309th Day

blessed day.

Day 309

You know you're a {library} nerd when...

1. You go on a library run every Wednesday morning.

2. On said library runs, your books don't fit in your book bag. Then you're stuck carrying them around like you're in high school all over again.

3. Upon receiving books from interlibrary loan, you stand at the counter, look through the index, decide you don't want them anymore, and send them back.

4. You check out five books and then you proceed to wander around the library again and find more books (that you actually want to read).

5. You get frustrated when someone is sitting in "your" chair.

It's a wonderful life!

308th Day

This was a day in which chocolate ice cream was necessary for survival. 

precious.

Day 308

1DW/OS

We were loving it!

And the college freaked out and had to enforce some rules!

307th Day

Home, sweet home. 

Day 307

Preparation {to raise awareness} for tomorrow.

306th Day

Some of my most favorite memories were made on the stage in the Jon Robb Auditorium at Pittsfield High School.  Theatre was such a huge part of my high school experience.  What a treat it was to be able to see my friend's musical directing debut with South Pacific.  Bravo, Spencer! 

The young man in the leather jacket in the middle made his acting debut during my sophomore year of high school in Annie Get Your Gun (he was in the third grade and now he is a junior!).  We were cast as siblings  so naturally I was put in charge of keeping an eye on him - boy was he ornery.  I also fondly remember teaching many of these students at Drama Camp when I was in high school and now they have the leads! Gosh, I felt old today. 

Day 306

Spring is busting out all over! (The actual song is "June is Busting Out All Over," but it's from Carousel, which might be the most depressing musical ever written. So forget that!) I spotted these daffodils on my run today -- in the 84 degree all-around beautifulness that was this afternoon in Monmouth! I can't decide which flower I like best -- daffodils or irises!

Day 305

Scenes from Alpha Xi Delta's formal:

The best friends.

The date.

What a wonderful evening!

305th Day

One very pink, very large sun in the very early morning on my way to a history conference. Buzz word for the day: discourse. (Before 11a.m. I heard it uttered eleven times.)

I gladly welcomed a free hug from the adorable woman in black before I fled the city for the weekend. 

304th Day

Sweet potato fry teamwork.

Day 304

A baguette, four kinds of cheese, and dark chocolate with two wonderful friends. There's definitely never a dull moment when the three of us get together -- especially when we pretend to be European! All that was missing was a little vino!

303rd Day

Sweet sunshine. 

(Please don't pay attention to the dirty windows.)

Day 303

Formal is coming, formal is coming!

I had to make a last minute shopping run for supplies today -- look out world, I purchased nail polish. I can't wait until Saturday night!

More photos to follow.

Day 302

After my marathon day of meetings yesterday (9:30 am - 11:30 pm), I'm giving myself the night off tonight to watch my favorite movie of all time. I really am a band nerd at heart. I inevitably blubber like a baby every time I watch this film...every time.

302nd Day

I love Wednesdays because I get good bonding time with my roommate who is lucky enough to have Work From Home Wednesdays. 

Day 301

Daydreaming...

I'm always dreaming of some faraway place. Usually it's warm. Usually it's beautiful. Usually it's Grenada.

301st Day

Banksy.

300th Day

One of my favorite birthday presents. I feel very Victorian wearing this. 

Day 300!!!

Tea with honey (and sugar, of course) for breakfast, lunch, and after supper. I'm so sick of being sick. Sore throat please go away!

P.S. Bear with me over the next few days. My Macbook charger has sadly passed away, and a new one is in the mail. If I'm late posting, that's why!

299th Day

Ashley's new title in the apartment: expert pancake maker. 

All pancakes in Winthrop #2 will hereby be made by A.J.H.

Yes, there are M&Ms in them!

Day 299

let love shine. 'nuff said.

You know what I really love? When women's basketball is on TV. And I can actually lay around all day and watch it. Even if it is 6'8" Brittney Griner and Baylor. I can always cheer against them (and I am -- Go UW-Green Bay!)

Day 298

This picture pretty much sums up my Saturday afternoon -- close to an hour spent on the phone (most of it on hold) to get a credit card situation worked out. Don't try to charge me twice, Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina -- I'm too smart for you! And dear, dear Thin Mint cookies from the freezer: you make my world go round and save me from insanity.

298th Day

Hello, blue skies. Shame on you for deceiving us all into thinking it's nice out! 

297th Day

Yes, Melissa, I agree that this is good marketing. 

I really like this thought. And it's just all the more funny to me because it's Loyola. 

Day 297 {Friday Flashback}

It's snowing in Illinois today, but it's cherry blossom time in Washington, D.C. These are pictures of last year's blossoms. I lived by the Japanese Embassy, so our entire street was lined with cherry trees. It was a beautiful walk to campus!

Of course, we had to go see the blossoms on the Mall and at the Tidal Basin. We probably could have gotten in trouble for climbing the trees, but we had a blast (even if there were millions of tourists everywhere). It's days like today that make me miss DC!

296th Day

Old hymns in an old church. A perfect way to spend part of my Thursday night. 

A break from the chaos. A break to reflect. A break to give thanks. 

Day 296

I was up bright and early to spend the morning cleaning up brush and trash along the creek in the Le Seur nature preserve just a few blocks from campus. It was really cold and I'm still picking burrs from my hair, but the water is flowing again!

Day 295

My four favorite lines of poetry from e.e. cummings.

Words to live by.

295th Day

It's a hood, Mom. Not a hoodie. 

=)

!!!!

Day 294

After reading this ridiculous article, some wonderful friends and I were inspired to take a homework break and go through the drive-thru at Taco Bell. Don't worry, we didn't shoot anyone!

294th Day

The only video game system we owned growing up was just like this and was a gift from my Uncle Todd. We have this on loan thanks to my roommate's boyfriend.  I spent part of my evening playing Super Mario Bros. and fondly remembered playing this with my little brother in the basement of our old house. My dad was a pro at Duck Hunt. We never could beat him! I was impressed by how much I remembered from this game. The music (in the link) is ingrained in my head forever. 

293rd Day

I love my polka dot lunchbox.

Day 293

Tonight at band rehearsal I crushed a bug with a straight mute. Forget live and let live -- it was coming toward my foot! Oh, the joys of spring!

Note: This is not a reenactment -- there is actually a bug under there!

292nd Day

So many flowers basking in the afternoon sun.

291st Day

An afternoon at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

My roommates threw one classy event.

I have such beautiful friends. I can't thank them enough for such a fabulous party.

Day 292

I went and heard U.S. Olympic track and field gold medalist, Marion Jones, speak at church today. I remember watching her win the 100 meter dash 11 years ago in Sydney. I had pictures of her on the walls of my bedroom. She inspired me to run track. I ran all the same events as she did. These are some of my ribbons and medals from the good ol' days!

And then she admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. I remember being really disappointed, and then I pushed her from my mind...until I heard she was coming to Peoria. She spent time in jail for lying to federal investigators and now she's come out on the other side. She has an amazing testimony and I'm glad I got to hear her speak today! I can't wait to read her book and watch her play in the WNBA.

Day 291

It's official. Starting this August, Bloomington, Indiana is going to be my new home!