American Idol

I have a mini me and his name is Curry. Ever since I got here Curry has been talking non-stop about anything and everything he can think of.

When I first got here he "helped" me unpack my room and decorate. That's when we decided that we were so much a like and had so many things in common. We both like shrimp, half-soggy cereal, applesauce, Naruto, DragonBall Z. I mean, what else do you need?

He is so much fun and so cute. We have had a great time. Wednesday we went to dinner at The Blue Heron, where we went while Mommy was here, and then came home and did some swimmin'. It was good times. That crazy little kid has so much energy and is so well behaved. It may be just for me because apparently I'm his new idol, either way I'm okay with it.

It's nice being the recipient of a little boys admiration. Makes me feel pretty good.

Organ Almighty

Yesterday was the last day of orientation, so to celebrate the transfers went to a movie. We drove to The Byrd Theater on Carey Street in Richmond. It's a classic old theater with one screen and an organ.

Saturday nights before the shows they have someone playing the organ and it was amazing. Not only was the gentlemen playing four rows of keys, he was also adjusting buttons and things to play different sound effects while playing the bass notes with his FOOT! He was so talented, I was amazed. Any musician would appreciate how difficult it is to play that, as did I.

After the organ player and his organ were lowered back in the orchestra box, "Evan Almighty" was on the screen. It was a very good movie. Definitely cute and funny that the entire family could enjoy. I enjoyed it anyway.

And all this for only $2.00. I think I'll be going back there sometime.

Orientatingness

Wow... This week has been full of orientating. Wednesday there were the meet and greets, the President's Welcome. Thursday there were all of the this-is-how-we-do-it's and introductions to all the "important" people and then a very fancy dinner to show the transfer students that are not forgotten, which I appreciate. Yesterday there were some more sessions and dinners.

And then there was laser tag.

Yep, laser tag. Our transfer student orientation groups headed over to Short Pump in our all black, with our war paint (eye liner...) all ready to kick some laser buns. Unfortunately we had a lot of waiting around to do at the laser tag place, Lasertron, but we did finally get to play and it was awesome. We had some fun times.

Personally I did pretty well, which was nice. I'm slightly competitive *cough* so once it got started I was all about gaining those points and shooting all the lovely red vests. It was great.

We even got to take a group picture when we were done.

Aren't we lovely?

And now I have to get ready to head back to school for some more orientatingness.

Dinner and Old Friends

Tuesday night Mommy, Grandmama and I met my Uncle Aelx, Aunt Marjorie and cousins Charlotte, Leslie and Curry at the Blue Heron restaurant at Rivers Rest a few miles from Grandmama's house.

The restaurant was amazing.

It was a nice, laid back family atmosphere but being that it is on the Chickahominy River, the seafood was excellent. I had the shrimp with crab with apple sauce and coleslaw and man was it tasty.

We had a nice little scare before we got out food. While we were sitting at the table enjoying conversation a very angry cloud started moving toward us over the river. At first it was, "Hey, look at the cloud.". Then in became, "That is a very angry cloud and it's coming straight for us!". Which, of course, led to "Oh my gosh!" because the lights had gone out.

I was less worried about the lack of lighting, more concerned with the lack of heat that was suppose to be cooking my food.

But it was all okay because they had a backup generator that had everything working again in a matter of minutes. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the service (since my Grandmother and cousins knew our server) and will be continuing to frequent the Blue Heron.

I was able to get a few good pictures of the family.
Everyone

Leslie (13 years old now and taller than me!)

Charlotte (16 years old and taller than Leslie...)

Uncle Alex and Aunt Marjorie

After dinner Mommy and I drove to Jamestown to visit Paige and her family. Paige was my Girl Scout leader and my moms best friend for about seven years until they moved here to Jamestown about a year ago. Her two girls, Brittany and Caitlin were in girls scouts and school with me for a while. They just graduated this year and I cannot believe it! They and there brothers have grown so much in only a year. Growth will never cease to amaze me.
Paige and Mommy

Caitlin, Me and Brittany

Hopefully I will be able to go and visit with Paige and the girls often since they only live about twenty to thirty minutes from Grandmama. I did miss them and it was so good to see them again.

Cheers to old friends!

I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. Somebody help me.

Yeah! I'm in debt!

I know, a strange way to react to being in debt, but I assure you this is a good thing...

Yesterday I applied for and received a student loan from Sallie Mae for my tuition this next semester! Yeah! I no longer have to worry about being thrown out of school for not giving them their money. I don't think that would have happened anyway. My past experience with the University of Richmond in dealing with whatever issues has shown me that they would do whatever they could to make sure I wasn't left in the gutter.

In reference to the title of this post: I have always remembered this commercial and I immediately thought of it while Mommy was singing, "Stephanie's in debt. Stephanie's in debt." in an oddly happy tone... Now I know what he's talking about.

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 7

We're here!

Winchester, VA to Grandmama's

We made it! Sorry it's taken me a while to post but we were busy, busy getting my room all set up today.

First things first, Winchester.

Mommy graduated from Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music which is in Winchester so we went and visited the school. There is a lot of new stuff but the old buildings are still there. The dorm Mommy lived in for a few years was still there so we had to take a picture in front of the sign. Luckily there was a new girl moving in so she offered to take it for us.

I took some pictures of the ponds they have that used to be really dirty and filled with grossness but now have pretty fountains. Although they still have some grossness in them...

Including crabs. We know this because we found a "nice" little dried up crab claw on the walkway.

The conservatory

Mommy next to the "SU" because the school is now Shenandoah University instead of college.

The schools chapel. It is a Methodist school after all.

After the school we started the four hour drive to Grandmama's. It was a very nice drive and we enjoyed it. We stopped in Gum Springs where Mommy went to high school.

This is the church my Granddaddy was a preacher at for a long time.

And this is the parish, so it was the house my mom and the family lived in.

Behind the house, as with most parishes of Methodist churches in Virginia, was a cemetery. Which my grandfather liked because it kept the boys away! Mommy has some good stories about that too.

While we were driving on the 64 freeway we saw a sign for University of Richmond so we decided to get off and check it out. Neither of us had been so we had some trouble finding it but we did and it was awesome. The buildings are gorgeous old brick buildings and there are trees all around. There is a lake with a building standing on stilts above the water. We went in that building and it is the commons. The place students go to eat lunch or study. So soon I'll be sitting in a lush over-stuffed chair sipping my latte while reading a book.



Ahhh... the college life!

I am so excited about starting and completely freaked out all at the same time. I'm not worried about my classes or anything, those should be fine, it's the paying for them that makes me queasy... Keep me in your prayers please and keep readin'! There will be many more blogs where this came from!

(And don' cha forget to read these in a Virginia southern accent ya'll! I think I'm already picking one up and I've only been here for a day and a half! Hahahaha...)

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 6

Kentucky to Virginia

You would think we'd be at Grandmama's by now but tis not the case. We stopped in Winchester, Virginia today to go and see Mommy's college, Shenandoah College (now Shenandoah University). Winchester is a beautiful little town and the university is pretty massive. We only made it to the theatre today, where we watched "Tuesday's with Morrie" performed by one of Mommy's old professors who was teaching at the school for twenty years before Mommy even got there, thirty years ago. He, and the play, were excellent. I cried.

Okay, Kentucky is a very... interesting state. They have a town called Salt Lick. That's all I have to say.

And then we were in West Virginia. Some day, if you even get a chance to meet with my mom, ask her about her EMT days and her experiences in West Virginia. They are both scary and amusing.

It is a beautiful state with rolling hills and thick forests.

We ended up in Maryland because there is a little section that is on the west side of West Virginia, etc. Anyway, it came up so fast there wasn't a picture of the sign but here's a picture of Maryland, at least the ten miles we drove through.

And then we were in Virginia! We took the 50 highway to Winchester which is a windy road that goes through a lot of small towns. A nice scenic drive.

Tomorrow we will be at Grandmama's! I can't wait!

Tune in tomorrow for our last episode (of this series, the beginning for another). Same bat time, same bat channel!

I do love those Virginia sunsets. Looking forward to seeing a whooooole lot more.

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 5

Kansas to Kentucky

We got off to another good start for another amazingly fun day of driving. We went through a few more states today but had less luck getting pictures of the signs. The first one was pretty understandable... I was driving and we were going through St. Louis trying to stay on the correct freeway. Which was freakishly difficult because there were about five freeways merging together in four lanes and at first I had to be in the left hand lane and then the right and then the middle and then the left again and then I had a choice, the middle or the left and then it was the right again until the freeways split off and I was on the 64. Man that was insane. Of course, it was during all this fun confusion that they had the "Welcome to Missouri" sign. Oh well... Such is life.

I did get a picture of the sign for Hannibal, Missouri. Mommy and I said hi to Colonel Potter as we passed by.

Also while going through St. Louis we saw the Arch of the America's (or something like that). It was pretty cool.


Right next to the arches from our view was a very interesting old building that
ended up being a Sheraton.

And another building behind that that looked like it belonged in a Batman movie.

And the Mississippi River!

And then there was Illinois. Remember, when you're in Illinois, the alcohol limit is .08...

And not to long after that there was Indiana!

And this was what I got out of Kentucky...

Hey, give me a break! It was dark and we didn't know when the sign was coming up...

Now Mommy and I are sitting in a hotel in Lexington, Kentucky. Tomorrow we're off to Winchester, Virginia and then to Grandmama's! Right now it's 12:10am in Kentucky so I think it's time for bed.

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 4

New Mexico to Kansas

Wow. There was a lot of driving going on today, and I didn't do any of it. Good times. We went through a few states today so I got some nice pictures.
And first there was Texas!

And let me tell you, Texas has A LOT of cows... We estimated about one million at least. Yeah, and I'm not exaggerating.

Next there was Oklahoma. (Where the wind comes whipping down the planes!)
The sign.

Us in front of the sign.

Ya, its hard to take a picture in front of a sign when you're taking it yourself.

And don't forget, the Texahoma FFA Welcomes You.

Finally we arrived in Kansas!

Then there was a lot more driving and that leads to getting gas. Where we saw this wonderful warning.

And this wonderful, yet disturbing highway sign. I do hope Williamsburg and Pomona are never in the same place, ever...

Tune in tomorrow for the trek to Kentucky. Same Bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 3

Grand Canyon to New Mexico

Another good day of driving. We had a little more differentiated scenery which was a plus. First we were in red rocky terrain and then flat green and then red rocks again and then green hills. It was nice.


Of course we had to stop in Winslow, AZ and take a picture with the sign. If you don't know why, it's because of the Eagles song Take it Easy. We are such nerds...

After we checked into our hotel in Tucumcari, New Mexico Mommy and I drove around town. This town looks like Radiator Springs from Cars. It's a little longer but still the little town on Route 66. We eventually found a restaruant called K-Bob's. They had some good soup and a salad bar and awesome cherry cobbler. Yum.

Now I am completely exhausted and ready for bed. Last night I didn't sleep well at the hostel due to the train blaring its horn every hour, the humidity and the jack hammer at about 5am right outside the window. But tonight it's my own squishy queen sized bed! Woohoo!

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 2

Arizona to the Grand Canyon (which is in Arizona but that is so not the point)

Another nice, short drive but this time from Aunt DiDi's house to the Grand Canyon and then on down to Flagstaff, AZ. There was a lot of desert, and I mean a lot of flat desert on the way to the Grand Canyon. I mean, come on, this is Arizona for heaven's sake.

Hooray Beer! (Disclaimer: I do not drink beer or any other form of alcohol. I just thought the billboard was pretty freakin' hilarious.)

We did get a little rained on for about 10 minutes along the way.

And we made it to the Grand Canyon! There are no words to describe it and pictures do not do it any justice but I'm going to put some up because I can. Go to the Grand Canyon!




After the Grand Canyon we headed to Flagstaff. We had an interesting time finding the Grand Canyon International Hostel but we did and its been pretty nice. We went and had dinner at the Beaver Street Bar and Grill where we had anexcellent pesto and cream cheese appetizer. Yum. Then onto Macy's European Tea and Coffee for some hot cocoa and live music.

Another good traveling day.

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!