Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Thursday 13 v. 31

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Thirteen Things about Carmen and the University of Virginia
  1. Some of my earliest memories include me watching UVA games on TV with my dad. The Univeristy of Virginia's colors are orange and blue, and our mascot is a Cavalier. At one point, in 1990, the team was #1 in the country for 3 weeks in a row.
  2. UVA, designed by Thomas Jefferson, was my first choice of colleges. It was by far the hardest application to fill out - I had to write 8 essays. I was wait-listed, which was highly traumatic. But they did accept me not long after and I was so happy!
  3. I hated my first year. I was home-sick and my suite-mates were evil.
  4. But at the end of my first year (at UVA, we're called First-Years, Second-Years, etc.) I rushed and joined a sorority - Alpha Xi Delta (the XI is pronounced "Z"). It was less expensive to pay dues and live in the sorority house than to live off-campus, and all the sisters were my fast friends, so it solved some problems. As an interesting side note, Jim Hensons' wife was an Alpha Xi Delta, and Fozzie Bear (Alpha "Z") was named after us.
  5. In order to be a member-in-good-standing at AXiD, we had to participate in another extracurricular activity. I chose to work with one of the two daily school papers, the University Journal.
  6. I became the only female sports writer at the University Journal. (This was before ESPN had female commentators.) It was good, though, because if you were a football player, who would you rather talk to - me or some bald guy? ;)
  7. I started out life at UVA in the Architecture school, until one stupid professor told me that in order to be a woman in that field, I'd have to be an A++++ student, and I was a B+ student. Turns out, he was A) Wrong and B) Gay, but I let him influence me. The one regret of my life.
  8. But then again, maybe I don't regret it. Because I then became a double major in History and Rhetoric and Communication Studies, and honed my writing skills.
  9. My best bud Irish pledged my sorority in my second year, and I became her sorority big sister, and then roomate in the sorority house in our third year.
  10. UVA tradition has the students dressing up in dresses and navy blazers with orange and blue ties to cheer on the Wahoos (a fish that can drink twice it's weight in water, from our Playboy Top 10 Party School days). Because in the past (and sometimes the present) the team sucked, so it was like a social. To this day, the smell of whiskey reminds me of football.
  11. Excerpts from a poem called The Honor Men "The University of Virginia writes her highest degree on the souls of her sons (or daughters, now that women are allowed to attend -C). . . Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness: I have worn the honor of honors, I graduated from the University of Virginia"
  12. When you're a UVA grad, I think it's a requirement that you always be a UVA nut/fan. Irish and I will head to a football game in 2 weeks and yell with the best of them. :)
  13. My favorite place in maybe the whole wide world is sitting on the Lawn looking at the Rotunda. (see pic at right)
    1. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Other 13 participants only. But everyone feel free to leave a comment, too! Comments rock!



      Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

      The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



      Tags: , , ,

    62 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    Good list, but, speaking as a bald guy, I would hope that at least the women's basketball team would want to speak to me! ;) ... or you.

    It's a beautiful campus. The only thing I miss about going to a Division III school (Widener in PA) is that we really have no big-time sports.

    My list of personal life-altering events is up.

    Tug said...

    A MUPPET named after you all? cool.....

    Happy TT!

    Anonymous said...

    sounds like a blast! college was hard the first year for me too. it was the farthest away from home I'd ever been.

    I did miss out on the sorority thing. I'm bummed about that. everyone has such great stories!

    Irish Church Lady :) said...

    So are UVA Grads all big on sunblock and everything? Sorry just couldn't resist!

    Glad to hear somein' about your university daze!

    Amy said...

    ah college...what a neat 13! i don't even have anything sarcastic or funny to say...i feel so out of it :)

    -R- said...

    I've seen that picture before! =) It is still cute the second time around.

    It's interesting that your sorority required you to be in another extra-curricular activity as well. That seems like a good idea.

    Lazy Daisy said...

    You definitely can't live in the Shenandoah Valley and not be a fan!

    Darla said...

    My college roommate was discouraged from continuing in architecture, too. What's up with that? Sheesh.

    Carey said...

    Great list. Sounds like a nice place. Happy Thursday. Mine is up too.

    Anonymous said...

    those are some great pictures

    Natsthename said...

    I love the photos!
    #12 also goes for OSU fans (Ohio State!) I didn't even graduate and I still root for The Buckeyes (#1 in the polls right now!)

    Happy t13, Carmen!

    Anonymous said...

    I never went to college myself but I'm sure the memories last a lifetime.

    My youngest graduated over a year ago from a wonderful college in RI - Savle Regina. Much of what you wrote, although slightly different, made me think of her experiences.

    Good list.

    Anonymous said...

    Good list! I thought about applying to UVA, but then I followed a boy to college. Talk about regrets...

    Anonymous said...

    I know a couple of Floyd kids who went there but I never knew half of what you listed. Very enlightening about you and the school. Mine are posted!

    Anonymous said...

    This list makes me think back to my own college days, and remember some really fun / Illegal stuff that we did...

    :-)

    Anonymous said...

    Stop at Crozet Pizza before or after the game! What's the name of the awesome bagel place in C'ville?

    Jim McKee said...

    Carmen, has anyone ever told you that you kinda resemble Chloe on "Smallville"?

    Girlie said...

    I'd love the rotunda view also...looks great.

    Anonymous said...

    I'm envious of your college days. Mine were awful.

    Anonymous said...

    great memories about your alma mater. have fun at the game.

    Anonymous said...

    I'm seriously impressed! It sounds like you both had fun and worked your tail end off in college. Good for you!

    I feel the same about my alma mater - I guess partly because I had such a great time while there and learned so much about myself in the process.

    Sidenote: Every time I visit your blog, you have a countdown to some cool new place. I want to be your travel companion! lol

    Thanks for stopping by

    Anonymous said...

    It is to my great distress that I have not attended higher ed. Can't you just see me in a sorority? I'd have RULED the place!

    FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

    That's a great list and good photos.
    Mine's up too.

    Anonymous said...

    Great list. :) The prof in #7 sounds like one of the TAs I had in first year, who said I'd never make it in engineering. I had to prove him wrong, and did so, graduating at the top of my class.

    Happy TT. :)

    Shannon said...

    Interesting list. I've never been - and it was great to learn more about UVA from you.

    Happy Thursday!

    Anonymous said...

    cool! it was such an enriching experience for you. mine's up too! ;)

    Tammy said...

    Sounds like you had a wonderful college experience!! Great TT!! Mine very first is up!

    Tammy said...

    Great TT!!

    Sarah said...

    I still miss college so much! My sorority had that rule about being in extracurriculars as well. Of course, I always joined too much stuff and then didn't have time for it.

    K said...

    A great list! Sounds like alot of good University memories!!

    Have a great Thursday!!

    Renee Nefe said...

    Sounds like it was really fun. I didn't go that route in college. But we had proffs that were pretty discouraging too.

    Anonymous said...

    You sound very proud of your school! Sounds very prestigious. :=) Neat facts about Jim Henson's wife too.

    Anonymous said...

    My dad attended UVA and he has fond memories of it as well :)

    Great list.

    Anonymous said...

    It's bitter sweet, isn't it? I'm still in college and I understand you when you say your suit mates are just being plain evil.

    Kukka-Maria said...

    I always thought UVA was bad for your skin. Or was that UVB...

    No matter. I just hope you wore a lot of sunscreen.

    [I crack myself up. I should have majored in Hilarity in college!]

    Anonymous said...

    That's awesome. Sounds like you had a great college experience. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't have that.

    http://interstellaradventure.wordpress.com/2006/10/11/thursday-thirteen-ed-vii/

    Kimba said...

    College really was the easiest time of life!

    Stop by!

    Anonymous said...

    I am an Alpha Xi and I enjoyed reading your TT.

    Anonymous said...

    Nice to get to know you a bit better!
    Thanks for visiting my TT!

    Candy Minx said...

    I really got a blast reaidng this...college is a very didfferent animal socially in Canada, and this is like reading a movie script or something for me. Thanks I loved the photos too, what a lovely personal list Carmen!

    Here is mine...

    http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2006/10/thirteen-random-things-i-am-thinking.html

    Blog said...

    Hmmm...my first-year college roommates were evil too. Well, one was. But, the other did steal a car.... ;)

    Anonymous said...

    you were in a sorority?? no way! wait, weren't you a cheerleader, too?

    Crayonsetc said...

    Good list. The thing I regret the most is not going to a real college!! :)

    Happy TT!!

    Lindsey said...

    Great list! Sounds like you've had a lot of the same things at UVA that I've had at Wake Forest! Happy TT!

    Uisce said...

    I got into my first choice school, too. and it begins with a U just like yours! :) Go wildcats!!

    Wystful1 said...

    Well, I can see the similarities of Thomas Jefferson's design here with his home, Monticello! Quite a bit alike, don't you think?

    Some great sections of this list for your 13!!!

    Today, hubby and I got some culture...you know, that green fuzzy stuff like in the back of the refrigerator? Ya, that's it. Come visit when you can.

    Frances D said...

    So cool that you were the only female sports writer - must have been fun times in those locker rooms **wink **wink
    Loved your 13 as per usual.
    Take care,
    Frances

    Jane said...

    What great memories. I am impressed that a muppet is named after your sorority. That is VERY impressive.
    Thanks for visiting and commenting on my T13.

    Anonymous said...

    I went to college near home but I still dormed anyway. It's all part of the college experience! Happy TT!

    Scribbit said...

    It's definitely one of the most beautiful campuses I think.

    Katherine said...

    Wow, sounds like you had a great time in college (after that first year of having to deal with the evil suitemates!). I just moved to VA and need to go visit the campus. I have been to Monticello - very impressive.

    Susan said...

    Carmen this great - esp. #3 - I keep hearing of people having good experiences with their freshman year roommates but I want to know how they scored cool roomies - mine were terrible - I think it's a myth that anyone had a good suitemate freshman year :) Great TT - tks!

    Anonymous said...

    Makes me wish I would have stayed in school when I was 18 rather then dropping out and now trying to get through it at 32. Have fun at the game!

    Unknown said...

    Reminds me of my college days though they weren't as good.

    Mine's up. Care to drop by?

    Lynn said...

    Great TT! Glad you have such good memories of college.
    I would love to see The Lion King some day with my kids. Thanks for stopping by.

    Anonymous said...

    I gotta tell ya that I loved your list the best today! I've always wished that I would have paid attention in high school and used my brain for something better...like going to college and getting a degree. Ahhh...great times you must have had!

    Thanks for stopping by my TT....and thanks for the great reading!

    Anonymous said...

    Stop by and check out my Big Ass (stuff). :)

    Sparky Duck said...

    I loved this list, UVA was one of the first schools I can remember looking at as a teenager, and part of the reason i picked Delaware was because it reminded me of UVA. Now of course I think the Blue Hens might be able to beat the Wahoos this year in football, but thats another story.

    Anonymous said...

    *sigh* i miss college sometimes. UVA sounds a lot like SLU... except we watch hockey and drink Labatts Blue...

    Dane Bramage said...

    Great list! If you get a chance my Thursday Thirteen #15 "Repeat Real Me Edition".

    BlondeBrony said...

    Great list. Love the photos.
    Happy TT!

    Lisa said...

    My most beloved late goddaughter Lauren spent her first semester and part of her second (before she passed away in March) at UVA and the school couldn't have been more kind to our family if they tried. The students and faculty alike were amazing. I spent a wee bit of time there with her and loved it.

    Great alma mater! :)

    Thanks for coming by to visit Snarkypants! I appreciated it! (I'm on the "better late than never" train of commenting!)

    Have a good week!