i'm still alive, you see

Eventually, I shall tell you all about my Summer adventures: surprise ice cream parties, tea parties on the back porch, Camp Moriah in the boonies of the boonies of Walnut, Mississippi, and happy, lazy Summer days. Pictures and all will be included. I promise.

Until then. Drink lots of lemonade, enjoy the warm sunshine, and lather on the sunscreen. Otherwise you might not enjoy that sunshine so much. Ciao.

NC 2010

(I think I win Lamest-Title-of-the-Year Award.)

Where do I begin?
School finished and I hit the ground running. But that sounds too harsh. See, after school it was more like a voluntary, happy busyness that I would gladly take any day. I did indeed welcome Summer with open arms. And full luggage. I packed my bags and headed to Dayton, Tennessee for a full week at Fort Bluff for TeenPact National Convention 2010! The fact that I woke up bright and early at 5:00 that morning and traveled for 7 and a half hours was no comparison to the wonderful time I had last week. First of all, it seems like it was much longer than a week ago. So much has happened since then. But then again, it seems like it were only yesterday that I was meeting my cabin mates, trying to get what they like to call "food" down my throat without gagging it up first,  playing lots of ultimate frisbee, getting to know my amazing small group, meeting new friends and spending time with old ones.

 {Charity and I - she's pretty much amazing, I'll tell you that.}

This was the voting line, and only for those with last names beginning with A-M, mind you. There were over 500 people, so the line was not exactly short nor was it quick. It was open for over 2 hours. At the voting booth (which was several mac books lined up in a row), I selected 6 representatives, 4 senators, and 1 president & vice president. But I did get a chance to vote, and the "I voted" sticker (which will stay stuck on the backside of my cellular device until it loses all of its stickiness and falls right off) made it all worthwhile in the end.

Watching the sunrise at the Bluff was definitely one of the highlights of my week. Me and 3 other girls from my cabin (and a supervisor, of course) walked down at 6:00 in the morning in sweatpants, jackets, and slippers, while I wore my blanket over my clothes (it was pretty cozy, let me tell you). It was simply breathtaking and such a glorious display of God's creation, His power, His sovereignty, and also His goodness and infinite kindness to give us such a display.

Me, Abi, and Lindsay - I love these girls!

Frisbee, of course! (Another highlight of my week. :)
Election night was intense to say the least. We were rooting for Reggie & Mary Beth and they had the lead until Clayton & Molly got two big states, which put them in the lead. Needless to say, Clayton & Molly became our 2010 President and Vice President. And don't get me wrong, they're pretty darn awesome as well.
It was the Red Hot Chili Peppers (my team) v. Bee's Knees in the championship game. That night was pretty cool. The fog was as thick as any I've ever seen. If you were standing at one end of the field, you could only faintly see the outline of the players at the other end. It was an exciting game, but in the end we won 6:2... I think.

On the way home, Katie (who I hadn't seen in 6 months!) picked me up half-way!! It was so great to see her!

beautiful. enough said.

'Tis finished.

School is over, "THE TEST" is finished, Walden is dead, life is good.

Here's a recap:

Friday was the last day of school and end of year program. Afterward we played frisbee, volleyball, busted pinatas, and ate lots of food. It was great.

{We decided to have class in the Alps.} 

Saturday, I had soccer games all day long. After the whistle was blown in my last game of the day, I literally ran straight off the field and into the car. Yeah, I was the one running into the gas station fully clothed in all my soccer apparel (complete with cleats, shin guards, and socks, mind you), asking for the bathroom, running out 5 minutes later in a skirt and dress shirt (still wearing cleats, shin guards, and socks). Of course, no one noticed and I just went on with my business.

Not.

There happened to be a long line the moment I had come in and bounded for the restrooms. On the way back out, I was questioned about my garb and heard not a few chuckles. (Why yes, I did just say garb.)

At least Ellie's graduation was better. :)

On Sunday, we went to dinner at a friend's.

Monday: ate lunch with the class, then headed over to my house to get some studying done. Yes, the only way to prepare for a few hours of studying is to have some fun first. After they left I studied...some more. Then I studied some more. Just as I began to feel my brain slipping out of my cranium, the doorbell rang. Distraction numero uno. The dinner guests were here.

Ate. Talked. Ate some more. Felt guilty about not studying. Put it off. Felt more guilty. Put it off some more. 

Finally, I dragged myself upstairs and permanently fixed my eyes to my study sheets, my Grantian charts, and my lecture notes for a few hours. All the while hearing laughter and noise and excitement from downstairs. And let me tell you, it sounded a whole lot better than the seven different kinds of slavery found in the Bible, or who Andrew Carnegie was, or what the AFL did.
Distraction numero dos, Facebook. Luckily, I escaped that one soon enough.

Studied the night away even after our company left.

Finally, came "the day." Tuesday: woke up, went swimming, gorged on some chocolate, and rode pink flamingos off into the sunset. Or not. Just making sure you're awake, 'cause at this point on Tuesday morning, I sure wasn't.

When we got to the Moellers' house (the place of my doom - not that their house is doom-like, but that their house held the key to my doom: "the test"), and I studied some more. 

After 6 grueling hours, I finished the atrocious, monstrous, silly, unnecessary, cruel test. It was over. I couldn't believe my own eyes.

We went to the lakehouse, partied, rode the boat, went tubing, played poker and balderdash, and ate. It was awesome.

We had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. But instead of marshmallows, we roasted . . our own horrific copies of Walden! Muahahaha.

It is now very dead. Don't be alarmed, we've thrown its ashes into the lake. It shall haunt us no more.

Happy Wednesday!

The 40-hour project is done. I can't say the painting's finished or looks good... but, who cares? I've got 40 hours done! 

Tomorrow, I turn it in. Tomorrow = last Friday of the semester! Tuesday = last test of the semester.

Bring it on.

Almost free at last, free at last

I can't believe my own ears. One more week of school; 11 more hours of inhaling paint thinner and spoiling my clothes, skin, and hair (luckily, acrylics do wash out) with paint, and one more week of testing - and by that I mean, THE test: the ominous, scary, ridiculously and unnecessarily gargantuan Gileskirk final exam. I can make it out alive. I will make it out alive.

Summer is feeling nearer and nearer, almost tangible. It would be exactly four days until I can rejoice and revel in all its Summery glory. But because of the ominous gargantuan Gileskirk final exam, it's exactly 8 days (this weekend included) until I can feel the freedom which only Summer affords. Summer is just around the corner; so close I can almost reach out and touch it. Almost.

I should say that the Gileskirk final isn't all bad. (Maybe some of you will positively disagree - I happen to know a couple of you won't be taking it and are just crying yourself to sleep at night to be deprived of such a delightful privilege.) Things about it are endurable and almost enjoyable. Like, studying for instance. I can endure it with a tasty snack, while Pride and Prejudice or Phantom of the Opera play quietly in the background. Plus, I'll have my dearest companion for company - Horatio, my study guide (why, yes personifying my study guide makes this whole studying thing less of a drab and more of a... less drabby thing. How's that for quick wit?) Then, exam day. Once you get through the butterflies in the stomach and the slight queasiness, you're good to go. You're handed a Snickers' bar, a soda, and a pencil. You have a break, eat good food and discuss what movie you'll see, or where you'll eat afterward with the others. Then when it's (the test, that is) all filled out, checked over once, twice, maybe a third time... FREEDOM! You're finished. Relief floods over you like a river.

Darn. Now I'm freedom-sick. So ready to be finished.

P.S. Just between us, no Facebook = 10x more efficient. But let's not let that get out.

Paints, paintbrushes, and Vermeer.

My hands are covered in paint. My room smells of paint thinner. My back is sore from too many hours of bending over a canvas (which is still mostly white). Best 40-hour project ever. No, seriously. Can you imagine anything better than be forced to paint? I have to paint. This, my friend, this is the life. (Minus the paint thinner part, of course.)