A lot to be thankful for

This thanksgiving season I realized that I have a lot to be thankful for. First, I am thankful that I have a family that loves and supports me, and is willing to visit me where ever I go. Two weekends ago my dad came to visit me for a father daughter weekend in Columbia. Now, if you have met my father, he is really an oversized child so putting him on an airplane, well terrified my mother and I. However, he made it safely and we had a fabulous weekend, including: dinner at Paulie's with my roommates, tailgating, the South Carolina vs. Troy game, the Columbia Zoo, dinner with the Ward's and oh, a clean and functioning car! I hadn't spent more than two days with my dad since May, and as a Daddy's girl (yes I'll admit I am) it was good to spend time with him!

Daddy and I at the tailgate

Last tailgate

Michelle, Kelly, Pete, Viki (our co-worker) and me at Viki's tailgate

This past weekend I realized how thankful I am for also having family away from home. I spent Thanksgiving in Charlotte with the Ward's and Petrini's, where we had a delicious Thanksgiving meal and quality family time. I realize how lucky I am to a) have family extended family I am close with, and b) to be so close with my cousins. Coming back to Columbia on Friday, I became thankful for alone time and quietness. I spent the weekend being productive, relaxing, and enjoying everyone else still being away for the weekend.

Laura, me, Hannah (the only picture I took at Thanksgiving, oops)

My family celebrating Thanksgiving in New Jersey (while I missed them, Aunt Maurren & Aunt Peggy are really good cooks)

Some other things that I am thankful for this holiday season: my education, the roof over my head, the economic ability to afford what I need, my siblings, my parents, my friends (both here in Columbia, home in New Jersey, from this summer and from West Chester, and all others in between), my health, my job, my experiences (both good and bad) and turkey noodle soup (thank you Aunt Peg). Take a second to look around and realize what you are thankful for.

Now one more week to get through, than off to Charlotte, and home for a month!

You are never too old to celebrate your birthday

Kyle, Amy, Lauren & I dressed in our 80's gear

Birthdays, who doesn't love them? While the older I get the more I realize not everyone enjoys their birthday (what a shame). Luckily, I am surrounded with people who still enjoy a good birthday celebration. Over the past two weeks I have had a lot of people in my life have birthdays, and my second favorite things to birthdays, well that's sending birthday cards of course. However, two of the birthdays have been two of my good friends in my masters program! The first was my friend Kelly (she is a first year in the program, and works in the career center with me. Another fun fact she went to JMU and knows my sister), and we celebrated her birthday with a decades party. You could pick any decade of your choice, but I mean really what is more fun than dressing for the 80's? Lots of color, no need to match, big hair and leg warmers - yea I'm sold. Plus, my roommate Lauren and I love little more than shopping for a good costume.

Everybody at Kelly's Decade themed 23rd birthday

The second birthday was my roommate April's. April turned a quarter of a century in stride. However, her celebration was a little low key - we decorated her room, celebrated with dinner & cupcakes from cupcake on her actual birthday, and than had people over for some drinks and board games on the weekend! I give April credit as one of the most passionate people I know, I'm convinced her and Mary Ellen put together would be a non-profit power house.

Another birthday thing that has fallen into my lap, is a birthday book. Borrowed from a peer, the book "The Secret Language of Birthdays" breaks down every birthday day-by-day. I read mine along with some friends and families, while everyone's had something that related to them, mine and my brother's were so on point it was scary. My birthday is January 26th making me "The day of striking deeds". Those born on this day are highly controversial individuals, bold and aggressive. Their determination in reaching their goals is limitless, and their faith in doing so is unbounded. The downfall, they tend to hurt others and not be considerate of feelings, as they act quick and decisively. I think the part that is most relevant to my current life is "because they are so active and externally oriented, it is incumbent at some point in their lives to get to know themselves better, or their personal development could stagnate. They need to discover their deeper desires and motivations". My strengths: active, dramatic, confident. My weaknesses (or areas of improvement as we tell our students): destructive, dictatorial and driven. I am not saying that everything said is perfect, but I think it is key to be self-aware and sometimes this helps one to do so. I find this kind of stuff interesting, it also explains advice and health issues associated with your birthday. If anyone wants to know theirs please let me know!

Erin, Me, Kim (my spuddies: first year student's in the program)

What have I been up to with the rest of my life? Work, I am serving on a search committee and transitionting for the spring as my boss will be out on maternity leave. School, which even though I consider myself a life-long learner I am ready to be done with. and other activities, including: seeing Legally Blonde the musical (amazing!), learning the ropes of human resources pages so I'm familiar when job applications start, Carolina Football (we won the SEC east if you haven't heard!), participating in the USC vs. Clemson blood drive, and being a cheerleader for my friends who ran a half marathon (please note this is now on my bucket list, I am my mother's daughter in the sense that I was crying form happiness at the race).

Half Marathon (13.1 mile) runners: David, Katie, Brent, Samantha. So proud of them!

Things to look forward too - my dad is visiting this weekend!!!, Charlotte for Thanksgiving with some family, and home for a month in December! My current quote or motto, "count your blessings" because even when you are having a bad day, chances are their is someone else having a worse one. Realize what you have to be grateful for. For example I have a wonderful support system of family and friends, and that alone is wonderful.

Halloween Weekend

So halloween has never really been my holiday. I was the kid who saved my halloween candy (and than eventually forgot about it). I always remember having to put a turtleneck under my costume to stay warm. Really, the only two Halloween memories I have are my homemade mouse costume (which came with a wooden block of cheese) and Brieanna coming to trick-or-treat with us (we have a picture of us in front of the fire place). Now let me say it was never a bad holiday, just not a favorite.

However, with that being said this weekend was full of Halloween like activities. Thursday we went to see Dracula the ballet (my first one), Friday we hosted a Halloween party, and Saturday we went to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Wrapping the weekend up we had a falg football game on Sunday, in crisp fall weather. Now let me say I consider myself a pretty athletic person, and I am awful at flag football, but none the less it is fun with friends. All in all it was a fabulous in the spirit fall weekend.

Having a photo shoot with April. I was Jessie from Saved by the Bell, & I am now convinved I was made for the 90's

Saved by the Bell: Screech (Pete), Slater (Brent), Lisa (Samantha),

Jessie (me), Kelly (Sam), Zac (Mike) and the principal (Drew)

Roommates: Audrey Hepburn (Apri), Lady Bug (Danielle), Suki from True Blood(Lauren), Jessie (me)

Team Huddle

Back Row: Mike, Brent, Megan, me, Pete, Steven

Front Row: Ashley, Cory, Sam

In action

Clockwise from me: me, Ashley, Megan, Brent, Mike, Steven, Cory, Pete, Sam

and than today I woke up to 57 degree weather, so maybe fall really is here. My day by day calendar said "Whatever you are, be a good one" by Abraham Lincoln and that is my motto for the week!