There's no place like Home

I love Penn State.

The campus, the town, the games, the people — even the days of endless rain. I love it all.

And nothing makes me realize that more than a weekend at home.

Since school began, I’ve gone out every Friday and Saturday night, determined to make the most of my senior year. But this weekend, the old lady in me emerged, and I headed back to the dirty Jersey for some much needed R&R.

While I spend most of the weekend curled up on the couch in sweatpants, reading or watching movies (The Lakehouse starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves was really much better than reviews suggested), I did venture out for one “wild” night on the town — with my parents.

The evening started at the local movie theatre, which is the highlight of suburban nightlife in Central New Jersey. The lobby of the theatre felt like a scene from The Wizard of Oz, everywhere I looked I was surrounded by munchkins. Middle-schoolers ran wild, let loose from their parents’ watchful eye. High schoolers were out on dates and bashfully bought their dates candy and popcorn, hoping food would be the key to their ladies’ hearts.

I snuggled in between my two dates, Mom and Dad, and spent the next two hours watching The Guardian. Basically, Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner swam around in some really, really cold water.

Then my parents and I got really crazy and went to Applebee’s for drinks and half-price appetizers (they paid!). My dad ordered Sangria. My mom had a Sam Adams. I forgot my ID at home, so I got a Coke.

And that was my weekend. Boring but relaxing — exactly what it needed it be.

But boy did it make me miss Happy Valley.