12 - Box o fun at work (Matt, Lee & Julie).

2008-05-19T10:06:00.002-04:00

May 11 - There was no rainbow in the sky, just buckets and buckets of water on the day I saw Radiohead. We had forked up the extra cash for seats which paid off in the end, as the rain continued to pour.

May 10 - Babysitting Ryan and Ellie always provides comic relief (let alone appearances by several comic characters).

May 9 - Matt fixing the fax machine.

May 8
May 7

Post Grad

2008-05-06T23:19:00.003-04:00

May 6 - Google calendar. I'm trying to get into it... I still fancy a pen and paper.

May 5 - Happy Cinco de Mayo. Jasper was digging the Volvo CrossCountry tonight-- especially the sun roof. Tonight was one of those exceptional nights where I succeeded at party hopping. With friends moving away for good, I'm discovering the importance of making an effort to see everyone. Thankfully, Jasper was my side-kick.

May 4 - One of my graduation gifts was a new pair of sunglasses!

Pretty in Purple

2008-05-05T00:30:00.007-04:00

May 3 - Yep. We graduated (Me & English).

May 2 - Signing the door officially marks the end of an era. 2007 collegiate chapter president in room 206.

May 1 - El Charros with the Guintas. I love Allie, Lynne, Joe (and Alex). One of the most odd parts of college life is the fact that you're surrounded by fabulous people who your parents may never meet-- my parents live in town, so it was easier for them to interact with my friends. However, it's awesome when you're able to bring all the greatpeople in your life together. Graduation weekend proved to be the opportune time for Allie, Kerri and me. It was incredible to see how our parents loved one another just as we love each other.

I Paid for This

2008-04-30T20:25:00.007-04:00

Allie decided that after four years, she deserved (at the very least) to walk out of Dhall with a Coke to enjoy on the walk home. I agreed. That may have been our last Dhall visit. We had to make it worth our while- not to mention worth the thousands of dollars our parents have poured into our meal plan.

Seniorssss

2008-04-29T20:38:00.005-04:00

April 29 - Graduation party @ Luigis hosted by the Writing & Rhetoric department. Goodbye Kate! Goodbye JZ! You have served me well.

April 28 - Dhall dare. Shut up, we're seniors (David).

Mane 'n Tail

2008-04-27T13:48:00.002-04:00

Some people may go to Foxfields, others feel a connection to the horses right at home. Today over breakfast Allie let us in on her favorite hair secret: Mane 'n Tail. I can't imagine it being a Northern thing...

This Is The Way

2008-04-26T18:23:00.002-04:00

April 26 - I read on the quad before the thunderclouds rolled in. I'm needing a lot of time to myself today. I'm such a child of nature; the weather will affect my moods and the moons rule the day, as well as the night. Therefore, while it continues to rain and the wanning gibbous moon is 66% full, I am introspective and quiet. Today I was reading about the 2008 Aries lunar cycle and was intrigued by all the astrological hocus pocus. Apparently I've got to take a leap of faith and approach life with passion, courage, and bold action. Necessary changes and innovative new directions get a green light making rebirth, rejuvenation, self-discovery, and fresh new beginnings themes for this Aries cycle. How beautiful is it that my lunar cycle ends May 4, one day after graduation? That puts all of these predictions and directions in a much different light. Next full moon: May 20.

April 25 - Mom would make a banner like this and she would put it in the hallway one week before graduation. Because all the woulds are never afterthoughts of should, I love my mother; she sneakily takes initiative to show me she loves me.

Up On the Roof

2008-04-25T07:03:00.003-04:00

April 24 - Harrisonburg nights are perfect when spring tends towards summer. Drinks on Dave's rooftop.

Captions Coming Soon

2008-04-23T17:18:00.005-04:00

April 23 - Puppy love. Will and I met during the 2007 Delta Chi Etiquette Dinner and we've been dates ever since. He's one of those friends who always makes you feel like you are queen for the day. And you know when you are Queen Bee when you are referenced as a contact for a government clearance. Ha. One night I walked in on Will trying to post-it note my room (what a waste of perfectly good post-its!). He only got one deep. It still hangs on my closet door, and every time I see it, I remember Will, so I've decided that I'm packing up that post-it just like everything else in this room. Because I'll need that little pink square around next year, when Will very well isn't (Will).

April 22 - The Greek InterVarsity core team met for the last time this semester (Lisa & Lindsey). We made cards for the chapters wishing them good luck on finals. I've been privileged and proud to be a part of Greek IV this semester, and am only sad to not see it's growth next year. I leave you with this thought:

John Belushi and Jesus Christ.

What if college students joined Greek life in search of the former, but ended up finding the latter? What if the discussion went from “Can I get a refill?” to “My cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5)? What if through brotherhood and sisterhood people gained brothers and sisters in Christ?

John Belushi and Jesus Christ.
Greek and Christian.
Christian Greek.

The one does not discount the other.

Just as Greeks have been typecast by the likes of Belushi, the Americanized Jesus and his followers have fallen into a similar role. As Shane Claiborne writes in The Irresistible Revolution, they all “eat at McDonald’s and vote Republican.”

Such scrutiny has prompted this disclaimer on the James Madison University InterVarsity homepage: “And don’t worry, we’re not all cookie cutter Christians.”

Ok, phew.

As a non-denominational Christian fellowship, InterVarsity aims to build strong disciples of Christ who are ready to engage the world with the message of Jesus-- and surely the entire world doesn’t consist of McDonald’s-eating Republicans. (Praise the Lord.)

There are enough people preaching to the choir. There are enough Christians talking to people who look and think like themselves.

Scripture tells the story of a city in the midst of a famine so severe that people began to eat babies (2 Kings 7). Four lepers, cast outside the city walls, found an abandoned army camp stocked with food. They immediately began to hide their means of salvation, and then thought twice:

“We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves” (2 Kings 7:9).

Who are the modern day lepers? Who is in need of saving? What walls surround us?

Today some Christian Greeks don’t feel accepted by or comfortable in large campus ministries on account of their Greek affiliation. Should they too come with a warning label: “Don’t worry, we’re not all cookie cutter Greeks?”

The cookie crumbles both ways. And whether it’s a crumbly cookie or a divided kingdom, it cannot stand on its own (Mark 3:24). The wall must come down.

In the book of Romans Paul writes, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans14:13). It is time to do away with the stereotypes and misgivings, the commercialization and supersizing.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Mark 2:17).

We are all sick, and it’s time to simply love one another back to health.

Branching from InterVarsity, Greek InterVarsity seeks to reach and be a spiritual resource specifically to fraternity and sorority members with the message of Christ.

To reach and be a resource to more than 750,000 students who are involved in Greek life. That’s an incredible aim, towards an incredible group of people. At JMU, 13 percent of the student body is Greek, according to Lee Brooks, student body president and brother of Delta Chi fraternity.

Greek alumni make up 30 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 48 percent of all US Presidents, 40 percent of all US Supreme Court Justices, 30 percent of US Congress and 42 percent of US Senate. Strikingly, less than 3 percent of the US population is Greek, yet some of the top policy-makers share Greek affiliation.

Policy-makers who choose war or peace, to reform education, or to save our environment.

What if more Greeks knew Jesus? What if they learned to share their faith? What if they were equipped to become direct or indirect Christian leaders in the future? What would their decisions look like?

John Belushi or Jesus Christ.

Why not a little of both?

April 21 - A lot of people strut their stuff down Greek row, but these little ones stole the show.

April 20 - Bladen @ Franklin. Yep.

Beta Alpha Gamma Toga

2008-04-19T01:06:00.006-04:00

April 18 - Leave it to the Bag to throw a legitimate toga party. The juxtaposition of jam bands, a wine luge and kitschy fabric was enough to entice my sleep-deprived body over to see this phenomenon. The crowd never ceases to puzzle me, although there are always the familiar and favored faces, especially those of Jasper and NickO's. Talk about a dynamic duo. But speaking of dynamism and dualism, I've been running into Ilk a lot more; concentric circles, I tell you, JMU is obsessed with them. But, I think if you put our heads together something beautiful would be born. Or you'd just have two people with terribly uncommon names who can network their way out of a (paper) bag-- which we did tonight (Jasper & NickO).

Terrible Twos

2008-04-18T11:45:00.007-04:00

April 17- My birthday came complete with pie, which I fed to Jasper on a cone wrench. The bike boys threw me a party and it was lovely. I really enjoy birthdays. Yes, I do. And to have a party thrown in your honor is pretty tight. Thanks, friends (Jasper).

Wii

2008-04-17T14:33:00.004-04:00

April 16- OK. So in retirement my father bought a Wii. Oh, the things parents do to fill an empty nest. Tomorrow is my parents' 24th wedding anniversary (and my birthday) and I can honestly say that I've never seen two people love one another more completely. Since being in college they have adapted to the empty nest by retiring, vacationing and taking on various house projects. And through it all, they have loved one another in a way that I never experienced while living at home. It's a beautiful thing to see your parents focus on themselves and their relationship, and witness the fruits of that process. I love it. And they obviously love each other.

So, back to Wii. They are obsessed. They play morning, noon and night; alone, together and with friends. Dad favors bowling (apparently because he bowled as a child, see above), while mom enjoys tennis. I called the other day and he asks, "What color are your eyes? And what shape?" Apparently he was making my Mii for the summer, as I will be back in the nest until July...

C is for Curio and College

2008-04-15T15:47:00.005-04:00

April 15 - We have met Curio's (self-imposed) deadline. After staying in the Curio lab for 22 of the past 48 hours, the magazine has grown before our eyes-- in addition to my waistline, as I have eaten nothing but vending since Sunday morning. Ugh.

I'm really proud of the publication. It's been an invaluable experience, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be managing editor. It affirms my desire to pursue a career in publishing, and has given me the confidence to do so. Thank you Kelly, Mary, Eleni and Carly for being fun, flexible and fearless.

The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
-Mark Twain

April 14- The last editing session. For me, it lasted 11 hours. Yess (Mary & Kelly).

"You put girls in a small room for a long period of time and bad things happen,"
-Carly LeDuc, editor

If by bad you mean awesome, then you're right. The 31st edition of Curio is going to be award-winning.

April 13 - Well, there you go. I'm officially a Tri Delta alumnae. I found myself holding onto every word during Circle degree, the third and final degree of Tri Delta membership. Sadly, I've already forgotten most of it. Pansy Brunch went really well, despite feeling completely out of sorts. Those three little triangles will follow me wherever I go, no matter if I'm a collegian or alumnae (Beth, KJC, Me & Allie).

Let us steadfastly love one another

p.s. - Beth didn't get the memo to wear some variation of tan, brown and yellow.

April 13 - Early morning rendezvous with James Madison. Thank you for indulging us, Tim. And Sara, thank you for patiently waiting until I fell in love with JMU as much as you. You inspired me (Me & Sara).

April 12 - Alumni weekend wouldn't be complete without a typical Will-Kate moment. Oh, what a day.

Bicycle for Two

2008-04-11T18:54:00.003-04:00

2 and Nothing New

2008-04-10T09:24:00.004-04:00

April 10 - View from the hall. Harrisonburg in the spring is the most beautiful.

April 9 - Free Redbull on the Commons from the snowboarding club; another reason I love JMU.

Taking Cover

2008-04-08T23:28:00.005-04:00

Quite possibly the soon-to-be CURIO cover. Can you sense my eye for VOGUE? CURIO's April 15th deadline is fast approaching, but I'm anxious for the pre-production to be entirely underway. Final edits to all copy are being done tonight so that designs can be finalized. The timeline couldn't fall at a more inconvenient time during the semester (alumni weekend and Pansy Brunch conclude this week), however I realize that I work better when under a bit of pressure. Look for the Spring 2008 issue of CURIO by May.

"Sometimes I buy VOGUE instead of dinner. I feel that it feeds me more,"
-Carrie Bradshaw

5 excellent days

2008-04-08T23:14:00.007-04:00

April 7 - Oh, JMU. I bought my cap and gown and straight up cried in the bookstore. I then over-compensated for such a ridiculous display of emotion by buying a t-shirt and sweatshirt. Never did I imagine that I would feel such attachment to this silly little school that has been in my backyard all these years. I arrived at freshmen orientation with a UVa hat on. It took until sophomore year for me to put a JMU sticker on my car. I received my first JMU sweatshirt junior year. And now as a senior, better later than never, I have developed a deep and resonating pride for my university. It is truly a campus culture that engenders students to hold doors for one another, favor the color purple and brag about campus dining.

"You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people if you don't serve the people,"
-Dr. Cornell West

April 6 - Tri Delta Volunteer Day. I planted in the rain garden with the hunky horticulturist.

April 5 - Damange control, thanks to Pana. My bracelet needed a quick fix after a rambunctious night of dancing.

April 4 - The buses came. Tri Delta Spring Formal (Pana, Me, KJC). The next morning, in reference to my date Kurt, Dad politely inquired, "How was the dancing Mennonite?" And to answer that question, I just giggled. Formal was so pleasant; pleasantly energetic and entertaining. Kurt was the perfect date in imperfectly sized Reeboks. As I told him, beauty is pain.

April 3 - With a 51% approval rating, Larson Thune is now JMU Student Body President. A job well done by the campaign staff-- now Larson can officially get his hands dirty. Let's just say that I already miss the little bugger.

I bleed purple & a little bit of Larson

2008-04-02T00:38:00.005-04:00

I don't know where to begin. But I recognize that we are almost to the end.

SGA Major Elections begins today at 7am. I've sold my soul to Larson in the form of a very well organized and tireless campaign manager. Sadly, I've never paid any mind to the Student Government, and if nothing else, this opportunity has allowed me to give back in a deeply passionate, heavily concentrated and obviously biased way: Vote Larson Thune for Student Body President.

Despite the alarming time commitment and meticulous planning, this has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I've had at JMU. I was honored when Larson first approached me, and whatever the polls reveal, I know that I'll be proud of what we have accomplished in the past month. As a senior, it is the perfect ending. It capitalizes on what I've studied for four years, it bears witness to the connections I've made on campus and it solidifies my adoration for JMU.

I'm excited for Larson. Vote!
http://sga.jmu.edu/voting

Goodnight/morning

Red, White and... Purple, cont.

2008-04-02T00:29:00.005-04:00

April 1 - Taste-testing energy drinks. Verdict: we'll stick with red bull (Woody).

March 31- I pied a FIJI to support Phi Gamma Delta's Autism Awareness Week (Chris).

March 30 - Kline's has become a regular for me, Allie & Larson. Milkshakesss.

Red, White and... Purple

2008-04-02T00:20:00.007-04:00

March 28 - AJ's "perfect lip." campaign crew dinner/drinks downtown.

March 27 - avoiding a campaign violation; covering up LARSON tshirt while in SGA office.

March 27 - day 1 of campaign. spent almost every waking moment with this one, bless his heart (AJ).

March 26 - campaign begins: Larson Thune for Student Body President.

March 25 - Whitney was crying about the seniors graduating. ha.

Artworks

2008-03-24T19:28:00.004-04:00

Tim's gallery opening. He wanted his own pic of the day <3

Holiday

2008-03-23T20:42:00.003-04:00

I love Easter.

Food of Love

2008-03-22T22:39:00.005-04:00

I'm shocked. I've been waiting (for three months) for my favorite quote to be the Shakespeare line of the day... and today was my lucky day. It's sad that I forgot to turn over the calendar until 10:30pm, but I'm now filled with more than enough joy to surely last me until.... March 23? Yay.

If music be the food of love, play on.
-Orsino in Twelfth Night (1.1.1)

Shakespeare in Love

2008-03-21T19:52:00.005-04:00

March 21 - Afternoon with Jon Layman. Try as he might, he couldn't get me to enjoy the basketball game. I swear, TV just does not capture (or hold) my attention anymore. Yay for books. Speaking of which, I've jumped on the bandwagon and have started reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. We'll see.

March 20 - No Fear Shakespeare for the day:

No profit grows where is no pleasure tak'en.
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

There's nothing to be gained from things we take no pleasure in.
What I'm saying, sir, is this: study what you most enjoy.

-Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew (1.1.39-40)

This serves as a reminder to why I've undertaken so many projects and obligations recently; I enjoy the work I'm doing. While I may be busy, I'm invested in all that I do, to the point that school has taken a backseat to various organizations, programs and events in which I play an active role. It may be senior year, but it's now or never.

p.s. FIRST DAY OF SPRING
p.p.s. don't ever listen to an 8 ball. it's a dirty liar.

Fire Drill

2008-03-19T21:17:00.002-04:00

It pays to know in advance when you're having a fire drill. No fines for us.

Lunch Date

2008-03-18T13:50:00.001-04:00

with Amanda Phillips :)

Magic

2008-03-18T00:37:00.005-04:00

March 17- Probably the most successful go at the 8-ball yet. Until this moment, Kerri Jean never understood why this response was even an option.

Butt Buddies

2008-03-16T16:33:00.005-04:00

March 15 - Little did they know, Tyler, Ryan, Pete and Blake all had on the same jeans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Love to my ASB family, who made fun of me for not wearing green to the official green party. Go green.

Ray Buds

2008-03-15T17:21:00.005-04:00

March 14

Curio

2008-03-13T16:42:00.002-04:00

Pt. 3

2008-03-13T01:38:00.004-04:00

March 9 - Ray Lamontagne, my new favorite, thanks to Nate.

March 10 - After not wearing make-up for one week, I reintroduced myself to mascara. Yes!

March 11 - Danny brilliantly made only half a waffle; what a smart idea!

March 12 - I'm managing his campaign... shaking hands and kissing babies (Larson Thune).

Pt. 2

2008-03-13T01:30:00.006-04:00

March 4- Team Dan vs. Team Kate in pictioary. Pictured: Alduque Adidio.

March 5 - Major head tilt on the James Irvine Trail (Emily).

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit - Ralph Waldo Emerson

March 6 - I learned that I really enjoy stacking wood this day (Pete).

March 7 - Latte art in Arcata, California. I love both.

March 8 - Alduque was paged (again) in the San Francisco airport.

On the return flight I finished reading Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies. Two thumbs up. She easily worked her way into my head and heart with her humor and honesty. She makes me want to become a writer. I'm anxious to read her previous book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

And it took me a while to remember that for me, the wall with the donkey on it is Jesus - A. Lamott

Pt. 1

2008-03-13T00:48:00.014-04:00

Alternative Spring Break in Redwood National Park set me back a week (and a couple days). There aren't enough words (or pictures) to convey the beauty I saw-- whether it took the form of a giant tree, or the shape of my team members' hearts. For a complete visual, click here.

Excuse the awkward progression of these pictures. In addition to my frustration of not having posted them already, it's been a headache trying to get them to flow correctly between posts. I give up. Ciao.

Feb. 29- Lunch with Ryan, home from Seton Hall. He was in the mood for BBQ.

March 1- Arrived in San Francisco. We ending up spending a lot of time in this airport during our trip.

March 2- Burger King before flying to Eureka! (Ashley and Blake)

March 3- We followed Mr. Lester's advice and brought PIT to the Redwoods. Booyah.

Visual Argumentation (?)

2008-02-28T14:20:00.007-05:00

Doug's affinity for drawing & appetite for chocolate made WRIT 380: Visual Rhetoric that much more fun today. The candy-induced discussion centered around the idea of visuals as arguments. I think it's interesting that some male rhetoricians see arguments solely linked to linguistics, while some female theorists are pushing for the legitimacy of visual argumentation. Feminist critic and scholar Sally Miller Gearhart argued that the history of rhetorical study is a history of male theory and practice. Therefore, the patriarchal hegemony of rhetorical history severely limits the female voice and creates a tainted episteme of rhetorical theory, much like the narrow view that arguments can only be verbal. Female meanings, experiences and values are lost, thus, women, as Foucault would argue, are denied a voice in culture, because their discourse has been excluded from the public realm. I now pose the question, which visuals are we also not listening to? Ha. Just look at Doug. That's a start.

East of Eden

2008-02-27T22:30:00.008-05:00

This pack job is going to be preeeeetty tight. I'm not sure how I'm going to pull it off, but it must be done.

Kudos to the boy scouts.

Apparently all I need to pack are tissues. Yesterday my boss, getting teary-eyed herself, said, "Kate, you're just going to feel like you're in Eden."

"Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food" (Gen. 2:8-9).

Heads up, no uploads from Feb. 29-Mar. 9.
I'll be in Eden... or close to it.

Goodreads

2008-02-26T22:45:00.003-05:00

While you can't always read a book by its cover, you can certainly size someone up by the books on their shelf. Therefore, my newest online obsession is Goodreads, a networking site that allows you to connect with friends and get "book recommedations from people you know." You can shelve your books accordingly-- currently reading, to-read or read-- while also reviewing/recommending them along the way. It's an entirely practical and surprisingly appropriate social network to which I enjoy devoting time.

And while I've spent more time reading since giving up TV a little more than a year ago, sometimes it really stinks. I just missed the debate. Dang it.

Harrisonburg

2008-02-25T08:29:00.006-05:00

I was walking this morning when the clouds began to part and the sky took on its true form for the day. The air is changing in Harrisonburg. Goodbye gray. I can feel spring coming. These trees are my favorite in their spring bloom. Coming over the Cantrell Ave. hill, they blanket the descent on the right, with Massanutten in the distance. Hm. Knoxville better be sweet like this. Give me those rolling Tennessee hills.

On my mind is a quote from Tolstoy's Family Happiness, "I looked forward, not to foreign tours or fashionable society or display, but to a quite different scene- a quiet family life in the country, with constant self-sacrifice, constant mutual love, and constant recognition in all things of the kind hand of Providence."

Happy Monday.

Vogue Idea

2008-02-24T19:54:00.006-05:00

Quentin will hate me for this picture. I caught up with him in B&N while he was reading triathlon magazines. He quickly took my Vogue and the conversation turned from bikes to whether or not we like bangs. He's a trip.

Speaking of trips, I'm leaving for Redwood National Park in six days. Tonight I had my final meeting with my Alternative Spring Break (ASB) team, and I'm really stoked about our group dynamic. Because I've been so involved in Greek leadership, I've worked closely with the same group of people for the past four years. Having an opportunity to literally work with a new and diverse group of students is going to be a blessing. We (12 students and one learning peer) will be traveling to Eureka, CA to work amongst the Redwoods. Our efforts will consist of trail work, evasive plant removal and bridge reconstruction. Never having been to Northern California, I am thrilled to see a different part of the country... especially those giant trees. Going on this trip has been one of the best decisions I've made this year. I have a feeling it's going to change my life.

But back to Quentin. I ran into him while I was picking up my reading for spring break; Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies: Some Thought on Faith. I've heard good things. I'll let you know.

Bleeding Purple

2008-02-23T17:20:00.005-05:00

I went to my third basketball game of the season. And not only did I buy a hot dog and sing the fight song, I sat in the student section on the court. So not only did I "bleed purple," I could have literally bled after having been hit in the face with a basketball. Luckily no such thing happened- we won AND got free ice cream because of the huge point spread.

I did have a brief Duke Dog sighting, which produced the normal goosebumps. After doing some research, I've learned that there is such a thing as masklophobia, or fear of mascots. Yep, that would be me. Go Dukes!

New Dog, Old Tricks

2008-02-23T10:58:00.007-05:00

February 22, 2008 - First ever double pic post! A picture is worth a thousand words, but two pictures are worth double the laughs. Beth, Allie and I ran errands with Bella in the car this afternoon. While stopped at a light, Bella jumped out the window. For some odd reason (and to the betterment of the situation) Allie was holding onto her leash, so she was stretched from the steering wheel into the passenger seat in one swift movement. We were all dumbstruck for what seemed like 100 red lights, and then Beth had enough sense to jump out of the back seat and grab Bella. I can only imagine what the man behind us was thinking. Stupid bitch(es)? ...That was too good to pass up.

It ended up we weren't as smart as we thought. Earlier in the day Allie was hit by JMU parking services with a nice fat ticket. By the time dinner came around, we wanted to park closer to the dining hall in a restricted lot. In an attempt to fool the system, we left the original ticket on the window but ended up coming back to two. Ha. Go figure.

Bold Moves

2008-02-22T03:05:00.004-05:00

Thursday, Feb. 21- I'm still not good enough for the old man at salsa night- although he didn't shake his head at me tonight. Thank goodness "we are enough for each other." We meaning Beth, English, Mark, Danny, Drew & myself. Goodnight, friends.

Things

2008-02-20T18:53:00.008-05:00

- My car wouldn't start today. That's why I have a bike, I suppose.
- I began reading Tolstoy's Family Happiness because I've been thinking of Chris McCandless.
- I bought new crocs.

10 days until the Redwoods.

31 Minutes Late

2008-02-20T00:31:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, Feb. 19 - Err. This time stamp thing is throwing me off. I legitimately took this picture of English at the Dodger before 12am, but didn't return to my computer in time to post before the clock rolled over. I can't help if fun things happen to me late at night. My lifestyle may not be conducive to blogging. Hm.

But, apparently my lifestyle (and resulting attitude/opinions) IS conducive to biting boys heads off when they make silly comments about how "radical" feminists are. Today I went off at this poor kid when he tried to bash Margaret Mead's unconventional approach to her marriage(s). The passionate response I had to his poorly constructed comments surprised me, as I found myself in the middle of this rhetorical rally over a topic I've never had to verbally defend. It was an interesting day. Mead is an interesting character.

That boy should just wait until Thursday when I lead a discussion on Eleanor Roosevelt. Ha.

Paper planes & Paper cuts

2008-02-18T21:17:00.005-05:00

I needed Liam to help me with mounting my design project. I can't seem to work a ruler. The paper plane I designed for my hypothetical tattoo is incorporated in the project, which received good feedback. But a paper plane on a piece of paper is one thing. A paper plane on a body is entirely different. Now, paper planes in a song- that's just plain brilliant.

4-1=3

2008-02-17T23:24:00.003-05:00

Tonight we celebrated Kerri's lavaliering with a candle pass. Allie missed out, but Beth and I took a picture with our little pre-engaged girl to remember the moment. Oh goodness. She's the first to go! Lord knows what I would do without those three women in my life. KJC, Bethie and Guinta deserve to be told, just like Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha, "You're the loves of her life and a guy's just lucky to come in fourth."

Reckoner

2008-02-16T22:25:00.007-05:00

Chris, Will, Ryan and I will be seeing Radiohead, again. The last time was after the 2003 release of Hail To The Thief. Luke and Will had just flown home from Kenya, so we went straight from the airport to the concert. This time will require Chris to leave his graduation party early and poor Ryan will drive down from Seton Hall, only to drive right back because his graduation is May 12. As Sufjan would say, "all things go."

On another note- Beth and I went and saw Into the Wild tonight. I was so taken by the book and boooooy was I impressed with the movie. Sean Penn did nothing but compliment Krakauer's writing. I read the book on the plane to Chicago earlier this month. Justyn had given it to me and I was to pass it on when I finished. The idea was to sign our names/email in the cover before passing it on, and whoever received it next was to email the people before them with their thoughts. I'm still waiting to hear from the man I sat beside on the plane to Chicago. He was so flattered I had given it to him; I have faith that he'll contact me. As Chris McCandless would say, "happiness real only when shared."

Sake!!!

2008-02-15T22:27:00.008-05:00

In the spirit of Valentine's Day (I am assuming), the men of the Testosterhome planned a house date to Kyoto. I was JC's lucky lady-- and he is now the lucky owner of a porcelain Buddha mug. By the end of the night I concluded that sake tastes better cold and the hilarity of Mad Gab never gets old. I must admit, this Valentine season has been nothing but sweet.

"Pea sleeve amass itch"

* the !!!s were added to emphasize JC's excitement

Xu Bing In The Flesh!

2008-02-14T21:21:00.005-05:00

After becoming a tad bit obsessed with Xu Bing, English and I had the opportunity to hear him speak tonight at A Conversation with Xu Bing. Happy Valentine's Day to us! With sincere gratitude we thank the College of Visual and Performing Arts' Encore series, the Dorothy Liskey Wampler Eminent Scholar Professor Program in the School of Art and Art History, the Institute for Visual Studies, the Office of International Programs, AAAAND the Arts Council of the Valley. Yet again, Bing took me by surprise with his square word calligraphy, Chinese-style characters formed with English letters. Very, very clever. To learn more about Bing's incredibly intelligent projects, check out http://www.xubing.com/index.php/site/projects/. My favorites include Tobacco Project and Where Does The Dust itself Collect.

Ciao Ciao. Or as Beth would say, holler back.

The Post-it Strikes Again

2008-02-13T18:07:00.005-05:00

There's nothing like coming home to a good post-it note. I have Beth to thank for this one. If anyone knows the significance of this spoof, you'll soon remember how funny the following episode of Sex and the City is..."But officer, her boyfriend broke up with her on a post-it!" (season 6, ep. 8). For more ideas on what to jot down on post-it notes, check out one of my favorite new books, To-Do List by Sasha Cagen. Oddly enough, Cagen also wrote Quirkyalone, a book for people who enjoy being single (but are not opposed to being in a relationship) and prefer to be alone rather than dating for the sake of having someone. Published in 2004, it could very well have been an afterthought to Carrie Bradshaw & co. Happy (early) Valentine's Day! Ha!

New Ways of Seeing

2008-02-12T20:38:00.002-05:00

After voting (duh), English and I visited Sawhill Gallery's most recent exhibit Picturing Equality: Xu Bing's New Ways of Seeing. I'm fascinated by Bing's visual investigation of language and culture, and image and text. His Landscript series specifically caught my attention. Bing creates a landscape-- trees, clouds, mountains, streams, etc-- from the respective Chinese characters. For more on Bing, please visit www.xubing.com.

p.s. yay for Obama winning Virginia.

Switcharoo

2008-02-12T19:12:00.001-05:00

In a rare stroke of genius, I resolved to take a picture every day during 2008. By sheer determination, I've succeeded-- not so bad for a typically ill-fated New Year's resolution. To date I've taken 44 photos (I took two on Jan. 1; one at the stroke of midnight and one later in the day). Thanks to my surprisingly legit camera phone, I've created a visual archive of my life that will surely be appreciated in years to come. Heck, it's already a blessing.

I know, it's unusual to start blogging now. It does ruin the consistency of the project, which had its beginning in my Picasa album. Perhaps I'll upload my previous pictures. Perhaps not.

For now, Jan. 1- Feb. 11 pictures can be seen here.

But from now on, expect a picture a day right here. Caption and all.
Here's to 2008.

Pace.