Christmas in Vermont

Christmas, year 2012, was so much fun! Robyn, Aaron, and the kids came down from Ottawa to spend Christmas with us (us being Mom, Dad, Cayden, Kendra, Grandma, Pat, Kate and their kids, Mika and Lily). We opened stockings and went to Pat and Kate's for presents and the rest of the day. We took a beautiful hike through the snow during the afternoon, and then after a great turkey dinner, we played Fusball, darts, and ping pong. It was a night of music, wine drinking, and games. Perfect! I love spending Christmas with the family <3

Adventure in my Future

Cayden got Robyn and family a pack of The Hobbit tarot cards for Christmas. Today we tried the pack. I did the spiral formation that is supposed to bring insight into a future sequence of events.

A few of the cards had to do with people of foreign countries or backgrounds. I thought of Mikkel, the Danish guy I met in Barcelona. I recall that I was pleasantly surprised by our days together. The first night I met him, I did not get his number, but he sought me out again. We ended up hanging out another few days and nights, although not always alone, it seemed clear that I was the one he seemed to take the greatest in (I do believe that this was because I put the most faith in him. I trusted that he was just a bit lonely in a big foreign city. Nothing happened between us, which I do not regret. I would love to see him again.)

Another part of my tarot sequence was full of adventure. I have begun to embrace my adventurous side in college especially, although I know that it was always present. I enjoy the new and different, and thrive off new experiences. Although I am studying to become an engineer, which seems to be a rather unoriginal path (unlike what many have suggested, I did not choose this path for the future security it may provide.) In fact....

I have a thought for something that I may wish to do in my life. I have recently become attracted to the idea of biking across the country. Biking would consume the daytime and granted by the night, I would be rather exhausted, but biking can provide time for thinking. I want to explore facets of reality that I have never considered before. Being in different places and under the stars every night would provide the perfect opportunity to through yourself out of places of comfort. Places of comfort provide comfort in what is known, shielded from change, never really opening your mind to new possibilities. I want to bike across country and explore religions and philosophies of the world and of different times. Religion may describe higher powers, these powers that help to provide explanation for the indescribable. Religion, in practice, provides a means for self-realization and exploration. I would wish this trip to be a trip of self-realization, while exploring the world and the vastness of the places of the world, one would be able to realize truths and facets of oneself. 

I want to live in comfort, security, and serenity, but I want to live a life of adventure and self-exploration before that comfort sets in. I do enjoy engineering and I do believe that I want to create and change things during my life; however, I would like to have the courage to take a step away from security to make long term changes. If I was in a comfortable, although not exciting job, I would like to start up my own business based on helping others on the path of self-exploration. 

These are my wishes for the future. 

Mosh Pit Scars

The Streetlight Manifesto concert was CRAZY! The floor was a living organism itself. The crowd was like gas atoms compressed to a tiny space. As soon as Streetlight began their first song, a massive force from the back of the crowd pushed everyone forward, and within two seconds I had moved forward around six rows and to the left, five. I was really struggling for air during the entire concert, but I'm really glad that I stayed in the crowd..because how often would I have that experience?!

The spirit of mankind lies in new experiences.

I now feel severely bruised all over my body from bring tossed around, pushed, squeezed, hoisted up, crushed...I fell down twice...really scary. I was table topped one time and I was extremely fortunate that some guy helped me up. To that guy: thank you! Also, Cayden hoisted me up to crowd surf. It was a barrel-roll on top of the crowd. But then I was thrown from the crowd to the bouncer. Glorious few moments of being suspended in midair!

The atmosphere, the people, the music, the lyrics: all great, all crazy. Combined = what a night!

Drenched. Utterly drenched.

Capture the Flag

FYP had a game of capture the flag on the lawn tonight. The lawn was a neutral zone, while flags were hidden in the gardens of the pavilions around the lawn. The theme was shrubs vs. grubs (on brains). So basically plants vs. zombies....the zombies won....I was on plants. Granted our defense was terrible but I was doing a really good job on offense. I got one flag and only got caught once.

There was the first time I was seen on their side, I bolted. This guy came sprinting after me and I saw this wall ahead of me. I jumped up and pulled myself over and then jumped down. The guy continued to follow me, but I ran hella fast. And I got away!

I had to climb over the construction took get into the gardens, so I was being pretty stealthy. I had so much adrenaline when I came back from the game that I started wrapping gifts...with my old chemistry tests....hahahahaha I need them no more! Plus they're colorful.

When I was talking about the events of AFM with Emily with tonight, and I mentioned Austin, she got really excited and thought that was really cute. Hmmmmm...interesting...

12:12:12 on 12/12/12

Annie, Jodie, Rebecca, Sarah, and I were hanging out in Annie and Jodie's room. We realized that it was soon to be 12:12:12 on 12/12/12.... The last time this time occurrence would happen in our lifetime. That minute seemed strangely short...very short. I decided to think about my existence in this world, which is in fact very short. I took that time not to mourn my short life, but to appreciate all that I can accomplish while I'm here. (A lot of what I'm now mentioning I did not think about at the time. In that short minute I thought about how I should be very present in that moment. The rest of this is reflective.) being present in a moment is what can make experiences truly valuable and memorable. When you take in a moment for everything it is, it turn from a passing time to an imprint in your life.

Last night I watched Into the Wild, the true story of a guy that ventures away from civilization to experience nature and the natural beauties in life and in the people he met. He said: the spirit of man lies in new experiences. If I take that quote to heart, I think that I will live a full life.

Be present and aware in the moment. Aim to experience the unknown, what is new. Hold no shame, be who you are. To break through any fear, gather extreme confidence and do something extreme. With just a moment of boldness, you can surpass fear. Take the plunge.

AFM

I cannot quite describe how amazing last night was, but I will make my best effort.

When we arrived at the NewDos house, Kaitlyn promptly gave us our money! AFM = anything for money! I walked into the kitchen to find a fabulous spread of alcohol. Patron! Captain Morgan! Bacardi! Bombay Sapphire! Peach Schnapps! So much beauty! So I took a shot of Patron, among other things. At first we got paid for taking shots with other people. Then Katie took control of the whipped cream. The whipped cream! Lick whip cream off of people, off their necks, off their teeth. Haha so many good times! Brandon licked whipped cream out of my mouth :)

Next....

I took control of the whipped cream and in an attempt to get people to start doing stuff, I gave out money for licking whipped cream off of other people. I paid Lou to walk through the house with only his boxers on...of course he took me up on the offer! And this is how I lost all of my money. I started asking around for things to do....

And then Julien hit me up. He offered me $500 to streak the house. The house at this point was very crowded. Rachel over heard when I said I would do it and amped up the price to $700. So I stripped. I pushed my way through the crowds of people to the open space in the living room, said hello, and then ran/pushed through to the kitchen. I do believe at this point people realized what was happening. I saw their shocked expressions. Said hello to the people in the kitchen and then I ran back outside as people moved out of the way for me. I heard that I made FYP history as being the 1st girl to streak an event...which I found quite shocking. I got major props! And now a lot of FYP has seen me naked....do I care? Not at all.

I then got people to do body shots of tequila on the porch! Many people commented on an email thread this morning that they had strangely sticky stomachs and could not remember why....haha I could!

I moved around quite a lot, fast.

Mitchell was the 1st person I made out with that night...I do believe that was initiated by Andrew Elliot...of course. I think Kristina was the 2nd...though the timeframe of when I came to be downstairs is a little fuzzy. Brandon was more of whipped cream than making out...

I was talking with Austin when Jackson and Kristina came up. Kristina offered us money for a three-way make out session. I thought she was talking about me Austin and Jackson...and I thought alright score! But she wasn't...she was referring to me, her, and Austin. I was not in the know when I went to kiss Jackson, that was a little kiss before he pulled away, evidently a little taken aback, which started the beginning of strange events with him. Anyway the three-way happened and then Kristina asked how much I wanted to be paid and I said something like I didn't really I have to be paid for that.

I then went to take a shot with Austin. I had been asking people what they wanted to do at AFM that they hadn't done yet so I could incentivize them to do it. I asked Austin what he wanted to do, and he said, "kiss you." How smooth. We started making out. I really wanted to go somewhere not public...but that was impossible. We finally ended up on the couch on the front porch...entirely public. I realized a little earlier today that that's how I got my slightly bruised shoulder. I got his number, so let's see how that works out.

I was walking back into the house when I saw Jackson again. I can't really remember who initiated it, but we started making out. It was entirely possible that I initiated it because I need to feel things when I'm drunk...so I tend to stroke people. I remember going in the bathroom and Jackson came in with me. We were making out again, and he kind of pulled away again and then left...again...weird. I walked home with him and Sophie. I really didn't want him to leave....I want to be his friend. Oh and he kept asking me if I was a virgin on the way back. I guess he was convinced that a virgin couldn't streak the house like I did...

Before I left the party, Rob leaned in to kiss me and I did kiss him. He's cute, but I really like him and Katie!

I saw some really interesting things....this is just a documentation of what I did.

Good night! I love AFM!

Unsaid at the Tech Circle

Tonight was the last show of my first semester, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. As we gathered for tech circle, we had to speak to what FYP meant to us. Many things went unsaid that need to be told.

I was never involved with theater before coming to UVA, however many of my friends were part of theater in high school and I always trout that I should have gotten involved. I came to college with the idea that I was going to try anything and everything, I was going to try new things. I ran for and interviewed for many groups...I did not get the positions I wanted. At the time I was devastated but now I know it was all for the best. I applied for a position in FYP. I went into my interview knowing that all I could really offer was my enthusiasm and commitment to try new things.

Alex Cooper gave me a chance. He made me sound manager and from there I derived my confidence after so many disappointments. Alex Cooper, I want to say thank you. You have been such a great role model and always helpful and funny. I cannot express to you how happy I am that I stayed in the organization.

Samantha Hudgins or Smudge, you were the first person to take me on a goodwill run before the Alice in Wonderland party. During this trip I got a better sense of what FYP was and I really didn't get it at the time, but now I understand. Coming to UVA, I did not think that I would find such a special group of friends, but it it happened. I want to thank you for being the first to show me what an experience I was about to undertake.

Kaitlyn Richardson, thank you for simply being forever caring and emanating such a comforting aura. You and Smudge are one dynamic duo of amazingness.

Rachel Ford-Fink you are my big! And I love you so much! Thank you for picking me to be your little and incorporating me into the family.

It's hard for me to give my love away. I like a lot of people and love very few. One extraordinary thing about FYP is it's seemingly infinite love for all it's members. This is what FYP means to me: a perfect hug, warm, kind, loving, and molded just right for me.

Friday Night Cast Party

Nothing much to report except that there was a Friday night cast party. Fun...I started running around as per usual, thus I think I'm starting to become more and more comfortable with my FYP family. I enjoyed the night and then went to Christian's for pizza. All the drunkies at 2:30 am were getting food there. Necessary.