Some updates in my life:

I got a 163 on my LSAT, which is exactly what I got on the practice test. So... months of preparation didn't improve my score at all. But hey, it's still good, and I can still get into some good schools.

Snoopy, my dachshund, went to a new home yesterday. Dad finally had it with him, and there was nothing I could do. It's been a hard couple of days.

I'm currently at the beach with my parents. It doesn't quite look like the picture above--yet. They've found a couple of tar balls, but have been cleaning it up. We're going to try a beach day tomorrow, so here's hoping I don't come back covered in crude oil.

So this is Day 200! It has actually been well over a year since I started this Project 365, which was supposed to be a daily photo blog. Since then, I stopped posting every day, and it doesn't always include a photo, much less one that I took. However, I keep up with the titles because I like the continuity.

Anyway, here is a ridiculously long survey that I found on Facebook that you are in no way required to read. It's mostly because I think they're fun to fill out.

1. One of your scars, how did you get it?
I actually have one on both knees, and each of them are from a rock. My right knee was when I was swimming in the lake and my knee hit a rock, and my left knee was from tripping over one rock and landing on another. I don't like rocks.

2. What is on the walls in your room?
In my room at home, two Pirates of the Caribbean puzzles that I put together and framed. In my apartment, masks that I got in New Orleans.

3. What is your current living situation?
I have an apartment, but I'm at home for the summer.

4. What type of music do you listen to?
A little of everything. I like metal the most, though.

5. Do you know what time you were born?
I think somewhere around 11 PM. But honestly I could be making that up.

6. What do you want more than anything right now?
Hmm... I'm pretty satisfied right now, actually. Maybe a cream puff, thanks to Cake Boss.

7. What do you miss?
Mitch. And the days when I had no responsibilities.

8. What is your most prized possession(s)?
My books.

9. How tall are you?
5'5" and a half. Have been that height for years... I just can't reach 5' 6".

10. Are you claustrophobic?
A little. Maybe not so much small spaces, but more being stuck--like in a cave--and not being able to move.

11. Do you get scared in the dark?
Most of the time I don't, but every now and then I will spook myself.

12. The last person to make you cry?
Toy Story 3. Does that count?

13 What is your worst fear?
Failure at life. And fire.

14. What kind of hair/eye color do you like on the opposite sex?
Brown hair--any shade will do. Blue-green eyes or brown, but only if it's the right shade.

15. Where can you see yourself being proposed to at?
I don't know. I'd like to be surprised!

16.Coffee or energy drink?
Neither. Hot tea, please.

17. Favorite pizza topping?
Extra cheese or pepperoni.

18. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?
Nothing. I'm really quite full.

19. Favorite color of all time?
Cerulean.

20. Have you ever eaten a goldfish?
The cracker? Yes.

21. What was the first meaningful gift you've ever received?
I'm not sure about the first. But my mom has always given me little things, just because she thinks of me.

22. Do you have a crush?
I have a wonderful boyfriend... so yes.

23. Are you double jointed?
Nope. I have regular old joints.

24. Favorite clothing brand?
American Eagle. They're the only brand that fits me well.

25. Who is your favorite female/male celebrity?
Umm.... you know, I don't think I do.

26. Do you have a pet?
One Snoopy, a lazy dachshund who is snoring at my feet.

27. What kind is it?
Oh, well I just said that.

28. Would you fall in love knowing that the person is leaving?
I don't think I can really control who I fall in love with. It just happens.

30. Say a number from one to a hundred:
92

31. Blonds, brunettes, or red heads?
Brunettes, because I am one.

32.Favorite quote?
Do I contradict myself?
I can't think of one off the top of my head.

33. Favorite place?
It depends on my mood. Sometimes home, sometimes Athens, sometimes... places I haven't been to yet.

34. Have you been out of the USA?
I went to Oxford, England this time last year.

35. Your weakness?
Food

36. Met anyone famous?
Not that I know of, I don't think.

37. First job?
Sales associate at Banana Republic.

38. Ever done a prank call?
I think I was in the room, but I'm not sure I was ever actually on the phone.

39. Do you think everyone out there has a soul mate?
I honestly think they do.

40.What were you doing before you filled this out?
Watching Hidalgo on TV.

41. Have you ever had surgery?
Not really. Just getting my wisdom teeth out.

42. What do you get complimented about most?
My hair. And oddly, once, my skin.

43.Have you ever had braces?
Oh, yes. Two years of hell.

44. What do you want for your birthday?
That's way off in October... so I haven't really thought about it yet. Cake. Mmmm, cake.

45. How many kids do you want and their names?
I would really only want one, a girl. Her name will be Audrey Christina. A boy, though, if I have one, would be something John. Aiden John, Ian John.

46. Were you named after anyone?
Yes, my father. His name is Stephen, I'm Stephanie.

47. What is your biggest turn-off of the opposite sex?
Smoking or any kind of drug use. No thank you.

48. What is the one thing you liked about high school?
Having a really close group of friends, and having pretty much no responsibility.

49. What kind of shampoo do you use?
Garnier Fructis Length and Strength

50. Do you like your handwriting?
Sometimes. Other times, I hate it.

51. What is your favorite lunch meat?
Turkey

52. Any bad habits?
Procrastination and laziness.

53. Are you a jealous person?
Sometimes I can be.

54. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Of course. I'm awesome.

55. Do you agree with "friend with benefits?"
If the two parties are okay with that, but it's a weird arrangement.

56. Do looks matter?
Of course. Even though no one likes to admit it, we all make first impressions based on appearance.

57. How do you release anger?
I don't get truly angry very often. More often, I get frustrated. Every time, though, reading is the way to go. I get lost in the lives of others and forget about my own troubles.

58. OH NO, THIS IS MISSING!

59. What's your main goal in life?
To be happy and financially comfortable.

60. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Probably my Barbies. I also really liked coloring.

61. How old were you when you first fell in love?
20.

62. Were you a fan of Barney as a little kid?
For a little while, yes. And then I discovered Rugrats!

63. Do you use sarcasm?
Me? I have no idea what you're talking about with this sarcasm nonsense.

64. Mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese?
Oh goodness. Those are my two favorite foods. Mac and cheese and potatoes... both.

65. What do you look for in a guy/girl?
Acceptance. Humor. Someone to love me.

66. What are your nicknames?
Most people just call me Stephanie. However, I have been called Step-On-Me and Stephanopoulous. Also, Twozzle and Stepharoo.

67. Favorite super hero?
Batman. He did all that WITHOUT super powers.

68. What's your favorite TV show?
Big Bang Theory, but I never get to watch it.

69.What's the best way to deal with you enemies?
As my mama always said, kill them with kindness.

70. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Mint!

71. Do you have all your fingers and toes?
Indeed. Ten on both counts.

72. Do you have a computer in your room?
My laptop goes with me everywhere.

73. Plans for tonight?
Well it's 12:30... so read some and go to bed.

74. Where do you want to live when you are older?
Somewhere in the South. My family is here and there's just no place like home.

75.Do you want everyone to answer these questions?
They can if they want. I don't care.

76. What are you listening to?
Deadliest Catch on Discover Channel

77. Last thing you drank?
Coke Zero

78. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Hmmm.... my mother.

79. The first thing you notice in the opposite sex?
Hair and mouth.

80. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read, spend time with my boyfriend/friends, paint. At the moment I'm tackling a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

81. Favorite thing to hate?
Screaming babies.

82. Favorite season of the year?
Fall

83. What's your favorite type of candy?
Skittles

84. Have you ever really truly had a best friend?
I still do, and I actually have two.

85. What color is your hair?
Brown, with some reddish and goldish highlights in the sun.

86. Eye color?
Brownish black.

87. Shoe size?
Oh, 8.5-9, depending on the shoe.

88. Favorite fast food place?
McDonald's

89. Favorite restaurant?
Angler's in Destin, FL. And Olive Garden!

90. Do you like sushi?
Eh, I'll eat it if it's cheap, but it's not my favorite.

91. Watch TV today?
I'm watching it now.

92. Favorite day of the year?
Probably Christmas Day. My whole family is together, we're all happy, and we just enjoy the day.

93. Play any musical instruments?
I can play a few scales on the piano.

94. Republican or Democrat.
Republican.

95. Kisses or hugs.
Hmm... I like hugs better. Kisses are good, but they're a lot of chocolate. Hugs have white chocolate!

96. Relationship or one night stands?
Oh definitely relationship.

97. What is the last thing someone bought you.
My dad bought me lunch? Does that count?

98. Would you ever be a housewife?
I could be, I guess. But I'm not working so hard on an education to sit home for the rest of my life.

99. What book are you reading?
Dead as a Doornail, number 5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. AKA, the True Blood series. Don't judge me...

100.Describe your love life.
Quite happy =]

This is Snoopy. He is my dog, and I love him.

I got him in 7th grade. My dad told me that if I were to join a sports team for a year, he would get me a dog. I don't think he actually thought I would do it, but I joined my school kayak team. Hey, that's an Olympic sport, it counts. On January 14, 2003, we brought Snoopy home from the humane society, and we've had him ever since.

Now, fast forward to 2010. Dad hates this dog. He claims that if Snoop even touches the carpet, he'll pee on it. It's true that he's had accidents in the kitchen before. Dad claims that the dog has forgotten that he isn't allowed to go to the bathroom in the house. What I don't understand, though, is that when I had him at my apartment, he didn't go to the bathroom on the floor once. He went to the door when he needed to go out, just like he's supposed to. To me, this means that he isn't taken out enough here, and if you have to go, well, you have to go. You can't fault an animal for that.

So, now, he keeps Snoopy locked up all the time. He's either out on the deck, in his bed, but attached to his leash, or in his kennel. ALL THE TIME. I personally think that's cruel, to keep him like that. And then Dad gets mad if Snoopy barks, but he's gonna bark if he's locked up all the time. Dad told me my job this summer is to get rid of him. Me. My job. Get rid of the dog that I love. I offered earlier, in the spring, to find an apartment that would allow pets, and I would take him with me. Dad told me no. Now I'm supposed to get rid of him? I told Dad that I would take him. Now I've signed a lease in a place that won't even allow goldfish.

What an asshole.

Does anyone else have a problem with spam? Not the food--which I'm sure is disgusting, even though I've never eaten it--but in reference to the internet?

I've been getting a lot of spam comments on my blog posts lately. Usually about fake James Bond watches, Chinese dresses, etc. It's irritating and I don't know how to stop it.

Any suggestions?

· Thoughts during my Maymester class:

o I swear the clock moves slower in class. Do professors have the ability to bend time? I’m sure they do. It’s the only way this class could possibly take this long. It’s only been 45 minutes… two hours to go.

o My Lord I’m hungry. I don’t get it. I ate breakfast this morning, but I think breakfast only makes me hungrier. I wish we could take a break so I could eat a cereal bar or something.

o I have a headache right in the middle of my forehead and around my ears. How random is that?

o The girl in front of me is really tan. I wish I was really tan. Not so orange-y, like her though. I’m pretty sure her color comes from fake n’ bake. She’ll probably get skin cancer one day.

o I wonder if the guy next to me is gay. Not that I have anything against him, I’m just wondering. Sometimes he comes in looking straight. Today, however, he does not. I need better gaydar.

o I would like some yellow Gatorade.

o How does one get up to leave the classroom gracefully and unnoticed to go to the bathroom when you sit across the room from the door?

o All desks should come with a footrest.

o Why is it so cold in here?

o I’m so glad college doesn’t have a dress code. It would be really obnoxious to have to wear either jeans or shorts that came to my knees. Here’s to Soffees and a t-shirt!

o Man, I’m hungry…

This is possibly my all-time favorite roller coaster. I have ridden it 23 times, 18 of which have been in the past couple of months. It is Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, and Boy and I have a slight obsession with it.

We have season passes to Six Flags this year, and we went on Saturday from open to close, which is 11 hours. It was in celebration of the end of finals: possibly the worst finals week I've ever had. Ever. I had two rather lengthy research papers (one was 7 pages, the other was 10), as well as 4 finals... all in the same week.

However, I survived. I had my fun on roller coasters. On Sunday, Mother's Day, I saw Iron Man 2 with Mom, and then the family had a big dinner that night. On Monday, I did absolutely nothing--I got up at 9 (because Dad literally waved a plate of cinnamon rolls under my nose without telling me what time of day it was. Evil man.) and sat on the couch until 2. Then I had lunch and watched a movie with one of my best friends, and drove back to Athens.

A normal student would be on summer break after spring finals, no? However, I'm taking two Maymester classes, which is a whole classes jammed into three weeks. However, after last summer's debacle, I feel like nothing can phase me. One class is in the morning, and then one in the afternoon. I am currently waiting for class two to start.

Only two classes and one LSAT away from me and summer! I think I can do it.

This is usually the scene in my bathroom come morning. My routine: hit the snooze button 4 times. Roll out of bed. Stumble over to the bathroom. Use the bathroom. Brush my teeth. Turn on the shower. And, while I'm waiting for the water to heat up, I step on the scale. It's not a fun way to start the morning, by any means. But you know what was different this morning?...Drum Roll please.... I've lost 3 pounds!

Okay, so I know it's only 3 pounds. But this is the first time that I have actually lost weight while making an effort to exercise and eat better. I lost about 10 pounds this time last year, but that was because I was too lazy to walk down to the dining hall, so I only ate one meal a day. This year, I'm actually trying, and these are the first results that I've seen.

It's really nice to know I'm not doing all of this for nothing. This whole diet and exercise thing does not at all come to me naturally. I love to eat, and I love food. I'm a social eater--it's one of the few things in Athens to do. Want to hang out with someone? Go to dinner! Go get dessert! Already eaten? It's okay, eat again!

My other problem is, as I've said, carbs. I LOVE bread. It's that third roll at dinner, with real butter. Baked potatoes. Mashed potatoes. Scalloped potatoes. Fried potatoes. Rice. Any cake or pastry.

So even though it's hard to keep it up, for the first time I've motivated myself to get up off the couch and do something for once. Even though I would much rather go to the pool or take a nap, I walk on the treadmill for 40-50 minutes. Even though everyone around me (except my mother, who will perpetually eat healthier than me) is eating all the foods that I want to be, I'll go with the option that's better for me. Maybe one day, my scale will smile at me!

So I'm on this new health kick. Okay, it's actually an old health kick that I keep kicking to the curb when I get tired of it. But this time, I'm going to stick to it. My mother and I have made an agreement with each other that we'll do something good for ourselves physically at least once a day. In my case, I've started walking for an hour on the treadmill. She is walking on the track at the college she works for.

Another component to this is eating healthier. This part is hard for me in particular, because I'm really picky. I don't like vegetables, really, and the only fruits I like are peaches and apples. My biggest problem isn't sugar (although I do have a big sweet tooth), it's carbs. I LOVE bread. And potatoes. And pasta. Other than steak, which isn't the greatest for you, carbs encompass some of my most favorite dishes, and that's what I have issues controlling.

Since I know that I can't completely overhaul my eating habits--I've tried and failed many times--all I can do is try to scale them back some. Get something baked or grilled, instead of battered and deep-fried. So, I thought I would share one of my new foods with you.

It's nothing earth-shattering, and I'm sure many people have heard of it. I take low-carb cinnamon graham crackers and cool whip, and do one of two things:

1. Take two whole crackers and put cool whip in the middle. Freeze it overnight for a different version of the ice cream sandwich!
2. Take two graham crackers and break them in half. Take cool whip and spread it over each cracker half.

Is that not a rockin wedding cake? My friend, Ashley, made it. Okay, so it's not REAL cake--the part that would be the cake is actually styrofoam. However, the decorations on the outside are all real, and it took her two weeks to finish.

She did this for UGA's Relay for Life, which my sorority took part in this year. The theme was Change the Channel on Cancer, so each booth was supposed to pick a TV show. We did "Say Yes to the Dress", or, in our case, Say Sure to the Cure. Everything was wedding themed--we sold veils, wedding cookies, cupcakes and tiaras. People could also take pictures with this:



To pass the time, the Relay Exec ran a Relay-wide scavenger hunt that was hands down the best part of the whole night. We had to do lots of things, like....

Sumo Wrestle



Eat Puppy Chow like a dog



Drink a daiquiri



Throw popcorn in someone's mouth



This was a lot of fun, and encouraged spending money at the booths. We came in third place! The total raised throughout the UGA community was $306,561.62, with my own team raising a little over $2,000. Since Xi Delta has our own cancer survivor, and since I have both survivors and victims in my own family, I think Relay for Life is a particularly good cause. It's fun and it helps with cancer research! You should look into Relay in your own community--it's worth it!

Sometimes, you just have to be silly.

AHHHHH! SCHOOL!!

This is how I feel right about now. I'm slowly going insane. End of the semester is so close... and yet 4 papers, a speech, and 4 finals away.

Anyway, this is blog is less about me and more about this guy. My boyfriend is writing a blog for a class, and he needs to get as many people following it as possible. So, as a favor to me (since I'm so wonderful), it would be FANTASTIC if y'all could follow it! You don't actually have to read it, since it's about UGA football (which I don't expect many of you are interested in), and you can stop following it in a couple weeks, when the semester is over.

In the meantime... check it out! Please? The link:

The Bulldawg Blawg

Crab rangoon! This dish is one of my favorites at a Chinese restaurant, and I've come to judge the quality of the restaurant based on how good the crab rangoon is. Sadly, here in Athens... well, the restaurants all fail. I went to two or three different places (there aren't too many Chinese places to choose from, sadly), and none of them passed the test. So, I just focused on other cuisines--Japanese, Italian, or just plain American.

There's a place next to the East Side Walmart in Athens that I kept noticing--Golden Sun. It looked really sketchy, but I've learned that often the better Chinese restaurants are the ones that look a little dingy on the outside. (You always want to check the health inspection grade though, just to make sure). This Sunday, I decided to try Golden Sun, and... voila! Finally! Good crab rangoon. My Athens restaurant life is complete.

Pollen! It's everywhere! I'm pretty sure it wasn't there Sunday. But Monday! BOOM, pollen bomb. It's on cars, on the sidewalk (as you can see above, it was so thick that there were FOOTPRINTS in it), and in my hair. My sinuses are killing me! It's ridiculous!

Happy Easter everybody!



I'm 20 years old, and my mother still gives me an Easter basket. Or, well, an Easter bag. I got a chocolate bunny, sour Starburst jellybeans, Cadbury eggs, Sweet Tart gummies, robins eggs malted milk balls, and... something else, but I can't remember what. Oh! A cute stuffed flower for my room in my apartment. It also came with a gift certificate for a pedicure, which I was supposed to get this weekend. Alas, I cannot. Why, you may ask? Well...


Warning! This picture is somewhat graphic. I apologize if you're eating or squeamish.






I did this to my toe in dance class. You see, I'm an idiot, and on Wednesday, I thought it was Tuesday. I don't have my dance class on Tuesday. So, I wore flip flops. Well, when I figured out it was Wednesday, I realized I had to go to dance, but without the proper footwear. I made it through the whole class, until the last one--the guy's shoe brushed up against the toe nail in just the wrong way, and it ripped in half. So.. no pedicure for me, at least until this heals. Boo =[

However, I still had to go to a Friday Night Ballroom Magic--a requirement for my class. Since I couldn't actually do any of the dances (didn't want to get stepped on again), I sat back and watched. What did I see? I saw this:



That's right, dancing bunnies. They later did the waltz and the cha-cha.

Have you seen anything weird lately?

Do you remember Gak? That smelly, gooey, not-quite-as-fun-as-Play-doh Nickelodeon concoction? Well these, my friends, are the Gak Trees:



Now, you may recognize these under their more commonly known name of "dogwood". However, as I have seen no resemblance to either dogs or wood (except for that whole being a tree thing), I have taken to calling them Gak Trees. Why? Because they smell exactly like Gak!

For weeks I've been walking around wondering why on Earth I kept smelling the stuff. It's not like anyone plays with it anymore. It's not even manufactured anymore, so far as I know, which means any supply would have to be at least 10 years old. Ten year old Gak would be dried out, right? And therefore not emitting any smell.

Finally, I discovered the culprit. They were above my head! I think dogwoods are very pretty trees, but good LORD do they smell bad. I will be quite happy when they are no longer blooming.

This is Frank. Frank is one of the most epically cute cats on the planet. He also has a small fascination with bathrooms--here, he is in my shower, and he once fell in my toilet.

I'm going to miss Frank. You know why?... I signed a lease at my dream apartment! A friend from Oxford knew a girl who was in a similar roommate situation as me, so we decided to live together. It's always iffy, living with strangers, but she seems cool. I'm not looking for a best friend, just someone who is easy to get along with and who isn't insane.

We signed at the place with the huge walk-in closets and private studies that were remodeled a year or two ago. Can we say fabulous? (Pardon my Sex and the City moment, this place just excites me!) Furthermore, I get to decorate according a little more to my taste, which is another big plus.

In other news...



I'm going to Six Flags on Saturday. Now, I feel like Six Flags is a universally-known theme park. If you've never heard of it, it's amazing and I recommend that you go. My favorite part is, of course, going on the roller coasters. I used to be terrified of them until one of my friends convinced me to go on Batman (which is still my all-time favorite). Now I like all of them! Well, except the Ninja, but that's only because it actually hurts to ride it. I'm also a big fan of the giant swings because I like to feel the air between my toes =]

The Boy and I are thinking of buying season passes for the summer. It costs $45 to go for one day, and right now, the passes are only $49.99. So really, if we go twice (which we plan to do), then the passes pay for themselves. I could also then finally pay back my good friend and former roommate, who let me use quite a few of her "take a friend for free" tickets that come with the passes.

That's an update on my life for now. What's new with you? It has been gorgeous for the past few days in Georgia--I laid out by the pool yesterday! Have you been enjoying the spring weather?

SNOW TUBING. Snow tubing, if you've never done it, is quite possibly the best thing ever. Unlike skiing, it requires pretty much no physical exertion whatsoever. You hook your tube to a rope, and it pulls you up the hill. Then, all you do is go down the hill! And it's FAST.

My uncle took me, my mom, and my two cousins to do this today. I even managed to wipe out and roll down the hill some, but it didn't hurt! Because it's snow. Seriously, if you are anywhere near an area that offers this, do it. I just found out that there's a place called Scaly Mountain, NC, which is only two hours away from home/Athens, that is all about snow tubing. And, weather permitting, I will definitely be going as soon as I can!

Today I went skiing! I'm in Utah visiting my aunt, uncle, and two cousins for Spring Break with my mom. The slopes are only thirty minutes from their house, so, of course, we headed up there today. And man, am I tired. We skiied for five hours--about four hours longer than any physical activity I've done in the past year, since the last time I went skiing. I only fell twice, and both times was more sitting down than actual falling. I took this picture on the ski lift at Brighton Ski Resort on the Majestic lift up to the green runs, which are the easiest ones.

Tomorrow we'll be snow tubing, which I've never done before. I'm not entirely sure what it entails, other than just what it sounds like--tubing in the snow.

On another note, while I'm having fun here, I miss home too. I miss my dog. I miss my dad. I miss my Boy. You don't realize how big a part of your life someone is until they're not there for a few days. Something is always missing.

Oh! I forgot. This:



is Kelly. She might look cute, but oh, how appearances are deceiving. Have you ever seen Marley and Me? This is Marley's long lost twin sister, Clearance Puppy Number Two.

SO! I'm finally getting around to my Valentine's Day post. I know, I know, this is rather belated, but I said I would get around to it, and I did. So, here we go.

The weekend started off with snow! Now, for anyone not from the South, this might not seem overly exciting. But for us? Two or three inches (about five or six, in this case) and we cancel school. The state shuts down. Why? Because we're all out playing in it!



The Boy and I played in the snow at my house. We made snow angels and threw snowballs at each other, but we failed completely at making a snowman (some Canadian he turned out to be.... kidding =]) The snow wouldn't pack well enough, but I had fun anyway.



Saturday, he took me to The Cheesecake Factory! Which is possibly the most awesome place ever. The food is fantastic, in my opinion. I had the best chicken parmesan I've ever put in my mouth. Carrot cake cheesecake. They had one called Stefanie's Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake, but I couldn't talk them into giving it to me for free, even though it has my name in it. We got all dressed up--most cheesecake factories aren't dressy, but this one was in Buckhead, an upscale area of Atlanta. He also got me the super cute teddy bear from above, who I named Russell (which may or may not have to do with the Russell Stover chocolates that came with the bear...).

Sunday, which was actual Valentine's Day, we went to Medieval Times! Medieval Times is a dinner show that's in a big castle. You get to watch jousting, sword fighting, etc in a big arena while cheering for your knight, all while being served some really good food. You have to eat with your hands--they didn't really have utensils in the actual medieval times. I LOVE Medieval Times. It's like the Renaissance Festival, but I don't have to walk around, and they bring food to me.



You also get to wear a really awesome crown with the color of your knight. We took advantage of the Valentine's special--two flags (also yellow), two drinks in goblets (that you get to keep), a light-up rose, and light-up wand, a scroll, and admission to the Dungeon, a torture device museum.

For my Valentine's present, I made a two-layer (white and chocolate) cake with strawberry icing and red sprinkles, as well as a framed picture of the two of us from our first hockey game.



All in all, I had an amazing weekend. I'd never had a real Valentine's Day (I always managed to time things so that I was single... go me), and it was nice to feel wanted instead of celebrating Singles' Awareness Day. Basically, the Boy is awesome. I know this was a while ago, but it makes me smile just to remember it =]

Today is one of those days when I really, really hate my roommate. For the most part, since the last time I wrote about our issues in the fall, things have been quiet. We learned to coexist, to an extent, even if anything resembling a friendship has long since passed.

Today, when I got back after being home for a few days, there was a little note on my door saying that it was my turn to empty the dishwasher and take out the trash. Now, under normal circumstances, I would be fine with that. However, I have been ridiculously busy for the past month, so I haven't been home--to cook or make trash. I rarely eat at home, much less cook, so my contribution to these dishes in the dishwasher? One coffee mug, one water glass, and a spoon. I don't exactly use trash in the kitchen very often either, I mostly use the one in my bedroom, which I empty myself. So the mountain of garbage that was sitting in our utility closet? Yeah, not mine.

Now, when this girl makes trash, she doesn't just put it in the trashcan. Anything big--like milk cartons, OJ containers, pizza boxes--gets put next to the trashcan. They recently bought a blender, so the empty blender box was full of all the larger things that they had gone through recently, and it was even spilling over the sides. I, on the other hand, had one milk carton. One. And it was a half gallon. To even get this stuff outside to the dumpster, I had to use a whole other large trash bag, which means we're out of them. Since I bought this box of trash bags, it means that it's her turn to buy them. We'll see if she actually does.

Normally I don't mind this whole switch off thing of taking turns emptying the trash and the dishwasher. However, in the beginning of the semester, she NEVER did any of it! Never mind that she's never even lifted a duster and the vacuum cleaner only once, when there was a bug on the floor that she didn't want to touch, but she did this same thing to me for months. She didn't even have the excuse of being busy because it's not like she has a social life or anything. She's always there. And yet, now that I have been a little busy and haven't had time, that is apparently unacceptable.

I am counting down the days to when we won't be living together anymore. Sixty-eight days until the end of finals, and I assume (or hope) that she leaves for the summer. One hundred and fifty-two days until the end of our lease. I think I can make it.

This is my new computer! It's a 14" Sony Vaio with a Core i3 processor. It has 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. There are lots more specifications, of course, but I have no idea what any of them means. I know that I can play the Sims on it, it has Bluetooth, and it works. I have completely Stephanie-ized it--Google Chrome has a flowers theme and Shaun White is my background. I have to say, it's nice to just have the dang thing and not have to worry about it anymore!

I'm still getting used to it. The buttons are a little more spaced apart on the keyboard, so typing feels a little odd. I don't know what some of the buttons do--(what does the Vaio button do?? Or the Assist button? What is Evernote?) But I'm confident I'll figure it out. I thought Sony laptops weren't very good, but according to the sales associates, Sony is one of their best products. Since the Boy was with me, who used to work at that Best Buy, I trust them--he hooked me up with the non-sketchy sales people, who wouldn't try to screw me over.

I also got a pink wireless mouse to go with it, and with the extended warranty plan (which would let me drop it in a pool, and they'd have to fix it), it only cost about $130 for the whole thing. Thank you, Best Buy no-lemon policy (if you bring it back 4 times, they'll junk your computer out as a lemon. Then you get a new one, pretty much free of charge.) Even after all the stressing... I kinda like this one =]

And yes, I know, I'm slacking on Valentine's Day pictures. BUT, I will soon have ALL of my pictures off of my external hard drive permanently stored on the new laptop, and then will promptly (well... I do have two tests and am going to an Atlanta Thrashers hockey game this week. So as soon as I can) post pictures and share about them. Really. I will.

So I found my camera, but it's not currently with me. I will write about Valentine's Day--promise! Because I know that you're all eager to hear about it =]

This post is about something else entirely--computers. I can't remember if I wrote about this or not, but my beloved Dell XPS died. The mother board on it crashed, so I took it to Geek Squad. Fortunately, I have a service plan with them, so they were able to ship it off to be fixed. In the mean time, Dad has been meaning to buy a laptop for the family for a long time, so he bought be a mid-range Asus to tide me over until mine came back, and he would use it when I got my Dell back.

So I can't find my camera (it's been lost somewhere in my bedroom... or maybe my car... or possibly my purse?), but I promise I'll post pictures when I find it. I will. Really.

Anyway, this weekend I celebrated Valentine's Day, along with the rest of the world. I have to say, it might be my best one yet (considering I actually had a significant other for this one).

Friday, it snowed about 5 inches, which, for Georgia, is a BIG deal. Everyone freaks out--they go to the grocery store to get supplies and drive 5 mph even if there's no ice on the road. Kids go sledding when there's just barely a dusting on the ground. It's amusing (not that I'm any exception to this...). Although, to be fair, I refrained from playing around in the snow until about 11 PM, when there was a more respectable amount on the ground.

I also watched The Collector, a movie from the people who made Saw IV, V, and VI. That alone should've warned me what I was in for, but no, I watched it anyway. And OH MY GOD--it made my stomach turn. The premise for this movie is that a guy breaks into a home to steal a giant ruby from inside a safe because the family is supposed to be gone. But when he gets there, someone has taken the family hostage. He's rigged the entire house so that anything that could be considered a weapon and all the exits are booby-trapped (in the most horrible ways you can imagine).

For instance, one exit (next to an upstairs window) has glue in front of it so you can't make it to the window. But the glue also happens to be acid--so when the family cat gets stuck in it, the glue starts to eat away at the poor thing while it's still alive. When Mr. Kitty finally gets unstuck and makes it to the window to get out, a giant blade cuts it in half. Anyone else think that's wrong on about 600 different levels?

Anyway, the thief then has to try to save the family while remaining unseen and undetected by the scary man.

If you feel like watching a really gory, horrifying, opposite-of-anything-happy movie, I would recommend The Collector. But it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

I'll expand upon my Valentine's Day activities when I have my camera and can have pictures to go with everything. Until then, you'll just have to wait!

What did you do for Valentine's Day? Watch any good horror movies?

163! I got a 163!

For those of you who don't know LSAT scores, that puts me in the 92nd percentile. Without studying. On my first try. With that score, I could get into UGA Law, Emory Law, University of Alabama Law, and UNC at Chapel Hill Law. To get into Vanderbilt, I'll need a 168, and for Georgetown, I'll need a 170.

After actual studying, my score will go up. For the first time, I'm thinking... I could actually do it. I could go Ivy League.

At this very moment, I am sitting in the UGA library, patiently waiting for the little numbers on the clock to say 12:00 PM. Why, you may ask? Well, this past Saturday I took a practice LSAT, which is the admissions exam for law school (like the SATs, but ten times harder and WAY more important). At noon, the Kaplan Center opens (they administer the test), and I can pick up my scores.

I went into this test with absolutely NO preparation whatsoever. I wanted to see what my base score was, so I would not exactly what I needed to work on, what my strengths are, and to just get a idea of what I'm facing. I have no clue how well (or how badly) I did. No idea. But I'm still really, really nervous.

I know it's just a practice test. But the thing about the LSAT is this: it's not like the SAT. In high school and while applying to college, a good GPA could counterbalance a poor SAT score, because the SAT score is a standardized test used to measure how much you've learned over the course of your education. The LSAT, however, is different--it shows your aptitude for thinking like a lawyer. A good GPA will demonstrate that you're a good student. But a bad LSAT score can mean that you just don't have the mental capacity to think like an attorney needs to, so I could have a 4.0, and it wouldn't matter.

What if I do get a low score? I don't have a backup plan to law. I know that's not the greatest idea, but I honestly don't know what else to do with my life. A history degree is useless, really, unless I want to go into teaching (which I definitely DON'T). If I can't think like a lawyer... how could I succeed in it?

I'm probably just being paranoid, especially since I didn't study for it at all. But still. It's a pretty nerve-wracking thing.

OH! And I found a different apartment that I want to live in. It's GORGEOUS... and also $50 more than I pay now.



The other place I was looking at is a 2 BR/2.5 bath townhouse. It has a working fire place, storage shed, built in bookcases, and a dining room. The bedrooms are humongous. However, it's also older, and each of them have been updated differently. There's a master bedroom and a regular one, with the bathroom in the regular one having a stand-up shower that's really tiny, instead of a full bath (which I believe would lead to an interesting situation with figuring out who gets which room...). This new place was once a 4 bedroom apartment that has been remodeled within the last couple years. It has a private study. A walk-in closet. A huge bathroom. It is also in a better location, close to public transportation (which my hopefully future roommate will be needing), has a clubhouse/pool/weight room, and modern, stainless steel appliances. And did I mention it's pretty? I want to live there.

I just hope that I can convince my father to pay more and that my roommmate (if she decides to live with me) can afford it too.

Do you ever get the feeling that no matter how hard you try at something, you'll never be good enough? No matter how many times you tell someone something, they'll never believe you? You try. You really, really do. You give all you can. You try to balance out all the aspects of your life. But no matter what, no matter how much you give up or how much you try to satisfy everyone, you can't make everyone happy. And then you get stressed, and you think about it all the time, but you can't think of a solution. You tell someone something over and over and over again, but they don't believe you. They'll never believe you. So why bother? What's the point?

Or do you ever try so hard to see someone, even though they don't seem to have the time of day for you? You've known the person for years, consider them one of your closest friends. But for some reason, they don't seem to care anymore. Again, you try. You give them a call, you send them a message, but nothing seems to work. You begin to grow apart, and no matter what you try, you can't seem to get the person to respond. To make the time for you. Even though you're only five minutes down the road. And it hurts your soul to know that you're doing all you can, but it's just not good enough. It's not good enough to save a friendship that means more to you than the world.

Damn it, there's only so much a person can take. And it's just not fair.

In other news, I saw Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein tonight. I highly recommend it.

I HATE Apple. Hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

A couple days ago, I started walking after school. I tried running, but realized I'm way too out of shape for that, so, for now, I'll walk--3 miles total, from my apartment to Five Points in Athens and back. It helps if I have upbeat, fast-paced music because I figured out that I walk at the same tempo of the song (thank you, marching band). To make my walking easier and more fun, I made a "work out" playlist in iTunes to put on my iPod. I plugged in the USB cable to add the playlist to my iPod, and... nothing. Even though my laptop recognizes that my iPod is connected, iTunes doesn't. It won't pop up under "devices", won't do... anything.

So, I turned to the internet. I tried all they suggested: I reset the iPod, put it into disk mode, uninstalled and reinstalled iTunes, restarted my computer, all of it. And still, nothing. I've looked all over the Apple website, and none of their suggestions worked. So, finally, I decided to talk to customer service, and that was just the cherry on top.

YOU HAVE TO PAY TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE.

I apparently do not qualify for free phone support, so for the small price of $29, I can purchase a single incident plan so I can just talk to one of their illustrious Apple Experts. Gee, I didn't realize how important their time must be!

So, I'm going to have to drive down to the Apple Store at the Mall of Georgia--about an hour away. If they tell me I have to pay to have it looked at, I'm going to take a rusty spoon, scoop someone's eyeballs out, and crush them. Then, I'm going to pour salt into their eye sockets. And you know what? I'll enjoy every blessed minute of it.

This is Frankfurt and Beanerschnitzel. Also known as Frank and Beans (Frank is the all orange, and Beans is the white and orange fluffy one), my roommate's new kitties! She brought them to live with us at our apartment, and they're adorable. Best part--I get to live with kitties. I get to play with kitties. I get to watch kitties as they do all their ridiculously cute kitty-like things. But do I have to clean the litter box? Feed them? Give them baths if they jump in a cake or dip their paws in paraffin wax? No. No, I do not. And that is what makes the kitty-roommationship absolutely fantastic.

Other than our new house guests, not too much is new. Randa has decided to de-sister from our sorority, leaving me alone to handle the pledge babies. I'm taking over her position as Pledge Educator, since I was the assistant last semester. What does this mean? I get to babysit the new girls for ten weeks, from day one until they are initiated. I don't particularly want to be the Pledge Educator, but I'll be damned if I work under someone new, who's never done any of this before. So I'll step up, but Miranda gets to hear all about it--every complaint, every time I need to vent. I think of it as a condition for her scurrying off.

Also, I think I've found where I'm going to live next year. It's a townhouse, 2 bedroom and 2.5 bath, which will be nice because then when someone comes over they won't all have to parade through my slightly messy bedroom to get to the bathroom. Instead, there will be a separation between public space (downstairs) and private (upstairs). Not to mention the HUMASSIVE bedrooms. And patio. And storage shed. And front porch. It also happens to be less than what I'm paying now, and... even better... lacking a certain someone who's name starts with an E and is currently sharing my apartment.

Let's see... anything else to report? The Boy and I are having dinner tonight. I felt like making myself chicken, and then I realized I felt like having an actual meal tonight (as opposed to something that I throw together at the last minute), with baked potatoes, bread, green beans, and dessert. It's not fancy, but it's more of a meal than I usually make myself. I figured since I was cooking all that for me, I may as well cook for him. We also both realized, while at the grocery store, that today is our one month anniversary. One month, I know, not a huge deal, but hey, it's a reason to celebrate. Here's to hoping that I don't poison either of us!

What's new with you?

So.. my blog has apparently been un-commentable for a while. Sorry guys! I got bored one night and changed the layout, but I don't have any idea what I'm doing in HTML, so I didn't know the comment part didn't work. Therefore, I have changed it back, and I believe everything works? Please feel free to leave me any comments you wish on the things I've posted since the HTML debacle. I promise to read and respond to all of them!

In other news, what you see above is my fancy schmancy new phone. I realized, when I went to take a picture of it, that my camera is in my car, and therefore too far away for me to go get. And, since I can't take a picture of my phone with my phone, I googled to find a suitable replacement. Mine has a red gel case on it (although I'm getting a blue one, with flowers! soon). It was a sad day to switch from the RAZR, but hey! I can get internet on my phone now! And the touch screen is actually really easy to use.

Also, Happy New Year! I haven't made my list of resolutions yet, so my official "Yay, it's 2010!" post will have to be next time. This was mainly an apology for not allowing you, my wonderful readers (all 11 of you), to comment.