Somehow, my body has programmed itself to wake up at exactly 11am every weekday of summer. I'm okay with that. Every weekend day I have to be up earlier than that to go to work, but I go in at 2pm on weekdays. I'm working almost 30 hours a week. I could be working more, but working 4 days a week and having 3 days off is perfect for summer. Right now, I'm making enough money, and I am productive at work - I read when I'm not busy!

2 or 3 days after I returned home from Bonnaroo, my mom accompanied my sister and I to our desired future home at the apartment complex we'd been looking at for a while. We needed mom's judgement before we made a decision and put a down payment on a place. As previously mentioned, the floorplan that we wanted was a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse that we felt might be out of our budget, but we were in love with it! Once we were told that the 2 bedroom flats were all sold out for fall, we only had one choice, and mom agreed! So, my sister and I will be living here:
!!

I'm saving as much money as I possibly can for the next few months to make sure I've got a good base to start with at move-in. We're slated to move in sometime between mid-August and early September - hopefully sooner than later. My sister starts school at the Columbus College of Art and Design in late August and I want my friends to be able to see my new place before they all go back to school! Oh, and I suggested that two of my friends look at the area, and they subsequently signed a lease, so we're going to be neighbors!

Moving out is definitely the most exciting thing to happen to me in a looooooong time - I'm so happy about it! .......................... AND THERE'S A POOL!

Posted by thegreatkate at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

And trust me, C-Bus will become a familiar reference to Columbus once you're here.

I've come up with an incomplete list of activities and things to do in Columbus in response to a comment I received from a prospective student named Cameron.

The Short North (which is right down high street from campus)
- shopping
- a nice walk to and from, or one in the park!
- coffee, book stores (type "coffee" in the search bar)
- restaraunts & bars
- Gallery Hop (free to the public - happens from 7pm to 11pm on the first Saturday of each month - check out local artists in a diverse variety of galleries and shops, and do all of the above!)
- Comfest (aka Community Festival - free to the public - happens over 3 weekend days each June in Goodale Park)

Within the actual campus of Ohio State there are toooons of places to eat, study, shop, get coffee, hang out, and exercise. Check out the newly remodeled area within the South Campus Gateway - there are bars, restaraunts, clothing and shoe stores, coffee & smoothies, a Drexel movie theatre, organic food market, cell phone distributors, bath and body stores, and more. As you walk through the High Street area of campus, you'll find an Urban Outfitters clothing store, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble book store, music venues and record shops, fast food, electronics stores, knick-knack and jewelry shops, and more.

Columbus is also home to an array of tattoo and piercing shops, if you're feeling adventurous and have some extra cash or birthday money! Check out Piercology, Evolved (my tattoo parlor of choice; I've gotten both of mine there - one by Andy Ringo & one by AJ McMillen), High Street Tattoo, American Proverb Tattoo, Stained Skin, and a lot more.

You won't have a problem finding places to get your hair and nails done, get a relaxing spa treatment, and there is an abundance of tanning salons!

Feel like getting off of campus for a day? Get a ride or take a COTA bus to the Mall at Tuttle Crossing in Dublin (10 minutes from campus) (has an H&M!, my favorite!), Easton Town Center (has a huge Forever 21 sister store, XXI), or Polaris Fashion Place (has a Sephora beauty store in which I could spend hours trying on perfume and other products). Check out those links for mall store directories!

Ohio State offers its students discounted and even sometimes free admission to places such as the Columbus Museum of Art, movies at the Drexel theatre in the Gateway, and the Columbus Zoo and concerts at a few of the music venues like the Newport Music Hall and those at the Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (otherwise known as the Schott.) The Explore Columbus website from OUAB has a full listing of its offerings, and throughout the year they host events are concerts that are free for students that are definitely worthwhile. And don't forget about Ohio State athletic events! I assure you that Saturday football games at Ohio State will be a highlight of your fall quarter, even if you don't like the sport that much!!

The music scene is very diverse in Columbus and there are places to see all kinds of music - big name acts, and local ones. Check out: Skully's, Little Brother's, Bernie's, Nationwide Arena, Lifestyles Community Pavillion, and more! A friend and fellow blogger of mine, Jimi, hosts indie and punk rock shows at his house (named the Screamer House) that are usually donation-based.

Columbus is a gigantic city full of people and life. It's a cultural melting pot with no shortage of entertainment, even outside of campus which is home to endless parties and activities, school-affiliated or other wise. Let me put it this way, when you've got free time, I doubt you'll be bored.

And as for amusement parks? There aren't any located right in Columbus, but if you have the means to travel a few hours outside Columbus, Cedar Point (the famous roller coaster capital of the world!) in Sandusky, Ohio and Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio are prime. And get ready for Wyandot Lake, whose name will be changing when it reopens in May 2008. It is located right next to the Columbus Zoo & is its newly acquired sister-park, a water and amusement park that is open throughout summers and Halloween events.

As I said, this list is incomplete but I'm sure if provoked I could think of more places of interest. If I've failed to mention something you're hoping to find in Columbus, leave me a comment and I'll inform you!

Posted by thegreatkate at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've noticed that a lot of my fellow bloggers live in residence hall dorms and have much to say about using Buck ID swipes and the oft' times bothersome room mate. I'd like to offer a different perspective for those reading who would like to consider other living situations at Ohio State.

I've lived in Columbus for the entirety of my existence. My extended family is a product of Columbus. You could say I know it like the back of my hand. This played a major role in my decision to go to school here. I like Columbus. I am comfortable here. I know that at as a student at Ohio State and a resident of Columbus, I have access to anything I could ever need right in this city in walking/bike ride/bus ride/car ride distance. Other schools I applied to had little convenience, and friends of mine that go to such schools often have difficult times even getting to a grocery store and wouldn't dream of going shopping at a mall or taking a leisurely stroll through a unique and cultural commercial area such as Columbus' Short North .......... and that seems absurd to me!!

The possibilities at Ohio State are endless. Should transportation become an issue while living off campus, never fear! For those without their own vehicle, there is an array of options. Some students that do not walk or drive to class opt to rollerblade or skateboard, and many students ride bikes to class which is an earth-friendly, budget conscious, and health conscious mode of travel. And yet, there are still two popular and widely used bus services - COTA & CABS (both of which are free for students) - that provide transportation around the city of Columbus and the campus itself, respectively. The websites I've linked have information regarding the areas they service, and I highly reccomend taking a look. And I will note, the buses save my life. I hop on a CABS bus to make my way around the campus at least twice a day if not more, and I use the COTA buses to get down High Street when I'm in a hurry and without my car. And for those already scheduled to move in to the dorms in the fall, or are thinking about living in them - do not worry about not having a car! You'll make friends that have cars, and the buses are available to all students at all times!

My personal testimonial to living off campus is one that I hope will allow you to consider off-campus living in a positive manner. I've lived completely off of campus for the past two years and have maintained good grades and have been involved. I was unhappy living at home at first, but through participation in groups and classes, and getting to know people through social events, I've made more friends than I ever thought possible. I have privacy at home and I live comfortably. I have a job off campus and have a variety of ways of getting to and from it. I have saved money. I've not felt a loss of experience at Ohio State, because this school has so many opportunities that it would be impossible to be excluded based on the location of my home. I am still near the school, just not directly on the campus.

So, I've not felt hindered in any way by living at home, and I am on the hunt for my first apartment! Just to give an idea, I'm looking at an apartment complex that is within walking distance of the West Campus parking lot (where the buses make their rounds) and other bus stops. It's nice and is maintained by landlords frequently, is affordable for my monthly income, isn't far from school, has a workout facility, and a pool! When I return home from Bonnaroo, I'm hoping to finally reserve a place and put down first month's rent!

I encourage you to visit Ohio State's Off-Campus Student Services website for information regarding living off campus.

Posted by thegreatkate at 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Have you ever heard the children giggling and playing in the daycare center on the ground floor of Campbell Hall? I had just finished typing a paper in the computer lab on the same floor the other day when I was walking out of the building. I was relieved of a little bit of stress after having finished, but was really refreshed to hear the kids. I was lead to a brief reminiscense about my childhood that was halted by the reality of turning in my final paper of my sophomore year of college.

Finals week has come and gone, grades are posted, and the year is officially over since I won't be taking summer classes. I made the Dean's List with a 3.76 GPA (up dramatically from my crazy winter quarter GPA.) Having the satisfaction of knowing I tried my hardest in all of my classes is great, but having the recognition of being on the Dean's List often means a lot, too. Being able to tell my parents that I'd improved my grades and made the list was soooo worthwhile - they, too, are overwhelmed with pride in my hard work and that is the ultimate satisfaction.

Summer isn't quite yet in full swing, but by this time next week, I'll be singing a different tune. On Thursday I'm headed off to my first summer vacation destination - Manchester, Tennessee for the annual Bonnaroo music festival. I'm so excited to have a little time off from work, enjoy the start of my summer, and jam out to some once in a lifetime shows (The Police, The White Stripes, The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Wilco, DJ Shadow, Kings of Leon .. I cannot wait to see them, and so many more!)

Happy summer everyone!

Posted by thegreatkate at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)