The time after time

Last night I stayed with my friend Lacee. Out of all of my friends, I've known her the longest. We've been through a lot of things together, and it's really neat to see how different we've turned out from each other. However, we both share a lot of the same beliefs about things. She still lives in my hometown and I've been in Portland making something new of myself, but we still get along like we always have. Maybe even better; we talked all day today, really strong conversation of things we really haven't ever talked about much with each other. It was good.

And last night, she rounded up a couple of my friends who haven't seen me in a couple years at least. They're both boys who have always treated me like a princess. Neither of them have changed much. And one of them, Eric, was the only person to ever visit me from home since I've been living in Portland (well, he and Keith came together... love you guys!). It was great to see them both. Eric and Charles. Charles was a "bad boy" in my freshman year of high school, and I had never even kissed a boy at the time. But Charles always made me blush just by giving me a hug. I'd turn beet red! Hah, I was sooo shy. Oh, and whenever he would kiss me on the cheek, I would nearly die every time! Oh man was I ever shy. Yeah, that's why I could never keep a boyfriend for longer than two weeks around that time. They always broke up with me for the same reason: I wouldn't kiss them. Hehehehe. And then sweet sixteen came... oh well.

So yeah. It was good to see them both. And there was another guy, a friend of Charles, who looked so hopelessly familiar... but still I have no idea where I know him from. He agreed on the familiarity, but he didn't know why either. But an all-around good night! It was especially good to get away from my family for a day. I know I've only been here for about four days now, but trust me. You'd want a break from them too. I'm glad I no longer live at home. Heh.

You know, I still haven't done any Christmas shopping... hehhehe. I have a Secret Santa gift I need to buy, gifts for four other friends, and my boyfriend... It's okay though. I still have time. I'm going shopping with my brother when I get to Florida. I just don't have any idea what I'm getting for any of them.

Oh, and I'm going to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to that, actually. I've heard nothing but good things.

Hmm... more updates as more life happens. Sorry I've been so neglecting.

ps For those of you who don't already know, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is my favorite week of the whole year. It's a sort of void time pocket, when the holidays and stresses of the year are over, but it's not quite a new year yet. In my opinion, it's a very telling time period of the year to come. Anyway, I rather enjoy it. Now you know!

pps If you want to know something else new about me: I love surprises!

OH the horrors... my myspace!!! NOOoooooooooo!!!

As a sort of side note, I thought I'd inform those of you concerned that I cannot access myspace.com from my parents house. Hehe. See, they have some sort of 'internet protection' service, and myspace is apparently vile. So, I can't access my second email account. Psh. Just thought I'd let you know.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I've got my love to keep me warm

Well, I'm in California for break. I got here on Wednesday and guess what... it's been 60-70 degrees the past few days! Amazing. I keep insisting on wearing the wonderful jackets I got for Christmas, but I end up leaving them in the car the rest of the day because it's just too warm. Oh well.

I haven't really done anything at all besides play with my little sister until yesterday. We went to my grandma's house for the traditional family get-together. My Uncle has four kids with ages ranging from 9 years old to 9 months old, and my little sister is 2. So of course the gift-giving is mostly for these people, who go absolutely wild when presented with billions of nicely-wrapped boxes. It was fun to watch for about 20 minutes, then I just wanted to go to sleep. They're so energetic they could wear out an elephant (I have no idea if that's easy or hard to do, but I'm sure they could do it). Anyway, I got some stuff to soak my feet from my aunt... I'm going to relax as soon as I get back to Portland (yes, my vacation is making me want a vacation from it).

Then today was Christmas!!!! Woo. But the Northern California Christmas prevails, as today the weather dropped to a surprising degree (still not entirely "cold," however) and it was raining. We got up at a nice early 8 o'clock and I blinked myself awake as I watched Abby drool over her new kitchen playset, desk, and spring rocking horse. But... guess what I got?? Nope, you're wrong. Don't worry, I didn't guess it right either. I got a digital camera! Woo! Yeah, I used to have one, but it doesn't turn on anymore. It's just old, it's okay. But I have a new one! I don't have to borrow Paul's anymore. Oh, and I got some really warm, nice slippers. So, of course, I am very excited about the results of Christmas '05.

Woo! I don't feel nervous about the new year at all this year*! Hope everyone is enjoying their break or holidays or whatever else it is you should be trying to enjoy!!



*Last year I really wasn't ready for a new year to begin, so of course, the whole beginning of 2005 was absolutely horrible and one of the worst times of my life.

And they all lived happily ever after.

So, now I am actually done with school. My last final was Wednesday night. My final presentation in Foundation Portfolio went alright. Dale made me go first, which was a little disapointing because I didn't get the chance to see how the pace was set... but it was much more of a relief, because going very first means that you're not having to compete with anyone who's gone before you yet, and there's a little bit less pressure becase you are going first, and also I got it out of the way early, so I didn't have to worry about it anymore and I could just watch everyone else's without being distracted.

So the next morning, Paul and I went up to Centralia to spend the day with his parents, decorating the tree and whatnot, but when we got there the tree was already up and decorated. So instead Paul's mom took us up to the mall in Tacoma where she bought us Christmas presents. Paul got a very nice, very warm wool jacket (which was all he wanted), and I got two pairs of pants and two awesome jackets (which was great, because I can never, ever find pants I actually like). Then we went back to Vancouver that night because we had to be in Portland the next morning.

Why did we have to be in Portland the next morning? For the Portfolio Show, of course! So, the next morning after me trying to get Paul out of bed (for an hour, while Paul was kicking and screaming, "like, literally") we went to the show and met up with Ryan. Then after the show we went back to Ryan's house, then bought Christmas sweaters at Goodwill, then went to a Christmas Sweater Party/Show, which was a lot of fun. Ryan's was a little girl's sweater, so it didn't cover his tummy, and it had a Christmas tree on the front of it covered in sparkles and little birds and gifts... It was awesome. After the show we went back to Ryan's and started drinking and playing card games. And we all got drunk and had a great time.

The next morning we woke up with hangovers, with Ryan's being the worst. Then he took us to lunch at the Olive Garden which was supremely sweet of him. After we said 'goodbye' to Ryan, we drove to Meggan and Daniel's house to make CHRISTMAS COOKIES! WOOO! And we made cookies until we just wanted to go to sleep. And we also watched the movie "Me and You and Everyone We Know." I love that movie; it's just so happy! I totally recommend it.

Anyway, the weekend was a success. Totally a great end to the quarter, and an awesome start to Winter break. WOOooooooooooooo!!!!!!11one

Where my thoughts, now on paper, enter a subject change.

[BIIIIIIIG sigh]. I don't have to stress out anymore. I'm not totally done, but the bulk of my problems is behind me. I still have three final tests and my portfolio due, along with a presentation (which I'm not exactly stoked about), but I'm not stressed about the portfolio because I just spent the night before last night stressing about it so much that I finished it.

See... I thought it was actually due yesterday, so I stayed up all night putting together a portfolio layout, putting all my projects into place, and revising a few other projects that I had yet to revise. Then I went to Kinkos at 7 in the morning, making poor Paul go with me (he brought his blanket with him, and stayed in the car when I went inside). Got back at 8, slept for six-and-a-half hours, then got up and put the whole thing together, cutting foamcore and mattboard, slicing paper, punching holes, etc.

So. Now I'm ahead of most people in that class, and Dale (the teacher) was able to help me and tell me what I need to fix. Which is great... usually I go through projects blindly and sink or swim on the day they're due. But now... now over the next week I can leisurely revise the projects I didn't get to and fix the little problems on the ones I did get to, as well as the problems in my actual book layout. I'll have to print everything again... which really sucks as it is pricey and a pain, but at least I know I'll have done ole Dale right.

Bleh. So, after class last night, I smoked a cigarette (someone gave me a box of vanilla-flavored gourmet cigarettes that they didn't want, because they bought them after recently quitting... hopefully these will last me a while, and I don't mind sharing... don't worry, I'm not about to start smoking again), stopped by Carl's Jr. and picked up a burger for myself and for Paul, and then took a bath. A nice hot relaxing bath. So, now I'm okay. I see the humor and the upside of this all, and I don't feel bad that I just worked my butt off for nothing (well, not for 'nothing,' but more for lack of necessity). And now I have time for more things I want to do, like installing my new 160 GIG hard drive, going through the bag of goodies I got from PDXPO (the annual design expo) last week, updating my blog worry-free, and perhaps even hanging out with friends.

Just so we're clear on how I'm spending my winter break: December 21st I'm flying down to California, to spend two weeks with my family (and hopefully my friends... I won't have my car). Then on January 1st, I'm flying down to Florida to be with my brother (whom I haven't seen in a year) and sisters (whom I haven't seen in two years). This is extremely exciting for me. I can't even begin to tell you. But this also means I won't be seeing my beloved Paul for three weeks! Of course I'm sure I'll talk to him, either by email or by telephone (which will have to be while he's at his parents' house, seeing as he lost his phone a few days ago). But I've been living with him for almost two months now (yeah, the whole "just part of the week" thing didn't really happen; I'm there 7 days a week now). Don't you think I'll go through maybe just a few withdrawls? Bah. We shall see.

But for now, relaxation, leisure, and other lazy whatnots (which is actually what I've been doing all term... the exact reason I was so stressed out by the end of the term...).

Is there nothing to lose, and everything to gain?

Two weeks left. School will be done with my head for three weeks. I get to take a vacation from life.

I am so behind. I shouldn't even be typing this right now, but I can't seem to concentrate anyway. Anyway... I have to do my entire portfolio, all my late work for science, a paper for tomorrow night (500 words), and practice my presentation for showing off my portfolio. Luckily I'm already done with web design. And my presentation in science. I need to work my butt off, though. I've already decided not to do a few things I'm missing in science; I can still pass without doing them. I need the spare time to do other things. My portfolio class is what my head is most wrapped up in, so of course my presentation will probably go horribly (just like the practice one did a few weeks ago). I'm sure I'll probably pass, I just wish I had more time to finish it. And I probably would have more time if I'd stop wasting it, doing things like this...