Movie Minute: Birds in Love with a Tree

I took this video on my way to class one morning. I've never see anything like it!! What is in that tree? I, sadly, missed the best part. There were A LOT more birds than that.

Photo of the Day April 19

Hey, guys!! Sorry that I've disappeared on you all. Co-Editor-in-Chief means BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!!!! I've never spent so much time on campus, not even when I was living in a freshman dorm! It's craziness. There's only one more week of classes left, then it's time for final exams. I can't believe it's over already. I am seriously ready for the break though. I haven't been getting much sleep. Sparta knows!
Last night, I was gosh awful sick at 2:30 a.m., and when I got back to bed, I found this!!! How cute! Sparta was curled up on my stuffed albino alligator waiting for me to come back. He looks like a baby monkey or something. I couldn't ask for a better furry companion in the middle of all this drama and craziness.

Movie Minute: Renaissance Style Dance

My Renaissance literature class isn't your normal lit class, as you can see from the video below. A group presented different Renaissance dances on Monday. Here, they are teaching Cory (the only guy in the group) how to do a dance!!

Photo of the Day March 19

Yesterday, I spent my St. Patrick's Day with a great group of journalists. In an effort to get to know our staff better, Ryan and I planned a trip to go hiking. However, there was some confusion, as there always is when one goes on a road trip. First, we were supposed to be hiking in Sylva, Cullowhee's sister city, which would have been a quick, easy drive. Then, Stuart found out that the Annual Black Rock Race was happening the exact day we wanted to hike!! So we picked an amazing trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway that would pass two waterfalls and some amazing scenery!
Unfortunately, road trips are never that simple. The Blue Ridge Parkway's online resource of hiking trail distances and locations is poor and quite frankly unacceptable. Our selected trail was at milepost 418.8. We unknowingly got on the Parkway at 444... with only a quarter of tank of gas!! After much confusion, we pulled over at the first hiking trail we saw - this one!! And it turned out to be a short but very fun hike!!! Next time, I promise we'll work up a sweat!

Ryan, myself, and some awesome staff members

Half EIC

I meant to post about this two weeks ago, but things got ridiculously crazy overnight. Ever since March 1, it's been a crazy ride!

At the end of February, my roommate and former boss Justin packed his bags at The Western Carolinian, the newspaper where I work. After much discussion, drama, tears, and hard work, the Student Media Board promoted Sports Editor Ryan and myself to become the new EDITORS-IN-CHIEF!!!!!! 

I am absolutely beyond excited and have been ever since I learned the news once it was made official. Ryan and I immediately started working on keeping the newspaper at its award-winning level, but also throwing in our own personal flair as EICs.
The transition hasn't been an easy one. There's been drama, and there are always rumors and fires to put out in a newspaper office, but overall, the experience has been a positive and busy one! I've never had so much on my shoulders, but it feels great. Ryan and I are responsible for the well-being of an entire newspaper!! It's insane, right? I mean, I've never had this much responsibility, and I feel like I'm handling it well. The newspaper is always on my thoughts, and I always want to make things better and get back into being a team with the staff. On Saturday (here's hoping it doesn't rain), ten staff members have agreed to go on a hiking trip, and we're taking off down the Blue Ridge Parkway for a couple hours of fun in the mountains.
I want to get to know these people and be someone they look up to. I want to get things done and accomplish so much. It's the most exhilarating feeling in the world!!! And, I'm lucky to have someone like Ryan at my side.
So, here's to the new direction of The Western Carolinian!! May we not screw it up!!

WCU clock tower

Movie Minute: Dogs Vs. Mini Horse and Donkey

I try to go on a walk at least five times a week. My driveway is at least a mile of rocky dirt that goes up and down the mountains where I live. Along this route live a handful of dogs, all of which I have made friends with. They used to come out and bark at me to be petted then go back to their respected porches to wait for my return. Nowadays, they have grown so used to me that they have started following me for the duration of my walk. While it's fun to walk with the dogs at my side, there are occasional issues that arise.
Take Bartholomew the donkey and Shaggy the mini horse, for example: they do not like dogs!! And, the dogs are too dumb to realize that they shouldn't go into mini horse and donkey pens! Here's what happens when they do:

Photo of the Day March 9

Don't. Tick. Them. OFF!!