Preparation...and pictures

I'm trying to start my life as a real live adult. And that starts with getting my finances in order: reviewing my credit report and putting together a payment plan for my student loans. Which are going to kick my ass. But at least I am now fully aware of how much so. Luckily, I realized two years ago that I needed to start saving money, so as it turns out I'm pretty responsible. Whew.

Krista and I have also been taking hikes to prepare for our AT backpacking trip. Oh, did I not update y'all? We said, "screw it, let's do the Appalachian Trail instead." I mean, really, why not? When the AT is in your backyard, you've gotta do it. We're still doing a loop, though, since we need a way home. So this past Saturday we did a bit over 6 miles at Crowders Mountain. My favorite trail= Rocktop trail. I've done it before but we crossed back this time with Crowders Trail. It was legit 97 degrees this weekend with what must have been 70% humidity. I stopped to take a picture of a bridge about .2 mile in, and beads of sweat started dripping down my forehead. Like, wait a minute, I haven't even started the physical activity...

So here are some pictures of Krista and me preparing. I decided that there would be plenty of photo documentation of this trip. It is my graduation gift and all.

Training, day one (Probably only about a 2.7mi day):

King's Pinnacle Trail

I thought these trees were pretty cool

Krista at completion

Training, day two (Over 6mi for sure, maybe 6.5mi):

The bridge from my above story

Krista's point in the direction we need to go-- UP.

One gorgeous overlook.

Do you see the blazes? This is why it's my favorite

Robyn would be so proud of the bouldering

Well that about wraps it up. I have a deadline tomorrow for replyforall, but eh. I'll just get up early. Oh, also in my life preparation is GRE preparation. I don't even know what the test consists of section/question-wise, so I should really start looking into that. Anyone with any recommendations for computer- v. paper based?

Lastly, as I finish this massive blog post, I must say a bravissima! to Anna. She seems to be the only one who knows this quiz stuff (except Tonya knew the Nancy Drew, she just didn't post it). But honestly, people, if you don't start commenting soon, I'm going to stop blogging altogether (except for the paid stuff, of course). And it creeps me out a little that I don't know who's reading my posts...

Anyway, quiz time:

1) Explain the origin of PWNED. Then tell me how long it takes for the sun's light to reach the earth.

2) I have two massive collections of things. Other people are responsible for one collection (i.e. given to me as gifts), I am responsible for the other. What are they? Hint: They both have something in common-- their theme, perhaps. Another hint: Both can be found a my favorite store in Charlotte. Bonus if you know what that is.

Going home

Well, I meant to post more yesterday, but everything changed and it was a bit of a roller coaster. No tears yet. But I'm going home instead of to NYC, and it will be nice to see the family. Sam and Paul are both flying in, so it will be good to see them again. And my mother will have all of her children in once place since the wedding back in May. Hopefully she will refrain from family photo opportunities.

So now I am struggling to pack. I feel like I'm a point person in all of this, which is weird, and will be weirder when I'm home. I have a feeling I won't want to come back. We'll see. We'll see. I've already paid for this semester, so I guess I'm locked in. Sadly, (lack of) money is one of the things that keeps me in line-- e.g. can't afford a speeding ticket, can't afford not to go back to school, etc.

But the inauguration was great. You can see a bit more of my feelings at replyforall's blog site. If there's one thing I haven't had time to think about lately, it's how I feel about things. But surely, it was a great experience. I'm looking forward to the Power Shift conference at the end of February.

Also, I was looking at Teach for America stuff... and thinking, yeah, maybe if I can agree to a two-year commitment (have I EVER done that?). Then I was thinking, if it's a two-year commitment, shouldn't I do something else I've been craving? Like, the Peace Corps? But then, am I just doing it to run away again? Hrm. I'm definitely good at running away from things that scare me. And "real" life is one of them. You wouldn't think I'd have such a huge problem entering the workforce since I've been working since I was 15 (younger, if you include babysitting), and most of the time held more than one job at a time. I get the whole working until you can't remember when you slept last, being called into work at ungodly hours, giving up fun things because I know I need the money, and trying to balance personal relationships and things that are important to me with my work. But damn. I think that by entering the "real world" I will no longer feel like I'm working towards anything. At least at Wellesley (I can't even say I made a commitment to them, I planned on transferring sophomore year and then left for a year after that) I am working towards my degree, as crappy a degree as it is.

I feel completely unprepared. With what skills will I leave Wellesley? Uh, yeah. I can read. And write you a paper about it. Cool. And I'm in the hole upwards of $60,000 so I can say that? Crap. Totally unprepared.

And totally unprepared for going home this weekend. I can't even pack. It's scary. I don't want to have to deal with it. Any of it. But I guess I'm forced to do this, and I need to be forced. Something I can't run away from, as much as I'd like to be in denial (and still am for the time being).

Also, the family I work for is totally awesome. So understanding and sweet. Seriously, I lucked out with this one. The youngest made me a card today after school.

Gah!

I've noticed that all of my recent blog posts have been titled with some kind of noise, so I'm just going with the flow this time.

I am so pissed I don't have pictures from this weekend. It was fabulous. Saw some great people, did some great things, and can't wait to do it all again soon. <3

Next weekend I'll either be in NYC or at home, depending on Granny. My dad called this morning to say that she was out of it since talking to me yesterday afternoon on the phone, and is probably not going to pull through this time. I feel weird writing about it because she's so unpredictable, and I honestly said this six months ago and she's still here. Oh boy. One day at a time.

I've applied for a couple of positions, just submitting resumes. I don't want to be working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, so I'm trying to start early. I even made an excel sheet with job info and their deadlines. I haven't looked at it since, but at least I made it. And I'll probably still end up working "campaign hours" at whatever crappy, have-to-apply-for-food-stamps job I get, but then I will just have to stick it out. Not much else to do. But until I have that crappy job, I will apply for everything. The real world is only six months away!