*Twiddles Thumbs*

So this is week two...or is it three? of my summer break. I've basically been a big lazy beached whale. Except for cleaning the bathroom. And a few days of work. And yesterday I washed my car. But that's it. For every other blissful hour I've been lying in bed or reading or watching tv. And enjoying every minute of it :)

This is the first relaxing summer vacation I've had in an especially long time and it's soooooo nice. I uploaded some pictures from the major highlight: a five-day cruise vacay with the girls, with stops in San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada!

I start my official graduate school career next Monday. I'm excited :) But this also means I need a good weekend to blow off the last of my summer steam -- anyone up for a bonfire, maybe? :)

All of us with our way cool tequila-downing tour guide...and only Bea can remember his name :)

This is what the wine tasting looked like to me after a half a shot (if even) of tequila and a bunch of wine...

A toast on our last night...

Viva Mexico!! :)

Midnight dessert buffet....Dude I don't think I even look that happy in my graduation pictures!

Me at the Winery..

The Catalina Casino, from deck 7.

Our home for four days.

The girls on the deck by the pool.

And 3 REALLY RED berries!!!! =D

Sooo manie! :)

Big tall Sunflowers!! (FROM SEEDS!) :)

Strawberries!

It's...over?

I guess not really. I've got the next few weeks for down time and then I start classes again on the 6th. I'm actually really excited about that, which I think is a good sign. So many years of struggling to finish the Journalism classes and things -- it's nice to be excited about school and what I'm learning again.

At the same time I've been reflecting on the fact that my undergraduate career is over. It's really been quite a trip. I've grown so much over the last few years...(sadly this is both figuratively and literal -__-). Made many new friends, created new memories, and became a better form of Sara...at least I think. I think I can honestly say that my experiences and my studies have made me more aware of the real world...I have a much better sense of who I am and where I come from and the world around me. And I think that with that awareness comes a great sense of gratitude for the people who've brought me here and the opportunities I've been given. It's odd -- coming to USC, I've fallen in the category of "disadvantaged" so often but really I feel like I've had every advantage -- I feel so lucky to have had so many people supporting me and a family that was willing to fund and support my every academic whim, no matter how impractical it seemed at the time.

I remember for my high school graduation I was sobbing by the time I got up on stage to receive my diploma. I figured with college being a bigger deal I'd be nearly fainting but surprisingly not a single tear dropped from my face that day. In some ways it was really surreal -- I guess just a formality that didn't really seem tangible. Even now it doesn't really seem like anything's changed -- like I'm just on vacation or something. The only part of me that really feels like something's changed is the part that's realizing my friends are leaving -- up north, out of state, out of the country...I'm starting to realize that for some of these good friends, these are the last days I'll ever see them. And that's difficult for me -- that letting go. Which I guess is why I'm not as sentimental because I'm technically not "letting go" of USC.

So I guess really this is just a small bridge from one portion of my life to another -- I know the next year is going to go fast and then will be the big transition from college life to real world. Until then I'm planning on enjoying the short vacation and the last bit of school that I have...starting with a cruise to Mexico. :) I'm out this week but I'll see you all soon! =D Happy Sunshine and Kisses!

The Cake from Saturday's Graduation Celebration :)

Me, Char, Car

Sh, Ka, & Me -- The I Hate Journalism Club :)

from charity's xanga..

You Are A Romantic

You are more romantic than 90% of the population. You life your life like a fairy tale... or at least you try to. Living for magical moments, you believe there's only one true love for you. Love is the most important thing in your life, and you don't take it for granted. Your perfect match loves to be in love as much as you do!

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

More about graduation later. :) (w/pics, hopefully) :)

(O__O)!!!

I'M GRADUATING TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's about that time.

So I'm done. Officially done. Every exam has been taken, every project completed -- my books are sold back, my cap & gown are sitting in the closet and j/waiting for Friday.

I attended the senior breakfast this morning, went to see Serena and Charity graduate @ the APA graduation tonight, and the last few days have been spent hanging out with the roomies -- I guess we've come to the realization that this is going to end real soon.

It's funny because although my brain tells me I'm done with school it just doesn't feel that way. I still come home every day and expect to have to study. I log in to my e-mail to look for assignments and I just haven't had the chance to really sit back and realize that I'm *free* -- still too many other things to do.

I think that maybe it will hit me more on Friday, once I'm standing there in cap and gown. I can't wait. I'm so excited and so proud of myself and grateful to everyone else -- it's going to be the best experience of my life (or one of them) I can tell -- but I'll reflect on that when the time comes. :)

barely alive...

Wednesday: Geography 431 Final exam
Thursday: Art History 126 Final Exam
Friday: Communications 360 Final Exam
Friday: American Studies 498 Final Project
Monday: Education 200 Final Web Site Portfolio
Education 200 Final Power Point Presentation

This had to have been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I don't think I've ever pushed myself that hard...

Thursday night I stayed up nearly all night (save one hour) to write my paper. Around 9a.m. Friday morning I stopped working on my paper and started cramming for my final. Took final from 11a.m. to 1.p.m.

Rushed home to complete paper, turned it in with 15 minutes to go -- 5 p.m. Picked up the girls, grabbed some food, then raced to work -- 6 p.m.

Stayed at work until 2:30 a.m. typing up loose ends. Damon and Jason came down to help (SUCH great boyfriend/friend!) and I am eternally grateful for that. Went home, hopped into bed...

Woke up Saturday morning 5:00 a.m. raced back to work on little sleep. Chibi-K Run. Children's Day Festival. Finished work around 6p.m.

Met up with Damon and Jason and "helped" them install a faucet. Dinner around...10? 11? Back to Damon's house...fell asleep. Woke up at 1:30. Drove home by 2. Up and at 'em by 8 a.m. Work. Mother's Day Hawaiian Style. Finished work around 5.

Sped back to the apartment, went to campus to take ugly pictures then back home.

SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

All in all, everything went well. Children's Day was great, and I really felt like all the hard work came through. I'm proud of myself for getting through that dificult finals/work time. Although -- I'll NEVER do that again. Really pushed myself too hard, IMO.

Today I've got two last final projects (noted above) and possibly work later on today. And then I'll be done.

*sigh*

aghhh...

Wednesday: Geography 431 Final exam
Thursday: Art History 126 Final Exam
Friday: Communications 360 Final Exam
Friday: American Studies 498 Final Project
Monday: Education 200 Final Web Site Portfolio
Education 200 Final Power Point Presentation

ohhhh shit that was hard. didn't help i was falling asleep during my exam. AND my ta hated my paper. mother f-er. GAH.

i've gotta finish that mother f*cker of a paper now. 4 hours to go. someone help me.

*birds chirping*

my GAWD it's quiet at 5a.m. it's ridiculously peaceful. and cold. i feel bad that my light has been on all night and i'm afraid my typing might wake up bea.

i want to sleep sooo bad right now. my eyes are in the droopy stage. but this paper is such a slow process and i don't want to risk not being able to turn this in on time for a couple of measly hours of sleep.

but oh how nice a couple of hours of sleep sounds right about now. :|

i just need to wait for the caffeine to kick in and hopefullie i'll get some adrenaline as well.

and i REALLY hope i am awake for my final at 11. like...awake to go there but also awake while i take it.

*slump*

Two down!

Wednesday: Geography 431 Final exam
Thursday: Art History 126 Final Exam
Friday: Communications 360 Final Exam
Friday: American Studies 498 Final Project
Monday: Education 200 Final Web Site Portfolio
Education 200 Final Power Point Presentation

And now is the hard part....American Studies final project due tomorrow. 65 pages. I am on page 1. Kind of. I wrote my name. And the date. Ha.

Studied some for Comm. Just a little bit worried about that. It's mostly that project.

It's okay. I pull all-nighter. I be ok. Study for Comm before exam tomorrow. Finish paper. Go work. Be back late night. Early Saturday morning for Kodomo no Hi. Late night. Early Sunday morning for Mother's Day Hawaiia Style. Late night. The late night for Education project/portfolio.

Then die.

HEE. =D

Am so.royally.screwed.

(@_@)

shitihaveafinalin45minutesandidon'tknowANYthingomgomgomgomgomgomg....

suggestions?

I want to give my momma a haircut for mother's day. Does anybody know a good salon for fuddy-duddy older women who speak Japanese? =X

One down, 4 more to go!

Wednesday: Geography 431 Final exam
Thursday: Art History 126 Final Exam
Friday: Communications 360 Final Exam
Friday: American Studies 498 Final Project
Monday: Education 200 Final Web Site Portfolio
Education 200 Final Power Point Presentation

Am feeling much better now. One weight off my shoulders. Slowly, slowly lifting. Aahhhh... :)

Time to go study for tomorrow! *stretches, Anime style*....Where's my hachimaki??

Yes, another post...

can you blame me? It's finals week. I need SOMETHING to keep me occupied. :P

So a few weeks ago Serena brought up the Senior Fountain Run and was like, totally shocked that I didn't know what she was talking about. Apparently I was the only senior at USC who didn't know about this "tradition." So I thought she was crazy. But then last week Beatriz forward-ed (that has GOT to become a verb sometime in this next decade) an email to me that described what Serena had told me about -- Thursday, April 28 being the last week of class, was the night set for the Senior Fountain Run. Basically a bunch of USC seniors getting together at 11pm, running from one fountain to another (USC has something like 25 fountains on campus), diving in and taking a shot at each one.

Thursday night rolled around and I gave in and went with Serena and Charity to see what this fountain run was all about. I figured it'd be maybe 20 crazy drunk people splashing around in the fountains making fools of themselves. But when we got to campus with our "bobalua" I was super shocked to see not 20, but more like 200 people crowding around the Finger Fountain and drunk as hell. DPS cars were everywhere and followed us around almost the entire night (although never actually intruding), and seniors were running around campus EVERYWHERE seriously taking DIVES into these fountains (which I will never see quite the same way again, after actually standing in them). Some of these people were super prepared, too -- wetsuits and bikinis and even this dude with an innertube :)

Anyway, needless to say I had a really good time -- it's about time I let loose a little with some friends and this is definitely something I will remember from Senior Year. :) Sorry I wasn't more trusting of you, Serena, I stand corrected :)

Senior Fountain Run 2005 pictures
and a video clip for those multimedia people :)

HEEEEELLLLLL Week. :P

This weekend I was reminded why I love Damy so much. What a nice feeling. :) It's been so long since we had a free weekend -- not only free time for ourselves, but free from any obligations. We were able to really enjoy each other's company which is something we haven't been able to do between running around meeting other people or trying to get errands done. But anyway, it was a good weekend. I love how he makes me laugh all the time. And I love how he plays with my hair. And makes me study. :)

ohhh..studying. Four final exams/projects this week. Major crunch time. Add to that FamilyFunFest this weekend and I am majorly stressed. This week = lots of coffee, lots of stress, and not a lot of sleep.

Yes.