Why can't I just walk?

Since I have officially graduated, I no longer have access to my university's gym.

(You know I was there EVERY DAY...spending hours on the treadmill and pumping iron...not.)

Lucky for me, the weather in Cincinnati has been beautiful, and I've been able to take my daily exercise outdoors.

I absolutely love to walk around the neighborhoods surrounding campus while listening to my iPod. It's such a nice time to think and just have alone time.

I must confess though- I feel like a loser whenever a runner passes me by.

The runner generally looks much more posh (think bright, perfectly fitting workout clothes) and in shape (I suppose that may have something to do with the fact that the runner is running and I am walking...) than me.

I swear this is what they look like.

So then I awkwardly attempt to run and then stop after five minutes since I really just want to walk instead.

I'm in no hurry.

Today, I was passing by campus when I ran into a former classmate.

"Just getting back from a run?" he asked.

"Yep!" I lied effortlessly.

He then went on to tell me how he was beginning a running routine, and I nodded understandably. You know, like I could totally sympathize.

Oh, the woes of running!

The thing was, I thought I would seem somehow "less-than" if I admitted I had just gone for a walk rather than run.

Why can't I just walk my way through life? I don't want to run!

My forever friend

Excuse the lameness of this post title.

Anyway.

Today, I spent time with one of my oldest friends, Brandon.

Brandon and I go all the way back to the first grade. Age six.

I remember him when he was that bizarre eight-year-old obsessed with the Titanic. He remembers me when I was the girl who cried everyday during math class.

Obviously, we've got some serious history.

We had lunch at Panera where I ordered a salad for once in my life. I'll be honest- I never feel quite fulfilled eating just a salad for a meal. I want something more substantial! But my caesar salad was fine enough.

After lunch, Brandon and I walked down to the park near my campus house, which has an incredible view of the city. We sat on a bench and lifechatted for hours. There was a guy playing the guitar beside us, and it was the perfect sunny afternoon.

When Brandon discovered that I had not read Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go," he insisted on bringing the story up on his phone and reciting it to me.

The guitar player heard Brandon reading and decided to strum along in tune with the words.

Dramatic and wonderful and embarrassing. But mostly wonderful.

We sat out in the sun so long, I actually got sunburned on my left forearm and forehead. Awkward.

Ouch!

I think it is so cool and special to have a friend that I've known for sixteen years now. It's so funny how much our lives and conversations have changed over the years, and I know we are going to remain friends for many years to come.

Wrong Number!

This morning, I received a strange text from an unknown number.

Sadly, unlike Sophie Kinsella's latest novel, the person on the other end of this number was not a handsome, successful businessman named Sam.

Sometimes, life is not like a chick lit novel. This was one of those times.

Stranger: Hey Jen! Looks like Ann is going to join us Wed for the measurements. What time shall we meet at Fabulous Bridal?

This was perplexing. No one calls me Jen yet my name is Jenna. And I am in a wedding this coming December. Yet I have my cousin's phone number so why would she be texting me from an unknown number?

Afraid I was forgetting something major, I safely replied back, "I just got a new phone, and my contacts did not all transfer over- I am so sorry but who is this?"

Stranger: It is Beth :)

Okay. Definitely NOT my cousin.

Me: I think you might have the wrong number :/

I hoped my ":/" would show appropriate remorse and sympathy.

"Beth": Huh?

Me: My name is Jenna, and the only wedding I am in is my cousin's at the end of the year.

Had to tell it to her straight.

"Beth": Okay, sorry. I must have an old number.

Me: That's okay! Good luck reaching your friend!

"Beth": Thank you.

And that was that.

I've been abandoned.

This past week has been my school's spring break.

Two of my roommates ventured off to New Orleans, one to Florida, another to New Jersey, and the fifth is going home this weekend to Northwestern Ohio.

This shall be me, a la Kevin in "Home Alone"

While I've always been one to embrace my alone time, this abandonment also leaves me with the task of holding down our six bedroom house. 

It's a pretty big place, you know?

Especially at night. 

I think this might be karma for leaving my poor roommate here alone on Wednesday night just so I wouldn't miss the FedEx man at my parents' the next day. 

Materially-driven Jenna. So typical.

Anyway.

Anyone want to be my house guest tonight? Ice cream, wine, and an incredible breakfast would all be included.

:)

Seriously though, this house is going to put Fort Knox's security to shame. Oh, yes.

I'm not missing him this time!

My iPhone was scheduled to be delivered yesterday. Tuesday.

I had it shipped to my parents' house since my campus house is in a sketchy neighborhood. Besides that minor detail, my mom was also off work on Tuesday and would be there to sign for my package.

C'était parfait!

Unfortunately, the FedEx man decided to stop by at 11:15 yesterday morning while my mom was at yoga class.

Quelle dommage!

Heartbroken, I have reported to my parents' house today and am spending the entire day by the window waiting on the FedEx man.

I've moved an armchair in front of the window to provide for a comfortable waiting spot.

I WILL NOT MISS HIM THIS TIME!!!!

I want my iPhone already!

So close

Today I received my last few grades for winter quarter.

My final GPA for my undergraduate career ended up being a 3.74.

I needed a 3.75 to earn magna cum laude.

Now I am just a cum laude.

Which is more heartbreaking than I can properly articulate.

I think I need a cold glass of wine, Ellie by my side, and a viewing of Bridget Jones when I get off work tonight.

Sigh.

So disappointing.

Being Dramatic at the Vet's Office

Last week, I was petting Ellie when I noticed a small bump on her stomach. 

I mean, look at that face!

My parents said they would keep an eye on it.

"We think it's growing. You should go get it checked out at the vet," my mom told me this Sunday.

Naturally my mind drifted to terrible thoughts, and I spent the next two days worrying about Ellie and her future health. 

This afternoon, Ellie and I traveled to the vet's office. The doctor felt the bump and said he was going to have to shave the hair off around it so he could examine the bump more closely.

Ellie was SO GOOD while he shaved the hair off, even when he accidentally nicked the bump and it started to bleed.

What did I do?

CRIED. I literally HAD TEARS in my eyes while this was all happening.

The bump ended up being just an abrasion (at least that's what the vet thinks for now, probably a result of Ellie's adventures in the landscaping), but I left the office a nervous-wreck.

When I retold the story to my mom, tears were running down my face and she told me to get it together.

This may put me out of the path of maternity one day.

I cannot even handle a visit to the vet's office.

Feeling real. Real fat.

Remember how dedicated I once was to my weight loss routine?

Healthy Jenna was counting calories and working out at least an hour every day.

Healthy Jenna also went MIA a few months ago. Haven't seen or heard from her since.

My clothes have still been fitting fine, and I think I look mostly the same...but do you ever get that feeling that you've gained some weight?

I feel like I am looking and feeling so sluggish lately.

Blaaaah.

Cue the Bridget Jones' changing her life around scene.

Oh, yeah.

Ah, yes! I hope I can do the same.

Really, I NEED to do the same.

Mickey O'Malley

As long as I can remember, a little leprechaun by the name of Mickey O'Malley has visited my house on St. Patrick's Day Eve.

When my brothers and I were little, we would set little black pots outside of our bedroom doors on the night before St. Patrick's Day.

In the morning, we would wake up to find our bedrooms completely out of place. Furniture would be flipped upside down and gold glitter would be sprinkled everywhere. Our little black pots would also be filled with green candy and cold coins.

Our parents would tell us that this was all the work of Mickey O'Malley.

I believed that this leprechaun existed until I was about twelve-years-old.

Normal.

These days, my parents still give us St. Patrick's Day gifts, but they now take the credit themselves. Our bedrooms are also left in proper order. No leprechauns are involved.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)

Some roommates celebrating St. Patrick's Day (a day early)! :)

I HAVE RETURNED!

Hello, hello lovely bloggers!

It has been far too long.

Let me reintroduce myself.

My name is Jenna. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a goldendoodle named Ellie.

Oh, and I am done with undergrad!

Hooray hurrah!

On a low note, I did not survive finals week with a voice or tip-top health. I can hardly speak and have an awful cold. Sneezes and coughs occur roughly ever twenty seconds.

On a high note though, I am celebrating the end of an exhausting finals week with a dinner party at Ben's new apartment tonight. His tentative menu included lamb ribs and champagne mango salad. When I talked to him at 1:30PM this afternoon, that menu had turned into sushi or "whatever he could get catered."

Very typical.

I cannot wait to catch up on everyone's blogs! I've missed them so much! :)

Chicago to Cincinnati and Everything In-between

Today was my last day of undergraduate class.

Obviously I am feeling quite nostalgic.

I have changed so much since my first day of college in September 2008.

I began my college career at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. I was an International Studies major hoping to have a minor in French. I looked like this.

I ended my college career at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have earned my BA in English-Creative Writing Fiction and a minor in International Business. I look like this.

I was dating my high school sweetheart. I thought I was going to marry him.

That boyfriend is now gay and one of my best friends in the world.

I had never met these amazing girls.

Or these ladies either (except Rachel that is- we went to the same high school together).

They're all some of my closest friends. I don't know how I lived without any of them.

Even though there are so many uncertainties in my future, I've never felt more confident or happier with myself. I've learned so much about myself during these four years of undergrad and am amazed over how much has changed and how far I've come since 2008.

Here's to a bright future!

Blog Hiatus

For the next two weeks, I will be a slave to my schoolwork.

Sleep and I will not be spending much time together, and this makes me quite sad.

I shall report back to Blogger in approximately two weeks once this soul-crushing winter quarter is complete!

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Dramatic, I know.

Am I artsy or what?

Marching on!

Is anyone else incredibly excited for the lovely month of March to have arrived?

Au revoir l'hiver, et bonjour le printemps!

Excuse any French grammatical errors. It's been a while. 

Speaking of Printemps, now all I want to do is go shopping.

Oui, oui!

Anyway.

Here are a few things I'm looking forward to this month...

1. GRADUATING- By Thursday, March 16th, I will be finished with my undergraduate career! I have about eight weeks off until I begin a full-time job this summer, and I cannot wait to read, write, and just relax! 

Here I am at high school graduation with fellow blogger, Mandy! Yes. I was an unfortunate looking eighteen-year-old. And yes, I look bad in a cap.

2. "West Side Story"- My mom and I are going to go see her favorite Broadway play while it is in town this month. An epic love story, gang wars, and singing? Sounds wonderfully dramatic! 

Oh my gosh! It looks so romantic!

3. Getting rid of my Blackberry!- I have grown to despise my Blackberry. I am embarrassed to be seen with it in a world of iPhones and Droids. Its slow and shady performance does not help matters. I am not going to end March with this dumb Blackberry. Quote me now. We've had some wonderful times together, Blackberry, but now it is time for you to go!

Bye!

4. St. Patrick's Day- Who doesn't look forward to St. Patrick's Day? We will be having a St. Patrick's Day Eve party at our house, and I can't wait to wear green and (hopefully) utilize Pinterest for some fun St. Patrick's Day ideas!

St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, circa 2009.

5. Spring- Fresh wardrobe...that wonderful smell in the air...rain showers...love, maybe? ;)

Kate Spade <3

Happy March!!!