Wednesday, September 3, 2014

"They Said it Couldn't be Done..."

I stole Steph's Facebook tagline for my title, but it really does sum it up.

 Some photos need no explanation.
Once we arrived, we had to stop at the hotel to drop off all of the luggage. Our next stop was Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up the "pre-order" Stephanie and Morgan had made. While there, Morgan met a fellow classmate. They chatted for quite awhile and then exchanged phone numbers.
Another full car load. Once we were back at the hotel, I suggested that we fill up the "under-the-bed" storage containers with all the clothes from the suitcases---a little less to haul that way. Stephanie carried it one step further (she learned from the master!). They continued to remove packaging and put things away as  best they could---filling containers and iris carts. They even loaded the car that night.
Moving day! Morgan had little room in the back seat. Our assigned "move in" time was 8 a.m. We got there about 7:30 a.m. to get in line. Ironically, without even telling each other that they were going early, the first three cars were us and Morgan's roommates. Like most colleges, they have a great system where upper classmen descend upon your car, unload and haul it all to your new dorm room. Our plan was that we'd drop the first load and I'd go back to the hotel and load up the second. Perfect planning!
As I was moving the iris cart, I discovered this. Every girls needs 5 "extra" phone cases right? Ahem, "NO"---I only own one phone case and it's on my phone!! Truly, I do believe she brought everything she owns!
 Morgan and her room mates outside of their dorm. One girl is from Hawaii and the other from Los Angeles. Due to social media, they already "know" each other. They hit it off right away.
 The palm trees all over campus are gorgeous. It almost has a resort-like feel.
This is the courtyard in the middle of Morgan's dorm. The building at the end is the chapel. The building is a huge square.
This is the lobby of the dorm. It's old and architecturally beautiful. That made me think the dorms must be really nice. Nah, just regular dorm rooms---nothing fancy at all.
Arriving at 9 a.m. wasn't such a bad idea either. This is a smaller school, so the move in was handled speedily and efficiently.
We were not able to go in to the library. Morgan says she plans to avoid it! I told her there might come a time that she wants a quite place to study. This building is just one building away from her dorm.
 Even the sides and backs of the buildings are beautiful.
 This is the back of Morgan's dorm.
There are bike racks all over, but I have to agree with Morgan. This is one hilly campus. Riding a bike will be difficult.
And here we have the room. I couldn't get a good picture looking in to the room as the light was too bright. No air conditioning in the dorms. The temperatures are pretty mild in San Diego, so they will get by fine with a fan. There is very little floor space, but the beds are high so there is plenty of storage underneath.

It was Morgan's idea to put the chests in the closet to allow a little more floor space. Actually, since they didn't want to "bunk" the beds, they pretty much had to put the chests in the closet. Luckily she's tall, so she can reach her stuff. I worked in the closet and could not reach the bottom shelf.
Each girl has a little desk. Morgan has the coffee maker on hers, so she's going to have to be careful if she has her computer sitting out---or her room mates better be careful!

 Another shot of the lobby with antique chandeliers.
 The chapel is old and beautiful. In fact, it's much larger than what I would consider a chapel.


This is Immaculata Church just down from Morgan's dorm. It's huge. It was locked, so we were not able to get inside for a peek.
 One of the classroom buildings.
 The palm trees are incredible. I've never seen any quite like them---all healthy and perfectly maintained.

We followed Morgan's schedule around campus to find where here classes were located. Stephanie and Morgan peeked in windows if the building was not open.
 I could really get in to a place where they have flowers like this (hibiscus) year round.
 The "birds of paradise" were so pretty---and abundant.
San Diego is a breezy place. This was a sign posted on a drive through. One of the reasons Morgan liked the University of San Diego was the fact that it's "on the beach!" Wellll, that's true, but it is quite a trek to get down to the beach. The trek back will be even harder. 

Due to supreme organization, moving in only took about 2 hours. When Stephanie and I realized we were basically finished, we tried to change our flight and come home a day early. It was going to cost $700 to do that. Instead, we decided to spend some time browsing the city. We were able to pick Morgan up at 1 p.m. for a few hours on Sunday. We went for manicures and pedicures---$24.99---gotta' love prices close to college campuses. That price for both is unheard of!!

We wanted to "FaceTime" with Jordan so Morgan could show her----her dorm and school. This text exchange took place.
It made my heart sing!! To think Jordan took a Scrabble game to college with her!! Love it. Scrabble has been a family tradition since I was a little girl---at 6---spelling my little 2 or 3 letter words. 
After we dropped Morgan off, we went to dinner at C-Level on the ocean. We shared some seafood including this plate of buffalo oysters. Soooo good!

The next day, when we got to the airport, they were looking for two volunteers to give up their seats---they were over-booked. Seriously, we could have come home a day earlier and it wouldn't have cost the airlines anything. Now, we GAVE UP our seats for 2 free round-trip tickets! It took us 5 hours longer to get home, but we had "C" boarding passes which was really going to be uncomfortable---middle seats for 3 1/2 hours. Once we got to Las Vegas, I asked about upgrading to an "A" boarding pass since I had paid for that on our previous ticket. "No can do" said the gate agent. But when she realized we had given up our seats, she did bump us up to "A" at no charge---for being so nice!!! All was good!! So we got home a little late---still, we have two expensive tickets for Morgan to come home at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Totally worth it!
And just like that, our "babies" are grown!! Stephanie is an "empty-nester!" I miss the "girlies" already!

3 comments:

  1. What a beautiful place to live and learn in. Here we get lots of complaints about how cold it will be all winter! Very cool to see the dorm space and compare it with where TTO was last year. It's certainly different.

    They're still saying it can't be done here too. More packing tonight..

    Very best of luck to her for the year

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  2. What an amazing place to live and study ... And those young women are very beautiful. No wonder your pride shines through :).

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  3. Wow, that does look like a pretty place to go to college. We just dropped my daughter off two weeks ago now, and it is amazing how much more girls take to college than guys. There is no open space in her closet either, and she and her roommate both lofted their beds. BBB let us down as a couple things were broken and were bought home with us to be returned. Just as well, she wouldn't had the room. That last photo is just sensational!

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