Happy leap day! I hope there is a nice 64-year-old lady having a raging Sweet 16 party today!

Amish Haven

Lancaster County, PA. Amazing.

That is all I can say.

On a cold, rainy morning I saw 5 buggies and 1 horse-powered plow. None of them waved back though.

It's like being in a real-life museum. I wish I could meet one...they would take me for a buggie ride after I got dressed up in an appropriate Amish outfit and snacked on a soft-pretzel. Maybe I'd even learn how to make a chair or something useful.

Note to self

Never change a password in the dark. No matter how urgent your computer insists it is. You will put in a crazy misspelling and have to spend 45 minutes trying to log in the next morning.

SMOOTHIE SLEUTH!

For two hours today, I watched students coming around the same corner clutching smoothies. Obviously an investigation had to be launched. I  WALKED THROUGH THE WHOLE BUILDING, and there were no smoothies to be found. Where were they coming from?! It was just cruel.

Important question: what colors of tights would you consider unprofessional? Any? Or does it all depend on outfit context?

MICHIGAN FACTS: in the state of Michigan, it is literally impossible to move into the left lane of a highway without being immediately tailgated by a large, white Ford truck. TRUST ME, I DID THE RESEARCH.

FUN TRAVEL FACTS:

- Broke up my big drive-across-Ohio day with a stop at the worlds largest horseshoe crab followed by one to the museum which donated said horseshoe crab to its current location (a baptist church) ... THE CREATION MUSEUM! This one's been on my bucket list ever since they announced they were building Noah's Ark (still in concept stage) and also since visiting a Bible theme park in Argentina. It was an enlightening experience (pun both intended and not intended. if that's possible.) So many dinosaurs!

- COMPLETE BRAIN FART: this afternoon, managed to misplace a folder containing all of my important paperwork from this trip. Spent an HOUR retracing my steps and trying to figure out where I could have possibly left it (by this point, it's pouring rain.) Made it back to the car only to find said folder, soaking wet, tucked under my windshield wiper. Realized Genius Me left in on my trunk earlier in the day when rearranging some of my bags. Add "important papers" to the frighteningly lengthy list of things I have left sitting on the trunk of a car. This list already includes but is not limited to: bocce ball set, water bottle, laptop. (yes, LAPTOP. and keep in mind these are all items I actually drove around with ON THE TRUNK OF MY CAR.)

I think it's time to go home. SEE YA SOON, BAY STATE.

ice badgers.

Things That Happened Today.

1. My table was smack in the middle of what was definitely an athletic recruiting event. I watched high school football players and their anxious parents schmooze college athletics staff for an hour or so. A lot of DVDs of player highlight reels were exchanging hands. I considered slipping one of our DVDs into the mix, but I didn't get a chance. Also, I probably would've been caught as I think it was pretty obvious that I wouldn't be making the football team. I heard one coach say as the kids walked away, "look at the muscles on that one." um.

2. On the other side of my table, 2 college kids were selling ugly sweaters (I'm sorry, Cosby Sweaters), for a good cause. Oh yes, they are trying to start Cosby Sweater Mondays! Wear a hideous sweater from Goodwill to support community service. That's something I can support! I went back to buy one later and they were gone. OH WELL. For the record, if I were still in college, EVERY DAY WOULD BE COSBY SWEATER DAY.

3. I passed something called the  "white tailed deer hall of fame museum." I saw it on my way to campus but didn't have time to stop, and on the the way home, there weren't signs from the other direction and I passed it. OH NO. next time. NEXT TIME.

4. There are huge chunks of ice all over main street. At first I though they were simply huge deathbricks that had fallen off of the roofs of local businesses. Then I passed one shaped like a badger. So, apparently they're art, melting art. Most of them are too far gone to identify, but I definitely saw a badger and maybe also a camel. A little research reveals this: http://www.annarbor.com/events/ice-carving-extravaganza/. HOLY MOLY YOU GUYS, U OF M HAS AN ICE CARVING TEAM!!! A) this is definitely how I should use my chainsaw skills post-americorps, and B) I went to the wrong college.

So, things have been up after a bit of a debacle getting here (OVER YOU, US AIRWAYS. Done.)

I take back the nice things I said about you, campus.

What college snack bar/lunch counter doesn't take cards OR have an ATM near by? I spent all my cash on Indian food last night, and it appears my punishment is to not eat lunch until 2:00. Thank God I keep emergency fruit leathers in my purse at all times!

You make my life a little easier.

Shout out to all those colleges out there who have friendly, simple guest parking systems. No complicated paperwork, no garages where I won't be able to find my car in two hours because it's huge and I don't remember what my car looks like, no attempts to parallel park on snow banks. Just a hello, and a "park anywhere in that huge open lot right next to your destination."

I SALUTE YOU.

In other news, I think this GPS is up to something. It is weird and I refuse to trust it.

There is a dj at this fair playing techno remixes of popular radio music. Its giving me a strange feeling of frantic anxiety. Like I accidentally went to a club at 10 am instead of to a study abroad fair.

I miss little liberal arts schools fairs where is quiet and there is a table of organic cookies in the back.

I found more snow

Like, a lot more snow. But luckily I know all of the delicious roadside snack stops so the weather has yet to become an issue.


After a lovely trip down memory lane at my alma mater, tomorrow I will head North to the cow pastures. If my fair commitment wasn't going to last all day my number one priority would be to stalk Temple Grandin. She is so amazing HBO made a move about her.

Hydrating

As much as it makes me feel like I'm writing a shopping blog I just have to say that this water bottle might be the best thing that has ever happened to my airport experience.

Mmmm...purified water..

Endless riches!

Lotto winnings...

Mass: $1!
Wisconsin: $2!
Missouri: $4!

I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING!

I do NOT like that I forgot to bring my winning CT ticket from fall with me today. I WANT MY $10!

Fair fashion update: green bowtie to my right, red and white bunny sweater behind me. I felt totally inadequately dressed.