Whew!

I'm finished!

I just got back from my last official final of my undergraduate career! Clearly, I have another semester to go, but none of my classes will be "final test" type classes- just papers or portfolios! AMAZING!

And yet, as I walked out into the street the feeling of sadness sifted through me. And I remembered that I always feel sad when I finish finals. Not that I LOVE the stress, but that I love the challenge, and that I'm reasonably good at it because I enjoy learning so much.

The triumph of being finished for a whole months certainly outweighs that faint sadness, and yet I feel it with a bit more intensity this time, knowing its the last time I'll finish THIS way- just before Christmas, bursting through the doors of the Silver Center with a cheesy grin on my face, just like I did freshman year.

I've been feeling a strange nostalgia- or perhaps its not strange- for the last few years, and yet I'm so happy to be HERE. Now. But it has hit me harder than it has before that I am going to REALLY REALLY REALLY miss this place, and this thing- College- the atmosphere. I've had so many "I love NYU" and "I love Gallatin" moments (no, really... strange, I know) the last few days, and even today, in the middle of my essay test as I was writing away, felt that swell of endearment. Gosh, I'm a nerd.

I am, though, more and more ready to be in a new phase of life. While college has been so wonderful, I'm eagerly anticipating completing it. Less than two months until my Colloquium, and just under five months until I graduate. Wow... after 22 years I think I'm ready.

I'll never be ready to be DONE with school- never reach that golden brown stage of ready-to-eat academic achievement, and yet I think a change 'll do me good.

So there you have it. Some nonsensical musings about now and then and just now and all that... I'm sure you're in for a lot more of that as the true 'end' of this stage approaches.

For now, though, I wish you all very Merry Christmases and Happy Hanukkas and Fatastico New Years and Amazing Trips to Israel or Colorado or North Carolina or California or Minnesota or Georgia or Tennessee....

Update: Pictorial.

Wow!

Here is a pictorial update marathon! Well, really just pictures from weekend before last's good times. Friday night Staci and I went out with Josh, Laura, Laura, Brittany, and Allison! Saturday we went to the Ballet! Oh the culture!

See below for some of the pictures!

Josh! At Benny's Burritos in the East Village.

Me and Staci at Benny's Burritos.. where it all started.

Here we are at 2X4 on 2nd ave and 4th street.
Note the background- ol' Big Buck Hunt video game!

Staci and Josh with their "All you can drink Bud or Bud Light 'til Midnight" bracelets.

Staci, Me, Laura, and about a third of Josh's face.

Josh is happy!

Claire is... scared?

Brittany and Laura- so cute!

Staci and Claire- awww!

The ladies singing to a classic BSB song. You know it was me who requested it.
And you know everyone in that bar loved it!

Sing it Staci!

Yeeuh.

Everyone clapping to.... Stevie Wonder, I think.

This creaper behind Brittany... kept hanging around until Laura Rogers put a stop to him!
"NOOO!"

Speaking of, there she is! Miss Laura Rogers! Beauty!

We were happy or funny or something- goodtimes.

Allison, Brittany, and Laura livin' it up!

Josh is happy!

I have no idea why Allison is doing this, but I LOVE that the guy behind her is doing it too!

Josh and Laura!

Staci with our chocolate shake at Moonstruck Diner.

Me and the shake! Mmm.

R-L: Brittany, Laura Rogers, Josh, Laura Lorenzetti, Allison.

Josh started the laughing fit.

The hat had to happen.

It was a great time. We had a great TIME!

Below is our picture of the tree at Lincoln Center where we saw the Nutcracker which was FANTASTIC- the set was amazing! I'll leave you with that for now- hopefully I'll come by some good pictures from other peoples' cameras from this weekend (my battery died).

BOOKED!

We are officially BOOKED to go to JAMAICA for our Honeymoon!

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!




This is going to be us!


I am so excited! Only 244 days!

Progress Report.

Finals time. Yikes. I realized I haven't kept you very well updated, and some of you are confused at the goings on unless you talk with me daily or see me every few days- so here is the latest:

I turned down the internship- I believe this was the right decision and feel very much at peace with it. (yes (for those confused), I interviewed, was offered the internship, and then turned it down).

I am finished with Finals on Wednesday at 6:00pm (maybe earlier). Until then I'll be pretty crazed, but honestly things are going well. I have solid drafts of both papers due on Wednesday completed that need only minor changes and input. I have an Irish oral test that I'm taking tomorrow at 3:30. Tuesday is my final in piano. Wednesday I'll hand in my papers and then my last class is an essay test on Twelfth Night and King Lear. So overall, not too bad. Having last week's papers and groups projects happily behind me, the work I put in on Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday has really helped this week seem not at all bad. It is stressful, but knowing its the last of its kind (here I come 10 credits!!!) is a GREAT feeling.

I head home on Thursday morning- I'll be leaving the apartment around 4:45am! Woo!

So there you have it. Mostly this post was written for me to clear my thoughts, and for you confuseled kids to know what's up. And for Miss Whitney- to have a little more info on finals time so she can relish vicariously :) Holla.

Anyway. Should have some fun news coming up, and ideally some pictures. But hey, I know I'm full of promises....

Drowning in Jacques.

Yes. Its true. I'm drowning in Jacques le Fataliste.









And yes. That was a blatantly sad effort at procrastination.

But it worked. *

December 6, 2006.

I have elected to stay home this evening and work on some papers.

It should be good.

I'll be wearing this, an item I receibed in class today, in order to stay focused...

To Be or Not To Be...

An Intern.

I got offered the internship that I interviewed for on Friday. Hooray! And yet...

I would have a 45 minute (at LEAST) commute every time I went out there, another 45 back. It's not the most desirable location, nor is the office a traditional style office- it is located in a donor's apartment- this is a TRUE non-profit. It would be SUCH good experience, but I'm not sure that in the end it's what I want for my last semester here.

I'll keep you all posted, of course. Right now I've requested more info on the jobs and duties I would have as an intern, and we'll go from there.

I'm pretty tired and still have a group meeting to go to tonight at 9:15. It shouldn't be bad, but the paper I'm currently trying to outline is totally slapping me in the face and laughing at me like a frosting-faced little girl. Cruel!

Some day soon (or maybe this weekend...) I'll post more details and some pictures. In the mean time, leave me some love, wisdom, or inspiration!

I Do Exist.

Wow,

I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated! I apologize. That's kind of what the ol' Thanksgiving break/finals lead-in will getcha!

But hey- hey, settle down! I'll be updating tomorrow, hopefully, with pictures and stories and provoking thoughts for you, so buckle in.

And just you wait!

Also, very merry December to you all!