brittanymarienims's posterous

My Bucket List

As graduation is soon approaching, I can't help but think about all of the things I still want to do.  I've decided to create my personal Syracuse bucket list; although I have less than three weeks to complete everything, I'm going to try my best to cross everything off.

1. Go to Funk 'n Waffles- I walk by that place every weekend and still have yet to hear its live music or eat the famous waffles

2. Visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

3. Eat at Chucks on $.25 wing night- the price is unbeatable and I've heard the wings are delicious

4. Karaoke- Metro Lounge & Sushi Bar on Westcott has Karaoke every Wednesday night as well as great drink specials

5. Make my own Jello shots

6. Write my name on a wall/table/pitcher/chair in Chucks

7. Make it to after hours

8. Have my first official sushi experience at The Bleu' Monkey Cafe'

9. Play Stump- I have no idea how to play, but it looks so fun!

10. Work out in Ernie Davis- working out in general is a new goal of mine

11. Spend an afternoon in Thornden Park

12. Find a job

I really hope I can cross all of these things off of my list before I graduate...especially #12!  What's on your bucket list?

A very awkward moment

I work with a guy, let's call him Mark.  Although Mark is a very nice guy, he likes to hit on any and every girl. He actually smells like a dumpster.  I'm not exaggerating; if you come within a two foot radius of this guy you will either throw up on the spot or run as far away as humanly possible. 

Saturday night my roomates and I decided to host a party at our house to celebrate (rather mourn) the one month 'til graduation mark.  Somehow Mark found out about this party and obviously was in- so many opportunities to hit on girls and make people pass out with his stench.  My sister and my best friend from home drove up from Rochester for the party, so I warned them about our unfortunate guest.

During the party me, my sister, my best friend and Mark were standing in a circle talking; my best friend had not yet met Mark.  All of the sudden it smelled like a a family of skunks had mated and then got ran over by a semi.  I announce my disgust, "oh my god someone smells awful I have no idea what that is."  My best friend proceeded, "Haha where is Mark?"

The next 30 seconds were some of the most awkward moments of my life.  My sister had met Mark so she started peeing her pants in laughter.  My best friend had no idea what was going on.  I just froze and pretended nothing happened.  Mark just looked in every direction hoping we were talking about a different Mark.

Luckily everyone had a couple of drinks before this awkward encounter, but it still wasn't pleasant.  This just goes to show that nothing good comes from saying bad things about others and to think before you speak.

Rethink getting behind the wheel after drinking

The endless parties on college campuses obviously present a fun time for all, however, one must be careful especially when it comes to drinking and driving.  I know this post deviates from all my past ones, but after my Beer and Wine Appreciation class today I felt compelled to blog about this topic.  A state trooper came in and spoke about the dangers associated with drinking and driving and the repercussions a driver may be faced with.

Not only are you putting the lives of yourself and others in jeopardy, but in New York State a first DWI offense:

1. Can cost a fine of $500-$1,000

2. Lead to one year in jail

3. Cause one's license to be suspended for at least six months

A second DWI offense (within five years):

1. Can cost a fine of $1,000-$5,000

2. Lead to mandatory jail time or community service and possible jail time of up to five years

3. Cause one's license to  be suspended for at least one year

A third DWI offense (or more within five years):

1. Can cost a fine of $2,000-$10,000

2. Lead to mandatory jail time or community service or possible jail time of up to seven years

3. Cause one's license to be suspended for at least one year, ignition interlock device and required alcohol evaluation

The ignition interlock device is a new technology system being installed into the vehicles of those susceptible to getting DWI's; read the Web site above it's crazy!

So even though it may be more convenient to drive down to the bars or a friends house, it's really not worth the price of a DWI much less someone's life.

There's nothing better than day drinking

When the snow melts away and you can actually walk outside without salt staining your pants and shoes the best part of the Syracuse school year begins: day drinking season.  Syracuse is actually a different campus in the last spring months.  Not only are students happier as they can break out their shorts and tan in the quad, but it becomes socially acceptable to drink at any time, any day. 

The first weekend of the official first day drinking season was one of great things for me.  I forgot how much I missed Syracuse spring and welcomed the season with open arms.  Every where I looked there were barbeques, sprinklers, bago games there was even a monsterous water slide and a fireworks show. 

I fully intend on taking the advantage of the next few spring weekends/weekdays as much as humanly possible.  Now, I'm not saying that everyone should blow off classes and leave school work unfinished; however, I believe it's necessary to enjoy a few too many frat hot dogs and swim in baby pools on front lawns before we graduate and can never do this again.

What are uggs?

Before I came to Syracuse the only fashion I knew was Abercrombie and Hollister.  I had no clue what Uggs were or if Northface was a type of compass much less an outdoor clothing line.  After the first couple of weeks, I realized that my clothes weren't up to par with Syracuse's standard and I tried to fit in and dress like everyone else.  However, my attempts were weak and I ended up looking like an idiot.  

My first attempt at leggings and headbands:

Cheesy to the maximum and trying too hard

My first attempt at fun shirts paired with fun tights:

If you think I was heading to a themed party I'm not...

And lastly...my attempt at bright colors:

Am I at a disco? unfortunately no

I mean I'm sure we've all had those outfits where we look back and cringe, but these are three of my worst.  I no longer care to try and keep up with the Syracuse fashion because I obviously fail miserably at it and I look better in jeans and a tee anyway. 

The ride from hell

While on vacation last week in the Dominican Republic half of the group we were with decided to go ATVing around local villages.  I eagerly agreed because I get bored tanning on the beach all day long...yes i know i'm weird.  However, what I didn't know is that we did not sign up for this trip through our hotel, but through a random guy walking around the beach. 

The morning of our trip we were ushered onto a vehicle resembling a trailer with bleachers for seats and a single bar keeping us "safe" from falling into the middle of the road. 

When we had driven off of the resort, our trailer stopped in the middle of the road and one of the men jumped out and said, "you give me money now."  After trying to cheat us out of an extra $100, he had collected all of the necessary money and we were back on our way.  After another five minutes, the trailer stopped again and the man with money jumped out and ran into the bushes.  Awesome.

As if the man jumping out of the trailer with the money wasn't bad enough, we were now driving 60 mph in a trailer tractor along the dirt Dominican roads away from any sign of human civilization.  All of the sudden one of my friends screamed, "Look!"  We all snap our heads to see a mangled woman's body lying on the side of the road.  There was a legitimate dead person.  We were all just waiting for people with machetes to jump out of the bushes and take us as prisoners.

Luckily, that did not happen. However, during the remainder of our ride I stayed on high alert ready to jump off and run to the nearest beach, house, resort anything safer than the trailer with the madman driver.  We eventually arrived safely to the run down ATV place and had a decently fun day, but I will never ignore my mother's advice to never leave the resort again.   

please don't make me graduate

The e-mail that all seniors recently received that insensitively reminded us that graduation is only 75 days away 

brought some tears...

and some screaming...

Although it has been a rough couple of weeks with the realization that our four years are reaching an end, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel.  SPRING BREAK!!!!  A group of twenty of my friends and I are going to Punta Cana for a week of endless partying and tanning.  We will not be constantly reminded of how we don't have jobs, how we haven't yet been accepted to a grad school or how we might have to settle for yet another unpaid internship.  This week will be all about us being fun, rowdy college students and I promise I will return with plenty of stories to share!

death potty

Spending various weekends at my cottage in the Thousand Islands is very enjoyable for me, however, spending the whole summer up there without company can become monotomous.  That is why my cousin and his friends decided to create Death Potty:

They actually bolted an old toilet on a piece of plywood and spent the day tubing around on a toilet!  It was actually the funniest thing I've ever seen...and it worked! 

p.s. dont mind my little nipper napper barking in the background

Yay Salisbury!

Last minute, my cousin and I decided to take a road trip down to Boston, MA for the 2008 NCAA Lacrosse Championships to watch Syracuse kick some butt.  Some of our family was down there for the game, so we decided to meet up for some drinks the night before the finals.  The hotel our family stayed at happened to be where all of the lacrosse players also stayed.

A few drinks came and went, and my cousin and I began chatting with some of the Salisbury lacrosse team who had just won the Division lll title.  They bought us some appetizers, let us try on their championship rings and next thing you know we had convinced them to let us ride along in their hummer limo for the rest of the night.  1. We were the only girls allowed in the limo even though some of the players girlfriends had traveled to watch their game.  2. Only the senior players were allowed in the limo- we were allowed in over more than half the team!

I still have no idea how we pulled that stunt, but we spent the rest of the night bar hopping Boston-all of our expenses paid for!  Since we were staying at my roomate's house 40 minutes away from their hotel and didn't want to wake our family up, some of the players gave up their beds to let us crash for the night!  Although we had to get ready for the Division l finals in a Dunkin' Donut's, it was probably the best night I ever had!

My cousin and I with our championship rings on

Me in the back of the Hummer limo with one of the players.  Salisbury is number 1!

no one denies a cripple

The weeks leading up to my 21st birthday were long and torturous.  My birthday isn't until September 29, so I spent the first month of my senior year underage.  Watching my friends getting into bars with ease was depressing and I was ready to try anything to spend my nights out with them...and i mean anything:

I borrowed my friend's neckbrace the first weekend back and wore it out on Marshall Street.  My ID was horrible and had not worked the previous nights, but I knew that wearing a neckbrace would be an ultimate in.  Who in there right mind would deny a girl who had just hurt her neck in a car accident?  I know that was a new low for me, but like i said, I was desperate. 

I got into three bars that night no questions asked except, "Did you beat up the person that did this to you?"  Every bouncer bought it and I ended up having a great time that night despite the fact that I was a liar and looked like an idiot.