Clusters of Joyness

Update because I'm a frickin blog slacker...It is no secret that I LOVE L-O-V-E foodstuffs of all kinds. But man. I discovered a new heroin...instant grits. It's like God opened up the sky and sayeth, "And I shall create instant grits for those so un-blacketh they can not make them themselves...and they shall pour water into a bowl and create grits for all." And it was good. So good I have eaten three bowls this morning. Is there such a thing as grits overdose? Maybe this will replace my Chipotle addiction which would not only be healthier but cheaper as well? Pffft. No way.

In other news, my classes are a huge cluster of JOYNESS. Not really...I still don't have my schedule straightened out and it's driving me nuts being the fourth day of classes. I won't go into the long boring details of ninja-kicking Communications Professors in the face to try and convince them to let me into their classes based on my insane martial arts abilities...to no avail. But trust me, Elyse is getting a wee bit pissed off...Anna, Amanda and I did a kick-butt workout last night since most of us hadn't seen the gym in oh, 6 months. I am now sore in places I didn't know I could get sore. It is quite unfortunate. The next four days should prove to be overwhelming and daunting...District Convention is this weekend and I will be sharing a glorious hotel room in Kentucky with Shannon, Anna, Manda, Steve, and Z. Today I have to print out parts for a 250 piece reading band to read like five songs and then tonight after rehearsal I have to make poster board signs and pack because tomorrow after classes for four hours and four hours of work, we have to leave for the hotel so we can be there in time for the High Adventure practice...ugh. I haven't picked up a harmonica or knitted a stitch in WEEKS and it unsettles me...when do I get time for me?I saw Rockstar on Monday night despite all the sad craziness...that was a nice pick-me-up.

Ironically enough I am in Fremont right at this moment...my Mom's best friend in the entire world passed away unexpectedly last night. Anna let me borrow her car bless her frickin heart to get back to be with her. My poor Moozie...Amy was such a good friend to her. Life is too short for all of our bullshit and nonsense. Love each other ok? Who knows when I'll be back in the 'Nati...probably by tomorrow night.

So I had a FRABULOUS birthday.

I came back to Cincy Tuesday afternoon and Josh showed up about an hour and a half later. Josh, Anna, Amanda, Evan and I went to Rockbottom for my birthday dinner which was DELICIOUS and then we came back here to hang out...my people came to the apartment and we drank and carried on until Midnight when I was taken down to Murphy's. Wednesday, we went to get my nose pierced (I was not hungover yea for me!) and did some shopping with the roommates. Then, we went bowling last night and of course I lost but that isn't a surprise to anyone who has bowled with me before. It was just nice and relaxing and I loved it. I'm happy to be 21 and happy with my nose and happy with life so boo yah! Word.

End of Quarter Post

The much awaited (or not) post for the end of yet another quarter of college…and another year in my life.

Once again, the fact that I will be 21 in less than 24 hours is a little bit shocking and I can only remotely believe it when I look at my new license.

I was drama-free for 3 months and it was GLORIOUS prior to what was another trying Winter Quarter. It started off pretty amazing…had a New Years party at my humble abode with my roomies, went to Canada for a bowl game, and had the greatest little sister I could ever ask for in TBS. That was the extent of the good things for a bit unfortunately. At the end of January, my best friend and partner in all crimes decided to end our friendship for reasons I’m not even sure of…though I’ve pieced it together pretty well. I was devastated but wow did it open my eyes to the kind of people who were in my life. The man I had chosen to be my best friend had no problem running away when the going gets tough and THAT is not what I need in my life. Though it was hard because he was so important to me…every adventure I had, every sleepy Sunday afternoon, every frustrating band rehearsal, every future plan included him. He was my partner in crime, my big brother, my shoulder, my dinner date, my drinking buddy, my back-up guitarist, my napping partner, my comedian...my bestest. BUT. Despite all the wonderful things he was, his biggest flaw was running away from his problems…so when our friendship became a problem, he ran away. And no matter how good it was, I can’t have someone like that in my life. Instead of collapsing like I did last year, I just picked up the pieces and moved on because in the end, that’s all you can do. I miss him still…but life goes on.

A week later, I found myself in the Emergency Room believing I was indeed having a heart attack. I spent 6 hours there getting tested for heart attacks, blood clots, ANYTHING to determine why I couldn’t breath and why my chest felt like it was being ripped apart. All those tests, and another doctor’s visit later…I was diagnosed with Cardiac Neurosis. I had to start taking medication to up the serotonin levels in my brain and begin therapy to cope with it. (It is pretty well under control now but man did it suck for those first few weeks...) So needless to say...I wasn't having a good quarter. Because of the panic disorder and the high levels of stress I was experiencing, I was sick most of the quarter and exhausted. I struggled with school and band and TBS and couldn't seem to find a good place. Towards the end of February, I was able to find a "Sort of" happy balance. The meds were working just fine and I was working hard to correct the issues I could change in my life. Membership ended and I had a bit of life back. At the beginning of March, I was surprised by a phone call from Josh, Dan, and Alan asking if they could do a home-stay with me on their BGSU Choir Spring Break tour when they were in Cincinnati. Jen, Amanda, Jon and I went to see them sing (which was INCREDIBLE) and then took them home with us for a night of ridiculous shenanigans. It was incredible spending time with these guys from my past again and Amanda and I agreed it was one of the top 10 most epic nights ever. After ridin' the high, I worked my butt off for the rest of the two weeks, writing paper after paper and exam after exam until FINALLY we come to the end. Here I be...about to be 21, sans bestest friend but gained the support of all my other friends, enjoying the fact that I've lost 20 pounds since December, spending time with all my good people, and ridiculously happy because life is going my way for once. After 2 1/2 YEARS, I can finally say with complete confidence that I have gotten control of my life. It took me so long to find myself in this place of Cincinnati, but here I am. And recently...there's this boy. He makes me laugh a lot...charms me to pieces...and loves my short hair. I'm sure there will be more later but for now, that is all I have to say.

I also found my mantra this past quarter...Life is good.

And it is.

I go back to Cincy today and tonight is my 21st birthday party and I can't wait to have an amazing time with my friends

Interesting feelings in my stomach lately...

So I'm two days away from my 21st which is so incredibly odd.
I went to BG on Saturday to visit peeps. Despite the night's insane crisis (multiple) I think everything went really well. My mom and Mike took us to Jed's for dinner and then after we got Ash a ride to her party, spent time with Dan, Josh, Jackie and Eric then just me and Josh for the rest of the evening. It was quite entertaining as always. Spent Sunday with Dad and had birthday dinner and presents. Today was my day with Moozie...got my horizontal license and we shopped all day til we dropped. My grandparents and God-mother/Aunt had me pick out a ring from Osterman's for my 21st so I found a few I loved and will make the decision later this week. I'm excited for some "bling". I'm just spending time with the family tonight and then tomorrow I head back to Cincy to party like it's my birthday (oh because it is!)
I really don't know what to think about you. You blindsided me like a mac truck out of completely nowhere...and I couldn't be happier about it. You give me tickles in my tummy, anyone says your name and I grin, I get excited to see your name on the caller ID...this hasn't been me for such a long time. Where ever this goes and where ever we end up, I don't care because these past few weeks have been sweeeeeet. I'm glad we have our "thing".

Fin.

Let the Spring Break shenanigans begin...Justin Timberlake concert was AMAZING, loved seeing Shannon and Sarah so happy. We went to an Irish Pub for dinner beforehand and shook our booties at the concert. Took my last exam at 8 am this morning which was eh. But we must look on to the future!Friday-Kurt's 21st BirthdaySaturday-BG to see Ash and JoshSunday-Birthday with Dad in F-townMonday-Shopping and new licenseTuesday-Back to Cincy and MY BIRTHDAY PAR-TAY Wednesday-MY BIRTHDAY and my present to myself...my nose piercing. Thursday-Day out with the girlsFriday-Formal Dress shoppingSaturday-Moozie and Mike come down to celebrate my birthdaySunday-Crunch's 21st birthday. A full week indeed. CAN'T WAIT.

I will post a more coherent post after I scoop all my brains off the floor and shovel them back into my head. This quarter frickin EXHAUSTED ME. But of course, I can not deprive myself of an "End of Quarter" post...

Whew this week is just FLYIN'.

I am ready for Spring Break and I'm ready to go to BG and F-town (sort of...?) and ready for MY BIRTHDAY. 21. Finally. Ever since I got to Cincy, most of my friends have been older than me and it was always a pain in the butt when I couldn't go where they were going, or I got to play cab service...(this usually ended in disaster with me getting horribly lost downtown and going down major one-way streets BACKWARDS. I did pick up the "precious drunken cargo" though at the appropo time. Go me.) I will not fall asleep on my hands after a clubbing excursion only to find big black x's on my FACE the next morning. I will be able to pass on the service of contributing to minors that my great friends passed onto me. (Thus decreed Anna, "I WILL buy you Bacardi. And it was GOOD.) It will be easier to go out and not have to pay a cover charge because some places suck ya dry on those things. It is my rite of passage into adulthood. Finally. 21. Woot.Anywho...papers are crazy, this week is crazy, weather is crazy, I'm crazy, we're all crazy. See you on the other side!

So the Brit Lit exam was meh. It sort of sucked the life force out of me but what can ya do. BECAUSE, yesterday was BE-A-UTIFUL. It hit 68 and I was running around with just a tee-shirt airing my winter mustiness out. The same went for our apartment and it's so nice and cool in here (not in the cold, bad way) and because of these things, I have gotten NOTHING accomplished. Last night was our joint trip to Mr. Jims where their hamburgers just sort of melt in your mouth. It was a great event because 45 of us ended up going together. Good food, good people and the weather had us all goofy. Got back in time to shower (yea!) and had a ladies night out at the drag show. I really enjoy those girl's company, its fun to goof around with them. Anna got schwasted which is always fun to watch. Had a good nights sleep and woke up to go to High Adventure practice then had lunch at Myra's with Anna. SUCH good food. I could eat their Thai Pumpkin soup for the rest of my life. And then a nap. And now here I am. Un-productive as all get out. But since my first paper isn't due until Tuesday...eh. I'm not too concerned. Very mellow today. The weather is like a drug. Just sort of chillin. I'm gonna go play Guitar Hero now. Rock

Meh

My jeans are so old and worn that I have now gotten two holes in the crotch of the three good pair I own. And I have no clean clothes. Anything left in that closet is my last resort unfortunately. I also did not shower. Tis the life of a college student during exams. So I look like a frickin bum today with a bandanna on my head, a baggy blue rockstar t-shirt and my jeans that I haven't worn in a year because they are two sizes too big and have these little patches all over it. I'm like a rock star gone horribly wrong. And you all know how much of a rock star I am. Oh well. A BIG BIG final today at noon and then maybe if everyone's lucky, I'll shower before Mr. Jim's tonight. I'm running on a bit o' sleep so pardon the delusional ramblings. So I'm learning blues harmonica. To add to the hobo look I'm barely pulling off today.

It doesn't matter how amazing the rest of my life is going...band as the whole entity just gives me a migraine.
But, some new things have come up in my life that give me great joy, so I look forward to them immensely.
Truckin through the last two weeks...doing my best. My grades might not be fantastic, but I can live with that. Going to BG on the 17th, F-town 18-20th, Cincy the rest of the week and of course, looking forward to my 21st birthday!

This Weekend Was LEG-EN-DARY

So. Some F-town choir boys that we all know and love are on their Spring Break BG Men's Choir tour and guess who got to play home-stay hostess? One can only be so lucky.
Their concert was AMAZING and I was so proud of those guys. We all sat in the front row and laughed at extremely inappropriate times but c'est la vie. We then hit the road to Kentucky to buy some provisions for the evening and ended up at my apartment where good times were apparently had by all and indeed it was a crazy night. Of COURSE there were photos! Would you suspect anything less? Unfortunately, Xanga has dealt a bit of a low blow and does not allow me to post photos via other photo albums anymore. To say I am pissed is an understatement and this may be yet another reason I may be transferring to another hosting site. I'm sort of getting sick of this format and all it's ridiculous problems. AND I want other people not on Xanga to be able to comment!!! But, I digress...So we did shots like good buddies, played Guitar Hero until we dropped, ran around the apartment with various "shenanigans", played a rousing (and deadly) game of Kings, and what is a night without Dan playing the piano and showing us his perfect pitch? I tell you there is no such night indeed! I think Alan summed it up best..."If someone had told me I'd be hanging out with you guys a few years into college, I would have never believed them." We had to be up at 6 to get them back to the church so of course running on an hour of sleep, we were all dead to the world. Jen, Jon, and I ended up at IHOP after a sad goodbye with promises of future weekend shenanigans where I ate the BEST BREAKFAST OF MA LIFE. It tasted especially amazing that day. Saturday night, I ended up at the METRO talent show with Amanda which was mildly entertaining, especially the little steppers. Went with Becca and Sarah to Metropolis to shake our groove thang. I finally learned my lesson and wore sneakers so my feet wouldn't burn from the pain of dancing like they always do when I wear nice shoes. Good choice on my part. Today, I went to the Art Museum with Anna and Amanda. Felt a little cultured and what not. That brings me to this moment. Where I revel in the awesomeness that was the weekend. I can't believe how amazing Friday night was and how much I do miss certain F-towners with all my heart. Enjoyable on every level imaginable. Jenny, you read this so I LOVE YOU. Thanks for the awesomeness this weekend!!!I'm off to search for a new journal-hoster that doesn't piss me off and allows me to post the awesome photos from Friday where we all look out of our MINDS. Two more weeks of collegiate hell. Oye.