ABC Gum and Ryan Reynolds

Well, we're one day away from another work week done. It has taken forever, and I didn't even work Monday!

Taught the 4 year old choir class last night. That was... an adventure. Man. Don't put high school kids in charge of 4 year olds. Just don't. It doesn't work well.

So, today, I was once again faced with one of my biggest frustrations. Now, as we go into this controversial section of the blog, let us remember, this is my opinion. Anywho, this frustration is with severely obese people not doing anything to help themselves. I'm not talking over weight, but so large you have to use a wheelchair (Does this confuse anyone else? You're too large to walk so instead of encouraging healthy habits like, I don't know, walking, we give you a chair to sit in. What?). I'm sympathetic to those with legitimate health problems that prevent mobility or that cause you to gain weight- thyroid issues, etc, but I do not sympathize with those who sit around on disability because they're too large to work and eat an incredibly poor diet. I know, I know, there are always two sides to every story, but as someone who has lost 50 lbs and has to work hard to maintain that weight, it frustrates me to no end to see people so unhealthy. It's not the weight, it's the poor health, I think, that frustrates me so. And yes, I have to remind myself everyday "food will not make you feel better!" whether that's looking to feel happier, or more complete, or more satisfied in life, or whatever. The Biggest Loser this season is themed around the phrase "No More Excuses". I like that. I like it a lot.

Gross moment of the day: Today there was a piece of ABC gum on a piece of paper just chillin' on the top of the copier. G.R.O.S.S. We finally deduced that, for whatever reason, someone had taken a number of papers out of the trash and had put them on the copier. Why? We don't know.

And we end the day with Ryan Reynolds in the cardio gym. Nothing like a good looking man to get me to run just that much faster. =)

Thanks for the Memories

Well, I did it! I have graduated! After four years of school, dozens of choir concerts, hours in practice rooms, many more hours goofing off, and nine months of internship, I made it to graduation. I wish I could have bottled up Saturday and stretched it out for a week! I have missed seeing all of you! And so, we must take a trip down memory lane...

Kelsi! My Blog friend! You've always been such a bright light in my life- never afraid to go farther, do more, and state your mind. I think of you every time I drink Diet Dr Pepper and drive through Asheville. I am so glad we got to experience Italy and Austria together, sing together in choir, and share the stage (even if I was behind the curtain or in the sound booth). You're going to be a great teacher while saving the world, one recycling bin at a time. =)

Christie! You're the reason I had any friends at CSU. You've been the best friend I could hope for. We've shared happy moments, sad moments, magical moments (Harry Potter!), silly moments. We've shared beds, food, couches, clothes, jewelry, shoes, and goodness knows what else. I turn to you when I need advice or just someone to talk to. Thank you for being my friend. I love you!

Kayla, I don't know if I could even begin to talk about our friendship. We've been together since day one, had almost every class together, and became so close people worried when we weren't together. We know each other inside and out and you had better be in my life forever.  I am so glad I get to keep you for awhile longer before you and Allen go off and leave me! I cannot wait for your wedding this summer! 

Ashley, the only person I really worried about one day ninja attacking me in my sleep. I can't believe it took doing a show together to get to know you. What did I even do in my life before we were friends? I don't know. 

Ah, Sasquatch. My (not so little) brother. I know you're gonna be something great. I bequeath CSU to you. Take good care of it.

Jo! What would I have done without my roommate?! You put up with my antics for three years! We've laughed, we've shared music and movies, I made you watch TV shows and movies you hated. You laughed at me when I fell down... multiple times. Life isn't the same without you in it!

Toya. I don't even know what to say. Other than "I'm mad at that". =)

Anna! Without you, geology would have been awful. And I would have had no one to speculate over professor's possibly pregnancies or the football player's silliness!

Ryan, every time I see you, I see a crow on rollerskates. Even though I didn't get to see you nearly enough during school, I loved every moment we had together. You and Elizabeth have so much in store for your lives!

Vinnie! There is never a dull moment when you're around. You've been a light in my life with your smiling face and tendency to burst into song and dance at the drop of a hat. I am so glad we are friends and life had better bring us back together. I believe I owe you a dance. 

Two people managed to escape me and the camera Saturday- Mac and Robert. Somehow it's fitting that I didn't get pictures with either of you. 

Mac, it's like you're always one step ahead and the rest of us are trying to keep up. Whether it's acting, teaching, directing, or doing nothing or any consequence, you do it to the best of your ability. Without you, I would have no pictures from Austria! (Does your mom still want pictures from Italy?) Thanks for thinking I'm funny, at least most of the time, and for having such a big dream for the future. 

Robert, I cannot believe you're married and that I missed it. I have always appreciated and admired your ability to be completely true to yourself and what you really believe in. Without you, there never would have been an awkward turtle in my life. And that would be tragic.

Erica, I can't believe you missed my graduation. I was at yours! I'm kidding. (Well, I was at your graduation, but you now what I mean...) You've been a great friend and a great confidant. One day, we'll write that book with such topics as "The Freshman Curse", "The Freshman Curse, In Reverse", and "Don't be a Skank". 

I can still remember those first few weeks of school- sitting outside Java City with the girls from Freshman Seminar talking about who knows what, doing that first Lyric Theater show just to get out of my room- little did I know LT would become such a part of my life!, wearing a giant bow on my butt in said first show. The years flew by! I can't believe it's done. So long, CSU. Thanks for the memories. =)

525,600

Last day of 2010. Really? Has a whole decade gone by already? And I spent that whole decade with the same home address. Wow.

January: January is my birthday month, and this year I turned 22. Go me! Fun times with friends, mom came to visit me at school like she usually does. My birthdays are typically pretty small since it's only three weeks after Christmas.What did I even do for my birthday? Oh well. It happened.
I also was a leader, probably for the last time, of Disciple Now for FBC. Great group of senior girls. =)
AND I got my camera. Oh, was that a happy day. =)

February: Uh... Does anything ever happen in February? Oh! Wait! It snowed! The most snow I'd ever really seen on the ground up to this point in time. Very fun, very pretty.

March: Took engagement pictures for the now Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dockery, lost a kite on the beach, built a few sandcastles.  Also this month I interviewed for my internship in both Atl and Montgomery Co. Also rode a motorcycle and threw a bottle into the ocean.

April: Visited the Zoo on Good Friday, built a few more sandcastles, finally saw the lighthouse on Folly Beach. Received the good news that I was, in fact, accepted as the intern in VA! Yay! Second most exciting day of the school year. Second to the day my camera came in. Of course. My official last Lyric Theater show ever with CSU was performed, the two American Operas. First time I got to work all the lights during a show though! That was fun. Walked around like a T-Rex, photographed a song and put pennies on a railroad track.

May: Watched so many of my friends graduate! Came home for the summer, returned to the Pink Dipper. Yay. (Sarcasm card) My last in-country choir tour with Concert Singers. Sad.

June: Chris graduated High School! Yay! Then I left for Italy for my last (planned) over-seas choir tour. So much fun- probably highlight of the year. =)

July: July brought with it Christie and Harry Potter. You can't go wrong with those two. Christie came to stay with us and went with us to Florida to visit my grandparents. And we went to Universal Studios to visit the brand spankin' new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This would have been the highlight of the year had it not been for Italy. 

August: This was the first time in... as long as I can remember that I didn't start school in August. Chris went off to CSU and I made my last trip to Charleston until graduation. Sadly... no pics this month.

September: I moved to VA to start my internship! Yay! This is the furthest I've ever been from the ocean in my life. 

October: Not much happened in October... Construction continued on the house, I met my mom in NC for a weekend... And that was pretty much it. 

November: Thanksgiving brought family and friends and a chance to get out and take some pictures again. Kayla and Allen stopped by to see me on their way back to Charleston. Christie, Ashley and I went out to Mountain Lake Inn where they filmed Dirty Dancing. Super cold that day and we had to drive 7 miles up the side of a mountain, but it was worth it in the end. Construction toils on with the house... 

December: December brought a MT meeting in Aiken, the longest time ever to have to go to school before Christmas break, and Christmas. It was so good to come home! I hadn't been home in months. The drive here isn't that fun, but it could be a lot worse, too. And we finally moved into the house! Hooray! Sadly, December pics will have to wait. Genius here left the camera in VA.

So what's to come in 2011? Another year older, the end of my internship, another move, graduation(!), certification, Kayla's wedding, hopefully a job, and who knows what else. Here's to hoping it's every bit as good and even better than 2010.