End of the Year Update

Well, it's been quite a while since I have updated. Yes, as usual, there's been a lot lot lot going on. After classes ended I thought that there would be a break. O how wrong I was. So I spent the next few days working on enviro and cleaning up the apartment and trying to find time to spend with Ben. When the weekend rolled around, I ended up working on that damn enviro project instead of really spending quality time with my boyfriend. Enviro sucks. All that effort got me a stupid B. At least I got 4 As as well as the lowest grade I've ever had in studio ever (C) which pulled my GPA so low that despite having what was otherwise the best report card ever, I still don't make dean's list. I hate you, Sheldon. Anyhoo, first semester's never good for me. Second semester should be better, what with my whopping 8-class schedule, it should be great even with a C in studio. Fortunately Dad doesn't seem to mind the C, though he made fun of me quite a bit. (I hate you, Daddy)
My last night in Pittsburgh I spent cleaning the apartment some more and cooking a simple pasta dinner for my Ben-bean. We also had popcorn and watched "Robots" until 11-ish. I was going to go to Josh's end of the semester party, but after Ben left I was feeling really down and I felt that walking in the cold dark all alone and going to a party where only depressants were served (AKA alcohol) would not make me feel any better. So I packed up as much as I could and went to sleep.
Next day was last minute packing and I managed to make it to the airport exactly on time - I had half an hour to spare so I had a little lunch, walked leisurely down to the gate and just as I sat down, they started to call up the zones. Woohoo, how awesome am I?
After a very comfortable ride with two seats all to myself, I arrived in Hartford where May picked me up. We got back home after an hour and a half of Audioslave, Gackt and Bucktick (those last two are Japanese, for those who aren't J-rock inclined) and had a nice dinner with the parents and Gramma - Gramma who kept bothering me about not dressing warm enough the whole time she was there. Interestingly, she told me and May that our second cousin (he looks a little like Casey for all you archies who are wondering) is going to be playing a Chinese bodyguard/pirate in Pirates of the Carribbean III. Nifty, no?
Mostly sat around for the week, it was nice.
On Friday I had a doctors appointment which was...interesting. Can you imagine drinking three bottles of water in half an hour and having to hold it for two? It was horrifically uncomfortable... After the doctor's appointment, I wrapped up all the presents - this year's theme was MOMA. Being on the environmentally friendly green design binge, we got my cousin Sylvia a Luisa Ceverse ipod bag which is made of industrial waste, how nifty is that? In return I got a book titled "Green Architecture!"
For Christmas Eve we went to our cousins' place. When we got out of the car, we heard some wierd yiping noise. I said, "What is that?", turned around, and saw the tiniest little terrier yipping at us with all the strength it could muster. Very amusing. I thought about petting it and then wondered if it might try to bite me. That would not be a merry Christmas. It was a fun day, we played a game of chess, Texas Hold 'em poker, had lots and lots of food including the Citrus Chiffon Pie we made that was declared a success.
Christmas Day was just us sitting around the house, just the four of us. And today was Mom going insane packing for the trip tomorrow. Tomorrow? Hygeinist in the morning and right afterwards, we're hopping on the plane and going to Taiwan. Can't wait to hang out with Waz! Warm weather, here I come!