countdown

So much to do before going to Midland for break....

• Building Bridges PRSSA/PRSA Networking Social
• Read "Words and Stones" (almost there!)
  
• Anthro Reading Response paper 3-5 pages
• Anthro Final Analysis 10-12 pages
• Journalism Media Packet (sooo much writing)
• Scuba certification exam 50Q multiple choice
  
• Scuba practical test
  
• Biology final exam essay
  
• Sociology final exam 50Q multiple choice
  
• Proctor COM 225 final exam
• + Frisbee Formal
• + 2 bball games
  

Save me?

you are my sweetest downfall

Midland. Place of my birth, childhood and where my family still resides. A place seeped in memories that holds the weight of the past, the first 18 years of my life.

It's strange how such a place brings out the newest in a person. How I can go there, and at once be the person I've become and the person I was. Dually existing, dually feeling. It sounds like an existential plight, but it's really just... Midland.

I've had the best of times here, and also the worst of times. My life has split into these seperate existences. I love being here with my old friends. We've changed a lot, but still manage to maintain love for one another. It's refreshing to take away the pressure of always being perfect, and to just relax in the company of those who know and love you.

My personal life is as usual up in arms. I am satisfied and restless, all at once. Who knows what will happen. I am not one for fate, but I don't necessarily have a direction I want things to go in right now. So I will leave it up to... someone else deciding. Not really fate, but apathy. Cheery....

Work is going to consume me for the next 2.5 weeks. Two projects, two finals. Doesn't sound terrible, but it will be a lot to do.

Hopefully everything just falls into place.

I was born secular

Naturally this weekend was ridiculous. Not wanting to taint the superiority of my artistically lovely online journal, ask me for party stories. Seriously insane, no lies.

On another note, 2-day week coming up! All that stands between me, a bubble bath, a spoon pile with Midland kids and some tofurkey is 3 classes, 2 hours of lifeguarding, writing one news release and a Spartan basketball game versus Vermont.

I plan on relaxing, no work. Morning visits to the gym, followed by long hot showers, tickling my baby brother (10! not a baby anymore!), chatting with my g, coffee shop convos and spoon piles with my bests, cooking (mis)adventures, and ending the nights with bubble baths and Sex in the City reruns. Oh glorious 5-day vacation. You are only the prelude to what my winter break will be.

Indulgent? Oh yes. Do I deserve it? Yep yep! The frisbee fundraiser is stressing me out, mainly because no one is helping me. We've got disc orders in limbo, invitations to be okayed and printed, and a lot of PR work. Work work work. And that's the fun stuff.

School. I need a break from you.

Quotes are lovely.
OG: "Alicia, why do you have a pin that says 'God loves me'?"
Me: "I stole it from someone when I was drunk"
OG: "I love your sacreligious ass."

The Great Beyond

It seems strange to plan for life beyond college. Everything in life was all leading up to these four years (or back when I had visions of being a doctor, 12 years... haha). Lately, I've been thinking beyond. I don't have much choice, I suppose.

I applied for a study abroad program next fall semester. The University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. I really hope I get it, it will be an adventure like no other.

But back to post-college plans. Naturally I only have the vaguest idea of what I want to accomplish career-wise, but I'm getting better at that. I'm going to a meet and greet social type deal with PRSSA and our parent group, PRSA.

Tori and I decided we need to globetrot together. We decided Fiji. Sounds perfect. :) Ogden and I had a planning session about traveling to Morocco together after she graduates undergrad before tearing into vet school. It seems so weird to plan things with my younger friends, knowing full well that I'll have already survived a year in the REAL WORLD by then.

My habit of completely living it up this semester has caused life to slide past my eyes, no brakes! I have no regrets, and I'm sure by the time it's over I will be ready for the next phase, but for now I'm clutching onto the last threads of my time at MSU. My last Halloween here, my last chance to play a fall tournament, my last few months with my senior friends... so many lasts. I am confident there will also be many new beginnings here in the end, though.

Perhaps I'm counting down a little too soon?

Playdate Lunches

I always cut my sandwiches into triangles. I feel it's reminiscent of childhood, but whose? Certainly not mine. My childhood was characterized by mom sleeping in till noon and 6 yr olds learning how to make Ramen noodles on the stove and nachos in the microwave.

Maybe it's one of those stupid things I do to make myself feel young, relive the stuff I never had in the first place. Triangle cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Playdate lunches. Help with homework. Wiffle ball in the backyard. Class room parents.

I learn everything late, teach myself. Why miss out on life just because it couldn't start till now?


[Maybe I'm crazy... probably]

I am a writing MACHINE

Today was a day of many good things, but I was SO freakishly busy I didn't know what to do except keep plugging along. I started off the day with my last discussion section TAing for COM 225. Aww byye interpersonal comm. students, it was fun while it lasted! After TAing I got myself some lunch and studied in the International Center.

Scuba came next, a whole hour and 45 min. underwater today. Our big task for today was swimming around the perimeter of the pool without our mask being guided by our buddy. It was crazy. My nose started spewing water bubbles because my body didn't understand to stop breathing. I got that under control and the rest was a piece of cake. I love diving. We also learned a back roll entry, like in the movies. I was simply famished after diving today despite having a good sub for lunch. I think scuba takes a lot more of my energy than I realize.

After scuba I set a land-speed record in exam taking. I finished my sociology (youth and society) exam in under 15 min. Yeah, I don't know. Hopefully I did well, I knew most of the answers right away.

After the ridiculously quick test taking, I became a WRITING MACHINE. I needed to finish my journalism paper before my 6 pm class when it was due, and ended up only taking 1/2 an hour to write it. Seriously, I have no idea how. So I decided that while I was on a roll, I ought to finish my anthro paper for tomorrow too. Check check.

Journalism class, same old same old. Had a speaker from the local tv news. He was a conceited asshole. Ohh media career, I fear you sometimes.

Decided to wrap up RIDICULOUS WEDNESDAY with a little bio papering, and then milkshakes and tv with the roomies. Clearly I wasn't going to do anymore homework after successfully finishing three papers in a day. Let's be serious.

I'm determined to make this weekend epic. And by epic, I mean I want to spend most of it in bed. With a boy. That would be the cherry on a very stressful but productive week.

[political rant/rave] In other news, my flaming liberal soul is LOVING the results of this election. House, Senate, MI Governor... thanks voters, you only pissed me off on one account. Oh wait, two. But seriously MCRI? WHAAAAT? I am absolutely incredulous at the way people think sometimes. Seriously people, seriously. [/political rant/rave]

Thursday = Best Day Ever. On the docket: anthro class, a little workout action, getting my bio paper checked out by my pervy prof, frisbee practice, and Grey's with some lovely friends. Possibly out? We shall see. I will opt for bed if at all possible. <3

[time is just a melody]

The Smell of a Lazy Afternoon

Our bathroom smells like tea tree oil, our kitchen smells like lentil soup.... I've finished half my bio paper, studied a bit for my sociology exam and extensively studied Regina Spektor's videos on YouTube.
This week is somewhat of an anomaly. I don't have biology because we have walk-in clinics for our papers. I tossed frisbee with the boys, sipp and the minge yesterday and it was fabulous. Rain outside is not making me happy, but I can deal with it if it means good weather tomorrow.
I didn't have much to say, just that I am calmly skimming through life today, and hoping for some more excitement tomorrow.

[No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again]

mesmerized by your smile

Life has taken a turn for the ridiculously happy. My loves Lance and Brad came to visit last night, and it was... well there are scarcely words. I love love love them. They were in top form, as I fully expected. They came ready to judge the new boy and ended up loving him. Awesome.

Speaking of... there is a new boy. He is, wow. I don't know how I got so lucky, really. Smart, good-lookin, frisbee player, incredibly sweet, LIKES MY FRIENDS! (clutch), lives a 5 min. walk away.... it's all deadly. This year keeps getting better and better!

Today was the first exhibition basketball game of the season, and I went with my dear friend Ogden. I can tell this year of basketball is going to be a riot.

I love MSU.

P.S. this is the photo that epitomizes 'optimism' to me. I love it. :)


[and the way it lights up under your eyes]