Rutgers- or The Other Red R

I remember the first Christmas we were in Nebraska, Colin wore a red baseball cap with an R on it for the celebration with the extended Fallon Family. Uncle Dana thought that Colin was already a Rutgers fan because apparently, they have a similar logo to Randolph, Nebraska. Perhaps it was foreshadowing, and we didn’t know it yet. I guess that is what foreshadowing is, isn’t it?

Monday morning, June 22, 2009 dawned beautifully in preparation, I am sure, for our trip to New Brunswick, New Jersey campus of Rutgers. (Ian, the workout master, made us all work out at the gym before we headed to New Brunswick, but then we were free to go.) The campus, which consists of five colleges/campuses was enormous. We arrived at the admissions office, and there was quite a crowd. They began loading us into a luxury bus; this was a first, but it was rather nice for such a large tour. New Brunswick was a larger city than I imagined. After the tour, we attended the information session. The largest selling point for the Rutgers’ program was the Fast Track, where students, if accepted, can become a MD in six years. Wow! Rutgers packs a powerful punch. Colin said that he liked the feel of this campus. Poor Colin (and Matt)…we all were pumping him for his feedback and analysis of the various colleges and universities as we made our way around the country this summer; he really loved Rutgers though. Visit their site at www.rutgers.edu/

To further process the visit, we went to have a quick lunch at a nearby juice bar called Namaste. Check it out at www.namastejuicebar.com/. What an experience we had. We learned a lot from the toxins that can be in tap water to all about the slow food movement (www.slowfoodusa.org/), and the food was delicious. It was fascinating to watch our host prepare all of our meals and drinks by hand. Nothing was arranged ahead of time; it was prepared to order. The food came in its purest form. I had the sunshine burger, and, although it tasted like a Big Mac, there was no meat in it. I couldn’t believe it! The smoothies were astonishing too.

Soon it was time to head up the turnpike to Vermont. My nemesis, the George Washington Bridge, was about to strike again. Is it just me or does everyone get stuck on the George Washington Bridge no matter what time of day or night I try to drive over it? Two hours we were to sit in this same position. Don’t be deceived by taillights that look like they are brake lights in the picture on this page. These cars were not going anywhere. The funny part is that whenever a car from Vermont or Nebraska would drive by, I would wave, but I think Colin and Ian just slept. I never saw an accident or a toll booth, so I have no idea why we were stuck there for so long. Perhaps another piece of foreshadowing of things to come…