A Band in the Townhouses
I am so excited because (I will repeat) we had a band in the Townhouses! Last night we had the Semi-Exotic Somewhat Erotic Townhouse Bash here in the Townhouses. We had residents come from all over campus to the Townhouses to play games, hear a cool band, and just hangout with their friends. (And in an effort to make this educational, we also provided everyone with statistics on safe-sex and alcohol awareness on every soda given out and every prize and piece of candy anyone received.)
In the Townhouses, we had a corner of our parking lot that we closed off and completely transformed it into a Halloween Party zone. We covered the area with orange and purple lights along the fence and in the bushes. Then we had huge posters and door decorations along the back fence to add to the Halloween feel of things. Everyone in attendance got candy just for coming and then we had a bunch of games like “Pin the Condom on Frankenstein,” (feeds into the Somewhat Erotic idea) and a Pumpkin Throwing Contest, but we didn’t forget some of the classics like Bobbing for Apples. And we gave away so many prizes. If you could spell, you got a prize. If you were energetic, you got a prize.
It was just so much fun. As entertainment, one of the A Section RAs Quentin and our Area Coordinator Scott were our “MCs” for the nice and then we had the band Lynus perform. Lynus was really good. They played for about 30 minutes and when the band went on, everyone that wasn’t out came out. It was great to get to “rock out” with all of my friends and residents.
Tennis?
I just wasted $18 and change on a new tennis racquet. Dan and I went to Copeland’s today so he could buy athletic shorts because he didn’t own any, and we each left with a tennis racquet. Obviously we didn’t invest in the most expensive or top-notch racquets of the pros, but they got the job done. The reasoning behind buying a tennis racquet, it looks like fun and it will promote working out. I mean what’s more fun than hitting a little yellow ball at someone.
So we got back to campus and I put on my pink Nike Shox, pulled up my hair, grabbed my racquet, and headed over to meet Dan. Lucky us, the tennis courts are like the backyard of the Townhouses. So we take the short walk over to the court, racquets in hand, and look for the lone open gate to get into the tennis courts which is located on the total opposite end of the courts, far away from the Townhouses. Upon entering the gate, we decide to simply warm up by hitting the ball around.
As time progressed, we established that I can serve and Dan can return. But in comparison to actual tennis players, we must have looked hilarious as we attempted to hit the ball with all our might, only to see our racquet wiff by the ball. Or my personal favorite, the serves that flew over the court and into the fence way beyond it.
Yeah for tennis. I will eventually conquer this sport. And learn how to properly keep score.
Cake Concert
Yesterday, I attended my first ever concert. A sad but true fact. ASUOP had arranged for the group Cake to perform at the Bob Hope Theatre and tickets were only $15. So I decided to go even though I had only heard 2 Cake songs before in my life. I am so glad that I decided to go to the concert because I had such a good time.
I went with Dan and my GRD Sarah to the concert. I consider it a little bit of staff bonding since we all work together on the Townhouse RA staff, except Sarah is my boss. Sarah drove us over to the theatre and when we got there it was really cool to see the band’s name on the Headliner Board for the theatre. There were tons of people there and when the band finally started playing it was awesome. As soon as Cake took the stage, Dan, Sarah, and I all went up to the floor right at the front of the stage. Then the music started flowing from the speakers and we danced the whole time. We were so close to the band that we could have probably reached up and touched them if it wasn’t for Matthew the security guard who was sitting right infront of us.
The night eventually concluded with the band coming back on stage and performing another 3 songs after they had left the stage to end the concert. I had such a great time learning how to rock out at a concert, even to a group like Cake, and just hanging out with my friends.
Self Defense
Nothing is more fun than pinning a grown man on the floor with a simple
flick of the wrist. Last night, we held the Townhouse Personal Defense Program
in Baun Fitness Center. It was a blast. There were about 30 people in attendance
from all the residence halls around campus and even a few girls from Tri
Delt. Almost all the Graduate Residents Directors were in attendance showing
support for the awesome Townhouses.
Officer German ran the program. He works for Public Safety on campus and stands a whopping 5’3”. Just imagine if you can, a 5’3” man using a 6’1” male volunteer to attack him and then free himself with ease. Each time as the attacks got more intense I couldn’t help but laugh at the poor volunteer that got chosen. Each volunteer always ended up at the mercy of Officer German.
I, unfortunately, was not as successful as Officer German in my attempt to free myself from my attacker. Dan (see Dan Cammarano’s journal; it’s the same guy) with his super human strength was the best partner to try and learn with. Oh, but he eventually went down. I figured out how to “free myself” from his death grip by the end of the night. That’s right—Dan got taken down by a girl!
The program was a blast because most of the Townhouse staff was there by the end of the night. My roommate and I teamed up to tackle Dan. Kevin, the A Section RA, taught me a bunch of new self-defense moves in addition to the ones Officer German showed us.
But by far the best part of the night was watching my GRD, Sarah, become a “volunteer” for Officer German and get “bent into submission.” She wasn’t really a volunteer. I asked Officer German while he was walking around if he would use Sarah for the best disarm and he did. It was so funny. She eventually found out I asked him to use her while I took pictures of her being controlled like a puppet by her arm.
HAPPY BID DAY!
Today I celebrated Bid Day with my new pledge class for Kappa Alpha Theta. It rocked my world. We had a Coca-Cola theme going so everyone in the house was wearing red Bid Day shirts sporting, “Enjoy Theta,” on the front and “Always the real thing. Kappa Alpha Theta Phi Chapter,” on the back. The house itself was decorated with signs saying the names of everyone in the pledge class and phrases associated with Coca-Cola like, “Always the Real thing,” and “Enjoy Theta.” So awesome!
We spent about an hour and a half taking pictures in front of the house and blasting music from cars. Abbey, one of my fellow Thetas, had her awesome blue Mustang parked in front of the House in the middle of sorority circle, so whether or not any of the other houses wanted to hear our music, they got to.
It was also really cool to see all of the other houses with their pledge classes and Bid Day shirts. Each house had a different theme going. The Tri-Delts had a, “Stay Classy,” theme. On their sign for their pledge class it said, “Stay Classy Tri-Delts,” and it totally reminded me of Anchorman and Ron Burgandy’s, “Stay Classy San Diego.” I went and said hi to my roommate, who is a Tri-Delt pledge, and we took more pictures and then went our separate ways.
All of us Thetas took off to Modesto after doing some traditions in the house. We went to John’s Incredible Pizza and played some hard core laser tag. We wore the black light sensitive armor and brandished some large neon guns in the black light battle ground. I was the high score on my team. We won needless to say. And since we were in Modesto, we had to stop by the mall and look at dresses for our Semi-Formal on October 1 st. We found some really cute ones for like $20, but no one brought money so no dresses were bought.
The evening concluded with a band playing in the Grace dinning hall. I was sporting a pink cowboy hat and sitting in the front row with my pledge class while the band was playing. Then in between songs, one of the guys asked if I’d trade him my pink cowboy hat for his Boston Red Sox one. We traded and I got to wear an oversized baseball cap while he sang and danced in a pink cowboy hat. Bid Day rocked my socks!
Oh My Gosh!
I am so stoked. I got a bid yesterday for Theta. It rocked my socks. Kate called me and invited Nicolette, Caitlin, and I to breakfast at the house and coffee at Starbucks. We decide to meet at 7:45 in the morning which was really hard for me since I am not a morning person. So I get there in the morning, slightly late, like 7:55, and Sarah and Melinda are down stairs waiting with Kate so we can go to Starbucks. Caitlin couldn't make breakfast and neither could Nicolette.
So Sarah, Kate, Melinda, and I all went to Starbucks, my favorite. We get our coffee and they say, “Let's sit down and drink our coffee here." So we're chilling in Starbucks and Kate tries to offer me a napkin and I'm saying, “I'm good.” So Kate is just like here and hands me an envelope. Inside is a little piece of paper that invites me to join Theta. AHHH!!! I was so excited all day. Nicolette and Caitlin also got bids too. Today, I'm still flying high on excitement.
Being An RA Rocks My Socks!
RA training is in full swing at the moment. I am now certified in first aid and CPR, and me and the other newly trained RAs ran around tapping people on the shoulder and saying, “I’m certified in first aid and CPR. Can I help you?” We were trying to imitate the cheesy people from our training videos and it has since become a new inside job between everyone in Housing. I feel like such a big kid.
Training has proven to be a lot more fun than I originally thought. I get to spend time with a bunch of my friends learning school policies, making door decorations, and doing a Apartment condition reports. Being a member of the best staff ever, we Townhouse-ers also get to spend what free time we have swimming and working on our tans because we have a pool. My room definitely overlooks the Townhouse pool which is really nice because we can play our music while we are out at chillin’ at the pool. Totally got to do that twice today.
But today a tragic event did occur. Chester, our mouse friend, is no longer with us. Our comrade fell victim to a mouse trap that we placed out for him. We were not fond of Chester or him eating our bread, so there was no other way. The little fella had to go. As a sign of respect, we did bury him behind the apartment, trap and all. He should have left when we made our first request, but no. And that what he gets.
Also, we chalked Sarah's sidewalk tonight. Sarah is our graduate resident director and boss, and we wanted to do something fun for her. So, as a staff we decided on chalk. Gosh I love chalk. Four of us made a walkway of chalk drawings, very similar to a yellow brick road. Dan drew Chester, foot prints, the master key, and ever Sarah herself. I wrote "Sarah rocks my socks" and drew some socks. Other images included stars and flowers and phrases like “Sarah is awesome.” I’m so happy with how cute it turned out. I think she’s going to like it.
Townhouses?!
We did it! Me and Nicolette, my best friend, got spots as RAs. Nicolette got Grace and I'm in the Townhouses. I’m really happy for Nicolette because Grace is a great place. There’s just so much energy in that place no matter what time it is and I love living there. And the Townhouses? That's ridiculously awesome! The Townhouses have a pool and an outside volleyball court. Plus, all of my friends from Grace this year are going to be living there. The Townhouses are just like a grown-up Grace, fun and loud!
My residents are going to all be older than me, but I do know a lot of them already which is kinda nice. The good thing is that Melissa, my current RA, is also in the Townhouses. We’re going to be roommates and the only girls on the staff. I'm so stoked. I can’t wait to find out who the other people are on my staff. It just blows my mind.The Townhouses!
Friday Volleyball on Wednesday Night?!?!
Yup you read right. Last night we played volleyball at like 10:30 over on the court on Hand Hall Lawn. It was so much fun. Everyone made it out there. Nicolette and I taught all the girls the softball slap, a little something involving hand slapping and arms crossing. We would have huddles the same time as the boys were strategizing and be all like, "Ladies, our no plan is working. So let's keep it up!" The boys were getting so frustrated because they weren't winning. They are so competitive it’s kinda sad. So things got all intense and we were all diving and running all over the place after the ball. And as a result of the diving, there was sand in places it shouldn't be. But then the boys got their act together and beat us by three. Good for you boys, you deserve it. Just Kidding! Then it was off to the showers! I love 2nd floor Grace.
Last night also rocked because Nicolette and I decided that we wanted cheese cake. So we went to Macaroni Grill to get cheese cake with strawberries to go. It was just so random because we were studying in the lounge I was like, “I really want some cheese cake right now.” And Nicolette was like, “That does sound good.” So we jumped in my car and drove the 2 stop lights to get to Macaroni Grill. We made it there with 15 minutes to spare before they closed. It was so delicious. It also gave us a well needed break from studying.
E-mail Kristina 
