Where in the World Am I?

I am in China, where the sun don't shine (literally) on Facebook and blogs.

All will be back to normal when I return to the place of stars and stripes on July 9th.

Until then, I shall be racking up adventures and pictures and possibly testing out blogging through e-mail.

Congratulations, Class of 2010!

It's the end of an important chapter for the Class of 2010, but the book is far from being complete. I congratulate them for accomplishing all that they have in the past four years, as well as in their entire academic career. It blows my mind to think that I won't be seeing them in the hallways or at lunch or in classes next year. As a photographer, I was able to be down in the field with them. It was amazing to be the first to see their reactions as they received their diplomas... Some teared up, some took a deep breath in anticipation, some let out a deep breath of relief, some whispered 'I did it!', and some merely grinned dazzling, beautiful smiles in disbelief.

My Shirley... I love her to bits and pieces, my Samoan friend

The first Chargers graduating class has officially drifted away!

Singing the Clear Springs school song for the last time

Caps in the air!

Marybeth's excitement :)

Five/Five, 4

I am a senior now.

Wow.

To keep this post short and sweet, I have the SATs tomorrow in the early morning, so I'm going to jot down a few words and proceed to scram.

I love...

1. Surviving junior year: There were plenty of moments where I seriously doubted that I would come out of this year alive. But I did it. I did it and made new friends, had new experiences along the way. I'm disgruntled at everything junior year has thrown at me, but I'm also grateful for it for honing my resilience and determination. 

2. Long e-mails to/from my best friend: enough said. There's nothing more therapeutic. I can ramble on and on to her, and before I know it, it's about fifty paragraphs long.

3. Skype! I've been having Skype dates with my sister and have planned ones with my roommates from camp last year. Modern technology is a savior in itself.

4. Build-A-Bear. It's happiness in a store.

5. Summer. Self-explanatory.

Some Days...

Just turn out really amazing :)

I went to IHOP with my pals today after school. I love it there. The sweet lady made me a smiley face on my strawberry and banana french toast with whipped cream. I am salivating in my mind as I think about it.

Ashley and I then made a detour to the mall to make a Build-A-Bear for my beloved English teacher :) The name's Emerson, Emmy for short, and it's just the most adorable little cub with its owl t-shirt on. I'm about to keep it for myself.

And, of course, no trip to Baybrook is complete without a stop at Marble Slab Creamery. It is, perhaps, my favorite place on Earth. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in this world that a cup of Sweet Cream with fresh strawberries cannot cure.

Last day of junior year is tomorrow. I'm so ready.

Half days at school are absolutely wondrous! It feels sensational to come home and sleep and do nothing. Doing nothing. How good it feels to say I'm capable of doing that for once!

I shall bask in nothingness for just one day and then post about my packing adventures tomorrow :)

Happy Memorial Day!

With all the parties and fun that happens every year on on Memorial Day, it's hard to remember that the true meaning of the holiday is to honor our fallen soldiers. We must first and foremost thank and honor those that have been so brave, so patriotic, so selfless.

At the same time, this three day weekend has left me more relaxed and spirited than I have been for quite a long time. Today was the big birthday bash that celebrated about five of my best friends' birthdays. I had a blast at the crawfish boil/BBQ that seemed like such a kick in the face to the toughest academic year of my life.

All pictures are taken with my iPhone and edited with: CameraBag, ShakeItLite, or ShakeItPhoto apps.

With Sarah and Nicole, my best friends since 6th grade. We've come a long, long way.

Meg and Brina, my best girlfriends from WAVE that go to Springs :)

Hostess with the mostest :P

I do so overlike this photo :) Sarah and Kris, and a lone crawfish!

It's so weird seeing this guy every day for three years to seeing him only once a year now :(

William! My brother. He never fails to crack me up.

Group picture! I love them all greatly :)

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...And then... I came home and pigged out on Sonic:

Ashley's gotten me hooked on Cranberry Limeades... Best drink ever created.

Mm... Fried food. How much more All-American can you get on such an All-American day?

Overall, a successful day. Now... for the last four (half) days of school!

Five/Five, 3

I love...

1. Becoming president of NHS! Really exciting and really nervewracking... Hopefully NHS is going to be a blast this upcoming year. I'm very excited :)

2. The last full day of school! We're watching a different movie in every class, basically, so it's been really chill and mellow. ...With an exception of prank wars? And a hot air balloon randomly parked in our back lot?

3. Wearing heels: there's just something so alluring about heels that I love. I've worn my sister's four-inch Kate Spades twice in the past two weeks. Picture up later!

4. Electronic Monopoly: my friend brought this credit-card, more streamlined version of the classic boardgame to school this week. Though it could never take the place of good, old-fashioned paper money, I loved the little credit card machines and the property available for purchase.

5. Moist, heavenly chocolate cake. Self-explanatory.