Rainiest. Birthday. EVER.

I woke up this birthday morning to the pictured beautiful view out of my window:

niiiiiiiice.

Anyhoo, at about 8:45 I woke up naturally so I decided, with class at noon, I'd go get my workout over with. I put on my shorts and decided I'd hustle my ass over there without any sweats on.

Big Mistake.

As soon as I got to the gym, I realized that somewhere on my journey over there I dropped my key and my ID card (which are attached to each other). As I searched frantically through my bag the girl at the front of the gym went off about how I can use a non-refundable deposit to pay for it or something...little did she know getting into the gym was my last concern at the moment. If you lose your dorm key, they have to replace the lock on your door which costs $100. Yeah, it was time to panic.

I immediately retraced my steps like a maniac, scouring the wet and muddy ground for any glimmer of my key. No luck. I roamed my dorm and every place I covered that morning (which was pretty much the bathroom and back), and then sat on the floor and cried. I don't know why I decided crying was the best option in that situation, and looking back I completely overreacting. At the time, however, I was stuck in shorts and a t-shirt, wet, cold, and just overall not ready to deal with such a catastrophe at so early in the morning. I felt so defeated and not even a birthday was going to redeem the day.

I called "The Front Desk" (the vague descriptor of the people who will unlock your door if you happen to be so unfortunate as to lock yourself out) and I waited patiently outside of my room for about 40 minutes until someone finally came to let me in. At around 9:30, I realized that I shouldn't just mope around in my room hoping my key will fall from the sky, so I went back to the gym to relieve some of the adrenaline from my veins and recuperate from the trauma I was suffering.

I also kept my phone diligently by my hand in case I got in e-mail to my blackberry about it..

LO AND BEHOLD, about twenty minutes later I receive an e-mail saying someone picked up my keycard and it was nearby! I raced over there to retrieve it, and I can happily say that i am now blogging in the comfort of my dorm, sitting pretty because it's my birthday and I'm not locked out of my own residence.

I went to the dining hall immediately after I got my keycard back only to have someone hand it to me for a second time. I dropped it in the lunchline.

My keycard is currently attached to my belt loop...and it will be for the rest of the week.

A Themed Weekend

This was a weekend of themed parties, I guess people went a little crazy with the first real weekend back. The first night was a "hoedown throwdown" that I dressed up for an ended up never making it to. I went to pregame with a few friends and by the time we got to the party, there was a line out the door to get it. We decided it wasn't worth it and went to an apartment instead, which ended up being a great time so everything worked out in the end.


The next day I went out for an 8.47 mile run. It was a great run and I went outside my normal route to run near this lake that I found back in the summer. I took a whole video of it that I was going to post, but as I watched it I realized that my camera work was a little too shaky and the entire content was a little too boring, so I opted out of posting it. I basically ran and talked about nothing.

The next night was a "Jersey Shore"-themed party at ZBT (Zeta Beta Tau), a fraternity a friend of mine is close with. We poofed our hair, put on our highest stilettos, and picked up some quick New York Accents. The words "jerk off" snuck into my vocabulary a few times above average.


My friend Kate and I eventually got onto the Pong table, and we housed these two brothers. It was SO much fun because we went two out of three and got them when we both made the last cup in one turn. I love when we beat guys because nobody expects a team of girls to be decent, but Kate and I are a diesel team. Last year's devotion to TKE parties and my ex-boyfriend as my permanent partner last year taught me a few things about how to play. I'm still not daring enough to do death cups and anything too crazy, but I'll throw in the occasional bounce to prove that I don't completely suck.

The drama went down when we left ZBT and went to a friend's house who was having a party.

It was a BIG party and a ton of TKE guys were there. I used to be great friends with all these people when I was still with my ex-boyfriend, and unsurprisingly, he was there too. However, my good friends, including one I've been having a minor fling with, were DJing this party. In my drunken stupor, I was a little overly flirtatious with this boy and it definitely pissed of The Ex. He asked me if that was me and I adamantly denied it, so hopefully he believed me because I truly don't want to ruffle any feathers and was just trying to have a good time. However, it was nice to see all of the guys I used to spend 90% of my time with. Breaking up with the ex was hard because I had become part of his circle of friends in his fraternity, and I knew my friend network was really going to change when he wasn't in my life anymore. And it did. I missed all those guys so much, not to say that I'm not completely happy with the friends I have now. Everything worked out in the end.

I'm pooped this weekend, so I just plan to kind of kick back and watch the Jets game at 4 and call it a day. Have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

Running to Run

After classes and a long internal debate, I decided I would go out for a run again today. I have been limiting running two days in a row because of my knee, but the icing and stretching has been helping a lot so I figured I'd give it a go (it held out just fine because I'm sure you're concerned).

I downloaded an episode of Comedy Death Ray to listen to for the trek, but I realized it was only 47 or so minutes long. Normally, when shows I listen to are short I'll turn on music for the remainder, but as I stepped outside I had a huge epiphany. I had never run once without an iPod.

I thought for a minute about how I never do just one thing at a time. I run while I listen to music, I read the paper while I eat, I fart around endlessly on my phone while I'm in class. When the hell was the last time I just payed attention to what I was supposed to be doing?

I started running and made the executive decision that I would not listen to anything...but I brought my iPod along just in case (come on, you never know). If I love to run so much, then why am I trying to distract myself from it by listening to music to take my mind off it? Running in itself is an escape, so it seemed so circular to try and distract myself from what I consider a daily distraction from the rest of my life. I was doing myself a huge disservice by not running just to run.

So off I went. I heard myself breathe, I felt myself run, I took a good look at the route I've traveled so many times without really looking at where I was going. I smelled the remnants of this amazingly warm day as the sun set, breathing in the scent of woods and trees and smokey air. There's THREE ponds on this route...I've never noticed any of them but one.

I felt like I missed out a little bit on all of those other runs, and I was a little disappointed in myself.

The moral of this story is I'm not going to distract myself from what I should be doing anymore (minus my Sensation and Perception Processes Class...sorry professor). I shouldn't feel the need to be constantly entertained, and I'm missing out on everything by neglecting the world around me. Not just when it comes to exercise, but in so many other facets of my life. It was a nice little lesson I taught myself.

I definitely am not going to give up my iPod on runs for good because I love me some NPR and Comedy Death Ray as I plow through my exercise, but I did come to the conclusion that I really do just love the act of running. I shouldn't be scared of getting bored of it.

RIP Billy

Today was a somber day indeed. This morning I was informed that my friends' snake, Billy Mayes, died during the night. Billy was a beloved pet and it was only right of us to give a proper buriel.



One friend wrote a eulogy during class and presented it as we laid Billy to rest.






We then buried him behind the dorm. It was moving.

AHH classes!

I have some serious selective memory when it comes to UConn. I love school to death and then I remember that there's the whole class thing and that really, really sucks. They started up today and I kicked the semester off with straight class from 11-3:15. People affectionately deem this week "Syllabus Week" because teachers mostly just introduce us to the class, so I was all ready to get out of all my classes within twenty minutes.

So, so wrong.

Each one of my classes went the WHOLE TIME, with the exception of one that got out five minutes early. I learned. I took notes. I have reading. God dammit.

The gym was also bananas, luckily I got the machines I wanted but I can't wait until the weather gets nice (tomorrow 37 degrees and sunny!!) so I can RUN RUN RUN like a little bunny rabbit. It's been a few days now and my little legskis are itching for some serious pavement. Last semester though I was heavily devoted to hauling tail out of bed at 8 a.m. to get a run in. With the 3 hours between my 11 a.m. and my 3 p.m. class, I might just go between that time period now. We'll see how it works out.

Now I have to figure out my night, have a good one!

Good Morning

Hungover morning, actually. The first night of UConn started off with a bang at the bar. We had to get there by 9:45 so we wouldn't get carded, so the drinking started off early. Unfortunately there was no pre-game and I didn't want to bring my camera to the bar, so I only took these couple photos of the roommate and I right after we got dressed.



If they look awkward, that's because they are. Self-timers are so uncomfortable.

Anyway, so nobody was down to pay $8 per drink, so we ended up sneaking in water bottles of alcohol and then stealing cups off tables to pour them into. Gross? Yes. Necessary? Definitely. As good as the real thing!


The dancing was great, I was so happy to just be going wild and me and this gay kid at one point just starting dancing like crazy to "Single Ladies", literally I was struggling to keep up with him because we were going at it so intensely.

At about midnight my 6 shot drink started to really kick in (I'm not much of a tank of you haven't noticed, and my tolerance definitely went down over break), so the wave of exhaustion hit me and I decided to bounce and meet up with two friends who were originally supposed to go to the bar but didn't make it before it became 21+. I got into my jammies and they met me at my room and we shot the shit for a little and then I passed out. It was a fun night to kick the semester off to, and I even have a regular parking pass now! I sense a good semester :)


Have a good day!

Cookie Deliciousness

mmmmmmmmm....



Elise was making cookies for her boyfriend and his roommates and asked me for some help. I love to bake so I gladly obliged.

We made reese's peanut butter cup cookies that were originally supposed to be rolled in corn flakes. However, Elise, for one reason or another, bought Special K (a rice-based cereal), so we tried our luck with graham cracker crumbs instead.

Fry, baby. Fry.

They turned out even better with the graham because it was some added sweetness. Elise waiting for her cookies to cook was like a toddler looking out the window for Santa.

Our dad deemed himself official taste tester as soon as they came out of the oven. Elise didn't even have time to tell him they were hot before he was chomping down on one of those suckers. He approved of their deliciousness. So did we. Now she just has to find a place to hide them so he doesn't eat the rest tonight, something he's infamous for accomplishing while we're all unsuspectingly sleeping.

packing's OVER!

All packed!

The green bag is purely shoes. Sometimes I embarrass myself with how girly I can be

It took way less time than I thought it would...I'm probably forgetting something really important, like the computer I'm typing on.

I have an extra bag out for all the crap I find that I want to throw in there at the last second, but other than out I'm officially out tomorrow. This break was officially the laziest one I've ever had. I didn't work and I sat on my ass pretty much the whole time (minus working out/running). I liked it a lot, haha.

Tomorrow I'll pick up some things at the grocery store and then the debauchery will begin Sunday night. There's no classes Monday which probably means people will go particularly insane.



On another note, some good news today. A week or so ago I had an extremely random and lucky encounter with a woman who happened to be an avid blogger and a well paid Internet freelance writer. She explained to me that she is starting up a magazine that focuses on Eco-friendly living and told me to submit anything I had. Well, I took her up on this offer, cranked out a quick article for my school paper and forwarded it over to her. She asked me to write TWO more articles that I will get paid for. I'm SO excited for this, I wrote one already but I'm working on ideas for another. The issue doesn't come out for three more months so I have some time, but I want to get it done before the work from school starts piling in.

That's about it, have a good night!

Gettin' Ready for the big move

Oh heyyyyy.

That's Dusty saying wuddup. He's surprisingly easy to photograph because he stares at the camera like he's bearing into your soul. He doesn't blink once, either.


ANYWAY, the cold front's over and it was BEAUTIFUL today, 42 degrees and the perfect day for a nice long run. Here's a picture of my backyard (not doing much justice for how nice it really was outside) and one from my kitchen. The kitch gets a lot of light so it's so nice in the mornings when it's nice and warm from the sunlight.

I ended up running 8.33 miles in 78:13. Not bad for me. I can run far, but I run pretty slowly. With the knee injury I'm really afraid of the pounding movement, so I'm icing it up right now and hoping I can squeeze in something light tomorrow without it acting up. I am hoping to run more at school because the gym gets absolutely chaotic this time of year. Suddenly everyone gets all into their new year's resolutions and wants to better themselves by taking up my damn machines.

Just kidding, I'm actually really happy to see people wanting to get in shape and work out. Exercise is so great once you really get past the initial "I think I'd rather kill myself than be doing this" beginning phases. It's relaxing and you sleep like a baby at night. Hopefully if I go in the morning my machines won't be taken up. I use the Precor Elliptical (The "squirrelliptical" as I read someone call it because it looks like a squirrel with giant feet) and the arctrainer, which are two highly unpopular machines for some reason.


I've also been plugging away at the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD. I saw it on On Demand and they conspicuously left out the 3rd workout, but I heard that's plyometrics anyway and with a knee injury that may not be so great to do. However, from what I've been doing I have seriously seen results. Take a look at my ripped arm muscle:


Ok seriously, I'm no Hulk Hogan but that is impressive for me. I used to have flabby ass arms and when I lost weight they just went to straight up scrawny. I'm really proud of myself for sticking with this because I hate, hate, HATE strength training with a burning passion in my heart. Thanks to my awesome genetics I was blessed with zero upper body strength from both sides of my family, so lifting even the lightest weights just makes me miserable. After the first day I was ready to tell Jillian to go screw herself, but something got me back in front of the TV the next day and I'm so glad I did.

I gotta pack because I go back to school tomorrow, yay! Yay for going back to school...not packing. That's going to really suck. Have a nice Saturday!

I call bulls***

I slept until about 11:15 today, total abnormal for me but I've been so sleep deprived in the last two days. I slept HORRIBLE after the Pitt Game and then I came home and passed out from about 4-6 PM. Then I went straight back out to a friend's house from work. I knew I didn't want to spend the night there, so I started sobering up at a certain point and drove home at about 3:30, finally getting in the door and collapsing into my own bed around 4 a.m. I really can't wait to get back to school and walk home and pass out in a bed and not have to drive.


Anyone seen the new Self Magazine? Jessica Alba's on the cover.

She talks a lot about fitness and stuff, and how she's lovin' her cellulite and stretch marks after popping out a baby. Good for her, but what really ticked me off was that she said she didn't work out really or watch what she ate. She said:

“Diets are for the birds. I think you have to eat in a way that makes you feel your best. I include a lot of vegetables and lean protein and fruit and grains in my diet. I’m not a big workout person. Every single day, I tell my girlfriends we’re starting a regimen. And then it’s, like, ‘Want to get dinner? Want a glass of wine?’”

Jessica, I am calling total bullshit on your ass. Maybe now you're pounding pudding cups with your baby (although I highly doubt it), but don't try to convince the general public that you have--nor never had--an eating regimen. She had an eating disorder when she was younger and was basically eating yogurt and lettuce when she was getting in shape for "Fantastic Four". Women don't eat whatever they want and look like her, and it's a false message to tell them that.

So many celebrities try to convince the general public that they just look the way they do because they got lucky and have good genes. That may be part of it, but we're not stupid. Your personal trainer, chef, life coach, and therapist (not to mention the insane pressure of daily public scrutiny) are keeping your ass in shape. If I had the money to pay someone to follow me and slap the donut out of my hand, I'd look that good too.

So there, Jessica. I'm on to you.

The Pitt Game

U-C-O-N-N, UConn! UConn! UConn!

Ok, we lost, but it was still a fun game.


There was a point when we were winning by one, but we couldn't quite pull it off. Luckily we were plenty entertained, though, because a friend decided get into a fistfight with the group behind us. The two went plowing into the row in front of us (he dragged the kid above us two rows down), security was called, it was good stuff.

There were plenty of happy moments though and this was one of them. Aren't my friends adorable?


I was so ridiculously excited to see all of my friends from school though. It makes me really want to get back asap.


Tonight is my last night hanging out with some of my friends from Friendly's. I'd love to drink and spend the night with all of them, but I'm pooped from last night. I spent the night and I do NOT sleep well in random beds. Something about being in the comfort of my own bed helps me fall asleep.

On another note, if you haven't been living in a hole you've probably heard about the earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and now these people are left without food, water, or medical assistance and are forced to fend for themselves while rescue attempts through their ports prove futile. Please, PLEASE if you have the means, visit:

http://www.yele.org/: this is Wyclef Jean's site for Haitian Relief, originally set up about five years ago to develop this massively struggling country.

or even text (something that takes two seconds) the word "Haiti" to 90999 and you will make a $10 donation for Haiti relief that will be billed to your phone (this was on Ellen Degeneres).

As Americans, we can't imagine what its like to be in a medical emergency and not have a policeman, fireman, or ambulance come to our aid immediately. This isn't the case with these people. They lie on the streets for days alongside corpses and others slowly dying simply hoping that someone will rescue them. Any donation helps.

Connecticut is damn cold

I love to run. This is a pretty recent development, because I just started running outside this summer. When I first started, I literally huffed and puffed my way through a half mile and swore to myself that running was the devil manifested in a form of cardio and I should stay away. But my sister was doing it and she still looked like she may not be possessed by demons so I stayed with it through the summer.

After about a month, I realized why people really, really like it. It's not about running yourself ragged, it's about getting yourself into a pace, feeling a rhythm, and just giving yourself a moment of peace. I could run for miles and miles now and have to consciously limit my runs, particularly lately after a knee injury has been making several outings painful. That said, if any of you are looking to get into running, keep in mind I was the laziest person ever and if I can get my ass onto the pavement, anyone can.

That said, running through the Connecticut winter has taken some serious willpower. When I first step outside I sometimes want to run back into my house or dorm and curl up in a ball under my covers. I have to really layer up, and I'm not the type to invest in modern running gear so I make do with what I've got. That is, hobo mittens, fleece leggings, a fleece top (meant for snowboarding...something I'm heinous at), and an earband. Classy.


I also run with a full size ipod attached to my arm. Cool.

I am NOT by any means a winter person. In fact, I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and moved to CT when I was 10. I sucked at snowboarding, and I sucked even worse at skiing. I hate the treadmill--I'll do it if I'm left with no other options--and I REALLY like being outside. I guess that's how I found myself running in the winter. Oh, the choices we make.

This is my sister (left), my cousin (middle), and me in the pool in Dallas. Cool goggles, Elise!! Those were some happy days

Anyhoo, growing up I loved sports, but I was not particularly athletic. Basically, I was just kind of lazy. I played defense in soccer so I didn't have to run, and I also ate like shit. I was little so I didn't care.

See that girl in the front with the bag and jacket? That's me. With disturbingly high pants. Never let your mom dictate what level your garments should be worn.

Anyway, the point of this whole schpeil is that being active did not come naturally to me, I really had to train myself to want to work out and be healthy. So stick with it, tiger.

ANYWAY, today is kind of a big day because I am going to the UConn vs. Pittsburgh game, yay! I am going to a friend's house beforehand so I'll probably be taking some pictures of the whole outing. GO HUSKIES!

The Big First Post

Hi, Welcome to my blog! I figured I will take this first post to introduce myself and the intent of this blog.

First off, my name is Becky. I will be 20 years old on January 25.

(that's me on the left, with my roommate, Kelsey, on New Year's Eve)

I am a very driven and motivated person (most of the time). I push myself very hard--sometimes maybe a little too hard-- and when I set my mind on something I want to accomplish it.

Although sometimes I can be a little wacky.

I have some pretty great friends. We have a great time together and I can always count of them when I need them. We may have our occasional spats, but we are essentially a group that will lay it all on the table and have no problem embarrassing ourselves to get a laugh.

(This is at Halloween...Jess in the front is looking quite frightening.)

I am a Psychology and Journalism double major at the University of Connecticut! Basically, I am a heartfelt Husky and I love UConn. We may not be the bost hoppin' college town around....

(yessir, that's our horse pasture. There' s a cow pasture not far away, too.)

We'll always find a way to have a good time

So, ANYWAY, what the hell is the point of some random college sophomore with no discernible distinguishing characteristics starting a blog?

Funny I should self-impose such a question.

You see, I have found that despite what people may think, a lot of college kids have something to say. About that their immediate world, about the greater spectrum, and about themselves. I realized that publishing a blog would get my voice heard, and that's all I want. I've got opinions and struggles and goals just like any other person, and the reading the humaneness of somebody else live and fail and succeed and just generally do the best she can will hopefully inspire others to do the same.

I struggle to eat well, maintain my fitness, my grades, write for the school newspaper, and maintain my social life constantly. However, it's those challenges that give me something to say, and along with realizing there is a whole WIDE world outside of myself, I hope that you will be willing to grow and learn with me.

So that's me in a nutshell! Thanks for listening :)