Snowpocalypse 2009

Well, it's official: the world is indeed coming to an end. Why? you ask. What is your evidence?

Well, most of Virginia got about two feet of snow in a night and a day. My car is objecting strenuously to being buried, but two attempts at de-snowification later and it's still mostly unrecognizable except as a large snowy blob with shiny burgundy bits sticking out. Also, my arms are killing me - I'm spoiled from living in the previously Snowless land and having boys at home who like to snowplow the driveway.

Being snowed in is nice, but this WOULD happen the day before I drive back to PA - I have no choice but to haul my miserable personage out into the cold to de-snow my car in order to be able to drive on Monday. I have to go to work today, too, but my boss is using the work truck to come and pick us all up, so I don't have to risk my car on the roads quite yet.

Also-also, I miss my snow boots. I've got these lovely waterproof hiking boots, but they don't quite do the job of insulating, so I needed to double-sock. Which is, by the by, one of the least comfortable ways to wear socks apart from wearing a sock on your head. (That I have not yet attempted, but the most basic physics tell me that would be a highly uncomfortable endeavour.)

Mainly I'm just passing the time and procrastinating from attacking the snow around my car again. I'll maybe stop babbling now and do something constructive.... like making lunch, for instance. Lentil soup is sounding really good about now.

Marriage

My sister, Sierra Marie Armstrong (23) and her fiance, Justin Hughes (also aged 23) were married in a civil ceremony at a Fort Collins, Colorado courthouse this morning. As of this moment, I am the first to know.

The Fickle Gods of Weather

So, last week it was too sweltering to contemplate living and so my fans were all going nonstop and I was considering chopping off all my hair just to get rid of the sweat on my head. I jumped at every opportunity to go somewhere air-conditioned - work, the library, shopping ANYWHERE (as long as it had air-conditioning), and I even relented enough to wear shorts (which hasn't happened since I was about ten).

This week has been just plain weird. My feet have freezing every evening when I come home. When E and I had drinks on her porch the night before last, I actually had to wear a sweater and THEN (since I was in flip-flops and my feet were freezing) E had to go get blankets because we were both so cold. (Don't get me wrong, it was divine, but - well, the second day of September? Really now?) I have been nearly dying of cold every evening at the theatre because the air-conditioning is too cold and I'm almost dreading my shopping/lunch out expedition due to the chilliness of the air conditioning that no one has turned off yet because it is the BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

In other news, I'm loving every minute. I prefer to put on layers rather than take them off and I will cuddle in a blanket any day instead of sweltering in front of a fan. Plus, it's not too hot now for my morning coffee and THAT is essential. I'm beginning to feel my need for my autumn gothic novels and I think I'll kick them off with Austen's "Northanger Abbey". I would kick off with "Jane Eyre", but I left my "Complete Works of the Bronte Sisters" in PA and I keep forgetting to grab it when I'm home.

It looks like I'll be getting home for "Heritage Days", which I'm more than a little bit excited about. I haven't been home for that in about four years and I cannot WAIT. Stefan is in charge of Hearth Cooking this year, so I'll be doing that and it's going to be SWEET.

Real World

I have applied for a job as a bank teller. Oh, real world, look at what you've done!

In other news, with every job I apply for, graduate programs in, well, anything are looking more and more inviting.

Vacation

I am currently "vacationing" - that is, I'm in PA for an entire week (Momma and Daddy are over the moon - I haven't been home for a full week since Christmas) to finish a root canal this afternoon. I really don't need to take a full week for the procedure, but I really did want to see the family for a little while.

I've already been roped into riding on the church float in the July Fourth parade, which will also mean that I'll go to the park for some of the festivities on said day. (I count myself lucky - I narrowly escaped walking and holding a banner, on the basis that I'm visiting and the banners are bigger than me.)

It's been pretty peaceful in the short time I've been here thus far. I had a bath last night and neglected to subdue my hair with chemicals while it was wet, so I'm sporting a Hermione Granger look this morning - but it's all good. Later today, I'll be running a few errands in and around Lewisburg, mainly because I miss driving around here. It's so pretty and it's one of my favorite things to do. I'm mainly just looking forward to relaxing and figuring out how to sleep in again - I lost that ability between last summer and my school year, so I'm struggling to get that back.

A couple of jobs in the offing post-graduation. The first, which is looking like a lot of fun, is part-time au pair to a 3-month old little girl. Her family wants to take me on vacation with them so I can watch the baby. I am okay with that. (Hello, paid vacation? Oh yes. And the baby is well behaved, so it's not exactly a hardship.) Also, I'm applying over at Little Keswick School to be a residential counselor - it's a boarding school for boys with learning disabilities, and if I do the right paperwork, they'll pay for me to get my masters' in teaching. Also-also, it's only about half the week spent there so I can keep my other jobs.

Mrr. I may have just written myself out.

Huh

I'm graduated. I have graduated with a BA in theatre, a minor in vocal performance, and with distinction in my major.

And, believe it or not, I am actually thinking about going on for my master's in teaching.

Ah yes. Paul and I are dating. It is all official and stuff. After four years, we have finally settled down and figured out how to date each other.

I don't feel grown-up at all. That's kind of a gyp. But I'm relaxed, for all that I spent the last week with an infected half-done root canal in Disneyworld. I have never taken so much Vicodin in my life. Also, withdrawal blows. But I still like Epcot as much as I did last time. And I discovered that Moroccan cuisine is amazing.

This is a disjointed post. But it's all good.

And then God said....

....that I SHALL GRADUATE ON TIME!!!!! WOO!

In other words, I passed math. With a C-. I haven't had a C- in math since high school. Hot damn, life just started to rock. Because I don't have to commit ritual suicide now rather than tell my parents I won't be graduating.

BECAUSE I WILL BE.

And now I will never have to look at algebra again.