Vivaaaa Las Vegas...

Hello to my small audience of blog readers!

Sorry it's taken a while for me to get to writing a new post...it's been a bit hectic! Lots of traveling-and well, quite a lot to catch up on! Expect a few new posts within the next week or so...

So my friend Jen decided that since the 4th of July is a hard time to get everybody together (it happens to be her birthday), we were going to hold the celebration in Las Vegas.

Yes, yes. Y-E-S yes...DONE! How exciting would that be?!

So Jen, Steph and I were all in the same sorority and have all managed to stay close and keep in touch. And then Lindsey, Jen's old college roommate, joined us as well.

That, plus Jen's friend from home, her husband...and some of this guy friends.

I arrive in Vegas, wait for Steph, and we both freak out in the cab about how EXCITED we are! We get to the Monte Carlo-meet Jen (you know the girly squeals in the middle of the lobbby, etc) and head up to put on our suits. Jen and Lindsey were outside by the pool-so we all decided to grab lunch before we started drinking from the giant footballs!

There is a food court inside with just fast food type stuff, so we all decided on Subway-which, of course, Jen and Steph begin singing the commercial "5...5 dollar...5 dollar foot long". So imagine the shock when Lindsey pays for her 6 inch sub and it's $12.

"12 dollars for half a sub, are you joking?" she asks.

"This is Vegas" man with 3 teeth behind the counter responds.

"So? I'm from New York and that's ridiculous."

So we had to revamp our singing "12...12 dollar...12 dollar 6 inch"...Jared would be proud.

We head to the pool...get our Mai Tai filled footballs, and enjoy some relaxation while the others get in throughout the day.

Night 1: Wanted to just do something low key, american type food for dinner. So we walk over to the MGM Grand and go to Wolfgang Pucks Bar and Grill. Absolutely delicious! It was the whole group, so we had a huge table. A few of us got a glass of wine. It was fun getting to know everybody.

So then we go back to the hotel, freshen up and of course, do the girl thing. (Make drinks, blast music, dance around, etc). We had gotten on a list for Voo Doo at the Rio, so we were excited because it looked beautiful in the pictures we had looked up.

Sure enough...50 floors above Vegas...this place was awesome. The inside has the funky decor, crazy walls, etc. We get shots to toast our first night in Vegas! Then we go outside on the gigantic deck overlooking Vegas. An absolutely breathtaking view...and awesome spiral staircase leading downstairs...and a great DJ ("This is my JAM!" was heard several times throughout the evening)

(Jen and I on the steps at VooDoo)

It was a ridiculously fun evening...maybe a little drama later that night...but nothing blogworthy I swear.

So after about 3 hours of sleep (so it was some late night drama) Jen and I wake up, put towels out by the pool, and then wake Steph up because the three of us had made massage appointments! We get into the spa, put on our robes, and throw back some water (a little dehydrated!) and wait for 60 minutes of amazingness. And that it was. We weren't ready to leave the tranquility, so we got in the hot tub for a while and just giggled about the previous evening. Night 1 was a success...Night 2 was going to be even better!

We chilled by the pool (many characters started to come out on Friday) ate lunch, had a few drinks, and before we knew it-it was time to get ready for dinner! I had made reservations for all of us (all 11) as Tao, which was at the Venetian. We politely remind the guys (still drinking in the pool) that dinner was kind of early, so they needed to be ready to go by 6:30 at the latest.

So how is it that 4 girls in the same room manage to be ready quicker than 5 guys? A fact that no science can explain.

We get ready, head over to the hotel-the rest of our party swearing they were right behind us (I told the I would kill them if they bailed-because it would be $25 on my credit card if people didn't show). At 6:55, we get there but were informed that we would be seated when the rest of our party arrived.

7...7:10...oh my goodness, really? We left at 6:35 and they were right behind us! So as we're sitting and waiting, there is a long line of people that have walked in from shopping or whatever and are putting their name on the list. At the end of the tunnel, I see somebody step out to see how long the line was.

I grab Jen's hand. "Oh my god, oh my god oh my god" What? she asks. "Holy shit" What? she asks. "I swear, that guy right there, is Jay" No way, are you sure? "It's either him or he has a twin"

So I walk out to investigate. For those of you who don't know, Jay was a guy I knew from Penn State. Since there is just not enough time to explain our relationship in a blog, we'll just equate him to an ex. An on an off ex for the almost 4 years I was there...

Well, whoever I saw wasn't in line...so I peek my head into the store next door. Yup, it was Jay. And his fiancee.

Who goes to Vegas and runs into an ex you might ask? There's a reason I call my life a reality show people...I can't make this stuff up.

Well...our party finally shows up, so we had to be seated. Tao is absolutely breathtaking. I am fascinated by Asian culture-and the decor in this place was absolutely beautiful. The giant rock garden on the wall, the 50 ft. Buddha statue right behind our table. The murals on the ceilngs with Japanese characters. It was awesome. The food was ABSOLUTELY fantastic as well-and our waiter was too funny. I was a little taken back by my encounter-so I wasn't going to settle for a fruity martini. "I need a Grey Goose, dirty martini with three olives. And I mean like, really dirty. Offensively dirty actually"...the waiter looks at me and says "Like Britney Spears?"

Now we're talkin.

(The girls in the entrance to Tao)

Celebrity sightings? Robert Horry of the San Antonio Spurs (booo) and Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. Apparently the very next evening Randy Jackson was at the restaurant celebrating his birthday...

So after dinner, we gamble a little after a crash course in Craps from Lindsey. Had a great time...and we were introduced to Gary and his kick drum. (K, there's a thing called the "come line" which can get you more money. So somehow we started singing the scene from "The BreakUp with the brother going "Gary, on the kick drum. Come come. Come come on the kick drum"...yeaaaah, guess you had to be there...we found it hilarious though)

Then we headed to Pure at Caesar's Palace. We had a pass to let us skip the 2+ hour line, yet when you got in -it was awesome...buuuut, NOWHERE to sit. Our feet were hurting. So we just walked to the bar and were pretty much leaning on it...until some Australian guys asked us to come sit at their table with them.

"I'm just going to use you for your seats, I'm not gonna lie"

They ended up being a really fun group, they were so nice to all of us and we had a great time talking to them. But...we couldn't really dance. So Jen texted the guy who got us on VIP at VooDoo...so we decide to head back there. It ended up closing shortly after, so we went downstairs and gambled some more. They played craps, one of the guys and I headed to a black jack table (my feet hurt and black jack tables have chairs!!).

It was a crazy crazy evening...a few stories I just don't feel like writing for the world to see...cause SOME of what happens in Vegas has to stay there. But there were some great quotes that evening...

The next day, we are all dragging from our late night. Jen and I make it to the pool...Steph turns into a corpse on the bed...and poor Lindsey had to do some work for a class she was taking for the bar. We were going to make an attempt to head to the Bellagio for the buffet at lunch and do some shopping, but naps were more important that afternoon. We ended up going for an early dinner and OH MY GOODNESS...most amazing buffet I have ever seen in my life. Seriously, you name it, they probably had it! Sushi, pizza, pasta, beef, chicken, different veggies, desserts, etc.

Also, the Bellagio is absolutely gorgeous. Just the glass flower display on the ceiling in the lobby was beautiful! Jen and I ran over to Tiffany's (we were on a time crunch) because I had been eyeing a ring there...they had it in my size...done! Quickest little blue box purchase I've ever made!

So we get back to the hotel, have about 30 minutes to get ready, and head over to New York, New York to see "Zumanity". It's a Cirque de Soleil show, but the "sensual/erotic" side. Jen's friends had gotten tickets and then invited our room along, so we figured it would be cool to see a show and we'd heard awesome things.

The show was a mixture of the very sensual, amazing artistry that involves people on ropes, doing movements with their bodies that hurt to watch combined with a little of the raunchy, yet hilarious, stand up bits. It was absolutely awesome and I'd recommend it highly...if nudity and sexual humor don't offend you. You also have to be 18 to see it...how funny that our group got carded.

After that, we were all just in need to hang out and lay a little lower than going to a club. We headed over to Paris and played craps for many hours. The casinos amazed me with all of the detail that goes into the theme behind it all. The entire ceiling of Paris is painted like a sky, so it's a very odd sensation at 2am when it looks sunny out with blue skies!

Our group makes friends easily at the craps table, with all of our chants and trying to get people riled up. Particularly with the dealers who stand around and joke with us. Even more enjoyable were the nicknames for other gamblers who would join our table. On gentleman, dubbed "Eyebrows", was at the opposite and of the table and kept arching his eyebrows in our direction every time he rolled.

The waitress walks up and hands me a beer-which I hadn't ordered. "The gentlemen bought this for you".

"Which one?"

"The one rolling m'am"...she nods to "Eyebrows"

We all try to keep from laughing as he gives me the nod...I mouth "Thank you" back and smile.

I look at the girls..."He bought me a free drink?"

We couldn't help but laugh...

So Lindsey had to wake up nice and early to head back to NYC. Steph and I made it out around 9:30 to head to the airport. It was an absolutely amazing trip...although the flight back was close to making me sick with all of the bumps we went through the first hour!

Overall, an incredibly successful trip! We had so many laughs and bizarre events happen that we will never forget.

Angie...I hope you have been able to live vicariously through this blog since you didn't get your trip this year. Let's just say if you ever need a partner in crime in Vegas...call me!

The Ultimate Girls Night Out

So anybody that knows me knows that I spontaneously relate things in every day life to:

A-An episode of Friends (that reminds me of when Joey tries to learn French...)

B-An episode of Sex and the City (Yeah, he kissed like the guy who "mouth rapes" Charlotte...)

I'm a huge fan of both.

So obviously, major excitement last week when I managed to get a group of girlfriends together not only to have martinis and dinner...but to see the movie:

We all met in the Tower Room, a restaurant at the top of my office building that has a gorgeous view of the city-as it should, being 36 stories up!

The martinis were delicious, the food was wonderful, the view spectacular, we were all geared up for the movie! We even had a little drama with the management (Sara sorted it out-no worries!) to really get us primed!

SO we arrive at the theater right as the movie is about to start. Only 3 of us could make it to the movie-so imagine our surprise when we were told we would be lucky to find 3 seats together. Sheesh. But we did!

...In the front row...

The place was PACKED! With LOUD women! I think everybody had been out drinking martinis as well...or like the row behind us, just brought their own bottles of wine into the theatre. Figured it would make for an interesting viewing experience. Particularly when right as the lights dim somebody 3 rows back in a froggy voice (as in this woman has been smoking for a looong time) says loudly "You bitches should be in church".

Everybody dies laughing. Then the theme music begins and everybody begins applauding. How fun to watch this with a crowd of people who love the show as much as I do!

Now, fashion is a major part and appeal of this show. While some of the outfits are spectacular, and hello, the shoes and purses as well, Sarah Jessica Parker's character, Carrie Bradshaw, has had some fashion moments that make me gag. The opening outfit was no exception...

What on earth...

A-Those shoes are awful! And she wears them more than once in the movie...why not pick a better shoe to display? Sorry Dior...not a fan!

B-Is she trying to attract the world's largest bumble bee with that ginormous flower? Puh-lease...

I've been asked if somebody can enjoy the movie without seeing all of the episodes. Yes, but not as much. I'd recommend at least watching a few episodes so that you are familiar with the characters. (You know, Miranda is the cynic, Charlotte the bubbly optimist, Samantha likes to "color", and Carrie is the quirky one with an ongoing love affair with Big).

The movie was absolutely wonderful. Everything I expected and more. There were moments where my heart dropped, moments when I cried, moments when I cried from laughing so hard, and moments when I was just happy! It takes you through every emotion...

Obviously this is not a movie I'd recommend for younger audiences, as there is nudity (nothing shocking people, it's all over the show too!) but you do see a male full-frontal shot, yes my friends, a brief glimpse of his "hoo-de-hoo".

Anybody wanting to see this movie again, I'm in! Especially once the crowds have died down and I don't have "Row 2, party of drunk and annoying" sitting behind me (chick knocked the empty bottle of wine over at least 3 times toward the end).

And let's just say, although some of the fashion was absolutely ridiculous, there were definitely some redeeming moments...
But let's be honest here Carrie Bradshaw...when your assistant asks about the $485 shoes and you say "They were actually $525"...Manolo Blahnik is selling these puppies for $945. I could just not pay rent, cable or MLGS bills for a month!! I actually don't think any of their heels are less than $600...

However, the movie does clue viewers in to a new and very interesting website http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/

Pick any designer...pick a purse, sunglasses, jewerly...now how long do you want it for? Yes my friends, you can RENT luxury designer items by the week or by the month! If you fall in love with something you rented, you can check the status and may have the option to buy it!

The price varies on the item...

For example, this AMAZING Chanel: $202/week or $595/month.

Anyways, thought that was pretty awesome. But tell me, why would you want to rent this?

I mean, some people might have loved this for Carrie Bradshaw, relating it back to the Paris episodes. But really, this is something I'd see 70 year old women wearing the sequined fanny packs carrying around. Gaughty with a capital G! Timmy Woods, you get an F from me.

Anyways, GO SEE THE MOVIE! It is fantastic and it will leave with feeling happy, fulfilled, smiling (maybe even crying a little okay?!).

That...and with an itch to go shopping...normally not a problem for me with very little exquisite shopping around Memphis, but I'm going to Vegas next weekend...whole new ball game people.

At least I know I won't be losing money at the casinos. My money will be right where I can see it...

In my closet.

Mystery Solved...

So on Friday I was informed by my friend Kyle about the seasoned vs. regular fry debacle at BYB.

Apparently in order to cut costs, BYB execs. decided to switch from Sysco food distributors to US Foods...so they did not have the products in order to make seasoned fries.

While I appreciate them trying to keeps costs low for the customer, other places like Chick-fil-a know the value of their menu staples and have raised the cost a little...

In other news, I noticed in the building elevator that McDonald's that their dollar menu will remain the dollar menu in spite of raised costs. Gross. I can't stand McDonald's. Only when incredibly desperate (and okay, maybe intoxicated) will I get anything from there.

That's all I have for now...just thought I'd clarify the fast food war for everybody out there!

FOR SEASONED!

So today, I had a ton of errands to run at lunch. Now I really can't stand fast food like Wendy's, McDonalds, Taco Bell etc. However, I can tolerate Chick-fil-A and BackYard Burger.

Rather than skip lunch all together and opt for a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos from the downstairs sundry store (I've done that a lot over the past few weeks), I decided BackYard burger sounded good. I'm sitting in line debating between the Buffalo Chicken salad or a BLT so I could get the delicious seasoned fries. I pull up and notice their menu has changed.

I quickly scan...all new salads. Crap, they didn't have mine! None of the others sounded as appealing and the lady came on to take my order.

Bacon cheddar burger-I said, not even looking for a BLT. At this point, I just wanted the fries!
"Would you like the regular fries?"

"No, I'd like the seasoned please."

"We no longer carry the seasoned or waffle cut fries. Just regular or onion rings."

WHAT?

They certainly did not consult me on this decision. I have been eating their seasoned fries since like, 6th grade, and they take them away? Now I can handle the salad being gone, but you can't take both of my favorite things away!

I mean, when I think BackYard Burger, I think of the seasoned fries before anything else-and BURGER is even in the name- Are they crazy? They are messing with their identity...

So now I guess it's just down to Chick-fil-A for me...unless somebody at BYB lays off the crack pipe and brings back the warm, deliciousness that are seasoned fries.

P.S. I have tried looking online for anything explaining this tragedy and there is nothing...does anybody know anything about this?

Spontaneous Road Trips? Y-E-S DONE!

So a few weeks ago, my roommate and I were enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Bahama Breeze, sipping on fruity-tropical drinks trying to enjoy the sunshine on the patio. Now, I have been promising my roommate that we'd take a trip to Nashville-my stipulation was that we had to wait until football season was over. If there is one thing to show how different we are-she was very excited when football was over-and I wanted to cry.


We sit outside, chat, and I'm kinda like "Well why don't we go to Nashville this weekend?" People, if people had tails-Becky's would have been wagging like crazy. So we were supposed to leave on Friday around 5-5:30, but I didn't get off work until late so we hit the road after 7...I was not a happy Mary about that fact, but regardless, we were getting away from Memphis for a weekend!


Day 1 (okay, more like night)

The first night we went out to a fun area and went to a bar where I felt incredibly old, every girl in there looked about 18. There was also a guy who walked by and looked over at Becky and I and HISSED...I mean, very snake-like. I'm not sure if he was trying to speak parsel-tongue or what, but it was bizarre! (HP reference for all of you muggles....)


So since we had missed going to a very COUNTRY bar that had drink specials until 11 (which is why Becky loves Nashville-she hearts country music, cowboys, and everything associated with the two) my friend Brook and I humored her and went to a place called "The Stage". The inside of the place reminded me of the set at Disney World for the "Country Bears" or whatever, where they play banjos and what not.



So we're standing by the dance floor and the band announces that they're playing one more slow song before the pick up the pace. Well this very very very (very very very very) weird guy wearing a black cowboy hat turns around and asks me to dance. I'm in the middle of politely declining his invitation when an unknown force (ahem Becky) SHOVES me at the guy. So I end up doing the 7th grade dance thing, trying to stay far away from him-to no avail, cause in order to serenade somebody, you have to be right in their ear!! Every time we'd make a rotation, Brook and Becky were standing there cracking up...thanks guys! He and his friends were special, I'll be nice and leave it at that for now.

(I was making my "mean face" at Becky for making me dance)

Day 2

I wake up to a friend drunk dialing me at 9:30am...did anybody else know that there is a Hot Wing Festival in Memphis? Cause that seriously sounds amazing...I also know what I'm having for dinner tonight.


Anyways, Becky and I couldn't go back to sleep because the workers across the street were REALLY loud so we pretty much move in slow motion all day. One of Brook's friends plays rugby, so we headed out to a park to watch a rugby game. It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day and it was a lot of fun to sit there and enjoy a sport which I have come to appreciate! (That and the hot guys that often come with amazing accents...) I also decided that the commentator for the game needs to become a golf broadcaster...not because he yells like soccer announcers or anything, but because he was absolutely hilarious and pretty much just made fun of everything. I'd love him to comment on some of the pants that Camilo Villegas sports

After the game, Brook took us to Five Guys for burgers and fries and it was absolutely delicious! Then we went out for some margaritas on the patio of a Mexican place. Can we just say that this day is already perfection in the eyes of Mary? And then add laying on a couch watching the NFL draft before going out...yeah, it was a great day.


Also, being out in Nashville and seeing the city during the day-I've decided I love it. It's clean, I felt safe there, and there are some absolutely beautiful areas. And it does have a lot to offer-I'm definitely a fan!


Anyways, that night, Brook took us to one of his favorite sports bars called "Sams" and his friend Chris came out with us. We had an absolute blast! The bar was awesome-and of course, ordering really girly drinks to send over to Chris's boss was pretty funny. Then we walked over to a place called "The Cabana" (I think?) which looks like an amazing restaurant that turns into a dance club at night-and this place is absolutely gorgeous!




Day 3
Um, we attempted to sleep in. I also forgot about the other thing that wakes you up-Molly. Brook has a little black lab puppy who ADORES me now-especially my ears. Real cute at 9am on 4 hours of sleep right? Haha, I didn't care-it was nice having puppy time!


We were l-a-z-y on Sunday-watched more of the draft, started watching a playoff game, and then Becky and I decided to hit the road around 3:30. We stopped for lunch at sonic, and then jumped back on the Interstate.


And sat...and sat...and sat...and finally made it home around 9:30. Yes, it's normally around 3 hours from Memphis to Nashville. No, I did not enjoy sitting in gridlock. Yes, I laughed when Becky would start snoring and wake herself up, PROMISING she'd try to stay awake to help me stay awake. Then she would put on some sad, slow, country song from my iPod and be out again. Go figure.


Sooo, long story short-I now love Nashville as well-but for reasons very different from Beckys! We had a great weekend FULL of hilarious events that I just don't even want to go into detail about cause my blog would take years to read...

Okay, back to work...

Stay Classy San Diego...

He's Here!!!

That's right, last night at 7:10pm, a little 7lb. 7oz. Charles Elliot was born!

So proud Aunt Mary is beaming over her new nephew.

I'll just go ahead and say it, I think Lindley and Chad just need to keep re-producing, because little Charlie (just like Luke!) is a beautiful beautiful baby! (Not what Lindley wanted to hear today when I told her, haha)

We got to the hospital last night, probably RIGHT as baby Charlie was being born! So my parents and I made phone calls, texts, etc. to family and friends. And then we waited with Luke to meet his little brother. (Luke was keeping us all entertained in the waiting room and in the courtyard...of course!)

Oh so worth the wait. Mimi got to hold him first, and then Grandpa and then OF COURSE Aunt Mary was itching to get her hands on that little bundle of adorable-ness!

Luke was very curious about his little brother, so he and Buddy (his stuffed giraffe) checked him out a few times. "Baby Charlie is crying!" Luke announced. So we asked "What do you say to him when he's crying?" He smiled "It's okay baby Charlie" so he came over and gazed him a little more, still not quite comprehending the whole situation, but it was cute anyways!

Lindley was trying to hang in there...took some anti-nausea meds so I think we were just giant blurs to her. But happy to see her looking full of color today holding her precious new baby.

So proud Aunt Mary now has two AMAZING nephews who I am in love with! I'm sure I will have more cute stories to come, just wanted to share the excitement with everybody!

I love you baby Charlie and can't wait to see you grow up! And of course, Luker Pooker, I can't wait to see you continue to grow up and become a wonderful big brother!

Letter to Me...

Here was my inspiration for this blog...a song by Brad Paisley called "Letter to Me"

If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17
First I'd prove it's me by saying look under your bedT
here's a Skoal can and a Playboy no one else would know you hid
And then I'd say I know its tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her and it just don't seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast and it's rare...

_____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mary,

This may seem odd, but this is a letter from you, 8 years from now. I will prove that it’s really you/me…look under your bed for the brown journal. Yeah, that’s the one-where you have pictures about all of your friends and you write about them, who they like, what they do that annoys you and your favorite things about them.

You are going to have a lot of things to deal with in your future years. Don’t be so shy, approach guys with confidence…actually, just approach them! Speak up more in class, especially in English. You have a talent, you just need to fine-tune it, even if Henderson is hard to deal with…

Try some new things! You will love doing a musical if you try, trust me. You will make friends, spend more time with your current friends and open yourself up a little…I know, you being on stage is scary!

Work extra hard for Mrs. McKinney, she has always seen the best in you and your friends, and believe it or not you WILL need Spanish. Plus, she’s older now and her husband might not be around for much longer.

When it’s raining, be careful driving and don’t slam on your brakes-especially if Sarah is following you! Take better care of your car-especially when you get to college! (Watch out for red paint-make sure it’s closed!)

Don’t stress about small things. They will work out. Also, don’t worry about what people think so much-have fun and enjoy your time in high school. Open your mind and don’t be too judgmental-you have good instincts about people and situations, so just let that be your guide. Your friends will meet a group of older guys-don’t be afraid to talk to Brook, he actually turns out to be one of your good friends!

When you go to Europe with the class, don’t let anybody ruin your good time. Take pictures, have fun, be goofy. And speaking of Europe, keep in touch with Eva for years to come…you have a wonderful friendship with her.

When you go on your first date with Matt, relax, his ex-girlfriend will NOT beat the crap out of you no matter what you heard in homeroom and in the girls bathroom.

Don’t chug straight from the bottle of champagne at Christmas formal-your head will hurt the next day…

You and Matt will date for a few months. On your 18th birthday, make sure Patrick doesn’t have that beer in the car when you get in. Actually, that made for a pretty good story-although at the time it was terrifying. That relationship will open you up to other people in school-you have probably misjudged them as they have you. They will finally get to see the real you.

Value your relationships. I hate to tell you, but a lot of your friendships that you thought would last forever barely withstand college. And when you get to college, don’t hold back. It’s a new start for you.

Don’t laugh at the possibility of keeping in touch with Jason when you meet him on your senior trip. I can tell you that even now, you still keep in touch and have had some wonderful memories with him, his sister and their friends.

You will end up at Penn State and love it! Soak it all in, experience everything. But don’t fall so hard for one of the first guys you meet. He’ll only mess with your head the entire time you are there...

Go to your classes—yes, even the early ones!

You will be in for a very tough day your first semester-a world changing event will take place in September. Your loved ones will be safe, but never lose sight of the events of that day. It will make you incredibly homesick, not having anybody close to you there, but you will find friends quickly.

Freshman year-do yourself a favor-the week before finals, either skip the rugby party or don’t let your friends leave you. This decision could affect the rest of your life and your outlook on it. If you make the same decisions-your family and friends are there for you, so utilize them for advice and consoling.

You will end up leaving Penn State and it will be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. But you are successful at Memphis and meet some new friends, even though it takes you a while. You will lose a very close friend due to an argument, and it will have a major impact on not only your relationship with her, but will stretch far beyond that. Hold your ground and be thankful that you parents love and trust you. It’s a rough transition when you move home-but don’t be discouraged-you persevere and come back into your own during your senior year.

Spend more time with Mimi, Daddy Hully and Uncle Robert any chance you can. Learn from them, learn about them. You don’t have much longer to seize the opportunity to do so.

Also, love on Taffy whenever you can…because she leaves you much too early…

You will live a great life, so don’t let the bad days throw you off. I can tell you now, 8 years ahead of you, that you have a degree, a job, and an amazing family that now includes 2 nephews (well, #2 is coming any day now!). Your friends are getting married, having babies and managing to lead their own lives. Take the chance to spend time with them whenever you can. You have some amazing friends who support you in all you do-they even come to celebrate with you when you graduate.

People might not know it,
But you pretty much kick ass…

Love,
Mary (the quarter century edition)