GOING HOME!

Hey guys, sorry I didn't put up a blog. I've been busy with papers and tests this past week. I'm actually throwing all my stuff together and getting ready to go home.

I'm flying out of Boston at 5:55pm, arriving in San Diego at 9:27pm... I'll be sure to blog this entire week, so check back daily for some videos of SoCal! If I'm not mistaken... it's sunny and sitting at about 74 degrees :)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, I think I'm gonna eat myself to death... hopefully not literally.

HOME SWEET HOME!

Good Morning Stonehill!

So, I'm not really big on mornings. In fact, I am not a morning person at all. It takes a lot of work to get myself ready for the day, and this video kind of shows how I wake up and my day to day process of waking up. Hope you enjoyed it, and kind of see what it's like on your own.

That's one thing that I really like about being at college. You really have a lot of freedom. My mom would probably not be happy if woke up and played football on XBOX, or shot terrorists on Modern Warfare. Granted, I feel like my mother raised me very well, at least... we'll see how true that is in a few years. But as of now, she's done well- at least I think so. But you have so much freedom to kind of organize your day. But remember, in the end you need to exercise time management and make sure you have good grades at the end of the semester. Sometimes students have "too much" freedom and don't know how to handle it.

It still takes me forever to wake up, I don't have my mom yelling at me every morning... instead I get to throw things at my alarm from across the room. But alas, I wake up in the end. And the life long lesson that you take from that is you have to be responsible for yourself.

I only have one more week until I go home for Thanksgiving! I'm so excited, I can't wait to go to the beach and soak in some sun.

Well, I'll see you guys next week!

PS if you have any questions e-mail me on my student email account:

mmeier@students.stonehill.edu

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have regarding Stonehill, or just the transition from high school to college.

Tribute to the Seniors/Parents Weekend

Football Season is over. We ended our season with a big upset win over #24 nationally ranked Bentley. It was a great way to send our Seniors off. This season has been fun, and I'll miss waking up for 7AM lifts and 7:45 practice/meetings. Some of my good friends are seniors, I actually lived with BLaw and Shaffer over the summer. I'm going to miss them out there on the field next year; they're a part of the Stonehill family forever now. We cleaned out our locker rooms at the start of this week, which is why they look empty. We have our last team meeting on Thursday, and then we have a meeting on Friday for returning players. I'm looking forward to this off-season, and getting ready for next year/Spring Ball.

PARENTS WEEKEND

My parents came up for Family Weekend. I got to spend time with them which was nice. We ate at Joe's a few times, a restaurant at the South Shore Mall. It was a nice change from college food.

Oh, here's a picture my parents!

Took that picture at Joe's. Here's one in my room.

So yea, family weekend was nice. I hadn't seen my mother since my birthday, which was back in September (DOB: 9/4/1990). It was nice seeing her, I kind of missed her even though I tell her I don't. I get to see them against for Thanksgiving though! Not too far off, I'm really looking forward to that.

So yea, I apologize for being a little late on this one. But check back Next Monday! I'll have one up :)

I give tours too?

So I couldn't think of a song to go with this video,

so I just put up a song reflecting the genre of music

I listen to on a regular basis. It doesn't fit the

video that well, but it fits my style of music.

Regular Hours
Sunday	Noon - Midnight
Monday - Thursday	8:00 AM - Midnight
Friday	8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday	10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

So I decided to blog about the Library this week, and I gave a quick virtual tour as well. I hope you enjoyed it! I would blog more, but I've been really busy this week. We had Halloween on Saturday, and a Football game Friday against Assumption (WE WON!!!), and I have a test in Organizational Behavior tomorrow- I haven't had much time to study... So I'll just leave you with the video above.

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you next week!

For more information on The MacPhaidin Library, visit the stonehill website at:

http://www.stonehill.edu/x13187.xml

Case of the Mondays...

My Third Video!!!

WARNING: The contents of this video may cause

low levels of depression. If you are having a good day,

I would suggest coming back tomorrow. The director and actor

of this video had two tests this morning, prior to making

this video. To be short, I clearly woke up on the WRONG

side of the bed this morning.

Well, I guess not every day in college is wonderful. Sometimes you have those days where you have two tests back to back from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. So yea... I don't think I did very well. I did ok on the Spanish test, I forgot how to say nephew and son-in-law... I shouldn't do too poorly on that test. But the Psychology test... just wow. I studied all night, but I guess I left somethings out. We can drop our lowest score, and I've done pretty well on everything else in that class, so it'll be alright. I'll just have to study harder for the next one.

HALLOWEEN!!!! I have no idea what I'm gonna be. I'll have to figure it out soon though, it's right around the corner. I guess we have some kind of big dance in the SPOCO (Sports Complex); everyone says its one of the sickest dances we have. So, I'm pretty excited for it. It's on Saturday, our Football game is on Friday- so it works out perfectly.

Anyways, I'm tired and I'm going to nap. Sorry for this blog being short, and kinda dull... I'm having a case of the Mondays.

The Hill!

MY SECOND VIDEO!

The Hill Hours:
Sunday...........................6:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Monday - Thursday........11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Friday.............................11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Saturday..........................6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

I'm telling you, it's the best place to eat on campus. The food is a bit more costly at The Hill than the cafeteria, and I do eat upstairs at the cafeteria often... but I still spend the majority of my time at The Hill. Here are some pics of the food you can get... there are other items on their menu; but obviously I'm only going to order what I'm going to eat you know? For a complete list of their menu, visit: http://www.stonehilldining.com/documents/HillMenu.pdf

This guy is amazing. I'm horrible with names so I apologize for not knowing it by now... but the younger guy that works during the middle of the day, around lunch hours, has great people skills and wonderful customer service. If you ask him to make something a certain way, he'll do it. I don't even have to ask anymore, I'm a regular now.

Of course I'll start off with the deserts. This was some kind of pie... not sure what kind but it was phenomenal. I went back for another later that day.

Here are some of the other deserts they have. I'll usually get a Big Cookie as I wait for my food. The average wait for food varies. Usually it's only a few minutes, but if you get a hamburger you might be waiting for 5 minutes or so. So a cookie is a nice appetizer. Gotta keep my figure up!

And of course, we have the healthy section. Salads, fruit, sandwiches... I don't usually eat from this section, but I figured those of you that like to eat healthy might enjoy this.

A hotdog and a bacon cheeseburger, with a side of fries. Nothing starts my class in Organizational Behavior better than this combo here.

Buffalo Chicken Tenders!!! Sure, you can choose to have regular chicken tenders, you can even choose BBQ... but how can you pass up Buffalo?! Make sure you have something to wash it down with- cause the sauce can be pretty hot if you're not used to spicy food.

You know, the pizza isn't that bad. It may look like it's one of those pizza's you used to get in elementary school, and it probably is... but the quality is much better at The Hill than the lunch lines at Cardiff Elementary.

THE CALI BURRITO

Definition taken from Urban Dictionary:

california burrito

283 up, 35 down

A delicious and mythical burrito found in Mexican eateries, also known as a Cali Burrito. It is native to Southern California, especially San Diego. The California Burrito consists of carne asada, cheese, sour cream and French fries or potatoes rolled into a flour tortilla. Guacamole may be substituted for sour cream, though this not a true Cali burrito, just an imposter (known as a Cyrus Burrito). "I almost had a heart attack while eating a massive California burrito last night!"

I had a Cali Burrito everyday before I left for Massachusetts. It is soooo bomb, best thing you'll ever taste. Trust. Granted the school doesn't have Carne Asada, so to have my "Modified" Cali Burrito... here is what you gotta do.

Now if you get that young chef I was telling you about- you can just ask him and he'll make it for you. But if he's not there... you'll have to make it yourself.

Order a Steak & Cheese Quesadilla.

Order a small side of fries.

Open the Steak & Cheese Quesadilla and spread your fries and the side of sour cream they gave you all around.

Re-wrap your masterpiece.

Grab the Hot Sauce.

Enjoy.

Changing it up a bit...

MY FIRST VIDEO!!!

Haha, so this was my first time making a video. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty awkward haha. I was rocking back and forth on my rocking chair throughout the entire thing. But, hopefully overtime I'll get better- maybe even jump start me into Hollywood. So check it out, and hopefully I can put some more up overtime. It's kind of short, but it was my first one so I have some work to do. The next ones will be longer, and more enjoyable :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Columbus Day!

"STUDENT" Athlete...

It's that time again. Another week passed by at The Hill. I hope I used that correctly... I haven't been here long, but from what I understand "The Hill" is the more common way of referring to Stonehill College. So... before you visit and start using those few words, I'd wait until I verify that next week. I'll get on that.

So, I figured I'd show you how I spend my time from 7-9pm on Sundays. I also do this same wonderful and exciting activity on Monday and Thursday nights. I really look forward to these six hours each week. I'm a pretty upbeat guy, and I have a tendency of being loud from time to time. I'm also someone that needs chaos. I like to build off it. So it's no wonder that I enjoy the Library!

Our Lovely Library

Stonehill has a gorgeous library. It is across from the football field, you can't really miss it. You can see some of the football players walking up to the building in the picture above.

And yes, I'm being sarcastic about loving it there. I think of all places on campus, I am least fond of the library. Don't get me wrong though. The library here is gorgeous, and if you ever need resources or a quiet place to work it's a great place to study and get work done. But my personality clashes with the whole concept of "be quiet, you're in a library..." It's just not for me. I need people to be running around, the tv on, music playing loud, laughter... the beautiful side of chaos really. I've never been a big fan of the library, especially with the internet and database at our generations fingertips. I can't focus in such a quiet environment.

But nevertheless, as a first-year STUDENT athlete, I am required to attend Study Hall until I've proven that I no longer need to attend. The best way to get into Study Hall is to be a first year student and being required to attend for the first semester. Or you could try the "not going to class" approach, get lower than a 2.5 GPA (cumulative), and then also be required to go. The best way to get out of Study Hall and not be required to go, would be to go to class, do your work, study, be a STUDENT, and have higher than a 2.5 GPA. Granted I had a 3.87 GPA last semester at USD, so I'm planning on never doing this again after this semester.

One can only aspire to graduate from Study Hall.

Stonehill Football team hitting the books

You can always find us on the second floor of the library, from 7-9pm, on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. A few of the guys also go up to the third floor, and others use the computers on the first floor to do assignments. The entire library is wireless, so many of the guys will bring their laptops to Study Hall.

#54 Eddie Gaffney doin work

I think it's important to note that athletes need to work hard in the classroom. If an athlete falls under a 2.0 GPA, they are not eligible to compete in athletics. It's important to remember that you are a STUDENT ATHLETE; an emphasis is placed on that fact that student comes before the word athlete. Athletics is a very important part of our day, and during season we need to stay focused and mentally ready when we step onto the field. But having great time management and working hard in the classroom is equally important. If you don't have a 2.0 GPA, you won't be playing... it's pretty simple really. So utilizing Study Hall to your advantage is important for many athletes. Our coaches are available to help you when needed, but it's also important to seek extra help if you need it. Talk to your professors, visit them during their office hours, go to the tutoring center, hit up your class TA's, etc... Do what it takes for you to make grades. Because you're not only letting yourself down, you're letting your team down.

DO YOUR WORK! The rest comes easy, and it's fun.

Saturday Night- Graffiti Dance!!!

Stonehill... likes to dance.

For anyone that is considering attending Stonehill College, you should know that Stonehill is a dancing community. Every weekend there is some sort of dance; whether it be in the courts, or at the cafe.

This weekend, we had a Graffiti Dance. From my experiences, this is your regular Highlighter Party- wear white, have a highlighter, and draw away. This was an event the school allowed, and it was hosted by our own Stonehill students.

DJ Mikey V & DJ BIGNESS

Our two DJ's spinning tracks.

The guy on the left in the stripped shirt is #62 Brandon Joseph on the football team, aka DJ BIGNESS. The guy on the right in white is #16 Michael Vinci, aka DJ Mikey V. The kid in the grey-ish jacket to the left of B Joseph is #24 Denny Silversey. #84 Philip Coriaty is seen on the bottom right in white. Not sure who the kid in red is... sorry bro. Make sure to give a shout out to these Skyhawks throughout the season!

Stonehill loves to dance

Just Dance...

Looks like that Jet's guy had a nice weekend. Dancing one night, and then watching Sanchez and the Jets beat the Titans Sunday 24-17. Does dancing have a high correlation with NFL football team success? Since most Stonehill students are Patriots Fans... I guess so! Patriots win over Atlanta 26-10.

Cali kids know how to get down

Chris Palmer, alumni and former football player

I had the pleasure of meeting this fine individual, Chris Palmer, over the summer. He graduated last year, and was one of our top wide receivers last season. He's also a student that came here from California, and is currently working in Boston. He's seen here dancing with girlfriend, Kristen McWhirter. She plays Basketball at Stonehill.

My good friends: Campus Police

I'm not sure they enjoyed me taking a picture of them...

And of course, we had the campus police outside of the dance making sure everything was ok. While they may look serious here, we have very friendly campus police. They are very helpful and I've made friends with a few of them already. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing... haha, we'll say it's a good thing.

So yea... if you visit Stonehill, or attend Stonehill; make sure you get ready to hit the dance floor and bust a move!

Side Note: If you don't like to dance, there are plenty of other events that Stonehill students participate in besides going to Mixers and the sort. Stonehill has a lot to offer its students, this is just one of the most popular and widely attended events that students partake in on weekends.

Game Day Preparations...

Hey guys, so I figured I'd blog about what a collegiate athlete's day is like on Game Day at Stonehill College. Usually Football games are on Saturdays, but we have two Friday games this year- so the exact "routine" is different since we don't have class on Saturdays... But this is what my Friday was like this week!

Friday Game Day

1. Wake Up

2. Eat Breakfast

3. Go to Class

4. Eat Lunch

5. See the Trainer

6. Watch Film

7. Pack Up (Away Games)

8. Team Meal

9. Get on the Bus

ONE- Wake Up

Woke up at 7AM!

Honestly, I'm not a morning person. I HATE MORNINGS... But it's important to get to class on time and eat every morning, especially on a Game Day. So I woke up, showered, put clothes on, and had a 5 course breakfast.

TWO- Eat Breakfast

100% Whey Protein Shake!

Remember how I said I'm not a morning person... yea. Instead of walking to the cafeteria, and since I was running late to class- a protein shake in the morning usually satisfies my stomachs deepest urges.

So after breakfast, I had to go to class and be a student. It's important for "student-athletes" to go to class and do their work.

THREE- Go to Class

Professor Faria teaching Spanish Class!

This guy is hilarious. If you want to take a language, happen to choose Spanish, and get placed in Intermediate... I would highly suggest taking Faria. The workload isn't too time consuming, he makes the class fun, and he has a funny laugh. After class you gotta grab lunch!

FOUR- Eat Lunch

Lunch at the Hill!

I love the food at the Hill. I'll probably do a blog about the Hill, because it's that good. I happened to get a Angus Burger with fries, and a Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Haha, so maybe not the best choice of food? But since Lamar Odom of the LA Lakers eats candy before games... I can eat junk food! I just pray that my metabolism never slows down.

FIVE- See the Trainer

Training Room

I've had the joy of spending a lot of time in the training room. I'll also be blogging about this aspect of Stonehill life in the near future. We have amazing trainers, and a great training room.

SIX- Watch Film

#80 John Gomes watching Film

Watching film is an important aspect of Football. While we do watch film as a team, getting in your own individual time is important for success. Learning routes and plays, defensive coverages, team tendencies, athletic personal... you can never be over prepared for a game.

SEVEN- Packing Up

#10 Eddie Vachon in the Locker Room

For away games, football players and athletes need to make sure they have everything they need for the game. Making sure you have your helmet and shoulder pads, jersey and cleats, etc. It's important to not leave anything behind. We have a new locker room too! I'll be blogging about this as well.

EIGHT- Team Meal

#88 J Rob getting food

Team Meals are mandatory. It's important to eat a good meal before a Game- that way you have the energy to keep you going for the entire game.

NINE - Get on the bus

Waiting to leave

DON'T BE LATE! Leaving at 3:30PM means being there on time. If you're late, chances are you're going to drive yourself to the game, and get an earful from the coach. Expect up-downs and running for this as well.

GAME TIME

Well, that's what my day was like this past Friday. Being a collegiate athlete takes a lot of work, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hey!

Hey guys, just wanted to introduce myself before I start blogging away.

My name is Marco, and I'm going to be blogging about my wonderful experience at Stonehill College. I am a transfer student, my freshman year was at the University of San Diego. I'm a San Diego native, born and raised in North County San Diego. I love California, and from what I've seen so far, I love Massachusetts too.

I'm a student-athlete at Stonehill College. I'm a Defensive Back on the Stonehill Football team. Our first home game is today against AIC; so if you're not doing anything around 7pm and happen to be in Easton, MA... you should come! AIC is the defending Northeast 10 Conference champions, so this is going to be a big game for us.

I have to go, but I'll be updating my blog weekly. I don't have any pictures up yet, but I'll make sure to put some up to keep you entertained. Maybe an exclusive video or two haha. Be sure to check out my links to the right!

Hope you all have a great school year, good luck with all your college applications, and welcome to the life of a transfer student-athlete, living life 3,000 miles away from Cali, at a beautiful school called Stonehill.

GO SKYHAWKS!