Howdy from Oxford

My family left me here early Saturday morning. I was really exhausted, so I spent a lot of the day being lazy and watching my new Hallmark channel full of cheesy [but addicting!] movies. I have yet to meet any of my neighbors. When my family was here, they met several of them, but I think they must be hiding from me! [or my family is just a lot more friendly than I am]. Sunday I ventured out to a church, where the whole Ole Miss football team happened to be visiting?? Needless to say, it was super crowded. My mom asked me if I met anyone at church. I told her no; I went and then I left. Sure, I shook some hands and said hello during the customary "meet and greet" part, but other than that, it was a short and sweet visit. Overall, I really liked the church. I'm still getting used to everyones' super thick southern accents [everyone who spoke during the service had one]. Next Sunday, I plan to try another church, and then make my decision. One thing I noted: women wear dresses to church, no pants - jeans must be taboo as well, for both men and women. I headed to the local McAlister's to pick up a salad to go after church. The McAlister's in Oxford is the original restaurant, and it also happens to be VERY crowded after church. I waited for over forty-five minutes for a salad. Meanwhile, I got to do lots of people watching. It looked like the students are back in town, especially a lot of sorority girls! Sunday was a big, social day for me [ha!], as I went to church and drove to a suburb of Memphis to meet my friend Julie for post dinner dessert. She's been on an internship in DC all summer and happened to be driving back through Memphis on her way to College Station. It was only an hour from me to the suburb she was staying in, so the opportunity to meet couldn't be passed up. Funny thing is, we had a slight miscommunication on which suburb to meet in, and I ended up in a Chili's in Collierville while she was in a Chili's in Germantown. Luckily, they were only fifteen minutes apart, and we met at last. However, I think the the staff at Chili's were beginning to think I was a sad, lonely girl being stood up for a date because I waited so long! :) I got home late last night [midnight], so I slept in today and have been lazing around since then. This week is pretty much open until Thursday, when grad orientation starts. It's weird to have so much open free time with no plans. I don't really feel lonely, but I am ready for things to start. I have way too much time to think of things: what are my classes going to be like, what will my lab be like, what will I write my thesis about [!], will I like the people in my classes, will they like me, will I meet people at church, who will I hang out with, blah, blah, blah. New beginnings are pretty weird. As much as I miss my family and friends, want to know the thing I really miss right now? My dog. Yep, I wish my mom could ship her to Oxford along with the jeans I left behind.