Graduation Weekend, and 'Why I Love Brian', Part 26

The reality of graduation is starting to hit me. UGH.

Actually, I'm really excited. There are some amazing things happening in my life, even alongside the money troubles and long-distance drama. I'm excited to come back to Sewickley again for the summer and a bit beyond. Granted, it was NOT my (or my mom's) plan for me to move back in--I had no desire to work backwards. However, I'm embracing it because it's necessary.

My only issue is the stress of finding a job and earning money. Mom is eager for me to get work in the arts right away, but that's difficult enough as it is without A) a license, or B) (even if I had one) a car to use. I have a friend, Sara Beth, who works at ModCloth--a great creative outlet and Pittsburgh company, but it looks like they're only hiring for jobs that are a bit out of my skill set--web development and management stuff. And Joey V. works at The Cafe in Sewickley, which apparently pays well. I've never served, but it's a nice place (although I've heard the drama is intense--at least while Chase worked there).

I'm not too worried, but I don't like the pressure being applied--it's unnecessary, especially when I haven't even gotten home to survey the options.

However, all of that is on the back burner, as we mount an attack on the monstrosity known as 'Graduation Weekend'. John and I want to blend the families for graduation dinner, which his mom is totally up for, but...my mom is hesitant. In part due to nerves about my growing up and moving quickly, etc., and in part about wanting it to be a family day, and in another (I'm willing to bet) larger part, money ["I'd be responsible to foot the bill at whatever restaurant they chose for you, me, and my parents"]. Which I completely sympathize with, but...not the best excuse, as Mimi and Pappy have ALWAYS offered (cheerfully) to treat us. Is it a pride issue? She did say she wasn't interested in Mimi and Pappy paying. It's whatever.

However, she acknowledged without prompting that John and I are going to get married, so I was pleased about that.

Mom, instead, wants to get drinks with John's family and have dinner at my aunt's (who she has not even consulted yet, by the way). If that's the way it has to be, I'm okay with it, but I don't really get her hesitance. I don't want our families to be strangers to each other!

Not to mention the crunch of hanging my show between the 8th and 12th, coming home on the 13th, rehearsal dinner on the 14th, wedding the 15th, home on the 16th! Insanity! But it'll be fun. :)

@@@

For some humor, Brian and I had this hysterical (to us) conversation about founding a religion based on the song 'Bet on It' from High School Musical 2.

Seriously. Watch this first to understand what the hell we're talking about.

Me: [on 'Do It For Our Country' from Grease 2] It's not 'Bet On It' quality, but good.

Brian: Well, to be fair, nothing is. Ever. Past, present or future.

Me: Soooo true. That song changed my life and the way I look at modern movement.

Brian: If we were asked to make a time capsule of human kind to send out into space, 'Bet On It' would be my number one choice

Me: Absolutely. SO GOOD.

Brian: It represents music, movie, tv, art, one of our future Gods in his early days.

Me: Totally. Can we found betonitism?

Brian: It's a perfect choice for a time capsule. We will base an entire philosophy upon it.

Me: We'll be Boltonites.

Brian: I'm really liking this.

Me: Like 'Peace be with you', 'Bet on it' will be our blessing.

Brian: We can have a 'Bolton's Prayer':

"We will not talk at you"

"We will not get in your head"

"We will listen to our own heart talking"

"We will count on our own self instead"

Me: YESSSSS.

And when we initiate people, we'll have a questionnaire:

"Did you ever:

A) Doubt your dreams would ever come true?

B) Blame the world but never blame you?"

Brian: Hahahahahha, this is too much.

Me: Oh! And "Did you ever:

C) Push away the ones you should have held close?

D) Let go?

E) Not know?"

Brian: Hahahaha, I just got to that part in the song... as I have it on repeat now.

Me: And when they get accepted, they'll have to say, "I will never try to live a lie again".

Brian: The choreography just blows my mind.

Me: The guy must have been on 'luudes when he made it up.

Brian: Seriously. He woke up that day and was like, "MAN have I got a great idea for this dance sequence. We'll have him dancing on the golf course... and inexplicably start running and doing bizarre jumps every few steps... It'll look GREAT!"

Me: "Question Three: When met with a golf course, you do what?:

A) Throw the sand from the sandtraps emoishly.

B) Prance around doing complicated leaps.

C) Watch yourself reflectively in the water hazard."

Brian: D) All of the above.

Me: YES. Trick question. It is ALWAYS all of the above... Because Troy does whatever it takes.

@@@

We have fun. :)

Hope you're all well!

-A.

Friday the Thirteenth, 2008

-Get my driver's permit renewed. Well, I'm halfway there. I sent in the request.
-Take my driver's test.
-Talk to Mom about applying to SACI. Make final plans.
-Apply to SACI by November.
-Getting my passport.
-Call MICA about withdrawing for a leave of absence in order to go to Florence.

The MICA people have this policy where students can only transfer abroad credits if they go through MICA. At least, that's what I've been lead to believe. So it looks like I'll be taking the MICA avenue to get to SACI (Studio Art Center International, because I don't think I specified), and at this point, I am going to Florence in January of 2009. Whoa.

I talked to my mom about SACI this morning, and she had this way about her that sort of said 'Why are you asking me? As long as you can afford it, you can do whatever you want.' In fact, she may have said those words.

I guess I'm not used to not asking for things, or at least running them by authority for the OK. I was brought up in a house where I feared, not necessarily punishment, but my mom's disappointment, and I knew I had to ask to do anything, out of respect and a need for approval. This is where Lauren and I differ GREATLY. She doesn't ask. She just does.

Or doesn't, in the case of her college plans. Meh.

So, I'm going to SACI, and taking Illustration, Painting, Art Conservation (yippee!), and I may even put my new-old camera to good use and take a photo class. And Italian I, of course. :)

Eep! This is actually happening! :D

So, to update the lurvely Emily about the Sewickley life while she and Bri gallivant around in Europe: Drea, Nick, Dan, and I had a sort-of double date thing last night. It was SO fun, in the most mundane and small-town teenager way--we hung out at the SA playground, then went to Giant Eagle and bought ice cream and Oreos, and just played with Drea's dog, Tucker, and talked. And then, we all went up to Bell Acres baseball field, climbed onto the dugout, and watched the stars for a couple hours. (And, of course, I missed the big, gorgeous shooting star that apparently streaked past.) It was one of the nicest nights. :) I've had a lot of nice nights lately.

As far as Dan and I go (and I know this has been a ridiculous saga, so I apologize! :P) we are just going to stay how we are. I'm comfortable and he seems comfortable (and who wouldn't be? Nothing too official, just having a good time together and smooching from time to time.), and if he wants to bring up something more serious he can. My apprehension (well, there are a couple, but, well...) is that, okay, let's say we make it official, get serious about each other in the coming summer months. At the end of the summer, we're in two different states. And even if we decided to do the long-distance thing (which I'm not really interested in) I would be headed to Florence in January. And, I mean, come on. I think you all know what I'm saying.

;)

Work was slow today, so less tips, but more time to talk to Brandon, my co-worker Sara Beth's boyfriend. I think they're both really funny and smart, and they're really fun to talk to. I'm pretty dissimilar from them (and the majority of the world :P) in the sense of morals, religion, and politics, but we're all respectful and open, and it's a pleasure to air out my ideas with them.

Have I rambled enough?! I'm off to text Drea and help her set up HER blog, darnit!

Love you,

Alyssa