WE- Laurel Rosenberger

An Ode to Mesha

Mesha, my lovely RA, comented on a blog from a while back and stated that she did not appreciate that I simply refered to her as "a ride" from Ashville. I felt that she has a right to be upset. I mean, she is Mesha Arna t after all. So, my dearest Mesha, here is my ode to you.

Oh Mesha, your voice rings like church bells on Sunday afternoon,

Your hair shines like the windows of the cars in the parkinglot during a full moon.

How ever can I express my gratitude when you open my locked door?

When you chase unwanted visitors from our hall?

Oh Mesha, there is no RA like you,

Who will wish me well when I have the flu.

What ever did I do to deserve such an RA as talented as yourself?

Where did you learn to sing and write the beautiful music you preform?

Oh Mesha, you brighten each day

When when each morning I see you in the bathroom using your hair spray.

Oh Mesha, your the best RA.

No offense to other RA's like Lizzie and Kelsey of course, but, you know.

Thank you WikiAnswers for helping me make this rhyme.

 

Isn't she lovely?

Zzzzzzz.... O Snap!

Friday is here!

If only I really felt the same enthusiasm I write. Today has been a very difficult day for me to stay awake. I haven't been able to sleep these past few nights and so this Friday has lasted forever. I dozed off in all but two classes. I even had a bizarre dream of looking into a peephole of a door and finding a fly trapped inside. Then my chemistry professor, I believe intentionally, kicked his desk and woke me up. Thanks for the subtlety Dr. W! But I really deserved it.

I've got four pages left of my nine-page minimum essay due some time tomorrow. Sadly, I have nothing left to write about in it. This means I will need to stay up all night if needed. Even as I type now I am slowly drifting into the other realm of dreamland. Staying up all night is going to take all me effort.

And I gotta be up and ready for out last home football game tomorrow. Sadness =( I enjoy the games very much despite the lack of patriotism shown by the rest of the crowed. But alas, some good things have to end. 

Sleep well readers. 

Try Hard Not To Scream

If feels like the end of the week, and it is only Tuesday. Easy to say: it has not been a very good two days. Good news to report though! I now own an umbrella! Gifted to me by Kelsey the wonderful, this purple nylon beauty has almost completely made this day worth waking up for. It's raining again, by the way. Lots of it. Two of my friends' room has flooded for the second time in two weeks. They discovered mold due to the water damage as well. 

I have dedicated all this day to studying for my Spanish exam tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Simply saying that I am not good at Spanish doesn't even come close to how confused I get with the class. I am passing, but my exam grades are far less than acceptable for me. So study study study has been the tune at which my brain has been running to. 

Yesterday it was move move move-non stop until dinner, short break with friends after that, then study study study until bed time. It took every muscle in my body to prevent me from jumping out the window and run as far away as possible while yelling obscenities to the moon. 

Oh Friday, please come.

Nine page essay on oil, Saudi Arabia, American energy policy, foreign relations due Saturday.

Never mind. Oh Sunday, please come.

Reality Hurts

After a weekend of chasing free Tacobell tacos, getting locked out of our car, dancing with a new friend at The Row, watching Shakespeare In Love and a series of other events, Monday has come. With three essays (five page minimum, six page minimum, nine page minimum) a quiz, lots of reading and studying the names of the members in my Alpha Phi Omega pledge class I have found myself hitting a wall.  Reality hurts.

But, alas, friends are a great gift. I got a chance to take a break from the chaos and hit dinner and the mall. I am a big sale-finder. I found three belts on sale and couldn't resist. Normally, I would care less about belts, but I have lost weight since coming to Wofford: Belt=Must. Of course, as great as it was to find these belts, and a new sweater-top on sale, it still hurt to swipe my debit card. I still have groceries to buy. Psht, who needs food? Reality hurts.

Last night yielded positive work though. Last night ONE (which I'm a proud member of) set up a series of flags outside Old Main. Each flag (which we were possibly short on; I'm not doing the math though) represented one person who had died of malaria in one 50 minute class session (one death every 30 seconds). The visual image of each flag was an eye-opener to what is going on elsewhere in the world. There are people dealing with trials that we are lucky enough to not have to worry about. It makes me all the more grateful to have found ONE four years ago and to have the opportunity I do today to spread the news and the cause, even if just to a small Southern College Campus. 

 Reality hurts.

A Whole New World

Recently I was advised to get in touch with my inner child. At the first few attempts this was difficult. What does that even mean anyways? Do kiddish things or do things you enjoy out of impulse without fear of social scorn? After some trial and error I think I have managed to combine the two in a rather tasteful manner. This has been made possible by the help of some friends who have been taking care of their own inner children.

What have they done? A few things, the first of which was transforming our hallway into a giant hop-scotch court made of tape. With different colors! I first came across the court in its early stage and was excited at just the first little blue portion. Then, a few hours later when I came back through the door to our hall, there in front of me lay a beautiful, dazzling, colorful hop-scotch path. I immediately ran to the very end in a haste that alerted my friends in the room just outside the beginning of the path. So then we all hop-scotched along this marvelous path.

While in my room I have heard people hop the scotch to the bathroom. And I am sure they have heard me do the same. Walking to the showers at 7 a.m. has never been so much fun.

Another way I have given life to Little Laurel has been through Disney. I have always enjoyed the movies and the songs, but I have been allowing myself to make my Disney-love known. And my friends have done the same. Tonight Lizzie and I are going to watch Sleeping Beauty which I have not seen in years. I found a downloadable coloring book page from the movie Aladin and spent a relaxing time coloring it. 

I also may or may not have just did a YouTube search for "A Whole New World" and may or may not be singing along with it currently. 

Little Laurel, you shall be taken care of.

Like the golden brick road, only better.

The creators.

Getting ready for the challenge!

I have never claimed to be photogenic... 

Super Spicy Chicken Wings to Spice up Your Night.

This week is proving to be just as busy as last. Had a great meeting with my partner-in-crime Lisa tonight about more World AIDs Day planing. We have come up with some pretty great, solid plans and other groups around campus are helping out and doing their own things that we will help them out with too. It really is going to be great; save the date Wofford students! December 1st!

Fall break was nice though. Relaxing and allowed me to catch up on some work due Monday. Tomas and I checked out a new, fancy little restaurant that just recently opened in downtown Spartanburg. Tad more on the pricey side, but not too bad and the food was certainly worth it. And I didn't have to pay anyways. Thanks again, Tomas!

What am I eating tonight now that school's back in full-swing? About three hours ago I had the first course of my meal: Kettle corn popcorn. And about an hour and 38 minutes ago I had the second course: Four berry smoothy (Four servings of fruit in every 20 oz drink! I like to think I'm eating healthy). And finally the main entree: My room mate's left-over spicy chicken wings from Wild Wings! Emphasis on the spicy.

So I got my grains (popcorn. Corn does count as a grain, right?), my fruit (and my corn syrup), and my protein! 

Ohhhh college.

My Hell Week is Coming to an End

I don't mean to be a negative person. I don't like being that way at all and I don't want to be a downer. But this has been my hell week. So I will just be honest.

Enormous loads of work have snuck up on me at just the moment when I think I've got everything under control. I have had two test this week (it's midterm week) and both were for my two hardest classes that I struggle the most in in terms of understanding the course. The other two, with the more intense assignments (but also the classes I oddly like the most and do best in) have had no test but have given me weekend homework. I love them and this is how I am repaid. Its also fall break so Friday we get off, which is great, but also not. With this work load I am grounded in my dorm, a prisoner of the ruler that is academics. 

On Tuesday I was initiated into Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity. I'm excited for this, but found out on Tuesdays during our training, us pledges are not to wear jeans. Its cold and all I have besides jeans are two skirts and a dress. But this means I get to show off my legs! (I try to look at the brighter side of things)

I got a chance to go grocery shopping and find some warmer winter clothes. It was a nice trip until Bank of America alerted me that after the little splurge of mine, I had $82.70 in my checking account.

The next day I got a second job.

It seemed like every time something good came, something bad followed immediately. 

Yesterday I watched as a squirrel tried to carry a pine cone almost the size of its body over to a tree, and probably up it. He (or she) attempted to drag it and each time the pine cone budged, the squirrel lost his (or her) grip and had to try again. It was nice to see someone else sucking at life as much as I have been as of late. 

But today has been looking up.

I had a big meeting with some representatives of other groups on campus who want to be a part of World AIDs Day which I and my partner, Lisa, are in charge of on behalf of the ONE campaign. Now we have an idea of where we are going to take this project and how to get it done. What a relief! 

The campus is pretty much empty for the weekend for Fall Break. Its a little lonely but this extended weekend will give me plenty of opportunity to catch up on work and work on AIDs Day. And my six page essay. And the Student Coalition of the Arts. And my world politics project. And spanish....

The suspense shall continue! Until next time.

I Fear Flood.

It has been raining all day today and Monday. And it is cold. On Monday the bottom half of my pants got soaked and it took the whole day for my jacket to dry completely. An investment in rain boots and an umbrella will be made soon (Dad, if your reading this you can send either a check or cash). On top of that, my dorm is on the first floor which was originally a basement. Our window practically sits on the ground and I've heard rumors of water being able to come in through the window if it rains enough. An investment in sand bags will also be made if this appears to be fact. 

Here's an interesting little tid-bit of Wofford info to go along with the weather: As I walked to my 8:30 a.m. class on Monday, in the rain, there was a man with a leaf blower cleaning the main road. It may be windy and rainy, but the road will still be clean! I respect the man's efforts.

Today was not a good day for it to be cold and rainy. I finished fitness class, was gross and sweaty due to it, and in gym shorts and a tank top. I figured I could just dash to my dorm change, eat, and head off to my last two classes. Then I realized: I had left my keys and I.D. in my room this morning. I had difficulty finding the correct person to call to let me in so I stayed out in the rain, looking rather pathetic. Eventually I got in the room, quickly changed and made a microwave meal and ate the whole thing in less than five minutes. Burnt my tongue, but it was a necessary risk for the consumption of a healthy meal. My last class was a lab, meaning if I hadn't eaten then, I wouldn't get to until about four. I need my food. Waiting that long was not an option. I would have brought my yummy pasta to humanities if need be; Professor Rostan would have understood. 

That has been my rainy day experience. Now I sit drinking a hot mocha in my room safe from the forces of nature. Worth it? Almost.

This Weekend At Wofford...

Rush is officially over. Boy's bid day was friday and, simply put, it was exciting. I met up with a bunch of friends and met some new people, all while frat boys scream and yell and their new little brothers jump into them and get bounced around by the rest of their fraternity. It was an evening full of costumes and mud. Yes, mud! Each house had dug a mud pit for everyone to roll around in. Then people run in masses to the fountain at the front of the school and jump around like crazy in it to wash some of the mud off. Or just because they get to run into the fountain. Sadly, I did not get to participate in this lovely tradition. Next year, hopefully. Oh! And while there I found out that I have a fan! She approached me through all the madness and said that she reads my blogs all the time and thinks I'm funny. It made my day because 1) I didn't think anyone read them much and 2) I was worried I was boring and never expected that I could be called funny. So thank you! I shall call her my biggest fan. 

After that a separate group of friends who chose to skip out on all that mess (literally a mess) had their own cook out. I got to flip burgers. It was an invigorating experience =) I was quite proud of myself. 

As for today, it has been rainy all day. The bottom of my pants got so soaked that I had to change them and hours since it has been exposed to the out-door conditions, my jacket is still wet. Sadness. 

But I was cheered up with racket ball. It's kinda become a new addiction of mine. I have never played before last week and have been playing often since (but I am still a horrible player, but we don't talk about that). I just got back not long ago and feel great! It is a great way to relieve stress or get out some energy, both of which I am packed with right now. 

So, dear readers (which now I know do exist!) I am off once more to scavenge our room for food and study some more. I love the life I lead =)

 
Some of the girls and I at the Row. I love how I do not look too terribly short here.

 
(L to R) Juile and Brittany, our freshman delegate (she asked me to add that last part!)

 
 
 
 
Pictures of the madness! They are ready to catch their new buddy.

 
My fan in the center; I just love being able to say that =D

ONEbyONE

The one of the best feelings in the world is the one I just got about three minutes ago: Earliest class of the day is canceled. Not only is this the class I struggle most in, but it is the one I have to wake up at 7 a.m. for. You know what that means? I am not getting out of my bed until 8:30 a.m. Ohhhh how I am so excited for that extra one and a half hours of sleep.

Thats the biggest news I've got for you all so far. I've spent most of my day working on my 9-11 page paper for world politics due Saturday. This has got me very stressed because not only is it far longer than what I am accustomed to writing, but it is one of the classes I have to take to be a government major, it is the class in which I am the only freshman (most are seniors or juniors), and it is worth 20 per cent of our grade. So yes, I'm a little panic-ie about it.

On top of that I and another girl, Lisa, spent time today planning the World AIDs Day on Wofford on behalf of the ONE Campaign here on campus. To fill you in on what ONE is, it is "the campaign to end world poverty and AIDs" and to "achieve change through advocacy" but they do many other things as well like work on creating "better developed policies" and more "effective aid and trade reform." I had found out about ONE during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. When I got to know my friend Tomas better at the beginning of my sophomore year I told him about ONE. He graduated and came to Wofford that same year and took my little fascination with ONE to a whole new scale and single-handedly started the campus chapter we have today that had last year one the ONE Campus Challenge that required school chapters across the nation to complete tasks and challenges revolving designated topics such as poverty, AIDs, drought, etc. Wofford had competed against some large campus from all over the country yet in the end our imaginations and efforts had out-shown that of the schools who outnumbered us by thousands. Yes, I am bragging a bit, but it is fact. So when Lisa and I decided to take on the task of World AIDs Day, we thought we were taking control of just any other challenge like the several we must complete through out the year. Only after we volunteered did Tomas explain the impact and high expectations that now weigh on our small, inexperienced shoulders. Today we worked on finding caterers for our number one idea, fondue. As turns out, Spartanburg is not like Modesto, CA where I could easily find a caterer. We found nothing. So that is my new task after this world politics paper is finished. 

Oh! And invite the mayor to our little even that so far, we may have to re-plan. No pressure, really.

But ONE really is an awesome organization that has done so much for the global community, especially in Africa where a lot of the major issues ONE tackles are every-day struggles. I suggest, if you are interested, to check it out a bit more. I'll keep you updated on our events throughout the year, and hopefully someone will hear me! All it takes is ONE! Haha, a pun.

http://www.one.org/us/about/

These two videos always make me cry a little on the inside, sometimes the outside too.