The Current UnAdventuresome life of Dana

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged here since nothing too exciting has happened as of late. The past couple months were filled with ups and down. But, I'll recap the year thus far!


In February, something wonderful happened! I won a trip to a ranch in Montana! My mother and I went from February 6 to 9 (which meant that I missed the Packers winning the Super Bowl). It was WONDERFUL! We went dog-sledding and did archery. We even went zip-lining in the Rocky Mountains during a snow storm, how cool is that? It was all expenses paid so we didn't have to worry about anything.


Other than that, I was supposed to move to Chicago in August for Graduate School. However, I had to defer due to financial reasons (a.k.a. no co-signer for my loans). To be honest, that was the only time I've come close to depression. I was so excited to be going and then it all came crashing down.


On a brighter note, I did reconnect with my best friend from 5th grade through high school, Laura! After a day it was as if nothing had changed. After a month we had matching tattoos and even tried to dye our hair the same color (which was alcohol related). It's been fun...

And now, ONLY 6 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! I'm soooooooo excited, as usual. In fact, I'm off to go wrap some presents!

Forgetful Me

It has been over a year since I last wrote and updated my blog. Not too much has happened I suppose…

I graduated from college and received my B.A. in History. I hope to pursue my Master’s degree in 2011. That’s if any school will take me…

I have been working at a daycare in town since September 2009. It’s a nice job and the kids are wonderful.

I still have a crush on Adam Goodes and am saddened by the fact that I no longer have any access of Aussie Rules games on TV. I miss it greatly. On that note, I’m getting rather into sports. Watching them that is. Mostly AFL when I can and NFL when Green Bay plays. Aaron Rodgers is amazing.

I’ve been a vegetarian for 3 months. I took my cousin to a Miley Cyrus concert in October. I took my mom to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson last June/July.

Marcus and Colton just graduated from High School and it makes me feel ridiculously old.

That’s about it for now folks.

Oh and I really really miss London…

It's Been A While...

It's been months since my last entry, but life has been seemingly uneventful as of late. I have just under 3 weeks left of being here at Arcadia University. Though I will still be working on my thesis over the summer from Wisconsin, then returning here to present it. I'll be glad to be done with my degree.

So this semester... Im taking 4 courses: Mathematical Concepts (really ridiculous, truth be told but it's fulfilling my math requirement), Senior Seminar (thesis topic: the transition of vampires from folklore to fiction), Arabic (I had to drop photography because I'm poor and got stuck in this. I know nothing!!) and Piano (doing two different things with my hands like that is confusing, but its always been a goal of mine to learn!).

I did take a trip to Pittsburgh in February to visit Hannah, my roommate from Sydney. It was an 8 hour train ride from Philadelphia on which I consumed the entire first season of Gilmore Girls, a new favorite but an old show. I also went into Philadelphia one day to the Franklin Institute to see the Chronicles of Narnia exhibit, which was really awesome. I also viewed an IMAX (Amazing Caves) and saw Star Lore at the Planetarium. Besides that, just a few trips to the Willow Grove Mall.

I did go home for spring break, it was so great to be home. Went to a few movies (Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Watchmen) and met my friend Elizabeth's baby daughter Taylor.

The other news that Im looking forward to is that Im going to the Bristol Renaissance Faire this summer! I've always wanted to go and finally I get to!

Well that's it for now, I'm going to head to bed soon. Tomorrow is the Blitz Carnival on campus!

Sinking Jetskis and Falling out of Planes.

It's been a while...

I almost died on a jetski. Well that's an overstatement. I was out with Ben up on the Central Coast and after a few hours, the jetski got funny and we fell off. When Ben tried to get back on, it started sinking. So, being the avid natural bodies of water lover that I am, I was thrilled to be stuck. Thankfully we weren't out in the actual ocean, then I would have flipped out. But seeing as a jellyfish was the only creature I saw (and I think I handled that very well, only saying in a freaked out voice "Its a JELLYFISH") and that a boat came and pulled us to shore (not to mention that Ben's jetski is alright and only cost 250 to repair), it was quite the adventure!!

I went skydiving. I was so terrified until I got on the plane, then I got a bit too excited considering I was about to do something I had long considered foolish. Would I do it again? Hell yes. I never would have imagined that falling out of an airplane would be so fun. 

I went ice skating last weekend and didn't fall once, that was an accomplishment. Good times. Well any time with Ben is a good time. I like that guy...

I just got back from seeing The Duchess. 'Twas good and I cried a bit. It was a terrible choice she had to make, but it was really the only option =( 

Oh and I totally voted =) Go me!!!

I'm Picking Up Good Vibrations

On this wonderfully hot and sunny Saturday morning I headed out to UNSW to pay my library fine and check out a book I had on reserved only to get there and find out they do not take cash. Well I didnt have the money available on any of my accounts so I talked the man at the front desk into holding my reserved book until Monday when I could come deposit the money into my account and pay. I was relieved he agreed, yet I still was angry I wasted an entire trip (the trip itself I could care less about, it was the having to use 4 bus trips on my travel ten that makes me angry since Im broke currently)...

On my way home I decided to stop at Woolworths and after I walked into the bus interchange at Bondi Junction only to be met with hundreds of people waiting for the buses to Bondi Beach (since the temperature was near 90, it seems everyone felt the need to come here). So I walked home with the heavy groceries. After arriving home, I ate quickly and basically ran to the beach which was crowded with at least a thousand people. That's when it happened... I went into the ocean past knee depth for the first time in my life. And let me tell you it was freaking awesome! I especially love when the waves come and you go up with them. I was having so much fun the four year old in me came out and I was saying Weeee! everytime the waves came. Im still grinning from enjoyment! After 3 hours of swimming and sun bathing, I came back home and have been chilling every since :o)

I LOVE the beach! I LOVE LOVE the ocean (well at least where its not too deep)! I can't wait to try surfing...

Current Obsessions:

• Adam Goodes... still.
• Dirty Dancing soundtrack
• Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches
• Trying to get a tan (as much as I love being pale and not risking the skin cancer, I keep telling myself its ok for the next 2 months!)
• Neighbours

Keep Running... It's a Mummy!

Last night before I fell asleep I had decided that I would go for a run when I woke up (let it be known that I often think this but today was the first time I followed through with the plan). So by 7:40 I was out the door walking down to Bondi Beach where I managed to run about 2/3 of the length. Considering I hate running, I was impressed. I then walked to the other end, turned around and walked home. I was back home by 8:00. Did I mention I really hate running? The thing is, I really wish I was a runner. I think I'd enjoy it if I was, well, good at it.

So I came home, showered quick, and headed off to see the new Mummy movie. I had been looking forward to this film for a while and was incredibly disappointed. As much as I like Maria Bello, it just wasn't the same without Rachel Weisz. Not to mention, in general, it just wasn't that great. Of course, when its released on DVD I will have to watch it again just to make sure I actually don't like it all that much.

The only other semi-thrilling thing to happen today was that I got a postcard from Ben (actually I was incredibly thrilled, I miss him a lot!). 

Curtsies, Kites and a Bit of Rain

This morning I awoke to rain falling on the rooftops surrounding our building. Initially I was quite worried it would continue all day but it was, in fact, done by 11. I had to run out for the paper as soon as I was up and dressed because I felt that I had a great need for the Italian Lesson CD the was free with the paper. The French Lesson CD from last week is incredibly confusing so I'm hoping I have more luck with Italian (especially since I have taken 3 semesters and lived in Rome).

I decided I would go to St. Patricks Parish with Hannah and so I did. We arrived a bit early and the woman who played the organ asked the two of us to bring up the offeratory gifts. I thought it would be interesting to do so, so we agreed to do so. Taking into consideration that I hadn't been in a Catholic Church for a year and a half, I became unbelievably nervous since I had no real clue what to do. The kind woman pointed out the table and told us vaguely what to do, however I had no clue how to hold it or what to do after I handed it to the man. So, I curtsied. Hannah still gets a kick out of that...

The Festival of the Winds was interesting. There weren't quite as many kites as I would have imagined but there were some really cool ones on display. Unfortunately, the winds weren't too favorable for kite flying and the rain started up again for a bit. Some cool exhibitions of sorts were going on as well. There was a man doing some really beautiful glass blowing, there was a petting zoo of sorts, and people on stilts (I don't know why I get so amused by people on stilts...). There were also aboriginal dancers who I believe were performing parts of their creation stories. It was great to watch!

Overall it was a good day!