five

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

my cinco de drinko began circa 11:30 am with Marietta's favorite Viva Mexico following the infamous Kentucky Derby party thrown by the Hatcher's (that included us couple of girls surrounded by parents and didn't go without some debauchery on all accounts). 

cheers, ladies!

 Mexican brunch was followed by a lovely driving tour of Marietta - where so many stories have taken place and so many of my favorite people are from. We went from "this is where I had my first beer" to running through their high school halls to "this is where ____ got in a fight with ____." It was so nice to finally see the places I've always heard about!

all good except Dover couldn't fit in the car

 Then a drive back to Athens for some continued celebrations. Tlaloc: Athen's best Mexican joint. They had bands and raffles and we stuffed ourselves with delicious food and an array of hot sauces, and Chris even brought his own tequila. 

Chris brought us this fine bottle of fun

And what would any night be without some nail painting, Goonies, and a sleepover (with my roommate of course)!? 

I let the artist do her thing

Sunday Funday at its finest!

final countdown

Here's to the end of Junior year! 

To procrastinate finals just a bit, my last days included... 

Kappa's crawfish boil on the front lawn complete with a band and all you can eat Louisiana crawfish. Yum! 

Kappa's Field Party where my hot date was Bolling. (nobody believed us when we said we were gay... darn) 

proof to Mom that we're enjoying the bonfire

A blowout party in the lofts combined with Athen's traditional Twilight Bike Race through downtown ( One of my favorite events of the year). All in all, a fun and sleepless weekend to go out with a bang before finals. 

A trip or 2 home to find Nate's new studying patterns...

Then a holed up many days in the library myself. 

finance on finance on finance

A hair party with Kinman's flow. (Doesn't he look like Boo from Monsters Inc.?)

Some nice strangers brought Krispy Kreme donuts circa 1 am one night. 

And while I was in the middle of exams, clearly others were still livin large in downtown Athens. 

en route to a Friday morning presentation. classic. 

But now exams and junior year are over! Cheers to summer!

it's official

Well! New news: I'll be studying at University of Oxford this fall! Yep, as in England. 

so excited to call this "home" soon

to the races

While last year I was in NZ, the year before was this frat boy babysitting adventure to the Atlanta Steeplechase.  This year, had the privilege of going to the races again with the generosity of the LeBow's. It was a great day in the sun watching horsies and drinking (a lot). 

our bookie

and the Moonshine gets passed around... 

1,2,3, pose, Jay

brotherly love

and of course we were some of the last to leave

weekend in the woods

With a busy schedule this semester, I took a backseat with my job as a trip leader for GORP.  But, they needed a fill-in for a PE backpacking trip for a lovely weekend in April. Um, yes! Fellow leader, JJ and I headed onto the Chattooga River Trail with a dozen students for a great overnight in the great outdoors. We had perfect weather and a willing and fun group. 

trying to forge the river with beer and a fishing rod 

cookin dinner: a Thanksgiving feast

boys and fire...  

what would a campfire be without s'mores?!

vancouver. kiwi style

New Years Day, Lindsey and I joined Bob, Scott, Owen, and Damien up to Vancouver. Mind you, the car had 5 seats. There were 6 of us. Cozy much?

We had a couple of beautiful clear days in Vancouver. Ate good food. Saw the city. And laughed til my stomach couldn't take it any longer. It was great fun!

Lindsey, Bob, Me, Damien, Scott, Owen. A-Team.

dream home. boat houses.

home sweet home!

boys and concrete toys

the boys the 'sperm'

 Lindsey took off early early in the morning. I stuck around a bit longer then time to leave for me as well. Train, bus, taxi then finally to a hostel in Seattle. 

all aboard!

 A day of site seeing in Seattle before heading back home to the South. 

space needle

gum wall

 Ate good food per Ali's request. Drank some Starbucks. Walked til my feet hurt. 

you stay classy, Seattle. until next time!

 Catch ya later, West Coast! Back to school for now. 

seattle bound

From Park City, I headed north to Seattle to meet up with some good kiwi folks and study abroad friends from New Zealand days. (the best days.)

more mountains!

I met up with Lindsey, Katie and Boo at the airport where we were greeted by our favorite host, Nora. Oh how I've missed these ladies! She took us site seeing around her stomping grounds. 

look ma, we made it! 

Nora's ladies

Mt Rainier far off there

the freemont troll

even found a Cockroach look alike! 

From Seattle, Katie, Lindsey, Boo and I headed up to Mt. Baker in search of snow. 

We also found our Kiwi friends: Scott, Damien, Owen, and now Vancouver native, Bob. 

Damien, Bob, Owen

Scott takin Mt. Baker by storm

Katie and Boo left for a New Years in Seattle while Lindsey and I stayed with our new Canadian and not so new Kiwi friends. Things got weird... but great fun nonetheless!

 

morning after clean up

 Happy 2013! Hope your celebrations were just as grand!