Give Thanks!

SOOOOO much happens all the time I just can't even update on it all constantly!

Of course, I should have updated already in the past couple weeks, but it completely slipped my mind!  I just got home from thanksgiving at my house and 2 weeks before that dad was here for my sorority's dad's weekend, and 2 weeks before that I was homeeeee!  And, of course, our apartment here on campus is going to smart smelling and looking like Christmas!  Right now, we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, but I have some lights to put up AND I bought candles that smell like pine trees :)

The location here is SUPERB.  By that, I mean school of course.  It was amazing--though traffic was annoying--to drive up the coast to LA last weekend on the 5, watching the sunset, then dancing to loud music with my sister so I wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel in stand-still traffic.  We went up to stay with my friend who just moved up off of Hollywood Boulevard after graduating here.  I am really excited because she is going to a music college that I am going to go to for film production next year after graduation :)  Anywaysssss, we hung out with her friday night and had some odd experiences, but it was totally worth it and I want to go up to Los Angeles more!  The next day I got to see my granny for lunch before heading to LAX to go home!  Stayed for a week, and just got back today!  Next weekend, I have formal on Friday, DISNEYLAND on Saturday (to see Christmas decorations) and training on Sunday for Recruitment for next semester!  I'm actually really looking forward to everything!

O, and this is something that I wrote for Thanksgiving, since it's that time of year :)

I am thankful for every decision I have ever made. I am thankful for every decision you have ever made. I have decided to open up to you and let my guard down, while you have decided to accept me as a friend and open your arms for me. I love the course my life has taken thus far, and that you are part of it. Even with all of the mistakes I have made, and all of the pitfalls I have lived through, the disappointment and discouragement, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I love that you have been here through some part of this journey, and I hope you continue through the rest of it.

Anyways, PICTURE TIME!  More questions please, I love questions and answer them all!!!  

Dad's Weekend Harbor Brunch Cruise!

All 3 of us

Torero Football game with dad!

Running from a ZOMBIE! (my friend Mitchell...he's seen Zombieland a few too many times)

Pretending to paint a house in Old Town on Halloween night...I'm a painter, get it now?

Biting my roommate on Halloween Night...Yeah, I have a problem

One side of my pumpkin :)

I made a candy skull for Day of the Dead in the SLP!

The sign my family made for me for winning Homecoming Princess :)

London Calling!

SOOOOO

I went to London this summer.  How does this have anything to do with the here and now?  Well, USD is ranked 6th in the nation for sending students abroad!  I am only in my second year at school here and have already traveled and studied abroad!  It is one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had, and I hope that I can do this more than once more in my life!  In fact, I am now looking into being an au pair while working in film in London for a while!  The possibilities are endless, and it's all because of one 3 week experience overseas.

I took the class "British Media Systems".  We had class for about 2 hours a day Monday-Thursday with field trips in the afternoon.  We had 3 day weekends, chances to travel to even more countries, and experiences that will last a lifetime.  I sound so cheesy, it's insane, but it makes me so happy to think about!  I did not have one bad experience, and it included schooling!  Believe you me, class is not my favorite thing in the world, but our teacher made this trip amazing.  We toured film studios, the BBC, the Guardian newspaper, a film museum, and more!  My weekend trips included Oxford, Wimbledon, and SCOTLAND.  I saw Jenna Fischer from the Office (RIGHT before she got engaged!), saw Andy Murray play at Wimbledon, saw the castle from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and stood front row at the red carpet premiere of the new Harry Potter!!!!!!  It was overwhelmingly BEAUTIFUL!

If anyone ever has questions about the International Abroad programs, I can help you!  Also, make sure to visit that portion of the site, and ask about it on your tour here on campus!  You never know what  could come of it...the possibilities are endless!

the classic pose in front of Big Ben!

The Beatles' drum set at the Movieum Museum!

My sister next to...the GOBLET OF FIRE from the fourth Harry Potter! (Movieum)

Pub time!  A complementary drink from the security guard!

lovely view of the Thames river!

Our USD London group!  try to find me!

Camden Market

I have more pictures on Facebook!  Look me up and make sure you message me that you are looking at USD so I will accept!  I tend to befriend people I know, haha.

If you have any questions or comments at all, let me know!  I love feedback!

And boy do I love life and USD

Erin

It's a brand new day!

Hey guys!

Yes, it's another year.  Actually, it's over halfway through the first semester of my sophomore/junior year!  Odd?  Yes.  I am graduating a full year early (May 2011) and will be finished with classes a semester before graduating! (January 2011)  As you can imagine, I am anxious, and I already have senioritis (a year and a half removed from high school!).

Anyways, I apologize, that is what has been on my mind as I plan my schedule for Spring semester.  Right this very moment I am working at the UC Front Desk, and directly after this I work for the school newspaper, The Vista, followed by a sorority Panhellenic meeting and Leadership class!  Tonight, I have stretch class and BROOMBALL!  As you can tell, life is busy busy busy, and I'm soaking it all in!  Have I gotten much sleep?  No!  But what college student does?  I live for the small cat naps I can find between all the fun I'm having!

This semester has been a rush.  I hold 2 leadership positions in my sorority, another in Residential Hall Association, Student Ambassadors, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, National Society of Leadership and Success, Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Honor Society), work, work, and more work.  O, and did I mention classes?  And my classes this year have been great!  If you ever need assistance choosing classes or professors, I am here for you!  I have been really lucky with it all!  In fact, for my fall semester, I planned my schedule in a very unconventional way!  I looked up the finals schedule and am only taking classes that have early finals so I can leave 4 days before everyone else!  MUHAHAHHAHA.

I thought it was pretty genius.

Now, I will offer you a montage of pictures from this fall of all the amazing things I have done!  I have been so scatter-brained up to this point (especially in this post), but I would love for you to see some more highlights!  It's difficult to fit so much of a year into one post!  

View of Tecolote Canyon

Yes, I got an action shot of my friend, Mark, from Las Vegas, playing beach volleyball (Vegas is a 5 hours drive)

My friend, Dani's reaction to my roommate, Brittany, getting her ear pierced :)

Late night burritos by the beach!

Surprised my sister and took her to the Disney Expo in Anaheim (40 minutes from school)...and this is one of the Disney stars, Sterling Knight!

Eagen Plaza by the Jenny Craig Pavilion! (phone picture, still amazing!)

Mom drove to school with us (the full 25 hours) and we took her to La Jolla Coves (10 minutes from school)

The view from my Vista apartment window.  We get to watch the fire works from Sea World over the school horizon in the Fall and Spring! (Sea World=5 minutes from school!)

Feel free to ask questions, I will be answering some in the next couple of blog spots!  I will also be sharing my study abroad experience in Europe, homecoming activities, Halloween things, and many more!

Thanks!  

GO TOREROS!

It's the Final Countdown!

HAPPY MAY!

Yes, I began this post on April 30th, but I got distracted (ahhh arguments about the Kansas City Chiefs being better than the 49ers via facebook).  The last couple of days have been really nice!  I am now officially the Scholarship Chair of my sorority next semester AND am co-chair of dad's weekend!  I am going to have SO much fun with that one!  Yesterday I met with my advisor.  It was a nice little meeting, considering I have already signed up for all of my classes!  I am pumped for classes net semester!  I am still loving the fact that I'm still on track to graduate early! (considering I have only been offered 1 scholarship from the school for the coming year instead of 2.  I will be appealing for financial aid! haha).  I had a little down time (imagine that!) and got to play Wii Fit for about an hour!  It was amazing, and I am pumped to do that instead of studying for finals!  Whoo hoo!

Today, I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I had meeting after meeting.  I had my pre-departure London meeting, and can not wait to book my flight!  There is going to be so much going on in the 3 week period that I am there to study abroad this summer!  It's going to be an experience like none other!  I also met as a representative of RHA with a consultant today to improve student government and relations here at USD.  It went very smoothly, and I think that next year is going to be a big improvement that will only lead to a better student community!  I cannot encourage everyone enough to get involved and do something cool on campus!  I even did something cool on campus tonight and I went to see the spring play, Anonymous!  It was so abstract, and I loved it!  Especially watching 5 of my close friends perform!  I almost teared up at one point, and I don't even remember why!

I love it here.  But I also love summer.  3 weeks to go!

Toodles!!

Erin

Hit the Ground RUNNINGGGGG

My lovely dates and I before STOPLIGHT
Opening number at Mr. U
Mr. RA, winner of Mr. U 2009 (Tom Gallagher)
that, right here, is talent!
Sister and I in front of our lovely backdrop!
the time-consuming balloon arch...complete!
It IS a Small World After All!
On Roger Rabbit!
Ran into a parade of characters on our way in...
The most adorable picture I think I have ever taken...and I don't even know the kids!
Opening presents in the hotel the night before our birthday and Disneyland!  She wanted a sweater with her initials like Mrs. Weasley would make in Harry Potter...so I sewed initials on a sweater for her!
At beautiful Meredith;s photo shoot for Greek Yearbook!  Theta Most likely to be Rich and Famous!  DUH
Hello All!

Boy, do I just continue to get busier and busier!  What have I been up to lately?  Well, for a quick overview...

I WENT HOME for Easter!  It was so much fun!  My little brother was in a play and my sister and I surprised him by going home!  I love all of my family and friends there, but I love how I am establishing an independent life here!  And, like I said, a busy one at that!  When I got back, I hit the ground running.

Right before Easter I interviewed for an RHA Executive position and GOT IT!  I am now the Director of Communications.  This means that I get to keep in contact with schools on a national level!  I'm so excited to start!  I have already began transitioning with my predecessor and attending meetings and such.  One of the perks of earning such a position is that I got to be one of the first people to choose my room for next year!  

I will be in a wonderful room in the Vistas with an amazing view!  Boy, and I pumped!  I will finally have a kitchen!  I signed up with a roommate that I know from my hallway (and my RHA board this year) and we signed to have 2 random people live with us.  And, what do you know, one of our friends took the other spot!  Now I am even more excited, because I know that we will all be able to chip in and decorate however we want!  I already have this vision of framing magazine pictures of our favorite actors and comedians to look like art!  We have so many ideas, and the anxiety is taking over!

This past week, in addition to the celebration of my 19th birthday at Disneyland, my sorority held our annual Mr. University man pageant!  It was a fundraiser for our philanthropy, C.A.S.A., and we raised more money than EVER before...$21,000+!!!  For a week, it was hard work being on the decorations committee!  A couple of us got together and cranked out a FREE-HANDED backdrop in 2 loooong nights, and then, on the day of the pageant, I worked with a couple other ladies from 2:30 until showtime (at 8) on the decorations in the venue (which mainly consisted of balloons...hundreds of balloons.  I made my first balloon arch, and by the beginning of the show, my fingers were swollen and bleeding from tying so many of them, o the things I do for my ladies...).  Like I said, it was a success, and it was so much fun!

Ending the rough-n-tough week was a dance Friday night called stoplight (so much fun!).  I got to take 2 of my best friends and we danced the night away!  So far, I think it was the best DJ yet, which added to my happiness!  And tonight, after visiting with my uncle from out of town today and taking a nap with some of my friends on the lawn, I watched the Office with my sister and then a few of us went on an adventure to the new Sonic about 20 minutes away.  What a way to end a hectic week!  A laid back night is just what I needed!

This next month is not going to slow down...but I'm ready!  I will keep you posted!

All my love!

Erin

Topsy Turvy!!

 S'mores on the cliffs at Point Loma
A couple of the guys re-enacting our Greek Skit on the cliffs
the boys look like they are on a date!
At my friend's house with my best friend and twin!
INFLATABLES
So...life is back on track!  This past week has been even more hectic than the week before!  Why?  It was my very first Greek Week!  I had different activities going on every single day AND normal classes, AND Greek Skit practice for at least 3 hours every evening!  Oh, that plus a sinus infection equals a recipe for disaster.  I took as much medication that I could to tolerate my schedule, and I didn't miss out on one thing!

Friday was the most exciting part of my academic week:  Greek Skits!  Each sorority was matched up with a fraternity to devise and spend hours practicing a dance routine.  This year's theme was video games, so the boys seemed to get pretty into them!  My sorority won first place in skits and second place in all of Greek Week (this means that we had high participation in the weekly events and collected the most canned goods).  Here-->   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcDaa8fpJ1E    is the link to the video of our dance!!

Friday and Saturday were interesting to say the least.  Some friends visited and a group of us went to a friend's house on friday night.  Saturday we went to the beach all day, then we had a cookout at the cliffs at Point Loma that night.  Sunday, my sister and I went to a concert at the House of Blues with a couple of friends. It wasn't all necessarily "my kind" of music, but live bass gives me the BEST feeling in the world!  I also took care of one of my younger brother's birthday presents when I bought him a concert shirt!

This week is full of application, scholarships, and meetings galore, on top of it, it is RHA (Residents Hall Association)  and LIFE week!

RHA Week   Monday--Inflatables day

Tuesday--Tie Dye day

Wednesday--Softball game with prizes

Friday--Battle of the Bands (winner gets to record in a studio!)

Life Week is bringing multiple speakers and movies to campus (including "Slumdog Millionaire").  And, of course, I can't forget that I am hosting incoming freshman overnighters on Thursday night as well as attending a scholarship luncheon.  Think you will run out of things to do here?  Think again...

A (wo)man's gotta do what a (wo)man's gotta do...

ERIN!

Berkeley Much Anyone?

Gonzaga game...we lost, but all's fair in love and war!
Before our "Shamrock your Socks Off!" dance!
work those suspenders!!!
Activism.

That is the story of my life at the moment.  I have been working on a couple of on-campus issues recently, and then there is a BIG event I will be partaking in.  On April 25th, I will be "kidnapping" myself, along with thousands of other people (and my sorority).  We will spend about 24 hours in Balboa Park waiting to be "rescued".  This is all being organized through the student-led organization "Invisible Children".  Students all across the world are in this club, and as such will hold events nearly identical to the one at Balboa.  The purpose of this "kidnapping" is to raise awareness of the kidnappings of children in Africa and their being forced to become child soldiers.  Over 32,000 have been recorded missing over the last 10 years...and that's only the ones that have been recorded!  We will also be writing our government and the United Nations so that they may arrest/support the arrest of the rebel leader in Africa.  This is a big deal.  This has become a great interest of mine that I plan on turning into a passion.  I believe that each person should fight for what they believe in, even if it's risky.  I have especially found that supporting the people you care about the most is something that everyone should make a priority.  Everyone.

Another big move I will be making soon...my transition back into the Music Group's main gang.  I've been on sort of a hiatus (not of my own choosing), so it will be great to be working alongside the music again, especially when we have DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL headlining our Alcala Music Festival this spring!  As always, the dates are TBA/TBD and so are the remaining bands...surprise!

This week is Greek week.  We have had so many events!  Next week is RHA week and it is the same way!  jfidls;jk;  I need to get some shut-eye!

Please shoot me a line with any questions, comments, or concerns, my ears are always open!

Go out to eat, then do it again!  Man I love college!

Erin