I am a hero. I saved a damsel in distress from the attacking elevator. Yep, a certain roommate of mine who wishes remain anonymous--but whose initials might be NLB--somehow managed to get herself stuck to the handrail in the elevator. Megan and I got off the elevator, like normal, non-stuck people would do, and as we exited, I heard a scream from the inside. The voice called to me with such fervor and intensity and fear that I knew I had no choice but to return to the elevator and see whatever was the matter. I turned around in time to see a hand shoot out of the door right before it closed, thus stopping the impending slam of the cold, metal box into eternal damnation. Taking a few steps backward, I see that this certain individual that I live with is somehow attached to the metal bar, crying for help. Being the always ready-to-serve type of individual that I am, I knew I had to face the perils of risking my own life and limb to save another. Rushing into the cabin, I quickly assessed the situation at hand, and made a strategic plan of rescue. Within seconds, thanks to the adrenaline coursing through my veins and the sheer power of my will (I WILL NOT LET YOU DIE!!), I had freed this poor, helpless soul from her torment and despair, without receiving so much as a thank you. It was no laughing matter. I was not laughing. No laughs escaped my lips. Not one.

Ok, so the whole story is true, except the part about eternal damnation and me not laughing. I definitely laughed really hard. She really did get caught in the elevator today: bookbags are tricky things, apparently. They have minds of their own and tend to wrap themselves around whatever they come into contact with?

Something gross: ü's dead body is still sitting on top of his tank. Sick, I know. His skin is starting to peel off and his shell is about to disintegrate. I'm not sure why we haven't just buried his poor rotting corpse yet, but we haven't. I should make that a goal for the weekend.

Speaking of weekends, I have fun plans for mine! I'm ready to be done with classes (sweet bliss, only one more today!) . Yay for Steve and his Fall Harvest Extravaganza, spending the night at Smellion's apartment, visiting Andrew, and meeting new friends, namely Kristyn.

Oh, and I changed my settings on my blog so hopefully I can receive comments now. SO POST A COMMENT, FOO! Do it or else.

Nicole changed her underwear today. So did Kalee.

Baby, I'm so into you...

Sing it, Marc! I have a new favorite song, at least for the next few days: "The Beauty of Who You Are" by Marc Broussard = frickin awesome.

Download it. Now.

"You have delicate lips."
"Basically, we're Kristina's bouncers?"
"I've waited my whole life to be a teeny-bopper and now I finally am one! And I'm 20!"
"Calzones!"
"Your hair is like cotton balls."
"I'd like some more glass shards for my lips, please. Pass the Carmex."
"I bet you've never pumped in New York before."
"I feel so out of the loop. Unincluded." "Me too!" "Me too!" "Me too!"

So New York was wonderful. All of the above were quotes I heard over the course of the weekend, probably not nearly as funny to any of the you out there reading this as they are to me....I giggled when I typed them out. I know there were lots more, but I didn't bring my quotebook with me for some reason, so these are the only ones I could think of off the top of my head. Anyhoo, overall, the trip was well worth it. 10 hours in a van with 8 other women can be trying, but it was mostly just funny. I love my staff!

I also am a fan of Barb Kenney. She is just so sweet. I plan on burning her a few CDs and mailing them this week. I liked to call her Barby. Barbie? Barbie Kenney. What a cool name.

Friday was spent perusing the always-exciting Market Street in Corning. The glass museum was a success, of course, as I left with some really cool earrings. That was my goal of the day. I haven't shopped as much as I did on Friday in a long, long time. That's probably a good thing. Friday night we went to the Arnot Mall and then to some strip mall. Ooh! And I saw my aunt! She called on Friday morning, so we met up and had coffee and chatted for a few hours while everyone else scored some killer deals at Old Navy (Seriously, I think I am the only RA in Kem to come back without 3 or 4 new shirts and at least one pair of pants.). It was so good to see her. We have a relationship of mutual favoritism and adoration, I'll be honest.

It was really weird to be driving through all these towns in New York that I've been to and hung out in countless times with people other than family. Let me clarify. You know how you go certain places with certain people and then you go to those same places with different people than who you are used to and you have to do a double take? Yeah, it was like that. I kept thinking, "So I'm at the Corning Museum of Glass with girls from IWU. Weird!" Weird, but good.

We went to Niagara all day on Saturday. We did all of the touristy sight-seeing things on the American side (including Cave of the Winds. Holy Mother! To walk out on a wooden deck and have the falls come down on you = RUSH!! I was so proud of the girls, we are troopers. Gutsy and adventurous, we're a lot more fun than last year's staff, so I'm told. I agree. The water was very, very cold, by the way. Imagine that.) before walking over to Canada. I had my birth certificate this time, so the Customs guy wouldn't yell at me again. I learned my lesson the hard way 2 years ago with Melissa.

I saw something I never thought I'd see. RA Dance party. Yep, that's right. Saturday night brought out the best in us. And by best, I mean that in the car on the way back from Canada, I broke out The Accent and sang everything in a hideous voice. None of the girls had experienced that before in such a large dose. I feel like they are really getting to know me. "Authenticity!" So anyway, we got back and someone said they wanted to dance, so Mowater put in some music. And everybody danced! Barbie joined right in and danced her little heart out. I videotaped about 1/2 hour of the fun. Woo, rebelliousness?

I bought Nicole a huge chocolate bar at the Hershey store in Canada, and she is surrently trying to find a way to attach it to a wall in our room so she can just reach out and grab a piece when she needs a chocolate fix. What a dork, I don't know why she can't just put it on her desk. She's intent on making it a decoration though, so now it's stuck to the wall right above the couch next to my desk. She's so fun. She just walked in and complained about our lack of toilet paper (we're out. Again. So I put a roll of paper towel in there until the front desk opens at 2:30 and we can get some nice TP) by saying, and I quote directly, "I feel like I am being raped everytime I use that paper towel. Plus it has mushrooms on it. It just looks weird."

And now down to the saddest event in my life in a very long time...

My little turtle died this weekend.

Nicole took him home with her over break so he'd be sure to have fresh food and his heat lamp turned on and off. She called on Sunday afternoon while I was driving through Ohio to tell me the bad news. I teared up, but tried not to get too emotional, as I was in the van. Ho hum.

He had been sick for a few weeks and his shell was getting soft (not good!), but he was making a recovery last week. He started swimming around and climbing on his rock to sunbathe again, so all igns were looking up, but then.... croaked on Sunday. Nicole was taking very good care of him. She put him a nice bowl and got him new rocks and fed him regularly, and she didn't let anybody touch him, as constant touching causes turtle stress. He was happy and content on Sunday morning, but when she got home from church, ü was definitely just floating. Turtles don't typically float. She brought his small and lifeless body back with her so we can give him a proper funeral. That will happen later tonight, I think. I'm surprised at my response. It's ironic, I had just told her on Wednesday that I probably wouldn't be too upset if he died. He was just a boring little turtle and he didn't do much. Maybe I was just lying to myself. I'm sad. But now we're thinking about getting a new turtle. I need to let myself grieve and allow my wounds some time to heal before that can happen, but I'm hoping to have a newbie soon. Ha ha.

The chocolate just fell off the wall.

Well folks, I think that's about it. I have class in a few minutes. Happy Monday, all!