Of Graduation, Adventures, and Roomies June 25, 2010

Hello all,

Sunny here once more.

Well, I’ve done it. Graduation is behind me. I didn’t pass out, I got my diploma, and I beamed all the way back to my seat. (People remarked afterwards on how happy I was…but hey, I’m an optimistic person.) So then came my grad  party…

Well okay, first I sat in traffic for 15-20 minutes…I could have walked home in that time. I headed home to drop off all my stuff and was met by my parents, siblings, godmom and godsister, and my best friend in the universe, Bri. They presented me with a ‘hug blanket’ which was essentially a huge flannel sheet which was signed and handprinted by everyone. I live off hugs and my family wanted me to have something to hug once I was off at college without them. Needless to say, I bawled. Then, my kid sister gave me a very sweet card which brought on the waterworks again.

Let it be known, dear readers, that I am not a crier, not really. I didn’t cry when I saw the movie, ‘Up’. But there are a few things–most of which I will not share because I’d prefer to stay dry-eyed–which are effective in kick-starting my tear ducts. The hug blanket was one of those things.

Okay, so then we went to the party. I was dozing off and trying to nap when it was cake-time. My mom was amused by the fact that I was trying to sleep at my own party. To be clear, however, I was participating before that. I played a game of pool, (or billiards if you wanna be proper) socialized, and did some eating. (PO-TA-TO SALAD….and that’s all I’ll say about that.)

After cake time, I managed to sneak away and DID get in a good half-hour nap. It was that or be tired and headache-y and I prefer the nap. When I woke up, Deziree was arriving and I had her sign my hug blanket. Since I was sharing my party with my friend Shelly, (or rather, she was sharing hers with me) Deziree, Bri, and I all hung out in the kitchen and Deci colored on my hug blanket, then drew my name in pretty calligraphy and colored it in purple.

After the party, I took Deci home and Bri back to my house. She was going to go grad-party hopping with me, but it turns out, she’s rather just stay at my house. So I went out to a few parties, all very chill, and came home. Bri was right. She had told me that graduation was anticlimactic. After the stage, the hugging, the crying…it was once again the (mis)adventures of life as we know it.

Church on Sunday, and then Bri and I went out to lunch and browsed the old-town little town we have nearby. We looked at antiques, knick-knacks, beads, cloth, tasted free samples of delicoius fudge (mmmmmm), and walked in the rain. I also got a free slice of pie. (What flavor?) (PIE FLAVOR. (joke courtesy of asdf movie on youtube)) Actually, it was a raspberry pie. And it tasted amazing.

The next day we hit Michaels for scrapbooking material and the thrift store, where we both made some purchases. (I got cargo shorts and a church dress.) We went out to lunch again and then worked on my scrapbook at home. With Bri and I, we don’t have to do much to have a blast. It’s the fact that we’re together hanging out that makes it fun. Bri’s dad picked her up after lunch and scrapbook time. Back to her out-of-state home she went.

Onwards to roomie updates. I got a roommate!….well….four roommates. Two double rooms and five girls (my college overbooked). Upon discovering this, my aunt remarked brightly,

“Well, at least ONE of them is bound to like you!” 

…thanks Aunt Terri. Ain’t she charming, folks?

Well I did have Orientation for college this week (it’s been almost 2 weeks since grad)….but I think that’ll be a whole other adventure to write about later. (It wasn’t all that exciting.) So….best of luck to all of you with your own adventures!

Sunny

Unsure Whether to Joke or Be Heartfelt June 12, 2010

Funfact from the brain of Sunny: I’m graduating tomorrow.

Well kiddies, this blog was originally going to be about my adventures at college student and as of tomorrow morning, I’m going to be one step closer. I’ll be officially an incoming college freshman. Not sure how to write this one; I could go with quirky and offhand or heartfelt with a good chance of corny.  I would say, “you choose” but the poll thing never really worked out and now it’s a bit too late. In twelve hours, give or take, I’ll file to my seat and get ready to graduate high school once and for all.

It’s been a great time. Freshman year being timid, but not afraid to show I wasn’t afraid to be pushed around. Sophmore year, feeling around, getting a sense of my new environment, new school. Junior year confidence with a little hesitancy, and this year just trying to give it my all (except in the cases of a few assignments.)

I could get very reminiscient and talk about how much I’ve changed and how these are the years I’ll never get back and how I’m going to cherish these memories, but you guys are only just meeting me, so I’m not going to fill you in on my past four years of life. I think instead I’ll say something about the real reason I get up in the morning and fight my battles–my friends and my family.

Mom and Dad–you guys are amazing. A tad strict, but for good reason. You’ve loved me, dealt with me, and occasionally laughed at the absolutely terrible jokes I tell.

Siblings–despite the fighting and the war-zone that can be our home, I do love you guys. No doubt I’ll miss you when I head off to college. You’ve no idea how good you’ve got it, and I promise life is going to throw a million adventures your way too. You just have to stop looking at them as ‘crises’ and start looking at them as ‘adventures.’ Love you and I know you’ll all turn out great.

Friends–if you’re reading this, you get a hint (don’t tell.) I plan to send pretty much everyone who’s been a big part of my life a letter to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I love you all. (This is a PLAN. Whether it happens or not depends on multiple factors.) But even if I don’t send them, I want you all to know how much I value your support, your affection, and the fact that you aren’t afraid to be yourselves with me, which is a compliment in and of itself. Thank you so much.

Teachers–Dunno how you got ahold of me on this thing, but thank you for guiding me and occasionally taking late papers. Teachers are huge role models for me because I want to join your ranks someday. Most of you have been great (if you think of me and smile, chances are, you aren’t one of the teachers who I didn’t get much from.) Thank you for educating us all, whether we wanted it or not.

I didn’t say I wouldn’t get a little mushy. This is feeling-stuff, people!

Onwards and upwards, then. Tomorrow I shall look forward to:

1. Sitting in the hot sun for AT LEAST 2 hours, likely 3 or 4.

2. Sweating in those nasty polyester robes and smelling awful by the end of the ceremony.

3. Contemplating whether or not it would be worth it to make a scene just so I could be escorted out.

4. Feeling dizzy from the heat.

5. Waving at my family and friends who attend.

6. Praying desperately for rain.

7. Possibly crying when I watch my friends recieve their diplomas.

8. Walking across the stage.

9. Blinking during the photo of me and the principal and my diploma.

10. Looking victorious and throwing my arms in the air as soon as I get past the guy who’ll take my diploma if I try anything silly on my way out.

11. Tossing my hat in the air.

12. Going to grad parties.

13. Taking another step on the road of life.

So, first I’m going to give you an amusing quote that is also a pieve of advice, then an absolutely beyond-corny joke, then close it all off and say farewell to you all as a high school senior.

Gary Bolding
Your families are extremely proud of you. You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.
–the man knows what he’s talking about. Chances are you’ve been receiving checks from relatives for getting through high school. It makes you wonder about they’re confidence in you if they only paid you AFTER you finished.

Corny joke:

Why was the principal worried?

There were too many rulers in school.

And finally, let me bid you all a fond farewell. I have to go to bed, and tomorrow I have grad robes…which apparently need ironing…to put on. Wish me the best of luck!

Sunny

”

I’m over my head, and I know it, I know it
I’m doing my best not to show it, to show it
Whatever it takes to be what I was meant to be, I’m going to try
Cause I’m living the dream and I know it, I know it
I’m trying my best not to blow it, to blow it
And I know everything will be fine
With me, myself and time.”
–Me, Myself, and Time. Demi Lovato.

This song is really how I’m feeling right now; a mixture of thrill and nervousness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4qMKkk-NTg

My Favorite Season is Winter, but I LOVE Summer Break June 4, 2010

Well in the roomie situation, I called the school (during work hours this time) and found that I haven’t been assigned a roomie or a dorm yet. They expect to get me in there ‘in the next few weeks’ and reminded me that it was ‘first come first serve’ sort of thing. Well I signed up for a room a while back, so I’m a tad annoyed.

Other me-related stuff:

I’m exempt from most of my exams. All I have left are my math project, my creative writing exam, and I have to be present for my first period exam period because we’re presenting end-of-year projects (but I’ve already done mine.) So it’s a little weird, having this all come to an end. One small step, one giant leap blah blah blah. They say that high school friends don’t really stay friends after high school…well that can’t happen. Sorry guys, you’re stuck with me for life. If you think dressing up in polyester (?) robes and walking across a stage will get rid of me, you are so wrong. Haha!

Heard a good poem today and watched my friend Ben present his project. Ben is a theater kid and he did a dialogue (tri-alogue really) between three characters. He played all three. Impressive and funny. And THEN I find out that he wrote the whole script himself. Super job, Ben. You were awesome out there.

Speaking of fabulous things my friends did, last night was the senior showcase for creative writing. My friends Steph, J, and Deziree all were there. Didn’t see the readings but saw the setup and it looked really good. I am blessed with really amazing and talented friends and they really showed that last night. So J, Stephy, Deziree, (and Alexandra, Justin, Katrina, and all you other writer folk) great job. It looked amazing and I wish I could have stayed to watch you all.

Graduation is coming up…it’s next Saturday. I personally expect to pass out from heat exhaution at either grad practice or at the actual graduation. I only hope the administration has the sense to let me sit down when I need to and to let me have water. Believe it or not people, seniors are humans and require water and shade. WHY we need to practice from 8 until 12:30 for THREE DAYS so we can walk across a stage is beyond me. After about seventeen years of walking, you’d think I’d have the hang of it by now, wouldn’t you?

And my absolute best friend Bri is graduating this Thursday so I’ll be at her graduation, cheering and making a big deal over her (as a true best friend does.) Her grad present is in my room, ready to be packed up.

Our senior picnic was today and it was a good time. Hot, but a good time.

Hoping this weekend is as incredible as last weekend was,

Sunny

PS: Here’s what I’m listening to right now. Darn thing is stuck in my head. Hope you all enjoy it as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufFAMyrqqEk