Up Top, Down Low, What about an Elbow?

Last night I had a dream that starred my favorite male soccer player. Christian Pulisic and some of his buddies were at the airport and were in line ahead of me at security and bag check. Being the smooth talker I am, I said something and we started chatting. One thing led to another and he was putting my cleats into his bag to hold onto. That’s literally it. I don’t know. Don’t ask questions. I’m not. 

I woke up this morning at 8:30, which is normally a typical time for me to wake up. But ever since quarantine, I have been sleeping in a little later. But not today. It’s like my body knew I had to be up for some reason. I got dressed to do a little workout in my living room and my mom was flipping through the channels on the TV. I took a quick phone break and saw on Facebook a reminder that the Bundesliga, a professional football association in Germany, was returning this morning. 

“MOM. PUT ON FOX SPORTS 1. RIGHT NOW.” 

She did and she saw that it was two random German league teams and put back Mr Holland’s Opus. 

“Mom. It’s not just any team. This was the team that Christian Pulisic used to play for.” 

“Who?” 

“I’m going downstairs.”

Growing up, every Saturday morning there would usually be soccer on the TV. We really didn’t keep up with the teams or care much for them, quite frankly, but soccer was a background noise in the house on the weekends.

Finally, back to my roots. I felt at ease suddenly. Can I mention that I am scared of my basement and never go down there by myself, so for me to sprint down there, slam the door and relax without looking behind me every five seconds to see if someone is coming out of the boiler room means that this was important. I was just sitting on the couch, watching some soccer, living life. But two seconds later I felt antsy and felt like I needed to run. So, what better view to run on your treadmill to than soccer? Sure beats the Food Network which has been my go-to (Bobby Flay and Ree Drummond I didn’t mean that you know I will be back tomorrow.) 

While I was so excited to watch the game, I couldn’t help but notice some major differences. 

For starters, there were no fans. That is something I have heard a lot of people be upset about, the fact that they might not get to see their favorite teams play, but I would much rather be able to watch them on TV than not at all. Besides, fans are ROWDY. I got to hear the movie without the soundtrack. Let me explain.

Everything being said on the field they might as well have been saying to me. After a goal was scored, instead of the insane chants from the superfans, you can hear the five people on the sidelines clapping. I also swore I heard some chanting so maybe there was a recording or the few people there did it? You can also hear the echo of the ball being passed, striked, whiffed. You can hear the echo of the teammate reactions to a header or a solid play. 

My FAVORITE part about the entire game? When they scored, (Dortmund) which they did four times, the players had to obviously alter their celebration routines. One player just stood by himself rocking side to side, dancing with some mates who were feet away. Don’t worry, I provided footage down below. Another player elbow-bumped some of his teammates who were around him. One of the guys put his hand on the shoulder of the player who scored and then moved it back like it was lava, remembering that they probably shouldn’t be touching each other. 

With that being said, I still have some questions. 

For starters, where can I get one of those stylish black and yellow Dortmund face masks? They were très chic. Again, I got you down below.

Second, the amount of contact that players have with their opponents between tackling for the ball and guarding has got to be the same amount of contact, if not more, than a simple celebratory hug. Funny I should say that because after doing some research online, I found that former Bayern Munich star Stefan Effenberg made the exact same point in an article discussing the issues with starting back up again so soon. Great minds think alike...I’m just saying. 

Obviously, the league is following health regulations. They bumped up the number of substitutes allowed during a game from 3 to 5 and the locations of the games are even allowed to change if need be. I’m sure they are constantly doing testing and when you come off the field, you need to wear a mask. During the game, they zoomed in on a player pulling down his mask to take a drink of water and then pulling it back up, with commentators saying “now that is how you drink water.” I didn’t realize that that close-up was necessary but it it shows people how to use a mask, so be it.

The coaches on the sidelines sat six feet apart and wore masks, as did the training team, subs and the sideline referees. Sometimes I noticed a coach not wearing one, but that was probably so they could call out instruction.

At the end of the game, the Dortmund players thanked the nonexistent fans, facing what is known as “the yellow wall" in their home stadium. Waving, bowing. They even lined up, did a jog and brought their arms in the air and shouted. Seemed like a ritual that they figured could not be halted now just because of the circumstances. 

They were saluting their loyal fans at home. Looks like I’ll become one. 

It’s been a long two months without sports, but they are slowly but surely starting to return, even if we have to start fan-girling over teams in a different country. Soccer is soccer. Sports are sports. 

And if you aren’t a soccer person, can I recommend you start watching? For your own sanity?







 

Backyardigans

Have you ever looked at your backyard? Like really looked at it. I’ve only recently come to realize how pretty mine is. I don’t have a pool or a patio or a garden. It’s just a big fenced-in area of grass. It used to have a soccer net but now it has a hammock and one green Adirondack chair that is seemingly attached to my father’s hip. 

I probably dribbled a soccer ball back there a few times. One time, we had my travel soccer team come over for a practice. My coach, Desmond, had us watch some film in my living room first and then we ran circles around my house - did I mention my front yard is a hill? It was quite the productive practice. Before we had the fence built up, we would have to chase the basketball all the way down into the woods separating our house and the one behind us. I did most of the chasing. I miss 99% of the time. 

My dog plays frisbee back there. She digs and rolls around for and in who knows what, emitting an awful smell resulting in frequent bath times. She barks at the soccer ball and likes to chase it when I dribble. We play monkey in the middle (obviously she’s in the middle, the youngest always is.) She sits underneath my dad in the Adirondack or underneath my mom in the hammock. 

We’ve had plenty of friends over back there. Birthday parties. School barbecues. Most recently, we had a social distance family birthday barbecue. We had a huge circle of random chairs, lawn chairs from soccer games, beach chairs, dining room chairs and the hammock. 

 

On our street, we are really the only house with a backyard like that. Because like I said, we live on a huge hill. Great for sledding, not so great for bike riding. Speaking of bike riding, the backyard has also seen me crash into a tree, bike on my head with the wheels spinning back and forth, dirt and leaves in my mouth. Riding a two-wheeler is hard, okay? 

We are probably the only house that could build a pool if we wanted to. I used to want that. I hate swimming though. But I like to tan. So, I tan on our deck and it’s totally sufficient. When I get too hot, I go inside and pour some water down my back or my neck. It’s like jumping in the pool but a lot less...well...wet. 

If we had built a pool, there would’ve been no room to do any of the things that I spoke to above. No soccer no frisbee no chasing no tag no nothing of the sort. 

The deer community that lives in the woods near my house have seemed to show more love for my backyard than I have all these years. They love to graze, lie in it, leave a little present for us to pick up. We even had some babies born on our lawn. Have you ever seen a brand spanking new baby dear? My apologies - I mean a fawn? It’s something else. 

Next time it’s nice out, go sit in your backyard. If you don’t have a backyard, just sit outside and look around where you live. Be GRATEFUL for the grass and the space you have, maybe not the deer pellets, but be grateful for everything else. 

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10 Things I Learned Before I Turned 20

Well folks, the day has finally come. The era of braces, training bras, puberty and first crushes has come to an end. Middle school was so last decade and if my twenties are anything like the years when I was 11-13, we are all going to be in for a treat. I decided to put together a list of 10 things I learned before I turned 20, something I could pass along to the younger generation. I’m an elder now, so listen up and pay some respect. 

1. It’s okay to cry because it’s over AND smile because it happened 

Normally, a version of this saying is something that a 13-year-old girl would use as the caption of her Bat Mitzvah Insta pic. Thankfully, I don’t fall into that category. But, I did cry and smile at my Bat Mitzvah. I was up on the Bimah in front of probably 100 people, talking about my Grandpa who had passed away about five years before. I had never cried about him dying, even when it had happened. I think I was too young to process it. So of course, what better day to full-on ugly, hysterical cry in front of all your loved ones and friends? I remember feeling myself get choked up during one word and then I lost it. I kept trying to push through and keep reading but it was no use. Thankfully, my lovely father and sister came up and helped me through it. Needless to say, I cried before it was even over and smiled because it happened. 

2. Be a perfectionist, but not a perfect perfectionist 

If you looked at my driver’s license you would see the following: blue eyes, blonde hair, female, organ donor and perfectionist. It’s just what I am. Whether it was crying after losing soccer games because I blamed the goals scored on myself because I was the center back or crying over getting worked up about homework in the seventh grade, I beat myself up. I don’t like to mess up. And when I do, the sky might as well be falling. The world as I know it might as well be ending and I might as well be in prison or something because in my head I did a horrible, awful thing. News flash: you aren’t THAT important Megan. My gosh. I’ve been trying to be more relaxed with how I approach things and reflect. It’s definitely not easy but it has to be done. It’s okay to want to be good at something or even the best, if that’s going to help you grow as a person. But I’ve now come to learn that not everything works out the way you originally think they will, and a lot of times, it’s better the second time around. 

3. Alone time is so, so valuable

I’ve always been the type of person who loves having a bunch of friends. I love talking to anyone and everyone. Heck, they can be a stranger and I will find something in common with them in a minute. When I was younger I was so consumed with making sure I had a playdate scheduled or a birthday party or a social event with friends. Now that I’m older, I think I have different priorities and ways I manage my time. College taught me this. Having a roommate and constantly being around people really makes you appreciate the hour or even 20 minutes alone in your room to play your music out loud or do whatever you want. Even being stuck at home during quarantine, I’ve been home alone once since we started almost a month and a half ago and it was for 20 minutes. I soaked it up. Unfortunately, that probably will never happen again. I find myself every day leaving the living room or the kitchen saying “I’m going to go sing in my room.” I go to my room, close my door, play my music out loud on my bed and just CHILL and SING. Take time for yourself people. It’s so important. 

4. There is no point dwelling on the little things

You know how they introduce Mia Thermapolis in The Princess Diaries as The Princess (emphasis on the cess) of Genovia? Well, if it were a movie about me I would be introduced as The Queen (not princess) of Overthinking! It’s a super, super small island off the coast of Genovia and has a population of one: me. I overthink just about everything. Ordering at restaurants, scenarios with friends, scenarios with boys, literally anything. When I can’t fall asleep at night, I start thinking of things from years before because why not. It’s a curse. Please don’t do that. It really ages you. I’m really trying to work on it. I say to myself, Megan, shut up. And then I’m fine! You should really try it. 

5. Sisters are better than misters 

If you don’t have the absolute fortune of having a sister, I am sending my sincerest apologies. There is truly nothing like it. Double the clothes, double the drama, double the trouble! She is the one person that I can go to with just about anything and she will either talk me down and reassure me that I’m fine, or she’ll just tell me to shut up. So supportive! I don’t even mean that sarcastically. I truly have never had someone who is more of a cheerleader than my sister is to me. Whether it was sports, school, my writing, LITERALLY anything she always always ALWAYS has my back and stands up for me. I try and do the same but she definitely wins the gold medal. Oh, and we get to gossip all the time, which is a girl’s dream come true. Moral of the story is sisters are way better than misters: Why? Easy. 

  1. They are consistent and will always be there for you. 

  2. They don’t stay up until 3 am playing video games. 

  3. They make sure that Saturdays are for you, not the boys. 

6. What I want in a relationship 

Over the years I have learned what I want in a relationship, both friends and ~romantically. Ew I hate that word. As we grow up, friends change and people change. Looking back on past friendships I’ve had that aren’t still intact today, I realize that it’s because we were different in so many ways. Sometimes, that’s a good thing, a fun thing even. But other times, there are just way too many conflicting personality traits and opinions for it to be a healthy relationship. In a friend I want someone who is humble, independent, mature and genuine. Oh and funny. As for what I want in a boy? Where do I even begin? There has definitely been a lot of room for trial and error and I’ve definitely learned what I don’t want. As for what I do want? This isn’t a registration for eHarmony so I’m not going to put out an ad for the perfect boyfriend, but I’ve definitely done some self-reflecting both about friends and boys and finally feel confident in my instincts about them. But word to the wise, boys and girls, just be nice! That’s good enough for me! 

7. Money does not grow on trees

Listen up kids, listen up real well. There comes a time in life when you realize how expensive everything really is. You want pizza for dinner? Cough up a 20. Oh you want to go get ice cream too? That’ll be another 6. AND you want to get Disney Plus so we can watch all your favorite childhood movies? Fine. Hand over 13 a month. I didn’t realize how much all of this really added up until I got my first job and started getting a paycheck. I was appalled at how much gets taken out for taxes and even more appalled at how fast I can spend money. So, I started a system. Paychecks would be deposited into the bank, and babysitting money or any cash I got would be split in half: half goes into the spending wallet and half goes into the savings wallet. After a while, I had saved 700 dollars for a rainy day. I had a job through high school and I got a job when I went to college too. It feels good to make your own money and not have to rely on your parents for every little thing. All I’m trying to say is, go get a job. Stop asking your parents for money. Be a grown up. Buy your own pizza! 

8. Go with the flow, but don’t get caught up in it

When you’re hanging out with a big group of people, sometimes it’s just easier to go with the flow. Don’t make a fuss, do what everybody else wants, you can get Chinese food next time. When you go to a new place, surrounded by new people everywhere, it’s especially hard to not go with the flow because you just want to fit in. Warning: it’s way too easy to get caught up in the scene and not realize that the things you have been doing are not things you actually wanted to do. It happens. So, just make sure to ground yourself every now and then and make sure that you are living a life that YOU want to live. That got so inspirational and deep so fast. 


9. Try new things 

I don’t really like change or venturing out of my safe little bubble. I order the same thing from every restaurant I have ever been to, and if it’s a new place I will look up the menu beforehand so I have an idea of what to order. I don’t like dairy or seafood, which really limits my options. I like candy, chicken nuggets, and cereal. This is going to be the decade that I acquire a more mature palette and become more adventurous with my eating habits. Do not invite me to Paris to eat escargot because I won’t even get on the plane, but maybe I’ll try mozzarella sticks! Yeah I know, I’ve never had one. Let’s not talk about it. All I’m saying is it’s important to try new things and step out of your comfort zone, whether it’s socially or in terms of a menu. 

10. What it means to be content and happy 

I know this may sound like something that doesn’t really need to be taught or learned, but there's a difference between feeling happy and feeling content. To me, happiness is something that can appear and vanish within a matter of minutes. You could be happy because your team is winning and then sad because you lost in the last minute of the game. You could be happy about a meal or a TV show. I’m so fortunate to have had so many things to be happy about growing up, and continue to have today. But for the first time in my life, I finally feel content. I feel content with where I am in life both physically and in terms of accomplishments and things I’ve been working toward. I feel older, more mature and independent. I’ve looked back on past decisions I’ve made, whether good or bad, and have made peace with them. Once this craziness is all said and done, I can’t wait to get back to school and my friends and continue this stage of my life. 


Teenagers, they’re crazy. They’re hormonal and awkward. They’re cocky and confused. They’re excited and nervous. They are unpredictable. But something tells me that none of that will change as I enter my twenties. Bye-bye braces and acne (hopefully), helllooooo to the decade where it’s alllll going to happen. I’m ready for you!



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My Favorite Sports Moments: Experienced and Witnessed

My whole life I’ve either grown up playing, watching, listening to, hearing about or following sports. So naturally, this whole no sports thing has been a little unsettling. This time of year is supposed to be filled with Hockey East Championships and Stanley Cups, going to baseball games on sunny days, March Madness and Final Fours, soccer games and NFL drafts - ones that don’t take place from the couches in the homes of the recruits. 

To fill the void that everybody is feeling (even if you claim you don’t like sports I know you miss it too) I have put together a list of my favorite sports moments, both experienced and witnessed. 

3..2..1…

*Puck dropped*

*Whistle blown*

*Pitch thrown*

*Whatever. The game has begun.*

Let’s start with my favorite moments from when I was in high school. 

  1. It was my sophomore year of high school and my club soccer team was competing in the State Cup. It was the semi-finals game, and we were playing on this beautiful field and there was this great sunset. Whenever I drive by it I still get the feels. After a long game, we went into overtime. And after a long double overtime we went into penalties - the worst way to end a soccer game in my opinion. I had been chosen to take one of the kicks. Don’t ask. I’m still confused. I think I was third or fourth in the lineup and I remember walking up, super nervous. I tried not to look at the goalie. I took a deep breath and took the shot. It was low and to the left. My dad had taken a video of my shot and it ended with the phone by his side, showing a blurry image of the ground, and him exclaiming “yes!” We ended up winning and moving on the finals. The pictures I have from that game are my favorite I have from any game I ever played in. 

  2. So after we one the semis, we moved onto the State Cup finals. We lost 7-0! Or maybe it was 9-0. Lost track. Go us! It was supposed to be my last game playing for the team - I was leaving club soccer to focus on school. Normally, the team who wins gets to go to Nationals. Well, that team already had an invite so we got to go too. It was great! We lost every single game. Clearly should’ve never been there. But, traveling to Colorado with my team, staying in the hotel, going to team dinners and the whole experience was one I will never, ever forget. 

  3. This one goes out to the boys of the 2017-2018 Greeley basketball team. Not only were they great and really, really fun to watch, BUT they got to play at County Center. Driving my friends, all of us sporting our navy and orange, listening to pump-up playlist music on the way - so hype. There were so many people there! They lost. But, it was definitely a high school memory to always remember. 

  4. Lastly, making Varsity as a freshman and eventually being captain my senior year was just an incredible experience in itself and those four years on the team absolutely made high school what it was for me.


Next, my favorite college moments.  

  1. First would be this past November, the weekend after Thanksgiving. It was Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden, Boston University was playing Cornell. Normally, when I go to MSG I see it filled with Rangers fans, Knicks fans, Taylor Swift fans. This time, the entire place was filled with red and white and families supporting their schools. It was the first time I felt that I was really a student at BU and it was so, so cool. 

  2. Another hockey moment is next. Every year, TD Garden hosts a hockey tournament called the Beanpot between Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Northeastern. This year, it was BU vs. BC in round one. In case you didn’t know, BC sucks. We hate BC. You hate BC. Huge rival. We had to win, no ifs ands or buts. So, try and follow this: basically we were losing and then we tied it up to go into overtime. Then my friends and I left because it was getting late and it was a school night and I had an 8 am the next day and I’m lame. Then we stopped in a bar on the way home to catch the score and saw that BC scored. We had to go into double overtime. BUT, long story short is we won and BC still sucks. 

  3. Then in the finals, we were playing Northeastern. It was a ping pong game, constantly going back and forth with who was scoring. The one thing I remember was that there was 1 second left in the game. Northeastern was going to win. AND THEN WE SCORED. WE FRICKING SCORED WITH ONE SECOND LEFT. Literally one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I knocked my french fries over (thankfully not the chicken fingers) because we were all jumping up and down and hugging each other. We lost in the end but whatever. Not the point. 

  4. This one has to be my all-time favorite college sports moment, ever. It happened in the 1956-1957 basketball season. It was Princeton versus Dartmouth, a classic Ivy rival. There were over 3,000 fans in Dillon Gymnasium in New Jersey. It was a close game the entire time, both teams taking turns with the lead. The game went into overtime. With 2:45 left to go, it was tied 59-59. Dartmouth lost the ball out of bounds with 1 second left in the game, which means Princeton had one last shot to take the win. Little Artie Klein had recently come off the bench. The ball was passed to him, and with .01 seconds left in the game, he threw the ball over his shoulder with a 40-foot blind hook shot. It went in. Princeton won. Fans were pouring out the stands. Klein was lifted onto the shoulders of people he knew and people he didn’t. He was 19 years old and he was “Princeton’s man of the hour,” according to the broadcaster (which is where I got all this information). Little Artie Klein was my grandpa. Although I obviously wasn’t at the game when it happened, I’ve listened to the radio broadcast and interview enough times to know the play by play and to picture what it was like. I was there. I think my favorite part about this game is that it still lived on 50 years later when my Grandpa got sick. The Dartmouth player who had been guarding him during the game that day had heard and gave my Grandpa a call. If that’s not sportsmanship, I’m not sure what is. 

And last but not least, let’s get into my favorite professional moments:

  1. My family has been going to Red Bull Arena to see the USWNT and the USMNT play soccer whenever they come to town for years. Usually, it’s an international friendly before a World Cup or after during a victory tour. In 2013, we went to see the USWNT play South Korea in a friendly, but we ended up seeing more than just a game. We witnessed history in the making. Abby Wambach scored a hat trick that game that resulted in her passing Mia Hamm in holding the world record for the most international goals scored, men and women. She retired two years after that and if I remember correctly, that was the last time I saw her play. Insane. So lucky to have seen her play.

  2. In 2018, my family found ourselves at Red Bull Arena once again to watch the USWNT play. It was freezing. But it was a special game, for at halftime, the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team was being honored. They had just won the Olympics a few months before. I don’t really watch a lot of women’s hockey and I can’t even say that I saw more than a few minutes of them play during the Olympics, but having them all come out wearing their gold medals and sporting their gear was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I had the chills. I probably teared up knowing me. I was in awe. God Bless America. 

  3. This one was a fun one. Have you ever worn a Red Sox hat while cheering for the Yankees at Fenway Stadium? Not something I recommend. You get some real funny looks. This past fall I went to a Red Sox-Yankees game. My first ever baseball game was a Yankees game at the old stadium when I was 8. I sported a pink Derek Jeter shirt and made my dad get me a pink foam finger and a signed ball. What a brat. I live in New York but go to school in Boston. I figured why not root for both! If you ever have the chance to get to Fenway, do it. It’s so historic and cool and not for nothing, but the sausage and peppers are out of this world. 


So there you have it. Some of my favorite sports moments, experienced and witnessed. What are yours? 





Lets go Yankees! Or is it Red Sox…

Lets go Yankees! Or is it Red Sox…

After we won the game in PKs.

After we won the game in PKs.

BC sucks.

BC sucks.

We also don’t like Northeastern.

We also don’t like Northeastern.

Nationals! At least we got a nice picture out of it.

Nationals! At least we got a nice picture out of it.

Pants, Sweat and Tears

This weekend was a big weekend for me. It finally happened. Yes, I put on jeans, but no that’s not what I’m talking about. This weekend, I had my first quarantine cry. 

There, I said it. Feels great to get that off my chest. I’m honestly surprised it didn’t happen sooner, considering I have been inside my house for almost four weeks straight and my family is driving me up the wall (but if you happen to ask them, they’ll say that I am the one driving THEM up the wall. Lies.) Am I late to the game? Has everybody already had their first quarantine cry? Rats. 

Maybe you cried because your family is driving you up the wall too. 

Or, maybe you cried because your sister ate the last of the peanut butter and you know your mom won’t be going to the store for another week and you are obsessed with peanut butter toast. 

Maybe you cried because you know someone who has been affected by this virus. 

Or, maybe you just cried. 

My reason for shedding a few tears had nothing to do with anything above. It had to do with exercise. Now, I’ll have you know that I’ve been working out every single morning since being home and I couldn’t feel better. The working out part wasn’t the issue. Here’s what happened. 

All I wanted to do was walk with a friend, on opposite sides of the road of course. And I was all for that idea. Get your steps in while talking to somebody else besides your immediate family so that you could talk to them about your immediate family? Count me in. It was all set up and my friend was about to come over when I got a text saying that their mom wanted to know whether or not I had been social distancing. 

I have been, without a doubt. It should’ve been an easy text back and we would’ve been on our merry way. But, for some reason, I froze. I started second guessing what I’ve been doing. 

Well, I mean, technically I DID leave the house a few times to pick up food or to take a walk with my Grandma. 

Should I say that? Or do they mean have I been recklessly hanging out with people? Because I haven’t. 

What if we do go on a walk, six feet apart of course, and then my friend gets sick somehow? Will that be my fault? 

That last one could’ve been the hypochondriac in me talking, but nevertheless, welcome to the endless train of thought that is my brain. 

I totally understand how reasonable it was for my friend’s mom to ask if we have been social distancing. 100%. I would’ve done the same thing. But for some reason, it made me feel weird. It made me start to second guess my actions over the past three and a half weeks. 

I had responded back confirming that we had been social distancing, and turned the question around, asking if they had been too. But then I just sat on my living room floor, contemplating what I would do next. Would I go on the walk? Or should I cancel? 

I felt the tears coming. I’m not sure why but I just started to cry. I got so overwhelmed and uncomfortable so fast. I said, I’m so sorry. I just had a bit of a freak out. Can we postpone the walk? Of course, my friend was understanding. I will say though, it felt good to cry.

The moral of the story is to never go on walks ever again and to stay inside your house and eat Doritos for every meal and watch Sonny with a Chance because it was just added to Disney Plus. 

No. Disregard all of that. The moral of the story is that it’s OKAY to have a two-minute moment of hesitation and worry and fear and nerves. Everybody is in the same boat. This pandemic has affected everybody in some way, even if it isn’t with the virus itself. 

I had reached out to followers of the blog and asked them how they have been feeling since being home and what they are doing to stay relaxed. 

Some are more stressed at home than at school because of the workload and being with their families 24/7. Some are just more anxious and stressed in general. Some are having crazy dreams - anyone else? I know I am.  

And everyone has their own coping methods too. Some are going on eight mile walks every other day to keep the “quarantine quince” away. That was a good response, I enjoyed that. Others are working out early, baking, cooking, running, stretching, showering and taking time away from their phones. 

Whatever it may be, keep doing it. Eight mile walks though…I think I’ll postpone that one too.

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Alexa, play Work from Home by Fifth Harmony

Howdy folks. How are we? Let’s see. I’m going on day 4 of not leaving my house and I’m honestly doing pretty well. I don’t know what day it is and all of my meals are blurring together but at least I’m social distancing! I thought I would be doing a lot more reading and exercising, but instead I’m just doing a lot of eating. 

The fam is back together under the same roof. It’s tense. I like to push buttons around here and I am running out of buttons to push. Peace and love! Xo.  

I’ll be honest with you. I really don’t even remember when this whole corona thing started, but I definitely didn’t take it as seriously as I do now. I thought people were being way over dramatic and blowing this way out of proportion, and I’m a hypochondriac, so normally I am on the same team as the drama queens. Then, I went to the grocery store with my mom and saw how people were acting and was like oh. Okay. I see it now. 

Then I saw the empty shelves. 

Then I saw all sports get cancelled. 

Then I saw all the local businesses closing. 

Then I saw Tom Hanks get sick. That was a reality check if I’ve ever seen one. Really did a number on me. 

With that being said, I think everyone needs to start taking this a little bit more seriously. Maybe not as serious as my dad who has been trolling the black market in search for Happy Birthday toilet paper in fear that that is all there will be left, but serious enough. 

I’m not saying stop going about your normal lives. I think we should try and keep them as normal as we can, what with our new online schooling and responsibilities. I won’t go into this topic just because there is nothing we can do about it now, but I do wish I was spending my spring in Boston. 

However, that isn’t gonna happen. So, I’m really trying to keep up with my normal schedule. I wake up at a reasonable hour. I watch Tik Toks for way too long. I take a shower - actually, I sometimes take two showers a day just because I’m bored. I then remember that I didn’t leave the house at all today nor did I workout, so I didn’t need to take a shower, but, whatever. So fun! 

What you don’t need to be doing? Going on spring break to a crowded beach or pool where that pool is quite literally the epitome of a germ pool. This is why inflatable kiddy pools were made, for this very moment. Also, if yours hasn’t been closed down yet, please stop going to the gym for the love of god. Do you really want to think about how many hands have touched that 5 pounder that you’re struggling to lift? You can get swole in your basement. 

The one thing that has been concerning me is hearing adults talk about the economy. My teachers have told me that we are going to be experiencing probably the worst economic situation since the Great Depression and that unemployment is going to reach 20%. Is this going to turn into something that kids 50 years from now read about in their textbooks?

Who am I kidding, there won’t be textbooks 50 years from now.

If we as a country haven’t even reached our peak yet with this disease, and have months left to go, here are a few things I am going to remind you to do: 

  1. Do not hoard supplies. We need to share with those who don’t have access. Someone told me they know someone who has 135 rolls of toilet paper in their house. While that would normally be my dream (I pee a lot) that is no longer acceptable. Share a square people. 

  2. Call your grandparents. This is not the time to go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Mine sends me Bitmojis! She’s so techy. 

  3. Write. Start to write down how you are being affected. Share it with people. Talk to people. Offer your ears to someone who needs to be listened to. 

  4. Wash your damn hands. Wipe down your phone, your computer, your textbooks, your credit cards, your AirPods, your glasses, EVERYTHING. 

  5. Take a deep breath. Light a candle. Play Work from Home by Fifth Harmony, go to your Zoom class and call it a day.

Me in my humble, Boston abode after I prematurely moved out.

Me in my humble, Boston abode after I prematurely moved out.

My Work From Home setup - not too shabby.

My Work From Home setup - not too shabby.

All The Little Things: 14,000 things to be happy about

After years of me complaining and searching, I am excited to announce that I have found the one! 

No. Not a boy. A book! 

You know when a book changes your life? Not to sound dramatic, which we all know I am, but after years of hearing people say that, I finally found the one. 

I used to think my favorite book was Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer just because I found the thought of retiring the idea of sentimentality and going off into the wilderness to be fascinating and something I would never in a million years do - I don’t like camping. I then found out more details about his childhood, and by his I mean Chris McCandless’s, and it made me look at the situation from a different perspective.

That book really made me think about life and what is important in it. Maybe he was right. I don’t need a new car, or new clothes or shoes. I don’t need money. Well, maybe I do need some money. But his point was that there is plenty out there in the world to make you happy that you don’t need to purchase in a store. 

Speaking of the 'h word’, at the end of last year, my mom left a book in my room for me to leaf through. It was called 14,000 Things to be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer. It was literally a book filled with an ongoing list of 14,000 things that have made her happy throughout the years: squooshing ice-cream sandwiches, TV football on mute, a good Monday and the movie We Bought a Zoo are just four of thousands.  

Hm. What a simple yet fantastic idea, I thought.

I’ve always been one to keep a journal. My first one was a gift from my sister for Christmas one year. It was blue and had a big M on it and was from Justice. It was a gold mine of middle school gossip. I wrote down a list of my fifth grade crushes, and out of that list, who I thought I would marry and why. I wrote down a list of the most annoying people in my class, girls and boys. Too bad I haven’t been able to find that sucker in years - Mom, I give you permission to tear apart my room to find it. 

I eventually graduated to leather bound books, where I tried to keep a daily record of what happened and how I was feeling. Senior year I was really good at it. College it was harder; I didn’t have as much time. 

And honestly, I now realize that the way I was journaling was counterproductive. Yes, I was writing down my thoughts and my feelings. But, I found that if those thoughts or feelings were negative, I was just re-hashing them on paper instead of letting them go. Writing them down meant I was holding onto them longer than I needed to be. 

Then I found this book. What did I do when I found it? I went to Walgreens and tried to find the cutest, most Megan journal I could. Perfectly enough, I found a blue and green (two of my favorite colors) watercolor-y journal that said “all the little things” on the cover. I’m sorry, could I have found a more PERFECT and FITTING notebook for this task?

Every night before bed I write a few things down that made me happy that day, whether it be something I ate, something I did, a song I like, or if nothing comes to mind, I think back on happy memories and write those down. 

Here are a few things I have written down in my book: a hot shower after a cold rainy soccer game, ABC Family Harry Potter weekend marathons at home, sourdough bread and falling asleep to the Dear John piano soundtrack. 

It’s something that I have recommended to all of my friends and something I love to share. I have a friend who lost a parent recently. I told him that this was something that helped me focus more on the positive things, which is something everyone needs to practice doing, and that he should give it a try. 

What did he do? He went out to Target, got him and his mom super cool notebooks and a pack of new, colorful pens, ordered the book on Amazon and started doing it that night. It made me so happy. 

People. I am telling you. It’s so simple and you might not think that it matters, but writing down even just one thing everyday that makes you happy or smile is so important. And think how cool it will be to look back on when you finish your own book! I am almost halfway through mine and I love flipping through my old pages.

Here are my first three entries: Home, first bite of pizza, smell of laundry detergent. 

Here are my last three entries: How pancakes have become part of my daily routine, having a red nose after walking in the cold, Trader Joe’s. 

Now it’s your turn. 

This book changed my life and the way I think about things. It’s so easy to dwell on the mistakes you’ve made and think about the past. It’s much easier said than done to focus on the good and the positive and this is such a good way to get into the habit of doing so. 

Feel free to write down in the comments what your favorite book is and why it changed your life! And if you do choose to do start this, send me a picture of your journal! 



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My REAL 20/20 Vision

New Year’s Eve is the perfect excuse to get together with friends, dress up in sparkly dresses, live it up and post pictures on social media. I am guilty of all of this. I myself spent the last night of the decade living it up, babysitting, eating Chinese food and watching High School Musical The Musical The Series - a great show might I add. Oh and I went to bed at 11:30. On purpose.

When I woke up the next morning, I saw a lot of people posting a really creative caption with their pictures. Everyone was like, ~20/20 Vision~, ~I can see clearly~ blah blah blah. Stop. Stop trying to be me. Stop trying to be like US. Those of us who are blessed with having 20/20 vision don’t appreciate the rest of you using our most advantageous trait to get a few extra likes on your Instagram picture.

That being said, I’ll have you know that I have always wanted glasses. Then again, I said that about braces because I thought they would make me look cool and we all know how I looked with braces: insert emoji here: 

Anyways. You are all forgiven. And now that we’re past this, I want to share my goals for 2020. 

I’ve never been one to make resolutions, much less keep them throughout the year. I like to workout on NYE to end the year with a bang, and on the first day of the new year to start the year off with, you know, a bang. 

Eat less bread, Megan. Good one. Eat less candy, Megan. You got it. Gain some self control. As if. 

I don’t see the point in making resolutions revolving around exercise or eating healthier because there are way too many variables that come into play. Honestly, I find myself going in and out of cycles throughout the year where I workout every day for weeks, and then nothing for a month. It happens. I’m as inconsistent as it gets.

I want to write down a list of things I want to accomplish this year so I can hold myself accountable and actually remember them - for those of you who know me, I have an amazing long-term memory but an awful short-term one. So, with that being said, here are some things I want to do this year… 

  1. Get at least two to three clips under my belt - clips meaning articles and publications.

  2. Do something with “College Sucks Sometimes” - all of the anecdotes I received from people about why college isn’t always the best. 

  3. Read more. I used to read all of the time and I have somehow lost my patience and reading stamina. Time to build it up again. 

  4. Spend less money on clothes. You’re welcome Mom. I’m really going to try. 

  5. Get a job at school. It’s way too easy to spend money in a big city and I am bleeding myself dry over here. 

  6. Stop interrupting people while they talk. Alexis, this one’s for you. It’s like I don’t even realize I do and I don’t do it to be rude. I just CAN’T HELP IT. But I will help it. That’s what 2020 is for. 

  7. Learn to blow dry my own hair. Mom this one is also for you. I’m going to be 20 for Pete’s sake; I can’t have my mommy drying my hair anymore.

  8. Volunteer more. Whether it ends up being something I do over the summer, or something I can do during the year, I want to do more to help. 

  9. Stop sweating so much. Why is this still an issue and why I am constantly experiencing the hot flashes of a 50-year-old menopausal woman? 

  10. Watch The Office two more times through before it gets taken off of Netflix in 2021. That will make it 6 times I think. 

  11. Get my Spanish back. I used to be really good and since I haven’t taken a Spanish class in almost two years, I’ve lost it. Necesito mi español de vuelta!

I think that about does it. SOMEONE please hold me accountable. Speak to me only in Spanish. Quiz me on The Office trivia. Manage my spending habits. Ask me to post a How To video of me blow drying my hair. Ask me why something hasn’t been written. Tell me to write something. Help a girl out. 

I can see alllllll of this happening. You want to know why? 

Because I ACTUALLY have 20/20 vision.

Are you joking.

Are you joking.

Taking ~steps into the new year. Or like in Chloe’s case, toward lunch.

Taking ~steps into the new year. Or like in Chloe’s case, toward lunch.

My Crabby Personality

For Christmas this year we went to the Cape to spend it with my grandma. As a mandatory pit-stop, we went to the beach so my mom could search for white rocks to add to her collection, my sister could breathe in the salt air and so I could be chased by a dead crab. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach. Wait no let me restate that. I love the beach in the winter when no one is there and the sand isn’t hot on my feet and I can just sit and stare at the ocean. Even if it was summer, I doubt I would actually go into the water past my feet because I have a deathly fear of sharks and this thing where I don’t like not being able to see my feet. But yeah, the beach is great. 

While I was pacing around in a circle, stepping on rocks and feeling them sink into the sand beneath my feet like I was playing Whack-A-Mole, my mom came up from behind me and put a dead crab in my face and started chasing me. I screamed like a little girl and ran. How dare she? 

I forgave her, obviously. I’m really not one to hold grudges. 

But here I am, three days later trying to muster up something to write about and the thing that comes to mind is the dang crab. 

Initially, when I think of a crab I think of a hermit crab and when I think of a hermit crab I think of someone who stays in their shell and does nothing except be a pet for a first grade class. I was able to resonate with this deeply. Not the first grade pet thing and really only part of the staying in their shell thing. 

We all know that I am the farthest thing from someone who “stays in their shell.” Everyone knows everything about me and I am definitely not shy. But, it’s also no secret that I’m the type of person who loves home. 

Exhibit A: Whenever I was invited to a sleepover when I was younger, I wouldn’t make it to breakfast. I would call my mom to come pick me up at about 11.

Exhibit B: Me crying as a 12-year-old at sleep away camp listening to my parent’s wedding song while trying to fall asleep. 

Now that I’m older and away from home for the majority of the year, all I want to do when I am home is to hang out with my parents and sister and puppy. Yes, I love my friends and seeing them all but I also love ordering food and being in my pajamas by 7 on a Friday watching Disney Plus with my parents.

Is that such a crime? Does it make me lame? No and no.

Also, I hate to say it but Hannah Montana is just not as funny as I thought it was when I was 8.

I’ve just come to appreciate family time now that it’s mostly spent via our FAM group chat that consists of me sending hourly updates which receive no response. They’re so supportive and I love them for that.  

Mom, Dad, Alexis, want to maybe text me back sometime? Thanks.



BEFORE I was ambushed by a deceased crustacean.

BEFORE I was ambushed by a deceased crustacean.

Shell hunting.

Shell hunting.

Miracle on Ice: Pastrami and Pucks

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Happy Holidays everybody!

Nothing screams gingerbread and family togetherness like a rivalry hockey game where half of my family sits on one side of the arena while the other half on the other. We communicated via waving, text messages, and stalker-ish zoomed in photos of each other from the other side. 


It was Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden: Cornell vs. BU. 

My family has always been a huge sports family. Our favorite movie is Miracle on Ice and my sister and dad are big hockey people, proud to be a part of the Rangers’ fan club. I too have attended a handful of hockey games with them over the years, but my intentions behind going might’ve been a tad different.

They loved watching the game while I couldn’t keep up with the puck and was much more concerned with where our seats were in proximity to the chicken finger stand. 

But, I was always a supporter of my high school’s hockey team. Maybe that’s because I knew the players. Now that I’m in college, I can’t say that some of my best buddies are on the team, but we have something in common - Boston!

Now that I’m almost through my first semester at a new school, I can confidently say that it has been a huge adjustment. After talking with other transfers we have come to the conclusion that we don’t feel a part of the school yet. Honestly, it feels like we are just here taking classes. 

That being said, although last night I was surrounded by hundreds of strangers, it was the first time I actually felt like I was a part of the community that is my school. Cheesy. I know. But it’s true! 

The legend himself: Mr. Eruzione

The legend himself: Mr. Eruzione

Along with strangers, of course we were with our family and I saw some friends and familiar faces. It was one big happy reunion. Except we lost. But that’s okay. You win some you lose some. 


The coolest part of the entire night? On the Jumbotron they started playing footage from the winning shot of the 1980 Olympic Games against Russia, and when the song Dream On by Aerosmith came on I immediately got the chills. It panned to a shot of none other than Mike Eruzione, the player who scored the winning goal and was once a fellow Terrier himself.

We really crank out the famous alum don’t we: MLK, Crazy Eyes from OITNB, David Quinn and eventually, yours truly. 

All it takes is some red - excuse me I mean scarlet -  clothes and a really big pastrami sandwich (which my stomach is still hurting from) to get some camaraderie in the air. That, or maybe sports. 

Who am I kidding, of course it’s sports! That’s why I love it. You find your people and you root for the same team. I became besties with the folks behind me after we both agreed that the other team yelling “it’s all your fault” repeatedly at our goalie after they scored was a form of bullying. 


Would it be a trip home if we didn’t have a family outing to Lange’s?

Would it be a trip home if we didn’t have a family outing to Lange’s?

I mean seriously. What are we, in middle school?! 

I for one am in college and am officially part of The Dog Pound. Go Terriers! 




Let's NOT Get This Bread

Me smiling at this veggie roll wishing it was bread pudding.

Me smiling at this veggie roll wishing it was bread pudding.

College is supposed to be a time where you learn a lot about yourself. If I have learned anything, it’s that I am weak. 


Not physically —  although I have never been able to do a pushup — but mentally. I am mentally weak when it comes to the dining hall. 

It’s hard for me to admit my problems, but I figured if I write it and send it out for the world to read (because I know everyone who is anyone reads my blog) that it would hold me accountable for my actions.

In an attempt to spend as little money as possible this week, I have eaten every lunch and dinner at the dining hall. However, I learned that although that may be financially a smarter choice, it’s definitely not a healthier choice in the long run. 

As much as I would like to place the blame on the dining halls themselves for providing constant dessert and fun cereals that my mom never bought me as a child, I know that it’s a me issue. 

Like my kind, caring, supportive sister said, “Obtain self control. You are almost 20 years old. Get a grip.” I love her so much. 


Growing up, buffets were something of special value. Every New Year’s Day and Mother’s Day my family goes to a buffet-style meal where I evidently go ham. Minus the ham - I hate ham. My point is that before coming to college, buffets were meant for celebratory occasions. 

Now it’s just an everyday thing. Congrats, Megan! You went to class today! Here’s an unlimited supply of pizza, bread pudding, stir fry, sticky rice, maybe some salad, coco puffs and waffles for you to enjoy! 

Another thing I have learned since coming to school, and this is actually educational, is that addiction is all about exposure. I learned that from my Drugs and Security class. 

Let’s take today for example. I walked into the dining hall with the set plan of eating peanut butter and banana on toast. A clean, delicious, simple plate. Tastes like home. Naturally, I had to do a drive-by by the dessert table. I wasn’t planning on stopping. But then I saw it. 


The bread pudding. 


If my school does anything right, it’s the communication program and the bread pudding. 

How was I supposed to just keep going, knowing all too well that there probably wouldn’t be any bread pudding like this for a few days, maybe even a week? 

So, I got a side of bread to go with my toast. I was feeling full and definitely content by the time I finished, but then my friend said she wanted to get some. I couldn’t resist. 

THIS IS MY PROBLEM PEOPLE. I could’ve “just said no” like Nancy Reagan advised us teens to do back in the late 80s when she made the D.A.R.E program.

But we aren’t talking marijuana. We are talking carbohydrates. A substance equally as addicting, if not more.

I’m sharing my story with you all in hopes that some of you will be able to relate. You are not alone in this. No matter how comforting that bread pudding may seem, you don’t need it. 

Here’s tonight’s plan: 

  1. Walk into dining hall

  2. Close eyes while walking past dessert so you don’t see if there is bread pudding

  3. Go straight to salad bar

  4. Sit and eat salad

  5. Walk out the door that is not by dessert

  6. Have a lovely, less bloated, evening

Frappuccinos for Life

Big news. Your favorite girl is making big girl moves.

I, Megan Klein, have taken the step through the door of adulthood as I purchased my first cup of coffee. You heard me. First cup of coffee. 

Over the course of my almost 20 year existence on earth, I have prided myself in the fact that I had never once ordered or had a full cup of jo. Sure, I’ve tried a sip here and there, but I always hated the taste, the coffee breath and didn’t want to become addicted to it.

Plus, I did it for the bragging rights. 

Recently, I have found school to be a non-stop around the clock grind. I know, who cares Megan, that’s college. Everyone feels the same way. Except, I’ve been experiencing 12 hour work days, no Netflix time and a severe lack of sleep, and for all of you true Megan fans, you know my bedtime is right when the sun goes down.

Not anymore. Your girl now has a new eating habit and a new bedtime schedule. Things are a changin’.

With the insane schedule I have this week paired with some severe headaches my poor little head has been enduring, I decided that yesterday was the day. The time had come. Coffee. 

Due to the fact that I was oh so inexperienced in this new realm of beverages, I had to consult my coffee connoisseur friends for their suggestions. Of course the one thing that sounded appetizing to me, vanilla cold brew, was conveniently out at the Starbucks location I went to. Weak. I asked them to flavor it up as much as possible, so they put EIGHT pumps of who knows what in there. Not one, not two, eight. 

I walked into Starbucks with less confidence than I normally would on a given day, when I would walk in and order. The hardest decision I’ve had to make in a Starbucks was deciding whether or not I wanted the vanilla bean or double chocolatey-chip frappuccino, no whip of course, because apparently I’m still in middle school.

Unfortunately, this was not going to be one of those times. This was business. There was normally a line out the door but of course there was absolutely no wait which meant I had absolutely no time to make sure this was something I wanted to go through with. 

“Can I help who’s next?” 

I stepped up to the plate. I gave them my order. My order was rejected and I was clearly a foreigner to the world of coffee beans and sweeteners. Honestly, I think I blacked out. I don’t remember giving them my order but I do remember the guy having to ask someone else about the amount of pumps to put in. There was probably some sort of regulation that deemed it unhealthy to put more than a certain amount of pumps in their drinks, but they saw how clueless and hopeless I was and thought, screw it. 

They probably thought I was crazy. At that point, a line had accumulated and it was my cue to move to the waiting area.

Having ordered a grande, I felt like it would do the job. I would take some sips, get some work done and feel fabulous. 

That would’ve been great, had I actually enjoyed my beverage. Is it just me, or does straight up cold brew taste like what I imagine muddy water to taste like? I was so disappointed it’s not even funny. 

I thought to myself, it’s okay. It’s just the first couple of sips and then it will go down easier. Ha. 

Almost two hours went by and I’d say that the grande cup was still 95% full. At this point, there was a puddle, no, a lake forming around my cup on the desk and there were so many condensation drops on the cup that I could no longer see my name written in Sharpie - shout out to the barista for spelling my name right. No ‘H’ is the only acceptable way. 

Is it okay if I pretend like it never happened? Even if you say no, I’m still going to go on telling everybody and their imaginary friends that I have never ever had a cup of coffee. Because technically, it’s true. 

Never have I ever finished an entire cup of coffee. And that is one of the things I am most proud of today. 

Today, as I made the brave choice of going back into Starbucks, I was triggered by the smell of coffee. I sat down and did some work, without the help of caffeine might I add. After I was done, I treated myself to the only thing that seemed fitting: a vanilla bean frappuccino no whip.

Before…

Before…





And two hours after…

And two hours after…

Greetings from Boston!

Guys. It’s okay. I know you’ve all been worried sick but I’M BACK! Did you miss me?! I have so much to tell you all, so I figured I would wait until I was here for one month to recap everything I’ve done and learned thus far.

Where do I even begin. I’m a city girl now, and might I add, it’s the coolest thing ever. No longer do I need to Uber 20 minutes to get a Chipotle bowl - I have one 10 minutes walking distance in just about every direction you can think of. North, South, East, West, Northeast, Southwest…name a combination and walk 10 minutes and you will find yourself at a Chipotle.

I’m living in a dorm style building yet again, but this one is so much better. It’s in Boston, for one. And two, it’s just cooler, okay? My roommate and I are the only double on the floor with three other singles and one bathroom, so we kind of just act like we own the place. Which we technically do, 2 v 1 v 1 v 1 - majority rules. You might think that sharing one toilet and one shower with five girls is a lot, but it’s really okay. Plus, there are about 15 other bathrooms in this joint to choose from. My only complaint? Yesterday, because we leave our door open, we saw a boy walk out of our bathroom in nothing but boxer briefs and a towel.

First of all. I just saw all of you and I don’t even know you. Get a towel dress or something if you’re going to be walking around to find a vacant place to rinse off. Also. There are about five other boys wings in this building, were they all being used?

Second of all. He was looking at me as if I was the one in the wrong. Don’t you judge me for looking at you walking practically nude out of my bathroom.

Third of all. He left the seat up. And to me, that’s just rude.

The bathroom was technically fair game, it’s a co-ed bathroom. I get that. I do. I’m just kindly asking one thing: don’t use it.

Moving along. People keep asking me what kind of things I’ve been doing and I just want to say that I have done more in the past month here (and spent more money) than I would’ve done EVER at my old school. Here’s a detailed list.

  1. I’ve been to two Red Sox games, one being Yankees-Red Sox. Sausage and peppers: 10/10.

  2. I ran into, and I literally mean ran into, my prom date at one of those games. Shoutout to Lewis.

  3. I won a coupon for a free 12-piece Edible Arrangement. Now THAT, is what I like to call a friendly neighbor.

  4. I sat on the curb outside of Fenway behind the Porta-Potties and listened to the Zac Brown Band concert instead of paying 84 bucks for a concert that was already halfway done. Great tunes, and no bathroom lines. My kinda party.

  5. There was a woman playing music for money on the street and she had a little Pomeranian puppy, so of course, I went to pet it because I have no boundaries. Some man was all like, “hey, you can’t just pet her dog and not give her money.” Did I have money on me? No. Sorry mom. But I did have a pack of Airhead Extreme Bites that I had purchased three minutes before. Hope she liked them because they’re my favorite.

  6. I cried on the street after not being able to figure out how to purchase a T-card after 30 minutes of running back and forth between 7/11, underground stations and more. Talk about walking back home feeling defeated.

  7. I walked past Sofia Vergara’s husband on Newbury. I kid you not, my roommate and I stopped dead in our tracks and turned around in the middle of the crosswalk with our mouths wide open. Probably could’ve gotten hit by a car but it’s okay because Joe Manganiello would’ve saved us.

    1. I would like to note how easy it is to almost get hit by cars here. I’m honestly lucky to be here writing this for you guys.

  8. JESSE FRICKING MCCARTNEY WAS SHOOTING A MOVIE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. Love, Weddings and other disasters - can’t wait to see it.

  9. This one is really embarrassing. Here we go. Don’t ask why or how because I can’t tell you. One day, I was clearly in the zone and walked up an extra flight of stairs without realizing it. I knocked on what I thought was my door rapidly asking my roommate to let me in. Two boys who looked very confused opened the door and said, “wrong room?” I cursed. I apologized. I fled the scene. Now, this kind of thing happening once is just a funny mistake. Twice? Unexplainable. Here we go, part 2. I literally left my room to bring my laundry downstairs and instead of coming back up to my floor, what do you know, I went up an extra flight and found myself knocking on the door for my roommate to let me in. I then read the name tags on that door and realized it was once again, the wrong floor. I literally said “not again” out loud and sprinted out of there before they could answer the door. I tried going up there again, this time on purpose, to make amends but I knocked and no one answered. Hopefully they weren’t home. All I know is I see them everywhere and I’m so ashamed. And YES I bring my key with me but I knew she was going to be in there so I didn’t those two times OKAY???

  10. Last but not least, I just want to share my experience with turkey burgers here in Boston. Not great. They just taste really not good to the point where for the first time ever I complained to my waitress and got it taken off the bill. Drowning it in ketchup sometimes doesn’t even solve the problem. I was sweating, shaking and my heart was pounding so fast. I almost cried. But I did it. I’m a big girl now.

So there. Those are 10 things that have happened to me in the short span of four weeks of being here. I’m looking forward to sharing some more recaps and I swear to god if I have to tell you all that I knocked on the wrong door again I’m probably just going to have to change my name, hair color, and probably schools. Again.

Honestly, living in the city is the coolest thing ever. It’s always busy. It’s SO diverse. You see drunk old men coming back from Sox games throwing up on the sidewalk. It’s a blast! Oh and there are so many puppies everywhere. And I pet them all. Again, no boundaries. Stranger danger who?

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Between the Lines

Who would ever think that between the lines of a local paper’s nannying ad they would find two daughters, a husband and a home in New York? Not to mention an overweight not-so-mini dachshund? 


Not my mom, that’s for sure. 

Born and raised in New England, my mom decided at 19 that it was time for her to leave. She wouldn’t follow in the path of her three older brothers and attend the University of New Hampshire and later join the army. She would leave Portsmouth for something bigger with more opportunities. 

What better place to do so than New York? People from all over the world come to the Empire State to accomplish dreams and find new ones. 


She saw an ad in the paper for a nannying gig in a town called Chappaqua. She figured she could do that while paying for school herself,  getting her social work degree, all the while starting a new life. 

She read between the lines of the black and white page and saw a future. 

It’s crazy for me to think that if my mom hadn’t seen that ad in the paper, she never would have come to Chappaqua. She never would have met my dad at Quaker Hill and they never would have gotten married at The Kittle House. She never would have had me or my sister. 


I’m here because of a newspaper. Ironically enough, one day I want my name to be in one, above an article I wrote, not invisible between the lines of an ad and in the eyes of my mom. 


I can’t help but think, what’s the one thing that I will act upon that will truly change my life forever? 

Will it be my move to Boston this year, and starting over? Or will it be after college behind an amazing job opportunity? Will it be presented to me clearly or will I have to look for it? 

I’ve always been someone who likes to plan my life. I don’t like surprises and I like to know what’s coming. I’m that person who has to look up the plot to a scary movie on Wikipedia before watching it so I know what to expect and when to leave the room. I know. I’m the worst. 

So what if my life-changing moment or act is something that I don’t expect? What if it’s already happened and I haven’t even recognized it? 

Sometimes you have to leave home to realize what it did for you and how great it was. We go back to where my mom grew up every summer and it’s my favorite place to go. 

My mom had no clue what New York had in store for her. She had no clue how much those two kids she nannied needed her and in turn how much her own kids would soon need them. She had no clue that getting her degree would lead her to the job she’s had for more than 20 years. 

I can almost guarantee that growing up, my mom’s dream was not to move to Chappaqua. She probably had never even heard of it. But that nannying ad in the local paper took her there, and it took her to me. 

Maybe I should start reading the paper more. 

My mom left the place she was comfortable with when she was 19 for something so unfamiliar. I find myself in the same position as her at 19, leaving what I once thought was a comfortable place for a brand new one in an entirely different state. 

Who knows, maybe Boston will be my new home.

Sister sister.

Sister sister.


Mom and I enjoying the beach where she grew up.

Mom and I enjoying the beach where she grew up.