Honest to Golf

The truth? Ugh, I’m no good.

I went out for the second time today with the padre. We were joined by my brother and his gf. She’s my buddy and not great either, but she definitely beat the crap out of me (we weren’t actually keeping score, but I know I did Not do good. Oh, no.).

I’m trying. Really reallyyyy trying. Golf is, um, reallyyy hard. Nobody warned me of this. I didn’t think it was super easy, but gaahhh.

My Dad is serving as my coach, it’s his natural tendency. He’s pretty darn good at this golf thing, so I’m taking the advice as it comes. But there’s just so damn much to think about. This is generally how my thoughts would read, before EACH swing (tee off, hit, chip, putt, whateeever)…..

“Watch the ball..”
“Use your hips, and rotate with your back…”
“Keep your shoulders straight….”
“Don’t swing with your hands…”
“Let your left hand pull through…”
“Keep your hands in front of the ball…”
“Left hand on top, wrap your right around”
“Visualize your swing…”
“Don’t swing too hard, let the club do the work…”
“Follow through in one line…”
“Swing down, hit the ball…not the dirt under the grass, or the air above it…”
“Aim with your feet and the rotation of your hips…”
“Push the weight off your right foot, and end with it on your left…”
“Don’t stand up while you swing, stay low, don’t lock your knees…”

Yes. I’m totally serious. I have learned that ALL of these things are what makes a golf swing good. Or great, if you’re lucky. Usually I’m not, but every once in a while I get this freak-beautiful-shot that goes into the air and sails right to where it’s supposed to be. Ah, what a feeling. Watching that stupid white round thing fly.

Don’t even get me started on the ‘putt’. It’s completely different. But I’m not too bad in that area.

I’m not giving up just yet, although I did “quit” a hole or two today. Ehhhh. Oops. I’m not proud of this, but ya know what? The course was busy and people were behind us and that stressesss me out. So, instead, I just picked up that little white ball and walked it up to the green. Things are much easier that way.

No, really though. I will keep going. I’ll get better. In the words of my very wise Padre, “You didn’t learn to play the piano by just doing scales. But you did have to start with them.” (in reference to why I need to go to a driving range so I can get used to my ’swing’). Gotcha’ Dad. You’re a good teacher, so I’ll keep practicing, and I’ll get there. I may not have your 12 handicap anytime soon…..the goal for now is just to hit the ball every time I swing. That’s not too much to ask, right? Ehhhh.

Reconnected

My parents have finally made the switch!

Never again will I dread coming home to the slow, frustrating behavior of dial-up internet. Never again will I have to wait 45 minutes for the computer to upload 1 picture, or 10 minutes for it to even upload the website I’m trying to get to. Never again will I have to wait for the following; dial tone, static, dialing, static, ringing, static…………………………………..connected.

We finally have the luxury of wireless internet, and if you have it…don’t take this luxury for granted! Think back to those days of having to “dial-up” to be connected to the internet….and how wonderful it is that now you are Always connected. Now I can freely surf the internet, check emails, upload pictures, stalk facebook, and read/write blogs (of course)!!

Aside from being reconnected to the world wide web, it also feels so wonderful to be reconnected to the most important people in my life….the family :). Due to the fact that I go to school on the other side of the country, I honestly do not see them enough. This time, it had been 5 months since I had seen my siblings. Thankfully it had been a mere 6 weeks since I had seen the parents, since they made the trip over for a little PennState weekend this Fall.

It’s gotten to the point where I associate being in an airport with “going home”. And if I’m going home, it also usually means that I am done (or almost done) with another semester of tests/papers/stress/school. Therefore it is my time to completely relax, enjoy doing household “chores”, and totally soak up the fact that I have nothing to do.

To know that I have a family that I can’t ever wait to get back to and a house that always feels like “home” makes me feel so lucky.

Family Matters

Those Winslow’s had it all right. Family Matters.
“As days go by, it’s the bigger love of the family.”

Oh, so true.

After a weekend that (to me) started Wednesday night upon the arrival of my parents, I feel content. It consisted of everything PennState of course; Creamery ice cream, football, classes, hiking Mount Nittany, lots of walking around campus, buying PennState everything at the Student Book Store, ridiculously long wait-times for a dinner out on the town, Cirque de Soleil (alright, that might not be “penn state”, but it was a damn good show!), the Farmer’s Market, unexpected torrential rain (although in State College’s defense, it was short-lived for once), surprisingly beautiful sunny weather, more Creamery ice cream and more football. Good stuff.

Despite living 1,000+ miles away from my family, I feel like they are as close as they have ever been. It’s amazing how a relationship with parents can change so much in just a few fast years. They are no longer just the people who watch over you, give you advice, take care of you, and tell you what you can and can’t do. Instead, they become your friends, confidants and comfort. They will always have the advice on life (should you decide to take it), the guidance, the experiences, and the time to focus on you.

It felt good to show them around the life I’ve made for myself at college and know that they are proud of me. It also felt good to legally order a drink with them at dinner, beat my dad at “Hearts” (this does Not happen often, he’s a tricky one), and to not care if I went “out” this weekend because I was just as content spending the nights “In” hanging out with my parents.

Although I did spend Saturday night on the town, once again hittin’ up Lulu’s Nightspot. Good stuff right there.

Saying good-bye is bittersweet. Back to this college-life of mine, which is nothing to complain about. And only 6 weeks until Thanksgiving break (counting down, of course ).

Six days Later

Here I am again, blogging at 1:41 a.m. (Larisa, I think I’m giving new meaning to your “night blogging” philosophy…).

I didn’t intend to wait almost a full week before another post, but a lot can happen in six days! Recap:

-Stressing Out.
-Studying. Homework. Reading. Non-stop. Way too much time at this desk.
-Watching football.

To be specific, watching our Lions lose to those Wolverines, for the bagillionth time. Not the exciting study break I was looking for guys, c’mon now. (Did Morelli actually put his head through a wall?? I think we are all wondering….)

-Cleaning in preparation for my parent’s arrival (Tomorrow night!!!!).

Logic was absent in this task. Cleaning a college apartment on a Saturday morning, pre-going-out-to-Lulu’s night, and pre-Sunday laziness (more football watching) is really not effective. At all.

-Shopping at Target.
…..twice. I have some amazing aviators and red-pumps to show for it.

-Going out with ALL of my roommates for some drinks and dancing. Oh what a night.

Just for you, Larisa, I will mention that yes; I almost lost my phone. We won’t talk about that. Phone getting kicked around the dance floor all night: Unhappy me. Overall night: Fabulous.

-Taking the first of four 2-hour Essay tests, for a science-based class. Not nice PennState, see above reasons (i.e. stress, studying, 1:41 a.m.).

-Working.

Here I feel the need to mention that tonight I found a hidden treasure. Books on everything you ever wanted to know about Food; chemistry, cooking, restaurant operations, nutrient contents, baking, fruits & vegetables. Everything. I have finally found a purpose behind working in the library. Yes, these books are located on the 3rd Floor of Paterno, aka Business Library. Expect to see some book reviews very soon!

…and all of that finally brings me to 1:56 a.m. Six days later. It’s amazing to me that last week the thought of this simply stressed me out. And here I am, in the midst of the overlapping exams and assignments (and still needing to clean up). Surviving and relaxed.

Tomorrow night I get my cherry on top; Mom & Dad, welcome back to Happy Valley!

3 weeks from today

The first countdown I started was during the Fall semester, freshman year. Approximately 8 weeks from the day my parents dropped me off, they were coming back to visit me as an official college student. Three years later, and three weeks from today…they’re comin’ back to the Valley.

Things that I have had a countdown for:

-Weeks/days until family visits

-Weeks/days until I see Alex

-Classes/exams until a semester ends

-Days until Grey’s Anatomy is on (yes, this is how we got through the weeks)

-Days until we turned 21

-Days of work left on jobs that didn’t tickle my fancy (YCC summer job anybody?)

…and the list goes on. Including anything and everything thatI’m excited for. Does it make the time come faster? No. Does it make me more excited for whatever is going to happen than I was to begin with? Probably not.

Where did I come up with this crazy countdown idea?? hmmmm.

On that note, 30 more minutes until I’m off my shift at the library. Very nice.