There's No Place Like Home

So my first real day on campus was filled. I can't even remember all the stuff we did! We went to get my suitemates books, went to eat, went to a dorm and floor meeting, went to dinner, and then walked around. It was pretty darn fun. We went to a sports/rec night in the Little Bob. I got to find so many sports things I want to do, hopefully I can decide! I also got to finally meet Amanda, an older Navy gf who I've been talking to all summer (she's also one of my bigs). She is awesome! I'm so glad there is more than just me here:)

Tomorrow I start class. I only have Intro to Psych because the other class is a testing period. And psych starts at 12:30. Win. Then I get to go shopping! I'm so excited. I'm going with Lisa who I've been texting for like weeks and we're finally meeting AND doing something amazingly fun!

I do have to say I have a wonderful roommate and LOVE my one suitemate. We also have a super chill RA and tons of awesome girls on our floor. The only sucky thing is that we only have 5 guys on the whole floor (not counting the RA). I am sure they love it though hahaha. I can't wait for the rest of the year! It hasn't really hit me yet that I won't be going home soon. It's such a weird feeling! (Oh, I seem to have an affinity for Wizard of Oz themed titles. Who knows why haha)

welcome to dela-where?!

So today was quite the hectic day. I started out by attending the funeral of one of the four football players who passed away. my dad and brother of course took their good old time so we got there way later than I wanted. We waited for two hours in the hot sun (my face looks like a tomato) to get in the church. But it was worth waiting.  I do believe Casey was a truly amazing guy, from the one or two times I'd hung out with him. I'm glad I was able to attend the last funeral. But, I NEVER WANNA GO TO ANOTHER "KID'S" FUNERAL AGAIN! It was so heart-wrenching. I was nauseous the whole time.

After that, we went home, packed the car, and were on our way to school! (We were already two hours late) Route 40 was completely backed up (we later found out because 322 was closed) so we had to get on the expressway and go that way. We finally arrived around 5 o'clock. It was so stressful attempting to set all of my stuff up that half way through I left to get my books and take a breather. Then I had to drop my car off and got to eat pizza with my wonderful family:)

I got back to my dorm and all the girls on my floor decided to go to a highlighter party, so I was dragged along. I was the only person I saw the whole night (all 30 min we lasted) who wasn't drunk haha quite entertaining if you ask me. But I love all the girls we were with already!

I was super nervous and had anxiety about being here alone, where no one had to care about me for any reason. Patrick told me I made him feel old. He said since he is already two months ahead of me, its fresh in his mind of what to do when you think like that. He knew exactly what to say to make me feel better. I am so thankful for him. Hearing the other girls I've met say how they broke up with their boyfriends so they can party at college made me sad. I could never imagine breaking up with Patrick for that reason. But I guess we aren't your typical college relationship. (That was a given from the moment he became a Midshipman).

While I am nervous for this upcoming year, I'm kind of excited about it all. I can't wait to meet a ton of new people (any guys need a snuggle buddy?) and be more independent. Guess we'll see how this all works out. Oh! I can't wait for Delaware to kick Navy's butt this weekend:)

Earthquakes and hurricanes and tornados Oh my!

Well, I must say that wasn't all it was hyped up to be. Hurricane Irene hit us (I think?) and we didn't even lose power. I am glad I was at home with my family instead of moved into school, but I still want to move in ASAP! Somers Point did have a tornado last night - so crazy! But it wasn't near my house so unfortunately (or fortunately) I did not get to witness it. We did have a tree fall on our fence with minimal damage. If that's the worst from Irene, I'll take it. I was so worried we'd be without electricity and therefore couldn't charge our phones, laptops, find out when I move in, etc, and it was all for nothing!

I did get to talk to my wonderful boyfriend for a bit last night, which made me super happy. I guess I should be thankful for the fairly minimal communication because then when we do talk, it is that much more special (to me at least. I still believe the Academy brainwashed all feelings out of him...but that's another story). We're both so excited to get to see each other next weekend! Yes, we did spend some time together plebe parent weekend, but his whole family was there and while I love them to death, we got zero alone time. So this upcoming weekend will be great! Plus, I don't know about you, but I LOVE going to football games. And the fact that this one is my school against my boyfriends school makes it that much better. Now just to figure out what to wear....

To keep up to date with the move in fiasco, they are still unsure when we get to move in to beautiful Newark, DE. Some kids have been emailed syllabi from their professors which had this Thursday as the first day of class. Hopefully that means the professors know something we don't, and we get to move in this week! I am so excited to move in and meet everyone!! Classes can wait, but everything else needs to hurry up and start already!!! That way, my wonderful weekend, which starts on Friday, can be completely stress-less. I get to spend time with the lovely Mersadi, finally get to meet Justine, Dakota, and Lisa, and get to go on a wonderfully entertaining shopping trip! It should be interesting enough.

I guess I should finally start to get my packing done...Move in day should come soon enough, unless another natural disaster gets in the way. What's next, a volcano?

And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down...

Today was pretty much hurricane prep  and debating whether we're staying or leaving. I got woken up early (for me) to go out to breakfast with my family. We came back and discussed the impending storm and I ended up curling up for a nap. I decided I don't like the idea of no electric and the issue this causes in the restroom. I'm not sure if I want to stay and hope it's not too bad or go evacuate and have access to running water. I guess we'll find out tomorrow what my family decides to do. It's crazy because we live two blocks west of the mandatory evacuation line. Two blocks!! That's not a lot.


After I woke up, I went to Patrick's family's house to put music on his ipod and pick up some clothes. I ended up staying there and watching almost 2 hours of spongebob. I hate spongebob but it tells you how much I love being around his family. It probably will be the last time I see them before I leave for school:( Though his mom, at least, will be at next weekend's football game!


So, I come home to my mom making these wonderful lentils! And she asks me to make the "pancakes" that go with them (my brother yells at me for calling them pancakes because they aren't like breakfast pancakes, more like tortillas). I am so excited because this is probably my favorite dish ever! I have to let the dough rise for a bit so I start doing other things. And then it starts...


My neighbor comes over to sit on the porch with my mom and they invite me to sit with them. Then my  neighbor's husband comes over to hang out. Next, my dad comes out of nowhere to sit and talk with us. After it starts to get buggy, we go inside. My neighbor then realizes her daughter is home and there aren't any lights on and she hasn't gotten a text or anything. So she goes home to check on her and they both come back. Well, by now I'm in the middle of cooking the "pancakes". A little bit later, my brother comes home with his two friends who happen to be ravenously hungry, which is always quite delightful. And his friend's mom, who is a family friend, comes in to hang out with the adults. A little later, one of my brother's friends goes to get the other friend's younger sister and walk her over. So now its really turning in to a party! In the midst of all this craziness, I get a phone call from Patrick!!!! The first one since Monday!! So I rudely run into my room and barricade myself in there, holding the phone like its pure gold. The whole night was highly entertaining!


While on the phone, I got a real taste of what the Academy was doing to Patrick. He didn't seem nearly himself. He had short, one or two word replies, and seemed to have trouble holding a conversation. I felt bad that I was "forcing" him to talk to me. I hate knowing he's so tired and cranky and there isn't anything I can do about it. Hopefully, I make him feel better and not worse. I used to always lean on him for support and now that the roles are reversed, I hope he knows I will be there no matter what, and I understand if he is too tired to talk. I just am so proud of him and have a million questions to ask and plans I try to make that I don't want to overwhelm him. I guess I'll just sit tight and hope he doesn't get too stressed. Thank gosh I get to physically see him next weekend!


Tomorrow should be interesting. Instead of moving in to my dorm, I get to hope and pray the hurricane doesn't take out the electricity for hours and get stuck in my house with my goofball family! Hopefully everyone stays safe. I'm nervous about Patrick being at the Naval Academy. He literally has no idea what is going on and thinks he will have town liberty. I hope he is told he has to stay safe in Bancroft Hall. But I also hoped he would evacuate so you never know. Guess we will see what happens!

Why try to fix something that isn't broken?

Today. Well today was interesting. I was so wonderfully persuaded to take a ride down to UDel this morning. (I missed the funeral I wanted to go to but that is because I set up a meeting before I realized it was today:( ) Anyway, I go down there to talk to the track coach, who finally showed some interest in me. And she was really sweet. But, after thinking for so long that I wouldn't be able to jump for Udel, I had decided a million other things I wanted to do instead. Now I was just thrown a curveball. Yay for stress! But I did get to spend some quality time with my dad and stalk my dorm, so even with the added stress, the trip was worth it (until the coach creeps on me because she knows who I am if i don't jump for her)


Of course, there is hurricane Irene. What a pitiful name for a hurricane. Anyway, now I don't get to move in to school on Saturday. Move in and classes are postponed indefinitely! I was so excited to move in, it was such a let down! All of the islands around me are having a mandatory evacuation. And half of my town must evacuate as well, which is kind of scary. My boyfriend who is at school right on the water isn't evacuating which kind of scares me. But I'm betting they predict this huge storm and we get a little drizzle. I'd laugh haha.


(Sorry about this rant, I got a little carried away).
On my school's facebook page, one of the other incoming freshman asking everyone's opinion about relationships in college. I was surprised at the positive responses from everyone else in relationships, but I was a little worried when one kid posted he broke up with his girlfriend of a year and a half because he wanted to "live it up" his first few weeksn of college, and then wait for the perfect girl to find him. I'm kind of disturbed at what goes through our generation's mind. Ditch your s.o because you want to party? Screw love so you can screw random people? Starting my freshman year in a relationship with a Naval Academy Midshipman, I know I am in a tough relationship. And its not for everyone. But, my boyfriend is foremost my best friend. He is the one I can tell anything to, who always knows how to make me feel better, who I can talk to about anything or nothing and he makes me happy. Why would I ever give that up because of college? Not saying other relationships aren't tough, but the Academy has so many rules, regulations, and restrictions and relationships have made it through that! So anything is possible. I understand sometimes relationships really might not work out. The person might not be your soulmate or there might have been other issues, such as trust or loyalty. But to hear that someone broke up with their s.o because they want to party in school is pathetic to me. Since when has partying, getting drunk, and sleeping around been able to make you happy? When has it become okay for these things to take the place of real relationships? I'm kind of disgusted thats how kids think these days. You can't have a college experience in a relationship. Since when? You tell me.

"One Family. One Love. In Our Hearts Forver. Proud To Be a Mustang."

So, I spent part of my morning at Verizon, while my brother got a new phone activated (no, this will not be a boring recap of my day). It just so happened our high school football coach, Coach Coffey, was in there getting his phone fixed. Seeing him while he seemed so positive and upbeat really got me thinking. Everyone is mourning the football players we lost this weekend. But what would they want us to do? They want us to be happy. They started playing some football up there and gave us an earthquake. I heard someone saw four shooting stars the other night. They got to have their names up on the scoreboard at yesterdays Phillies game AND have Jimmy Rollins tweet about them. If you ask me, that is any teenage (Phillies fan) guy's dream! So yes, the accident was absolutely tragic, and yes their lives were short. But, they never suffered, never got into debt, never witnessed the deaths of their parents, never got divorced. They lived amazing lives and were loved by everyone. They got to see their whole entire community come together to support their families at Sunday's vigil. What more could someone ask for in their life? Those boys will be remembered as forever young.


I know, not everyone could look at this situation in a positive light, but its my outlook on life and how I don't turn myself in to a hysterical mess. That being said, I really do appreciate the small things now. Yes, my boyfriend is living three hours away. I can't talk to him whenever I want. And I get stressed out hearing about other girls relationships. BUT I HAVE HIM! I CAN talk to him sometimes. I WILL feel his arms around me again. And I DO pray every day thanking God he is safe and sound. Getting that text from him at 6am when I'm asleep is amazing. Or getting a text before bed when we haven't talked all day saying he's thankful for me means even more now. Also, spending time with my brother (who I haven't always gotten along with) and my mom and dad is even more important to me. How do you know when things will change in an instant? My dad drove where those boys had their accident and saw how easily it could have happened to anyone. He told me it just as easily could have been him or my mom who got in that accident. For something to hit so close to home really re-awakens your thoughts and emotions. While I will never know why God chose to take those four wonderful guys that day, I do know he would never do anything without a reason or purpose.


Never go to bed angry, and always say "I love you."

Toto, I don' think we're in Kansas anymore

  

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

Okay well I know technically it wasn't a twister, but an earthquake is something new for me. Who has earthquakes in south jersey? While everyone else was scared to death, I didn't realize what it was until after the fact, so I think it is sooo cool I can say I've lived through an earthquake (I know, I know it wasn't even bad here but whatever). I actually thought my dog was shaking behind the chair I was sitting on until I turned around and she wasn't there! That was probably the highlight of my day. I actually didn't feel well most of the day which was not fun. But when I finally got to work, I got to work with two clients I really like and even got done early! So that was sooo nice! And I came home to see my brother hanging out with his friends, watching the Phillies game, finally being happy! It's been so upsetting so see this fun loving, invincible high school sophomore so depressed after this weekends events. I can't recall the last time Jimmy wasn't giving one of us grief about something. But he has been super silent and withdrawn since Saturday. A terrible once car accident caused the deaths of four of the football players from my high school's team. It's hit our community pretty tough, and started this whirlwind of emotions that have been brewing in me all week. But God has a plan, and these boys will be forever young. They are probably up there now playing football or saying "Hey man, they talked about us at the Phillies game tonight!"

Aside from that, today was tough. Not feeling well caused me to mope around the house till work (at 5). It made me miss Patrick even more than normal because I just needed someone to hug while not feeling well and seeing my whole family upset and going through the mourning process. He's the one person who can tell me everything will be okay, and that I'll truly believe. And he had the pleasure of scaring me by telling me how some buildings at school didn't like the earthquake too much. Thank gosh he was safe. But, he sent me a lovely text after barely talking all day that made my night. This morning I found and old love note from this past school year. He really knows just what to say to make my heart melt. And I thank God for him every day. I don't think I've mentioned yet that I had the pleasure of stealing his teddy bear (not really stealing-he told me to do it) the other day. He'd probably kill me for saying he had one but it was in his closet, not on his bed. So now I have something to snuggle whenever I feel lonely.


Whew these next few days are going to be crazy. I have my last day of work tomorrow, Thursday I go to dinner with my mom, Patrick's mom, and his two sisters, and Saturday I move in to my dorm!!!!! I am so excited!! Then classes start Tuesday, Justine and Mersadi come down Friday, and Saturday I GET TO SEE PATRICK!!!! and finally meet other USNA girlfriends. I can't wait!


I guess I shouldn't complain how I didn't feel well today or that I didn't talk to my boyfriend too much. I should be thankful that I still have my life to live and have my loved ones. But I do have to say, I'd rather be remembered as a healthy young adult as opposed to a decaying old lady. Maybe thats a terrible sense of humor, but maybe its the truth...

Chapter 2: College life?

"True love isn't being inseparable, it's being separated and nothing changes."

Okay, well this is my first time EVER using a blog. Why start now? Well this week is the transition period between one chapter in my life and the next. Patrick (my wonderful boyfriend) finally completed plebe summer! And he started his first classes at the Naval Academy today. He's starting to get used to technology again but its still so weird actually hearing from him once in awhile! It's been a crazy ride through the past 7 weeks but we made it. The hardest part is over, right? Aside from all of that wonderful stuff, I am packing for college! Getting my stuff together (well, I'm still in the process) has been everything from fun to stressful, which is not great because I get stressed soooo easily! And without my favorite stress reliever here, how do I cope? Well for one thing, I've met a ton of wonderful USNA girlfriends throughout the summer. Thank gosh for them. But that's being sidetracked. I move in on Saturday to the University of Delaware, moving away from the only home I've known my whole life! But I can't wait to start my year as an exercise science major! I find working out and the human body so fascinating! Wednesday is my last day working at a personal trainer at the gym Patrick's mom runs, so I've got a little head start. Though I feel like I haven't done too much this summer, it definitely hasn't gone to waste. I've met so many amazing, new people! And I've grown and changed so much since graduation, I can't believe it. I have more confidence since I can't rely on my boyfriend for support with "in the moment" type things, I've become even more outgoing, I've matured, and I have decided I might even want a tattoo! (What?!) I'm excited to see how things work out trying to keep a blog! I hope I can keep my blog balanced between college, working out, being a navy girlfriend (really need to try not to make this ALL about that), and all the other amazing stuff I'll encounter!