Mister Pitiful

So I told myself:

No Photoshop.

Not until after my Psych exam on Wednesday. 

I caved.

Aleutian Low

Good Saturday.

The cold weather is finally starting to clear out 

which can only mean one thing for no-beach-Gaineville - 

that there's still no beach.

So we did what every other UF student has to do when 

going to the beach isn't an option. 

Lake Wauburg. 

[photos to come - used film] 

Tonight, however, I went to the "Rock the Cradle" 

March of Dimes Benefit for premature babies and used my didg. 

I accompanied Bethany and her sister Caela 

and we had a rockin' good time. 

The benefit was a concert with local high school bands performing.

We of course were eager to hear Aleutian Low, 

Carson and Blair's band. 

They were scheduled to play around 9:30 but got pushed 

back because some of the other bands took up some time. 

It was all good though, 

it was rad to hear all the other bands. 

Some were actually pretty good - okay, only one besides AL was worth listening too, 

but I mean - they all had some good parts, 

even if it was when they said they were ending - but at least they could play. 

More than I can say. 

Call me biased, 

but I think Aleutian Low was the best band of the night. 

Blair has got some mad talent on that guitar, 

and Carson on the drums - dang. 

[and their base player too - much better than the one in Angus] 

I kind of wish I could play an instrument well. 

or sing. 

Aleutian Low all the way!

Yessir.

Let's hear it for Aleutian Low! 

That's what I'm talkin' about.

After the the final band started playing, 

we decided to go to Mochi. 

Bethany and Caela didn't have a good first visitation 

so I thought it was my duty to set them straight. 

Because Mochi is the best.

Shuttle This.

Whoa. 

February's ending?! 

What?

I feel like I just started semester two
and it's basically half way complete?
Crazy.

Time is flying by. 

I'm not complaining though - the sooner I finish this semester,

the sooner it will be summer. 

Just gotta keep that perspective.

I started volunteering at a local elementary school [with Kate]
that Cynthia just so happens to teach at. 

And it just so happens that I volunteer in her class. 

She always tells me stories about her kids, so I'm glad

I finally get to put faces to their names.
I'm feeling a story of my own on it's way.
These kids are phunny.

Today was one of the last shuttle launches before they
change the space program.
We're really lucky to live so close to the space center that we can
just go to the top of the nearest parking garage and watch the shuttle take off.
Literally watching history.

I had my first job interview today.
It was fine.
I didn't get the job.
I think it's because I said I would only be working for the remainder of this semester
because I'm leaving in the summer for my mission trip.
Oh well.
I made this stellar photoshop though:

To Brennan,
who would rather live in house tree than underground.

Tonight.

Here's to a better tomorrow. 

Because today was awful.

This is home.

I have this problem where 

whenever I start a project I have to finish it right away.

I can't leave a piece of work undone. 

It drives me crazy. 

Like with photoshops that I do - even if it's just for fun - I can't sleep unless I know 

that it's all done. 

During the Summer I wanted to print all my photos to put in a photo album and 

spent $170 doing so because I couldn't do it little by little,
I had to have them all at once.
And recently, I bought this underwater film camera [from CVS - quality - I know]
and I planned on being conservative,
taking a few photos here and there but not developing it
for a while.
Well, that didn't happen -
I started and finished the roll in one day.

 

 Every photo that I took of Cassie and Emily had to be begged for.
If no one was going to let me take photos of them, then it was
only a matter of time before I started taking them of myself.
Which I know is really dumb and embarrassing -
but if you're going to be embarrassed - then don't waste the film.
I was just trying to do the -half in the water - half not in the water
sort of thing.
Instead I just look really cool.

 I knew the beach underwater photos might not come out very clear
so I tried to convince Emily and Cassie to jump in the pool.
I was fighting a losing battle because the pool was f.r.e.e.z.i.n.g.
But then Emily was like, "let's just do this."
and she basically had to convince me to jump in.
It was ICE cold.
But I got the photos.
Except all of the ones of me in the pool
didn't come out for whatever reason.
Story of my life.

High school photographer Kelly Logan
was awarded three gold keys for her work in the
Scholastic High School Art Competition.
[that's a big deal]

 

I finally got to see her work
and all the other selected pieces.
It made me really depressed.
I just wish I could draw or paint or even photograph extraordinarily well.
These people are super talented.

Photo Credit : Mr. Wetzl

But for some of the work I was just like, "Really?"
I got three Honorable Mentions - which okay, fine - that's an accomplishment - I guess
but some of the things that got keys - man. 
Oh well.
It's in the past now.
And I'm proud of Kelly.
I mean, you don't just get three gold keys every day now do you.
Look at her, growing up so fast.

We had a celebratory lunch and then ice cream at Sloan's.
Great ice-cream - great name - freaky bathroom.
Kelly was so excited to show me.
You step in the bathroom - which conveniently has a window into the store -
so you can use the bathroom and check on your kids while doing so.
When you turn on the switch - the window goes all foggy - but that still weirds me out.
What if you forget to turn on the light?

Being home is so great and relaxing.
I'm not thinking about leaving.
I always put it off until the very last possible moment.
So this weekend it was Monday 5:15a.m.
I mean, who's in a rush to get back to cafeteria food,
loneliness, and classes anyway?
Not me.

I just love them too much to say no.