July 10 2009: “What I Learned at Orientation”

[This is fun.]

Well, let’s see. I learned that if your battery light in the car is blinking on and off, it could be your alternator. I learned never to tow a truck with a rusting cover backwards. And I learned that orientation really doesn’t prepare you for much other than being thrown into awkward situations.

Okay, seriously now. I had my UB (University at Buffalo) orientation this Monday and Tuesday. Tom and I went up to Syracuse Sunday to his grandparents house so that my ride would be shorter to orientation in the morning. They had sweet fireworks in Syracuse, and amazingly no one got burned (by fireworks or marshmallows). So, anyway, I got up real early on Monday, Tom’s grandma was gracious enough to make me breakfast (that woman is crazy in a good way : ) ), and I headed off to Buffalo. Well, after about 45 minutes, the battery light in my truck started blinking and the meter kept jumping. Afraid for my life, I texted Tom, the fastest responding resource I had, who wisely counseled me to turn off all the accesories in the truck. I did so. Fortunately, I made it to Buffalo without further problems, minus the fact that I was cruising the Thruway at 75 mph and stopped once to have a nervous breakdown.

Buffalo orientation, all in all was… lame. It really wasn’t that great. I mean, the people were okay, and our OAs (orientation aides) tried really hard to make it a good time, but really it’s just an information thing, and you can’t make that much fun. On the downside, I sat through a three-hour lecture on I don’t even know what, I didn’t make very many friends, I didn’t feel well, the bathrooms are kind of awkward, and I skipped out on any kind of tour that might have let me know where the hell I was going. On the upside, I saw the school mascot (go bulls!), the food was decent, OAs make funny skits, I learned a little more about ridiculous things, and the head of the graduate education deparment is a really cool guy.

It was alright, really. It could’ve been worse. The people were okay, and the dorms were nice and big. And, you know, I like that school. I’m ready to just be there all the time and find places to hide and chill. There are about 3200 kids in my class, which makes for good people-watching odds. I’m not used to that many kids. I’m also not used to not being one of the smartest, one of the advanced kids. Given, I was at the Honors orientation, and I was in a group of Honors engineers, so, I shouldn’t expect to be much. It’s just different. Not that I mind, I think I’m completely ready to blend in. Yay.

So anyway, that was orientation. And then I came home! Hahaha. That’s an understatement. So, like I said before, my alternator was dying, really dying. So, Tuesday, getting on the road in Buffalo, heading back to Syracuse, I was terrified my battery would die and I’d be stranded. But really, I was fine. I got on the Thruway and I was doing well. There was no gas at the first rest stop, which worried me a little. But I got to the second rest stop and got ripped off filling my tank. My battery light was off (nothing was on), the meter was up, and I was off to Syracuse!

I was doing well, until it started to rain. And of course, in New York, if your wipers are on, your lights are on. And turning things on with a bad alternator is a BAD idea. But, inevitable in my case. So, about an hour from Syracuse, my battery light is flashing, the meter is dropping, the ABS light is lighting, the RPM gauge drops, and my truck dies. On the Thruway. In the rain. I managed to pull over on the right to a decent part of the road. I could barely read the sign to the next exit (it was far and it was raining!). So, I called Tom, told him the deal, and then hunted for the raincoat I had packed. I slipped it on and ran out to read the sign. I called AAA, who deferred me to the Thruway people, who sent a truck after me.

After waiting about ten minutes (it was a decent time and I was content reading my book), the tow truck pulled up. He was a nice guy. It had stopped raining a little. Unfortunately, my basic AAA covers 5 miles free and every mile after that is $4. So, I call my parents, and take the tow to Syracuse. Thankfully he would take my brand new debit card. And we were off! Riding in a tow truck is fun stuff, man. We had to stop for fuel, and he wanted to pull my truck backwards, so we had to flip it around. But, after that stop at exit 42 (that’s where I was, and I read the sign right), we were ready to go!

Until he got a gas call. Some guy ran out of gas like a mile before the exit, poor guy. But! He was on the other side, so! Illegal U-turn! Yay! They’re fun! (I swear, I hit the rumble strip more times in this one trip than I have in my entire life before it.) So, we fill the guy’s tank and then get on the road again. Another illegal u-turn! And we’re back on the road in the Syracuse direction! So, we’re driving along, and, the tow truck man (I never caught his name) notices that one of the lights he wired to my truck is loose. And then he says it “Did you have a cover on your truck?” And of course I respond with a “Yes, why?” “Because it’s not there anymore.” “Oh shit.”

So! Two more illegal u-turns later (they’re actually legal because it was a tow truck, it’s just fun to say), and we’re staring at the cover that was on the bed of my truck in the median between exits 41 and 42 of the Thruway. After a call to my father, and a few groans staring at my poor truck and the cover that remained in one piece but shattered on top. And of course, the gash that my truck now had above the back window. Poor thing. No windows broke, and the truck had minimal damage, it’s just the fact that my cover was now useless and dead. So, I moved the netting in the back to the cab, double tied my spare tire, and we set off again to Syracuse.

Nearly an hour later, I was at the Shaw household, exhausted and broke. Of course, Tom’s family treated me like I was family, and if it hadn’t been for them, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Uncle Bobby pulled some strings to get me another alternator the next day, and even took out the one that killed my truck, on his anniversary! I swear these people are awesome. And, the next day, Grandpa took us to NAPA to pick up an alternator (not a very nice experience), and he installed it for us! And then Grandma made us a chocolate cake, Grandpa rigged some plants to the bed of my truck, and Tom and I were off home! (Am I allowed to say where home is? This is public, you know.)

Anyway, we got home safely, after stopping for some party details (wooo…), and here we are. I’m sunburnt, Tom’s bald, and we’re preparing for Comic Con in less than two weeks! Yayyy! : ) Alright, that’s all for now. Peace, people!

-Sandra-

July 2 2009: “Bwana Read About My Trip?”

So, I spent the weekend and part of the week in Pennsylvania. It was pretty fun! Scranton University is beautiful. Except that damn hill, haha. Anyway, I was there for a bell conference. And, in case any of you don’t know, I ring handbells with a choir from our church. They’re a really unique instrument, and I very much enjoy them. So, anyway, every other year the AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers) Area II (NY, NJ, PA, Ontario) has a big conference that our choir likes to attend. There were over 400 ringers there! It was awesome! We got to see free handbell concerts by known and lesser known choirs, emsembles, and soloists, and take classes, and we had a huge concert of our own at the end of the four days!

Okay, so, that being said, let me just share some stories and pictures! Okay, so, for those of you that haven’t heard of the Raleigh Ringers (that would be me last week), they were there, and their conductor actually conducted our concert! His name’s David Harris, and he’s a genuinely great conductor. I truly enjoyed working with him, he’s a funny guy. But seriously, guys, youtube the Raleigh Ringers, they’re amazing. They have 7 octaves, and they have people offer to arrange music specifically for them! One of their own even arranged “Don’t Stop Beleivin” for them (and they put on a show with it too, which was just awesome)! And and and! They played “Flight of the Bumblebee” which I love and I’ve wanted it for my clarinet for a long time (graduation/birthday/Christmas/justbecause present perhaps?).

Anyway. Our director was great. Listening to that many bells play at once is a phenomenal experience. And Scranton University has a pretty awesome dining hall. But really, I had a great time. Bell music is just different. It calms me so much, and it’s always interesting. I took a few classes, too. Bell trees was pretty cool, and the arranging class was kind of interesting also, who knew arranging music for bells would look so easy? So, yeah, I had fun. Really, you had to be there. Of course, if you were there, it rained and thundered, and David made jokes, and the old ladies counted out loud, and the squirrels became logs, and there was way too much food, and the hill got old after the third time up, and the dorms were brand new, and the elevators beeped, and Malmarks became easier to love, and the sound of one bell could give you the chills.

So, here. I will show you in pictures what conference was like. We have sweet Hudson River Bells dark green polos that we wore for the concert. And, when you go to conference, they include a conference T-shirt, which I absolutely loved this year! There’s also a video here, I took it solely for the sound. Some of it’s hard to hear because of the placement of the camera and the pitch of the bells, but it’s still pretty cool. The song in the video is Fantasy on Kingsfold, it’s my favorite one that we played. : ) Here’s some pictures now.

[There are wayyy too many pictures to import, however, the video of the bells with Fantasy on Kingsfold is available on youtube, along with my teacup graduation speech.]

June 24 2009: “Dance to the Music!”

And open back! That’s Richard Simmons for you! Yeah, so, Tom and I did another Richard work-out this morning; I tell you, it’s fun! And after that we were sweating and hot, so we had decided yesterday that we would go for a swim. And we got our towels and wandered out to the pool with Sharky (Tom’s brother) on our tails, and Tom made me go in first to tell him how cold it was. The thermometer said 74, but I don’t really believe that. It was pretty cold. But, once I got my head under, I couldn’t stay up. I love the water, and it was nice and refreshing today, and I’m glad I got my first swim of the season in. Tom, on the other hand, was chilled to the bone and out in a minute. -shrug- I guess some of us were meant for water and others for land. Maybe I’m half-fish. …maybe not.

So anyway, other than swimming briefly, I finished the majority of my thank-you notes and had my last bell rehearsal today. Thank-yous took awhile, and the ones I have done are for teachers, who will hopefully be at graduation. And bells? Oh bells is always fun. As I said before, we’re preparing for conference in Scranton Saturday-Wednesday. I play handbells in a choir with a bunch of older women and a few kids, with my church. It’s a ton of fun, and I’m game for most musical things. And conference is really an experience. The whole AGEHR area II is there, and that’s a lot of bell choirs! One massed rehearsal is completely incredible. So, yeah, I’m excited. And practice went pretty well tonight. It’s different because there’s a guest conductor that will be conducting us at conference, so our normal conductor rings in the group. It’s a bit harder to follow the music, and the tempo is hard to keep, so rehearsal tonight ended up being almost two hours. But, I feel prepared, and excited to be in that big of a group again. Plus, I get to take classes! They’re fun business! I still have to get through graduation first, though.

Ah, yes, graduation, I have rehearsal for that tomorrow. I have to print out my speech and read it to a few of the administrators so they can say it’s appropriate, blegh. And after sitting and standing and walking through that, Tom and I have a date! We’re going out to dinner and a movie (among other things) for graduation. I’m excited. I got to pick the movie (you really thought he was so excited to see Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds?), and we’re going to a fancy-ish Italian place. It’s exciting, right? Yeah, so, yeah. That’s about it for today. I’m still busy, and I’m sure you all read about Tom’s new shield project (haha, shield project, that’s irony). Have a good day, everybody. And, if you’re in the area, graduation is Friday at 6! Yay.

-Sandra-

June 23 2009: “On My Own Again”

[These blogs have been imported from chondra.tk, the blogging I do with the lovely Thomas. That blog was built mainly to capture our ComicCon adventures, and so it's not very active anymore.]

Okay, so that is definitely not how the song goes, but it’s fun to sing. Tom just left a little while ago and now I’m stuck here alone with nothing to do but write! So, what’s new people? This blog, duh! So, ComicCon is in less than a month. Our costumes are finished and they’re pretty sweet (check out the pictures if you haven’t already). Tom’s so super excited; it’s like a five-year-old in a candy shop, really. But, it’s cute. And I am dreading graduation Friday, excited for bells Saturday-Wednesday, party times, worry-warting about Syracuse and Buffalo, and then I can start to worry about California.

Yeahhhh, California. That’s where we’re going, in case you haven’t picked up on that yet. San Diego Comic Convention 2009, yayyy! : ) I am excited, I’m just busy first, that’s all. I’m also really excited for Seaworld, which I don’t think Tom realizes yet. But really, dolphins, whales, they’re adorable! Yes, the excitement is building. I just have to officially finish high school, thank a bunch of people, and get a bunch of stuff done first. Woooo. And then we get to chill in California for a whole week! The sun will shine and it’ll be fun fun fun!

And really, who doesn’t want to be a superhero sometimes? And, I really like Magik. She’s one of the X-Men, and not that you can really see my belt in the pictures, but I have the belt with the X in it. She’s Colossus’s little sister, and really she’s supposed to be blond, Russian, and like 12, none of which I am. But still, it’s fun to be someone else for a day, and you can bet I’m excited to run to random men yelling “Piotr! Piotr!” Although, Tom was telling me that ‘Piotr’ actually is a Polish name and has completely different phonetics than expected. So, maybe I won’t shout that at every Colossus I happen to see. Oh well!

Speaking of ComicCon, Tom and I have developed a “lifestyle change” (it’s a better term than diet) that is going quite well so far. We walked all the way in through Sleepy Hollow today, to a place I’ve never actually been, for over an hour. That was fun and exhausting! We’re working on toning up to look good in our spandex (or lack thereof)! Seriously, some of those people you see at ComicCon really shouldn’t be pretending to be superheroes in spandex and we don’t want to be those people. And, the way it’s going right now, we won’t be! Richard Simmons really works. And no, I’m not kidding. As much as Tom might want to kill me for this, we’ve been working out to Richard Simmons tapes regularly, and they turned out to be a fun and sweat-worthy work-out!

So, we’re eating right, we’re working out, and we’re excited! That’s where we are today. We went for a great walk that put small blisters on my ankle, Tom is working on his shield (an extra project I’m sure he’ll talk about later), he’s doing his Astronomy (>:O), and I’m stuck… writing this : ), and I have to start on Thank Yous soon, too. Okay, I’m going to grab a healthy snack, peruse the ComicCon site for my must-sees (Cyanide and Happiness, anyone?) and get a start on those Thank Yous I’ve been putting off. Graduation in 3, ComicCon in 28, Buffalo in 66. Ending in 5…4…3…2…1…gone.

-Sandra-

June 21 2009

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are…
[I don't know why graduation was so traumatic for me, probably because I was bored for a week before it.]

I can’t tell you that I can’t grow up yet.
I can’t tell you that I’m not ready to leave my father.
I can’t tell you that I don’t want to go to graduation.
I can’t tell you that I don’t even care about graduating anymore.
I can’t tell you that I feel humiliated because I couldn’t be number one.
I can’t tell you that I only ever want to hug you and not let go.
I can’t tell you that I would die without you.

But I just did.

…something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”
-Joseph Addison

April 12 2009

“All fantasy…
[It's that feeling... you know.]

I just want to see you in a suit jacket and tie… so that I can straighten it and then pull you down for a kiss.
Sometimes I walk in front of you just so you’ll bump into me from behind, because on ocassion you’ll wrap your arms around me then and let me fall back into you.
Commercial kisses are some of my favorites.
I wish we could have a photoshoot of just you and I, and have prints of all the pictures, to make a book out of… I know, I’m weird.
The feel of your hair right after a haircut, just makes me want to touch it forever.
I want to wear all my dresses for you, and be pretty.
I have small things planned for you that I can hardly wait for.
Dancing with you in the middle of your kitchen while food is cooking is one of those things I wish we did more often.
I’m just as scared as you are, if not more.
Sometimes when I look at you and you look back, the world stops and I just love you.

…should have a solid base in reality.”
-Max Beerbohm.

April 11 2009

“Absence does not make the heart grow fonder…
[So what? I'm attached.]

I hate waiting. I think that might be what bothers me. I can’t be all set until he’s all set. But, telling him that would only stress him out more. And what happens if for some reason they say no? Then we’re not together. Then it was all for nothing, wasn’t it?

See, I don’t know. I don’t know who I’m going to school for, anymore. I don’t know if this is really what I want, all I know is that it’s what made sense at the time. It was the most convenient. But I don’t know if it’s really what I want. I know I’ll end up staying there, I’m not one to back out no matter how much I hate it. I always end up just staying there… just drifting through life. How much worse could it be than now? At least in college, I won’t need people. Right now it’s weirder to sit in a class alone. Then, not knowing anyone, who cares? And if all else fails, TJ will be there, and I really like TJ, he’s a good friend. I’m glad he’ll be the one going to the same school I am.

But what about Tom? As my childhood and closest friendships crumble around me, I take a look at my relationship with Tom and realize it’s the only thing holding me up anymore. I realize that it’s the main reason I chose what I chose. Without him, would I be preparing for USC right now? Probably not. But, there’s also a small chance I might be. I might be looking at Washington. Who knows. All I know right now is that I’m really going to Buffalo next year, and I don’t know what I’m going to do if Tom’s not.

The only solid thing I’ve had in my life for a year and a half has been Tom. And without him, I literally don’t know what to do. He was out with the boys tonight, for a few hours. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was driving myself crazy before finally deciding to lay down and read a book. I just could barely concentrate on anything else. And although he’s only a text away, I would feel guilty interrupting him for what? For nothing. Just to satisfy my worry that he’s not there. So how do I get through school? Easily, I have things to keep me busy. That’s why calculus drives me crazy, because after giving up on my homework, I have nothing to keep me busy. I need something there. Something easy that I can pretend to concentrate on, because without Tom, my mind doesn’t focus. Hell, I have enough trouble focussing with him. But without him? It’s near impossible.

I can’t do it. I can’t leave him. I’m so scared. I’m so worried. I don’t know if I can be so conceited as to think I’m why you came back, but now I can see why that would make sense, and that I’m glad you did. And I never want to be separated again.

…but it sure heats up the blood.”
-Elizabeth Ashley

March 2 2009

“I love writing…

When you’re little you have hope, you have blind faith, and you automatically think everything is going to be okay. I guess I never grew out of that phase. My life just was. I never had to do anything; everything always worked out. And so I never came to believe that it wouldn’t be okay. I always thought everything would work itself out; everything would be okay. I guess I finally got my reality check. I guess I’m not little Princess Gracie anymore.

It’s not that I doubt anything. I’m just completely and utterly scared. For once in my life, I don’t know my future, and I don’t believe it’s all going to be okay. I don’t know what I want to do. I truly don’t. Right now I just want to curl up in a ball. Nothing worked out the way it was supposed to; my luck has finally run out. And what the hell am I supposed to do now.

Of course I love him. but, can we survive college and work and bills and everything. I don’t know what’s going to happen next year. I’m really scared, I really am.I just don’t know what I can handle anymore. My dreams keep me up at night, because they all scream for comfort. My comfort. I need comfort. I can’t help it. I’m just terrified of life. I’m terrified that I still can’t build a relationship. I’m terrified that it’s not going to be okay.

…I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.”
-James A. Michener.

February 7 2009

“I just called to say…
[Isn't this what every girl wants?]

It’s the simple things I want, that’s all.
To be able to actually say what’s bothering me.
To live out a young teenage fantasy.
To dance in the kitchen for no reason.
To be taken out somewhere just because.
To have a day to do absolutely nothing but cuddle.
To be given that look.
To be held when I cry.
To just be held.
To have a date planned.
To be asked to prom in that cute little way.
To actually go to prom with the dress and the shoes and the car.
To actually enjoy being a teenager.
To hold hands.
To get random text messages.
To get flowers for no reason at all.
To know you love me.

…I love you.”

February 4 2009

“I’m an illegal alien and have been for many years…

[I like this quote a lot. And I still feel like I'm different...]

I’m just different, I guess.
I’m just not like everyone else.
I don’t drink.
I don’t smoke.
I don’t think wearing scarves inside looks good at all.
I think short scarves look ridiculous, like hankerchiefs that dogs get after they’re groomed.
I would rather find pants that fit than wear ones I have to roll up.
I prefer jeans over cords.
I don’t know anything about college.
I don’t know where I want to go or what I want to do.
I’m in a long-term relationship.
I would rather keep score than just watch from the stands.
I hate stand up comedy.
I don’t watch anything on the cw.
I like abcfamily better.
I think Prom is cute.
I would never wear a short dress to Prom.
I actually like the idea of Prom and don’t think it’s overrated.
I don’t listen to or like anything you listen to.
I listen to country, rockband, and select metal and oldies.
I don’t have a style.
I hate straightening my hair.
I don’t enjoy gym class.
I can’t play volleyball well.
I hate drama club.
I still remember what everything was like before it changed.
I still wish everything hadn’t changed.
I can’t agree with technology, it hates me.
I hate make-up.
I cry everyday.
I don’t have style.
I dress in what I like and what’s comfortable.
I like sneakers more.
I’m not one of those pretty, confident, or smart girls.
I don’t have friends because I can’t build friendships.
I can’t build friendships because I’m not like anyone else.
I’m just different.

…If you rub my skin, I go green.”
-Claire Forlani