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Campus is full of people outside all the time now. It seems like every day I can see a frisbee being thrown, a soccer ball being kicked and shirtless men playing sand volleyball. This weather is amazing and I feel like it is going to stay, which is surprising in Ohio.

I just read in the paper that this winter was one of the warmest winters ever recorded. I can easily believe that since last school year it was still cold when I went home in May. I didn’t believe that it would get so warm so fast. I am always pessimistic about the weather. I never want to get my hopes up.

I love to run outside, but I’m starting to run barefoot so I am running inside of the Peterson Field House.

Baseball has always been a summer sport, so it only makes it feel more like summer when I have to watch it nearly every day. I have just started to consistently experience athletic training with the baseball team.  There has only been one “scary” injury so far but he is OK and should heal with no problem. I am slowly learning all of their names and quickly learning their personalities. I also realized quickly that nearly all of our starters are sophomores. That’s my class status so I definitely take pride in knowing that our class is doing work and doing it well. Just like last semester when I was at Hoover High School for my athletic training experience, I am getting closer with the team. I am pumped when we win, and I feel even worse when someone get hurts. Athletic training makes you have a heart toward athletes a little more than if you were just a fan. You have to actually take care of their injuries, so when they can triumph over that injury, you feel like you contributed to their success.

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Watch the video LAST. If you watch it early, it will take away the excitement of knowing why it is #1 on this list.

I’ve decided to make a Top 10. Everyone loves a good Top 10 of anything and if it is awesome, then who wouldn’t want to read it? I’ve recently been excited about a few things lately, things that have or haven’t even happened yet. Basically, just read this list and I hope something on it makes you smile.

10. Back to the Future: Trilogy. Travel back in time with a Delorean? I’ve seen these movies multiple times and I keep finding new things I didn’t realize before. Good job Spielberg. These movies had action, comedy, romance, time travel and even a dog. Back to the Future is awesome.

9. History section of the library. There are very few people in the history section of the library, which means I am able to get my studying, homework and blogs completed. The history section, it’s awesome.

8. Gerard Butler. I realized that I have a man crush on him. He is always the toughest and manliest in movies, and he always wins. He also was the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera and has an amazing voice. I don’t sing well. It doesn’t matter if I sing well, it only matters if girls think I sing well and it is a lot easier to get girls when you have a voice like Gerard Butler. Gerard Butler, he’s awesome.

7. Christmas sweaters. They are only in fashion for about a month and everyone notices when you wear one. They are usually made with love or in China, but they are always warm and people are usually uber jealous of your sweater. Christmas sweaters, they are awesome.

6. People who read my blog. I like attention just like any other person and when people read my blogs and tell me nice job, it’s a good feeling. I like writing, but I never see my audience or hear their applause. The only way I know is if there is a comment or if someone tells me they read it. Readers are awesome.

5. Women that don’t wear make-up. Most men would agree, we prefer a woman without make up and also dyed hair. I don’t mind girls with make up or dyed hair, I just have simple preferences. Women without make-up are awesome.

4. Letters in the mail. I’ve already made a post about this, but simply getting a letter from a friend in the mail makes my day way better. Friends that send me letters are awesome.

3. Anything free. Free t-shirts, free scholarships (money), free food, free massages, free Play-Doh, free socks and free laundry, etc. Free stuff is awesome and usually comes at no cost to you, which is what makes it free. Free stuff is awesome.

2. Peaches. I just love peaches. They are awesome. The Presidents of the United States of America even made a song about peaches titled “Peaches.” Peaches are awesome.

1. This video. I love dancing and it is fun for everyone, no matter what style. These people are insane. They are awesome.

This list isn’t the most awesome thing in the world, but I hope it brought you into my little world for just a few minutes. I like to change things up once in awhile. Next semester will be interesting since I have only one class on Tuesday and for the first time I start class at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. This is awesome.

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www.hawaldwrestling.com
The video is of our work out.  Enjoy =D

Halloween is a time for trick-or-treating, not for wrestling. There is no break in wrestling, but there is time to joke around.  Every year the wrestling team has a Halloween work out. After a long and difficult hell week, we still have time to dress up and have a good time. But in all seriousness, we still got a good work out in too.

The practice consisted of pictures and being judged by the indoor track team. The categories we were judged in were overall best costume and best group costumes.

We then ran around campus and in all the academic buildings to show ourselves to Mount Union’s faculty and staff members to brighten their day. They definitely appreciated seeing everyone in ridiculous costumes. This year’s costumes consisted of Sasquatch, Wayne’s World, White Chicks, The Village People, marching band leader and a sexy female nurse. I was Jacob Black from Twilight, and even our coaches were a bunny and a black cat.

After all the judging and running, we eventually would run our way to Gulling and do a circuit lift. The baseball team was ending their work out in there and they just had to put a smile on their faces. Usually people would say this is just crazy, but everyone gets a good laugh out of it.

If you would like to see more pictures, check out the Purple Raider Wrestling page on Facebook.

What’s the purpose of this?  Our coach likes to have a good time just like any other person, but he takes things seriously too. We are trying to be the best. How can you be the best if you can’t laugh at yourself once in awhile? It’s a perfect balance and it shows that we can still be the best and have a good time.

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We haven’t even been out of school for a month and I am already having the best summer ever!

I’ve made a lot of time in my schedule to catch up with some friends from home that I haven’t seen in a while due to us all attending different schools. Since the Cleveland weather has provided us with a few nice days, we’ve went on bike rides, beach visits, roller-blading trips and exciting nights out. That’s another thing I love about college; while you have to take some time away from your friends to all go to different schools, when you come back for breaks, it’s like you were never even apart.

My boyfriend came up to visit this past weekend and, well, the Cleveland weather wasn’t so nice… however, we were able to go to the Great Lakes Science Center and enjoy a day running around there like we were still in elementary school — don’t judge … college kids can have fun too :] We also watched the movie “Tornado Alley” that was playing in the IMAX Theater.

However, the best part of the summer so far would definitely have to be my summer job. As you know, it is with the Cleveland Indians, and by reading my previous posts you know I love the team very much. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve worked for them for a couple of years now, but no experience comes close to this one!

I get to be down at almost every home game and I am out there cheering with the fans. I could not ask for a better summer job. The people I work with are awesome, not to mention that there are six Mount Union students on our team. There are also a bunch of other Mount Union students working down at the ballpark whether it is through volunteering or internships; that makes it a lot of fun to run into my friends during the game. That’s not even including all of the Purple Raiders that make the trip up to Cleveland to go to the games … they come from all over! I guess that’s what happens when your city has a winning team. Ha Ha!

Progressive Field is a little community in itself, though. All of the employees in all of the different departments automatically become friends just because of the atmosphere. Like I said, it’s awesome!

If you’re wondering where I was Friday night when Travis Hafner hit that homerun to win the game against Seattle… I was up in the outfield with one of the other Mount students I work with, cheering with the crowd and having the best time ever. After that, we ran down to the field to celebrate with the rest of our team and we stayed on the field during the fireworks. What a great time!

I will definitely be keeping you all posted on my life down at the ballpark — it will keep getting more and more exciting! (Did you see the score of last night’s game?! 19-1?!?!)

This week holds plenty of excitement because I am going to Vegas with my mom on Thursday! Next post will be all about my trip so make sure to check back next week!

-samantha

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This weather is ridiculous. I thought it was supposed to be “April showers bring May flowers” ?? It’s been raining almost every day. Ugh … it makes it seem a little less like summer. :[

Tuesday, the one day it didn't rain this week, the boyfriend and I went to the Cleveland Zoo. I absolutely looove it there! I am such a huge fan of all animals and my favorite animals in the entire world are giraffes so I always take a ton of pictures with them. Also, the elephants are back with a whole new setup and it looks really nice. It was a beautiful day to be outside and then after that we went to Dave & Busters and played games for the rest of the night. It's so nice when I get a day off to just have some fun. :]

As I’ve been talking about in my past posts, I recently started at the Winking Lizard Tavern and went through nine days of extensive training and tests. It’s been so fun and I’ve loved the challenge of learning new things but it’s sooo awesome that my training is finally over!! I started serving on my own last night and it went great. It was Friday the 13th but thankfully nothing scary happened.  They have me scheduled a lot this upcoming week so I’m really excited! I LOVE my new job :]

A lot of college students still haven’t even taken finals yet and it’s so nice that I was able to train for two weeks already and be ready to start this job. That, as I’ve said before, is one of the many things I love about Mount Union. :]

-Shannon

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Ahhh, the weather was so gorgeous today. It was UMUpalooza, which was the four-hour live music event hosted by WRMU that Samantha and I have been writing about the past couple weeks. It actually went really well. All the bands that performed did a great job and I think the people that came were really satisfied with the event. :]

I loooove when the weather gets nice out because I migrate from The MAAC to running outside around campus. The MAAC is short for the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex, which basically is our rec center.  I love working out there and it really is nice. My freshman year, we worked out in this tiny building that was called “The Body Shop” because the new place was being built. That is almost humorous to think back on that because the new workout center is so nice. There are a bunch of flatscreen TVs that you can watch while you’re working out, and all of the equipment you’d assume to see at the gym.

In high school, I ran track, cross country and danced, but I didn’t want to run when I came to Mount. The teams are so serious about the sport (which is how it should be), but I’m just more of a recreational runner now. I do road races here and there but I just love running to clear my mind and get fresh air. The dance team here looked fun when I first came here and I did try out my freshman year but was cut at the last second.  They told me to try out again but I never did because I got involved in too many other things.

It’s fun just being able to workout and run when I have time and not having to run whenever I’m SUPPOSED to. I ran this morning before class for an hour because it was just sooo nice out. Around 60 degrees is perfect for running because it’s warm but not too hot! Hope this weather stays nice so I can keep running outside and then just go to The MAAC to use the weights. :]

-Shannon

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Nature gave us our April fools joke a day late, as Mother Nature attacked Mount Union’s track team this past Saturday. The night before our track meet, it snowed while we were sleeping. Then, it warmed up and turned the thin layer of powder into water, which then froze as it cooled down, putting a nice icy crust on Alliance. It proceeded to warm up and reached the mid 40’s around 11 a.m. Then, out of nowhere, it began to snow heavily. I’m talking about large flakes the size of ping-pong balls falling from the cloudy skies, and then quicker than you could blink, it was pouring down rain. Not five minutes later was it sunny again, until the wind picked up again and it started snowing. This all took place in a 15-minute time frame and was absolutely ridiculous.

Hopefully at next week’s home meet the weather will be a little more consistent!

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The first week back from any vacation can hit students hard, no matter where they go or what they’re coming back to. And, with this sudden splash back to reality, the only thing that can fill the void of vacation is food. That is why I am thankful for our buffet-style cafeteria; all week they were serving great food including some Irish classics to celebrate Saint Paddy’s day. Thursday for dinner they had a great corned beef and cabbage, however Friday was the high point for me as they served stuffed banana peppers, which were really delicious.

Today is Sunday, which marks the first day of spring, and last night’s moon symbolized the specialness of the season with the ‘Supermoon.’ The moon was as close as it has been to Earth in 18 years. At moon rise, it was shaded blood red, and by the time it had peaked it had turned into a great shade of silver. Sunday continued to be a beautiful day as I spent the afternoon in the country of Alliance and appreciated the beautiful nature around me.

This Thursday, Mount Union will be hosting world-renowned astrophysicist, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, who will present 10 Things You Should Know About The Universe. Mount Union is a small school of 2,000 plus students, but they always manage to get extremely impressive speakers, which rival even some of the largest and most prestigious schools around.

In two weeks – Saturday, April 2 – Mount Union will host the OAC Gold Meet. It looks to be a great spring Saturday morning, so people should try and come out to at least enjoy the weather. And if not for that, but to watch some of the nation’s best athletes!

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Anyone reading this post right now shouldn’t be. Go outside. Alliance is currently experiencing amazing, summer-esque like weather with temperatures in the 60s. Although spring break may be over, it is nice to see that summer isn’t going to remain in hiding for too much longer.

Another thing you may have noticed is how much more alive people seem when the weather is nice outside. Doors were being held opened left and right, multiple professors finished up their lectures early and everyone has a smile on their face! Such behavior starts a ripple effect and, before you know it, no one on campus has a care in the world.

Realistically, this weather won’t last long (see weather app to the right), but at least we have these few days. Homework is always going to be there with open arms, but elusive sunshine-filled days like today will not. So stop reading already. Go outside.

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While it seems that most of the Mount Union community headed to Panama for spring break, there is also a good portion of students who decided to head home and either work or relax for the week with their families, just like me. From Ohio to Pennsylvania, one thing that has been impossible to escape is the bad weather. Since I have ventured back to Pittsburgh, the weather has been up and down every other day and cannot even compare to the nice weather other Mount students are enjoying currently in the sunshine state. Although, I must say that the sun did make an appearance here in the burg yesterday and made for a nice time to sit outside and enjoy a nice beverage from Starbucks with a friend! Later at night I realized that from sitting in the sun for a short amount of time, I now had a slight tint of color on my cheeks! If that doesn’t get you psyched for the summer weather, I don’t know what does! Word has it there is going to be another snow storm here in PA tomorrow night so I just hope that this is it for the winter time blues, and the nice weather gets here sooner rather than later!