Past...Present...Future

A month ago today I left Auburn, I can't quite tell if it feels like yesterday or a million years ago. I think it's a mix of both, if that's possible. But I am looking forward to going back in a few weeks.

This past weekend I did make a pilgrimage to a very special place...QUINNIPIAC. I had not been to the Q is over 3 months, since the day before I left for Auburn. I think that was the longest I have been away from the Q in 5 years...weird. But then again I go back and it's home. Saturday I actually went down to the Q and New Haven with two ladies from my grad program Julie Betz and Amy Lerner. The plan was a mini tour of New Haven, a trip to Ikea, and a visit to the Q. It was a glorious day. The drive down was great, first stop was New Haven. We ended up eating at the Temple Street Grill which is one of my fav places. We sat outside in their little courtyard it was a beautiful day, plus lots of opportunities to people watch (and in some cases have people watch us). We all got their famous create-a-salad and had a funny waiter. The waiter was cool and everytime we walked by us he'd ask how were were doing. Well as the meal progressed we would ask us in different ways how we were... towards the end he asked in passing, "how are you lovers doing?" Amy, Julie and I were like did he just say that. It was AWKWARD AND HILARIOUS(clearly we loved it).

Well after we finished lunch and got swedish fish with the check (Temple Street Grill does that, but it was funny because we knew we were going to Ikea that day), anyway I showed them the inside of Playwright: New Haven which is an AMAZING pub/bar/club in New haven. It looks like an old dark wood church...it's HUGE and beautiful. I told Amy and Julie that we'd have to go out there for New Haven nightlife this year at some point. I also gave them a driving tour of downtown New Haven including a bunch of my old stompin' grounds as well as Yale.

Next we were off to Ikea...which we set aside a huge chunk of time. We literally walked the entire store, every display, every everything. we were in the showroom for over an hour and a half, then down to the marketplace for an hour or so then the stockroom for another 45 minutes. It was crazy, but wonderful. We also took tons of pictures of us doing funny things in the store...it was classic. Anyway after all that shopping we got hungry and ate in Ikea. Their food is pretty sweet and their desserts were amazing. Julie, Amy and I were pretty sure their were bourbon in the dessert I had, it was RA-DONK-YOU-LUS. Oh and while leaving Ikea to put out purchases in the car I saw one of my old roommates from college Cara, so fun!

After Ikea it was off to the Q. I swear everytime I drive onto campus after being away and see the big marble "Quinnipiac University" sign I get choked up. Amy and Julie really liked the Q and though it was cute and had a great set up in regards to the academic side of campus and the residential side of campus. They both liked how small it was, since they both went to HUGE undergrads and are now at uconn. So as we walked through campus I shared tons of stories from different parts of campus. Sadly only RAs were on campus, so the Q were pretty dead, but Julie an Amy said they are def down for a trip this year...yay and to climb sleeping giant mountain which is right across the street. you should check it out, it's pretty wonderful.

After the Quinni-tour I took them for a bev at one of my fav bar/grills called "side street." I actually ran into a few people there which was fun, who all are like "JENN JOHNSON?!?!" Yeah I just show up places randomly...that's how I roll. So it was wonderful to see some people, but I can't wait to go back down once all the Q kids are back.

Sunday was HESA Orientation (FYI: HESA is my grad program - Higher Education & Student Affairs) for the first year cohort. My cohort put together a full day social orientation which was a lot of fun. Seriously I love orientation I'm all about it, just the word orientation excites me! We actually closed orientation with one of my favorite team builders that we used to do with the QU Orientation Leaders that we called "reach out and touch someone." It's a really great closing activity and like usual it almost made me cry. (ask me about it, it's a great activity).

Currently it's the final few days of RA/CA training and then all the 12,000 students that live on campus start coming Friday. So needless to say I'm gonna be busy, but hopefully midweek next week I'll have my life back. But I love opening, I can't wait for the new students to get here!

War Eagle!

Ginturn