TGI...Th?

My mother has just confronted me with a burning question. Would I be willing to miss school on Friday to go up to Austin to help Travis (brother) set up in his new dorm room and tour the UT campus following the set-up. Well, would I? Friday is an A-day meaning that I'll have Euro, English, Government, and Peer Tutor. I have no problem missing Euro (because Rachel is in that class and she can tell me everything I need to know), English and Peer Tutor, but would I really be able to cope with missing Government? We seem to be doing quite the load of work in Government, and I'm not sure how well I could handle missing the one day. On the other hand, it's a chance to actually tour a campus, something I have yet to do, and need to fairly soon. Of course, Travis has told me ever since he decided to go there that he didn't want me there, and I've always said that I don't want to go to a big school. I really don't know. Now, my question is, and this may be the deciding factor as to whether or not I go, would I be credited with an excused absence, or would the penalize me for looking into furthering my education? I specifically told myself I wouldn't go to a big school, and here I am, considering it, after sticking to my guns for years upon years. Speaking of which, where did that phrase come from? They should have a website that tells you where ALL the random phrases and sayings came from. I'd go there... but not to UT, because it's a big school.