Wow. Well it’s been a while hasn’t it?

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So Life….

I’ve moved up to Fairfax at this point- I’m settled in at my townhouse off campus. I live in the basement in a room formerly known as a living room- through cleverly assembled bookshelves and curtains, I achieve a fair amount of privacy. My room also opens on to the backyard- something pretty awesome but annoying occasionally. The ants in the backyard don’t like me very much.

I’ve made a promise to myself that I will not be purchasing a parking permit for Mason this semester. They’re $225 at the cheapest -ouch- and it’s only going to be stressful trying to find a parking space on campus every morning. Instead, I plan on taking advantage of the short, beautiful, tree-lined walk to the bus stop from my house and ride the bus daily to school. Though I have to be a little more organized with my time schedule, I think ultimately I’ll be much less stressed. I’ve already begun to really appreciate the time I can spend listening to music or reading a book that otherwise would be spent cursing at other drivers. Plus, I get to feel all happy about taking a car off the road and saving some air for my future children.

The ultimate test run will be in the first few weeks of school. I’m a very busy person with a verryy full schedule this semester- so it should be interesting to see how it works. I’m not worried about the mornings so much. It’s more the afternoon/evenings that get me a little nervous- that’s when the buses stop running so often and only come by every hour or so. But again, planning should save me.

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Connect2Mason Rockzors

This year, I’m serving as the Managing Director of Connect2Mason- an awesome news site covering the school with photos, videos, stories, and everything you can imagine.

I’m crazy excited about everything starting up with it- we have a small but ultra-committed team right now. I think we’re going to bring a lot of fun, passion and humor to the site. For example, today we posted up tons of fun content- including the start to a new photo series called “SPOTTED,” of snapshots from around campus of local Mason celebrities. Our first photo in the series features the Student Government President at the Catholic Campus Ministry Luau….so we named it, “SG Prez Dasgupta Gets Lei’ed.”

Heh. I might get in trouble for that one later, but hey, it was so worth it.

I’m enjoying getting back in the news groove- writing stories, putting together content, posting it online, etc. etc. I get such a rush from seeing a well-edited piece- my name online- a fun video. It gets me pumped up like nothing else ever does. Mmmm I just love my job. We have a whole lot of other stuff planned for the future, so get excited. : )

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Working Out for Dallas Pride

Ever since I got in such good shape in London from just walking everywhere, I’ve wanted to work out more and get in an actual healthy shape. I worked out with a personal trainer a very few times during the summer (at which time, I also had a gym membership I used an embarrassingly few times…). This school year, I really want to recommit to it and really get into a healthy lifestyle.

Honestly, I’ve never had a time in my life that I worked out on a regular basis (except as a young gymnast and my time in high school marching band). I want to change that. My few workouts with my personal trainer got me much more motivated and excited about going to the gym. I plan to really use the Aquatics and Fitness Center at Mason as much as possible while I’m here. It’s a great facility, yet in my three years at Mason, I’ve barely set foot in it. How lame is that?

I made a deal with a buddy back at home that we’d have a workout competition while I’m away at school. Last I checked, he’d made arrangements to start working out with a personal trainer twice a week. Now, I’m a fairly competitive person, and I’m determined to work out better and more often than Ben does. (And no, we haven’t actually laid out terms for what defines the winner of the competition- since we have completely different body types, we haven’t come up with anything that makes sense)

As an additional motivation for me to work out, I’ve decided to state publicly here on my blog my plans to wear a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader outfit for Halloween this year. No clue where to yet- maybe a party or something. I think it’s a good goal though- have you seen exactly how little those uniforms cover? We’re talking completely exposed abs and thighs. It’s slightly terrifying to think of me in one of those outfits right now. However, I have two months to get in decent enough shape to be seen in public dressed as a Cowboy cheerleader.

It’s going to happen, no matter what I look like. That’s some SERIOUS motivation right there. I can already hear my muscles complaining from all the work I plan to make them do…

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Anyways, that’s life. Wooo.