We Were Invincible, So We Drove Fast Cars And Drank Too Much...

The Good Luck Joes - Invincible

I've decided that the Joes are worthy of another blog entry. I do believe that they've earned it. I know, it's quite an honor.


Anyhoo, I've had what we like to call an "incredibly super busy week or so," hence my terrible blogging (slash lack there of). But I think that I'm fixed.


So my Madre and Padre came to visit today, which was super exciting. True story.

But let me recap a bit of what you've missed:

So last weekend I drove to Illinois for the Women's Gymnastics Big Ten Championships, which was terribly exciting for me. I basically loved it. We drove down the night before and slept in my car at a rest stop, where we met a new friend. She too spent the night in her car, and in the morning we shared and epic breakfast of Gushers. It was pretty magical.

However, the next night, we drove straight back. Fearing that I'd fall asleep, I chose instead to drink an unsafe number of Red Bulls (read: less than 10, more than 5). It was a horrible decision (read: it was like taking speed, but less fun). I was super jumpy the entire car ride, meaning that everything I saw scared me. I'd be driving and a car would pass, and I'd yell and think I was about to die. Or I'd see a large tree and do the same thing. I did the same thing for roadkill, exit signs, funny looking clouds, etc. It was terrifying. When we got back to campus, and I had to drive through an actual city, I'm pretty sure I had several heart attacks because of all the pedestrians.

But there were no major side effects, save the fact that I didn't sleep very well that night, my eyes were killing me (probably had something to do with me not blinking 6 hours), and for some unknown reason my toes tickled really badly. It was odd.


Wait. I just thought of this. Can we go over the fact that Travis is an awful name? If there's a Travis out there that's not a terrible person, I'm sorry. But except for you, the one exception, all other Travises are bad bad people. The end.


But anyhoo, once more, thanks to my Madre and Padre for driving all the way here to see me, even though they were only going to stay a few hours, and then drive all the way home. You're basically ballers. Fin.

Got Scared 'Cause The Thunder...

Cake Like - Suck


Now that the tournament has officially started, I just thought I would throw this up, so that everyone knows what a winning bracket looks like.

far more beautiful music than i could ever make

Samuel Barber - Adagio For Strings

In case you haven't heard this, you best listen right now. Because it's about the most beautiful thing that I've ever heard. It's also incredibly sad, which is why I'm using it now.

Why am I sad? Well I'll tell you. Miss Mary Ann, the fish, has perished. I just found her, stuck against the filter. I don't know if she died via being sucked there, or if she died, and then was just sucked against it because she wasn't swimming. But either way, I'm heartbroken.

Poor De Quervain too. What will he do without a friend? I'll have to get him a new one.

Well If I'm Undone By Thinking Alone, I Bristle To Prove That I'm Ruled By The Moon...

The Duke Spirit - My Sunken Treasure


I'm fairly certain I've never laughed this hard in my entire life. It's probably not actually that funny, but there you have it. I love it.


Oh, and as the bracket is officially set, it's time for predictions. And yes, you heard it here first. Dayton over Pitt to win it all! WOOO!!!


AND WAIT! HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!! HURRAY!!! I woke up at five to go hang out at the frat that my roommates from last year are in. They had already been up for several hours. Most of them were partaking in an epic case race, but much to everyone's dismay, JewishFormerRoommate wasn't taking part.

As they drunkenly ripped on him, he kept trying to say something about an exam in two hours, but let's be real, that's what we call a "poor excuse." Granted, I too had an exam at 8, and did not partake, but I'm also not in a frat. That's what we call a "super excuse."


Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, I did indeed own my exam. What's that exam? You want to know why the Lochman's test is preferable to the anterior drawer test for an ACL rupture? Well I'll tell you! Because the Lochman's test eliminates the possibility of a false negative due to the hamstrings keeping the tibia in place, it allows the tester to either test just the ACL, or the ACL and the anterior portion of the joint capsule, depending on the angle of knee flexion, and it eliminates the possibility of a false positive because of a ruptured meniscotibial ligament, aka a floating meniscus injury! Suck it!

Yeah, that's how we do.


Final point of the day: let's go over the fact while I love shopping at Salvation Army and Goodwill and whatnot, I don't think I'd ever purchase a wig there. No me gusta.

If I Fall Back Down, You're Gonna Help Me Back Up Again. If I Fall Back Down, You're Gonna Be My Friend...

Rancid - Fall Back Down

I've been on a big Rancid kick lately. I can't help myself. I honestly love them, and this is definitely one of my top ten songs of all time. I love it so. So if you don't know it, and if, god forbid, you don't listen to Rancid (a crime), at least give it a listen. Because you'll love it.


So I got back from my Athletic Training conference in Indiana, and it was basically a magical good time. I met a badunk-load of people, which is always fun. Also, one of the nights, I found myself leading a conga line, teaching strangers how to ballroom dance (how to tango, specifically), learning how to break dance at a hole of a bar called The Thirsty Camel (apparently my nights are all consumed with dancing?), discussing with the head trainers of various schools the logistics of drop-kicking people out of windows (basic conclusion: it would be difficult, but totally worth it), etc.

I also learned a lot. For example, apparently there's a bone in the body that I had never heard of. The fabella. I thought that I was aware of all the bones of the body, but clearly I was wrong. Who knew?

Oh! I also learned a bunch of new Kinesio taping techniques. This was a super exciting lecture for me to attend, because Kinesio Tape is basically my fav kind of tape. It's just super weird, and I love it. In case you're not familiar with what Kinesio Tape is, recall the strange looking tape job that Kerri Walsh had on her shoulder this past Olympics. Also, padre, the Postal Service team also used to use it.

Anyhoo, I find myself using it often on my athletes, but I had no idea some of the things it can be used for. For example: headaches! (number 6, in the picture) Now, I'm fairly certain that wouldn't actually work, though I swear to you, I still don't really understand how this tape works at all. But what I do know is that my athletes always like it, and something makes it work. My guess: wizards.


Also. Can we just go over the fact that St. Paddy's day is the best holiday ever? It's the only holiday that can get stretched over several weeks without me finding it obnoxious. I can celebrate it this weekend, on Tuesday, next weekend, and then at the few lingering St. Patrick's day parties the next weekend. And I love it.

I'm pretty sure that it's the most glorious few weeks every year. For example, yesterday morning/afternoon, I was hanging out at various houses, along with thousands of students. It was a magical sea of green, and I'm fairly certain that nobody was unhappy at all. And in case you're saying to yourself, "say, did you, along with a random frat, yell at a mailman and get him to park his truck and come party and hang out with you guys?" Well the answer to that would be "yes, and it was glorious." "After a little while, he did continue his route?" "Why yes." Though I'm pretty sure he was a little wasted, so it's tough to say if anyone actually got their mail yesterday.

It was strange though, because in the middle of the afternoon, I had to leave the magical fray and go with my friend to the mall, as she wanted to buy new clothes, and when I walked in, NOBODY WAS WEARING GREEN. NOBODY WAS DRUNK. NOBODY WAS DANCING. Apparently, in the real world, outside of my little campus bubble, people only celebrate St. Patrick's day on St. Patrick's day. Losers.


Final point of the day: how could Race to Witch Mountain be leading the box office this weekend?!? I mean, really? It's The Rock...er...Dwane "the Rock" Johnson...I mean...Dwane Johnson! For real?!

And I Remember The Truth, A Warm December With You...

Joshua Radin - Winter


So I'm leaving for Indiana in a hot second for an athletic training conference at IU. It should be a magical good time. Mostly because it's a whole new group of people for me to meet, and as that's my fav activity, it should be stellar.

Plus...I get to get dressed up. I'm stoked.

However, this trip did prompt my FavoriteUConnStudent to point out how lame I am. So here's the question, am I indeed super lame? Well I mean, clearly, yes I am, but did it really take until this for it to show? I feel as if it was always fairly obvious.


So last night, one of my gymnasts and I holed ourselves up in a classroom for 7 hours to study. I had a physics exam today, while she had one in anatomy, meaning that every 10 minutes or so she'd look up with some sort of anatomical question ("where is your posterior superior iliac crest," or "what's the insertion for the longissimus," or my all time favorite, "wait, what the fuck is a fossa? I've been memorizing them for hours, and I have no idea what they are.").

But it was a super good study sesh. For one, I was incredibly productive, and two, it made me feel super smart, because finally I was being asked questions about a subject that I actually understood (as opposed to physics, that is).

So she texted me today, informing me that she owned her exam, and she expected me to do the same with physics. I may or may not have let her down. It's too soon to say. All I know is that no matter how much I study and meet with tutors for that class, I still have no idea what I'm doing. It's upsetting.


Oh, and dear madre, because I'm going to forget to tell you. One of my friends totally used to be your patient. The last name connection was made today. I don't know what made her think of it, but there you have it. It made me giggle.


Also, this might be the funniest thing I've ever read. One of my friends sent it to me, knowing my hate for Nickelback (as they're the absolute worst band ever). But even better are all the comments afterwards. It's super intense, and I love it.

Stop Telling Me The Right Way To Go, I'm On My Own...

Mates of State - You Are Free


So my padre sent me this article, insisting that it was no doubt blog-worthy. I looked at the title, and thought to myself, "yes, I hate Florida State, because they're evil, but I don't know if I'd say it's blog-worthy."

I then read the article.

He was totally right. And all because of one line: "The cheating occurred mainly through online testing for a single music history course..." That's right. A music history course. Embarassing.


Also, I'm going to take you back a little. Remember that epic day when I was called a "half-friend?" Well I sure do. Because it was incredibly traumatizing. But I thought it was all behind me.

I was terribly wrong.

So I'm talking to one of my rowers in the training room today, and we're discussing what she did this weekend, and she's telling me about her magical activities, and I notice that her adventures always involve the same two people. So I say to her, "so are they just your fav people in the world?"

She responds by saying, "well I really only have like two and a half friends." This perplexes me. So I say, "well I mean, I'm glad that you don't waste your time on faux-friendships, and you just stick with people you really care about, but who's this half a friend?"

"You of course."

ME OF COURSE?!? "Hold up, wait a minute. I'm half a friend? I'm a half-friend?!?"

"Well you have to understand, I've been best friends with those two for years. I've only really hung out with you a couple times, and we only met a couple months ago. I don't think that it's really possible for one to elevate to full friend status in that amount of time."

I decided that I was okay with that. And I mean, I guess if she thinks that I make up one fifth of her good friends, that's cool with me.


Oh, and final note, I'm joining an Irish dance group. It has a long, winding story to go with it, but I have to depart for practice. But next time. And it'll be magical.

And I Know Kung-Fu, And I'm Not Afraid Of You. 'Cause I Might Be Small, But I'm Not A Coward, I've Got Puppy Powers That I'm Not Afraid To Use...

The Boy Least Likely To - Every Goliath Has Its David

I love this whole album. You will do. Especially you ObnoxiouslyHappySister, or Robin. Let me know if you want it.

Also, I don't know what "puppy powers" are, but I want them.


Again, I'm sorry for the large lapse in posting. I've been incredibly busy with gymnastics. All these girls keep thinking it's okay to hurt themselves. Jesus. What are they thinking?


Anyhoo. Remember my magical essay that I wrote, featuring quite possibly the best ever metaphor involving a cartoon show? And remember how I said that I feel an A, despite the fact that I haven't gotten an A on an essay since Junior year of high school?

WELL GUESS WHO GOT AN A ON THAT ESSAY! THAT'S RIGHT! THAT'S HOW WE DO!


Anyhoo (again).

So are you ready for this? So there's one concert that I'm going to in the next few months that sticks up above the others. "What concert," you may ask. I'll tell you. Spinal Tap.

Oh yes. That's right. Feel free to be jealous. I sure would be.


Oh and so last night, a couple of my amigas and I baked the best ever oatmeal raisin cookies (except without raisins, because fruit doesn't belong in cookies, so really they were oatmeal chocolate chip cookies). And while I'm baking them, one of my friend's roommates said something about a birthday present from her brother.

You can imagine how upset I was:

"When was your birthday?!"

"Um...February 5th?"

"And you didn't think that it was important to tell me ahead of time?!?"

"But...but I just met you tonight..."

"Don't argue with me! How am I supposed to bake you a birthday cake if you don't tell me it's your birthday??"

"But no, really, I didn't know you until an hour ago."

I started getting really upset at this point "I hate you."

"I guess you can still make me a cake?"

I started getting less upset "What kind??"

"Yellow. No, white."

"Funfetti?"

"No, wait, chocolate."

"It's on. I'll have it here tomorrow."

At this point, for some reason, she thought it was a good idea to sass me. "You mean you don't have my birthday cake yet?? My birthday was almost a month ago! What kind of friend are you??"


I could have slapped her.

But it means I get to bake a cake this evening, and I like baking cakes, so it's all good. I only have one jar of chocolate frosting though, because I almost never make chocolate cakes. I really only have it there for emergencies. I guess this counts.


Oh, and I forgot to mention.

We had our 5,500th visitor! Quite a while ago actually. Oops.

But anyhoo, this time, the prize goes to our fav reader out of Syracuse, NY! WOO!!! I knew that one of the New York readers would get it eventually. I'm terribly proud.

I Want You To Know That I Love You, Baby...

Condo Fucks - What'chat Gonna Do About It?

Yes, this is indeed a cover of the Small Faces song. It's from the debut album by Condo Fucks (the same members of the band Yo La Tengo, different name) called Fuckbook. It's a play on the album by Yo La Tengo (Facebook) that consists mostly of covers, as opposed to this album, which is entirely covers.

And I love it.

As far as I can tell, three guys armed with a drum kit, a bass guitar, and an electric guitar sat in a basement, set up a microphone attached to a boom box, inserted a blank tape, pressed record, and tried to play 11 songs that they heard on the radio.

They did it all in one take (meaning that it takes you as long to listen to the whole album as it did to record it), and they did nothing in the way of production, so the quality isn't what one would call pristine, but I really really like it nevertheless. It makes me smile.

My favorite on the album is their cover of "Shut Down," by the Beach Boys. It's pretty magical. I couldn't find it anywhere online, so if you want it, feel free to holla at me.

And of course, if you want the whole album, let me know.


Anyhoo, I met someone this weekend who's last name is Woo. Yup. That means every time I see her, I can just cheer ("WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"). I'm sure she won't find it obnoxious at all.


Also, I'm legit upset about this. And not just because one of them is one of my Lions. But also, when was the last time you heard about someone being "lost at sea?" I didn't realize that still happened. I don't mean to come off like I'm just joking about this, because I mean, it's people's lives. So this really sucks. Truth.


Oh! Happier news! Tomorrow is my grandma's birthday. I wish that she knew how to use the internet, because she'd see this, and maybe I'd move up in the grandchild rankings (current position: 7). If only...