Tag Archives: terrace

You Put the Sparks to the Flame

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After a few rough weeks, I finally have my iMac back in my possession.  The hard drive crashed a while back, and I had to take it in twice to get it fixed (finally).  Thank goodness Sam was around today to help carry it to the car.  (I mean, he opened the door and the Apple worker slid it into his car.)  It’s the thought that counts, right?

I’m so happy to have my computer back.  So happy.  I’m finally downloading new music, including Tyler’s new album.  If you like music at all, you should be inclined to also download it.

This weekend was a great break.  I was able to grab coffee with Pam and Ryan (her son and my birthday buddy) early on Friday afternoon, which made my day.  Ryan is the happiest baby I have ever encountered.  He laughed at everything, from being tickled to the man that was trying to work on his computer.  It was fun catching up with Pam, too.  Luckily, we will be catching up more tomorrow when I visit her at her house.

Friday evening, Sam got into Madison late.  We instantly left my apartment and went to the Terrace to split a pitcher of Franziskaner Weissbier, which was insanely delicious.

Our favorite thing to do during the summer is to get a pitcher and talk all night long.

Saturday, we saw the Manchester United/Chicago Fire match.  I got Sam the tickets for his Christmas present, even though it’s still a few months away.  He is a huge Man U fan (such as waking up super early to stream the game online from ESPN) and even though he’s been to Old Trafford, he hasn’t seen his football heroes play.  It was an easy decision to go, and I’m so happy we celebrated the holidays in such gorgeous summertime weather.

It was a fantastic day to spend together, even if it was a bit warm in the sun.  We did buy horrifically expensive water to keep us hydrated, but it was worth it in the end.  The entire event was made by Man U winning, although the Fire had a good showing.  I’m sure the next sporting event for us is going to be a Fire game at their own stadium.

Sam and I at Soldier Field taking in the Man U game and the Chicago skyline.

Today, Sam and I had a perfectly lazy day.  Sam made coffee and english muffins for us for breakfast, and we enjoyed that while we got ready for our day.  We ran errands together until he left, and then I continued on with grocery shopping, doing laundry, and setting my computer up.  Exciting life, I do realize, but I’m very happy with it.

I gave a suggestion for what you should listen to, so do any of you have good suggestions for songs I should download?

It’s a Sip of Wine, It’s Summertime

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I still have not straightened my hair.  I thank yesterday’s afternoon downpour for that one.  Just wait until later on today…I NEED to straighten this mess soon.

I am in LOVE with the shirt I am wearing today.  Desperate, spunky love.

Although I cannot be on one of the Great Lakes tonight, Sam and I are planning on grabbing a pitcher and catching up on the Terrace tonight.  Lake Mendota will suffice for today.  At least I’ll get in some Lake Michigan action in very, very soon when I visit Sam in P-town and we venture to Sheboygan.  Aaah, the many splendid pleasures of my life.

Today, puppies are coming to College Library to help students de-stress.  That means that right after my afternoon reference shift (second-to-last of the semester!) I get to have puppy time.  Then a drink at Brats, and then a splendid evening with Sam.  I hope our date night ends up being quite enjoyable.

Now that school is done, I’ve been catching up on Glee’s first season.  What else should I get into watching?  What is in your Netflix Queue?

The Calm Before the Storm?

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“Don’t let school get in the way of your education.”
- Mark Twain

Graduate school begins for me in a little over a week. In twelve days, I will begin my eighteenth year of education, the first of which at the University of Wisconsin.  I’m excited to be living in Madison, excited to begin school, and excited to meet my classmates that I will be learning with for the next two years.  Of course, being the over-excessive planner that I am, I am already thinking of the next step: getting my Ph.D. in Higher Education.  But first things first — I have to get my Masters degree from Madison first!

Going into the librarian profession, many stereotypes come to mind.  And I fulfill tons of them.  I have nerdy thick-framed glasses and horrific vision.  I drink coffee like it is the elixir of life.  I now live with a cat, even though Lola is my roommate’s kitten.  I enjoy wearing my hair back in a ponytail or a sloppy bun.  I purchase about ten new cardigans each fall to help update my wardrobe.  And I prefer to be listening to music and reading a book some nights rather than going out on the town.  But who are we kidding, I still go out often enough.

Speaking of, I am meeting up this evening with some college friends to catch up on the past three years of our lives.  Boys have come and gone, there’s been a wedding and one is in the midst of her first pregnancy, and we’ve all learned some major life lessons.  It will be great to be together again, and I can’t wait to hear about everything that has occurred in their lives — plus share the excitement in mine!

As far as excitement, I guess it’s all of the new things that have started in the past few days, weeks, and months.  Recently, I moved into my apartment.  It’s my very first cute little apartment — I don’t count what I subleased this summer; that teeny-tiny apartment was hardly big enough to be used as a jail cell.  This apartment is so much cuter, has a ton of charm, and has the added perk of having my roommate be one of my best friends from high school.  She’s already begun at UW’s Med School, which makes me fear the reading load that I’ll have this semester by what she’s already had to have read this week alone!  I also have great librarianship jobs on campus that help me afford this apartment.  I love going into work each morning and feel fulfilled from my jobs.  I think this feeling bodes well for my future — work doesn’t feel like “work.”  I also spent my entire summer having nothing but fun.  I went to a dozen or so Brewers games, went to Chicago a few times, spent sunny afternoons sipping lemonade with the boyfriend, and tried to fall in love with something new in Madison each day.  It was successful, and I worked hard, but I also taught myself that it’s okay to reward hard work with fun.  And those fun times make up some of the best summer memories I have ever had.  I cannot believe what I all got to do this summer, and I cannot wait for summer 2011!  (Mostly because I’m already excited for a time without classes!)  I’ve gotten to spend those great memories with my amazingly wonderful boyfriend, Sam.  He’s got a few years left of undergrad work to do (shhh, age ain’t nothin’ but a number) but we’re both putting our educations first these next few years.  I need a job after all of this education stuff.  Really.

There is still excitement for the rest of summer.  In the next twelve days I’m going out to the Memorial Union Terrace with some alumni to see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and grab a pitcher or two.  And from Thursday on, I’ll be hosting one of my best friends and her fiance before going to the Packers/Colts game and the Brewers/Pirates game.  Hopefully a hike up in Devil’s Lake is included as well — I miss those views so much!  And in between all of that, I’ll be working 40 hours a week, training for a new position on campus, and getting some required reading out of the way early before the real workload of the semester hits.  And this weekend I’m heading back to my alma mater to see some friends before the move-in craze begins, meeting up with the Sam, and also going to Door County with my family and Sam’s family.  Adventures are going to ensue with both of our families mostly present!

I’ve been listening to stereomood.com a lot lately.  It gives you a playlist based upon your current mood or activity.  It’s got a lot of good unheard music/artists.  Plus, it’s better than Pandora because you don’t need an account and the music doesn’t automatically stop after a certain time.  Plus, no advertisements!

I’m excited for some beer on the Terrace.  I wish I could go home and enjoy some Hopalicious, but my experience at Copps last night prevented me from purchasing beer. :(

Guess I’ll just have to enjoy some good beer and see this beautiful image in person soon with Sam!