I have a new-found respect for all those before me who successfully completed college without a laptop, because that is what I have been doing for the past 3 weeks. A word of caution for all those in the market for a new laptop: DO NOT buy an HP from Sams club. Their repair fulfillment company does crap work at best, and they are not above sending laptops back worse than how they were sent in. Hence, my silence since Labor Day.
Since my last post I have:
1. Traveled upstate for a school retreat (and thoroughly enjoyed my little taste of nature)
2. Finished reading my first piece of Russian literature (not all Tolstoy novels are tomes)
3. Found a $100 bill on the sidewalk (New York moment... waaaatttt)
4. Started making plans for my next international trip during Spring break (*top secret location*)
5. Celebrated the Festival of San Gennaro on the streets of Little Italy (and was overwhelmed by a crowd for the first time in my life as a New Yorker)
1. What can I say about Fall Retreat? hmmm.... how about my house totally OWNED the drama competition and is now perched in 1st place overall (for the first time in house history). Prayers are appreciated for the upcoming reading test (fingers crossed!). I don't know if I posted about last year's fall retreat, but all I can say is that it was beyond cold. As in, we had to double-up in twin-sized bunks to stay warm, and I woke up with my hair par-frozen, COLD. Packing all of our heavy winter gear for this year's retreat, however, we arrived to sunny, 80-degree weather. We spent most of the weekend on the lawn sunbathing or by the pool. Needless to say, I had one "summer" outfit, and that was the only thing I wore all weekend.... not complaining, though!
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| LeTower of TenBoom |
2. I didn't think I'd be a fan of Russian lit.... my roommate last year took an entire class on it, and all I can really remember from her experience is that she would periodically die on the couch from the sheer amount of reading she had to complete. This year's Interregnum theme, however, is Mortality. What better author to explore the theme than a long-winded old Russian guy? The assigned book was "The Death of Ivan Ilych." A short, pleasant introduction to Russian literature as a whole, in my opinion. It was short, witty, and completely relatable for something written almost 150 years ago. I recommend this one!
3. Yeah... so that happened... don't ask me how, but it was right by the Stock Exchange (i.e. they won't miss it one bit). And if you are reading this and just lost a $100 bill from your wallet.............. sucks to suck.
4. (*Evil grin from across the internet*) You won't know about this one for a while.... just know that it is on par with my London trip, except that this one hits a little closer to home for me. PLUS I will have my brand-SPANKING new DSLR, so you, my readers, are in for quite a photographic treat.
5. I don't normally feel the need to go out and do something at 10pm at night (I know, as a New Yorker I should embrace it). But honestly, as a college student, sleep is a rare commodity. So in a bout of self-pity and boredom I found myself in my jeans, slouchy sweater, and a pair of boots that have seen better days, in the middle of a bustling street in Little Italy during the Festival of San Gennaro. Every other booth was selling pizza, pasta, cannolis, and cigars. The entire street was strung with lights and decorations. It was quite a thing of beauty. The festival itself was amazing, but -and I never thought I'd say this being the extreme extrovert that I am- the crowd was utterly overwhelming. So I grabbed some Lamb and a giant Cannoli and left back to my apartment around 1 in the morning thankful for the experience and the quiet streets of the FiDi.
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| And they call it Bella Notte.... |
It is currently too late for me to be up on a Sunday night... I am cringing thinking of all the reading I have to do in the morning. So I will leave you all with this.
Buonanotte!
xoxo
-H
P.S. A piece of eyecandy for my lovely readers... a smokin' McLaren right outside my building... I look forward to the day when (not if , mind...) I will be able to afford this baby.
