To Home and Back

Well it's that time again when I sit down and try to catch you up on what's been happening. I think I say it almost every time I sit down to write, but I am amazed at how fast time flies!!

The highlight of the past few weeks has been my trip home to Texas! Now I usually don't go home during the semester, but with the economy I was able to snag some CHEAP air fare and spend a few days at home over Columbus Day weekend. I haven't been home since the end of May so I was excited to be back in my own bed and spend time with my family.

Of course no trip home would be complete without doing a few of my favorite things. First off, I have been dying to check out the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Over the past few every time I would go home I would go and check out the progress. Let me tell you, now that it is finished--THAT THING IS HUGE!! Not only did I check it out, my brother, Stephen, Tyler and I all took a tour. By the end of it I was tired from walking so much, but you do get to see EVERYTHING from the media rooms, to the suites, and even the Dallas Cowboy's locker room.

There usually is turf, they were just setting up for the U2 concert.

My brother in front of some of his favorite players lockers

Leather heads in the gift shop

Another highlight of the trip was a mini road trip down to Dublin, yup Dublin, Texas not Ireland. It seems like any other small town south of the metroplex but it is home to Dublin Dr. Pepper. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Dublin Dr. Pepper is the only place in the country where they still bottle the original Dr. Pepper--no high fructose corn syrup here. To get Dublin Dr. Pepper you have to have the old returnable bottles, that's all their machinery can fill, or live with in a 44 mile radius, because that's as far as they distribute. Now the trip from my house to Dublin is just over 100 miles, but it is definitely worth it. I love to go visit Dublin every now and then to drink up the nostalgia and famous Dr. Pepper.

Lastly, a trip to Texas in the early part of October would not be complete without a trip to the State Fair of Texas. While the fair has many claims to fame my personal favorite are Big Tex, and tons of fried food. My whole family headed out to the fair Sunday afternoon. Some people go to ride the rides, or see all the shows and animals, but my family goes for the fried food. I like to think that over the years I have become an expert in fair food. Every year though, they come out with new crazy things to fry. Of course I had to try those, and enjoy a few old favorites. So what all did I clog my arteries with in a mere matter of hours?? Here's the list: Fried turkey led, fried cheesecake, fried bacon, fried butter, fried peaches and cream, fried pizza, a corny dog, some ice cream, and to top the night off frozen turtle cheesecake dipped in chocolate! And that's just what I ate. The fair also offers such delicacies as fried Coke, oreos, snickers bars, cookie dough and so much more. While my food coma came on quickly I still got to enjoy some evening entertainment. One of my favorite bands, Little Big Town, happened to be playing Sunday night for free! So of course my family all stayed around to enjoy the music.

Tyler with his fried pizza...yumm!

Little Big Town put on a great concert

The State Fair of Texas was the perfect way to end my trip home. Since I've been back at school I have been as busy as ever. My senior thesis is currently underway and I spend most days in the library writing away. Even though I love my topic, at this point I just wish it was finished.

One of my favorite theme weeks at Stonehill is coming up and I'll be sure to update you all about freak week and Halloween here at the Hill real soon!

Till then~

Fallin' in Love with Fall

There are many reason I have come to love New England over my four years at Stonehill. Every fall I am reminded once again why I fell in love in the first place.

Growing up in Texas I never got to experience fall like we have up here. As soon as the leaves begin to change I get just a little bit giddy as I wait to enjoy my favorite season of the year. I think fall brings the best weather of the year so I like to enjoy the crisp fresh air by spending a lot of time outside before it gets to cold and I go into semi-hibernation. In the past week I have managed to get a lot of fall fun into my busy schedule.

To start the month of October off, Tyler and I went up to Harvard, MA to spend the morning apple picking. I have to say this is one of my all time favorite fall activities. Not only do you get to enjoy treats like apple cider and cider donuts after picking your apples, I usually end up eat a ton of apples before I even get to the ones I actually picked. This year was no exception. I ate at least a dozen apples, all in the name of finding the best ones. I don’t know why they try to tell you what kind of apples they are; you really have to do a taste test to make sure you have found the good ones. Even though it has been just over a week since our apple picking excursion we still have a huge bowl full of apples…and I don’t know if we will ever be able to finish them.

Found a good one!

This week I also got to go to a Red Sox game at Fenway. I don’t know how it got to be so late in the season before I saw a game but I was glad to go. Even though the game was called in the 7th inning due to heavy rain and the Red Sox lost, it’s always fun to spend time down at the ballpark. The only real sad part for me is that my hometown boys, the Texas Rangers, are officially eliminated from post season dreams. Although, this does mean that I become a full time Red Sox fan going into the post season, so I guess it’s not so bad.

This weekend I got to experience a new fall activity that is sure to be an ongoing favorite. Despite some drizzly weather I headed up to the Topsfield Fair. Even though the rain kept a lot of people away it was nice because you could still do everything without having to fight any crowds. Since I went prepared for the weather, rain boots and all, I enjoyed every minute of the fair. I even managed to eat a whole turkey leg, they are my favorite fair food after all.

This pumpkin weighed over 1,400 pounds

Me and my GIANT turkey leg...I ate it all!

This Wednesday I head home with Tyler to celebrate my Dad and little brother’s birthdays. I also have a list of fall time favorites down there. I’ll be sure to update you on my trip back home when I return, until then there is less than three months till Christmas…but whose counting! ;-)