How could I forget?!

This morning, I totally forgot to tell you guys how awesome my MICA friends are!

Last night, Paul, Marla and Robin came over, and me, my roomies and the others ate some Chinese food to celebrate the end of the semester. I worked from 9-12, amd Robin visited and then walked me back to my apartment, where I found the door locked. That was normal, so I turned my key and tried again. The bolt was done. Again, not too weird, but it was awfully early to be locking up for the night. So, I unlocked that and tried again. The CHAIN lock is done, too! So, then I figure there's something up inside that is not meant for me to see yet.

Me: "Did you know about this?"
Robin: *grin* "Know about what?"

So, Paul comes to the door and says "If I let you in, will you go STRAIGHT to your room?" So, of course, I do. Robin comes in after a few minutes and faces away from my window with me (my window looks straight into the kitchen):

Me: "How long have you guys been planning this?"
Robin: "I have no idea what you're talking about." *grin*

Finally, Betsy knocks on my door, and I turn around to see Paul, Betsy, and Jen ushering in a MASSIVE cake shaped like an alligator's head, covered in green M&Ms with a little sign saying "Cya Later Gator!" and "In a while, Crocodile!" Apparently, they all went to the supermarket as soon as I left for my shift. :) (Minus Marla, who went to a yuppie party in Federal Hill with her fellow fashion designer.) Aww, they're so sweet! So, we all changed into red-and-green (Italian colors, you know) and watched Pineapple Express (or slept though it :P), and Ryan showed up during the movie, which was nice.

___

Robin just called me to tell me he'll miss me.

:)

I'm really going to miss him, too. Not just the kissing part, obviously, but he's really grown to be my best friend this past semester. I don't really talk to anyone the way I talk to him (mostly because he's the first close guy friend I've ever really had). I think we're both like "Who are we going to confide in now?!", because while I love Melissa dearly, I can't talk to her about things with Robin, because she's even more pristine than me. And I she doesn't know the history of my roommates, or my friends at home. I won't have any more Robin to come around or to go to whenever I want to see him, and that's sad. It's like moving away from The Boy Next Door that I grew up with and shared everything with.

:(

Aw, now I'm sad.

Either way, my friends and roommates showed me how loved I am, and how much I'll be missed, and I'm SO grateful for them and their love.

But, I admit, I can't wait to get back to all of you. I've missed you guys, and I feel like we've been deprived of each other since Summer '07.

I love you all, and I'll be nearly home by this time tomorrow! :D

Muah!

-A

P.S. www.betsyvanlangen.com

>>Portfolio
>>Interrobang
>>I'm the third one in: white face with black text. :) Betsy is the first one, with the paint. Jen is covered in eggshells, Ryan in crayon wax, and Robin is PB and J.

Loving. Living. Small.

Number One: Dan Wolf is now Facebook Official with Katie Campbell. Is that her name? Anyway, Abby if you know anything about her, please-oh-please dig the dirt. :) I am in no way interested in getting anywhere near Dan Wolf's lips anytime soon, but I AM interested to see her deal, because he told me he's already brooding about breaking up, because (this sounds familiar) none of them have time for each other/affection is waning. If he can't keep a relationship going while they go to the SAME SCHOOL, I had no chance. Although that shows that he made way more of an effort with me, which is flattering.

Number Two: I tried to update my status with something funny, but it was replaced when I hit the button with "Alyssa is everything I wish for will never come true." WEIRD. It turns out it was the girl's status who updated right before me, so there was some glitch or something, but it was still strange.

Number Three: Jen is a butt. She has three modes: "Betsy, I need you/r sympathy because Dylan is an asshole." "Betsy, you're a bitch for hanging out with Ryan." and "Betsy, we're friends again because now I get to hang out with Ryan." Damn that girl!

Number Four: I'm going to see Twilight with Bess, because Lauren didn't like it enough to pay for it again. I'm looking forward to this, though, because Bess is a longer-time/more rabid fan. and it should be fun and hilarious. :)

Number Five: Thanksgiving is this week. HOORAY! I get to see most of you! Is Bri coming home, by the way? Love you guys!

Number Six: I sang (not that well) and Robin gave a hilarious Donatello X performance last night at Coffeehouse. (Donatello X is a beat poet--he's super sexy and stylish [he wears all black and a beret and sunglasses] and his poetry [such as The Blind Watchdog or Incandescent Delight] is swoon-worthy). He was so cute. :D

(We barely freaking hide it anymore. We were all touching last night while Marla's back was turned. Well, of course, we were sure her back WAS turned, but she was in the same room for goodness' sake.)

Number Seven: I fell asleep on my couch last night, woke up at 4:30ish and went to bed, woke up at 8:45, and was running late for my nine AM shift. I thought I was ready, but when I glanced in the mirror, I had eyeliner and mascara smeared ALL OVER my face--a combination of falling asleep with it on, and the tears my eyes made because they were so dry from sleeping with contacts in. AWESOME. But now I am clean and cute again. :)

Number Eight: No new Gossip Girl tonight. :(

Okay, I have to write a paper. Muah. Love you!

xoxo,
Alyssa

P.S. What I want my life to look like: http://lovinglivingsmall.blogspot.com/

Copy/Paste

So, I went to Barnes and Noble about ten days ago with Robin, Sam, and Jessie. There was a cute guy who works there and we were checking each other out, but we left before I got a chance to catch him to get his number. SO, I went out on a limb and put out a 'Missed Connection' on Craigslist. Lo and Behold, ten days later--he e-mails me! He thought I was cute and remembered that I was wearing all black. So, we're getting coffee this weekend. I know, I know what you're all thinking.

BUT, it's just one date and, after a Facebook check, I'm not sure there'll be a second date. Besides, I leave in six weeks. :P

I came home from Robin's last night to a screaming fight between Jen and Betsy over Ryan. Betsy has had Ryan over (as friends) the past few days because they were helping each other with some art projects. Ryan agreed to model for some photos for Betsy, and Jen was FURIOUS to return home to find a shirtless Ryan getting crayon wax getting dripped on his face for a photo. So, she acted huffy for a little while, went to class, then came home and decided to tell Betsy to stop being friends with Ryan and to stop having him over. Generally being bitter and immature and overreactive BIG TIME. I just went into my room and LET IT GO. They tried to involve me at one point and I was like: "UM, NO. I'm not part of this." I just wanted to shout, "JEN. ARE YOU GOING TO BE MAD ABOUT DYLAN OR ABOUT RYAN. YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL THE LOVE AND ALL THE ANGER."

It was silly. But they both apologized once it wound down.

I stepped on my headphones yesterday. I'm very, very glad that Lauren is getting my new ones for my birthday. :)

How are all of you? Only a few more days 'til I get to see you! Love you. xoxo

-Alyssa

My birthday festivities.

I had a shift on the 15th from 9pm-12am, so I turned 20 while sitting at the Commons desk. I ACTUALLY turned 20 at 4:59pm, while I was in Robin's bed.

I woke up at about 10, and just laid there until my dad called at 10:30, then got up and got myself to CLEANING. Our apartment was pretty gross (piles of dishes, clutter, dust, hair), and even though it was my birthday, I was happy to get all the crap out for 1) my party and 2) the girl I may sublet to who is coming to see the apartment tomorrow evening. It's now a trillion times more beautiful, thanks to MOI. :)

Unfortunately, Jen had to take the opportunity to be a complete ASS and talk to her ex-boyfriend on the phone and get into yet ANOTHER fight and cry all over Betsy for twenty minutes while I forced myself not to go in and yell at her. I SWEAR. Jen--Dylan always warns you that he's going to treat you badly. Boys always warn us. Yes, it sucks that he treats you like that, but you choose to engage in it time and time again, so it's your fault. I'm unafraid to say that you getting hurt by Dylan is your fault. If you had just broken it off in the first place instead of fucking him when he visited over fall break, you wouldn't be in this mess. And yet she STILL intends to take him home for Thanksgiving and pretend they're still together. LAME.

ANYWAY, I vented about it to Betsy for an hour or so while Jen ran out to get brunch, and then at about 2:30, Robin called me to tell me that his bus got in 45 minutes earlier than expected--a lovely birthday surprise. He had been in New York to see Andrew WK perform with a string quartet. So, Betsy and I picked him up, and I hung out at Robin's while Betsy and Jen started the cake.

I made it home around 5:30, then helped a mopey Jen dress (she looked all gorgeous :D), then Betsy (who has the most bomb-ass [to borrow a Lauren Term] gold Dolce high-heeled oxfords I've ever seen), then, at about 6:30, I started curling my hair. I was ready by seven, and Robin showed up around 7:20, then Erin and Melissa a few minutes after then. But, of course, my birthday seems to end up being the day people have the least respect for showing up to places on time, so Marla, Paul, and Tiff didn't get there until 8:30. And THEY had the menus! Grrr. So, we ordered our food (only five of us ended up eating out of the group of eleven), and started cake while we were waiting (Hot!Ryan [looking HOT] and Colin joined us for that). The cake was SO rich and tasty. :)

Our food showed up, and we laughed A LOT, about art kids, mostly. :) It was an incredibly pleasant evening, and I have leftovers to look forward to when I get home. :D

I'll try and have some pictures of my HAWT outfit and my AWESOME shoes by this afternoon. :) Thanks for the birthday wishes, you guys! Love you!

-Alyssa

PICSPAM!

FYI, you're about to get slammed with awesome photos. Be warned. :P


Me, seeing how convincing my costume (now more doll than marionette) is on Betsy's bed:


RIDICULOUS EYELASHES.


A better picture of my makeup:


The full costume, bloomers and all:


Robin and Betsy (Put faces to the names)!


Mah roomies, Betsy and Jen!


Me and Robin--guess what his costume is. If you get it, you get a cookie.


Awwww, we love each other. :)


Me and Betsy (as Mickey Mouse)!


Hot!Ryan as Steve Jobs, and Betsy. Isn't he hot? Am I right? :P


Me and my best buds at MICA (minus Marla): Me (and my boobs, which have their own zip code in this picture), Betsy, Jen (who made that Belle dress from scratch), Robin, Paul (as the most hilarious Pokemon trainer of all time), and Tiff (as a Battle Royale kickass chick):




Thoughts? Comments? Love you guys!

-Alyssa

P.S. Oh, by the way--Dan Wolf has a new squeeze. I'm sure those of you friends with him on Facebook saw the pictures of them smooching. Tasteful.:P

"O, say can you see?"

First of all: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AB-FAB! Hope it's amazing. Be safe. :)

(I originally wrote 'Be sage'. So, yeah, get on that, too.)

I got my passport today! It's kind of amazing, because they said it would take three weeks, and it's only been a little over a week. :) Maybe because I'm so close to DC.

My picture is fairly dreadful (the whites of my eyes blend into my skin), but it made me feel this weird surge of patriotism to receive the passport. Sort of an odd reaction--feeling patriotic when you receive a document that allows you passage OUT of your home country. :P

My visa application goes next, and the quick receipt of my passport is a lovely relief--the visa is supposed to take FOREVS. Em, any insight?

The passport's quick delivery is just another nice reminder that God is looking out for me. :)

The rest of today will be spent eating, thrift-shopping for my Halloween costume (I'm copying one of my Mom's ideas and being a Marionette), then curling up at home and rereading the rest of Watchmen. Did you ever finish that, Ab?

What are all of you doing for Halloween? Costumes, parties, pumpkin-carving?

It's so gray and rainy here--it was surprising humid this morning, but it's cooled down a bit since then. Strong winds, too. I want to hear some thunder and see some lightning! (But only after I get home and curl up--my living room has four windows with an awesome view of the sky.)

In other news, the drama has settled between my roommates, but unfortunately for Ryan, he suffered a very, VERY painful--erm--personal injury and has been out-of-commission for a couple of days, knocked out on painkillers. (Rotated testicle. WTF.) He's doing better, but is, naturally, a little embarrassed. Poor guy.

ANYWAY. Not much else to report, but I hope you're all staying warm and happy and healthy. :)

Love you!

-Alyssa

HOW much drama is going down in my apartment?

THIS much drama is going down in my apartment:

Last night, me, Jen, Betsy, and Ryan had a little campfire cookout in Ryan's backyard. It started out okay, until Jen got upset because she was thinking that something was going on with Betsy and Ryan, so she went to leave. (She and Ryan are no longer together, but she's still totally into him.) Ryan followed her and managed to convince her to come back.

While he was out with Jen, Betsy and I talked about the situation. Betsy insisted there was nothing going on, but I pressed her a little bit: "Do you like Ryan?" And she was evasive for a few minutes. "Do you like Ryan? Straight up, it's okay if you do." "Yeah, I do." "Okay."

Then, Jen and Betsy went and talked, and Ryan and I talked. He also rejected the claim that there was soomething going on, and I pressed, and he rejected. We talked some more and it was fine--he seemed to be thinking the same things I was, and I finally said things were going to be complicated because Betsy, in fact, likes him.

Him: "Seriously? She actually does?"

Me: "UM. DUH."

Him: "Yeah, that's complicated."

So, Betsy and Jen re-emerged, and we walked to the playground. Immediately, Jen came to me and said that Betsy was about to admit her feelings and talk things out with Ryan. Me: "WTF?"

So, I pretended I had to pee and we walked back to Ryan's apartment, and poor Jen burst into tears and said she didn't want to be the girl that kept them apart out of her own bitterness and jealousy. I had a couple flashbacks to the times when Lacie would start dating a guy I liked, then say "I won't go out with him if you don't want me to." Which made me the bad guy.

I felt deeply for Jen at that moment. Betsy and Ryan didn't come back, so we went home. Jen knew there was something up, and my own suspicions were growing. I was actually getting kind of annoyed that I hadn't seen it before. I left Jen at the apartment and called Robin, and filled him in on the whole thing--he was blown away, of course, and we totally see eye-to-eye on it's ridiculousness.

I got back to the apartment, and I heard Betsy in Jen's room, confirming that she and Ryan are now together. (That was quick.) THEN I HEARD RYAN'S VOICE. And I was like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE?" If I had been Jen, I never could've handled both of them together.

I finally went to bed, and got filled in this morning by Betsy (apparently Jen slept in Betsy's bed, how did she do that? I'd die.), and apparently Ryan has really serious feelings for Betsy. Like, has totally liked her for awhile. I died for Jen.

Later in the morning, Jen and I were in the living room and she started crying again. I went to sit with her and just hold her for a little while.

Then she said, "I made a huge mistake. I misjudged him and just thought he was a guy who didn't want a relationship. But he didn't want a relationship with ME. If I had dealt with this better, I would be the one with him." And then I thought of Chase and Alli, and I empathized so deeply with Jen that a few tears leaked out for her.

Then Betsy came in and SHE started crying, saying she was the reason everyone was miserable. So I immediately stopped crying, because it was too much. The atmosphere was no longer me feeling for Jen, but Jen and Betsy feeling for each other, so I removed myself emotionally.

I decided to go and talk with Ryan, and with Betsy's blessing, I met up with him at his house, and got his side of the story. He was incredibly gentlemanly and cool about it, and seemed grateful for my support. Oh, he's so cute. I admit, I'm a little bit jealous that he wasn't into me, after all the nice things he said, but it's okay. I can handle it with minimal issue. :P But I DID say "So, in like a month and a half, my turn, right? Just making your way around the apartment!" He luckily had a good sense of humor about it. :D

So, Ryan and Betsy are out together now, and Jen is venting to me, but she's being sensible, level-headed for the most part. I'm glad I can be here to comfort all three of them in different ways, but it's going to be very stressful for a few weeks.

I wish Robin here here! :(

Love you guys--think of me. :*

-Alyssa

ETA: Oh, bee-tee-dubs. Jen's ex Dylan is here to visit for a week now. :D She already has a rocky relationship with him. Sheesh.

Updates from/for everyone!

I know I just updated earlier, but everyone (minus Bri) updated today, and I wanted to, too. :)

Today I woke up at 12:30--I stayed up 'til almost 7 AM--and I applied for my passport. Very successfully, as it was super easy! The lady who helped me out was wonderful, and she called me "sweetie" a lot. :D

THEN, I picked up Twilight when I got home--I started reading it on Thursday. I enjoy it, but there are pockets of text where I'm like "Bella, SRSLY. Tone down the despair and drama. You don't even know him. And you talk as though you're a novel narrator and not a real girl."

I lounged and read for a couple hours, until about 5, when Ryan showed up, and he, Betsy, Jen and I went to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. (Robin is home in Pittsburgh, and I miss him. :( ) It was really cute in places, surprisingly rough in others, and disarmingly honest overall. There's this part where Nick and Norah are lying together, and she's embarrassed, and he just tells her not to be because she's beautiful, and it's AMAZING how spot-on he was. It sounded too intimate, too real. I got shivers. YOU all know how guys sound when you're both being intimate and affectionate--it was like that.

SO, then the four of us went back to our apartments and got bundled up to walk to this Turkish restaurant for dinner. I met Ryan downstairs when I was done getting my coat on. I was wearing my pink patterned coat, pink silk scarf (thank you, Drea), and my beige wool cloche, and as soon as I stepped outside he was like,

"You look really beautiful."

Me: "THANK YOU!"

Him: "You look like something out of a movie."

It was very sweet.

So, we all walked to the restaurant, which was really cool, and we sat in this raised, enclosed booth, like a puppet show stage almost, complete with curtains, and there was a belly dancer and my food tasted like glue but it was okay because Ryan paid like a gentleman. :)

We got back to the apartment, and I read a little while the others situated their movie, and right before 12, I got up to leave, and Ryan held his arms out to hug. Naturally, I restrained myself from jumping him and his hotness and hugged him like a normal human being, then Jen asked for a hug, and then I hugged Betsy after for obvious reasons.

So, let's recap: Before the movie, he said I was lovely (he's called me that multiple times the last few days), and that I have cute moments all the time (I didn't mention that before), then I was 'really beautiful', the he hugs me. Interesting.

And HAWT.

:P

Anyway, I'm trying not to fall asleep now. Time to look at mindless stuff that will make me laugh. :)

Love you all, dearly.

Alyssa

Personal Letters.

To Drea--

I'm so sorry about Nick. I know we both knew you guys wouldn't get married, but it's still so disappointing to see that structure you've built up for almost four years collapse so unceremoniously.

I would have hoped that Nick would have more respect for you, and a willingness to, if not work harder, let you down more gracefully than this. For someone who seems to be so even, his whims and emotions get the better of him sometimes.

You were in love for a long time, and I can't imagine how much this sucks. But you know you'll always have us.

To Emily--

I'm so excited for you to head off to England and have a blast and meet new people and make new friends (but not make TOO good of friends and forget us :P). You deserve it and I can't wait to hear your stories!

I'm ESPECIALLY excited for you to spend your break with me in Italy! Hopefully, by the time your break rolls around, I'll have gotten the hang of Florence and my routine. :) And we can go woo some Italian men. For you, of course, if you haven't found a cute and charming Oxfordian by then. :P

To our awesome upcoming spring! Cheers!

To Ab-Fab--

Despite whatever conflict arises, I'm really glad you're with Greg, and have had the chance to feel what it's like to be cherished. You're completely cherishable, and I hope you know that that's the way it should always be, not just "the best it could be".

You're awesome and we want you to take care of yourself! Love you!

To Bri--

Where are yoooooou?! You should get out of the wilderness for an hour to blog and let us all in on your adventures. Bear Grylls would be jealous. :P Either way, meet some brawny ski instructor while you're at it. :D You're so lovely and smart and funny, and it would be nice to hear from you more often!

Love you guys!

-Alyssa

P.S. I totally told Hot!Ryan he was hot last night, and I wasn't even embarrassed! I rule. :P

P.P.S. Oh, and I never mentioned that Lacie defriended me on Facebook, did I?

Hey guys!

Hi!

It's been awhile since I've updated, although I can't say there's much to recap.

Chase is supposed to come visit soon, in 2 weeks, I think. He called last night and wanted to talk to Robin and my roommates, which was a very pleasant little thing. They all said he seemed really nice, and he said they were great. :) I can't wait for him to meet them! I can't wait for him to get here!

That being said, we had a funny conversation about sleeping arrangements that went like this:

Chase: What are your expectations for when I get there?
Alyssa: What do you mean? (Translation: I know exactly what you mean, but you need to say it.)
C: ...
A: I want you to sleep in my bed, but I think it might be best if you sleep on the couch.
C: Me too. I was going to do that. You can just come visit me on the couch.
A: Exactly!
C: And if you happen to fall asleep there or vice-versa...
A: Right, of course.
C: We're not fooling anyone.
A: No we are not.

Is that lame? Should I be stricter?

To whoever is watching Gossip Girl:

IT'S AN ADDICTION. I'M A PATHETIC HUMAN BEING BUT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THESE FICTITIOUS CHARACTERS' LIVES. I GIVE A (RATHER LARGE) DAMN ABOUT CHUCK AND BLAIR. (ALTHOUGH I COULDN'T GIVE A SMALLER DAMN ABOUT DAN AND SERENA), AND IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE JOEY V. AND I HAVE A PHONE DATE AFTER THE EPISODE ENDS. SAD.

(BUT WONDERFUL.)

Ahem. Enough of that. :)

Last night, me, Betsy. Hot!Ryan. Jen, and Robin had a blast dancing in our hallway--we had a strobe light (thanks to Betsy), and ended up taking some cool pictures (I'm sure you'll see them on Facebook in the next few days). Not to mention some amazing extended-exposure photos, tres cool.

Also, Hot!Ryan is hot.

Love you girls, and miss you!

-Alyssa