I spontaneously decided to take a job at a summer camp in New Hampshire and have been here for nearly two weeks now.  It is in the White Mountain Region and we have NO cell reception, the closest town to camp is actually in Vermont, and I have very limited access to the internet or civilization.  Like, it took a whole day for us to find out that Michael Jackson died.  It is so liberating to be in the woods with no texting or media and I am enjoying every minute of it.

I saw two moose last night–mission complete.  I have been vacationing in NH and ME my entire life…never saw a moose.  I come to camp for two weeks and I have seen two moose…it was amazing.  I wanted to stop and have a photo shoot but once you actually see a moose it is pretty terrifying, I did not want to stick around too long especially because it was dark.  Anyway, I know there are a bunch around here.  On my hike yesterday there were so many moose droppings, proof! I will definitely see more, hopefully during the day : )

Two of my summer goals (besides completeing my study abroad application) are to 1) see a moose (check) and 2) go skydiving.  Skydiving trip is booked and in 2 weeks I will be able to check that one off as well.  So pumped…an entire minute of free falling- ah makes my heart pound just thinking about it.

I will post photos ASAP!  The computers we do have access to are about 174892374 years old and cannot take memory cards directy so until I get one of my computer savvy friends on it…

<3 Chelsea

Finals snuck up on me at the end of the semester and my stress level hit an all time high.  Essays, projects, exams, you name it, it was due.  I never quite understood why people spent more than six hours at a time at the Tech Center but finals this year completely redefined Club Tech.  The Tech Center is a busy place…during finals…ehh busy does not even describe it.  Those (meaning all of Temple’s population) who had finals sneak up on them put in hour upon hour  at the Tech Center in an attempt to finish up all the last minute work.  I set my new personal record, 9 consecutive hours at Club Tech.  I know it’s not even record worthy compared to the regular late night Club Tech crew, but I know it’s my personal best.  I hope to never have to spend nine hours there again but with two more years to go…it’s inevitable.  Paid off though, grades are in (drum roll please) yes indeed another semester full of A’s : ) I did however get my second B+ as a college student, I’m trying not to be too hard on myself.  From what they say a B+ is not too shabby.  Still made dean’s list and I really enjoyed my classes.
Since I’ve been home I have been working off the sophomore 15.  Yupp that’s right you read it correctly, SOPHOMORE 15.  Freshman year treated me well– didn’t gain an ounce.  Sophomore year– that damn cookie truck came around.  Happy Summer <3

Food trucks on campus always have the best food.  Bagels, wraps, pizza, all the good stuff… but no truck on campus can compete with the new cookie truck.  Insomnia Cookies offers “Warm cookies delivered late night” um yes sound too good to be true?! Well it’s not!  Insomnia will deliver cookies to residence halls and housing on and around Temple’s campus.  These things are AMAZING and addicting.  There are so many chocolate chunks you wonder how the cookie stays together and the cookie cake ($25 ouch) is even more delicious.  I would be curious to know how well the new business is doing, every time I pass there are students, locals, or professors waiting in line for their delicious “insomnia.”

So I did it…I committed what I though would be the ultimate sin.  Going to another baseball stadium other than my beloved Fenway Park.  My roomate’s assignment for her Writing for Journalism class was to attend the opening day festivities at Citizen’s Bank Park.  She had to interview fans and find a story.  She is a bit shy when it comes to such situations so she BEGGED me to tag along and help her ask questions and initiate conversation.  Unable to pass up the opportunity to talk to complete strangers, I went.  It was a beautiful spring day and I was in the mood for baseball.  The Red Sox home opener was cancelled today… btw.  Anyway, I wanted to see what it was like… could it compare to Fenway?  Would they be selling soft serve out of little plastic ball caps?  The atmosphere was not even comprable to Fenway, no italian sausage smell, nobody singing to The Dropkick Murphy’s, nobody walking around on stilts palying catch with the little kids even in the crowds of people, nobody selling offensive t-shirts…it wasn’t the same.  However, I did enjoy it!  I was surprised to find that I did not feel like I was letting my Fenway Faithfuls down, but just enriching my love for baseball.  I believe my exact words at one point were, ” I love this country.”  I mean seriously where else can you get free icecream, live music, happy people, passionate fans of all ages but at a ballpark?!  I met a woman who was a die hard Phillies fan and she had about twenty pins on her ball cap each one representing a different ball park she had visitied.  She inspired me to get over my fear of sinning by attending a non-sox game and to just suck it up and love baseball for what it is and what it represents.  I cannot wait to attend my first Phillies game…I’m hoping to go on an infamous “Dollar Dog Night” : ) <3 Chelsea

The view of center city is beautiful from South Philly!

I have recently been indulging in all of the wonderful freedoms of college.  For example, if you schedule classes strategically enough you can sleep in to 10 or 11 everyday… if you want to eat pizza and french fries at anytime during your day (even if it is 7AM) you can do so and not be questioned…if you spend more than 7 hours in the Tech Center in order to accomplish one assignment–completely normal and accepted.  Another luxury I have discovered is Spring Break.  A week off class with no contract that says you have to stay in the cold weather.  My vacation to Florida for break was such a good time, sunny and 80 degrees almost everyday : ) Priceless.  Well, vacation does come with a cost but when the McDonald’s across from the beach offers $0.59 cheeseburgers (I’ll take 3 please) and McFlurry’s at $2.50 LIFE IS GOOD.  Oh thats another great perk about college life–cheap food is a delicacy.  Spring is coming! <3 Chelsea

” A Streetcar Named Desire” was playing at the Walnut Street Theater when my Mom came to visit me from MA.  We went to the show with little information about the Walnut Street Theater but we quickly learned how fantastic it was!  So many famous people, the greats, have performed at the theater including Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, and of course the Barrymores.  The show was absolutely wonderful– I am a big Tenessee Williams fan.

Walnut Street Theater is America’s OLDEST theater.  <3 Chelsea

My new name…Grace.  My mother, Elegant.  We went ice skating at Penn’s Landing on the Blue Cross River Rink and it was hysterical!! Although she and I hadn’t skated in quite a long time (at least 5 years) we did a pretty good job.  Neither of us fell but we definitely were those people who clung to the sides of the rink for like 10 minutes before they realized there is no good way to be graceful or elegant holding on to the side.  So we eventually got ourselves moving around on the ice and after about the first 40 minutes or so we had the swing of it!  Now, are we the next Sasha Cohen’s? Probably not but we were able to skate and take photos at the same time and I think that is pretty fancy ; )  Did I mention how graceful we were?

Did I not tell you how elegant she was?! haha

Happy Valentine’s Day <3 Chelsea

the front of my residence hall : )

I am from MA and I was so spoiled last year when I came to Temple and it never snowed once!!! This semester has been a bit different.  I have had to walk to class in the snow twice and I am not happy about it.  Luckily campus looks beautiful in the snow but after one day of sand and salt on Broad street it all looks brown and I have a hard time convincing myself that there is anything nice about it.  Right now the snow is coming down hard and I am hoping that there is some possibility of a snow day (wishful thinking!).  Keep your finger crossed for me <3 Chelsea

So superbowl is like Christmas in my family…unfortunately Santa did not come this year.  Of course my Patriots were not involved so my involvement was minimal but that did not stop me from eating ridiculous amounts of food and having a good time.  This was my first superbowl away from my family which was very strange because it is one of our biggest celebrations of the entire year but they sent me updates and photos throughout the festivities.  Meanwhile, here in Philly I was enjoying the game with close friends and my Patriots gear on.  The celebration was a mix between superbowl and my friend’s birthday…somehow I got stuck lighting the candles!

Meanwhile in MA my family (which sinfully has TWO Steeler’s fans) was holding a celebration of their own…

My adorable Mother and my Steeler’s band wagon for her husband Auntie : )

Goggles for the 3-D commercial which the totally missed!! hahahaha typical of my family!

Congrats Steeler’s fans <3 Chelsea

I just updated my entry about meeting Josh Lucas at the Bell Tower, a bit delayed, but the photo is there as proof! He is from Sweet Home Alabama and he is also a political activist.   See ” CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER AT THE BELL TOWER” <3 Chelsea