Diary

Jennifer
Harrigan

Past Entries

March 29, 2004

The spirits were high at Schlotsky's Deli when it was announced that we would have "no limit" on the price of our dinner after winning both games against Maryville (Tenn.) on Sunday. If there is one thing this softball team likes as much as winning a tough ball game, it's eating! The infielders even have a motto to remind themselves to be ready, to feel a hunger to make the next great play--"Fat kids gotta eat!"

When the team is on a road trip and we stop for dinner the first question that buzzes through the team is, "What's our limit?" Coach dutifully surveys the menu of our chosen establishment, checks her budget and then reveals how much each girl is allowed to spend on dinner. It's usually about $6 at a fast food restaurant, but sometimes at Wendy's or Subway, we're allowed to order up to $8 worth of food!

We are all very grateful to Coach because she understands our love of food. We are encouraged to make good choices--deep fried foods and soda are not on the menu before games. Those $8 days are exciting to say the least, but when the rumor of "no limit" passes back from the front of the line at the cash register it is simply incredible.

"No, Mary, really, what's the limit?" a disbelieving teammate demands. It is not beyond our team prankster to build a false hope like that just to have a chuckle at the crestfallen face of a gullible freshman. We all ate our fill and especially enjoyed the little extras we could afford with our sandwiches such as soup, salad and cheesecake.

As the March Madness continues in the NCAA basketball tournament at this time of the year, we start to feel a little of that madness too. Over the past two weeks, we have had 10 games and almost 25 hours of travel time in a bus or vans.

The end of March is also when professors like to have second mid-terms and assign papers. We all got into the vans to ride the three-plus hours back from Maryville, Tennessee, feeling full and happy about winning two games. We drove along and we attempted a little bit of work.

Lauren Wald focused on her biological psychology exam on Monday by using a pair of ear plugs to block out some of the distractions. Lauren Haag read her ethics text until the sun set. We all had some down time talking to each other and listening to country music. We slept.

As the hours rolled by as did the hilly countryside of Tennessee and north Georgia and we approached Atlanta at last, we started making study plans. A few of the girls went to Starbucks in Emory Village to get some work done with the help of a refreshing espresso drink.

I went directly home as if a hot shower called to me like the sirens of ancient mythology. My teammates were right, though--once I was clean, I got sleepy and didn't really accomplish much.

We are all a little worn out with so much school work piling up and our tired bodies wanting only to sleep! We are all supporting each other though and really looking forward to our free weekend coming up.

We were allowed Friday, April 2, off from practice (I hope Coach wasn't fooling!) and so we have all made plans for traveling. Most of us are going home. Sarah is flying to Kansas and Betsy to Michigan.

Some of us are taking road trips to exciting destinations. Ali is headed to the panhandle of Florida to join her family on spring break at a beautiful beach house. Even those who are not traveling are really looking forward to some time to rest and recuperate from our stresses.

I am looking forward to a nice drive down I-75 South to my home, Florida, with Lauren Wald, my fellow Floridian.

Jennifer Harrigan is a junior from Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.