Grad School, Grandma, SMC, Jeremy...

Hi. First of all, excellent Spring-themed update Nicky! Those are some beautiful flowers and the font is all tropical and warm-looking. Ahhh...
Okay, grad school: Got in to New Mexico State University. Wrote them asking for financial aid, using other acceptances as leverage, hoping to get a G.A.ship or at least in-state tuition (which they can do for like, 2 students per department per year). Don't actually know if Appalachian State is going to accept me (I think yes though!) or what type of financial help they'd offer, but ya know, any chance to save $10,000 a year is worth taking, I think. So I'll probably move to Las Cruces in the beginning to middle of August. I'll get the brunt of the hot hot Southwest heat. With the current cloudy/rainy weather I can only look forward to that. Oh, and Barbie Dan lives there, and we've been talking, and I'm hoping we can be friends! He went there for his Ph.D. actually. Yes, beautiful and smart.
Grandma: She's been breaking vertebrae in her back, became virtually immobile, landed in the hospital almost two weeks ago, and died this morning. :( It sounds like it was peaceful and pain-free. I didn't come down because 1) she had not been conscious for over a week and probably wouldn't have known I was there, 2) she was wasting away and was "a shell of Grandma" that my family said would be upsetting to see, and my mother doesn't think she would have wanted us to see her like that, 3) If I used my time off to visit now I wouldn't have it for the memorial service in a couple of weeks. I felt guilty for not being there at the last, but we communicated frequently (and had a lot of visits this Winter) so, approaching the last days we did have some good quality time together. Some of you might remember that I stayed with her and took care of her for 5 days before Christmas, which at the time I think we both understood might be our last good chance to bond. And we did. I listened (with interest!) to all of her stories until she fell asleep talking, and I made her ice cream sundaes and watched CSPAN day after day. Good times.
SMC: I've looked into flight out of DC for the weekend of Dan's wedding (Dan Scheuerman marrying Jessica Rial in Omaha, NE on June 11th) and it looks doable to drive to DC, fly to Omaha for the wedding, fly back Saturday, and come down to SMC for the rest of alumni weekend! I guess I should buy my plane ticket first, and then figure out the rest of the logistics.
Jeremy: A guy I like! First person I've actually genuinely liked on like, all levels, since when I fell in love with Andrew 3 years ago. He makes me feel shy and awkward (crush style) and then instantly relaxes me with his kind smile and accepting personality. I think he'd fall into the "Abby's type" category. My cousin Alana modified it from "homeless" to "Homeless Chic" which I think is far more accurate. Anyway, Jeremy's not homeless, has a job, finished college, and is an accomplished sculpture artist. He lives with people I already know and like, and who it's really nice to spend time with. He's tall and blonde and plays basketball (played in HS and college) and drives a huge blue van. Oh, and I met him through Ben, who has been an on-again-off-again special friend since like, August, and a normal friend pretty much since i moved to Ithaca. Um... more as it develops?
Other news: (of interest to me!) I cleaned out and set up the little aquarium that I got (from Jiban) way back in... 2001, and got fish yesterday. And my kale starts are getting big, and my squash seeds have sprouted, and yesterday I planted the cherry tomatoes! I like being surrounded by living things. My room is really like, Abbyland now, and I really like feeling settled and comfortable and at home. For now, anyway. Any my boobs just starting hurting. I think my period's on its way. Soon, please! Get it over with, body!
Glad you're safe in Mendoza, Erica! And Nicky in Boulder! And Liz back in Gaithersburg! And Gwyn, travel safely until you return to Ithaca! And Becca, be careful on the big highways all by yourself! It's easy to get distracted and not be a safe driver. I want you home in one piece! And Erin, happy moving to the new place and happy dogging!!!! Huh. I just realized that a lot of us have dogs. Maybe Liz can get a dog now, too, since she's out of crazylandlordobnoxiousneighborland.
I think that's all! Happy Spring, special friends! Love, the abbigator

SMC in June?

Hey,

Are any of ya'll planning on going to the SMC alumnae weekend in June? If so, can we, like, plan to be roomies? ;) I'm kinda interested, but it would be weird going to SMC without some slash all of the Quad Blog present (although, I assume those who are now far away = Erica, Nicky, Abby (?), others (?) probably won't make it) ...

Love,
McS

If Erin was a pair of shoes...

...don't you think she'd be these?
Infinity Sandal

Amusing Things to Waste Time On

(Read no further if you only want to read things from a positive mental place, you have been warned! Lots of guilty pleasures here...)

Passive Aggressive Notes

Postcards From Yo Momma

Awkward Family Photos

The Customer is Not Always Right

Cakewrecks

FMyLife

Texts From Last Night

Happy Birthday Tiny Tilley!

Love to you... I hope that you're having a great time celebrating with Mick, Darth and Ozzie.

xoxo

tokar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLA!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU IN ALL CAPS! Hope you are having a spankin time on the road in the sketchy van with birthday cake and all.

hugs and birthday love

becca w