Love is in the Air

If you can’t tell by the date today, it’s Valentine’s Day. So you know that there will be a large amount of pink and red all over the place. Valentine’s Day has become somewhat of a Hallmark holiday, but it does provide a wonderful reminder that we can appreciate those we love most in our life. I wrote out some tips for you to enjoy today’s wonderful day. If only I would still have the radio show, I would have found some wonderful love songs for all of you to enjoy.

On to the Tips:

• Get a card for that special someone. It can even be your mom.
• Buy some Valentine's Day cards for your friends and feel like you are in grade school again.
• Some might say chocolate is the way to a girl’s heart on Valentine's Day, but I would say a thought-out, hand-written letter might get me head over heels.
• Don't feel that you need to get into Valentine's Day; you can tell someone you love them every day, not only on February 14.
• If you love the chocolate but hate the outrageous prices; wait a day to get your candy.
• You may want to be Cupid today, but please don't try to shoot anyone with real arrows.
• Get in the spirit by wearing pink, red, or purple. You'll feel extra lovey that way.
• Make a playlist with all of your favorite love songs. If I was doing my show, I would've had a great one for you.
• Watch a great love movie to get you into the Valentine's Day mood.
• Just because you don't have someone to share today with, you can still shower yourself with love: make it a day about you.

Seeing that I don't have a date for Valentine's Day, my mom gets to be my valentine today.

I don't know if I would use this exact songs, but here are some songs to get you into the V-Day mood.

This movie is funny even when it's not Valentine's Day.

Valentine’s Day is always the most exciting day in elementary school because you get to decorate a shoe box and receive valentines from all of your classmates. At least that’s how it was done for me. Now that I am older, it is not the most exciting day because it reminds me that I’m single… and LOVING it! I don’t need to worry about making anyone’s expectations too high or low for what I should be getting them. So if you’re single like me, embrace it.

This weekend I get to spend the weekend with my parents. Every year my dad comes up to go skiing in the mountains of Vermont. One this fine Valentine’s Day, we are skiing at the wonderful Stowe ski resort. It is my first time skiing there and I am very excited that I have the opportunity to ski with my dad. My mom is able to come out this weekend too. It is the first time I’ve seen them since being home for the Christmas break.

Keep SMCing,

DJ Q

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

This semester, with my internship at the Red Cross, I’ve been taking the bus into Burlington. Using public transportation is not completely new for me. It is a different experience having to rely on a sometimes unreliable ride. With taking the bus three times a week I wanted to share some tips with all of you friends that might help if you ever take the bus. Some of these are common sense and others might help on your next bus ride adventure to Burlington, or wherever you may be going on a bus.

On to the Tips:

• Check the schedule before you go.
• Have a printed schedule with you so you don't have to worry about times.
• Sit near the rear door for an easy exit strategy, but if someone else looks like they need the seat more than you, give it up to them.
• Don't forget your Knight card because that is how you ride for free at SMC.
• When the bus is supposed to come, stand near the bus sign.
• Know where the bus should be traveling to so you make sure you get close to your destination.
• Thank the bus driver each time you enter and exit the bus.
• If other people are at the same bus stop, ask if your bus has already come or not.
• Going to SMC from Burlington: make sure to take the #2 bus.
• Pay attention when riding so you don't miss your stop. It's not very fun to have to walk back to where you could have gotten off easily.

When it's with you, it's easier not to be late when the bus comes.

The bus driver knows I want to be picked up now.

It's as if the CCTA knew St. Mike's kids would use the bus all of the time.

As I have been telling anyone who asks me about the bus rides for my internship, it is as ‘convenient as a bus could be.’ There are two bus stops to catch the bus on campus to go to Burlington, which also means two bus stops to get off of the bus when coming home. It is only a 15 minute bus ride from campus to the Red Cross. Where I need to get off of the bus is less than a block away from the office. 

My walk to the Red Cross is less than a block. Convenient much!

Before this year, I had only taken the bus a handful of times, so the transition from ‘0 to 60’ has been a big change, which now is very easy to handle. It has been a real convenience that the bus is so near to where I am going in town. I have much more of an appreciation for when I do get to drive in a car each time. Cars are even more convenient than buses, obviously, but any form of vehicle transportation is better than walking. 

Hey look there's my ride, the bus.

One Last Thing:

Rugby has started up again and as of right now we gained 13 new players. It is going to be a great journey for them to start a sport, as I started two years ago this Spring. If you or any of your friends still want to play rugby but you didn’t go to the new player meeting last Wednesday (1/22/2014), you can still play. We have practice at 9 p.m. in the Tarrent gym on Thursdays until spring break. And practice on Monday or Tuesday mornings at 6:15 a.m. The morning practice you go to depends on your position. Come on by and play with us, you’ll never know how much you’ll enjoy it until you play!

Magic Bus by the Who

Keep SMCing,

DJ Q