Columbus day weekend

Sometimes there is nothing better than three days off from school, away from your books and papers, and spending some time in the comfort of your own home.  It was a nice little respite for some good rest and relaxation for all of us!

I make fun of my parents A LOT for how much they talk about Maddie (the new daughter), but after spending a lovely weekend with her I now understand.  She is just adorable, cuddly, and genuinely sweet!  So I SUPPOSE I understand now, a little bit better at least, how their lives have become dominated by this new fuzz ball.

Other than that, we were able to accomplish a lot of chores (four thousand pounds of laundry for example) and just spend some quality bonding time.  There was almost no fighting, and we barely got on each others nerves!  It was fantastic!  Family time at its best :)

New wheels!

So it has been an eventful couple of weeks at Geneseo, as teachers gave out tons of assignments before and after Columbus day break, making students curse the day they signed up for their classes.  But probably the most exciting thing that has happened recently is what Lex and I got to bring back with us after Columbus day weekend....a new car!

New wheels! (With a rare sisterly moment captured on film)

Thanks to the generosity of my lovely grandmother and my parents, I now have car at school!  It has already made so many things easier in my life.  Lex and I were able to drive back to school, just the two of us, without worrying about finding rides, balancing everyone's schedules, or any of that nonsense.  Plus, this weekend my friends and I went to the Rochester Public Market (more to follow on that).

It is just so luxurious to have a car my senior year.  I have flexibility that I've never had in the past, and although my friends have been VERY understanding and go out of their way to help me with rides etc, it is nice to be able to start paying some of that back, bit by bit.Plus it means that I can go and pop up to see Lex whenever I want (i.e. next weekend!)

A new side of town

Since I am now 21, my friends and I have been able to enjoy so many more different aspects of our little town here in Western New York.  It is so relaxing to go grab a beer at one of the local bars in a calm atmosphere, before it gets too crazy with younger kids and their silly antics.

As seniors, we have even been making new friends, and in fact hosted a PARTY, yes I said it, at our new apartment to christen the place.  It was fun, calm, sophisticated, and an all around great time.  Plus I think even our new friends had a good time, and there has been talk of a repeat!

Part of our party gang!

Rbk kids (Ally, Lucy, and I)

New friends! (Me, Ally, Vinny, and Paul lurking in the background) 

Roomies <3 

We even set out snacks for our guests! Such good hostesses.

We are so gourmet!

Sorry that it has been a while since I have updated this, and for that I truly apologize!  But I have been crazy busy with school, friends, and enjoying college so I feel like that is a good excuse!

But the one thing that I have been enjoying the most about living in my own apartment is cooking for myself (slash Gina cooking for me).  Gina and I tend to eat the same kinds of things so we have been combining our meals and making fun things!  Even when it is a simple meal, we try to put a fun spin on it and always enjoy it.

Last weekend we went to the Rochester Public Market, which is the coolest farmers market I have ever been to.  There are just rows and rows of fresh fruits and vegetables, fruits and meats, breads and baked goods all at fantastic prices.  Gina and I were so overwhelmed but in such a good way.  My favorite purchase was HUGE zucchini for 75cents!  Such a good deal.  They were literally humongous.

Anyway, our most recent favorite meal has been combining all of the fresh veggies we got at the market (zucchini, red and green peppers and mushrooms) and sauteeing them.  Add some homemade pasta and some good cheese and we had ourselves a gourmet meal!  Not only was it delicious, but just tasted healthy and good for us.

The Great Disposal Mystery of 2010

Since this is my first apartment experience, this has also been the first time that I have ever had to order garbage/disposal services.  It seems like it would be simple enough, not a complicated process at all.... unless you have a garbage ghost!

Early Thursday morning, as directed, I places our can on the curb for pick up.  When I came back, our can was gone!  I thought maybe someone stole it... but who steals a can full of old bananas and cereal boxes, no one.  So then I thought the disposal company had moved it or taken it to exchange it for the new one we had been promised.  But I checked everywhere and it was nowhere to be found.  Finally it shows up down the street, still full of our garbage and cardboard.  I was so irate and confused!

Of course by the time I realized all this, it was already Friday at 5:03 so the chance of solving the mystery was slim until Monday.  Amy and I hauled the still full can back to our property and placed it at the bottom of our stairs.

But the mystery continues!  The next day, our can was all the way at the back of our porch and...wait for it...the garbage was gone!  We have a Garbage Ghost!!  A ghost who apparently removes garbage on Saturdays and then conveniently places the can back where we wanted it....very strange indeed.

Either that or we are being punked...thoughts?

Fall semester classes

It has just hit me that I am taking some of the last classes I will ever have to take in my life...I am getting nostalgic WAY too early!  You know how they say your college years just fly by?  I never really realized that was true until I was sitting at my desk making appointments with career services to figure out the rest of my life.  Where did freshman year go?!


This year I am taking 5 classes, all of which I enjoy.  That is the first time ever, and I am thankful that I have finally earned the credits to get into the classes I want!

First up is U.S. Foreign Policy (MWF 9:30-10:20).  That is a pretty self explanatory one, we are learning about the United States relations internationally after World War II.  The teacher is a little dry, but it is semi-interesting material so it keeps me awake.

Next is Composición (MWF 10:30-11:20).  My professor allowed me to take two Spanish classes at the same time which allowed me to take Composition.  Speaking wise I am years ahead of the other students, but we will see what happens when I actually have to write a paper.  My teacher is directly from Seville though, so I can already handle his accent which is nice!

Then comes Chinese (MWF 11:30-12:20), which is the meat in my language sandwich, squinched in between my two Spanish classes.  It is going to be incredibly difficult, especially since the professor is not very hands on, BUT I can already say hello, and what is your name, so maybe for the first week that is all that is important?  We'll see.  It is going to be challenging, but I do like a nice language challenge!  

Spanish Literature (MW 1:00-2:15) is with my favorite professor (who allowed me to take the two at the same time) and I really enjoy talking in Spanish the whole time, and just being able to handle it.  The class itself is really just an English class, but in Spanish (meaning we are learning about the different genres of lit etc).

Last but not least is Humanities II (TR 8:05-9:45).  The professor is hilarious, the material is interesting so far (Locke and Hobbes).  It is very early however, and a little longer than my average class, so it is nice that the professor is energetic and tries to keep us engaged.  


Phew!  Well that is enough boring things for you, sorry, but I know you MIGHT be interested!

My very first apartment (in the states)!!

Hey!  So I decided to transfer this blog entry over from the other blog, so that I could DOUBLY share my apartment photos with you.  This is my new Senior-year apartment, which I am sharing with my two good friends Amy and Gina.  It is HUGE, and we are loving it so far.  Here are some pictures:

Welcome to our apartment!  We have this whole side of the house, including the porch, to ourselves.

Cute walkway leading up to our apartment.

Aerial view of my bedroom!

My lovely futon bed, courtesy of the amazing Highley-Tate family!

Desk and sitting area

My lovely desk, courtesy of Dad!  Can you spot Gatsby (my catfish) in the background? (HINT: he is by the lamp).

My James Bond poster, and the beginning of my stairs.  I basically live in a library haha.  It is perfect!

My stairs!  Note my Spanish blanket on the wall, slash covering up storage.

My world map!  Yes, I dorkily put in pins in all the cities I have traveled to...

Entry to our living room.  A LOT of decorating still needs to occur, but this is a start.

Isn't it huge????

Dining area.

Little kitchen, hard to get a good picture.

Part of Gina's room

Amy's room

Obviously there is still more work to be done, but we only moved in a week ago and we already are in love with it.  It is huge, quirky, and has lots of character.  Perfect for us!!