the road to copacetic

just a simple, southern girl on a journey towards home.

Classic City Part Deux January 15, 2008

Filed under: Ally stuff, School Sux — Ally @ 8:20 pm

Okay, so I think I’ve officially qualified for the bad blogger of the month award. Not that it matters, I don’t have that many readers. I have the pathetic blog stats to prove it ;-) But seriously, I can’t believe its been a month since my last post. I guess time flies and all that…

Since my last visit here, a lot has transpired in my life. Some good, some bad. I closed up shop in Greenville, moved to Athens, lost my Dad after Christmas, transferred to ATC and started Winter Quarter. In that order. I can honestly say it’s been one of the toughest months of my life.

I won’t be writing about my Dad, because I don’t wanna go there, accept to say thank you to everyone who loved & prayed me through it. Correction, I’m nowhere near through it, so please keep praying. I covet them & appreciate the grace more than you know. Certainly more than I can adequately expressed.

One bright spot of many though, the Dawgs beat the shit out of Hawaii in the Sugar. Is Colt Brennan still alive? Damn. Go Dawgs! I hate that Munson missed calling this one. But, I really hate like hell that my Dad missed it - he would’ve LOVED that game.

Anyways, about the move… So, I love my new apartment. It’s in a great new community inside the perimeter. It’s new, elegant, chic, comfortable, and has really felt like home to me this week, rather than a place I visited to grab clothes to dash back to the upstate. I’ve only met one person in my complex so far though. It’s mostly just grad students & young professionals, which is nice. I’m not here to relive my college days, so the relative quietness is cool. I’m still getting settled in, my washer & dryer finally arrived today (Yea!), but all of the boxes are unpacked and pictures are making their way onto the walls. I hung a wreath on my door yesterday and baked some cookies earlier today. Silly maybe, but that’s how I know I’m home.

I guess it’ll take a little bit of time to really feel like an Athenian (sp?) again though. It’s so strange driving by campus everyday and not being a student! I’m sure I’ll love ATC, but I’d much rather be on Science Row.  Too bad UGA doesn’t offer my degree track yet :-(

I decided that in order to truly regain my Classic City citizenship card again I need to do a few things in the next couple of weeks:

1. Join a gym - I miss ballet booty & need to get back into a regular routine.
2. Visit Churches - I have a few in mind & intend on visiting services soon. 
3. Get my license & tag updated - I got pulled last week by one of ACC’s finest (more blogging on that later) and got the lecture…even though I technically have 2 more weeks to get to the DMV, but whatever.

To that end, if anyone has any reccommendations on Athens gyms & churches, leave it in the comments section s’il vous plait. Merci!!

As far as my classes go, I’ve transitioned into ATC with relative ease…..so far. Getting used to the quarter system again is odd. My freshman year at UGA was their last on quarters. Winter quarter is a bitch, to say the least. Long lecture hours, long labs, same classes everyday, and everything is at warp speed to cram the term into 2 months. I’m taking Medical Microbiology and Applied Micro- & Biotechnology. The latter course is guaranteed to kick my ass much like Organic Chem last term. Ugh. C’est la vie je suppose.

But the good news is I may get a break from classes this week if the weather cooperates. Al Gore be dammed! Here’s hoping for a snow-day on Thursday!!

Anyways, it’s good to be back in the city I love so much; my own little version of copacetic. Thanks to everyone who’s wished me & my family well over the last few weeks.

PS - congratulations to Christina & Brian for finally gettin’ hitched on Sunday. Here’s a little Irish blessing that toasts you better than I could: 

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest days of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

 

Christmas Vacation! December 13, 2007

Filed under: Ally stuff, Holidays, School Sux — Ally @ 7:31 pm

I took my last 2 Finals today and I’m done for the term. Thank you sweet Jesus!

Insert Hallelujah Chorus

I just checked campus cruiser and my final grade for Organic Chemsitry is posted….I kept my B. Normally I would be pretty pissed, especially since I entered this term with a 4.0, but this class kicked my ass. Not a single course I took at UGA was harder than this class. So escaping with a B is not only something I’m okay with, but proud of as well.

Again I say insert the Hallelujah Chorus!!!

I was up ’til nearly 5am cramming last night, so I am more than exhausted, but all I could think about driving home was watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I know almost every line and have seen it at least a million times, but never ever get tired of watching it.

christmas-vacation.jpg
“Holy Shit. Where’s the Tylenol?”

Best line of the movie by far:

Chevy Chase: “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.”

  

Enjoy your day at work tomorrow. I’ll be sleeping in ;-)

 

Ode To The Mixed Tape December 13, 2007

Filed under: Ally stuff, School Sux — Ally @ 3:51 am

It’s after 2am and I should be in bed. Seriously, I really need to be in bed. I have my last two finals tomorrow: Immunology at 9am, then Genetics at 2:30pm. I’ve been quizzing myself with flashcards for hours now, with the help of some Krispy Kreme’s (just 2) and 4 tall glasses of Coke. The sugar & caffeine high was not the best of ideas, especially since I’m gonna crash hard in about 30 minutes, but it’s sure as hell better than this.

fe-blues-02.png

 

The unfortunate part of cramming, at least for me, is that your brain tends to wander off topic. I took mini breaks intermittently throughout the night, checking email, chatting with KK, making “things to do” lists for the move,  thinking about Christmas plans, etc…

But what really killed my rhythm (in a good way) was an email from Leah. She was asking to borrow my Christmas CD collection for her annual Christmas night party. Leah & Jason throw a fantastic party every year - all our friends stop by, have a few cocktails, eat some chinese food, dance, and escape the family drama. It’s seriously one of the highlights of the season for me.

Anyways, I’m known in our circle of friends as the one with all the Christmas movies & music. The collection is a little embarrassing, not because of the volume but because of the corniness factor. Exhibit A: I have in my possession the N’Sync Christmas album and Barry Manilow’s first Christmas LP. Need I say more? I didn’t think so. But I also have some cool stuff too like holiday tunes from The Drifters, Chuck Berry, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, The Andrews Sisters, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, John Lennon, Bing & Frank, James Taylor, Bruse Springsteen, etc. 

So Leah asked if I would make a mixed tape version of my best stuff for her party. Even though I really do not have an ounce of spare time left, I’m too psyched at the idea of creating an old school mixed tape/cd to pass it up.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

1. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
2. God Rest Ye/We 3 Kings - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah Mclachlan
3. Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
4. White Christmas - The Drifters
5. O Holy Night - Charlotte Church
6. Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby
7. Sleigh Ride - The Ronnettes
8. The Holly and The Ivy - George Winston
9. Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
10. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
11. Last Christmas - Wham
12. Blue Christmas - Elvis
13. Winter Wonderland - Annie Lennox
14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor
15. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
16. Holly, Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
17. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
18. Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.
19. Ave Maria - Celine Dion
20. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
21. Drummer Boy - Mercy Me
22. Sing Mary Sing - Jennifer Knapp
23. Carol of the Bells/What Child Is This? - Point of Grace
24. All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey
25. Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant
26. Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day - Avalon
27. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Third Day
28. Jingle Bells - Barry Manilow
29. Christmas Don’t Be Late - Chipmunks
30. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
31. Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Ella Fitzgerald
32. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
33. Christmastime Is Here - Sixpence None The Richer
34. Silent Night - Mark Schultz & Nichole Nordeman
35. Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Rebecca St. James
36. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
37. Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid
38. Run Rudolph, Run - Chuck Berry
39. O Holy Night - N’Suck - but its really good I swear!
40. Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
41. Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong
42. Happy Christmas - John Lennon
43. Song For A Winter’s Night - Sarah Mclachlan


Best Christmas song ever!

Alright, so that’s what I’ve got so far. I want to stop at 50, but I’ve hit a brick wall. Let me know what I’ve left out and what your favorites are please! I need the help.

For now though, I’ve gotta get back to study-cram-ing. It’s now after 3am and sheer panic is starting to set in. These are the moments when, as my Dad loves to say… “you grab a bottle, hunker down, and pray for daylight.” No bottle for me, but praying I will do.

Wish me luck y’all!