20 years

I'm back.

Instead of posting a plethora of excuses as to where I have been, I'll let you wonder at the mystery of it.

On to more important matters... my birthday! I'm twenty years old today. Strange. I don't feel twenty, although how twenty is supposed to feel I'm not really sure. I've been alive for two decades. Wow. It is funny (not funny ha ha, but funny interesting,) to think of all the things I have done in my life, but also all the things I haven't done. Along that vein, here are some things I'd like to do in the next twenty years:

Go to Europe:
-sit at a cafe in Paris
-tour a castle in Ireland or Scotland
-spend the night in an English cottage
-swim in the ocean in Greece
-eat Italian food in Italy

Go skydiving (yes, really)
Go to Disney World
Get married
Have some kids
Publish a novel
Learn to play guitar
Pull a bank job

Ok, so the last one was a joke.

Submersion

I am now officially submerged into the oceanic world that is finals week. I should be writing a paper this very minute.

And so, it is with regret that I announce to the world that I will have no time to update my blog in the next week or so. You are all heartbroken, I'm sure.

In addition to finals, I have to pack, because yes, in just one short week I am leaving these tropical shores on the proverbial jet plane, back to the frozen mountainous regions of Alaska.

And so I say "so long, farewell" to my blog for the next week.

Yay!

I have a new, beautiful niece! Yay!!!!!

In a fight with my boyfriend...(the ocean.)

I haven't written in so long! I have been very busy. For those of you (if anyone) who regularly read my blog, please accept my apologies.

Today, I am mad at the ocean. That's right. You read it right. My beloved ocean, whom I professed to be in love with, has picked a fight with me today.

As I was laying peacefully on the beach, nearly asleep, a huge, freakish, rogue wave washed up, and tried to kidnap my beach bag (containing my school id, debit card, cell phone, and digital camera) !!!!! I rescued the bag, but I'm pretty sure the camera and phone are dead, though. BOO! Ocean, that really hurt. You are currently on my bad side.

So now, for the last two weeks of school, I get to be cell phone-less. Arg! AND camera-less!! WHY?! I am trying to be zen about this, and say "Beth, it is too late. Don't stress. They are just 'things.'" But then I remember, oh yea, I have no money! And also, that camera was your mom's camera!

So, Ocean, today I am mad at you. Don't even try to make up with me.

And I am NEVER EVER taking electronics to the beach again.

Creative Essay

I have to write a creative essay for my creative writing class.

We can basically write it in any format, about anything. So why is it so hard? I have no idea what to write about. Its like trying to pick between Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Honey Bunches of Oats.

Now I really want cereal...I think cereal would help me figure out what to write about. Maybe I should write about cereal? I'm confused. And my brain is overloaded with all the other homework I have to be doing... I just don't know.

Realization

Well, my weekend of fun in Honolulu is over, and with its ending has come this lovely realization: I am basically going to have no life for the next three weeks outside of classes, homework, and more homework!

Depressing. I'm determined to fit some beach time in there, but I have no idea when! I have a huge research paper due, a creative essay, a lit presentation, my choir concert, and final exams to study for. Not to mention packing and finishing my Christmas shopping. ACK!

My decision to not do any homework Wednesday night was not the best one... ah well, I'll get it done somehow. But I am STRESSED! In fact, I think my brain might explode!

*Sniff*

Confession...

I need to admit something. I'm homesick.

I guess it is allowed, seeing as how it is Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here in my little dorm room, listenening to Christmas music and looking at pictures of my family. Recipe for disaster, I know. But sometimes it is nice to just let yourself be sad. Its like watching "Its a Wonderful Life." You know you are going to cry, but you watch it anyway.

And yes, I did cry. But just a little.

This is my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and it (sadly) doesn't feel like Thanksgiving at all. Not the least reason for that being that it is 75 degrees outside.

I think that in addition to the whole homesick thing, I'm sad because things are changing. Every day. Every second. People get older, people move, people get married... and things can never go back to the way they were. I can never be six years old, helping make the pies for Thanksgiving, or decorating Christmas cookies. I guess I sound a little like an old woman in a nursing home.

But I just can't help thinking that I won't have another Thanksgiving for a whole year, and by then I will be a year older, and who knows what other changes will have happened. I think the holidays are a sort of way to stop the world for 24 hours, so families can just enjoy being together exactly how they are at that moment. Like a snap shot. And I guess I'm just sad that I'm missing one of those snap shots.

My Christmas playlist just switched to "Blue Christmas" by Elvis. Well family, if you read this, know that I'll have a blue Thanksgiving without you!

Well, to avoid ending on that depressing note, at least I have fun plans for Thanksgiving. It won't feel like Thanksgiving, but at least I'll be distracted.

I'm so grateful for my family.