1) The Duke game: Well, that certainly lived up to the hype. I am very much of the school that maintains that every game is a big game, so I was trying not to get unnaturally excited about this one game. But it was so hard not to get into the spirit of things, what with the flyering around campus that week, the hype surrounding our impending campout, and the promise of a presidential visit to Verizon. Well, the campout was, well...COLD. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: even with about eight layers, plus handwarmers and feetwarmers, I was miserable, from the time my friends and I arrived at 11:30pm the previous night to when they let us into the building at about 11am the next morning (for a 1pm game). I remember how exciting 5am was when the McDonalds (the sketchiest place on the planet) opened up, because that meant I could get a hot chocolate and get in out of the cold for a few minutes. By the time the late morning hit, the line for the student section stretched several city blocks, and even people who had absolutely no interest in basketball were caught up in the excitement of the day. Was it worth it? Uh, YES. Standing mere feet away from Mike Krzyzewski, who really does look oddly devilish, and watching a game in which we played out of our minds and won 89-77. Yeah, I would say that January 30th was a pretty good day. I almost started crying from exhaustion as the Circulator slowly attempted to navigate the snowy DC streets back to Georgetown (it had started snowing about an hour before they let us into the building), and I was asleep before my head hit my pillow, not to awaken again for another 14 hours. But yes, the energy of the fans, the hype leading up to the game, and how amazingly we played, that made all of it worth it. I tell people that, since I missed Inauguration in January of 2009 while I was abroad, this frigid campout was my equivalent of Inauguration.
Mr. President himself, trying his hand at commentary!
Tent city outside Verizon. We got there at 11:30 the night before for a 1pm game, and we were NOT the first ones there!
2) Snowmageddon/Snow Week: People Magazine, in its 2010 recap issue, had a section on the catchphrases of 2010. One of those? SNOWMAGEDDON: “the term used to describe epic snowstorms- like the Feb. 6 blizzard that dumped some 30 inches of snow on Washington, D.C.” Don’t get me wrong, I loved the shout-out to DC, but it didn’t even come close to capturing how absolutely amazing that week was. Beginning with DCAF, the trek across Key Bridge to a friend’s apartment in Chinatown (where I wisely decided to stay the night before the game), the Nova game (with its shockingly high turnout considering DC was in the throes of its greatest blizzard in a quarter-century) and Senior Auction, that first weekend was epic. Add to that the fact that we did not have school (or work, for some of us!) for an entire week and you have the recipe for the Best Week Ever. Little work was done, much to the dismay of our professors, unless you consider pretending to work on your thesis in Lau “doing work.” Each afternoon, we would do the minimum amount of work necessary on the off-chance that classes would resume the next day, but once we got the broadcast email that the University was closed for yet another day, a resounding cheer went out that could be heard all across East Campus, and my friends and I quickly dashed across the street the secure ourselves a table at Tombs and keep the procrastination going for another day. I can picture myself telling my grandchildren about that week, because I don’t think I’ll experience anything like that ever again (although God knows I would gladly accept another blizzard of that caliber!!!!!!). Perhaps the most important contribution to Snow Week? An email from Provost O’Donnell, entitled “Snow, closing, coping” urged us students to flock to “Lauinger Library, that beacon of our commitment to learning and inquiry.” There was speculation among many that the Provost had been drunk out of his mind when he wrote it, although when I picture him typing it, I picture him sitting in his study, in front of a roaring fireplace and with a cup of coffee beside him at his desk, gazing out the window and drowning in tears because of the loss of another day’s worth of learning. That email was an inside joke for the rest of the year, and I think many of our parents were genuinely confused (I know mine were) when it was brought up at Convocation and then again at graduation.
View from 36th and N the day after Snowmageddon (storm #1 of the week)
3) 99 Days: Sure, it was just a bar challenge, but, as many of you know, the choice to participate in 99 Days was one of the best decisions I made during Senior Spring. I spent an insane amount of money throughout this process, but I gained so much more: a wonderful group of new friends that I might not have met otherwise, and a familiarity with the staff that still results in a slew of “Hey Kristens” when I revisit my old haunt. Sure, there were some low points (the night after the Cuse loss was rough, to say the least, and my 22nd birthday party was apparently not one of my best nights), but it was where our team racked up- count ‘em- FIVE trivia wins and where I had so many wonderful nights of dancing and drinking with friends. The last day- graduation day- was really bittersweet; I went in with my cousin Amy and ordered a Hoya Blue, which was such a nice bookend to 99 Days (I think I also got a lemonade, since shots don’t count!). I went back the next day to make it an even hundred, and, while I now spend a fraction of the time at Tombs that I once did, it still brings back fond memories every time I go back. Also, when the plaque arrived a few weeks ago (it was actually supposed to arrive in time for Homecoming, but there was an inexplicable delay), Miguel, one of my favorite bartenders, told me that I was the first 99 Days member to see it (it had arrived earlier on in the day, and I just happened to be there for dinner). I’ll have that to remember my experience by now, and I’m sure I’ll have to stop by and buy my brothers the obligatory birthday drink when they each turn 21 next year :)
Some friends I made during 99 Days
4) 22nd Birthday: Despite the fact that it ended in a level of drunkenness and blackout that I hadn’t experienced since my 21st, that entire birthday week was so much fun, mostly because it was also Kate’s birthday week. It was so nice to have someone to share a birthday week with, and I had an absolute blast at our joint party. Of course, there were a slew of embarrassing moments and hilarious stories from that night (I don’t think we’ll ever forget the time that Molly ladroned my beloved gold flower bracelet and, when someone informed me of this when I was getting sick, I momentarily looked up and said, “bitch”). It was also kind of bittersweet because it was probably the last birthday that I’ll have with all of my friends in one place.
My lovely roommies and I at Phase I of Kate's and my joint 22nd birthday party
5) Dip Ball: This was the first time that my friends and I had gotten really glitzed up while at Georgetown. I had spent days poring over dress websites over Christmas break and had found a beautiful gunmetal gray, grecian-style dress with a little bit of sparkle on the bodice (claro) that I fell in love with. Despite the fact that the heels had to be removed mere minutes after arriving at the Maison Francaise, it was so fun to put on a pretty dress, blingy jewelry and do the full hair and makeup treatment. It was just a really nice night out with friends (all of my closest friends went, which made it even more fun), having a not-your-average-Friday type of night. And when else can a college student say that they got the chance to mingle with diplomats?
We clean up nicely :)
6) Senior Week: I am hesitant to unequivocally characterize this as a “high” of 2010, as my closest friends will remember that night that came to be known as “Black Monday,” as well as that time when, for whatever reason, I stayed up until 6:30am playing beer pong with friends, and then proceeded to sleep through a breakfast that I was supposed to go to (my parents, however, WERE in attendance, and were seriously concerned that something had happened to me. Oops). However, those snafus aside, it WAS a great week in terms of spending time with my closest friends and taking advantage of time without homework and other activities. It was a week of unadulterated fun and reminiscing which, at certain points, turned into a royal sobfest. It was such a blessing to have that week before graduation together, because people began leaving almost immediately after graduation- the tearfests during Senior Week paled in comparison to those that ensued as each subsequent friend and roommate left the Hilltop.
Down at the Waterfront
7) (NOT) Graduation: To any of you who saw me on graduation weekend, you will recall that I was an emotional wreck. As excited as I was to claim some sort of “real person” status, I was in mourning about the fact that my time on the Hilltop was coming to an end (as an undergrad, at least). Graduation was an absolute whirlwind, a bizarre mix of a celebration of all of our undergraduate achievements and a series of painful goodbyes. Luckily for me, I knew that I had Kate and Dave’s wedding three weeks after graduation to look forward to, as all of my closest friends would be in attendance, but I knew that life would never be the same. I could no longer walk next door or across the courtyard when I wanted to chat with one of my friends; since graduation, I have had to dust off the old Skype account, which I thought I was done with after study abroad (up until late July or so, I was primarily talking to my friends over the phone, but discovered, thanks to my mom, that I was single-handedly using up all of our phone minutes- I guess that’s what happens when you’re having a minimum of hour-long conversations with 6-7 friends anywhere from every 3 days to every other week). Again, like with Senior Week, I would have trouble saying unequivocally that graduation weekend was a highlight for me, but there were certainly parts of it (the celebration of achievement, the family time and the last few chances to spend time with my best friends) that earned it a place on this list.
<3 <3 <3
With our siblings just after the ceremony
8) Jazz in the Sculpture Garden: I can’t believe I didn’t know about this (not so) hidden DC gem when I was here over the summer after sophomore year! It became Lauren’s and my weekly tradition; since we were both working part-time over the summer and had Friday afternoons off, we would meet up to catch the GUTS bus, beach towels and picnic supplies in hand. We would sit by the fountain at the Sculpture Garden’s center with our feet dangling in the water to try to get some relief from the scorching heat, sipping sangria (we bought a pitcher to share every week) and munching on a baguette, manchego cheese and fruit. Although I always look forward to Friday because of its marking the start to the weekend, I eagerly anticipated our time at Friday Jazz. Lauren and I had so many wonderful chats when we were there, and as the summer went on and we raved to more and more of our friends about it, we expanded our little jazz group.
Lauren, Annie and I
9) Kate and Dave’s wedding: It was such a pleasure for me to see all of Kate’s meticulous planning, much of which had happened at the desk next to mine in our little Nevils room, come together. She was a beautiful, blushing bride, and it only took one look at Dave’s adoring face as she walked down the aisle to see how much they love each other. It’s hard not to be a hopeless romantic when you see how wonderful love can be :) Every detail just encapsulated Kate and Dave to a T, and I was in awe of the vision that Kate had brought to fruition without the help of a wedding planner. Everything from the church (the Cadet Chapel is unspeakably beautiful) to the reception site (gorgeous, and the perfect size for the number of guests and with an amazingly large dance floor) to the music (they played my song request, so I can’t complain!) to the photography (the pictures are lovely, and I definitely admit to looking at them from time to time to look back fondly on the memories of that weekend) to the food, everything was perfect, and to see how happy Kate and Dave are makes ME so happy- how can you not believe in true love when you see such a success story?!? On a completely selfish note, not only was the wedding a true testament to Dave and Kate’s love, but it was also a perfect opportunity for a reunion with our closest group of girlfriends a mere three weeks after graduation. Despite the fact that it had only been three weeks since we had seen each other, I felt like we had already missed out on so much of each other’s lives, so the chance to gab endlessly in our hotel suite and catch up was certainly a welcome one. And since we are the type of girls that we are, the vast majority of the reception was spent on the dance floor. The party continued at our little afterparty, and the fun escalated to levels that I don’t think any of us could have predicted. Because of that, the wedding weekend set the stage for the glowiness of the remainder of my summer.
Georgetown girls and West Point guys with the blushing bride
The happy newlyweds :)
10) Tombs Trivia hostessing: After having participated in Tombs Trivia every Monday during senior year, culminating in our fifth team win on the Monday during Senior Week, I was, shockingly, asked to host trivia over the summer. Christine, the normal hostess, was going out of town for the weekend, and I guess she figured that I would know how everything worked since I had been a weekly fixture at Tombs for Trivia Monday since October. It was such a fun experience, especially since I chose to write my own rounds. I scoured Sporcle for days and reached to the recesses of my mind to come up with possible questions and themed rounds. I was told that my rounds were difficult but, due to popular demand, refrained from subjecting them to a celebrity trivia round. If I didn’t have such a ridiculously early bedtime, I would gladly host again. Aside from some AV issues, which Jon, the bartender that night, so kindly helped me fix, I thought it went off without a hitch, so I was happy!!! Everyone was so supportive too, whether on Facebook or by coming up to me during trivia, so thank you to everyone who was there and made my first hostessing experience such a success! And thank you to Lauren, my wonderful assistant and fellow grader, without whom it would have taken about twice as long!
11) 4th of July weekend: Several friends came to DC from out of town for 4th of July weekend, but, in the end, Molly, Lauren and I were inseparable. We started the weekend at Friday Jazz, followed by a night on U St. On Saturday, we ventured to Eastern Market for brunch and browsing, met up with some friends to watch Spain’s World Cup game, went out for Ethiopian in Adams Morgan and then went out there and in Dupont. On Sunday, the 4th, we went to a friend’s barbecue and then migrated to the Mall for fireworks and then over to Union Station for some pub-hopping. Finally, on Monday, we just spent a lazy day sitting around talking, culminating in an amazing multi-hour chat over a home-cooked meal that Molly and I had. In short, we took full advantage of everything the city had to offer that weekend, and I was so severely sleep-deprived by Tuesday morning that I was in tears, but if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t do it any differently. I know that I am guaranteed to have fun with those two no matter what we do, whether it’s going out dancing or simply having a gabfest, and that weekend certainly did not disappoint. While I was anticipating Molly’s visit for weeks on end beforehand, I really could not have imagined a better outcome. It was just 4 days of non-stop fun. I’ll always remember sitting in my little room, all three of us sitting on the air mattress that I somehow managed to squeeze into my little room for our multi-night sleepover, just chatting. While I had so much fun with all of the weekend’s activities, I got the most satisfaction out of just sitting and talking with two of my best girlfriends. Reunions really are the best :)
Jumping, what we do best!
With my favorites on the Mall for fireworks
12) Columbus: If the wedding weekend set the stage for my entire summer, my weekend in Columbus, Georgia was the weekend I had been looking forward to for the entire summer. It was the best of reunions on so many levels (beginning with a day of silliness and childlike reminiscing in Dalton with Molly and ending with a weekend reunion with loves new and old), and I can honestly say that I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire weekend. I’ll just leave it at that, because I couldn't have imagined anything better.
Gareth and I at lunch in downtown Columbus
Roomies reunited!!!!!!!!
13) Lake Winnipesaukee: The first few weeks of August were really rough ones for me, so that by the time the day of my departure for the Lake rolled around, I was more than ready to skip town and relax for a week in paradise. While I certainly got some time to focus on myself (with 2.5-hour daily swims, as well as lots of time for journaling and reflecting), I was surrounded by my favorite people, my immediate family and my “extended family” (two families worth of close family friends, to the point where I consider the other kids my siblings). The dynamic of the Lake family is such that I am pretty much constantly in stitches laughing, so it’s hard not to have fun while you’re there. I was so thankful too that, two weeks into my job, my boss told me, without hesitation, that I could absolutely go on vacation for a week. Words can’t even describe how much I needed it, and I was so grateful to her for being so understanding.
Who wouldn't fall in love with a view like this?!?!?
My brothers in their element- they crack me up!
14) Karaoke: We had been threatening to do karaoke for months (and tried, but failed, when Molly was in town for 4th of July due to a ridiculous cover at Cafe Japone). But we finally got to do karaoke at Brass Monkey in Adams Morgan in September, and it was well worth the wait. We went for a friend’s birthday, and got there early enough so that we were the only ones there for an hour or so, and, thus, got all of our requests played. There were a lot of songs sung in groups (think Britney, *N Sync and the like), but then Lauren, our friend Stef and I sang “Your Love,” my favorite ‘80s song...well, who are we kidding, it was mostly me doing the singing :) The pictures of that evening are just priceless because of how intense I am about singing, and how embarrassed Lauren looks haha! It was the most fun that I had had in awhile, and it was just a wonderful evening with friends old and new.
Do you feel the intensity? ;)
15) Homecoming: I think this could be renamed “Take Back the Tombs Weekend,” as we went there Friday and Saturday nights and then again on Sunday morning for brunch. The weekend started out with a huge group dinner (probably about 20-25 of us) at Bangkok, followed by a Class of 2010 open bar at Rhino, which was, surprisingly, a lot of fun, considering that it was Rhino. The great part of going back to Tombs, aside from the simple fact that we were going back to our beloved bar (for me, it was my first time going out there since graduation, since I had only been there for trivia, a quick drink or dinner over the summer), was that, as 99 Daysers, we got to skip the line with a guest. There were enough 99 Daysers so that we were able to pair off and get our friends in. Really, it was the least they could do, considering that our plaque still was not in. On Saturday, we all met up at the tailgate, which was so much more fun than I remembered it being the previous year, and we even went to the football game (my first Georgetown one, shockingly!). Despite the fact that I had been kind of ambivalent about Homecoming in the days leading up to the weekend (since, besides Lauren, Ann and Liz, none of my closest girlfriends would be there), it ended up being a blast, and I was able to reconnect with other groups of friends. And even though I had never really left the Hilltop, the feeling of walking through the front gates on Saturday morning and seeing the Welcome Home Alumni banner in front of Healy just filled me up with Hoya love and pride.
Ann, Lauren, Liz and I
Taking back the Tombs
16) Fun Night: When Colleen’s friend Bristol arrived in DC, one of the items on his to-do list was to do the monuments by night. Add in silly bands and some wine and you get “Fun Night”. I think that, as a city resident, I often feel like I need the excuse of someone coming to visit to do more “touristy” things, so it was nice to take some time after work to just be silly with friends and revel in being tourists.
Success!
17) Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear: When I read about the Rally the day it was announced, I said to my friends, “We’re going.” There was never any question that I was going to the rally- it was just a question of what time :) Luckily for the friends who went with me, our amazing friend Jess, who works for the event planning company that organized the Rally, got us tickets for the VIP section, which pushed our departure time back by a few hours. I’m not gonna lie, I was fully prepared to reawaken my inner Georgetown basketball fanatic and get there at 6:30 in the morning, but we got there at the only slightly less unreasonable hour of 8:30. The Rally itself was amazing, consisting of some great musical acts and, of course, the always entertaining Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. As I said in my blurb about the Duke game, the fact that I was in Europe for Inauguration made me even more inclined to participate to the fullest in such exciting events. It’s always fun for me to see DC get its due press when events like the Rally are held there.
18) First basketball game: I was a pretty unproductive person at work that day, because all I could focus on was 7 o’clock that night. At about 5:28, I closed the door to my office, changed from my work clothes to my jeans and WAG t-shirt, and raced to the GUTS bus. I listened to my pump-up basketball playlist (yes, it exists- judge away! It consists of your standard sports anthems, as well as songs that they play at Verizon) on the way to the metro, where I then met up with a friend. When we re-emerged from the underground metro at Gallery Place/Chinatown, I think it’s safe to say that I was grinning from ear to ear. I met up with Maggie, Lauren and Colleen (the latter was able to use a friend’s ticket who was unable to come to the game), and I was just bouncing off the walls with giddiness. Anne Mary and I had gotten there really early, which gave us time to buy the new WAG t-shirts (slogan “Victory Now, Georgetown Forever,” which I’m very pleased with) and sit in the near-empty arena for a little while and just embrace the moment. When Colleen arrived, she said that she had never seen me so happy, which, in the time she’s known me, is probably true. I was, quite literally, walking on air, and it was a good game, so that gave me something to get even more excited about.
So happy to be back at Verizon!!!
This is a pretty comprehensive list, but there were certainly other times in 2010 where I found myself consciously stopping and making sure to appreciate the moment. Thank you to all of you who made all of those moments special, and here's to a safe, happy and healthy 2011!!!!!!!!!
