Another countdown

What began as 6 long weeks has turned into 6 (hopefully) short days. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited. I'm ready to have time for myself. Even if it's just for a few weeks. I'm excited to be able to travel and cook and unwind. And I'm going to need it after the past few weeks.

There are a couple of pitfalls of leaving. The first of which being, I finally have to say goodbye to MC. I was really lucky to be able to have a few more sweet weeks of this place. I might not miss the madness of GSE, but I'll always miss MC. Yet, it's time to head onward.

The second is packing. I am not sure why, but as soon as I realize that I have to do something mundane like pack, it is all I can think about. For some reason I have to resist the urge to start packing. Maybe it's excitement, maybe it's nerves, maybe boredom. Who knows. But I'm all set to pack up, load up my car and head to the pines.

In the meantime, work will keep me occupied, and hopefully a few lunches with friends and such.

Alright, back to work. Saturday can't come quick enough.

Pet Peeve

The following a going to be a brief post, because if I don't let this frustration out someplace healthy, I could end up blowing up on some innocent bystander.

Pet Peeve (maybe the biggest one ever): People who continually check up on me like I don't know how to do my job.

I know your projector doesn't work. I've tried for a week to get it off your cart to put on a new one. However it is locked down with a security cable and I can't get said cable off. Just because you don't have a shiny new projector 2 days after you told me about it, doesn't mean I haven't been working on it. Also, you know I have been working on it. I told you. Stop harassing me. I know, I'm working on it. Let it go. Or this, figure out how to teach your class with out a projector. They did it for about 100 years before we had projectors.

Also, I promise I know about the dumb event that you and everyone else scheduled last minute against my will. Don't ask me every single day "if we are good to go" for whenever you need your stuff. I have a google calendar that is synced directly to my phone, with alerts. I PROMISE I will remember your dumb event, even if I think it is dumb.

I guess it's the fact that I have been here for 3 summers now and if by now I haven't proved that I can do my job (and for the most part pretty well) then that just undermines all the work that I do on the regular. Additionally, I think it's pretty selfish for you to think that you are the only tech thing I have to tend to. There are a lot of projectors on this campus, and it being the 21st century and all I've got my plate pretty full (regardless of the down time I might have in the afternoons).

Whew. I feel much better now. Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Now if you'll excuse me I have a date with a pair of bolt cutters and a projector.

And summer strolls right along. Then again it's too hot to do much more than stroll. Last week I enjoyed early morning or late evening walks around campus. Not this week. It's 98 degrees in the shade and it feels like I could swim outside. Ick, to say the least.

Wrapping up week 2 of GSE 2010. It's been pretty nuts. I haven't had the down time like I have had in the past (despite my tweets). The kids have been pretty good. The level of "hipster" that these kids have is nauseating, but for the most part they are polite and well behaved.

Besides the lack of kitchen, life back here hasn't been too bad. I've seen friends, and I completely forgot about the fact that the dorms have TWO washer and dryers. I might have to share it with faculty but it took me half the time to do all my laundry than it did in the Oaks. There was a moment of redemption.

It's a little hard to believe that next week is week 3 and that is the half way mark, which means BREAK! I can not wait. I need friend time, I need down time, and I need time to cook. I have Betty Crocker and a handful of other sites that send me recipes on a daily basis, and it makes me so sad to think I can't do anything with them for like 4 more weeks. Yesterday I went to the grocery story and I didn't even bother going down the baking aisle, it would have just been too depressing.

The summer, no wait, the year is flying by. It's almost July. I saw a commercial the other say that unkindly reminded me that year is over half way over. Crazy.

Life in Vann isn't as good as life in my various Trees...

Thing I Miss from home (meaning the Pines, and the Oaks):

1. My boyfriend and all that comes with that...including feet and back rubs.

2. The way the pines smell in the summer.

3. FRIENDS.FRIENDS.FRIENDS.FRIENDS.

4. Being able to sleep in.

5. A kitchen. (I can't stress this enough.)

6. A themostat I can control.

7. Did I mention friends?

The kids come in on Sunday. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. I just copied everything from the GSE Google Calendar to mine. Suddenly it looks like I have a life, unfortunately it is owned by GSE.

In the meantime, I've sent out my application for TKC (that's my sweet abbrev for The Kennedy Center.) and I've been carrying my book with me, when it's not my official looking clipboard for GSE. The rest of my goals are still in the making, mostly being held up by my lack of funds. (Hard to complete a puzzle if I can't afford to buy one...)

But it's summer none the less. GSE makes it different, but not necessarily bad. It's wonderful being able to bask in Meredith-life for 6 more weeks. And GSE makes me feel so much smarter (or at least try to be smarter), as well as they are quiet a group of characters.

Certainly, life goes on....but....

The above is a my homage to life in the Oaks.

I miss my friends.

Summah-Time

Life post graduation and post Meredith. My days have been an awkward mix or relaxation, boredom and hectic-ness.
I spend majority of time sleeping, walking around Southern Pines, cooking, spending time catching up on...whatever needs to be caught up and thinking about what is next. I can't really do a whole lot about that last one, but I do think about. Then I hope and pray for the best. I've decided that it's better for my sanity to do that, instead of worrying.

Unfortunately, my time to bask in that whole "I just graduated" light, is dwindling. I go to Raleigh to help load-in for GSE. Then there is about a week of relaxing and then i jump in to the GSE grind for 6 weeks.

I like to think that what I lack in plans for after GSE, I make up for in plans for the rest of the summer. The beach, mountains, and Williamsburg, VA are all to be tackled before I really have to be a grown up. And those are just a few things on my Summer 2010 Bucket List

1. Make all the aforementioned trips happen.
2. Carry a book with me at all times. (Part of the over all goal of getting through this stack of books under the label "things I've been meaning to read.")
3. Learn how to grill. Of course I can bake. Grilling is what I need to master.
4. Do more craft projects. (top of that list, my DC scrapbook)
5. FINISH more craft projects.
6. Start (and finish) a big puzzle.
7. Start a new blog devoted to my (uninhibited) thoughts on politics.
8. Take walks (and get over this whole 'shin splints when I run' thing).
9. Spend as much time with the people I love as possible.


It seems like a lot. But I was thinking about it today, and I'll have the time to do all of this and more if I just cut out major death naps, and facebook time. Both of which seem more feasible with a little caffeine and motivation.
Still don't know what's in store, but let's get these 9 things started!
Happy Summer!

Positive Realist

I have a tendency to blog while I'm waiting for things to happen. I think I've had an annual blog post some place every year before I've moved out.

I'm literally moments away from leaving my lovely home, 1209 in The Oaks on last time.

I feel bad for leaving so soon. I know we have until the 21st, however I can't sit still that long. I know that if I stay I am only putting off the inevitable. I have to be mobile and active. I have pictures to print, frames to buy, a car to wash, a room (not at MC) to rearrange, WAYYY more stuff that I realized to organize and pack once more. If I stay the extra to two weeks to linger I know it'll only make sadder. This way I'm doing it on my terms, staying busy, not allowing myself to dwell in the realm of happy memories, but rather drive on and look forward to what ever comes next.

Also, I know that I'm coming back in just a few short weeks to bask in a few more weeks of life as a Meredith student...even though I'm not...I'll at least play pretend.

I don't like labels, but I have a few that graduation has given me.

1. I am a Meredith College Alumnae

2. I am college graduate (whatever that means in this job market)

3. I am a positive realist.

#3 basically means that I know there is nothing but uncertainty ahead, and we can't control any of it but I am truly positive about whatever is coming. And I know that Meredith and every person who has touched my life in the past four years has helped shape me in to this positive realist.

This year has gone by too fast. And if I could go back and do it again, I would without a moment of hesitation. But it's not time for time travel or any sort of hesitation.

Alright. I'm all checked out and ready to go. So weird. Too real.

But I'm ready.

Hours

It's literally hours away. 40 something hours from now. That is insane. 4 years has turned in to a few hours left. Today was in slow motion. My family is here. Gift from JJ. Graduation/class day practice. It's really almost here.

I turned in my SGA notebook and office key today. And as I walked over to the Cate Center my iPod decided that it would be a good time to play "don't forget to remember me" by Carrie Underwood. And that's when it kind of really hit me. It's so cliche and lame, but it really did start to feel like time is slowing down. Unfortunately it's not, Closing in on 39ish hours, with no indication of stops. It's really coming.

That Carrie Underwood song followed me in to the bookstore and played over the sound system in the store. No lie.

But I think that's when I realized, that's what I this weekend is about, remembering. Remembering family, friends and everything Meredith related.

And I just hope that someone will remember me. It's the day after tomorrow.

I was making dessert last night and this was on the box. Guess I better use those before SUNDAY.

How did it get so late so soon?