Last first day? Is that even a thing? According to my Facebook last Tuesday, it is. There was a plethora of seniors who posted pictures of their first day of kindergarten accompanied by photos from their first day of senior year of college. Does time fly or what? Since Tuesdays are my busiest days (Lift, Soccer, 7 hours of class) I wasn’t able to snap a cute picture in front of the arch, but I think these photos will suffice.
In Front of Freedom Tower
New York, NY
Soph, Cassie, Amy and I
New York, NY
Happy First Day of School from your favorite NYU Goalies
New York, NY
As I sit here typing my summer recap, I can’t help but think these past few months were my “last summer”. I don’t mean to say that I won’t have days at the beach, or weekend getaways, but going into my last semester of school, the only things I imagine in my near future are long hours, office cubicles, and an entry-level income. That being said, this past summer was one for the books and here are my top 10 favorite things about Summer 2014:
1. FOX Sports San Diego – Is it ironic that I start my list with an internship? Over the summer I worked in the marketing department doing everything from learning about OAP’s (On-Air-Promotions) to helping manage our two brand representatives ( the FOX Sports SD Girls) to writing press releases and drafting tweets. The stuff I learned was only half the fun though; the people I worked with (shout out to Megan, Gema, Jacquelyn, Katie, and Brie… the list goes on) were absolutely incredible. I can only hope that my first job will have coworkers that are half as amazing as these ladies. Did I mention that I also got to cool events and spend my summer at the ballpark? Talk about one killer internship!
2. World Cup – Do sports montages make you as emotional as they make me? When the US qualified for the World Cup and the #IBelieve commercial came out, I was ECSTATIC to say the least. The best part of the WC, besides the US making it out of the Group of Death, was Tim Howard‘s stellar performance (16 SAVES!), putting a GK in the spotlight (He was even named Secretary of Defense on Wikipedia!).
3. Fourth of July – The fourth is my favorite holiday by and far. But, what’s not to like? Hot dogs, fireworks, slip n’ slides and hanging with friends. This year I spent my 4th on Coronado, which is arguably the best place to spend a fourth. There is a sense of camaraderie because it’s such big Navy town and there’s nothing better than watching fireworks on the beach, right?
4. The Beach – What sort of San Diegan would I be if I left the beach off my top 10 things about this summer? There’s no greater feeling than the saltiness of the air, wind blowing through your hair and the sun beating down on your face. The beach and ocean are my place of solace – where I go when I want to escape and I am so blessed to have so many beaches at my fingertips.
5. San Francisco – One of my best friends and teammates, Phebe, lives in San Francisco and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend with her in Marin. It was an adventure (Megventure) filled weekend and you can see all the highlights in my blog here!
6. Boston – This past Spring, I was elected as Vice President of NYU SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). This position led to an opportunity to represent NYU at the UAA SAAC (University Athletic Association) in Boston the first week of August. I, along with the rest of our exec board and Denise, our advisor spent 48 hours in Boston reviewing legislature, meeting our conference rivals, and conquering a ropes course. I walked away with 30 new friends, a sense of community within our conference, and a black eye (Let me tell you, tag is dangerous!).
7. FOX Sports (LA) – On my last day in San Diego, I drove up to Los Angeles to get a tour of FOX Sports 1’s studios and meet with some people in the communications department. My visit to LA reaffirmed my passion for working in sports broadcasting and desire to continue my career with FOX Sports.
8. Learning to drive stick – I’ve wanted a shiny, fire engine red, Jeep Wrangler for as long as I can remember; the only thing standing in my way (besides the cost) is the fact that I have no idea how to drive manually. One of our closest family friends, Yo and Trena, however, own a 1985 Jeep Laredo and on one of their last days in San Diego they let me “learn” to drive stick. After stalling out what seemed like 100 times and giving whiplash to my passengers, I finally was able to shift up and down through the gears while riding around the block.
9. Catching up with old friends – I was a little weary of returning to San Diego this summer because many of my high school friends were either back at their respective colleges, interning in LA/NY, or traveling the world. Luckily for me, two of my oldest friends, Lauren and Kayla were around this summer and we spent HOURS together giggling, reminiscing and just being girls. It’s sort of strange to think that I’ve known them since I was less than a year old and 21 years later we’re still friends despite all the places I’ve moved and events that have transpired.
10. Spending time with family – Family is not an important thing to me. It’s EVERYTHING. This summer I was blessed to spend so much time with my mom, dad and sister, along with my adopted family (the Staab’s). I know I can always count on them to have my back and support me in all my endeavors. As I end my last summer, I realized how much they’ve sacrificed for me to get where I’m at and I’m eternally thankful for everything they’ve done.
As the leaves turn to orange, the weather gets colder and football season hits full force, I bid adieu to my last summer. I will cherish it closely in my heart forever.
5 D’s of Dodgeball:Dodge, Dip, Duck, Dive, Dodge
San Diego,CA
FSSD Girls at the Races
What’s better than good friends and fireworks?
#1 in your hearts, #1 on the field
Los Angeles, CA
“Taking over for Eric Wynalda, I’m Meg Patten. On behalf of Rob Stone, Warren Burton, Brian McBride and FOX Sports 1, thanks for watching.”
Los Angeles, CA
7 Miles later… the most gorgeous view with a gorgeous best friend.
Stinson, CA
“She had not felt the weight, until she felt the freedom”
Tiburon, CA
Happiness is the sand between my nose and a sunburn on my nose
Coronado, CA
Best SAAC in the UAA
Boston, MA
Driving them crazy
San Diego, CA
Old Friends are Gold Friends
My Rocks
San Diego, CA
Years of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears into art.
San Diego, CA
It’s amazing to think how little of the World I’ve seen, let alone the United States. I recently traveled up to San Francisco to visit my best friend, Phebe, and one night we met two Swedes who were rambling on about all the countries they had visited. Their stories were impressive – they had left their home countries to visit the United States and see everything it had to offer for weeks at a time. A trip like that seemed unfathomable in my twenties – how could one just drop everything and go for six weeks, or even six months? It was this beautiful sense of wanderlust that captivated me, refreshed me. I was proud that I had “taken the weekend” off of work to visit my best friend; I was mesmerized by these new friends who had “carpe diem-ed” – seized the day.
That wasn’t the only thing I was mesmerized with on my trip to San Francisco. I hadn’t visited the Bay Area since 7th grade – nearly ten years ago (WOW, I’m getting old!) and the only expectation I had, was the inevitable fog in the morning in the city. I was gladly taken aback by the beauty of the Bay Area. Lucky enough for me, Phebe lives in Mill Valley which means not a ton of fog. It is absolutely breathtaking because it is surrounded by mountains and gorgeous views of the skyline.
During the trip, Phebe and I hiked twice – once in Mill Valley and once from Stinson Beach through some beautiful Redwoods. To say I was sore might be a little bit of an understatement – the incline was something I wasn’t used to! The weather was unseasonably warm so we also spent a couple of hours by the pool – I even got burnt! Who would’ve thought?
The rest of my weekend consisted of eating delicious cuisines, relaxing, and then taking in the sights and sounds of Marin! On my last night in San Francisco, Phebe and I embarked on a pub crawl near Nob Hill. This is where the story comes full circle; we met the two Swedes from the beginning of this post at the first stop and instantly became friends.
My words have failed to give this trip and our adventures together any justice, so I’ve created a small photo gallery instead. A picture is worth 1000 words, right?
Mill Valley, CA
Mill Valley, CA
Mill Valley, CA
Tiburon, CA
Belvedere, CA
Photo Credit: Sophia Barnhart
San Francisco, CA
Stinson Beach, CA
Stinson, CA
Vessel Night Club, San Francisco, CA
Marin, CA
Marin, CA
Thank you to Phebe, Momma Pheebz, Burton, Maddie, Julian, Essie and everybody else I may have forgotten for an amazing unforgettable weekend. Can’t wait to visit again!
What’s a football-loving girl to do when she lands tickets to the NFL draft in the middle of finals?The only possible answer is: head uptown to Radio City and spend the majority of her Saturday watching the fifth through seventh rounds. Though there isn’t traditionally a ton of excitement during these later rounds, there was still a lot of buzz following these rounds including the drafting of Alabama QB AJ McCarron in the 5th round by Cincinnati and Michael Sam as 256th overall in the 7th round by the Rams.
I had two sets of tickets available to me including priority tickets that I was able to get online and group tickets through a friend. I had invited my two teammates, Phebe and Julie, to join me so I opted to use the group tickets. After drowning in humidity for almost an hour, we finally were able to get our VIP tickets for inside Radio City. Once we were inside, we walked straight into throngs of NFL jersey sporting fans taking photos next to the Lombardi Trophy and just walking about. I was genuinely surprised at how low-key the event felt. After walking around and getting situated with the layout, we found our seats in the second mezzanine, which provided for a great view of the draft and plush seats to rest our weary bodies on. I saw a bunch of seats up towards the front row and urged us to walk around to see if we could sneak our way up there. As we walked around the floor level, a security guard asked us if we wanted to sit in the front – we happily obliged.
How many times in your lifetime will you get to sit in the front row of the NLF Draft? Hopefully, more than once. Just another bucket list item to cross off my list.
What sort of daughter would I be if I didn’t write about how amazing my Mom is on Mother’s Day? It goes without saying that my Mom is the most amazing woman in the World – she’s transformed my life in numerous ways and has taught me more than I can remember. I have always been called a “Daddy’s Girl” but the fact of the matter is that I am my Mother’s Daughter through and through.
This post is dedicated to 21 of the millions of lessons my mother has instilled in me.
Take lots of pictures – The name of this blog is titled after my mom’s advice when I was handed a camera when I turned 8 at Disney World. “Snap away Meg, capture the memories”. This sentiment has truly stayed with me, whether it is via snapchat or with my Canon.
Home is where the heart is – Moving around as a kid was like one 15 year-long adventure. Kudos to my Mom for packing up the house (by herself on more than one occasion) and bravely moving us around with a smile on her face. We have a sign in our house that reads, “Home is where the Navy Sends You”, but she taught me that it’s not where you live that matters, but where your family and heart is.
Family First – This is pretty self-explanatory but she has reiterated numerous times that your family always comes first. No exceptions.
Making friends is a hobby – I distinctly remember my mom telling me that making friends was her favorite hobby when I was 9 years old and living in Japan. I really didn’t quite understand this because sports were my favorite hobby. As I’ve grown up and (hopefully) matured, I’ve come to embody that same sentiment. I love making friends more than anything!
Is it a want or is it a need? – Every time I go shopping, my Mom’s voice rings in the back of my head, “Is it a want or a need?” I am not very good with spending money (or rather saving it) so this is something that I hope I will get better with as time passes.
Never quit – I have on more than one occasion wanted to quit a team or drop a class, but my mother has always told me that Patten’s never quit. To this day, I have always finished out the season or completed the class. You feel so much better knowing you stuck with it.
Handwritten thank you notes never go out of style – I always dreaded writing thank you notes as a kid, but as I’ve grown up, I have realized the value of writing somebody a quick note, no matter how small or insignificant the task. It takes five minutes and gives you an excuse to get cute stationary.
Put your phone down – We have No-Phones at the table policy, but this has extended into other social gatherings. I have learned that you learn so much more about a person when you’re 100% focused on them and not your boring virtual conversation.
Leave your judgments at the door – Don’t judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. My mom taught me that everybody comes from different circumstances and backgrounds and it’s rude to judge them for their decisions.
Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. – My mother is a skin cancer survivor and has instilled in my sister and I an obligation to our skin. Though this took me longer to put into actions, I now put on SPF everyday before I head out the door.
It’s 5 O’Clock somewhere – My mom not only taught me that it’s acceptable to have a beer at 5, but that as a girl, it’s totally okay to love beer. She taught me to make jello shots at a young age for the parties we hosted and that a glass of wine on top of Iron Mountain with your girlfriends will solve most of the problems coming your way.
It’s okay to have feelings and be sensitive – My mom used to (and still does) call me Ajax for my abrasive personality, but what I have learned from this is that it is okay to have feelings and wear them on my sleeve.
A clean house is a happy house – I could never understand why my mom cleaned so much before parties and required us to keep clean rooms until I moved into my own place and lived with people who have no sense of cleanliness.
It’s okay to ask for help – My mom always is there for me and has taught me, despite my extreme stubbornness that it is more than okay to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, rather a sign of strength to admit that you need help.
Remind people that you love them – I carry around a note in my wallet from 9th grade that my Mom put in my lunch saying I love you. It’s these little notes and random texts that make the best feeling in the world.
Be patient – Patience is not one of my strong suits and my family has tested my patience on more than one occasion, and definitely on purpose multiple times. My mom has always preached to me that patience is one of the best qualities you can practice.
Don’t grow up to fast. It’s okay to act your age – You know that movie ’13 Going on 30′ – that was me for a large portion of my childhood. I always sought more responsibilities, more freedom, more fun, but what I lost were those crazy moments spent with kids my own age.
Do what you love, love what you do – This should be self-explanatory, but my mom simply lives by this rule. She’s a stay at home mom that does cooler things than I do. Honestly, I’m jealous!
Pick up the phone and call – I used to be petrified of picking up the phone and calling anybody, but now calling people is one of my favorite things to do. I always remember listening to my mom call friends and family from around the world to catch up. Nothing replaces organic conversation.
Life is short. Cherish each and every moment. – My mom’s mom died at a super young age and my mom has always reiterated that life is short. You never know what moments you’ll be laughing at 20 years from now so cherish the memories now.
Be Yourself – My mom has taught me that above all, being yourself and staying true to your identity, whatever it may be, is the most important thing of all.
Mom – thank you for the memories, the wonderful days spent together, and the many life lessons. I can only hope to be as amazing as you when I finally grow up.
Remember how I said I wanted to try some new places around the city? Well, I just wanted to provide a quick update on some of the bars and restaurants I’ve finally got around to going to. Over the course of the past few weeks, I’ve slowly but surely trying new places and falling in love with them! Here’s my top 5:
Brazen Fox – Located on 3rd and 13th, this bar has great relaxed vibe. We sat upstairs on a beautiful New York evening and enjoyed the views of Third Avenue while we sipped away on their Cherub Cup and some craft beers. I also recommend their Pretzel Baton appetizer – it was delicious!
Niagara – Located on Avenue A and 7th, this East Village hang out is where my friends and I danced to some old school jams late into the night! A fun, eclectic crowd gathers in the back room to show off their coolest dance moves. Best bring your dancing shoes.
Whiskey Town – Located on 3rd St between 2nd and 3rd Ave, this dive bar is one of my favorite weekend spots. They play great music from the late 90’s and early 2000’s and have a Photo Booth in the back corner. My favorite part about this bar, however, is the great prices!
Phebe’s Tavern – Located on Bowery and 4th, this Irish bar and grill is one of the most crowded spots in the village. Phebe and I found this tavern our freshman year and vowed not to return until we turned 21 – and we didn’t until we celebrated our 21st there! They have a great menu as well – my Dad loves their Shepherds Pie!
Hair of the Dog – Located on Stanton and Orchard, this bar is part of the NYC Best Bar Family and one of my personal favorites. Though it is a bit of a trek from my apartment, this bar has great deals during the week and enough TVs to satisfy even your biggest sports fan.
Happy Easter peeps! I hope all of you had as wonderful of a day as I did. Phebe’s friend, Reid, was in town for the weekend and we decided to venture across the Brooklyn Bridge for some fun. Side note: Reid sails at Harvard and has known Phebe since birth – they were born a day apart! People often ask if their twins (I know – how cool right?) Anyways, we took the train down to Chamber Street, began the crowded trek across the bridge and were rewarded with the most breathtaking views of Manhattan and beyond. We had a few hours to explore before Reid had to board his bus so we walked below the bridge, around DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass for all you non-New Yorkers). We were greeted with even more beautiful views, smells of delicious foods and people everywhere. We chowed down on a cleat disguised as a bench on the pier overlooking lower Manhattan. There was a slight breeze in the air, the sun was shining down on us and all was perfect in the world. We wanted to try Grimaldi’s world-famous pizza, but they were closed for Easter, so we opted in for some seafood at Luke’s Lobster. I grabbed the lobster roll, Reid had the crab roll – both were simply divine!
Before we finished our amazing lunch, we spotted the Brooklyn Ice Cream store a few steps away. Since I gave up ice cream for lent, it was only an obvious choice to grab some before heading back to Manhattan. We opted to split a Butter Pecan and Chocolate Chip Chunk ice cream filled cup since we only had a few dollars on hand between the both of us. (Side note: Bring cash with you when exploring – some places still operate on a cash-only basis)
Twas a wonderful day spent with friends exploring the most wonderful city in the world. I can only hope that everybody had even just a fraction of the fun I did today!
Some of you may not be as familiar with my NYU soccer career, however, I think it is imperative that you do know that the team means the world to me. Between the wins and losses, the injuries and celebrations, the friendships and adventures, the past three years have been a whirlwind to say the least. This post is dedicated to those who have been part of my NYU soccer experience – without you, I would be nothing.
Claire and Phebe at Aviator Field in Brooklyn
On the way to practice the other day at the furthest part of Brooklyn, a few of us were joking that we’ve been to played soccer in every borough except Queens. Our practice turf is on Pier 40 (Manhattan), we play at Gaelic Park for our home games (Bronx), and Staten Island has been a staple practice field in the spring. Today, changed that when we practiced at the Metropolitan Oval in Queens.
The view from the Metropolitan Oval
Being an athlete at NYU comes with its challenges, such as lack of home fields, but what we lack in physical space, we possess in adaptability, humor, and camaraderie. The past three years would not have been possible without the girls by my side, especially the rest of my junior class.
We came. We won. We conquered NYC today. 5 Boroughs, 1 Spring Season. Who knows what challenge lies next?
Sometimes there are just days that slip by and I find myself completely immersed in my own world. The past few days have embodied that free-flowing and adventurous spirit I have come to call, “the Megventure“. Usually characterized by a series of rash events and unpredictable story lines, these “Megventure’s” are typically filled with close friends, spontaneity, and of course, an unmatched sense of wanderlust.
My Megventure began on Thursday night at a small Italian restaurant, tucked in the far confines of the East Village. Surrounded by some of my newest and closest friends, as well as two professors from the Tisch Center, I indulged in a delicious Insalate de Spinaci (Baby spinach, roasted almonds, ricotta salata, strawberries and balsamic reduction) and Fettucine al ragu di Salsiccia (Buckwheat tagliatelle with broccoli rabe puree, Italian sausage ragu and pecorino) at Paprika – t’was delicious! The best part of the night, however, was not the food, but the company. I was introduced to people within the department I would not otherwise would have had the opportunity to interact with, and also strengthened my relationship with one of my favorite professors, David Hollander. Sitting in such an intimate setting with only ten other people gave us the opportunity to open up, in a way that is not normally afforded in a classroom. I am so lucky to have had this amazing opportunity to get to know my classmates and professors on a much deeper level.
Friday night was an adventure in itself. I ventured out to Brooklyn for the second time (ever) with a few other classmates (all guys of course) to cheer on the Nets as they battled against the Detroit Pistons. So maybe “battled” might not be the best word, because the Nets blew them out, but it was a hell of a time if I may so myself. It was my first ever professional basketball game, and I am so glad I was able to experience it at Barclay’s. There is an ineffable vibe that certainly draws in the young people to the game – it was a sporting experience unlike any other. Though I am not a huge fan of professional basketball and the game was less than entertaining, I had such a great night at Barclay’s.
Saturday morning started with brunch at Veselka – days that start with brunch are usually ones worth remembering. And Saturday was no exception. I’m not one to complain, but after the horrendous winter that we had the past six months, it was so wonderful to finally break out the sandals and explore the city I have only begun to scratch the surface of. Saturday morning was the beginning of a day-long adventure throughout the city – one that resulted in a number of firsts. Following brunch with my best friends, Phebe and Ryan,and their two friends, we decided to go to the High Line in the West Village. For those of you who don’t know me very well, the High Line is a sanctuary of sorts of me, and one of my favorite places to take people when they visit the city.
Tori, Ryan, Phebe, and Graeme
We walked, talked, and wandered down the mile and half path before deciding to venture up to Times Square to expose Ryan’s girlfriend to the circus that is New York City. Phebe, Ryan, and I immediately decided to escape the mayhem and wander into yet another sanctuary – Central Park. Our tired legs yearned to rest, so we found some boulders and relaxed among their nooks and crannies. In the middle of relaxing, Ryan had an epiphany that we should go to the American Museum of Natural History to see the dinosaurs. My inner five-year-old self was excited beyond words – I had never been to a museum in NY and dinosaurs are so cool – what’s not to love?The AMNH was amazing (and crowded) but so worth it! Though we wandered aimlessly through the dinosaur exhibits and probably didn’t learn as much as we could have, it was the perfect end to a perfect day spent with friends. My favorite dinosaur, besides the T-Rex (Duh!) was the Megaloceros (for obvious reasons). The museum pulled at my child-like heart-strings and inspired me to get out and see more of my amazing city.
The rest of Saturday was a blur, as I prepared myself for an early wakeup the next day. Sunday was warranted by a soccer session at Gaelic Park and a less than exciting evening filled with homework. Little did I know that my sense of adventure would get the best of me and I would be once again on the road with my roommate, Erin and her friend, Alyson, to a wonderful restaurant in Chelsea. Don’t let the pictures of Co Pizza below deceive you – the restaurant was AMAZING. The wooden walls, dimmed lighting, and candles on the table made it feel like we were away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We all ordered one pizza and split the three flavors between us. I ordered the Cuattro Cipolla (4 Onion) and it was divine. The Straciatella and the Popeye were also lovely – I felt like I could just nom on them forever!
On the way home from Co, we encountered an abandoned subway car. I know what you’re thinking – DON’T ENTER, IT’S A TRAP! Don’t worry, we were fine (no creepy guys, no bad smells, you get the picture). My inner-child awoke and before I knew it, I began to swing from pole to pole until the train began it’s journey along 14th street.Though the weekend seemed to pass by in a single instant, I am so incredibly fortunate to have spent my Megventure of a weekend with my closest friends.
I’ve had to learn how to walk three times in my lifetime. When I was a toddler, when I tore my ACL, and once again when I ripped my meniscus off the bone. The routine is all the same – the weakness inhabiting your legs is debilitating – it’s a depressing and bitter feeling not being able to walk around and perform duties that would are normally a walk in the park (pun intended).
Though I, thankfully, have not had to learn to walk a fourth time, I am learning to run again. In late November, I threw out my back during of post-season strength testing. The pain was unimaginable – nothing like I had ever experienced before. I couldn’t sit, stand, sleep, you name it – without pain. The diagnosis unclear, I began physical therapy to strengthen my core, and was banned from all other workouts. A series of x-rays, scans, and doctors appointments later, I was diagnosed with sacralization of my L5-S1 joint and arthritis among other things. This process, unlike the knee, has a timeline of its own. There have been bad days and there have been better days, however, on March 28th I had a great day. I was able to run again.
Running, though it seems to be the bane of my existence during preseason, is simply one of those activities that releases all the tension from my life. When I run, I feel like I’m on cloud nine, and March 28th was no different. Though the Alter-G provided a different experience than my normal runs along the Hudson, I was enthralled to say the least, that I was able to run again (granted at 80% body weight and at 8MPH).
I don’t know about you, but running is my drug. Running is truly an escape from the harsh realities of the world. Running is how I decompress. the pounding of the pavement beneath my feet, the beating of the music ringing throughout my ear drums, the salty sweat dripping across my brow. This is why I love running so much and why it is such a big deal to me to learn to walk and run again.
Check out this video of me running again in the Alter-G.
