I knew the day was going downhill when . . .

. . . I fell off this bus . . .

Upon arriving at LAX I promptly fell from the airporter steps onto the pavement at the airline curb.

No, no, no, hold on a second here, you are saying.

What are you talking about?

Let me explain.

Several months ago I had a crazy idea; what if I were to surprise my finace with a visit during Don Rags (which, being a senior, I no longer have)?

Several difficulties presented themselves: who would help me organize my trip?

What would my mother say?!?!

Turns out, I found out that the Ignoramus was more than willing to give some advice. I also found a way to contact my fiance's roomate, who was willing to get me a ride to AMU from the airport. My mother gave her approval, and I also found an affordable plane ticket - everything just fell into place.

I've been looking forward to it for weeks.

Well, now, naturally I didn't post about it. My second obsession, beginning this semester, actually reads my blog now and then . . . wouldn't want to spoil the suprise. :)

Hereby resuming the account of my travels.

After my tumble from the bus, my 4 1/2 hour flight was delayed for an hour and 10 minutes. Since I had originally only 45 minutes to make my connection I ended up missing my next flight, stranded about two hours from my final destination. My airline was going to make me wait another 14 hours for the next flight, and I, naturally, didn't want to wait that long to get to my betrothed. I thought to myself, "Do I call him and spoil the surprise, or do I find a way to AMU on my own?"

The surprise was too good to spoil.

So, I hitched a ride to Naples with another stranded family (there were about 10 of us on that flight, and nobody thought it necessary to hold the plane for 10 minutes. May American Airlines go bankrupt). After getting closer to my final destination, I was picked up by my fiance's roomate in the lobby of an Embassey Suites in the wee hours of the morning (it was an open, safe and convenient place to wait, okay?). I finally arrived on the AMU campus at 3 a.m.

My fiance's roomate, Jeff, being quite the joker, parked the car and told me to stay put. He returned to my finace, who was sleeping in their room, and told him that he had a buddy in the car who was so smashed he needed to be carried inside. Disturbed but obliging, my boyscout of a fiance followed Jeff out to the car. My love had been told that Jeff was expecting a visit from an old college friend, so he was expecting a thirty-something frat boy.

I watched in the rearview mirror as they approached the car, waited until they got pretty close, and then got out.

It took my fiance some time to even recognize who I was. (For which I have been giving him a very hard time). After my greeting (which was very affectionate and familiar - not going to expound) all he could say was "Oh my gosh" over and over again.

He's been teary-eyed with happiness all week.

So, despite my horrible, no good, very bad day of traveling, everything worked out beautifully.

Now, as for my impressions of this place . . .

well, it's not T.A.C.

Not every place can be that good, though, I suppose. The students aren't as smart, the people aren't as friendly, the campus isn't as unified, and the studying isn't all that important to anyone (besides the graduate students - who are given quite a load).

My finace and I agree - we're only here for him to get the necessary degree, and comparatively, at least the material he's being given is decent stuff, even if the professors are kinda strange. The "Chastity Team" and cheerleader undergrads are of no real concern to us. Ahhh, yes, good old utilitarianism. But really, what else can you do?

Lots of love to ya'll,

Emily