New York State Collegiate Rowing Championship 07'

Hey Fam!

So...new things happening to me.

* I was in my first regatta (crew race). Since we finally have enough people to make a four person boat (co-ed) we were able to race. Sadly, we had to enter a men's novice 4 race. If you have even one male on the boat--it's considered a men's boat. So we were eaten up like Meagan's Wedding cake.

But....we still raced and we finished the race--we caught 2 crabs--and I know what you're thinking--NO its not the crab--as in "let's have a crab dinner!", NOR is it the crabs that Beavis and Butthead caught in their manly spots while serving fast food--crabs are "caught" when an oar is taken away by the forces of the water, and the oar is out of your hands, which slows the boat down and serves as a major disadvantage over other boats.

So back to the drawing board. We have practice every morning this week, and we are working HARD. We had a great practice this morning, so things are getting much better. So we'll see if our hard work is paying off--because I'd like to see some rewards for the 4:50am wake up and painful backaches.

*Next new thing... Finals are almost over! YES!! I have one presentation tomorrow night, and after that I am FREE for a month. And its back to CA. And MOM---I expect a trip to Disneyland :) and to San Diego. I miss the OCEAN so much. Yes, i'm on the water everyday but nothing compares to the West coast--and Oceanside :)

So.. I'm counting down the days :) I can't wait to see you guys!

*ONE more thing--Meagan's Wedding Pictures can be viewed on my picasa Web Album--just paste this link into your URL: -----> http://picasaweb.google.com/bmmaughan/MeaganSWedding

Love you guys!

Rents and Rent

Yo! I am SO EXCITED TO BE SEEING MY FAM THIS WEEKEND. Ya'll have NO idea! I miss you guys SO much. :) I am sooooo excited! I only wish that I was done with school so I could hang longer :(

So anyway--just to re-cap-since it's been a while since I've done a blog.

-I'm still on crew--getting more blisters, and hurting my back, arms, and knees. But I am entered to RACE in two weeks! woo hoo! My first race of the season.

-I MOVED! yes! I moved to Riverside--Upper west side area--and to freak out the parents--HARLEM! It's kinda Harlem but not really. I'm right next to Columbia University. And my room is HUGE, I have a full kitchen, bathroom and TWO large Dining rooms/living rooms. It's awesome.

-School is good. I'm done May 10th! And my grades are A-okay. Well not A's exactly, but they are good :)

AND.... here are the pictures of me and the "rents". :) I love you mammajamma and papa! See you soon.

OH-- AND LET ME KNOW--if you guys want anything from NYC!!! (YES TYSE---I'm going to try and bring some magnolia cupcakes-boooya!)

<3<3<3 Beantown, Bean Bean, Beanah, Bitters, Beaner (least favorite), Britt.

Minutes away from death.

Apparently, I'd have to be in below freezing water roughly 20 minutes until hypothermia is irreversible. So family, start sending you love and sympathies now, cause I was 19 minutes away from death!!! hahaha. So you wanna hear the story? yeah, I thought you did.

Early Wednesday morning of last week, I went to row on the East Harlem River. Mind you, its 30 degrees outside with wind chill, a dead man was found in this very river, AND its sooo cold that ice has formed beneath the dock--lifting it up, AND it's soo cold that ice is forming on the oars. IN THIS VERY WATER my fellow crew-mate, Tiffany, and I were rowing in the double. (four oars--two people--and cold freakn' water). We were doing great--minus the frost bite on my hands (we can't wear gloves). Finally, we get to the point where we both row--together (before we were taking turns). And before I know it, we both loose control of our Port oars and tip....we both go for a little swim in the below freezing water. AWESOME!!! luckily we were both smart and kept our heads dry and above water... but I was rushed back in the launch, and had to strip down... of course the warm water wasn't working at the boat house... so i had to strip down, change clothes and stay in the warm van.

Needless to say, I'm OK :) It was a rough day, but I lived through it. Just remember the next time you get mad at me---I almost DIED. 19 minutes away from death, anyway. And luckily for Mom and Dad, they weren't there to witness the near death experience, but they were back at my shoebox ready for hugs and coa coa. :) So---here is a picture of me sculling a few days after, on the single--this is an ocean boat---so flipping is pretty difficult--thank goodness :)

Kill the mice.

In addition to my pet roommate--chicken--a papillon dog... aka rat... aka football with legs...--I've gained some new friends, mice. So Crhis and I caught one, put him in a plastic box and kept him hostage for a while---feeding him jalapeno cheese, and bbq pringles. (We figured he was a hispanic rat--so we spiced things up a bit). But despite our kindness...hombre decided to make run for the border...he moved the top off, and jumped out. It was quite the spectacle.

Round TWO: we caught yet ANOTHER mouse, this time putting him in a vase with a paper towel over it for breathing purposes. This homeboy chewed his way through the paper towel and hid in the closet. SO TWICE we've been duped.

And I'm sure you're asking yourself, why Brittany? Why would you hold your furry little friends hostage, and not just KILL them on the spot? Well... we wanted to hang glide our friends out the window. We were thinking...paper airplanes... a parachute of sorts...you know... having a good time with our friends.. as they fly down to their death. Unless the parachute proved to be successful, then the hombres would live, and continue to mass produce.

SO--ANGERED by being duped twice.. we ditched the cool hang glide plans, and decided that if we were lucky enough... we'd just chuck the next one right out the window. Needless to say.. we caught ONE... and gave him 2 minutes of last words... "meep meep"...and...."whooosh" out the window of the 11 story building. Hombre is dead. Now....if we can catch his girlfriend....we'll be in business.

PS... sorry mousey.. but you had to go.