And so it begins again!

I finally have a little breathing room today so I decided I needed to update about the past two weeks. It's so crazy that in such a short span of time I've finished working, come back to Westminster, gone through band camp, packed my life away into boxes and hung it up in a new room, made new friends, connected with old friends, gone home for the day, played a new board game, danced, slept in, and so much more. Needless to say, it's good to be back.

Where to begin? So much to say. I finished up my last week at Playcamp on a great note. I loveee my kids and my coworkers. It was a very bittersweet end to the summer. I was excited about what was to come, but I was also sad to leave everyone, especially when I knew there was still a week left of camp that I was going to miss. But alas, I was free! I spent the next couple of days packing and preparing for the craziness that was ahead.

On Tuesday, the 18th, I left for Westminster two days prior to band camp. On one of the hottest days of the summer, my family and I dragged all of my crap up to the 3rd floor of Ferg...only to find that I did not have bathroom stalls or shower curtains. LOVELY. That problem has eventually fixed itself, but I took two showers without curtains and had to use other bathrooms on other floors for about a week. But anyway, I wasn't feeling too great about Ferg, but currently I am pretty happy about it. After settling in a bit, I joined the other band officers down in the music department and Dr. Greig took us all out to dinner at Lanigan's, an Irish pub and eatery. That was a ton of fun. It made me feel so great to be back. The next day, we woke up bright and early and spent the day organizing, planning, and setting up for the next day. We also picked up a golf cart that we got to use for band camp!!! It was sooo awesome. Hahaha.

Anyway, the next day was band camp!! Band camp is one of those things, at least at Westminster, where you are completely excited because it's awesome, but you also have to take a step back, breathe a few deep breaths, and then dive in. It's absolutely exhausting, both physically and mentally, and it takes a lot of will power, but it's also really rewarding and fun. We met all of the new clarinets and realized just how AMAZING the section was going to be. The week was great. The drill looks really nice, the music is getting better each practice, and we had a really great time. Mandatory fun nights were all successful! I really enjoyed my experience as an officer...getting to know Dr. Greig has been extremely valuable and fun. The other officers were a blast to work with and I loved having some leadership and responsibility.

(Okay, so I wrote that yesterday and now I have another chance to continue writing...) Once band camp ended last Thursday, Fresh Start began, meaning Aaron and I had a weekend to ourselves to relax and hang out before everyone else arrived and classes started. On Friday, we slept in and took a little road trip back to my house to drop off some things and pick up a few items I had forgotten. My parents took us out to dinner and then we went to Target before relaxing a bit and making the trip back to WC. That evening, we played the most amazing game with Ali, Derek, Alyssa, and Milt. It's called the Game of Things and it's like a cross between Apples to Apples and Balderdash. I loveeee it. That was awesome. The next day, after sleeping in, Aaron and I went to Marks Music, Sheetz, a toystore, and then to Thiel to see his sister's new apartment. We had a really good time. It was great to see Sarah too. After a much needed nap, we went to the J.D. Eicher and the Goodnights concert on campus, which is always wonderful. I was happy to see my freshmen bandies enjoying themselves. Finally, we took a late night run to Walmart and crashed. Sunday morning, I accidently didn't get up until noon (oops). Aaron and I went to lunch, played N64, ate dinner, and took a nap. I had my first official hall meeting for the year and then we joined the freshmen at the Reggae dance. It was a good time. I tried to get a lot of things accomplished yesterday (Monday) and still ended up finding myself with nothing to do. Hahaha oh Westminster. It was such a great weekend though and VERY much needed after such a ridiculously crazy week.

Today was the start of classes! I always get that nervous/anxious/excited feeling before classes begin and this year was no different. I don't think I had as much time to comprehend or realize what was about to start, however. Or maybe I just didn't really worry so much. Who knows. I woke up at the dreaded hour of 6:30 AM (this will soon change) and got ready for my 7:40 Math Perspectives II class. It ended up going really well. I like my professor and it wasn't too painful. We went the entire hour and half though and I went straight to my Jane Austen class. I think I am going to loveeee this class, except it's going to be a ton of work. I already have to read Northanger Abbey and do a report/presentation for next week. Yikes. But my professor is so passionate about Jane Austen so that just makes things that much more exciting and enjoyable. Later on today I have my Ed Psych class, so that should be interesting. I hope it goes well. I know I will have to do another practicum experience, so that is both nerve-wracking and exciting. Tomorrow I luck out and don't have class until 10:30 (on MWF's), but it's Bio 101, so ew. And I have a lab. And band rehearsal...that's going to be a slight disaster, considering it's our only practice before our first game on Saturday! But yay!

This weekend is going to be awesome also because the Gateway Clipper Dance is on Friday! I can't WAIT. Ahh, it's so wonderful to be back. My goals this semester are to spend more time with new people, work really hard in my classes, and participate in things that are really going to benefit me and my future career. So, cross my fingers and hope that it all goes well!

Things are winding down

I guess I didn't realize when I last posted that I would be leaving for school in exactly one month. Now it's down to nine days before I move myself into Ferg and start my second year of WC band camp. And I am SO EXCITED.

I feel like a lot of things have happened since I last wrote. I hung out with some friends, worked of course, oh, and turned 19 finally. My birthday was interesting. Aaron came the day before and celebrated with me. We had a fun time together, even though we didn't end up making it to Station Square for dinner. I was just happy that he was with me. On my actual birthday, I went to church and then family came over for a late lunch and dessert. It was pretty fun, but nothing too extraordinary. I was able to go out to dinner with Amy, Karen, and Megan at Applebees though and that was a good time. Amy and I got sung to (free dessertttt). Afterwards, all of us headed to the church to say hi to Brian, but that was kind of an epic fail. Alas, I became a year older. I am happy to say that I did not get my wisdom teeth out, go to Cedar Point, or get hit in the head with a frisbee this year. Woo!

Hmm...I really can't remember what else I've been up to. Aaron's visited a couple times and I've gone out to Agawam, which is always a highlight. :) I finally met up with Alyssa at Panera and we talked forever...so awesome. I also hung out with Katelyn and Jill one night at Starbucks, which was a lot of fun. I hadn't seen Katelyn since last fall and Jill since Christmas break so it was so nice to catch up. Ummm other than that, I guess just work. As I've mentioned before, I really love work. There's been so much drama recently, but it's all fun. We unfortunately had a big injury this past week, but luckily our little Katie will be alright! I have one week left and while I am really pumped, I am reallllly going to miss these kids. I have been so fortunate and blessed to have this job and it is going to be sad when I have to say goodbye. It's also hard to know that these kids probably won't remember me after a certain amount of time. But I hope that I've had some sort of effect on them, whether they remember or not :) Aww playcamp.

I've been packing a lot this weekend. My dining room is covered with all of my crap and while the pile is growing and growing, I am not done yet! I hope that packing now will prevent me from becoming stressed out later this week, even though I know the minor freaking out is inevitable. It's so weird to think about how I felt a year ago about leaving for school...scared, excited, nervous, uncomfortable but accepting, ready for something new. And now I feel extremely excited and anxious and just a little bit strange just because I've grown so accustomed to this summer routine and now it's all going to be different...but that's definitely good. It's also really crazy that I am moving in on the 18th and yet classes don't start until September 1st. Not that I'm complaining...I am not quite ready for the studying and homeworking and what not yet. Because I am a band officer this year, I am moving in early (two days before band camp) so I'll be able to get settled in and ready for my SIXTH year of marching....ahhh. That's kind of ridiculous hahahaha. It's things like band camp/marching band that I know are really awesome and fun, but I have to take a deep breath beforehand because I know how much work, time, and effort it takes. But it's so great.

You know, overall, I'm pretty pleased with this summer. It's weird for me to admit that, since I didn't do all that much, but I'm okay with that. I had fun for the most part and I did everything right with jobs and making money and also spending time with Aaron. I do wish I spent more time with friends, but I've had fun and it's not quite over yet :) I'm going to do my best to make the most of this week and enjoy it. I hope I'll be able to write an update soon once I get back to school...cross my fingers. I regret not making the time last year, but it's so damn hard! Let's see how it goes this year!