Tag Archives: university of michigan

Springtime in Ann Arbor

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I feel like I shouldn’t even write this next sentence, because it’s just so inherently obvious to everyone, but – Michigan weather is crazy. This should be no surprise to me, as I’ve lived here most of my life, and yet year after year I find myself annoyed by it. Like a week or so ago, well past the midway point of April, when I woke up to snow flurries. Great job, Michigan.

Suffice it to say, I think winter dragged on for way too long this year, and I’ve been waiting (and waiting) for sunnier days to arrive. On Tuesday, I finished taking a final and walked outside and suddenly: springtime! Now, you can never be too sure in Michigan (I wouldn’t rule out having a snow day tomorrow, quite honestly), but I think the weather has finally turned for good.

Whenever I can’t handle studying any longer, I take a walk. And so this week, I have been taking lots of walks, and because the weather is nice, my walks have been lovely. The air is warm, the flowers are in bloom, and seemingly every house you walk by has a porch filled with drunk frat boys hanging off it (ah, undergrads!). Springtime is here, and we’re all pretty pumped about it.

In celebration of the season, here are a few iPhone pictures, snapped on my daily walks.

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So for all of my fellow mitten residents, are you excited it’s finally spring?!

On School Spirit, March Madness, and How It’s Always Great to Be a Michigan Wolverine

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weonDespite the fact that…

  • I’ve never been a huge basketball fan…
  • I harbor a distaste for this season’s slogan, “We on” (seriously, guys, that’s the best we could come up with?)…
  • I find the obnoxiously bright yellow sneakers our players wear utterly ridiculous…
  • I not-so-secretly believe that in basketball, it’s basically just a lot of meaningless running back and forth until the final minute…

Despite all of these things, I am 100%, totally, crazily, completely obsessed with Michigan’s run to the NCAA Championship game.

It’s hard not to be, when you’re a Wolverine times two (undergrad and now law school). It’s hard not to be when you watch Trey Burke sink a three-pointer against Kansas and are torn between insane happiness, an urge to weep openly, and feeling like you might faint. It’s hard not to be when you’re living in Ann Arbor and, after the semifinal game ended on Saturday, you literally heard the streets erupt around you, with chanting and cheering that went on for hours. It’s hard not to be when your newsfeeds on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are filled to the brim with “Go Blue” and “Hail” and a million other variations.

Everyone loves their school, of this I am certain. But I submit to you that there’s something special about this place, that perhaps we have a little more fervor than most. One of my friend’s boyfriends once expressed surprise that she owned so much maize and blue clothing; she in turn just shrugged – we all own this much maize and blue clothing. I’ve had strangers yell “Go Blue!” at me everywhere, from the streets of Chicago to the winding pathways of Cinque Terre, Italy. And when someone says they “bleed maize and blue,” I don’t think of it as hyperbole – but rather, a completely normal way of life around here.

When I watched us beat Kansas in the Sweet 16, it felt like something magical had started. And when I watched us beat Syracuse, I felt proud – not just of the team, but to be a part of the whole thing. To be one little piece of this huge, crazy, Wolverine family. And I’ll still feel that way, whatever happens tonight, whether we win or we lose.

But I hope we win. GO BLUE.

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 55

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The first awesome list of the new year:

  1. The Mindy Project started a bit slow, but it’s definitely become one of my favorite shows – and it should be one of yours, too. In case you need convincing: 15 Reasons to Let The Mindy Project into Your Heart.
  2. This article is awesome: 22 Terrible Things That Must End in 2013. Of course, I will never quit Instagramming my food, but all the other things on the list should definitely go.
  3. Singer Woody Guthrie’s 1942 list of New Year’s Resolutions (or “New Years Rulin’s,” in his words) is so charming. Numbers 15, 31, and 33 make me happy.
  4. I cannot wait to watch this year’s Golden Globes. This is why. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler make everything better.
  5. Simple but brilliant: 40 Tricks You Must Know for a Much Better 2013.
  6. I have been mildly (or, perhaps, majorly) obsessed with Eddie Redmayne since watching Les Mis on Christmas day. I find him good looking in a super unconventional way, and apparently I’m not the only one: Is Eddie Redmayne Hot? (Spoiler alert: the conclusion is “yes”).
  7. The movies of 2012, all mashed up together. I’m a sucker for stuff like this.
  8. How have I never seen this before?! Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt dancing to “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
  9. Are you feeling sad? Look at This Fucking Puppy. Makes everything better.
  10. This gives me chills: The Letter M.

(Image via Buzzfeed)

Maize + Blue Cake Pops

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As an alum, I’m probably biased, but I tend to think Michigan grads are slightly more loyal to their alma mater than your average college grad. Maybe it’s the tradition of football that heightens our loyalty to a level of crazy, but, whatever the case, loyal we are. I love how you can be on the street in any city in the world and see someone in Michigan gear (I once saw a man wearing a Michigan hat in Chefchaoeun, Morocco). And I love how when you are wearing Michigan gear, you’re fairly likely to have a random stranger shout “Go Blue!” at you.

The amount of Michigan memorabilia I own is astounding. I have enough Michigan tee shirts to avoid doing laundry for a month, if I felt inclined to wear maize & blue everyday. I have Michigan gnomes, keychains, and earrings. I even have a little Michigan sweater for my dog. Why not, then, branch out to Michigan-themed food?

These cake pops were actually a birthday request from my sister, who was in town for a football game and wanted to take them to a tailgate. I used the same method I always use for cake pops (described here, here, and here), but just added copious amounts of blue and yellow dye to the cake mix. I love how they turned out – very bright, very fun, and very Michigan.

Go blue!

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 46

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Trust me, the above picture will all make sense in a moment. Trust me, part two: this list of things is seriously awesome:

  1. I believe I have mentioned the Paris vs. NYC book before, but now there’s an accompanying video. Equally awesome. (I’ll admit, I’m torn on the macarons vs. cupcakes debate).
  2. My Dog: The Paradox. So, so true.
  3. The cast of Full House reunites (minus the Olsen twins who, of course, are too cool for this kind of thing). This show was my childhood, and this photo makes me feel so old. Sidenote: DJ’s boyfriend, Steve, is still looking good!
  4. Mitt Romney quotations atop pictures of Lucille Bluth. So brilliant; I wish I came up with this.
  5. And more Mitt (it’s just too easy with him): I suppose it was inevitable, but the Mitt Romney Gangnam Style parody has arrived. Hey, wealthy ladies!
  6. This extended first look at the Les Mis movie made me cry. Cannot. Wait. For. December.
  7. The most brilliant comparison ever: Titanic and Aladdin. My favorite is #2, wherein Fabrizio is compared to Abu the monkey.
  8. I love this story: a 102-year-old woman is enrolling at Michigan. Go blue!
  9. These lists – The 10 Best Fictional Boyfriends and the 10 Worst Fictional Boyfriends – are pretty on point, not to mention hilarious (re: Don Draper, “I don’t care how hot Don Draper is. Frankly he could be made out of liquid gold and red velvet cake, and it wouldn’t make dating him any less of a walk over a bed of flaming nails”). BUT, where is Jim Halpert on the best boyfriends list? Egregious oversight. Unless you’re coming at the list from the viewpoint of Karen Filippelli, in which case his omission is probably justified.
  10. This is oddly mesmerizing: Every On-Screen Drink on Mad Men.

In search of more awesome? Head to the Things That Are Awesome archives.

(Image via Buzzfeed)

Oh how I hate…

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Until I went to Michigan, I never really thought about Ohio State. I knew the school existed, of course, but I never cared about it or considered it much. It was just any other school, like Texas or Northwestern or Gonzaga (well, not like Gonzaga, because that school has an awesome name. Consequently, I pick them to win my March Madness bracket every single year. Also, I know nothing about college basketball.)

Anyway. The moment you come to Michigan, you hate Ohio State. You may have known OSU alums, you may have once had a fun time in Ohio while visiting Cedar Point, and you may have never considered our neighbors to the south particularly offensive before. But, once you get here, you suddenly realize it: you hate Ohio State. You just do. Irrationally and absolutely.

One thing I enjoy about the entire week leading up to this game is that there’s so much trash-talking and making fun of Ohio State among friends, on Facebook, on Twitter, in blogs, etc. And, I have to admit, it is endlessly amusing to me. Here are a few things I found this year that made me laugh:

  • The picture above. Spelling is tough!
  • Ah, the rigorous academic life of an Ohio State football player. (“Even if you’re giving minimal effort there is no way you can fail.”)
  • OSU students celebrate rivalry week by jumping into a cesspool. Gross.

While I fully realize that sometimes Michigan has to make fun of Ohio St. about academics because we haven’t been bringing it so much with the football lately, I still find it terribly funny. Hopefully, today we change our recent losing trend. But even if we don’t, at the end of the day, I’ll still be 100% proud to be a Michigan Wolverine.

GO BLUE!

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 9

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The weekly roundup of awesome:

  1. What online checkout is like, in real life. Too funny and oh so true.
  2. SNL’s take on Kim Kardashian’s divorce. So on point. Whoever plays Bruce Jenner in this video is AMAZING. Seriously, the facial expressions? I was dying. And Kristen Wiig channeling Kris Jenner = sheer brilliance.
  3. Drinkify – you type in what music you’re listening to, it tells you what mixed drink would go best with it. Kind of a fun idea, especially for parties.
  4. “Call Your Girlfriend” by Erato. I’m obsessed with this video – they are so talented. And yes, I found it because Gwyneth Paltrow tweeted a link. Whatever, at least I wasn’t reading GOOP. I mean, okay, I read GOOP sometimes. I’m not proud of it.
  5. Operation: Hail. Love it, love it, love it. Also, I’ve heard some stories about OSU students being awful to Michigan people on their campus, so I give these guys kudos for being brave enough to do this.
  6. The grammar nerd in me totally loves this (Seven Bar Jokes Involving Grammar and Punctuation).
  7. Jon Stewart on Penn State. Spot on, per usual. And, for something different than what many are saying, I also like this take. A different perspective is always good.
  8. Oddly, I find myself wanting to say this to people all the time now.
  9. Parks + Rec quote of the week: “The only thing I will be waving is your decapitated head on a stick in front of your weeping mother.” (Leslie to Ben, after he told her it was time to wave the white flag.)
  10. Have I mentioned that I love Jimmy Fallon? This is brilliant.

Football Saturdays

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When I was a freshman (cough cough, SEVEN years ago. How did that happen?), I ordered football tickets because it basically seemed like the thing to do. I did not have any particular interest in football. But, it was part of attending college at Michigan, right?

Over the next four years, I totally fell in love with football Saturdays. To me, there is almost nothing that more perfectly encapsulates the college experience at U of M. They are a big, big deal.

Now I’m back, and I’m older. I still have season tickets, though I’ve been to far fewer games than normal this year and don’t tend to go all out for games anymore. But, it’s still Michigan football. And it’s still wonderful.

What are the things I love about Michigan football? The fight song. The hot dogs (a pre-game tradition for Manna and me. I don’t think we ever skipped this). All the different chants you do at various points during the game (jangling keys, “you suck,” etc). The walk to the big house, where you’re buoyed along in a sea of maize and blue. Bongo man. Befriending random people who have seats near yours. Halftime shows from the marching band. Doing the wave (once at normal speed, once super fast, once super slow). Always being “part of the largest crowd watching a football game in America today.” Hating OSU/Notre Dame/MSU. And tradition, tradition, tradition.

Here’s  a look back at my history with the awesomeness that is Michigan football.

2004: At the Michigan/Michigan State game. It was FREEZING (yes, the all-caps are merited here – we arrived in t-shirts and tanks, and by the time the game finished it had gotten cold and miserable). Most people left, but we stayed, and Michigan staged an awesome comeback victory. One of my favorite football memories.

2005: With our seating group (Team Toastman for the win!). Love these guys.

2006: In which we take the most epic series of football pictures ever. We really loved the free pom poms.

2007: With Manna and Sara. We spent significant amounts of time each game taking random self portraits of ourselves from different angles.

2009: Returning as an alum for the first time, and reunited with so many of my favorite people.

2011: Last week, at the Purdue game. My seats are really excellent this year – so close to the field! Row 4, baby.

GO BLUE! Always.

An Autumn Walk

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To state the obvious, law school = lots of reading. Which isn’t really so bad, except that, every now and then, after sitting in one spot for hours, casebook open in front of me, I get a little stir crazy. To remedy that, I’ve started taking walks every evening. Not only is it, you know, healthy and all, but it also helps me clear my head of all that legal craziness (albeit, temporarily).

On one of my walks this week, I brought along my iPhone and took some pictures around campus as I walked. Everything is so lovely at this time of year! I’m savoring these walks now, because I know in a short while, we’ll be stuck with months and months of bitter cold and misery. But for now? Ann Arbor is just wonderful.

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 5

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Some things I love this week:

  1. The Many Voices of Meryl Streep. I must invoke Cam from Modern Family here: “Excuse me, Meryl Streep could play Batman and be the right choice. She’s perfection, whether she’s divorcing Kramer, whether she’s wearing Prada, don’t even get me started on Sophie’s Choice.”
  2. Oh, hey, remember the time I wept while watching a random video on the internet? This is so beautiful.
  3. 100 Years of Style in East London. I cannot get over this video – from the clothing changes, to the music varieties, to the dance styles. So cool.
  4. I’m fairly certain that when people speak of “the Michigan difference,” they’re referring to this.
  5. There’s going to be an Arrested Development movie! After waiting for what seems like FOREVER for this news, I am pumped. Also this video of the cast recreating the chicken dance at an event last weekend makes me so, so happy. One of my favorite recurring gags on the show.
  6. I love Ann Arbor, and this list is pretty much the perfect way to spend a few days here.
  7. Now that I’m in law school and taking Property this semester, this e-card makes me laugh. I’m a giant dork.
  8. Tom Haverford line of the week, courtesy of the most recent episode of Parks + Rec: “At the risk of bragging, one of the things I’m best at is riding coattails.  Behind every successful man is me, smiling and taking partial credit.”
  9. Didn’t we all have SO many Lisa Frank folders when we were younger? This video cracked me up. No one’s trapping me, and no one’s keeping me!
  10. This book looks delightful. Paris + pastries – is there a better combination anywhere?

Looking for more awesomeness? Check it.