finally...
I meant to update right after I got back from Florida but of course I haven't until now. So a few things...
1. Florida
It was amazing! I had the most fun ever. I flew down, Erika got me from the airport, and I stayed at her house. Lynde stayed over a few nights, which was just like Hope College again! I had such a good time. We visited the four parks, Epcott, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and MGM Studios. Each park had great things in it, but I have to confess that my favorite was Magic Kingdom. It was just so...magical! It was my first time going on rides. My favorite ride was Space Mountain, followed closely by Tower of Terror and Rockn Rolla Coaster (or whatever). And there's Splash Mountain too. It was all so much fun! I am eternally grateful to Erika and Lynde for taking care of me, getting me into the parks, letting me have their employee discount, and so many other things! They were angels and it was so amazing to see them again! The blissful week was finally over on November 4, when Lynde and I played mini golf and then she brought me back to the airport.
2. Election Day!
Of course, November 4 was election day, so I kept busy at the airport watching CNN. Because of my luck, naturally, all the exciting things happened when I was in the air, except for them calling Ohio, which happened while I was waiting for my next flight in Detroit. They called Pennsylvania when I was in the air from Orlando to Detroit, then I saw them call Ohio, at which point Obama was becoming a foregone conclusion. I then got on a plane to Grand Rapids, and when I got off the plane, the election had been called for Obama and McCain was already conceding! My dad and stepmom picked me up and I made it home just in time to see Obama's speech in Grant Park, which moved me to tears. Not just a few graceful tears, but full-blown weeping and sobbing and rocking back and forth. It was wonderful! My joy was tempered by the outcome of Proposition 8 in California, which is just a nightmare, but I guess what can you do. Also, I was rooting for a candidate for MI state house who lost. But I am glad that Michigan's propositions passed, and that Ottawa County can serve beer and wine on Sundays now. But I am so happy about Obama that I still cry when I think about it.
3. Nykerk!
Nykerk was on Friday and it was AMAZING (despite what non-Nykerkians seem to think). I was bummed that it had to be postponed from last Saturday because of the Hope norovirus, which meant it couldn't be held at the Civic Center. They held it at a church instead, and while it was a nice church, it just wasn't the same. They had to shuffle the songgirls around, there was no curtain for the play, the lighting people had no idea what was going on, etc. But it was still glorious. Both years did really well, although our orator did kick theirs across the room, so to speak. And it ended up that EVEN YEAR WON! Woohoo! You could tell that Erika was gone because this year odd year's dance was waaaay cooler than even year's dance in the plays. I was like, that would not have happened if Erika was still here. No way. But it was all wonderful. I was so happy, I screamed my lungs out when they said that even year won.
4. Miscellaneous
So those were the big things. Other than that, it's been the usual. I'm spending more time in GR with my family than I was earlier this year. It's awkward, sometimes, because I feel like my dad and stepmom don't quite know what to do with me. It's great to spend more time with Oscar, though. My mom just started talking to me again (after the election, she wouldn't talk to me for a couple of weeks). But the only talking she'll do is to say snide comments to me, so I don't think I've gained much. She just makes me so upset. Grr. Oh well. I'm hoping now to move to DC in February, which is when Stephanie, my former Victory Fund coworker, is planning on moving. She and I have decided to be roommates, and I just can't wait! I think we'll have a lot of fun. It also has the added benefit that she's close to my favorite VF coworkers, so I should get to see them a lot through her as well as on my own! So exciting. I need to find a job, now, though, which is the tough part. I'm beginning the application process but it's daunting, of course. Hopefully I'll be able to find something exciting, so we'll see what happens. I've managed to organize and box up most of my posessions over the last few weeks, so I feel prepared to make a move.
I just realized that I haven't even updated since Laura's amazing wedding! I got to see Laura, Chrissy, Kat, Rhys, JJ, and Grace. Ren came down with me, and it was an absolutely gorgeous wedding. The venue was perfect, Laura was stunning, and the reception was just wonderful. She looked so happy and her husband seemed really great. I was so happy that I got to attend! I'm also excited for the upcoming alumni retreat that we are going to have in Holland. Annd...I just got my awesome alumni t-shirt in the mail from a fundraiser that Anna Bouton, one of our alumni, put together. So lovely! I really do miss the sorority.
I hope you are all doing well and I will strive to be a more regular updater!
1. Florida
It was amazing! I had the most fun ever. I flew down, Erika got me from the airport, and I stayed at her house. Lynde stayed over a few nights, which was just like Hope College again! I had such a good time. We visited the four parks, Epcott, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and MGM Studios. Each park had great things in it, but I have to confess that my favorite was Magic Kingdom. It was just so...magical! It was my first time going on rides. My favorite ride was Space Mountain, followed closely by Tower of Terror and Rockn Rolla Coaster (or whatever). And there's Splash Mountain too. It was all so much fun! I am eternally grateful to Erika and Lynde for taking care of me, getting me into the parks, letting me have their employee discount, and so many other things! They were angels and it was so amazing to see them again! The blissful week was finally over on November 4, when Lynde and I played mini golf and then she brought me back to the airport.
2. Election Day!
Of course, November 4 was election day, so I kept busy at the airport watching CNN. Because of my luck, naturally, all the exciting things happened when I was in the air, except for them calling Ohio, which happened while I was waiting for my next flight in Detroit. They called Pennsylvania when I was in the air from Orlando to Detroit, then I saw them call Ohio, at which point Obama was becoming a foregone conclusion. I then got on a plane to Grand Rapids, and when I got off the plane, the election had been called for Obama and McCain was already conceding! My dad and stepmom picked me up and I made it home just in time to see Obama's speech in Grant Park, which moved me to tears. Not just a few graceful tears, but full-blown weeping and sobbing and rocking back and forth. It was wonderful! My joy was tempered by the outcome of Proposition 8 in California, which is just a nightmare, but I guess what can you do. Also, I was rooting for a candidate for MI state house who lost. But I am glad that Michigan's propositions passed, and that Ottawa County can serve beer and wine on Sundays now. But I am so happy about Obama that I still cry when I think about it.
3. Nykerk!
Nykerk was on Friday and it was AMAZING (despite what non-Nykerkians seem to think). I was bummed that it had to be postponed from last Saturday because of the Hope norovirus, which meant it couldn't be held at the Civic Center. They held it at a church instead, and while it was a nice church, it just wasn't the same. They had to shuffle the songgirls around, there was no curtain for the play, the lighting people had no idea what was going on, etc. But it was still glorious. Both years did really well, although our orator did kick theirs across the room, so to speak. And it ended up that EVEN YEAR WON! Woohoo! You could tell that Erika was gone because this year odd year's dance was waaaay cooler than even year's dance in the plays. I was like, that would not have happened if Erika was still here. No way. But it was all wonderful. I was so happy, I screamed my lungs out when they said that even year won.
4. Miscellaneous
So those were the big things. Other than that, it's been the usual. I'm spending more time in GR with my family than I was earlier this year. It's awkward, sometimes, because I feel like my dad and stepmom don't quite know what to do with me. It's great to spend more time with Oscar, though. My mom just started talking to me again (after the election, she wouldn't talk to me for a couple of weeks). But the only talking she'll do is to say snide comments to me, so I don't think I've gained much. She just makes me so upset. Grr. Oh well. I'm hoping now to move to DC in February, which is when Stephanie, my former Victory Fund coworker, is planning on moving. She and I have decided to be roommates, and I just can't wait! I think we'll have a lot of fun. It also has the added benefit that she's close to my favorite VF coworkers, so I should get to see them a lot through her as well as on my own! So exciting. I need to find a job, now, though, which is the tough part. I'm beginning the application process but it's daunting, of course. Hopefully I'll be able to find something exciting, so we'll see what happens. I've managed to organize and box up most of my posessions over the last few weeks, so I feel prepared to make a move.
I just realized that I haven't even updated since Laura's amazing wedding! I got to see Laura, Chrissy, Kat, Rhys, JJ, and Grace. Ren came down with me, and it was an absolutely gorgeous wedding. The venue was perfect, Laura was stunning, and the reception was just wonderful. She looked so happy and her husband seemed really great. I was so happy that I got to attend! I'm also excited for the upcoming alumni retreat that we are going to have in Holland. Annd...I just got my awesome alumni t-shirt in the mail from a fundraiser that Anna Bouton, one of our alumni, put together. So lovely! I really do miss the sorority.
I hope you are all doing well and I will strive to be a more regular updater!