Life at Critz

My freshman year of college is basically over. I'm done with classes, I've packed up most of my room, and I've started studying for my three finals. 9 months ago, I was crying because my parents were leaving my terrified, non-girly self at a big school where I was going to have to live in a room the size of a closet and share a bathroom with 30 girls. Now, I'm crying because I'm taking down pictures and packing up my room as I listen to Drue cry, "Things aren't ever going to be like this again!"

Did you know that your whole life can flip upside down and then do one of those corkscrew things like on Rockin' Roller Coaster in 9 months? I didn't. I didn't know that I could make friends, lose friends, and start a "People to Avoid in Starkville" list in 9 months. I didn't know that I could learn to appreciate my parents and free food so quickly. I didn't know that I could end up caring about people I've only known for less than a year more than people I've known since Kindergarten. And I certainly didn't know that people I used to see all the time could end up being people that I only see when I awkwardly run into them on campus. How does all of that happen in 9 months? That's like 274 days. 6,576 hours.

I always thought that once I started college, everything would start to become concrete. My friends, my views on everything, my life plan. Obviously my concrete is still in liquid form, because everything seems to be temporary. I was so desperate to get away from high school and Ocean Springs that I guess I thought college would be nothing but smiles and sunshine. Uhh.. yeah.. it's NOT like that. There are lots of smiles and sunshine, but there are also lots of haven't-slept-in-three-days meltdowns and lots of rain. But there's something that surprised me more than everything I've babbled about, and that's how much I have fallen in love with Crappy Critz and the girls on my hall. 

Studying, Cowbell Yell, and Football Weekends

I was NOT looking forward to living on a hall with 30 other girls. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I was beyond terrified. I heard, "I'm so sorry!" and "You're living in CRITZ?! Oh.. my.." and lots of other awful things after I found out my housing assignment. I laugh every time I think about the first time I walked into our room and Jen and I gave each other a look that said WE ARE GOING TO DIE. But here I am 9 months later. Still alive, and so thankful I was put in Critz. Sure, it smells like baby formula/vomit most of the time, there's always someone obnoxiously screaming, and the bathrooms are G-R-O-S-S, but it's an adventure.

Painting shower curtains, Pretty Little Liars jokes, Local Culture, Bulldog Bash, & Stephanie's convertible

I really don't even know how it happened, but some of those girls have become part of my family. We spent so much of this whole year together. We watched each other's Cute Boy from Class turn into Boy That Actually Knows I Exist, jumped around excitedly after someone got back from a successful date party, and knew that hearing someone yell, "UGGGHHH WHYYYY" meant they needed a hug. We look out for each other, whether someone needs a DD, chocolate, or a "screw him, he's stupid anyway!"

Chinese in the hallway, trying to drive to Waffle House at 2am, Cowbell Yell, & birthday dinners

I love going back to my room knowing that someone will have their door open. I love our dinner dates, movie nights, and middle of the night study parties. I love jamming out/talking while trying to make the best of those disgusting showers. I love our weird sayings (Well Hells Bells.. thanks, Audra!) and making sure Morgan has showered. (No worries, she does. ;) LOVE YOU, MORGAN!) I love sitting in the hallway with Drue at 3am because we're hyper and our roomies are sleeping. I love hearing people say, "You are so lucky. My hall is not like that at all." They really are a blessing and this year would have been SO different without them.

Cookie dough bites, Sonic, Public Speaking videos, and fun nights out

 

Super Bulldog Weekend. Pass out at 3, wake up at 10, go out to eat & do it again ;)

 I really don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to these incredible girls next week. I thought living with a bunch of girls was going to be annoying. Sure, we get into spazzy arguments, take our bad moods out on each other, help each other procrastinate, and wrestle in the hallway (ahem.. Drue & Stephanie..). But I mean, we ARE still girls. What do you expect? :) It's like having a bunch of sisters. Sharing clothes, doing hair & makeup together before going out, eating ice cream, watching girly movies, complaining about boys.. that girly stuff totally happens. The movies weren't lying about that part!

Alright, I'm done with this sappy thing. Does this whole having feelings thing come with age, or have I just been around too many girls for too long? Ugh. I can't believe my freshman year is ending, but I'm so glad that these girls were such a big part of it. I can't wait to see what next year has in store for us, even if we won't be living right across the hall from each other. I love all of you so much!

The picture that's in our hallway. :) through sickness & in health.

We're not here for a long time, but we're here for a good time. :)

A Terrible Case of the Alexa Funk

I am in an Alexa Funk. I absolutely HATE Alexa Funks. They generally come out of nowhere and overstay their welcome. The symptoms of an Alexa Funk are usually aimlessly walking around Walmart, obsessively cleaning for fun, and craving sleep. And there is NO cure of any kind. It comes around when it wants to and leaves after it has made my life a little more complicated. Kinda like thunderstorms on long class days. And boys.

I'm a night owl with a terrible, annoying case of insomnia. I LOVE to be awake, especially at night. But a week or so ago, I felt weird so I took some of my sleepy pills and got a good 10 hours of sleep. I woke up and, for the rest of the day, couldn't think about anything other than going back to sleep. Not because I was tired, just because I didn't want to be awake. Not in the depressed/I-don't-want-to-be-alive kind of way, just in the Alexa Funk kind of way. Then, I went to get a few things from Walmart and walked around aimlessly for OVER AN HOUR. And it wasn't just because those damn workers moved everything around again! If you know me, you know that I would rather drive nails up my arm (Steel Magnolias? Anyone?) than go to that place filled with psychotic mothers, screaming babies, and sketchy workers. If that doesn't scream Alexa Funk, just wait. It gets better. After Walmart, I came back to my closet-sized dorm room and cleaned the already spotless room. FOR FUN. I'm all about good hygiene and being clean, but let's not forget that I'm Rose Cacibauda's daughter. We are germ freaks and like to be clean, but we do NOT clean for fun. So in the middle of getting high off of Clorox wipes and wiping down the walls.. BAM. It hit me. Sleep, Walmart, cleaning for fun. That practically screams Alexa Funk.

Two weeks later, the Alexa Funk is STILL HERE! And this time it came with a side of homesickness, which explains the "my-internal-organs-just-got-pelted-with-stones" feeling. I thought I was just getting sick, but it went away as soon as I pulled into my driveway last weekend. Pre-college Alexa being homesick would not be surprising to anyone, but college Alexa doesn't get homesick! But suddenly I feel like Starkville is one of those choker necklaces that used to be in style. IT'S SUFFOCATING ME. But nothing is wrong! Nothing. My nonexistent boyfriend didn't dump me, I haven't made below an A on anything this semester, and I haven't been embarrassing myself anymore than usual. Girl World is still terribly confusing/stupid and I keep getting better at letting people walk all over me, but I'm also pretty good at being sarcastic and punching people in the face, so I think I'll manage. :) I am incredibly blessed in a million and ten ways, so what in the WORLD is going on?!

I've been doing ev-er-y-thing to try and make this Alexa Funk go away. Watching cheesy movies, running until my poor dysfunctional lungs stop working, letting some random guy teach me how to use the punching bag at the Sanderson. All kinds of weird things. I guess I could try those pills I got from the guy in the Walmart parking lot...

Just kidding. It was the Kroger parking lot. :)

In other news.. I've willingly listened to Justin Bieber's new song too many times, almost used the word "y'all" the other day, and miiiiiiight be considering taking out another loan and picking up another job so I can go through Rush in the fall. Yes.. Rush. For a sorority. A big group of girls. I know. (I also haven't told my mom yet because I couldn't form the words. So if you're reading this, Mom.. um.. surprise? Now just pretend I told you I'm moving to Russia, becoming a stripper, and having a baby. Now it doesn't seem so bad!)

I think I'm going through a midlife crisis.