GRADUATION

 Here are the truths of my reality as I write this...

- I'm sitting in Boston Logan Airport waiting to board my flight home to Seattle.
- I graduated from college yesterday.
- In exactly two weeks, I'll be in another airport, preparing to board my flight to London.

This does not feel like real life.  At all.  I mean, every time I think about all this and realize that this is actually the reality of my life, I'm in awe.  Literally, too good to be true.  I can't even.  And even just focusing on the fact that I'm now a college graduate...!!  I'm done with school.  That's ridiculous.  It feels weird, but in a good way.  I don't miss it... yet.  I'm sure I will miss some aspects eventually, but right now I'm just so caught up in everything that has happened, is happening, and is going to happen, that I actually don't have the brain capacity to think about anything else.  It's all overload.  So I'm just going to be here in my happy place until my internal hard drive clears up a bit.

...I'm done with school.

What?

NEIGHBORHOOD LIVIN'

The past week I've been living just outside Boston proper, in Brookline with my friend, Nicole.  Move out of the dorms was last Saturday, but since I have my internship on Pericles through May 12, I needed to remain in Boston that long before leaving until graduation.  And I gotta say, it's really refreshing to live in a community that isn't in the downtown part of the city!  I mean, just look at those cherry blossom trees, and that sunlight through the greenery.  Gorgeous.  And homey.  While I love living in city, it's nice to go back to my roots of living in the bordering neighborhoods.

Monday I'm leaving for Florida for a few days, then coming back next weekend for graduation.  Monday is also three weeks until I leave for London again!  SO excited.

A [FAILED] LITTLE JINGLE FOR YOUR DAY

The sun was shining,

t'was a lovely day!

What was in the bag?

It's my cap and gown

for graduation day!

 Okay, so I tried to write a little 4-line verse there, based off of the opening to Avenue Q since that was what was stuck in my head while I walked around in the sun today, but alas, I am not a songwriter.  Nor should I try to write poems, stories, or anything really.  I mean, I've already written six papers in the last week - why on earth am I actually lending brain power, however minimal, to writing anything else?  Exactly.

But the moral of the story I was trying to make all sing-songy was that I picked up my cap and gown and everything else graduation related today!  I got home, pulled it all out, hung it up all nice because the instructions said to so the wrinkles from being folded would fall out, then realized I'm moving on Saturday and then going to Florida and back before graduation.  So really, I should've just left it in it's packaging because I'm pretty sure I gave it more wrinkles putting it back in again.  That fabric is hard to fold, yo!  And this is why I fail at being domestic in any way.  Anywho, I'll be the girl walking in the wrinkly gown while everyone else is all sleek and shiny and wrinkle-free.  Won't be able to miss me.

FRIDAY FUN DAY

Each year, the Techies' Union (a group I belong to which techs shows and such for other groups within the university), has an end of the year "fun day", which usually is a city wide scavenger hunt and dinner.  This year, however, we didn't have a big enough group available on Friday to do the scavenger hunt, so we did lunch and then a movie and games instead.

It was a lot of fun - the perfect way to end the year, especially since our lunch was SO GOOD.  I had this burger... oh man, this burger.  Pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, green chile salsa, onions, avocado, and a big juicy patty on a delicious roll - mouthwatering, finger licking goooooood.

But I digress.

With our Friday fun day ended my last week of college.  No more class, no more school events/activities/extracurriculars, no more homework.  Just the week of exams ahead, and some studying to do.  So that's what I'm off to do now, and probably what I should have been doing instead of writing this, but ho hum pigs bum, ya know?  After Thursday, it'll all be over.  And I don't think that'll truly hit me until I don't go back to school next fall.  Weird thought.

WE WON!

If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or pretty much any social media outlet ever, you'll already know that what I'm talking about is Avenue Q winning Suffolk University's SGA Award for Outstanding Campus Sponsored Program of the Year!!  Last night, I got all dressed up and attended a dinner and award ceremony representing Avenue Q along with some of the Performing Arts Office administrators and some of our cast from the show.  They announced us the winner, we went up onstage to accept the pretty engraved glass award, and made our brief little speech, then continued to display ridiculously huge smiles and exchange massive hugs for the rest of the night!

I can't say it enough - I am SO PROUD of this show and everyone involved!  It was definitely a different and new experience for all of us in one way or another, and everyone handled it like a rockstar, so this award is well deserved, if you ask me.  So honored to have been a part of this incredible production, and much love to the PAO and all my cast and crew!

SATURDAY IN THREE

One.  A store meeting at Starbucks for which I got paid but did not have to be in dress code, could eat and drink (free coffee!) while on the clock, and didn't have to work the customer service side of the job.  A welcome change in routine, because let's face it, sometimes a break in routine in nice (and fun?).  Also, my coworker in the typical tourist poses of holding the giant steaming kettle outside our store.

Two.  Pericles rehearsal.  But not any rehearsal, oh no.  An open rehearsal with baked goods and coffee (more free coffee!), followed by a full run of the show with all the designers present, and in which I was in my official backstage position for the first time.

Three.  The Donkey Show at Oberon.  Basically a nightclub comprised of theatre (Midsummer Nights Dream being performed in the club all around you), dancing, full bar, half naked go-go dancing men, and friends.  Also, completely paid for by the Techies Union - a club I belong to.

Excellent Saturday!

IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD DAY (think that's enough 'really's?)

Yesterday was one of those days where everything was perfect.  It was everything that I needed, even if I didn't realize it.

I had started to become a bit resentful towards Boston, to be honest.  An animosity had started to grow between us, at least from my side of things.  This semester, it hasn't really felt like it's where I've wanted to be, and I've treated it as such.  As a result, I haven't been completely happy being here.  Don't get me wrong, I've loved doing the shows I've worked on, and my classes are good, my apartment is awesome... But, it's no secret that I want to be in London, not here.  I'm antsy to get out because I don't feel like I fit here.  Like a mandatory uniform that is scratchy and doesn't fit right, I have to be in Boston until graduation and am counting down the days until I can leave and go where I want (take the uniform off, so to speak).

But things are what you make of them, and yesterday, I saw Boston in a new light (cue epiphany music).  My wonderful friend Kelly, who I met abroad in London, came up from New York and we spent the whole day walking around Boston - literally, all around Boston.  And I saw the city through the fresh eyes of another person.  Not only that, but someone who has many of the same feelings regarding missing London as I do.  This city is actually quite beautiful.  The negative attitude towards it in my mind had poisoned the view I had of Boston, making it look ugly.

Yesterday, that was changed, and while I still am ready to move away and forward, for now, Boston will do.

that groundhog is a liar

Remember when the groundhog supposedly popped up out of his cozy winter hole, took a look around, and reported back that he hadn't seen his shadow this year and so spring was on it's merry way to a town near you?

Yeah, he lied.

That little bi- I mean, really, does the above photo look like spring to you?  No, is the answer you're looking for.  And it's only gotten snowier.  As in, it snowed all last night and all day today.  And this also marks the beginning of our spring break, though someone needs to inform Boston of what spring break entails, because clearly, Boston doesn't know the meaning of the word "spring".

But the good news is... I'm going to Florida!  Yep, I'll be waiting all weekend and early next week for Wednesday, when I will happily sprint to Boston Logan in excitement and catch my plane down to warm, sunny Florida to visit my mom and my puppy.  Can't even convey just how excited I am to play with that little scamp in the Florida sunshine and drive the golf cart around as he chases it like a furry maniac.

we found nemo

For those who didn't know, New England got hit with a winter storm, fondly dubbed Nemo.  Don't ask me how that name got applied - I didn't even know they had started naming winter storms.  Anyway, Nemo showed up right on schedule and graced the Northeast with his snowy charm.  This meant the past two days were spent indoors, stockpiled with snacks, some JD Honey whiskey (perfect for a few sips in front of the fire, er, TV while chatting with one of your best girlfriends), and a full-scale Sex and the City marathon.

I decided to abandon my dorm apartment as both my roommates were gone for the weekend and instead am staying with my friend Nicole, who also had her apartment to herself.  We ventured outside a bit today to play in the snow and walk around the neighborhood.  Snow angels were obviously a must.  The snow is just above knee-level on me - about two feet I'd say.  Perfect weekend to have these snow days since next weekend we start teching for Avenue Q.  Just under two weeks until opening!

a collective account of last week as told by a series of short stories

 Sweater: So old I forget (maybe Old Navy?) / Pants: AE / Shoes: Vince Camuto / Earrings: also old - from senior prom(!) / Ring: H&M

Man in Theatre Lobby

So I'm at rehearsal, and I get informed there is a strange man in the lobby of the theatre.  As Stage Manager, it's something I deal with, so off I go to find a seemingly very stoned homeless bum hanging around and making actors uncomfortable.  I then proceed to spend the next 10 minutes saying I'm sorry but I have to ask him to leave, blah blah blah, as he responds with okay but then rambles on on a different topic.  I say I'm going to need to have campus security come and talk to him if he doesn't go, and he talks about five years in prison for stealing $50,000 and stabbing a dude.  He then says he wants an application to the school to better himself, and says go ahead an call security and tell them to bring an application.  Oh, and if they don't he'll have to respond with violence.  I say well, we don't want that, and give him the school's website so he can apply.  He leaves, and I return to rehearsal thinking, well that was interesting.

Debit Card

I'm at a meeting on Tuesday night for Avenue Q, and get a text from my bank saying they have detected fraud, and would I please call this number and give this code to verify my identity.  I do so, and am informed that a charge to a company in Connecticut was made that day on my card as well as an attempt to withdraw $900 at an ATM in Romania, of all places.  I say no, it wasn't me, and am instructed to destroy my card - they're sending me a new one to my home address in Seattle, and from there it will be sent to me here in Boston.  Until then, I am debit-less.

Liquor Store

I go to the liquor store around the corner from where I live to pick up some beers for the Super Bowl, etc.. and when I come to the front with my purchases, they ask for I.D., so I hand over my Washington State driver's license, and am told that they don't take out of state I.D.s and do I have a passport?  Um, no, my passport is back in Seattle.  I have cards with my name on them, but still, no beans.  So that was a waste of time and Massachusetts liquor laws suck (they don't even allow happy hours here!).

Rat Kicking

Walking through Boston Common after rehearsal one night and I feel my foot hit something, look down, and see a small rat land two feet in front of me and scurry away past my feet.  I had accidentally kicked a rat.  All I can say is thank goodness I was wearing boots.

Breaking Bad in Real Life

Taking the T on the way home from my friend's apartment one night, a man gets on and stands right in front of the guy sitting next to me, facing him.  They do they little handshake slap welcome thing that guys do, and when the hand of the guy next to me comes back from it, he's got a teeny tiny ziploc bag of a light blue-ish substance, which he proceeds to tuck into the backpack on his lap.  The guy who gave it to him gets off at the next stop (about three blocks away from the one he got on at).  I watch Breaking Bad - pretty sure it was meth.  And all I can say is, really, you couldn't have found a less conspicuous place to deal that stuff?  Idiots.

snow day

Today was one of those mornings where you just have a really hard time getting out of bed.  Hitting snooze repeatedly for a solid hour and change after I had originally set it, trying to make myself wake up more by playing on my phone, but my eyelids kept drooping.  Until I checked the weather.  37 and snowing??  You bet I bolted out of bed so fast that my legs hardly had time to catch up with me.  I ran, or quickly stumbled, to the window, and lo and behold there was snow.  People shoveling it, trucks salting the roads, etc.

So here we learn a valuable lesson - snow is a more efficient motivator for getting out of bed than an alarm clock.

back in Boston and busy busy busy

I am a horrible blogger, I know.  Six days, and nothing!  With no warning!  Bad blogger, bad.  But alas, I do have an excuse.  This weekend, I arrived back in Boston and moved into my new living space, and this week, started school back up.  It's been insanely and wonderfully action-packed.  I feel like I've dived straight into the deep end of the pool - starting classes, rehearsals, and all that jazz.  I haven't even started work at Starbucks yet, so I can only imagine how full the days will be once I start that next week!

These are some pictures of my on campus apartment I share with two roommates - not quite done organizing my things, and there are still some things I need to go pick up, like hand towels, wall tack to hang my pictures, etc.  But at least I've settled in enough to have my life on track!  Now excuse me as I go work on more paperwork before rehearsal.

Harvard

The other day, a friend and I went to visit Harvard Square.  And I'm gonna let you in on a little secret - it made me a little homesick.

I haven't been homesick at all since I've been in Boston.  It's enough like Seattle that it feels close enough to home, but different enough that I don't feel like I never moved.  Honestly, it's been a really great transition.  Sure, I've missed parts of Seattle and my friends back there {it would be weird if I hadn't}, but not to the point of actually being homesick.  I don't like that word.

So we went to Harvard, and the university is gorgeous.  Harvard Square is adorable, and the campus is simply stunning with its old New England brick buildings, green lawns, old fashioned lamp posts, wrought iron detail, and blossoming trees.  So why did it make me feel a tinge of homesickness?  It's literally like a condensed version of the University of Washington.  Underneath the awe I felt by just walking around Harvard and taking in its beauty, I honestly felt like I could have been walking through the campus of the UW.  And because that's such a familiar thing, Harvard has been the most familiar-feeling part of Boston so far.  Which makes it both wonderful and homesick-inducing {I won't go so far as to say "sad", because that's not true and Harvard is amazing}.

Anyways, that turned out to be a longer post than I expected.  But a necessary one.  I will definitely be going back there before I go home, especially with this lovely weather we have!