Senior Week, Part 1

I've been done with school for a whole three days. What's so funny is that these three days have gone by so quickly, while three days in the middle of finals felt like FOREVER. I'm just happy that it's over. I've been catching on much-needed sleep; I went to bed on Thursday night by MIDNIGHT (probably the earliest I've gone to bed since last summer when I was working) after OWNING the beach with friends, then even got some sleep during the day on Friday after appointments, going to Panera with my friends Claire, Alli, and Kerrin, and book buy-back.

Now, the end of the school year is generally joyful. But if there's anything that can ruin your day after finals, it's book buy-back. The lines are inexhaustably long, my bag of books always breaks while on said line, and sometimes, bookstore personnel are not always in the greatest moods. Can't say that I blame them--I wouldn't want the job of having to stand all day next to a register and scan used books for five straight days. During buy-back, they just don't get a break. I did, however, think that Friday was going to be my lucky day as far as book buy-back...there was, for the first time in my college career, NO LINE! All of that excitement to get back....wait for it...a whopping $9. EPIC, EPIC FAIL. Not even enough to buy ONE book next semester. My friends laughed at me. It was laughable, seeing as most of them got back between $50 and $100.

Went out Friday night, stayed at my friend Glynnis' place. Ended up going BACK to sleep on Saturday afternoon after we went out to breakfast. Saturday night--went with Glynnis to see a Beatles tribute band called the Fab Faux.

When I was a kid, I pretended not to like the Beatles because my father is such a big fan and he used to drive me insane having to listen to their music CONSTANTLY. I don't exactly remember WHEN I got over that and embraced my love and adoration for the group that changed music--wait, WORLD history. Now, when someone tells me that they don't like the Beatles, I bury my head in my hands. All of that being said, I was ECSTATIC when Glynnis asked me if I wanted to go to this concert. I even wore my old Sgt. Pepper's shirt which is a little snug on me now but it didn't look bad at all. I knew almost all of the songs, and I wanted to get up and dance with this woman who actually spent the entiety of the concert dancing. The only thing missing was my Dad. I always have this inner calm come over me whenever I'm listening to the Beatles, and I know it has to do with my Dad. I wanted to sing along with him, dance in the aisles, and just have a cliche daddy/daughter moment through the love of the Beatles. I cried when the band closed with "All You Need is Love." I just couldn't help myself...and I cheered extra loudly when the band thanked John, Paul, George, and Ringo. They deserve it...beyond deserve it.

Today was more sleeping, laundry, hoping to make phone calls to friends I haven't spoken with in a while (except that they didn't answer their phones...sad face..). I felt sad to not be home for Mother's Day, but I've been talking to my mom almost all day on and off...in fact I'm talking to her right now via Facebook chat. I also wrote her a letter, telling her how much I love her and appreciate her. She's been helping me through a lot lately (then again, it ALWAYS seems like she's helping me through a lot) and I don't do nearly enough to show her how much I appreciate it. She's still going to be my MOM, next week, when I see her. I need to show her that EVERY day, not just on some Hallmark holiday. And this buys me time to get her a present. :-)

I really do love this week. At some points I wish I was home already, but I am so so SO glad not to have to move out in the middle of studying for finals. I get to see friends, just play on the computer, do some writing...in June, my old high school principal, Mr. Hoyler, is retiring. There's going to be a celebration at school with a memory book from former students. One of my jobs today was going to be writing something for the memory book, but I kept getting distracted by Facebook and Formspring and the delicious espresso beans that are sitting next to me. I may get around to it later...I have to go get ready for my last Mass in the old chapel at Salve! Knowing me, I won't go to bed until I get it done...but I don't have to get up early tomorrow! There is just so much to say and write about Mr. Hoyler; he was that kind of an educator, one who just really cared about his students. During my sophomore year he had pancreatic cancer and was out of school for a good three months. It took ten people to do his job. The best part was that he came back from the cancer and was still my principal when I graduated. He's one of the first people I stop in to see whenever I go back to Portledge to visit. He's just that kind of a person.

I feel so lazy with all of the sleeping I've been doing and will continue to do, but I need it. I am finally starting to feel like a PERSON again after the most insane semester of my life. Tomorrow I'm going to make myself start packing, Tuesday I'm hopefully going to the really awesome Emerald Square Mall in MA with Alli and Kerrin, Wednesday night I'm seeing Jersey Boys in Providence with my friend Meg and her mom...I'm psyched for the rest of this week!

We are DOWN to the WIRE, folks!

OH MY.

Tomorrow is my last day of finals. I am so happy I could cry. Yet every time I think I can't wait to get out of here, I feel a twinge of not wanting to go just yet. Not for the schoolwork, of course, but because I'm not ready to say goodbye to my friends...granted, I still have another week with everyone who is staying for Senior Week. I have to pack up my entire room which is going to be a task and a half at this rate. My room looks like a tornado blew through here and then a hurricane came the next day. At least all of my pictures are still on the walls. I'd feel really, really lonely without them. My pictures are always the last things I pack up; I like to keep them up until the very last minute. It makes me feel as though this room is still mine for a bit. I hated living in Conley Hall because it was so far away from everything, but I loved my room. I'm not ready to part with it yet...but my bed and my room at home will be totally worth it.

But now it has to sink in. At some point tomorrow, when I finish my revised Religion and Film paper....I'm going to be a SENIOR in college.

There is something SO not right about that fact.

Summer Plans

What with the end of the semester comes excitement surrounding SUMMER. Now, that's something I've been consistent about; I've been excited about this upcoming summer since last summer ended. Last summer was possibly the best summer of my life.

I joined the most amazing group of people known as CENTERSTAGE.

They deserve their own line in this post, because they were that much of a gift from God. They changed my life, each of them in their own unique way, and they changed it collectively. I've never felt so much a part of something since before I was too old to be a part of my old summer theatre group, Summer Stock at the JCC. Centerstage doesn't have an age limit; I found my way there through a friend of my GRANDMOTHER.

I now spend a good quarter of my life talking or reminiscing about Seussical, the show that we put on last summer. I didn't even have a speaking part, but I couldn't help but constantly want, to quote "Wicked," to sing and dance my way through life. I am so happy whenever I am with my friends from Centerstage...and that made going back to school so, so difficult at the beginning of the year. We kept in touch all year, though, through a massive Facebook message thread that we still write on almost every day. When someone doesn't write on it for a few days, one of us freaks out, and we change that. We tell each other about our separate lives and count down to when we'll be together next. They see each other more than I do, seeing as how I'm away at school and all. But I got to surprise them two weekends ago when my weekend obligations up here in RI fell through and I drove home for an event. Alix, my "little me," who is thirteen and reminds me so much of myself (hence Little Me) when I was her age, practically threw me to the ground in a hug when I walked through the door; she produced a charity concert for her confirmation service project. I couldn't have been any prouder of her, as I always wanted to produce a charity concert myself (great minds DO think alike). I can't wait to attend her confirmation later on this month.

We are preparing to perform "Babes in Arms" this summer, and my friend Nicole and I have been up late multiple nights over IM discussing the probable cast list! We are all avidly listening to the music, full of excitement and anticipation. I'm not the only one who's excited. I can't wait to see everyone every day, to talk about our lives NOT over Facebook, to stay out late after rehearsals and shows, to have random adventures, to make me feel the happiest I am in my life.

So...Jim, Alix, Nicole, Amanda, Chris, Chris Black, Louie, Gabby, George, Guen, Mama Noodle, Morgan Faye, Rob, Allie, Mary, Taylor, Zach, Bridget...(as Amanda once put it)THANKS for changing my life <3
Because you all totally and fantastically rock my world. And this summer is going to be, for lack of a less cliche word, AMAZING :D

Out of knowing great people comes meeting MORE great people...Allie and Mary's mom was able to help me find a possibility of an internship this summer. I need one to fulfill a requirement for my English communications major, and I want to do one in the field of Catholic writers. I really hope this possibility works out...I'm VERY excited about it.

On top of that and the show, I'm going to be taking one class this summer, in public relations. I'm going to be glad to get it over with, but I'm kind of bummed that I have to start it immediately after I get back to NY. I have very little time to collect myself, breathe, and see friends. My friends (other than the ones I made at Centerstage)are all longtime friends and I rarely get to see them during the school year. We make up for it during the summer. I've been writing on their Facebook walls with countdowns until we see each other. Summer is the most amazing time for REUNIONS.

What with that, I'll be on vacation a lot too! I'm going to North Carolina AGAIN; I've been to North Carolina every year since I was 7 years old as I have lots of relatives there. We're going to help my aunt and uncle move into their vacation home permanently, and I'll get to spend time with my little cousins. In June I'm going to California, to see my friend Michelle before she graduates from Stanford. And, of course, in August I'm going to Disney World for the 17th time. No, I'm not exaggerating. Not to mention on July 9th I'm seeing LADY GAGA in concert. LADY GAGA!!!!!!!

So while I never like the end of the school year, the summer is shaping up to be a show-stopper. I just have to get through...2 papers, 2 finals, 1 vocal jury, and 1 portfolio. And of course moving out of my room.