Blogging @ Albright - Kelly's blog

Flag Bearers at Graduation

Did you know that we have Bagpipers at Graduation and Convocation?

If you didn't know that now....you will DEFINITELY know that when you are enrolled.
(What better reason than that to come here? -nothing- Great, see you in the fall.)

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4 days until Guatemala!

Did you know that there are volcanoes in Guatemala?

true.story.

]]> Graduation: Completed.
Roommates: Gone
Kelly: Here, in Reading.
E2: No longer.
Work: 40 hours a week.
Classes: Done.
Internship: In full swing.
Bored: Never.
Cleaning: Constantly.
Sleeping: Well.
Busy: Absolutely.
Life: FANTASTIC.

So where are my roommates? Well my roommates from this past year are:
Meredith-In the Netherlands playing on the British International Softball Team she goes to Italy on Monday, June 4th.
Rachel- In another part of PA because she just bought a house and is starting her full time job in September.
Jessica- In Boston at the moment for a job interview.

My future roommates are at their homes working and such.

So Kelly is in Reading working full time on-campus, working on the Gangs internship I told you about and continuing a Research Project from the semester: The Perceptions of Abright College Students of the Surrounding Reading Community and the Perceptions of the Reading Community of Albright College Students...or Why they don't like each other.

So as you can see...I did make it through the semester and alive for that matter. It was quite rough, but if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger. I'm finally going HOME to CT tonight, which I'm excited about. Going home to do a little relaxing and packing because I leave for Guatemala on June 5th. I'm only going for a week, but I am SOO EXCITED. I actually have an idea of something I might want to do with my life, so this is a huge thing because if I really love it then it is something that I can actually pursue and work for. We shall see. So what am I doing down there?

Ha good question.

I will be able to better tell you when I return because I am not quite sure myself. I am meeting up with an alum from Albright College and going around and working with women and children who are illiterate and/or need aid in some fashion. It's all with a Christian Church because Jenn, the woman with whom I'm meeting up with, is a part of a theatre company, Looking for Lilth that is founded in the Lutheran Church. The kicker here is I have NO itinerary or anything, so I am quite nervous. I'm just praying for her to be at the airport to pick me up. THEN off we go for a week.

Excited: absolutely.
Nervous: absolutely.
Eager. absolutely.
Ready: sure.

So pictures will be coming..I am going to post one right now of graduation. Oh not of the graduates, don't get excited. But I do have a picture of this awesome person carrying the Japanese flag...wait..I carried the Japanese flag at graduation. Yes. Game on.

God Bless!

Who are the Roommates of 06-07?

Above are Meredith, Rachel, Jessica and Me.

My ya sama

Did you know there are less than 2 weeks until graduation?

Yes. I did. Yes, I am trying to hold onto each moment.

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This is a picture from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The cast and crew received an award at the end of the show.

In other news the Mikado closed. We had a 6 night run. It went incredible well. I'm going to try and get some pictures, I will try. But the show definitely went well and was a lot of fun! It was a bit emotional since it was a musical and a lot of seniors were involved. Yea, it's getting to be that time of year. I'll have more to update soon on this, for now I really do not want to think about it.

I've been very busy academically as well. I will be going to Guatemala this summer. It is official. I am leaving June 5th. Details to come!

I'm working on 2 sociology projects right now. The first is a gangs research project sponsored by the government. I have to translate the surveys into spanish. It should be fun. The other is working on the Introduction to Sociology course. So I will be living in Reading this summer working on both projects.

Tonight is my first night in about 3 months I have off, so I intend on catching up on some serious homework.

God Bless!!

To Washingon D.C. we gooo

Did you know that Albright College went to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the first time in history?

]]> Hello all!

Big things have been going on on campus lately! The much anticipated and awaited performance of Waiting for Godot finally happened on Wednesday, April 18th at 8pm with a crowd full of family members, dedicated Albright College students, our Albright College President, and fans. The atmosphere was simply incredible. The boys did an amazing job and it was a complete success!

In other Theatre news...the Mikado opens NEXT WEEK! It's been a bit stressful in the department trying to balance both Waiting for Godot and a full fledge operetta at the same time. All the same we did it and we have one more week of prep to go.

We just registered for classes online for the first time. It was a bit rocky, so they allowed more space in between days of registration so hopefully all the problems have been ironed out...we'll see.

That is about it for now.

I have work in admissions quite early tomorrow so I have to get to bed!

God Bless!!

Bienvenido...WEST COAST

Did you know that windsurfing under the Golden Gate bridge is a popular San Francisco activity for the locals?

]]> Spring break started with a BANG. No, it really did. The wonderful "couple" inches of snow that we were originally forcast turned into enough snow to strand many students at Albright. First night of spring break=snowed in the residential housing! As awful as that may sound, it was absolutely incredible! I was able to go sledding one more time with my favorite people. We also did not have to worry about homework, tests, quizes, nothing. We were free and snowed in. Life was grand!

The next morning I got up and caught a flight to San Francisco. The roads were not the greatest, but I made it there. I went to San Francisco last year for break to visit my uncles. I love it out there! The weather was absolutely amazing! We went wine tasting, saw Alter Boyz, saw an improv show, I went to visit Berkeley to take a look at there grad school program and just relaxed and spent time with my uncles. I absolutely loove the west coast.

Well, now we are back and in full swing. The Mikado, the next show in the Wachovia Theatre is in full rehearsal. That goes up the last weekend of April first of May.

And I am off to rehearsal now. I will blog again shortly, I have a story.

Stay tuned...

Hope all is well!

God Bless!

Get a load of this....

Did you know that Syracuse did not make the NCAA tourney?? Yea well neither did Uconn...oh wait..Uconn couldn't even make the NIT...unbelievable.

]]> It is March 15th, the Ides of March and ALSO the first day of MARCH MADNESS. The NCAA tournament started this afternoon at 12:20 p.m. MD vs. Davidson. I am quite excited! Even though Uconn is non-existant. Oh well. The women are doing really well at least! GO UCONN!!

Well, tomorrow is Friday, which means after noon I am OFFICIALLY on spring break!! I am quite, quite, quite excited! I am going home with my friend Marie tomorrow night and then Saturday afternoon I am off to San Francisco, CA to see some family! I went last year for spring break and now I'm heading back! I really like it out there...a lot! So I'm excited. I'll be posting some blogs out there so do not worry.

I also turned 21 last Friday, the 9th of March, so I will post some pictures on here. It was absolutely amazing!! My friends made it very special...they planned an ENTIRE itinerary without me knowing a thing, it was absolutely incredible!! I am very schedule orientated and really good at figurinng things out-yea, I had NOTHING. They are good, very good. And for that I am incredibly lucky and thankful for them. But, all I will tell you for now is that at 6pm friday night a singing Jester showed up at our on-campus apartment and proceeded to sing...my mother is pretty much amazing. So if you weren't sure if you wanted to come here, there is a singing jester birthday service in Reading...if you have any questions you will have to ask my mother. I know you definitely want to come here now...what's better than that? Yea, nothing.

Alright I have a lot of work to do before Spring Break officiallly starts AND a lot of basketball to watch.

God Bless!

BIGGEST NEWS SINCE MOSES SAW THE BURNING BUSH!

DID YOU KNOW.......no you didn't...WE JUST FOUND OUT!!!!!

]]> Ok, you are all about to be tested. I am going to see just how dedicated and consistant you are at reading my blog. Do you remember what I did over interim this past January? Yup, that's right I went to New York for KCACTF, the theatre festival. We got nominated to bring a show, Waiting for Godot, which was the show from this fall, and perform it there. HUGE DEAL. Well, by performing it there it was entered into nationals. There is a committee who travels all over the United States to see different college productions and the top shows go to Washington D.C. and perform at the Kennedy Center. There are only about 5 or 6 shows nominated in the country. Ladies and Gentleman..Waiting for Godot is going!!! Albright College has a show that will be gracing the Kennedy Center stage! Now that is kind of a big deal!

Congratulations to the cast and crew.....SHOW TIME!!!!!!!

more details to come!!!

God Bless!!!!

3 down 1 to go....bitter sweetness

Did you know that 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with some type of cancer?

-posted on the Volunteer Center bulletin Board

]]> It is Sunday, February 25th, 2007 Fuddy Meers is over and the Mikado begins tomorrow! The Mikado is an operetta and the next show in the theater. So we have one day to breath the wonderful air of freedom and then tomorrow, back to work! Good thing it's work we love.

It is also snowing right now! The second time this semester! Who is excited? This New Englander definitely is I'm currently pondering the possibility of sledding later, but my school work is proving to be a minor problem to overcome. We'll see how the night progresses.

This week was a rather big week because I handed in my research proposal for class. I need to conduct an ethnography, which is basically a fancy word for Sociological Research consisting of different methods of observation. My proposal was for a Research Project studying the relations between Albright College students who live on and off campus and the residents of the Albright College Community. The purpose of this study is to see how the relations are, are there mutual feelings, and why does conflict arise between both parties? I'm hoping the end product will be something that can be applied to many other college campuses and surrounding residential area. This still has to be approved...so we'll see.

Alright well I'm going to do some reading and work on my Research Methods homework.

God Bless!!

FOUND YOU

Did you know there are no 2 snowflakes that are the same?

]]> Yes, Reading finally found the snow!!! Snow day and Albright College normally are not associated together, but last week, Wednesday, February 14th, 2007 it happened! Albright College cancelled classes! I awoke at 10:15 a.m. to the distant screams of college students sledding down the hill behind my apartment. I peeked through my blinds and saw a white winter wonderland and flurries coming from the heavens! It was a truly magnificant sight. I proceeded to put 4 layers of random articles of clothing (all colors) on and left the apartment armed for battle (2 sleds). I spent the next hour of my life in complete bliss...sledding down the hill with friends. When I came back home I was completely frozen, but had the much awaited and anticipated mug of hot chocolate. It was incredible. I spent the rest of the day in the poof, which is my bed, watching a movie and relaxing.

At 5pm I received a phone call from an elderly woman who lived right by the college. She was completely snowed in. So, Jessica and Rachel (2 of my roommates) and I walked to her house with shovels and shoveled her driveway for her. She was absolutely adorable. We then stopped by the mailroom to check my other roommates mail for her, since she was home. And what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a letter from one of her schools for grad school accepting her into their program!!!!!!!

So yes the first snow day in many, many, many years at Albright College can go down as one of the best days of my life with some of my best friends.

God Bless!

Listen to the song here in my heart....

Did you know Beyonce kicked butt at the Grammy's!?!?

]]> "Listen,
To the song here in my heart
A melody I've start
But can't complete

Listen, to the sound from deep within
It's only beginning
To find release

Oh,
the time has come
for my dreams to be heard
They will not be pushed aside and turned
Into your own
all cause you won't
Listen....

Listen,
I am alone at a crossroads
I'm not at home, in my own home
And I tried and tried
To say whats on my mind
You should have known

Now I'm done believin you
You don't know what I'm feelin
I'm more than what, you made of me
I followed the voice
you gave to me
But now I gotta find, my own.."

Go see Dream Girls..it is super amazing.

Ok have the first test of the semester tomorrow. Anthropology. It is going to be full of good times and fun, so I'm looking forward to it. Wish me lots of luck, for it will be much needed, and get excited because one of the biggest weekends, EVER, is coming up! Are you ready for this???

Saturday, February 17th- HUGE DAY

1pm- Vagina Monologues -put on by the Albright College Thesbian Society
2pm- LAST home game for the seniors..senior day! -Women's Basketball (and they're going to win)
(parents and sister and Jennie from home are coming too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

8pm- Second night of Fuddy Meers-the HILARIOUS show in the theater
THEN
drum roll please.
11pm- BANG You're On, BANG You're Off-the improv sketch comedy show...the result of allll that work during interim! SOOO EXCITED it's going to be PHA Nominal.

So yes many things are coming up...AND THEN the icing on the cake, the cherry on top of the sundae, the butter on top of the butter popcorn......it is going to snow this week!!! Ladies and gentleman start waxing your sleds we're hittin the slopes of Albright College!

Big week ahead...great song above...big test tomorrow...life is amazing!

God Bless!!

Where art thou snow?

Did you know it's supposed to snow in the winter?

]]> Interim is over!

There is one more day left in January!

There is still no snow!

Second semester, round 3, has begun!

My roommates and best friends have one semester left!

No class Tuesday and Thursday!

Pha Nominal!

New York for KCACTF was incredible!

Waiting for Godot won at festival!

Go see Dream Girls!

I love my roommates!

I want to get out of the U.S. and travel a.s.a.p.!

Popcorn is my favorite food!

I love the theater!

Come to our show February 17th!
8 p.m. Fuddy Meers
10:30 p.m. Bang You're On, Bang You're Off- the improv show from interim

21 in a month!

I love exclamation points!

Life is good!

God Bless!

The clock keeps ticking....

Did you know that there are 525,600 minutes in a year....

]]> Ok so second week of interim is almost over. Interim in general is almost over. One more week. My favorite time of the year at Albright College..practically over. I'm sad, can you tell? Improvisational theater...My FAVORITE THING theatrically speaking....is January. That is the \ class I took over this Interim period and it has been amazing. It isn't Improv like you think of improv...it's all comedic sketches. It's actually quite difficult to do...write a 2 minute piece that makes people laugh. No pressure. It's an art form.

So my class is collaborating to write 30 of these and then presenting them in a show in February called Bang you're on! Bang you're off! I'm very excitedabout it. I'll be telling you more, but that's all I can share for now.

Another update..it still hasn't snowed--yea not happy. Still waiting patiently.

God Bless!

P.S.- Going to NY next week for the KCACTF- a theater festival. We're gone all week. I'll definitely have A LOT to report for that. Our fall show, Waiting for Godot, was nominated so it's traveling to perform there! Kind of a big deal.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...E2 style

Ok everyone knows the poem, Twas The Night Before Christmas right? Well, I wanted a bit of a break during finals, so I wrote one for my apartment to ease the stress of the coming week. Before you read it however, I'm going to give you some background information so you'll understand it.

Apartment: Woods E2
Roommates: Me (Kelly), Jessie (my roommate), Meredith and Rachel (who live in the other room.)
Jessie graduated last spring, but came back for one semester to student teach. She has to get up really early.

Our apartment is RIGHT next to the 2 dumpsters that we have in the Woods apartment complex. SO every other morning between 5 and 530 am the dump truck comes. We've nicknamed the driver Hank. He is INCREDIBLY loud and bangs the dumpsters around and wakes all of us up. Jessie and I are the closest to the dumpsters so we get the brunt of it. (He acts as Jessies alarm clock on some mornings, because he comes when she had to be up)

There is a country song that goes, if you're going through hell keep on going...that is our stress-relief song. Whenever, we're having a rough time we think/play that song.

Ok that is enough backgroung I think.
Enjoy.

]]> Twas the week before finals, when all through E2
It was completely quiet except for a cricket or two.
The stockings were hung by the door with care
In hopes that Ole Hank would soon be there.
Kelly was in her poof all snug in her bed
While Jessie had visions of tea bags dancin in her head
And Rachel in her red PJ’s and Mere do-boping away
Had all gone to sleep after a rather long day.
When out on the deck there arose such a clatter!
We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter!
Away to the windows we flew like a flash
Except for Meredith who had suffered whip lash.
Jessie went to the bathroom off like a dart
Since she slept through her alarm and now had a late start.
But Rachel and Meredith did not know what to do
So they went to Kelly’s poof and the shade she drew
And there the moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to the Woods below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear.
But a giant truck going into 5th gear.
I knew in a moment it must be ole Hank.
More rapid than eagles his courses he moved like a tank.
He beeped and he banged and he shouted outloud
Now bottles, now cans, plastic and glass
Now boxes, now trash, cardboard and brass.
To the back of my truck you all must go
But not before all will hear me heave ho.
We watched and heard this horrendous sound
The first dumpster was emptied and dropped with a bound.
Then all of a sudden it only got worse
There was one more to go much louder than the first.
It clanged and it clunked, bonged and whapoooshed
We all covered our ears as we sat on our tush.
Before we could process these happenings of the night
There was another sound that gave us a fright
There was something that was coming from E2 backroom
It was a noise that was going boom boom boom boom.
Oh but of course it was our favorite song
That has been in our heads all semester long.
Just when the going gets tough
And you become a susan all in a huff
Just think of this song because we all know it
If you’re going through hell keep on going don’t slow down if your scared don’t show it.
All the roommates of E2 Woods started to dance
Even Jessie came out and did her flamingo prance.
Then with a wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know we had nothing to dread
He had done his job and done it quite well
His message was sent and he didn’t even yell
For he spoke not a word, but went straight back to work
His truck completely full, he pulled out with a jerk.
Had his coffee in hand and lights on high beam
It all happened so fast we thought it must have been a dream
Until we heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
Good luck on those finals and to all a good-night!

Tis the Season to be jolly.....

Who grows the most Christmas trees in the United States?
Oregon

But, PA is not too far behind at number 4.

]]> 1 Social Statistics Exam, 1 Social Theory Exam, 1 Spanish Paper, and 1 Asia on Film Exam later, finals are officially over. Thank goodness. Many hours in the library, late trips to wawa, belting to music in the apartment with the roommates during study time, and early morning cramming sessions are all part of finals week, all unforgetable and yet exhausting. Then, after the big push you're home for the holidays! I did not even bring my school bag home...how amazing is that! So I'm going to do some pleasure reading. I just read the new book by Mitch Albom, What Would You Do For One More Day? You should definitely put that on your list immediately. He is by far one of my favorite authors and out does himself once again. Christmas gift idea for that tough person? That's a yes and you're welcome.

Ok, so I'm home in CT and there is NO snow. It is actually quite nice out. Today I went for a hike with the padre and sister and pup, which was a lot of fun. There is this mountain by my house, it's more like a big hill, but they call it Mount Tom, and there are some nice trails so we went on one. It overlooks the salmon river joining up with the CT River. Absolutely beautiful, but there is no snow. It's New England middle of December, what's going on??

I'm back to the bright in 2 weeks. Interim class time! My favorite time of the year at Albright College along with Pops the first few days of school, freshman orienation. They absolutely make Albright, Albright. LOVE IT!

Besides wishing for some snow, I'll be reading, and doing nothing! Prepping for the interim class of Improv! Good times ahead.

That's about it for me. But I do have a little poem action to share, but before I do:
I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday! (Do not allow yourself to be stressed. That's not one of the Holiday Rules. Be Merry. Besides, the holiday's go by too quickly to spend most of it worried about things. Just enjoy it. Ok? Alright then. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!)

God Bless!

Ok now you're looking for the poem...you have to read the next entry :-)