Today we held our 2nd Annual Mount Aloysius College Pink Out Day. The campus was a sea of pink. We all turned in our Mountie Navy Blue and Silver to show our support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Colleges Against Cancer, Medical Imaging and the Nursing Student organization had tables filled with Breast Cancer info, basket raffles, free giveaways, etc. The Cosgrave Student Center was painted pink with streamers, balloons and faculty, staff and students who were showing their support.

We also had MAC, the school mascot, and his friend, Wonder Woman to get everyone excited about Pink Out Day and the 2009 Relay For Life. They didn't quite look like themselves because they too, were sporting their Pink Pride. Even St. Aloysius decided to bring out his pink gear. Haha. :o)

God Bless,

Laura

Quote of the Day:"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop

My friends and I in our Pink Gear!!

Our Pink Out Day Mascots MAC and Wonder Woman

St. Aloysius sporting his Pink!!

Posted by Laura Deely at 5:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I absolutely love Halloween! Next to Christmas, it's one of my favorite holidays. I love the costumes, the decorations and the candy!! It was very hard to decide on my costume this year, however, because I had to think of two. John and I decided we wanted to go as some famous couple...it was hard to narrow down all of our ideas. We thought we had settled on Mario and Peach from Super Mario Brothers, but my end of the costume fell through. Back to the drawing board....

When we did finally figure out our costumes, it felt like this weight was lifted of our shoulders. We wanted them to be perfect. On top of the costume drama, I had to pull a lot of things together for planning the MAC Halloween Dance. Our DJ fell through last minute, so John and I threw together a pretty awesome, last-minute, playlist for the dance. Everyone seemed to enjoy the music and the decorations...maybe if things don't work out with becoming a college president, I could always fall back on a career as a DJ...haha. :o)

Here are some pictures from the dance. I thought you might enjoy how our final costumes turned out...

God Bless,

Laura

Quote of the Day:"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." -Sam Ewing

John and I as JFK and Marilyn Monroe

JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Ethel and Lucy

My pumpkin that I carved...

Posted by Laura Deely at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was feeling pretty adventurous the other day and decided to go for a walk around campus with my boyfriend John. The leaves on the trees were too beautiful to pass up, so, of course, I brought my camera along. We spent a lot of time down at the pond. While I was snapping away, John was sitting on one of the benches and studying for a test he had later that evening. I've always loved going down to the pond. It's the perfect place to relax and study on a warm afternoon.

We then continued our journey toward the Main Building and its surrounding areas. I was able to capture some great shots of the place I love so much. I know that I will treasure them forever. It was also nice to just drop everything and spend the afternoon with John. Although we are together all the time, our time's usually spent planning campus programs, doing fundraisers or working on homework. Simply put, we needed a break and luckily, we didn't have to venture off campus to find a relaxing spot.

Here are some of the shots to show you a different side of campus...some you may not have even known existed.

God Bless,

Laura

Quote of the day:"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men." -Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A few from the pond...

Laying under a tree...

My favorite tree...

Posted by Laura Deely at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week, my sister, Shannon, came to MAC to spend the weekend with my friends and I. We wanted to show her a good time and take her to some of our favorite places. Aside from taking her to our favorite restaurant, VITO'S, John and I took her to our favorite spot in all of Cresson...The Cresson Sportsman's Club. I know what you're thinking...what would I be doing at a place with archery, hunting and fishing? Haha! Well we don't go there for that. We usually go to take in the scenery of the lake, take pictures, maybe pack a picnic...

Shannon was thoroughly impressed. We walked around for about an hour taking pictures. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining and the leaves were changing. I always venture out onto this strip of growth that cuts the lake in two. As we started our departure, a noise came from behind the bush where I had previously been standing. Wouldn't you know it, but two ducks had been sitting there the entire time. They were obvoiusly tame, because we stood there for an additional 30 minutes taking pictures of them. I even got close to touching one that we named Wallace. :o)

What made the journey even better was the fact that our new friends, Wallace and Gromit, tried to follow us home as we were leaving the lake! It was truly a worthwhile experience...one of those that make you appreciate the little things.

God Bless,

Laura

Quote of the Day: "Be who you are and say what you will because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

John and I at the lake...sportin' the Steelers jerseys!!

Posted by Laura Deely at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recently, I have felt that a large cloud of overwhelming reality has made a home for itself above my head. Fall Semester is past it's halfway point. I'm not viewing it as halfway completed or halfway started...it's just past halfway. My final Fall Semester at Mount Aloysius College is rapidly approaching its end. This became very apparent to me yesterday when I filled out my application for graduation... :o(

Bittersweet seems to be the only word that ever captures my feeling...especially at a time like this. I have loved every minute of my college experience...I wish there was more. I know I still have my entire Spring Semester to go, but understand this, if Fall Semester has gone by this quickly, I don't want to know how quickly Spring will flash before me. I only wish that I had more time to make a difference here. That has been my goal all along...I don't necessarily want the credit for the difference, but I would like to see something that truly impacts my classmates and the campus as a whole. I don't know if I have figured it out yet.

In the meantime, however, I'm enjoying everyday with my friends while continuing to learn new things in the classroom. This semester, my instructors are at the top of the heap. I especially cannot talk up my art instructor, Scott Steberger, enough. He was one of my first professors here at MAC. With his help, my art has begun to reach entirely new levels. I will be forever thankful to him. I also wouldn't be able to keep my sanity throughout all of the "Senior Craziness" without some help from my friends Kathy and Jodi. They really know how to lend an ear.

Well, I must continue with midterm mayhem. I have a drawing project due tomorrow that has been 4 weeks in the making. The thing makes me want to tear my hair out. Haha! Just kidding.

Have a great weekend. God Bless!

Laura

Quote of the Day: "The mystery of life in not a problem to be solved, it is a reality to be experienced." -Van Der Leeuw

Posted by Laura Deely at 1:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On October 3rd and 4th, Mount Aloysius hosted its 2nd Annual Family Weekend Celebration. The festivities were kicked off in “murder mystery” style with a Cosgrave Casino Night. Not only did students and families have the chance to gamble the night away in the hopes of winning several prizes, but they also had the opportunity to test out their detective skills in a “who-done-it” murder scenario. Also available, for those who gambled their chips away before the night's end, was a small game show filled with random questions ranging from movie to music trivia.

In a 3-Team Home stand, the Women’s Volleyball team came out victorious over Medaille and Chatham while the Men and Women’s Soccer teams fell to Pitt-Bradford. The day was blessed with beautiful weather that allowed many families and friends to enjoy the day’s activities. Lines weaved through Cosgrave as everyone awaited “Bears 2 Build” and “Funny T’s and Pictures.”

The weekend atmosphere was filled with Mountie pride and a buzzing campus community. The positive reactions and word around MAC clearly states that Family Weekend was yet another successful program provided by the Student Affairs Staff and all volunteers who aided the weekend’s festivities.

God Bless,

Laura

Quote of the Day: "Character is higher than intellect...A great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted by Laura Deely at 4:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)