Back at VT: Don't Stop Me Now

I'm (already) having such a good time, I'm having a ball...and it's only the first week.

(Yes, I'm a Queen fan.)

Classes are back in full swing, I've reclaimed my mayorship of Shanks, and I can smell college football in the air.  Fall semester has officially begun.

Let's start off with last week.


I came down to Blacksburg a week before classes to unpack, get my apartment straightened up, and to get back into my work routine.  After a week back at work, I was ready for something exciting that weekend.  That came in the form of a lovely hike and a visit to Homeplace, which I mentioned in my senior year bucket list post.  I joined my dear friend Molly and some of her friends, and we made the absolutely beautiful hike up McAfee Knob in Catawba.  The four miles up the mountain was capped with a breathtaking view of the mountains and valley.  I took pictures, of course, but I'm not sure they can do it justice.  But I'll share anyway...

See what I mean?

Me and Molly at the top!

a genuine shot of us (me in middle, Molly to my right, Molly's sister Sarah to my left) looking...uh, what were we looking at?

Afterward, we rewarded ourselves with some delicious country cooking from Homeplace.  I had never been before, and I was super excited to try their famous fried chicken.  It did not disappoint at all.  And since the food is served family-style, when you run out, they refill you within 30 seconds.  I was also a fan of their creamy mashed potatoes, and the homemade apple butter was a perfect complement to the flaky biscuits.  The meal ended with cherry cobbler and coffee.  You definitely cannot go to Homeplace expecting to eat a healthful meal.

I hear Homeplace has special barbecue nights, too.  I think I'll have to go back for one of those.

And now, I'm a s...se...I can't say it.  I can't even type it.  I'm a... nope, not even going to try again.

This semester, I'm immersing myself in Communication Law & Ethics, which has a reputation for being one of the most difficult classes in the communication department, if not the most difficult.  So, if I fall off the face of the blogosphere, it's because Comm Law is slowly stealing my soul.  Aside from Comm Law, I'll be taking Language & Society, a linguistics class I've always been interested in, and Modern Poetry (Robert Frost, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and the like).  I'll finish up my ePortfolio (finally), which I started sophomore year, and hopefully turn out about 50-60 pages of creative nonfiction in my independent study.  Even though it's only 13 credits, it will still keep me very busy.  But I'm ready for it.

And football starts today, so there's that.  My Heels play South Carolina tonight, and then #BEATBAMA happens Saturday.  I wish I could be in Atlanta for the game, but rest assured I will be glued to my television and cheering on my Hokies from Blacksburg.

I hope everyone has a wonderful year!  Make it a good one!