Rocky top, you'll always be home sweet home to me.

But really, war eagle.

I think I left half of my heart sittin' in the smokies.

Can't tell ya how much I bonded with the women of Alpha Kappa this past week--but buddy, Imma try.

University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tenn.

Alpha Kappa Chapter

Me and Allison. But really, war eagle.

Major shoutout to Allison--the stinkin' adorable Head Gamma Chi--and her bf/IFC President Mason. The current reigning Ashlyn's Favorite Couple took me on a tour of UT's Neyland Stadium. HOLLAAAA. "Ashlyn. I saw on your blog that UF took you to their stadium. I'm determined to out-do them because we don't like the Gators." Collegians: When you take me on such tours, you win infinity cool points. We joined a little tour group and frolicked around Neyland...

Football recruiting, but not Pony Excess-bribery level, of course. But really, war eagle.

Precious. Somethin' about football boys...

"Well, you know it was a tough test for our defensive lines and linebackers..."

Then ADPi pres Marta and Jenny joined us to frolick around campus. Y'all are the best tour guides ever!

Marta, me, Allison, and Jenny. Photo courtesy of Mason and my iPhone.

Then, Mason announces that to give me a total tour of UT, he has made arrangments for me to tour two fraternity houses: Sigma Chi and Phi Gamma Delta. Dear everyone who knows me: I PROMISE I didn't ask to go in the Sigma Chi house. Promise. But that white cross is all too familar... And I needed to be around testosterone for once.

My sweet Marta filled every bit of my schedule with amaze (<--yes, that is an abbrev) activities. Do you Knoxville people know how spectacular your dining is? Tomatohead, Sunspot, Echo, Calhoun's on the River... And to the Auburn friend that took me out to a Cafe 4 brunch and left me a surprise Ryan Bingham album at the dorm front desk, you made my day. Market Square, I ran you ragged.

Market Square, Knoxville. Home to incred restaurants.

I also threw back a little sushi-and-wine at Nama with adorable former LC, Brittany, and with my little Vol Katy at Half Barrel (I'm putting this in bold since you say Katy "only reads stuff on my blog that is in big type"). Luh you both.

Considering my precious Knoxville-born Kappa sister Tara had a friend deliver Cupcakery treats to me my last night at UT, Tennessee felt a lil' bit like home. I love you, T.

Photo courtesy of Cupcakery.

So yeah. Maybe I got Rocky Top stuck in my little brunette head all week. And for once, I'm not singin' it with the altered "go to &%$#, Tennessee" lyrics I belted at band parties (Hey, I get a little fired up about college football). Miss y'all so much, Alpha Kappas. Can't wait for our AU-UT 2010 tailgate.

My girls: Marta, Brooke, me, and Shelby.

They say you can't go back, but baby I don't believe that.

Photo courtesy of Tumblr.

Fun fact: Deana Carter claims Alpha Delt. I'd forgotten about that until my visit to Alpha Kappa chapter, where she pledged--she would be a University of Tennessee ADPi, right?

We hosted Panhellenic Preview at UT on Saturday, and the precious recruitment chairs whip out, what else, but the "Did I Shave My Legs for This" album for background ambiance. That's quality. Daddy, remember when Kristen and I sang that whole album every. single. day. on the way to school? I also remember talking to my friends in third grade confusedly analyzing the lyrics to "Strawberry Wine." Wow. We probably shouldn't have been doing that...

Now that I've made this awkward for my parents to read, I'd just like to say I like every single song that the girl has ever made. From "We Danced Anyway" to "There's No Limit," Sister Deana, I've loved ya from the git go.

'Cause you're the only ten-I-see.

I know, right?

Okay. So this is all I have time for right now.

But give me just a few more hours and I'll throw you a bigger bone, promisecrossmyheart. I LOVE it here. Like, looooooove it.

University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tenn.

Alpha Kappa Chapter

The three most adorable Alpha Delts greeted me at the Knoxville airport, whisked me away to UT-land, and plopped me in a room with the above spread. For me. Whoa. Dear collegians, you'll just never understand what that does to me. Hits me square in the heart and I almost cry. Somethin' about the fact that someone went to a store and bought a bunch of stuff for a girl you don't even know who's taking over your room for a week... And got her favorite candy, too (which are gone, b-t-dubs. I can take a bag of SPK's DOWN, baby. But they did help me eat some tonight.).

You know what? This "Power T" and orange stuff has grown on me...

More coming. Like, Neyland-Stadium-locker-room-tour more. Chyes.

Snap yo fingers, do yo step.

Roar. Photo courtesy of Tiny White Daisies.

History Lesson for Wednesday, March 23, 2011:

Greek diplomats would drink vino (No wait--that's Italian. Whatever.) while listening to their colleagues speaking. They didn't want to put down their drink to clap.

So they snapped.

Thus the origin of the sorority snap. Boom. I srat, therefore I snap.

And today, I'm headed up to Knoxville, Tenn. for some good 'ole Southern hospitality (I can already tell from the sweet emails fillin' up my Outlook box) at University of Tennessee. Strike up "Rocky Top," y'all--I'm headed to Alpha Kappa! Snaps to that.

Blog post title: "Buy You a Drink" by T-Pain. Throwwwbaaaaack...