I'm such a slacker when it comes to keeping up with blogging. The last time I wrote was before Thanksgiving, almost a whole month ago. So I'll catch you up with what has been going on since.
I went home for Thanksgiving-- the flight by myself turned out to be just fine. I was able to stream some of the Macy's parade footage onto my laptop in the airport. But it was this website called earthcam so the view and the sound were not ideal. I complained a lot beforehand about having to be alone for the first half of Thanksgiving, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I got to take a nap on the plane and when I got home my mom had warm homemade cinnamon rolls ready for me to eat. I ate way too much for dinner, as usual, and was overly-hungry the next day. We have a traditional wood stove at my house that burns real firewood. My dad made a fire after dinner and we sat, watched the fire and relaxed. I really do have so much to be thankful for in my life. My family and friends are incredible blessings. I go to a school that I love in a city that I adore. My work as an Admission Ambassador is so rewarding. It's so cheesy and cliche but I really do love everything about my life! Sometimes taking the time to appreciate what you have is exactly what you need to help you stop complaining :)
The following week I celebrated my birthday, the big 21! We had some fun festivities in the Faneuil Hall area to celebrate. The next day was the lighting ceremony of the Boston Common Christmas tree and lights. After my night class, I went with a friend of mine to the ceremony. Except we thought that it was supposed to begin at 5:00. It didn't actually begin until 8:00. After an hour or so, we figured that out. So we met up with friends, including some Ambassadors, and went ice skating on the Frog Pond. One of our Ambassadors, TJ, actually works at the Frog Pond. I had no idea how skilled he is on the ice! The funniest part of being there is watching all the people fall. It's terrible that I find humor in others' embarrassment. But it's funny and I find just as much amusement in my own embarrassment! You have to. There was this one little boy who wiped out and laid on his back for a good minute before his mother came over to rescue him. He wasn't crying or anything. I think he was just laying there in utter shock. Since we were busy skating, we missed the actual ceremony part of the lighting. I hear that Brian McKnight performed. It's ironic that we waited all that time for the ceremony to begin and only noticed it had when the whole Common lit up and fireworks went off.
The following weekend I went home again. My friend, Gina, who I have known since I was six months old, is pregnant and due at the end of the month. It was her baby shower and I absolutely could not miss it. The theme was a Winter Wonderland and the weather was perfect because it was also the first snowfall in Maryland that day. I was completely unprepared for snow. I figured that going home to Maryland for three days during the first week in December would be cold, but no chance of snow. Though I own three different pairs of snow boots, all I brought home was heels and ballet flats. Of course it wasn't just flurries or a dusting, it was an accumulation of at least two inches. Those of you from New England, two- four inches does not sound like much. While it isn't much, the capabilities of cleaning up snow are far less advanced in Maryland so it take a lot longer to get it cleaned up. My feet were wet and freezing the entire time I was home. I just felt so silly because I'm the one who lives in Boston-- I should be the one who knows how to dress properly for snow.
The baby shower was so much fun! It was held at Gina's mom's house. Three of Gina's girlfriends including myself helped to host it and make sure everything ran smoothly. Of course we ran into some bumps in the road, literally. The cake fell over in my friend's car and she arrived at the house in tears with a cake looking like someone had punched it. Luckily we were able to fix the damage, after a lot of added icing. Cake disaster aside, the day went really well. It is so good be around family and old friends. Good times!
I came back for four crazy days of the last week of class. A test, a paper for a project, presentation, and a performance of a skit for French was a lot to get through after two weekends of flying back and forth. But I survived and was able to celebrate at Suffolk's Winter Ball. Every semester one of our student organizations, Program Council, puts on a semi-formal event for undergraduate students. This semester the venue was at the top of State Street Pavilion overlooking Faneuil Hall, the Customs House tower and most of Boston. One of the best views of Boston and it was absolutely breathtaking. Almost every Ambassador came to the dance (I will put up pictures next time I'm on my computer at home). It was so much fun! We danced the night away :)
Which brings me to this week-- finals. I had four finals total. Normally I have a mix of presentations, projects and finals and never have to sit down for more than two finals. This semester I all the above: presentations, projects, papers and four finals! Three are already finished and I have one left tomorrow. I cannot wait until that is over. I am so exhausted-- this semester has been a whirlwind of activities. I feel like I was just blogging about beginning all of my classes. It is unreal to me how quickly time has flown and that the semester will be over tomorrow! People always say that time moves much faster when you get older. I never believed them until now. What is even crazier to think about is that this time next year I will be graduated from college and setting off into "the real world." That is a scary thought... so we will just leave that be and instead be excited about going home for winter break.
I head home to Maryland on Saturday for a whole month. I love being home for Christmas and New Years! It will be so nice to spend time with my family and friends at home. I will be sure to post Winter Ball pictures... until then wish me luck on my last final. I'll blog you next year :) I've always found that joke to be so cheesy yet quite funny!
