Clemson-Classes=One of the most fun places on earth

I was so lucky to arrive in Clemson 10 days before classes started because I had to "work."  Just kidding Mom and Dad I did have to work.  I had a blast catching up with old friends at a leisurely pace (very unlike the year with one hour coffee dates scheduled one after another).  There are just so many cool people here and such little time (4 years) to meet them all!

During Campus Outreach's first week activities (activities to welcome the freshman and get them involved) we went to Turtleback Falls in North Carolina.

Here are two of my favorite people Lindsay Shane (on staff at Clemson with CO) on the left and Megan Jessee (old roommate and best friend) on the left.

 Here is Turtleback Falls after a good 3 mile hike there 

This is rainbow falls which is right now the trail and just to give you some perspective look real close there is a person at the bottom left of this picture.  

 I forgot what it's like to to rock jumping with guys.  This is Brink who is also on staff with CO scaling a wall to jump off a tiny-tiny ledge. Needless to say he was yelling in pain after he hit the water.  I didn't feel bad for him.  

I also got to go to PC for the PC vs. CU soccer game.  Here is my old room from the summer minus one...We missed you Sarah! 

And the festivities continued when I got home since it was my roommate Allison's 20th B-day.  This is my other roommate Katy in the middle.  I love my roommates!  

Now I guess it's time for the classes, early mornings, test, projects, papers...Yes Nana I know I know...I'm here for school and not only for a social life but sometimes I wonder. 

"Really? Is this really happening to me?"

So my life doesn't always go like I see it in my head.  Do you ever picture yourself in a false reality?  Like sometimes I wake up and feel graceful and then I fall down the stairs. Reality.  I feel like someone once called me a "walking disaster."  Although extreme, I've embraced that I'm not always the most smooth person.

I feel like this missing the mark of perfection is sold to us everywhere.  For example I made these cookies the other day with the kids I babysit.

THIS is how they really turn out. 

WAY worse than cookies. One day this summer I was playing beach volleyball and placed my water in the shade underneath a light post.  A safe place right?  wrong. There was a huge hawk sitting on the light post.  Do you see where this is going?  I was minding my own business and all the sudden poop all over me.  We are not talking a little blue bird's poop.  All the people I was with of course burst into laughter and proceeded to tell me it was in my hair, on my face, on my shirt, and on my arm.  They made me change shirts so they wouldn't smell me.  Have YOU ever been pooped on by a bird?  Yeah well that was my third time.   I know what you're thinking: What is wrong with you?  

You know I could trip over a stick and owe it to my clumsiness. I could fail a test and owe it to my lack of discipline or intelligence.  But somehow being defecated on by a bird is one of the most demoralizing feelings and yet it has nothing to do with my abilities.  How can something so out of my control make me feel more like a loser than anything else I've ever experienced.  Oh the power of poo.  

Lastly, I got locked in a bathroom stall today.  The door jammed and I seriously could not unlock it.  So I waited until everyone left and yes....I crawled under the stall to flee to safety and pray no one walked in while I was Army crawling on the disgusting public bathroom.  You do what you got to do. 

I don't know how suave your life is, but this is mine.  Obviously, not so suave.  

Farewell Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, AND New York

My travels are about to be over for the next few months.  In the past 15 days I have traveled through seven states (not counting the ones I flew over) and am currently in the Philly airport about to be home (Clemson, sorry Mom!)  The past two weeks have been filled with tons of fun!

I did some hiking of the AT while in NC visiting the Browns and my Grandparents.  This is my cousin Lauren on the left and my sister Nicole in the middle sporty her outdoorsy Colorado hiking skirt.   

While in New York my sister-in-law Margaret came to visit.  While visiting she really bonded with Jack.  To see how well she bonded with Jack go here.

She loves him so much she even buckled him in on our ride to go hiking. 

We went on a nice walk at Bear Mountain Park in New York.  

My beautiful niece Skylar enjoyed the view and climbed with her "claws" like baby jaguar from Diego.  I'm going to miss her saying "Aunt B, Aunt B, Aunt B! Will you play wit me?!"  

Jack also enjoyed the beautiful view.  

I of course LOVED seeing my awesome Dad.  After all he is 50% of the reason I visit.  (the other 50 being my mom of course) 

I also got to spend a lot of time with this little hunk of love, Finley.  (picture rights to my sister Keri) There are not many 4 months old that come in at 17+ pounds.  Naturally my family is quite proud.  He's definitely a little porker.

Clemson here I come! 

  

Do you want to be a better Wal-Mart shopper?

Alas my Wal-Mart working summer is over.  I retired the old khaki and navy blue in all it's glory,  Wow I just realized I am wearing my navy blue Wal-Mart shirt now, I must not be coping with this closed chapter as well as I thought...hmm...maybe I'll transfer to the Clemson Wal-Mart!

So here are some tips.
-NOTHING is on sale except if it has a red tag.  This sounds like common sense but there are displays everywhere that make you think you're getting a deal when really very little at Wal-Mart is actually marked down.
-"Bakery" means just that.  Things that where BAKED at Wal-Mart.  That's it.  There is not one ounce of flour in the Wal-Mart bakery.  That's right.  All of those delicious baguettes, bread, and bagels that you see come shipped frozen.  Resist the urge to eat freshly baked frozen preservatives.
-If you see any can, box, bottle that has a dent in it that doesn't effect the quality of the product, BUY IT!  If you push it aside to get the "prettier" one, then the perfectly good dented one will be thrown away.  What a waste.
-Branch out and try one of the 143 yogurt flavors that you maybe wouldn't normally try.    It's worth it.
-If you call an employee by their name (posted on their name tag for all the world to see) please don't put your hand on their shoulder and call them sweetie, honey, baby.  It's just creepy.  You don't know them. They don't know you.


Here is a picture of our awesome Wal-Mart #643 Frozen & Dairy crew!

This is Ty who I got really close to this summer.  She is a mother of three, full-time at Wal-Mart, and she's in the Navy Reserves.  God did some awesome work in her life this summer.  Please pray that God keeps revealing himself to her to guide her and love her.

Dear Wa-Mart, 

   I will miss "slamming milk," running floats, stacking pallets, eating cake in the break-room almost everyday for some sort of celebration, morning meetings, safety meetings, the cheer, and all my awesome fellow employees.  

  

Sincerely, 

Bekah