All the things floating in my head

The events of the past two weeks were numerous and intense, so I will not even attempt to encompass them in one blogsphere posting. After graduation, I hung around for a week in the Chambana to gather myself. Thank god I took that week for myself, because it was one less week away from home. I do love my family, but after being an at least semi-independent women for 4 years, home life reminds me of being 18-years-old except back then, I had my beautious green Honda Civic (named Lewis Eugene because he was a crotchety old man) and there were graduation parties galore. I must digress ...

Last Monday, the corporate world kicked my ass. Kelly, Christine and I donned our grad robes, cords, etc. and set off for a photo shoot on the Quad. It had rained on my parade (literally) the day before and the line in front of the Alma Mater had been discouraging, so we decided Monday would be better for photos. And it was - Monday was gloriously warm and sunny. We skipped the Alma Mater again because it was hot and there were just too many people in line. I hate to be a sheep. So anyway, we arrived at the Illini Union on at the latest a minute after 5. The Union security guy shut the doors in our faces and told us that we were too late. After a crowd of law school students refused to leave, he brought out a Herff Jones rep. who told us we missed the deadline and had no choice but to turn in our gear the next day. She (according to the people at the IUB, she was named Patty) told us we "probably will not have to pay a fee" if we went the next day. So, Christine and I headed to the IUB to see if we could return our gowns. The woman there told us she sympathized with us but if she saw us the next day, she'd be charging us an extra $5.

Interestingly enough, that $5 was already paid in the sense that when we ordered our gowns, we were promised that we only had to pay $39. However, on payment day, I was charged $46 and I received no explanation as to the price change. As misfortune would have it, when we got to the IUB (Illini Union Bookstore) the next day, our sob story fell on deaf ears. That same woman was there and she told the other ladies we were troublemakers. So we were forced to pay $5 to RETURN something. Where's the logic in that???? As I left, I shouted something vague about discrimination but I hope they heard me. Herff-Jones is full of crap. That woman Patty did not know what she was talking about. And the woman at the bookstore - how dare she treat us like that? Try to be our friend; tell us she's not affiliated with Herff-Jones, and yet, the IUB is the official college bookstore (we probably pay for it in our student fees) and they were the ones charging us to turn our gowns back in. Where's the justice in that? The women at the bookstore did not check the gowns (I had trailed mine around the Quad) but I wish I had done something badass like burn a part of the gown. Or rip it. Or graffiti it. I guess I must settle for writing a complaint.

The photo at the top is my FU to Herff Jonsies.

As our lives change, from whatever/ we will still be friends forever

Yesterday, I graduated. Mi amiga Katie, and her mother Lori - basically my extended family - came down for the ceremony, and awesome Whitney gave me her extra tickets so I could bring my six guests to the ceremony, instead of having them sit in the overflow room. I was not going to have my special guests sit another building and watch on a screen what they wanted to see in real life. Somehow, it all worked out in the end, and that's all that matters. The Comm. (I refuse to say Media) graduation was really nice. We got recognized individually for our accomplishments - my honors and my scholarship - and we received a "gift" at the end - a free College of Media bag. Though the thing was slightly disorganized, and it was raining/hella windy/ we had to get a spiel from Yates about how we were the first ever college of Media graduates, it was beautiful. The speaker was of course kind of boring, as to be expected, but inspirational at moments, and we had a student speaker too, which made the whole thing feel more personal. All in all, a good way to end the last four years. The only thing I felt a little bad about was not getting the opportunity to take pictures with friends after the ceremony, like in high school. There was a reception after, but once we crowded into the FLB hall area, I couldn't find non-advertising and media people. Once I went back outside, the people I had seen taking photos were gone. Saddnnessss. I hate this transition period. We spent so much time in lab together, hanging out together, doing everything together and then POOF! It's all over; we have to go home. So weird. I don't want it to be like that. I'm able to engage on such a different level with people here than I am at home where people would probably look at me for being a semi-Socialist. Anyhow, I'm hanging out in Chambana for a few days ... til the end of the week, so I can collect myself, finish my econ. class, pack, clean, repaint, etc.
More later.

Procastination nation

Yikes, it's already Wednesday. If you are a steady blog reader (what? the two of you?), then I am sorry I've not posted since my birfday. That said, I finished one more final! One left to go. Too bad it's a research paper. And that I must do research in order to write it. Too bad I barely did any research before this. Thing is, this class counts for absolutely nothing. I took this class cuz I needed 12 hours. That's all, I don't need it for anything - I just didn't want to lose my scholarship. But now that those are guaranteed, I kind of have no motivation. Except I don't want to let down my professor (I'm saying that with a Latin accent), cuz Mimi's probably the most enthusiastic one I've ever had. So yaaaaa. We'll see how that one goes.

I'm majorly distracted right now. Who wouldn't be when they are graduating in four days???? Scurrrrrrrry. I wish I had somewhat of an idea as to what I'll be doing after next Saturday (the day I leave Chambana). Anyhow, had an interview with Siemens Corp. in Buffalo Grove. It was a bit strange because half of the interview was computer automated. They said that I possess qualities they like though. There's a lot of things about that job that have me wondering though. I would be less hesitant if the job was in the city and there was public transport. Carlessness is going to be a draaaaaaggggg.

ShaDonna and I will soon be launching the most insightful and amusing blog for twenty-somethings. It'll be the funniest and you'll want to add it to your favorites. :) Our first posting will be an ode to Rick Nidal's exorbitantly huge cranium. Mwahaha.

Winners of the Asian Excellence Awards:http://www.asianexcellenceawards.com/Nominees/winners.aspx

Apparently, this show was broadcast on E. That's awesome on their part, although I never saw it advertised and it was probably on really early in the morning or something ... clearly, some time nobody noticed because there are only two mentions about it on the E Web site.

Til lata'