its a rental

So whether your in college or have been in college, you know that books are outrageously expensive. I always wait till THE last minute to purchase my books, and always try to get USED if they have any. I like to check all the local stores after the university book store to compare prices.

This year however, I only had to buy 5 books and after checking all the prices around town, the price for just two books was $230.

OUTRAGEOUS!

So, I decided to look at other options out there. I had never bought any of my books online before, but with prices like these I had to give it a look. I checked amazon.com, half.com, and even ebay, but the prices were all still very high. (and it's not like I'm taking advanced chemical engineering or anything! they are just spanish, art, and journalism books!)

Anyways, I saw on ad on the side of my facebook page, which I know sounds soo weird and random, and usually I don't even notice them. But this one caught my attention. It was an advertisement to RENT textbooks!

I checked out the website, read some testimonials to make sure it was legit, and found all of my books for less than $200! They paid my shipping and will pay my return shipping when I'm finished.

I am so excited, and I'm going to pick them up at my house today! Their website allows you to actually track your purchases, so it was so cool seeing my book leave from chicago then arrive in nashville, ect.

The website is bookrenter.com and I highly recommend it.

(I also felt very 'forward thinking' with renting my textbooks! haha)

Until next time

ROLL TIDE

(on a side note, UA beat MSU in basketball today!)

its a bama nation

After a wonderful month long break, I am finally back at my second home. THE University of Alabama... also known as the 2009 BSC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!! WOOHOO!!! Not only am I back at school ready to start a new semester, but I am back with a new excitement.

The championship merchandise is coming out of the wazoo over here, and i LOVE it! I think I learned in my anthropology class last semester, that people, no matter who they are or where they're from, if they have a common interest or are from the same place or associated 'home' to be the same as a total stranger, then they will cling to each other in a bond that is like no other.

I think that is what I am seeing around me constantly. From the hoodies, to caps, from T-shirts, to bumper stickers, the entire town is in a joyous bond over the Crimson Tide's success. Shop clerks are friendlier, cashier's are kinder, and students who are would-be-strangers have an instant conversation starter and bonding point.

ahh, whatever it is, I am loving the feeling of togetherness and camaraderie. There really is nothing like it.

Saturday at 2pm there will be a special celebration ceremony held at Bryant-Denny stadium (sacred ground) that is open to the public free of charge. Providing yet another opportunity to join together in total respect and admiration of a school, team, coach, and town that came out on top.

-on a side note, the coaches trophy- the crystal football which Nick Saban and the team so lovingly held above their heads and delicately kissed (which was kind of weird) was displayed in the Tuscaloosa Wal-Mart for photo-ops....

I mean really, what kind of idea are the people outside of Alabama going to get when they hear our sacred statue was placed in Wal-mart, and will be traveling to Wal-marts all over the state for people to view. haha oh well!

Congrats to my team, my school, and my city of Tuscaloosa. I am so proud to be here, especially during this historic time. I will never forget it.. neither will the record books.

ROLL TIDE

its a lunch date

I love lunch dates with friends! Today I got to enjoy some delicious La Fiesta (which by the way, if you have not ever been there you are missing out... BIG TIME) with my friend Bailey Taylor!

We were THE first people in the place and we stayed for about two hours. We even had to let them know their OPEN sign was off when we came in. It was a great time. I will miss her when she goes to Auburn.... which is later today.

its time to get ready for some ALABAMA football

Time to get pumped for some sweet sweet ALABAMA football!

This is a fan of our competition

its a snow day!

Our first snow and only snow in Alabama came last year on March 1 (2009.) But this year it really does feel like winter is upon us at the right time. With rumored winter weather reports people all across the state have been flocking to their nearest grocery store to stock up on bread and milk. (this is not an exaggeration, seeing as how 1/2 of my Live Feed on Facebook reported updates such as "Walmart run at 9pm for frosted flakes and milk" or "8pm run to Publix for bread")

As any good Alabamian knows this snow day was predicted on the same day as the National Championship, in which the Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing to win.

James Spann, a hometown hero as far as weathermen go, and a usual favorite for storm watch and weather updates, recieved well over 100 hate mails this week, going as far as threatening the lives of him and his family, if he dares cut away from THE game for a "important weather alert." The station later issued a full report stating that Spann would not cut away from the game, and would stream live over the web, podcast, and give twitter updates.... what is the world coming to??

Anyways, to the surprise of no one, schools were all canceled at the mere mention of snow, while all roads continue to be perfectly safe, and drivable. (I am not just saying this; I actually got out and drove in the snow to the Framin' Shoppe this morning)

The snow is coming down kind of slow and is in short supply. Most of it evaporates by the time it hits the ground. Weather reports sound this riveting. "Attention Citizens: snow is now falling at the rate of approximately .1" per hour and you can expect a total of 1 inch of snow throughout the duration of the day."

HOLD UP!

POINT 1 inch per hour? POINT ONE!?

yes, people, don't get too excited... a whole .1" has fallen in our yard over the past 3 hours, and has decided to stick to our sidewalk only. haha

(heres the fountain in my backyard frozen over)

What a SNOW DAY! at least Harrison, my 9 year old brother, is enjoying his day off of school!

In other news, I plan to do a full post on the championship game later on so Until then....

ROLL TIDE

it's a new year

This year I am pledging to maintain a blog. Hopefully in doing so, I will somehow become more organized in other areas of my life. The big thing on my mind is currently: THE JOB SEARCH.

As a junior in college with 3 semesters left, with 3 internships under my belt, I am still unsure of what exactly I want to do. Journalism is a changing field these days, and I have no choice but to change along with it. Right now I think I would enjoy something in design. Whether it be Web design, magazine spreads, or even ads. Hopefully my minor graphic design will come in handy.

Speaking of graphic design, I just got the Adobe Creative Suite4 for Christmas. Adobe CS4 is the current design standard and I am so exciting to have a personal copy on my laptop. It's the student edition which is about 85% less then the regular edtions with all of the same features and quality. Software is the one thing you should really invest in as students, because the prices only go up, up, up!

With 4 days left I hope to make some progress on summer job searching, as well as a possible job for spring during the weekends.

On a side note, I am anxiously awaiting the BCS Championship game! Alabama vs. Texas.

I am really sad I didn't get to road trip out to Pasadena to support my school, but I have been living vicariously via several friends updates and pictures they've uploaded to facebook. I will however be supporting the Crimson Tide by watching it on a big screen with lots of friends and family!

Until next time

ROLL TIDE