niskaday

In my younger years, I helped run our high school's Horticulture Club's table at Niskaday. We sold home-grown herb and vegetable plants!

In my younger years, I helped run our high school’s Horticulture Club’s table at Niskaday. We sold home-grown herb and vegetable plants!

Tomorrow is a very special day for my home town and Schenectady’s neighboring town, Niskayuna: it’s NISKADAY! Niskaday is an annual celebration of the town of Niskayuna held for the purpose of entertaining and bringing together its residents and the surrounding community. The day begins with a parade through town at 10am (and lots of candy to catch!!), followed by loads of entertainment, games, crafts, and, of course, lots of delicious food! Finally, the day is capped by the most incredible fireworks show that has seriously spoiled fireworks for me forever. Nisky is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Union and you’d be crazy not to check it out tomorrow!

fun rides and fun friends at Niskaday!

fun rides and fun friends at Niskaday!

gatsby

Last week I saw “The Great Gatsby.” It was, well, great! The film was extravagant and outrageous and romantic and glamorous and dramatic and beautiful and mesmerizing and funny and tragic. I really enjoyed it so so much. Other than the sets and the music, my favorite parts were when Nick Carraway (played by Toby Maquire) was narrating; as an avid fan of the original novel, I have a certain attachment to the exact words used by Fitzgerald, and it was during those moments of narration rather than dialogue that his words could be fully appreciated.  However, my favorite Gatsby quote (if not my favorite quote of all time…) was abridged in the movie! Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend seeing the film in theaters. It promises to be enjoyable to those who have read the book and those “West Egg” Gatsby-newcomers alike! If I could watch it every single day, I sincerely would. “I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity.”

waves

waves

Most students at Union fear week 5 — it marks the halfway point of our term and, more notoriously, midterms. But it usually isn’t week 5 that gets me, it’s the few following weeks; by about week 7 (i.e. NOW) I really start to burn out. The work is finally well under way in all of my classes, we’re way beyond any review periods, and end-of-term projects begin to loom ominously in the not-too-far distance. It’s weeks like these that I have to remind myself why things are the way they are. As irrational and as pointless as the hectic schedule of college appears sometimes, at its heart there is a method to its madness; crazy future work schedules obviously come to mind most immediately, but what about future life in general? Whether we decide to get married, or embrace single life forever, or live with our parents, or avoid our extended families completely, or have children, or just have a lot of cats, we will inevitably be faced with many more all-nighters in our futures that don’t involve midterms or finals (technically speaking). It is important to remember that, “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” So pull up those anchors and push on forward!

prom!

prom

This weekend my little sister, Maddy, had her junior prom! One great benefit of going to school so close to home is that I was able to help her out with every step of the process. I helped her find the perfect dress, gave her the “ok” on the perfect shoes, found perfectly matching earrings, and spent a lot of time with the local florist explaining exactly how I wanted her date’s corsage to look. It was a great bonding experience for the two of us and she really did look stunning in the end! Ultimately, I was just glad to hear that she had a good time because that’s what matters most to me! I love you, little Maddy!

my mom

my mom and me!

my mom and me!

With Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, there is no better time to reflect on how lucky I am to have such a wonderful mom. She already knows that I love her to death, but here are just some of the infinite reasons why I adore her:

1. She’s a fighter. Two years ago my mom slipped at work and broke her elbow. Despite having an arm filled with gizmos and gadgets she still set out to learn how to play golf recently and isn’t letting her injury get in the way of fun!

2. She’s a very hard worker. Nine times out of ten if I call my mom during the work day she won’t pick up. It’s not because she doesn’t care, but because she’s working so darn hard! The woman works for Ellis Medicine here in Schenectady and spends her days running between the hospital’s two campuses, sitting in on meetings, and directing a plethora of people.

3. She still makes time for me! It’s funny — after transferring from BC to Union, I thought I would see my family all the time. Ironically enough, I actually see them less than when I was in Chestnut Hill. Really it’s because we’re all so happy and involved now, but my mom still takes time to meet up for a treat once in a while and grab a special bite to eat together during the day.

6. She is brave. After earning her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University at Albany, my mom did her first semester of Law School at Columbia University. Despite the name and the prestige (and the city!), she hated her time there. That December she made one of the bravest decisions, which has also helped me with my personal journey through school: she decided to quit. Just like that she scratched what had been her life plan since she was a little girl and instead followed what felt right. I have so much respect for her decision. If my mom wasn’t able to make this tough move, I don’t know if I would have ever found the courage to transfer out of BC. My mother is a very rational and sensible person and for her to have made this decision is such a strong move in my mind.

7. She knows how to treat herself. My mom is the first to say no when I or my sisters ask for a candy bar at the check-out line of a store (to this day I think it is an unbelievable treat when she actually agrees!), but the lady does know when pampering is permitted. After years of unwillingly driving around the “mom van,” she finally got a sporty spice car just for herself!

8. She is supportive. Neither of my parents were ever sticklers about my grades or extra-curricular activities (my twin and I were so competitive with each other that my parents actually had to tell us to stop trying so hard). Nonetheless, my mom always knows when to be the cheerleader. She has come to every one of my concerts, awards ceremonies, and events without me even needing to ask her! At the end of the day, what more could a daughter ask for?

I love you, Mom! You are my greatest role model! xoxo, Cat

Is your mother visiting the Capital Region for the holiday? Take her to Albany’s annual Tulip Festival! It is always a great time!

the roaring ’20s

great gatsby

I can’t even begin to describe to you how excited I am about Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” coming out in theaters tomorrow. Originally, I wasn’t so sure about how the movie would play,  but after having waiting for months (the film was  supposed to be released at the end of last year), I am now restless to see the adaptation. If you couldn’t already tell, I have a bit of an obsession with The Great Gatsby… I am a die-hard fan of the book (mostly because I adore Fitzgerald’s writing) and something about the story always reminds me of the summer and my twin… AGGG! Can’t wait!

Equally as excited?

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Victory Day

Victory Day
68 years ago, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union during the Second World War. Today, Union’s Russian and East European Culture Club will be commemorating  May 9, 1945, known as День Победы, or Victory Day, in Russian, by serving a full Russian meal in Hale House from 6-8pm and hosting local Russian community members as well as a few esteemed Russian veterans. The event will include an introduction of the veterans, a brief lecture about the history of the day by Professor Stephen Berk of the Union College History Department, student-lead musical performances, and presentations by World War II Russian veterans and their friends and families. The event promises to be inspirational and the food promises to be delicious. All are cordially invited to attend this year’s Union College Victory Day celebrations: Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 6-8pm, Hale House. Приходите! Come!