BPG FORMAL!

Juniors :)

Me and Rachel breaking it down

Lovely Juniors Prom Date Pose

More pictures to come potentially but I figured I would keep you entertained with these for now.  I really really should be preparing for my finals today, so at noon I am heading over to trusty Panera and making my way to a booth and really DIGGING into finals studying. Can't wait!  

Dark Roast.

Ah the first day of reading period. And where am I you might ask? Panera.  No, surprising not the overcrowded U of R library which is probably a great decision on my behalf, however, an expensive one to say the least.

I have heard the "horror" stories throughout the semester of finals week at U of R and I refuse to allow myself to let that happen.  Sleeping 4 out of 70 hours, sleeping in Gleason, snoring in gleason. Bringing your toothbrush to Gleason/ other personal hygiene products...NOT bringing personal hygiene products.  Lines at the doors to the library at 8am or never actually leaving the library.  I just don't think that my body could EVER handle it.  As it is I was already starting to have minor breakdowns due to having 4-5 hours of sleep each night for the past week.  Not ever sleeping? No thank you.

So I am at Panera yet again. Home away from home.

Today's agenda:

1. Finish Epidemiology Review

2. Start U.S. Health Systems Review

3. BPG FORMAL!!!!

4. Sleep :)

Where is your favorite place to study?  Do you have any secret tips that you refuse to let on to the rest of the world?

Finals and a Rough Start

Finals reading period starts tomorrow.  Where did the semester go?  I feel like it was yesterday that I was making my way up to Rochester for Orientation, afraid as ever.  Well if that isn't the most cliche way to start a blog perhaps mentioning its amount of cliche-ness is.

In any case, over the course of the next week I will be finishing my first semester at UR and what a lovely semester it has been.  I have met the most amazing people, joined clubs I never thought I would join and have pushed myself further than even last semester while surviving it all!

Finals to do:

(1) Excerise every day, keep up with half marathon training :)

(2) Finish fieldwork final paper...TODAY

(3) Epidemiology final

(4) U.S. Health System final

(5) Throw a ranging party for the Class of 2009 at my house

Not bad? Doable. Oh I forgot to mention the two formals tomorrow and thursday.  One is for BPG and the other Alpha Phi!  Can't wait to post pictures on those.

Updates on Training:

Day 1- Went to the RAC and did 10/10 on Elliptical/bike.  Left knee was hurting A LOT.  I think my patella is swollen but obviously I am not a doctor in way shape or form.  Continued for another hour with weigh training circuit!

Day 2 (Today)- I'm setting out for a 3m run around Pittsford today after I finish writing my paper for Fieldwork Research Methods.

Also...Check me out on Pinterest: kylieAbellis.  I'm just getting started with the whole "pinning" business and think the concept in and of itself is pretty unique.  Reminds me in a sense of Evernote or whatever that is called.

Happy Studying!

Santa Race!

This past weekend, Saturday the 10th to be exact, Rachel and I raced in yet another 5k.  This one, It's a Wonderful Run 5k, was situated in the quaint Seneca Falls, NY.  The race was created to commemorate the lovely christmas movie It's A Wonderful Life which was filmed right in Seneca Falls (aka. Bedford Falls). 

We had received numerous emails about the growing size of the race and stressing points that we needed to get there hours in advance to pick up our race packets.  This wasn't the case and it was actually quite enjoyable.  We saw bagpipers and hundreds of people decked in their holiday attire for racing.  I went with my classic red and white stripped union suit and Rachel sported a snowman turtleneck!

Race Recap:

I placed 16th in the 19-24 group out of 73 women in the same grouping!

My mile time: 8:56/m and I finished in 27:42.  A bit later than expected but with a crowd nearing 2000 I have to take what I can.

The race itself wove throughout Seneca Falls in and around historic buildings and the local high school.  We passed carolers, bag pipes, houses with bonfires and children ringing bells.  The one downside was that there was no mile 2 marker so I never knew when I could really put EVERYTHING into it.  Before I knew it we were nearing the 100 meter mark, a downward end which could be potentially devastating with the crowd but we managed to make it through!

Tomorrow starts half -marathon training.  Yes, for real this time...I promise! I hope you will follow me in my journey to the Flower City Half Marathon on April 30th!

Chopped

oh hello new hair doo.  I'm not quite sure how I'm liking it just yet, i'll have to get back to you.  It's not like I can just re-attach the 5 inches I took off so I'm going to have to like it for a while!

Anti-Bullying

Have you seen this floating around Facebook over the past few hours and days?  Have you wondered but not watched?  Have you taken the time to read the comments made on Jonah Mowry's page?  If you haven't, I urge you to do so.  While some comments give hope and encouragement, the ones that grasped my attention were the ones urging him to take action. Whether you are in support of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) or not, this topic spreads much further.  Bullying in our school systems is something almost all of us experience.  Whether you are 5 or 16, it hurts and can have detrimental effects. 

With the internet becoming a safe haven, so to speak, for young teens to speak out and express their feelings we are seeing far too many cries for help.  Why is this? Watching these videos it is difficult to think of what it would be like experiencing middle and high school.  How much have things changed?  Even now I am appalled by comments and postings that find their way to my newsfeed from young high schoolers.  Stop Bullying. Stop Hate.

For those of you who do support LGBTQ and are unfamiliar with the "It Gets Better" campaign started by Dan Savage, watch the videos above.  The campaign urges those who have something to say about bullying to speak their mind in a positive, constructive manor to help those still struggling.  Among youtube "It Gets Better" video's I have come across messages sent by Tim Gunn, Ke$ha and Jason Derulo. 

Bullying of any kind, hurts.

Park Ave Holiday Festival

Last night my two lovely friends from William Smith, Emily & Alyssa, came to visit.  Emily had been begging to see me and I thought the perfect time would be during the Park Ave Holiday Festival.  I had never been to the festival before and figured that going with them could be a great time.

The festival itself was quite interesting and rather crowded.  I should have known this since the summer Park Ave Fest is insanely busy but yet again I forgot to plan ahead.  So unlike me.  It took forever to find a parking spot and get reservations but once we did it was great!  I took them through ParkLeigh to look at the holiday gifts and we stopped for free Hot Chocolate outside a cute cafe.  

Dinner was at Magnolias Cafe.  We indulged in soup, salad and sandwiches.  The soup I ordered, Tomato with Artichokes and Crostini Bread was quite tasty for a cold evening.  My sandwich, The Rising Sunflower was piled high with turkey, pesto mayonnaise, roasted red peppers and havarti cheese along with the usual tomato lettuce and onion.  Toasty and warm. It most definitely hit the spot.

We later stopped at Stever's Candy Shoppe, a homemade chocolate shop on Park Ave.  The stop was a must since the last time they visited it was closed.  While I literally wanted everything in the store I chose three items.  Cinnamon dusted chocolate, a peanut butter filled santa (as a gift) and a dark chocolate gingerbread boy (gift).  I immediately dove into the dusted chocolate which was just as delectable as it sounds.  I HIGHLY suggest stopping by if you're ever in the area.

Inside Stever's Candy Shop! Insanely busy with a huge line but so worth it!

Dinner at Magnolias

Outside Stever's prior to meeting some very talkative interesting ladies!