Stationary

I am officially stuck here.

I am officially stuck at this school for another year.

I have too many credits to go elsewhere, not enough money to go abroad.

I will be here. Next year, all year.



I don't know that I have ever been so disappointed, in myself, in an institution, in a decision that I made.

I hate it here. I truly do. This place is not my place. This town is not for me. This school is not mine.

And that, knowing that, and knowing that I will - that I have to be here for another year, is horrible.



We have all heard it a thousand times - you wouldn't really want to fast forward through your life, you'd regret it blah blah blah. 

But no, I'd love to fast forward. Just a year, just to graduation. To leaving here, to starting something new, to go somewhere else. To being anywhere else.

Because being stuck here? That, that is not going to be any kind of good.

My Valentines

Or...Galentines.

It was a dinner amongst five friends.

Though plans may have changed last minute, we ended up in a bar instead of a restaurant. We had burgers instead of rich Italian eats. And it was perfect.

It was lots and lots of laughter, it was poking fun at a very forgiving waiter, and it was enjoying every single bite.

It wasn't romantic, there weren't any flowers.

But it was the Valentine's Day we all needed.

Friday Favorites

This week was scores better than last which all sorts of trying, frustrating, and mostly stressful and sad.

So this week I have favorites, because sometimes you just gotta keep on having that faith and fearlessness...

Favorite Pin:

I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time on Pinterest when I'm trying to boost my own morale. This week I found this, a nice reminder that was so needed, and so grounding:

Favorite Treat:

As I headed back here to school on a not-so-bright, but very early Monday, I stopped by my favorite local coffee shop. (Capitol Grounds, for those in or near by Montpelier.) And though I am a loyal Raspberry Mocha Latte girl, I had thought of something special I wanted to try a couple nights earlier. So, I went for it. And guys, it was divine.

I had a Coco Mo' Latte... or rather a Coconut Mocha Latte. It was the perfect treat to get me on my feet and back to school. 

Favorite Breakthrough/Revelation/Oh My God Moment:

On Sunday I was delighted to join in on another one of the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization's development workshops. As a preliminary titleholder, (that's right, I am Miss Central Vermont 2013 this year, and very proud of it) I attend these workshops to gain ideas, training, and yes some chutzpa before the competition in June. 

During this workshop I was honored to work with an excellent talent coach (and an incredibly supportive group of teens, and even Mama Connor) on my talent for this coming June. I had been on the fence previously, but through my work with this group, not only was I able to solidify my choice, I was able to really see how great this piece would be. 

I am so thrilled to be able to present this new piece this year, and so happy to have had that moment this past week.



And let us all cross our fingers that this coming week will be more like this one, you know, not so sad and stressful, and yuck. 

A "Useless" Major

I am 3/4 of the way through earning a degree in Creative Writing.

And I am not kidding.

I am fully aware of the stigma attached to any true liberal arts degree. I am also fully aware of the skills I have acquired in the last three years that I know are worth the, "Oh, so what are you going to do with that degree?"

The answer being really simple, whatever I want, thank you very much.

Because while I will agree that a degree has value, what you study in college is important, and if you want a job you need to be prepared for it - I know that I am far more than the assumed skill set that comes with a major like mine.

Yes, I can write analysis on literature like nobody's business. Yes, I can read effectively and efficiently. And by God, I can tell a good story. (As you would hope.) But I am also capable of taking those skills and those abilities and transferring them to nearly anything that requires concentration, an understanding of complex material, or a reiteration of such material in some comprehensive manner. 

I'm sorry, but that idea that simply because reading and writing are the focus of my studies means that I won't be able to find work in the modern job market is ludicrous.

After all, I am in college. I am someone with a brain, who is obviously capable enough to have made it thus far. To downgrade any of that because of an archaic notion that reading and writing are simplistic and basic acts, is really - pardon me - stupid.

In all honesty, it is well known by those who know me that my calling is event planning and this degree is something I pursued out of passion. Regardless of either of those truths, I am no less capable or valuable to the labor force because I do not have a "typical" degree.

And I fully intend on proving that to every one of the nay sayers. So please, watch.

It's My Party and I'll Whine If I Want To

Please excuse the dramatics that follow, it has been a very weird two weeks. 


I am a party girl.

Not a girl who parties, a party girl. I throw parties. I plan parties. I live and breathe my birthday party planning for the greater part of the year.

See, birthdays are a pretty big deal 'round these parts. Really, I'll jump for any type of celebration. But birthdays, oh, birthdays I love.

The sprinkles on the cake this year? It is the year of 21.

So, surely I would be putting on quite the to-do anyways. This year it is almost as if I have an excuse to go completely and totally all out. Which is perfect, because I tend to go all out regardless of my age.

Here's the catch: I don't know what to do.

Sure, there is the very traditional bar hop. But obviously that is so far from my style. So I thought of about a billion other ideas. Honestly though, nothing is jumping out at me. Nothing is screaming this is it. Which is a pretty big deal considering that by this time last year I had everything but the food settled on.

(Oh, yeah, my birthday is in May.)

I'm a bit befuddled. I'm at a loss.

Brunch? Sure. Monograms and Margaritas? Sure.

But I'm still not seeing the sparkles and the awesome.

And yes, I'm well aware that this is really not a problem. This is really no big deal. Thousands of big deals are out there, and this is not one of them. I know.

It's my party though. It's the event I plan all year. And it is just not coming together - which stinks.

So I'm off to Pinterest where I will be drowning until I have found the life raft of party saving ideas.