"OH MY GOD... I PASSED."

So, while having a nice conversation about Biostats with Dr. Brown-Marsden, I asked about comps-retakes since I figured mine had gone... well, not as great as I thought. However, she stopped me in the middle of my rambling about when would be the best day to take it, and goes "No need. No one's re-taking them. You passed."

Holy. Crap. Y'all.

There's only one way I can properly express my feelings right now:



Basically.

Well, time to finish up my presentation for tomorrow, then it's smooth sailing from then on. HOLY CRAP I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

<3 Ally

"My Foot Is Out The Door, And You Can't Stop Me Now..."

Totally had a bout of inspiration and managed to piece together a kick ass comps presentation in the last 15 minutes. I just have to take it to Dr. Pope and see what he thinks... but I think it's totally presentable and will make for an exemplary presentation. After that, I have to meet with my Biostatistics project partner and come up with all the tests before Monday. Tonight will be a long one, I predict... but I think we can do it. I also plan on writing out my speech outline so I know what I'll be talking about on Friday. I also have to study some more for my Biostatistics test on Friday. She'll be in at 7am, therefore I plan on waking up at either 6 or 6:30 to shower and take the test. We have two hours to finish, so I'll have time between the end of the test and 1:30 to get 100% ready for my comps. Wish me luck, y'all!

Graduation, here I come!

<3 Ally

PS: Massive Amounts of Repressed Stress = Cold Sore :( Booooo!

Cartman: Cold sore is what girls call it, Kenny.
It's actually herpes.

For once, Cartman's right...

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!

Na-na-na-naaaaaa! Na-na-na-na-naaaaaaa!

So, I thought I'd take a minute from working on comps to revel in the fact that I've got only

ELEVEN DAYS

left of my entire undergraduate career. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I'm thinking the last day of class, I'll probably start crying or something. In 5 days, I give my final research presentation on burmese pythons and the effect of their beneficial cardiac growth... I'm so nervous. I also have a biostatistics test that day. Worst Friday of all time.

Of ALL Time!

At least that evening, my friends and I have planned a celebratory Booze-a-Palooza in the woods complete with copious amounts of alcohol and music. I'm very much looking forward to that.

In order to motivate myself, I sought inspiration from the internet and made myself this fancy motivational poster:

Trust.

Well, I should get back to my abstract. I really want to knock it out tonight and then get back to (1) my comps presentation, and (2) rocking out to appropriate music.



<3 Ally

Rant #3: Spring Formal

Oh, the good ol' days of UD when you could just show your ID, pay your $25, and be on the list for the dance. Not anymore.

Turns out, this year they're making it mandatory that you go online and buy your ticket with your credit card. Look, I like simple and fast as much as the next person, but as someone who's on a tight credit card budget after laying down $623 cool ones to fix her car, this some bullshit. I would pull a Nieves and say 'Then just don't go', but I've already got a dress and for some reason, Mommy bought a new one and mailed it along with several others. That costs money, too. I know this is a stupid thing to get upset over, but c'mon?! I don't see what's so hard about taking my money, writing my name down, and giving me my change.

In other news, there's totally a shrub that looks like a swastika outside Lynch Auditorium.

You just can't make this shit up.

I'm sure they're aware of it... o_O

I'll buy my damn tickets when they get rid of the swastika-shrub.

<3 Ally

Tornado Update #3

Well, we made it out alive. Yesterday, at around 1:40 there was a tornado that hit somewhere around I-35.

For Reference. Needless to say, I-35 is pretty nearby...

At that time, I was in Human Infectious Diseases and someone told us about it. Dr. Slaughter thought it'd be a great idea to go outside onto the balcony of the science building, and look down at I-35 and the tornado since it's so close. I'm thinking our excitement got the best of us and basically smacked the crap out of our better judgment since all of us got up and walked outside to see.

After class, I walked to Haggar to check my mail. The place was PACKED! There were countless bodies huddled together seeking shelter in the (well-fortified) basement where the mail room is. Little did I know, but during Dr. Slaughter's multimedia extravaganza (music+lecture+videos) the tornado sirens were wailing, therefore everyone had to seek immediate shelter. I pretty much stayed put at that moment, and went over to the Rat (still in the basement). It was also very crowded. Half the crowd was watching a soccer match on tv, the other half was watching the news on the other tv. About an hour in, we see this on the television:

No big deal. Just four tornados headed our way. I kid you not.
They were literally headed in the direction of Irving
and we were looking like a big ol' target mark.

So, the tornado from Ft. Worth was headed east towards Irving. The tornado from Ennis was headed north towards Irving. The tornado from Plano was headed southeast towards Irving. The tornado from Grapevine was headed southwest towards Irving. We seemed to be in bad shape. Seriously. A few minutes later, the rain started pouring and it was so windy outside. I noticed everyone getting up to leave when I got an emergency call from UD saying that the tornados were to descend upon us within the next 10 minutes, and that we should get away from the windows and seek shelter. That being said, we grabbed our things and went back to the mailroom where it was still packed with people. I went into the bathroom for a quick second and it was crowded with girls. I was excited but nervous.

After a few minutes, we got another alert that the danger had passed over us and all four tornados had diverted their courses away from UD. PRAISE JESUS! I guess going to a Catholic school has it's privileges.

Got your backs, UD.

After the rain subsided, I hauled ass to my dorm and stayed there the rest of the evening while the storm kept going. Thankfully we all made it okay and we all lived to tell the tale.

And would you believe it? It's sunny as crap today. No rain, just beautiful weather. Oh, nature...

<3 Ally

Tornado Update #2

We've been told to get away from the windows. Getting a quick lunch from the Rat before heading to the bathroom to hide. Yay...

Tornado Update #1

We've all assembled in Haggar basement (Rat & mail room) and everyone's eyes are glued to the television. We're watching Fox 4 and we've been getting up to date alerts regarding the tornados . There are two girls here literally drinking a Bud Light. Really? I know it's stressful, but it's 2:50 in the afternoon. Calm down.

A few minutes ago, we received a message from the University alert service telling us to seek shelter. I've contacted Mommy & Daddy and Becky to let them know I'm okay. Will let you know more as it happens...

<3 ally

Last Friday (& Saturday) Night...

What a weekend I've had...

FRIDAY

After class, I cleaned my room and got ready to meet Gabbi at Holy Trinity for a fish fry. Gabbi sings with the choir, so they were headlining the fish fry with their melodious worship. It was a fun night. The music was beautiful and the food was quite delicious (with the exception of the cornbread. Who puts jalapeños in cornbread?!?) Following the fish fry, we drove to Gabbi's nearby office and dropped her car off. We then jetted off to the House of Blues downtown for a wonderful performance by none other than Graham Colton and Green River Ordinance! It was an amazing evening and their new music is perfection. I can't recommend their new cd, Under Fire, enough. Loved it! After the show, I caught up with my buddies Jamey, Paul, and Josh. Hugs and good times were enjoyed by all.

SATURDAY

I woke up at 7:30 and drove about an hour away to Wylie for Princess Mia's soccer game! We gathered at the Narvaez abode and had breakfast tacos. After the meal, we packed up and left for the field. Mia is quite the player. She made me feel all reminiscent - longing for my glory days as a soccer player. She's an excellent defense, just like me. She runs harder, focuses more, and follows her shots better than any other girl on the team, and I'm not just saying that because she's my Mia. She's a tough little kid, as she proved when she tripped over the ball, and took a girl to the elbow/face. She got up, cried a little, took a sip of water, then asked the coach "So, I go back in now?" It was straight up badassery. I was so proud. Poor Jackson, though. He wanted so badly to go play and run around with the big girls. It was really funny. After the game, Mia smuggled me some fruit snacks and a Capri Sun from the snack area. They were delicious. She's snarky, too. Chris apparently got a sunburn on his head last weekend, and it was flaking. Mia goes "No one wants to see a flaky head, Daddy." It was so funny! She also said something along the lines of "That's what happens when you don't have hair, Daddy." I nearly died laughing. She's hilarious! After the game, we went home, played in her room, colored, and then I went home to meet Brianna and Jamie! More on that in a sec...

GO LADY LEOPARDS!

I don't know what's going on, but she is
excited about something.

"UGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
"AHAHAHAHA! She's grunting like a tennis player!"
"She's NEVER done that before..."

Soccer Gals <3

Following my return to campus, I cleaned up and got the room ready for company. I met Brianna at Haggar and Jamie soon followed. We got their temporary parking passes fixed up and then we waited for Claire to join us. At 5, the three of us went to mass and soon after Claire returned from the Opus Dei center, we went to Northgate/Rochelle Hill where the bluebonnets were growing, and we took several pictures. I think they came out nicely. It was a lovely day for photos as the sun was out, and the flowers were looking beautiful. After mass, we went to a bush up the hill where beautiful pink roses were blooming and took some photos there, as well. After the photo session, we drove to Olive Garden for a delicious meal. Walmart was our next stop, and I bought the movie Paranormal Activity 3 for myself (Claire had thought to bring it, but forgot) and we watched it in complete darkness in my room. It was still so scary! Claire then left as it was late, and the three of us got ready for bed.

SUNDAY

We had gone to mass on Saturday, therefore we beat the mass crowd at IHOP. Yep, our old stomping grounds. It was definitely more crowded as we were there at 10am as opposed to 11pm. It was nice to relax and have breakfast together after a fun night. We came home, watched some videos on HULU, then they were off. I will admit, I cried when I got back into my room. I loved the company. I don't get much interaction here as I have no real friends except for Claire, Gabbi, Denise, and Mira... but I don't see them regularly the way Claire, Brianna, Jamie, and I hung out the past 4 years. It was really sad... but I guess I have another visit with them to look forward to. I hope it happens soon :)

Miss Y'all <3

Well, I'm supposed to go celebrate Dr. Slaughter's birthday in the Bio conference room. I'll get back at y'all later!

<3 Ally