BOO!

Please excuse the blurriness of this picture - I was in a rush to take it so I could jump in with my girls for other pictures. In celebration of Halloween, I took my hall on a ghost tour of campus in the rain. It is a weird coincidence that the tour guide dressed up as a ghost has the most dramatic red eye in this picture. Maybe it wasn't a costume after all...
Location: Wren Building to Phi Beta Kappa Hall, W&M

Major Change

In preparation for class registration for Spring 2012 I am trying to make a decision about changing my major. I am currently a declared International Relations major, but I'd like to do something more focused on international development and I'm finding that IR doesn't let me explore the human side of  development issues the way I'd like to. We'll see what happens. 

Happy Birthday, Brock!

Nine of us gathered at Brock's apartment this evening to celebrate his birthday. Brock was awesome enough to cook delicious foods for us on his special day. We had a good time eating and playing games, Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly this time. Oh yeah, there was also an exciting portion of time when we set of the smoke detector (not Brock's doing) and tried to clear the smoke from the apartment.
Location: Ludwell Apartments, W&M

That's a Word, Right?

The guys and I often play games when we hang out on the weekends. Lately we have been drawn to Trivial Pursuit, but tonight we played Scrabble. I knew Scrabble had it in for me when I drew my first set of seven letters...then this happened. Despite my poor luck in the beginning, it was an enjoyable game.
Location: Botetourt Duty Office, W&M 

Charly's

On occasion I eat lunch with Isabel, a family friend who lives in Williamsburg. We are normally both content to eat at the Blue Talon Bistro by Colonial Williamsburg, but today Isabel made the wonderful suggestion that we eat at the Williamsburg airport. It is a small airport whose quaint restaurant has delectable food. So, Dad, when you and mom come to visit me at school we'll eat here because it's got you written all over it.
Location: Williamsburg Jamestown Airport

Making a Good Day Better

Today was a busy day for me and since this package was not the only awesome thing that happened today it was hard to choose a picture to share with you today. If you want to see the pumpkin that I decorated to look like Harry Potter, I will direct you to my Facebook profile picture. Back to this awesome package from my parents though...it was carefully packed and each layer revealed something wonderful: ChexMix, candy, a DVD, a coloring book, and a sweet note from my grandmother. Thanks mom and dad. 

Study Cubby

Freshman year I did a lot of my homework and studying at Swem, but last year I mostly avoided studying at Swem. Now I am trying to get back in the habit of doing my work at Swem because I have found that I use my time more effectively there. So I spent a few hours at Swem today doing some reading for my Globalization and International Development class. Here is my little cubby.
Location: Swem Library at W&M

Pumpkin Carving

When I came back to the dorm today I found Veronica and Ellie carving this pumpkin in the kitchen. It has three carvings and the one you see was carved by Saurabh, who had already left when we decided to take a picture. One of the carvings is the grim reaper and another is a scary face; both are impressively done.
Location: Fauquier Hall at W&M

Sad Waffle

I love waffle makers and wish I had one of my own. Luckily, there is one at the caf that I can use for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Today, I tried to make a waffle for dinner, but ate this waffle-like meal instead because my waffle got stuck to the waffle maker. So I must rephrase my original statement: I love waffle makers when they produce whole waffles that can be easily removed and eaten.
Location: Caf at W&M 

Dinner at Five Guys with...Five Guys

Sean and Casey, two of Poorna's friends from home, came up from North Carolina to visit today. It was fun to spend some time with them and we topped off the day with dinner at Five Guys. If you have not had the pleasure of eating their burgers and fries, I highly recommend it.
Location: Five Guys in Williamsburg, VA

Homecoming Parade

Athena and I sat behind Monroe Hall to watch the Homecoming Parade roll down Richmond Rd. this afternoon. There were lots of fun floats and demonstrations of Tribe pride with signs about defeating the Towson Tigers. Go TRIBE!
Location: Richmond Rd. in Williamsburg, VA

Shuffleboard

Sometimes after our Oxfam meeting and dinner, Poorna, Brock, Eastin, Will, and I go to Sadler to play games (at the same place where I work). Today, Eastin and I played shuffleboard for a long time and jokingly kept track of our winning "streaks" which were often only two wins at a time.
Location: Sadler Center, W&M

For the Love of My Bed

A picture of my bed seemed most fitting for today because I spent most of my day in it. What I expected to be a recharging nap between classes became hours of sleep, congestion, headache, coughing, chills, and fever. Many thanks to Poorna who came by to check on me, bring me food, and keep me company.

Dinner Debate

This is the usual dinner with the guys. We eat around 6pm at the caf most days and we spend more time chatting than we do eating. Dinner conversation is frequently dominated by a debate of some sort. Tonight the debate was about space exploration and the advances we can make in the next century.
Location: Commons Dining Hall, W&M

Between Classes

This is the courtyard at the Mason School of Business at W&M. Sometimes I eat lunch here with friends but today I was just getting work done between classes. It was so nice out that I didn't want to sit inside for three hours straight.

Goodwill

I walked with about six of my residents to Goodwill this afternoon. They mostly bought clothes and the makings of Halloween costumes, but I got the things you see here. I needed a pot for my new plant and I have tragically gone two years without flying a kite at W&M, a great campus for kite flying in my opinion.
Location: Richmond Rd. in Williamsburg, VA

Walking the D.O.G. Street

The weather today was perfect for a walk in Colonial Williamsburg. Athena, Rachel, Eastin, and I all walked the length of CW/Duke of Gloucester Street and then detoured to the Governors Palace, pictured here. Part of a William and Mary tradition is to jump the Governor's wall and go to the center of the maze. This picture doesn't make that task seem very difficult, but try doing it in the dark of night without being spotted.

New Plant

I bought this plant from the Botany Club today for $2. I don't know what kind of plant it is, how much water to give it, or how much sunlight it prefers. If you have insights on any of these issues, please share. I'll also accept suggestions for a name.

Happy Birthday, Mallory!

Tonight we gathered at Aroma's to celebrate Mallory's birthday. (Mallory is that beautiful girl in the back wearing a red dress and a smile.) We enjoyed an assortment of warm beverages and cakes, in addition to each other's company. Fun times were had by all.
Location: Williamsburg, VA

Oops

I don't know what happened to today's picture...in fact, I think I forgot to take one because it was a busy first day of classes after break. Apologies.

I made a cow.

This is my favorite board this month. I was planning on doing a board where all the white bubbles of text you see complete the phrase "You know you're a college student when..." when I was struck with the genius idea of making the board look like a cow. So instead of putting the text on different color blobs, I put them all on cow spots. I enjoyed making this board.
Location: Fauquier Hall, W&M

To be (hot) or not to be (hot)?

The hot water in the showers during fall break has been...elusive. Two days ago I took a cold shower and today is the second day I have waited twenty minutes for hot water. Luckily it lasted for my entire shower and didn't turn cold half way through, which it also does from time to time. 

Blue Nails!

For some magical reason, my nails grow long and stay that way for a while; normally I like to have them painted. "Cinna-snap", a deep red color, is my favorite nail polish (and the one I use most often) but I was feeling like doing something funky this weekend. 

The Delly

I ate at The College Delly for the first time today and my sub was delicious. Poorna suggested we grab lunch here today because the dining halls on campus have weird hours during Fall Break and I'm so glad we did. As a junior at W&M I really should have experienced this sooner, but better late than never I suppose.
Location: Richmond Rd. Williamsburg, VA

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

I couldn't give you flowers in person so I took pictures of flowers on campus to send you. This was my favorite picture because of the bright colors. I hope you are enjoying your special day.
Location: Crim Dell, W&M

Grocery Store

Today, I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things...candy, candy, baking soda, candy, and air freshener, face wash, and more candy. I could tell you that this is a typical college student trip to the store, but in reality I had to pick up treats for our Oxfam meeting.
Location: Bloom in Williamsburg, VA

New Testament Anyone?

About once a semester, a group of men comes to campus and gives out little New Testaments. When I was walking by the sundial today there was a man at almost every path...I was surrounded. In another context it might have been intimidating but they are just nice guys that stand at strategic locations to give out as many New Testaments as possible - they don't force them on you. I was amused by their attempts to appeal to the college crowd with cover designs like the one here.
Location: Sadler Center, W&M

So Busy!

Every month I fill out the schedule in my planner and it's usually quite full. I put an antique effect on the picture just for fun. 

What?

After Politics in Africa today, Poorna, Will, and I stood outside having a nice chat for an hour in the lovely fall weather. I pulled out my camera to take a picture of some fall leaves...I got that picture, but this spontaneous one was better.
Location: outside Small Hall, W&M

La Nourriture

WaWa mac 'n cheese and chicken fingers are a delicious late night snack. Poorna and I sat at Sadler eating, chatting, and enjoying our noms. Somehow we ended up talking about how I don't speak French...and then Poorna got me saying things in French.
Location: Sadler Center, W&M

Moon through Silhouetted Trees

The sky was lighter than this when I walked out of the caf this evening and saw the moon framed by the trees. I was kicking myself for choosing not to bring my camera to dinner, but I headed back to my room and grabbed my camera hoping to capture a similar shot. This is the best I could do.
Location: Behind Fauquier, W&M