look at meow

Last week I had a very traumatizing experience. Before I begin recounting the story you all should know that although my initials are CAT, I am not a cat lover by any means. In fact, I am allergic to cats, as well as dogs, horses, and most other animals with fur.

So on Deebz's last night in NOVA we went on a "farewell tour" to all of her friend's houses (all of which own cats for whatever reason). It is not uncommon for me to be around cats and dogs since most of my friends' families own them, but that night something strange happened. After leaving Tesla's house and heading to Erin's I started rubbing my eye. I was convinced there was something in it, so I kept rubbing and all of a sudden my right eye blew up! I was having an allergic to reaction to either the cats or dog...but of course I blamed it on the cats.

Deebz and I rushed home to give me Zyrtec and put a cold cloth on my eye, and after about an hour of serious treatment I was okay. I have seen my brother have this kind of allergic reaction to cats before, but I had never experienced it myself.

Moral of the story: To whoever does not believe in my allergies (as well as hatred) towards cats, all I have to say is "look at meow."

my week with deebz

Well, this blog post is certainly overdue considering Deebz left my house about a week ago. She is now in Israel for the week and will not see this until she gets home, but her trip was definitely worth sharing with all of my readers.

Every winter and summer Deebz comes up to Northern Virginia to stay at the Term house. This year's trip, however, was cut short due to her Israel trip. We only had a week to jam in as much "NOVA-ness" as we could. Here are a few pictures of things we did together...

And every year there are things we don't get around to doing. We didn't go ice skating, eat at Glory Days, or bake as many goodies as we usually do. Oh well, there's always next year! Miss you already Deebz.

my favorite christmas traditions

Another Christmas in the Terminello household is coming to a close. It has been another wonderful holiday full of oh so many traditions. It was not until this year that I really took note of just how many traditions our family Christmas is dependent on. Here are my top reasons to love the season:

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve

This is actually a relatively new tradition for our family (only 2 or 3 years old). We used to go to mass on Christmas morning, but now that the boys and I are older we go on Christmas Eve. This is definitely deserving of the #1 slot of my favorite Christmas traditions because the true meaning of Christmas lies within.

Christmas Breakfast

Every year for as long as I can remember we have had cinnamon rolls and our famous "wagon wheel" for breakfast on Christmas morning. We always eat breakfast after stockings and before diving into the Christmas tree (which leads into my next favorite tradition).

Stockings and Presents from Santa

Although Mike, Dan, and I are all older now, we still keep Santa alive in the Terminello home. No gifts are to be seen under the tree until we are all tucked away in our beds on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we even leave a few cookies and some milk for Santa by the fireplace.

Snowball Cookies

Our favorite Christmas cookies will always been our Grandma, Angel's, snowball cookies. We usually end up making them more than once during the holiday season because they always seem to disappear in a matter of hours!

Christmas Village

Over the years we have collected many treasures for our Christmas village, which is displayed in the living room or dining room. Although the location of the village changes every year, the hustle and bustle of "Christmas in the City" is always shining bright for winter time. I will always remember helping my Mom put out the Christmas village and being super careful not to break any of the porcelain pieces.

Secret Santa with the Fab4

Since the 4 of us have gone off to college, we have started doing a Secret Santa as the Fab4. Throughout high school we did Secret Santa with larger groups of friends, but we have really made the Fab4 Secret Santa our own. We always go out to dinner (usually somewhere in Reston Town Center), take pictures by the tree, bake cookies or something festive, and exchange gifts! I am so lucky to get to celebrate Christmas with these lovely girls every year.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

put a [class] ring on it

Yesterday we got a phone call at home saying that a FedEx package was coming between 10am and 7pm that required a signature the following day. After I hung up the phone I assumed it was either something my Dad ordered online or a Christmas package from the Grandparents. But then I really started thinking...why would those packages require a signature? Also, it has been about 6-8 weeks since I ordered my class ring from Balfour. And that was when the Leadership Team was scheduled to receive their rings. 

So around 3:15 this afternoon the doorbell rang. Sure enough, it was the FedEx man. I ran to the door to see the package under my Mom's signature. It was addressed to Christine Terminello. I freaked! I knew it was my ring. I ripped open the box and there was a black box. So I opened the box and this is what I found...

I have never seen a ring so beautiful! Silver metal, ruby stone, and pure, real diamonds. But this ring means so much more than all that. It represents my time at Virginia Tech. All of the hard work I have done so far, and will continue to do. 

I can't wait to wear this very ring for years to come. I am so lucky to be a Hokie.

welcome home danielle

Any minute now my bff, Danielle (aka Deebz), will be arriving in NOVA with her Mom and puppy. This is the first year she has driven up from Florida to visit, usually she flies in and I go pick her up from the airport.

She has been driving for 2 days now and I just can't wait for her to get here to give her her birthday present and make our list of wintery activities to do over the next week. And this year we have Pinterest as inspiration (which I am finally giving into now that finals are over)!

Any suggestions on things we should bake, crafts we should make, or places we should see while Deebz is in NOVA/DC for the week?

bon voyage alli

Today was a very sad day in the Alpha Nest. Our beloved suitemate and best friend, Alli, packed up her room and hit the road for home. As you can see, KJ and I were not ready for her to leave.

Alli is going to be studying abroad in Florence, Italy next semester and we will miss her dearly. But we know she is going to have the time of her life abroad. You can follow her travels on her new blog, A Broad Abroad!

Thank goodness we will all be living in the house again senior year to make more unforgettable memories. Love you Alli, we miss you already!

christmas vests and alpha nest

If you are an avid follower of this wonderful blog you will not be surprised by the guest takeover this week. This is round 2 of the takeover and trust me it is much better than last time. I, Thomas Lawler, am bringing you the wonders of my poetry this week in order to sum up activities of last weekend. From start to finish you will be taken on the journey of my time with “the CAT’s meow.”

 

The week after Turkey day

It was back to the school grind

I was not quite ready

For all of the fun I was to find

Alpha Phi formals and WEOSM

All packed into one week

The holiday spirit was all around

No matter where you look or seek

 

First came the Alpha Phi function

Which was held on Thursday night

Hosted at the wonderful Attitudes

The mood was set just right

Once I hit the dance floor

You know it was my time to shine

A tough skill to master

Almost as great as my rhyme

Next came Winters Eve On South Main

Yes it is quite the mouthful

But don’t let it confuse you

This date party is far from dull

The Phi Sig house was shimmering

A sight to be seen by all

It is hard to imagine the beauty

Which is why the picture is involved

Combined together this weekend

The best of the semester

The road ahead is treacherous

So some energy I’ll need to fester

Now it’s on to exam time

I sure am not in a hurry

Hakuna Matata is my motto

This is no time to worry

proud to be a hokie

From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it. Virginia Tech is more than a school...it's my home and family. Our campus does not deserve this heartbreak.

neVer forgeT & pray for Virginia Tech. We will always prevail.

spreading christmas cheer

Last week's events (besides the 3 exams) were full of Christmas cheer and holiday spirit! Here is a recap of some of the highlights of my week...

1. Christmas Cards. This year Alli, KJ, and I ordered Christmas cards from Shutterfly to distribute to our friends and family. They turned out to be super cute, and I finally finished addressing them all this weekend! I can't wait for everyone to get them.

2. Surprise! KJ and Lawlz surprised me with an array of holiday treats early in the week. I am so lucky to have such great best friends!

3. SAA Banquet. On Tuesday evening, Student Alumni Associates held its annual Winter Banquet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. We were encouraged to wear holiday attire, so of course my family went all out. I am such a proud mother and wife!

4. German Club Social. After the banquet on Tuesday, Alpha Phi had a social with GC themed tacky xmas. So I borrowed a tacky sweater from my little and headed to 303 to socialize. We had a merry time!

As we head into finals season, remember not to let the stress of studying and reading take over the most wonderful time of the year! Make time for many study breaks to bake cookies, drink hot chocolate, and listen to Christmas music. I know I will!

pour some sugar on me

On Saturday, Julie, Shannon, and I headed down to Charlotte, NC for the ACC Championship to watch the Hokies take on the Clemson Tigers. I had never been to Charlotte or an ACC Championship before, so we grabbed some friends and went on a road trip. We had a great time tailgating and being there for the game. 

However, we didn't exactly play our best which resulted in a loss for the Hokies with a final score of 38-10. Initially, we were all really bummed and disappointed as we piled back in the car for the 3 hour drive home. It's so sad to see the Hokies lose, especially to a team we already lost to earlier in the season. 

The good news, however, didn't come until last night when the BCS Bowl Games were announced. Since we lost the ACC Championship, that meant Clemson was going to the Orange Bowl. And we all pretty much assumed we were going to go to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl again. 

Then we started hearing some buzz going around about how Virginia Tech was seated to play Michigan in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! KJ and I turned on ESPN at 8:15pm to hear the official results, and the rumors were true. We are going to the SUGAR BOWL!!!! 

it's been 10 days...

...since my last blog post. I don't know how I let this happen. Between coming back to Blacksburg from NOVA, my 3 exams this past week, and then having one of the most exciting weekends of the semester, I guess the CAT's meow slipped through the cracks.

However, I have lots to fill everyone in on! So stay tuned for about 3-4 blog posts in the next few days that will serve as a recap of my week/weekend. I promise they will be good! Due to my lack of sleep lately, I am going to call it a night for now. See you tomorrow blogspot!

lots to be thankful for

Now that I have enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving feast with my wonderful parents and two younger brothers, I think it is time to reflect on all of the things I am thankful for.

Every year comes with many new blessings and reasons to be thankful. So here are just a few things I am thankful for this year:

I am thankful for my parents, who have raised my brothers and I to be the best we can be. 

I am thankful for my amazing friends, both near and far, who love and support me no matter what.

I am thankful for the privilege of attending Virginia Tech and getting an outstanding education.

I am thankful to be an American, and to live in this amazing country.

I am thankful for all of the men and women serving for our country overseas. 

I am thankful for the food on my table, the roof over my head, and the clothes on my back.

And most importantly, I am thankful for Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for us, and for a God who loves me no matter how many mistakes I continue to make.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

a friendly rivalry never hurt anyone

After the results of last night's game, the VT/UVA game on Saturday is becoming a lot more interesting! There is nothing I love more than college rivalries. The winner of the Commonwealth Cup will go on to play Clemson in the ACC championship on December 3rd.

With all of this competitive buzz going around I have seen tons of smack talk all over Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs. However, my favorite is the following...

A man dressed in Chicago maroon and burnt orange walks into a Charlottesville sports bar with a small dog under his arm. He says to the bartender: "Hey, can I leave my dog here while I go to the VT/UVA football game?"
"A dog in my bar? No, absolutely not."
"But He's a special dog", the VT fan says.
"In what way?", the bartender asks.

..."Well he'll watch the game on TV with you.
When Virginia Tech scores, he will walk up and down the bar on his hind legs.
When Virginia scores, he will walk up and down the bar on his front legs.
When Virginia Tech wins, he will do back flips all the way down the bar and back."

"Wow!" the bartended says. "That's amazing. What does he do when Virginia wins?"

"I don't know" says the Hokie. "He's only seven years old."

LET'S GO HOKIES!!!!

hokie football and heading home

On Thursday the Hokies played UNC in Lane Stadium for our famous night game. Despite the below freezing temperature and wind chill, Lane Stadium did not disappoint. And neither did the Hokies for that matter! I know I always post videos, but this one is a great representation of just what it was like on Thursday night in Blacksburg.

The only thing that this video leaves out is the fact that Darius Rucker was at Lane Stadium on Thursday night to sing the national anthem. Luckily I got this one picture before my camera died for the night. He was phenomenal! 

It is so hard to believe that Thursday night was Senior Night for the Hokies, and the last home game of the season. However, I would love to go to the ACC championship to see the Hokies play (at least) one more time for the year.

Now we are onto Thanksgiving break. I headed home last night (or early this morning really) to avoid the I-81 traffic disaster. So I got home around 2:30am, and it feels great to be home! Although I am not one to "relax", some family time and relaxation is desperately needed.

Today I went shopping at Fair Oaks with my Mom and Mike. Our mission was to redefine Mike's wardrobe. Now that football season is over, he has decided that he doesn't need to dress like a jock every day anymore. I don't hate it. So we got him some nice new jeans and sweaters, and it doesn't end there! My little brothers are growing up so fast.

As for right now, I am sitting on the couch in the family room. Waiting for my pound cake to come out of the oven, watching the UVA vs. FSU game, and blogging, of course. My parents are at some football parents party, Mike is out with his friends, and Danny is upstairs on the computer. I can't wait for the Fab4 and the rest of my friends to come home so I can have something to do! But until then, I will force myself to relax. 

Happy Thanksgiving Break everyone!

monday motivation

"We just have to go forth in faith sometimes even if it seems like everything is against us. You could have the whole world against you, but if you have God on your side, He'll take care of you and everything will work out."

-quoted from the wonderful Elder James C. Wheatley himself

if i had a billion dollars...

This weekend I had the opportunity to work at the closing of The Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future. This campaign has been going on since 2003 and finally ended this year surpassing its goal of raising 1 billion dollars with $1,112,703,977. All of this money is going to new scholarships, new buildings, and other major campus improvements.

As you can probably imagine, this event was HUGE! There were about 1,200 of the university's VIPs and high-profile alumni in attendance. Some friends and I, along with hundreds of other students, put on our black vests and maroon bowties and served the 5-course dinner in a temporary structure built just for the event.

It was an evening I will never forget, and I am so glad I gave up my Saturday night to work for the closing of this campaign. Now I can say I was a part of VT history on an entirely new level!

cheers to the seniors!

"It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. 

The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated...it is finished when it surrenders."

-Ben Stein

Congrats on a very impressive and successful senior season, Michael. I am so proud of you and all that you have done in your 4 years with Oakton Football. I can't wait to see what is next in store for you. I love you bro.

a week full of surprises

There is honestly nothing I love more than surprising my friends and family. This week alone, I have successfully surprised two of my close friends!

On Monday, I mailed KZ a 21st birthday care package to JMU. Her birthday is on Saturday, and since I am not going to be able to be there with her I wanted to surprise her with a 21st themed birthday package. She called me on Wednesday saying she got it, and was SO surprised and excited!!

On Monday night, Alli, Lawlz and I surprised KJ! We went to Gumby's and got a large pokie sticks and went to studio to give her a break from working on her final project. To our surprise, she wasn't in studio but was actually at the library! We didn't want to ruin the surprise, so we went to the library and searched 2 floors until we found her. Such a good surprise, such a good study break!

"Only a life lived for others is worth living"

thankful and blessed

A year ago today, my Mom was in the hospital in Charlottesville, VA in the middle of her brain surgery. I remember sitting in my townhouse at school, anxiously awaiting updates from my Dad and Angel, and sending those updates over an email listserv of all of our family and friends.

I am continually amazed at not only how our family has grown since that time, but how much more grateful we are for every single day we are given.

We are truly blessed.

greeks for life

Yesterday afternoon my Greek Outreach Committee hosted our first event of the year, a Greek Relay Tailgate in the Fishbowl of Oak Lane. Since we are a new committee, our Execs and committee members are pretty much starting from scratch. It is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work!!

our wonderful execs

We lucked out to have such a beautiful fall day (especially for November in Blacksburg) and the event itself could not have run more smoothly. We had pizza, Campus Cookies, cornhole, music, and lots of Greeks! And we raised a good amount of money for the American Cancer Society. At this rate, Relay For Life is lookin' to have another successful year at Virginia Tech!

Until WE find a CURE.

food for thought

Tonight Julie reminded me (and KJ) that "good things take time". As she said that, it reminded me of this old desktop background I got from College Prep last year.

I decided to set this image as my background again, to serve as a reminder and motivator for me. Because even when it seems like the good things in life aren't worth waiting for, it is important to stay patient and work as hard as you can in the meantime. In the end, it will all be worth the wait.

happy halloween!

Although this weekend was crammed between two very busy weeks, I still made time to celebrate on Saturday night. I went to Phi Sig's Monster Bash date party, and KJ, Thomas, Kyle, and I dressed as The Incredibles. We even had a baby to be Jack-Jack!

Yes, we memorized our poses from the picture so we could be in full character.

Of course, today was actually October 31st. So Alpha Phi set up booths on the Drillfield and in the Library Plaza to pass out candy and wish everyone on campus a Happy Halloween!!

How did you celebrate your Halloween this year?

oak lane trick-or-treat

As college students, one aspect of Halloween we do not necessarily get to participate in anymore is trick-or-treating! Lucky for us, Oak Lane (the Greek community at VT) holds an event called Oak Lane Trick-Or-Treat for all of the families of Blacksburg to come walk around from house to house to trick-or-treat and to come inside each house for a different craft or game.

This was my first year participating in Oak Lane Trick-Or-Treat, and it was a blast (despite the freezing rain)!! I loved seeing all the kiddies in their cute little costumes, so excited to get a bucket full of candy. At the Alpha Phi house we helped each kid make lollipop ghosts. So cute!

Happy Halloweekend everyone!

85 years of tradition

Happy (belated) Homecoming Week, Virginia Tech! Last week was full of Homecoming festivities at Tech. However, it was such a busy week that I didn't have time to post in the middle of it. Instead, I was taking in all of the spirit and tradition all over campus.

The Homecoming candidates were campaigning all week long, the Corps of Cadets were running around with the game ball for everyone to touch, there were concerts, comedy shows, a hypnotist, and of course, the SAA Homecoming spirit rally on Friday. This is probably our best spirit rally of the year because there is so much tradition incorporated into the rally. My favorite part is when the Corps of Cadets perform the flaming VT at the end of the spirit rally.

Alpha Phi was paired with Delta Sig for the week so we had socials, dinners, and movie nights with them all week. My favorite social was on Friday, themed...DAYGLOW!!! We all dressed in white and neon colors and raved all night (yes, there was paint included too!)

On Saturday morning was the Homecoming Parade. We marched and chanted Alpha Phi songs all the way downtown to the pylons. Not to mention, we were the LAST organization in the parade. What better way to end it, right?

After the parade, we took a few pictures and then headed to Lot 9 to tailgate. There were a bunch of Alpha Phi alums back for Homecoming, and they joined us at the tailgate!

The Hokies beat Boston College in the Homecoming game 30-14! Perfect ending to my favorite week of the Fall semester. Let's go Hokies!!