MC squared.

Back in the Pines. I've spent the last couple of days resettling. Since I'll be here for a least the fall and some of winter I figured I better get adjusted.

I've got my room organized and all of that. It is nice to have a kitchen again. I made dinner last night and it felt good.

I know being back here isn't ideal (for those that read this but haven't heard, I didn't get The Kennedy Center Internship), but it's really not that bad. It gives me some time to just sort everything out and get ready for the LSAT. Hopefully I can find a law firm to work at and just figure out what is next. And I'm okay with that.

Being older makes me able to appreciate the pines, except for the terrible drivers. JEEZ. So, if there was every a time to be here it's now.

Goals for a next few weeks:

- Get a job.

- Start studying and prep for the LSAT (basically this means buying the books.)

- Cook fun dinners

- Paint my bathroom (It's going to be yellow...like in the oaks. :] )

- Audition for community theatre?

From M.C. to Mo.Co. Here we go.

In to Marvelous Light I'm running...

I just ran for 16 minutes. Straight. No breaks for walking, no halts. Just ran for 16 minutes.

Let me make this quite clear, I don't believe I have ever been able to run that long, ever. I started a training plan last week and proved to myself that I could run. So today I challenged myself to see how long I could run. First I made it to 3, then I pushed myself to 6...then I said why not 10...then 15 and I made it all the way to 16 minutes flat.

I was shocked. But it felt so good. When I slowed down and started my cool down walk I could just feel it through out. My calves and quads had a refreshing burn and I could even feel it in my core! What!? I didn't even know that could happen!

While I ran I could feel something hitting my neck and shoulders. I thought it was bugs trying to get on me, but after a few swipes I realized that it was beads of sweat. I know, gross. But after a while I could feel the sweat and it felt more like motivation than exhaustion.

I began to think about being one of those people in DC that runs around the national mall, then changes in to their work clothes and takes on the world. I can be one of those people!!!

Yesterday, I wrote about having 6 days left and how I couldn't wait. And I still can't wait to be back in the Pines and to have some down time. But I had a thought tonight. There are only 5 days left, and more than likely I won't be experiencing GSE again, so maybe I should just live it up and make the most of the time that is left.

I'll chat with the faculty more. They really are brilliant people and I love talking about issues of the world with them. Even if what they say sometimes goes totally over my head.

I'll ease up on the kids...some. As much as I want them to respect me, I think I can leave more of a legacy than "the mean one."

In that same vein my darling friend Kiran has offered up her kitchen to me, so that I can bake some goodies for the Hall Reps that I have worked with. And what left over there are will go to the TA/Cs and the Staff. (I am SOOOO EXCITED about this one!)

So yeah, 5 days. And it's now or never to make the best of it.

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!